the ferry is free from battery park, and only a few minutes' ride (which i was appreciative of.) admission to the island is also free--it's a national park now. the island used to belong to the armed services (i think first the army and then the navy), and they left in 1996 and donated it to the city of new york. they've slowly been rehabbing the island, returning it to greenspace for recreation. they have concerts on saturdays, and we made it there in time to listen to the roots music of eric bibb, a really incredible guitarist. it hardly felt like we were in the city; we wandered down bricked side streets (no cars are allowed on the island) and sat on a wide grass lawn under an avenue of tall trees. even the air was cleaner and fresher.
eric bibb and friends
after we listened to the music, we wandered around the island. because the island was first fortified in the late 1700s and was still inhabited until the late 1990s, there are many generations of buildings and fortifications all over the island, so it was fun to explore those. (although i think next time i want to take a tour.) ALSO, and pretty cool, i think they recently filmed an episode of top chef on the island, because i found this spike tape on the ground.
(it says tom and padma, in case you can't read it.)
one of the old houses on the island was hosting an international exhibition by members of the sculptors guild called in-site, with some really incredible sculpture and installation pieces. it was really great to stumble on the surprise of impressive art in the middle of nowhere (in the middle of new york.) it felt like a treat to stumble on governor's island in general; it's like a well-kept secret. the island wasn't crowded at all, and it is full of rolling green hills and tall shade trees. i plan to go back again and again. who's with me?
1 comment:
I would've photographed the Top Chef markers too. Thank you for sharing about your visit. Now I have something in my head to think about Governor's Island other than Rhett Miller.
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