One More Week to Visit Governors Island!

The 2014 public season, which opened Governors Island to visitors seven days a week for the first time in history, is ending on September 28th.

That means you have exactly seven days left to take a trip to Governors Island!

Nine days left to bike in the new 30 acres of park on Governors Island. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Governors Island this week will be filled with events and exhibitions to help you wrap up the summer season!

Ride a Bike with Free Bike Mornings! 

Enjoy free bikes on Governors Island for one more week! Free Bike Mornings allows visitors to borrow a bike for free for up to one hour on any weekday. Bikers will be able to enjoy miles of bike paths, including new paths in the 30 acres of park that look upon the Statue of Liberty. Visitors are also able to rent bikes or bring a bike on the ferry at no extra charge.

“A Portrait of Marina Abromovic” by Matthu Placek in Fort Jay  

Matthu Placek is making his New York debut of his 3D video portraits on Governors Island this week! The piece, ” A Portrait of Marina Abramovic” will be installed in Fort Jay from September 25th through the 28th. Shot in one take and without dialogue, these short films offer rare, uninterrupted moments with subjects as they interact with symbolic surroundings. 3D cinematography enhances the intimacy of the vignettes, further collapsing the space between the viewer and the subjects’ essential natures. Screenings are every 15 minutes to groups of 6 people by reservation. To make a free reservation please visit www.130919.eventbrite.com

LMCC Open Studios 

The LMCC gallery exhibition ““Embodied Practice and Site-Specificity” about Trisha Brown’s Work. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Explore the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council’s many programs this week on Governors Island. In the LMCC gallery (building 110), you will find an exhibition on the work of Trisha Brown. Over in the St Cornelius Church, you can experience the development of Rachel Tess’s “Souvenir” during open studio hours every day this week (12PM-4PM). LMCC describes the performance: “the project investigates the relationships between architecture and choreography and choreographer and audience. The work more specifically explores the concept of a mobile architecture versus pre-existing institutional structures and how this design may impact the making and viewing of performance.” This coming weekend is the LMCC Open Studio Weekend. There will be art’s activities and open studios at four unique sites, including Governors Island. See more information here.

Hammocks and Food vendors!

This is your last chance to nap in a hammock and take a hammock selfie! With the weather forecast estimated to be 70 degrees all week, it is the perfect time to snuggle in Hammock Grove and maybe bring a book. Afterwards, stroll over to Kings Ave and Liggett Terrace to the many food vendors for a quick bite. Get a taste of Snowday and decide if they deserved their recent Vendy Award (p.s. they totally did). Then back to the hammocks to sleep off that Snowday maple grilled cheese!

September 27th Governors Island Kite Festival 

Bring your kites or make one during the Governors Island Kite Festival! Brooklyn Artery, CMA, and the Brooklyn Kite Fest are coming together to bring you a Governors Island Kite Festival. There will be music, refreshments and fun to be had for the whole family.  All activities are free. The festival will run from 11-4PM.

Explore Nolan Park

Explore everything that makes Governors Island great  by heading to Nolan Park. The historic area is the home to 19th century Army officers houses. Today, these faded yellow buildings become the summer home for many arts and cultural organizations. Find handmade items for sale at Brooklyn Artery or Better than Jam, or see exciting exhibits at the New York Historical Society house and the International Center of Photography gallery. See further information on the more than 12 organizations in Nolan Park here. 

The Governors Island Art Fair

Sabrina Barrios, “How to Build a Pyramid.” Image courtesy of Hyperallergic.com.

The 4 Heads Governors Island Art Fair will be open one more weekend. Already reviewed by the NYTimes, ArtNET, Gothamist and more, the Governors Island Art Fair is not to be missed! Around 100 rooms within the historic buildings in Colonels Row have been transformed by paintings, sculptures, video and sound installations, and other installation works. The Governors Island Art Fair is run by artists and has recently headed to Kickstarter. 

Labor Day Weekend

Celebrate Labor Day Weekend on Governors Island with many fun and free activities!

Extra ferries will run on Labor Day from Brooklyn and Manhattan. Image courtesy of the Trust.

Come experience the many exciting activities on Governors Island! The Trust is extending ferry service on the half hour from Brooklyn and Manhattan through Monday because of the holiday. On Governors Island you can lay in a hammock, picnic, rent a bike, and enjoy delicious ice cream. There are also several special events happening on the Island this weekend.

Explore Nolan Scavenger Hunt 

The second Explore Nolan Scavenger Hunt is happening this Saturday. The historic yellow houses in Nolan Park become the home to many arts exhibitions and cultural organizations over the summer. Currently, there are over 12 different organizations within Nolan Park. You can find handmade gifts at the Brooklyn Artery and the Better Than Jam Pop-Up, or enjoy several group shows put on by The Sculptures Guild or the International Center of Photography.

Come explore the many exhibitions in Nolan Park this summer. Image courtesy of The Trust.

The scavenger hunt asks you to answer questions about many of the exhibitions in Nolan Park. The 5 teams and 5 individuals who are the quickest to complete the hunt will win prizes given by organizations on the Island. Some of the prizes include free surrey rides from Blazing Saddles, photography catalogs from the International Center of Photography, and two tickets to a future Third Rail Productions performance.

You can download the clue sheet here , pick one up from the Governors Island Alliance Welcome stations at Soissons Landing or Yankee Pier, or download the new Governors Island Alliance Phigital Tour App on your phone and look for the Nolan Park Scavenger Hunt tour!

NYC Unicycle Festival 

For a truly unique experience, come to Governors Island this weekend for the NYC Unicycle Festival. The festival brings more than 300 unicycle enthusiasts together for fun activities and astounding events! A partial list of activities include races, competitions, exhibitions, and the unicycle sports. Come see unicycle basketball, hockey, sumo, and even unicycle double dutch!

A little game of unicycle double dutch at the NYC Unicycle Festival. Image courtesy of The Trust.

World-famous riders will display their skills, and of course visitors to the festival will have an opportunity to try their feet at some one—wheel riding. Events on Governors Island are on Saturday-Sunday from 12pm – 5pm. See here for a full list of events.

 

 

Beatles, Bocce, and the Surprise House

Head to Governors Island this weekend for lawn bocce, a Vintage VW car show, and the Surprise House, a new installation in Nolan Park.

Recess: Bocce

Recess New York began in 2009 hosting fun recreational sports with a competitive spirit around New York City. Earlier this summer, Recess NY came to Governors Island brandishing badminton rackets and birdies.

They are back today with bocce balls on Colonels Row. Take part in some lawn bocce and enjoy the special food vendors Recess NY is bringing with them, including piping hot pizza from Neapolitan Express, delicious snacks from The Chia Co, and a wine and Tiger beer tent.

Join Recess New York for bocce on Governors Island Saturday the 23rd! Image courtesy of Recess New York.

The Surprise House

Something special is happening in House 7a in Nolan Park. Surprise Industries, a group that specializes in creating surprise, has taken over the historic house and transformed the interior. The group was able to create the installation with the help of their Kickstarter backers. In case you were wondering, you will not find any spoilers here! The exhibition is open weekends and is free to the public. Be ready to be surprised!

Surprise Industries has transformed a house in Nolan Park with a unique purpose: to surprise the visitor! Image courtesy of the Trust.

 

 The VW Traffic Jam

This Sunday, the annual VW Traffic Jam is back on Governors Island. Proud owners of the vintage VW cars will be displaying their beautiful vehicles along the Liberty Promenade overlooking the Statue of Liberty. Spectators will judge the car show, which features nearly 100 Beatles, buses, dune buggies, and more. Come out tomorrow to picnic, explore Governors Island, and enjoy this free car show.

The VW Traffic Jam is an annual VW car show hosted on Governors Island and is free to attend. Image from the 2011 VW Traffic Jam, courtesy of The Trust.

 

 

 

 

 

This Weekend, Governors Island is the Center of the Poetry World!

The 2011 Poetry Festival

Words, words, words… the air on Governors Island is going to be full of them this weekend when The New York City Poetry Festival returns for its fourth year! If you’re a lover of books and handmade goods, check out the many independent presses and craftspeople who will be selling their creations. If you’d like to hear some poetry read aloud, visit one of the festival’s many stages, each of which will have readings all day long. You can also visit the Poetry Brothel, where performers will read to you one-on-one in a candlelit bedroom in Building 408 on Colonels Row. There will be a special children’s stage where kids can share their own work, as well as a land of poem-covered balloons called the Poetree Forest.

The Poetry Brothel. Photo courtesy of the Poets Society

This weekend is also your chance to take part in the Typewriter Project. A small wooden structure, just big enough for one, will house a Smith Corona typewriter loaded with a 100-foot roll of paper. People can write a poem, short story, or whatever else they’re inspired to contribute. The goal is to create, the Poets Society says, a “city-wide lyrical conversation.” The entries will also be uploaded to subconsciousofthecity.com. Read about the project on Brooklyn Based here.

The Typewriter Project– a tiny writing den. Photo Courtesy of Brooklyn Based

We’re so excited to see what new heights of poetic expression will be reached at this year’s festival. The diverse lineup features more than 250 poets. A huge variety of poetry organizations and collectives, small independent publishers, and reading series will be represented this weekend. Come tap into NYC’s vibrant literary community!

Saturday is All-Day Playtime on Governors Island!

A wacky and fun game at the Come Out and Play Festival! Photo courtesy of ishtodo.wordpress.com

Here on Governors Island, we all just want to have fun! It’s the perfect place for all sorts of play, whether you swing in a hammock, play a round of minigolf, ride a bike, or toss a Frisbee.

But this weekend, the Come Out and Play Field Day and Family is changing the game!

Governors Island has been called a giant playground (and not just one for kids). The Island naturally inspires a spirit of play, and the festival will build on that to create a day of supersized, interactive, and surprising games and activities.

There are a bunch of field games and sports to choose from. Get into a game of Settlers of Catan, but as a contact field sport! Bounce giant inflatable balls in parachutes! Whether you’re 9 or 89, an athletic player or more of a strategist, there will be something for you—even if you just want to cheer on your friends.

The festival partners with innovative and creative groups who are reinventing how we play together. Governors Island is the perfect place for it to happen.

Come Out and Play is happening on Saturday July 19 from 11 am to 4 pm. Check out their website for more information and game descriptions. 

Happy 4th of July!

It may be a little rainy, but there are still plenty of great ways to enjoy Independence Day on Governors Island!

Rent a free bike during Free Bike Mornings from Blazing Saddles today. Roller skate rentals are also available.

Celebrate the 4th with some inspiring art! Many indoor exhibits are open today. See the International Center for Photography’s “Capa in Color and a Preview of Sebastiao: Genesis”. The New York Historical Society’s “The Civil War and New York City” opens today, as does Chashama’s “Flood Tides Art Show”. LMCC will be having open artists’ studios from 12-5 pm. Better Than Jam and Brooklyn ARTery, both selling artisanal crafts and gifts, will be open.

Enjoy your holiday cheering on your favorite team with other fans, and head to Governors Beach Club today to watch the World Cup!

This weekend, if you can’t make it camping yourself, check out Third Rail Projects’ Roadside Attraction, a dance theater piece that takes place in a 1970s pop-up camper. There is an open rehearsal on Saturday from 1-5 pm and performances Sunday at 2 & 4 pm outside Building 17 in Nolan Park.

Our many delicious food vendors will be here, of course, and Lady Liberty always looks splendid from the Island.

Happy 4th!

Birdies & Rackets on Colonels Row

We’re excited about the RECESS 2014 Lawn Badminton Challenge tomorrow! RECESS will transform Colonels Row into a multi-court badminton championship. But the fun doesn’t stop there.

While you support the players, why not also grab a snack from the organization’s 2014 partners: Vietnamese eatery An Choi, Davey’s Ice Cream, Tiger Beer, and Hanaka Japanese Mochi Sweet. The Chia Pod will also be there—it’s a touring truck committed to healthier living that sells wholefood nutrition in single serve packages.

Music also makes this tournament something of a dance party. The RARE NYC crew will be spinning tunes all the while to make this a completely unique event. RECESS also publishes an online mixtape series every month called INTERMISSION featuring 30-minute playlists selected by people from diverse creative backgrounds. You can give these a listen at http://recessnewyork.com/intermission

Will Marc Jacobs or Shake Shack win the title of shuttlecock? Find out Saturday, and see the lineup of all the awesome contestants on their website.

Come to compete, come to watch, come to dance—just come play!

 

The event will take place on Saturday, 6/28 on Colonels Row from 12-5 PM.

Photo credit: recessnewyork.com

Great First Weekend on Governors Island

Thank you to the 28K visitors who came out to the opening weekend on Governors Island!

The very first visitor in the new park was a little girl on a blue bike. Image courtesy of The Trust.

Rain clouds gathered Saturday, but the incredible weather on Sunday and Monday more than made up for it. Visitors enjoyed the new 30 acres of park for the first time and found many places to relax in Hammock Grove.

Laying in a hammock is one of the great pleasures of life. Image courtesy of West8.

Here are some of the highlights from the weekend!

Family Festival

The Governors Island Alliance’s Family Festival was action packed with crafts and bouncy castles. Image courtesy of The Trust.

 

Bike Rentals

Blazing Saddles rented lots of bikes! Last weekend surreys were particular popular. Remember, you can rent a bike for free during Free Bike Mornings, 10AM – noon, Monday-Friday. Image courtesy of The Trust.

 

 Food Vendors

Visitors last weekend had their pick of delicious food. This delectable Hot Dog is courtesy of Little Eva’s. Learn about this weekend’s food options here.  Image courtesy of the Trust.

 

This weekend there is more great events and activities on Governors Island. On Saturday, Dawn of Midi will be performing in Colonels Row as the first performance of the Rite of Summer Music Festival. The rest of the programs can be seen here.

Celebrate Labor Day on Governors Island with Dan Zanes, the Rite of Summer Concert Series, NYC Unicycle Festival, and Free Bike Monday!

Photo: NYC 2010Uni Fest60 by NYUC/Flickr, all rights reserved

Governors Island will be open 10 am-7pm on Saturday, Sunday, and Labor Day Monday! Join us this holiday weekend for special musical events for all ages in Colonels Row, including an acoustic jam session by family music favorite Dan Zanes and alt-classical music concert Rite-a-Thon. Visitors can also enjoy the NYC Unicycle Festival and Bike and Roll’s Free Bike Monday, when cruiser bikes are free for up to one hour.

Dan Zanes Porch Party Singalong, Saturday, 1 pm to 4 pm, Colonels Row, Building 410
Family music favorite Dan Zanes sings on a porch while friends drop in and out. It’s an impromptu acoustic jam session — a freewheeling afternoon of music and good times you won’t want to miss. He’ll be setting up shop on the porch of Building 410 in Colonel’s Row from 1:00 to 4:00pm. Come early and stay late!

Rite-a-Thon, Sunday, 12 pm to 5 pm, Colonels Row
On Sunday, visitors can enjoy even more music in Colonels Row with Rite-a-Thon, the last concert in the Rite of Summer alt-classical concert series. The concert features pianists Blair McMillan and Pam Goldberg, composer and singer Theo Bleckmann, Classical Jam and Tigue Percussion.

NYC Unicycle Festival, Saturday and Sunday, 12 pm to 5 pm, South Battery Parking Lot
The 2013 NYC Unicycle Festival rolls onto Governors Island on Labor Day weekend. Activities include races, competitions, exhibitions, a variety of unicycle sports including unicycle basketball and hockey, world-famous riders will display their skills, and members of the public have the opportunity to try one—wheel riding.

Free Bike Monday, Monday, 10 am to 6 pm, Colonels Row & Yankee Pier Landing
Experience miles of car-free biking with a set of rented wheels fit just for you. Bike and Roll offers rental bikes all weekend for all sizes and abilities, including kids’ bikes, kids’ trailers and four-seater quadcycles. On Labor Day Monday, however, visitors can enjoy Bike and Roll’s Free Bike Monday by borrowing a cruiser bike for free for up to one hour!

Free Kayaking, Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm, Pier 101
Brought to you by the Downtown Boathouse, enjoy some fun time out on the water with this summery activity featuring beautiful views of New York Harbor!

Remember, the East River Ferry is a great way to get from Queens, Brooklyn and Midtown to Governors Island. Check the full schedule to plan your next trip!

Other Events This Weekend Include:

Rising Waters: Photographs of Hurricane Sandy presented by The International Center of Photography and the Museum of the City of New York, 12 pm to 6 pm, Building 19
In collaboration with the Museum of the City of New York, ICP presents an exhibition of photographs of the damage and recovery from Hurricane Sandy. Drawn from an open call for submissions from the public that has drawn over 5,000 submissions, the exhibition includes work from professional photographers as well as community members and bystanders who photographed the effects of the devastating storm and the subsequent recovery efforts.

Fête Paradiso, 10:30 pm to 6:30 pm, Nolan Park
For the first time in the US, a spectacular collection of vintage French carnival rides is open to the public here on Governors Island! The Parisian experience is free to visitors both young and old at this magnifique fairground festival complete with French music and cuisine!

FIGMENT Summer-Long Installations, 12 pm to 5:30 pm, Parade Ground
All weekend enjoy the interactive Sculpture Garden, artist-designed Minigolf Course, City of Dreams Pavilion, and the Treehouse in the the Parade Grounds.

Better Than Jam Handmade Gifts Shop, 11 am to 6 pm, Nolan Park, Building 16
The Brooklyn boutique of all locally handmade products brings the creations of New York City’s most talented artists and crafters to the beautiful and historic houses of Nolan Park. This weekend, the crafting gets creative at a free workshop of collage card making with Astrodub on Saturday from 1 pm to 4 pm!

The Skate Truck NYC, Sunday and Monday, 11 am to 6 pm, Buoy Parking Lot
The Skate Truck NYC provides roller-skating equipment, helmets and safety equipment to skaters of any age. Skate for fun. Skate for health. Skate for life!

Terreform ONE: Governors Hook Urbaneering Exhibit, All Day, Building 110
Check out LMCC’s art center exhibit portraying future innovative architecture, urban design, and landscapes.

Children’s Museum of the Arts, 11 am to 3 pm, Nolan Park
Come to Nolan Park for the Children’s Museum of the Arts’ Free Art Island Outpost.

Pop-up Library & Outdoor Reading Room, 12 pm to 6 pm, Green next to Building 114
Settle in with a good book at the pop-up library and outdoor reading room presented by the Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Public Library and NY Public Library.

WWII & NYC: Photography and Propoganda, 10 am to 6:30 pm, Building 18
Through hands-on activities and moving photos, this exhibition, presented by the New York Historical Society, paints a vivid picture of life in war-mobilized New York, when virtually every industry, institution and home was transformed into a venture to support Allied victory.

Lower Manhattan Cultural Council Presents Building 110: LMCC’s Arts Center at Governors Island, 11 am to 5 pm, Building 110
LMCC and its artists-in-residence welcome audience to Building 110′s Gallery and their studios. Discover new artists, engage in the artistic process and simply enjoy the art in this stunning setting this summer. LMCC is also the lead presenter of the River to River Festival, a four-week, multidisciplinary arts festival throughout Lower Manhattan.

Get the full list of Governors Island exhibits and programs on our website. Looking forward to seeing you on the Island!

This Weekend on Governors Island: Rite of Summer, Civil War Weekend

The Rite of Summer concert series continues this weekend on Saturday at 1 PM and 3 PM (photo from Rite of Summer)

This weekend on Governors Island, visitors will enjoy classical music, history, carousels and so much more.

On Saturday, catch the Homage to Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, presented by Rite of Summer. In honor of the seminal work’s hundredth anniversary, Ljova & Friends and the Fireworks Ensemble will perform re-imaginings of the piece in Colonels Row at 1pm and 3pm. The concert is free!

Commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of the US Civil War on Governors Island Saturday and Sunday 10am to 6pm. Living historians with the National Parks Service will offer a glimpse of Civil War life as a solider with camp, musket and cannon firing demonstrations, as well as educational activities for the whole family.

On Sunday,  join us at Earth Matter’s Compost Outpost in the South Battery, where they will combine 11,000 lbs of neighbor food scraps with an equal amount of Governors Island (GI) yard waste to build a compost windrow down the center aisle.