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.

 

 

 

 

 

Weekend Preview: RECESS Bocce, African Film Festival and Much More

African Film Festival returns this Sunday with dance classes, needle arts and selected short films.

This weekend on Governors Island really has something for everyone.

On Saturday, come to Colonel’s Row  as another set of 32 teams compete for the bragging rights of RECESS 2012 Bocce champions. LINUS is back with brand new bikes for free test rides around the island, and there will be lots of treats to try — Grandaisy Bakery will bring their assorted delights, Je & Jo ice cream will be here and there will be plenty of evian on hand too. If you get tired of cheering and want a piece of the action, feel free to jump in on a few of the open public courts.

And on Sunday, head out to the African Film Festival. There are tons of activities planned – from Afro-Brazilian dance classes to storytelling and learning how to double dutch. All events take place in Colonels Row from noon to 4:30 PM.

As always, bring your bike, or rent one and enjoy all of the art exhibits and activities throughout the Island!

 

Dave Matthews Band Caravan, Bocce and the African Film Festival Come to the Island

Visitors learn traditional African dance at the African Film Festival

UPDATE: The African Film Festival was postponed due to Hurricane Irene but is now rescheduled for Sunday, September 25. All activities will go on as planned at the end of the month!

There are always a great mix of programs happening on Governors Island and perhaps not more so than this weekend which will feature an array of musical, artistic and recreational experiences for all Island visitors.

The Dave Matthews Band Caravan will be playing on the South Island Fields on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Island will of course still be open to visitors who aren’t attending the concert and who want to bike, picnic, see free art exhibits and enjoy the rest of Island programs during our regular public hours. For those of you coming to see the Caravan, the concert producers are running special ferries for ticket holders.

On Saturday, watch a game of bocce on Colonels Row, sponsored by RECESS. And on Sunday, the African Film Festival returns with lots of great activities for visitors of all ages including free short films showcasing talent of the African Diaspora and fun activities like African dance classes and Double Dutch, storytelling and affordable African cuisine.

Where else in New York City can you hear Dave Matthews play, join a game of bocce and test your fitness with a game of Double Dutch? Come out this weekend and enjoy all of these great activities.

(sandpaper paddle table) Tennis, anyone?

UPDATE (06/21/09): THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN. Please join us for the next RECESS event on Septmber 26!

Photo taken from http://www.recessnewyork.com/badminton/photos/ Photo Credit: Jason Lewis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

August 22nd, Saturday: RECESS Table Tennis Noon to 5PM

“RECESS is back this Saturday August 22nd at Colonels Row, this time with a sandpaper paddle table tennis challenge. The game itself is currently going through a renaissance but for the RECESS showdown, we’ve decided to put a little twist on the game, a sandpaper version that will even the playing field and co-ed friendly. As usual, 32 teams from the creative community will be battling their way to the finals, but there will also be open public tables to test your skill at the sport, paddles provided. LeGamin and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream food truck, as well as Function Drinks are back again for food and refreshments to keep everyone hydrated and well fed. While you’re out on the island, take a spin on the highly coveted series of PUMA Biomega bikes and test ride them, we promise its going to change the way you feel about urban transportation!”

Earlier this summer RECESS hosted a massive badminton championship. The photos can be viewed here. It was a huge hit and we are so excited to have them out a second time. If you can’t make this one there will be bocce on September 26th.

RECESS

Recess is coming to Governors Island this Saturday for intense badminton competitions. This is the first of a series of events that will happen this summer. The other two Recess days will be August 22nd with table tennis and September 26th with bocce. There is a lot to look forward to. The event will take place in Colonels Row. You can register between 11:00AM and 12:00PM, and the games run from 12:00PM to 6:00PM. So grab a birdie and come out to play!

Colonels Row

This is what the Josh Spear had to say about the event:

There are plenty in the creative arena who scoff at the idea of sport, likening athletic competition as entertainment for uncivilized mongrels. However, when the chasm between brute force and artistic inspiration is bridged, some wonderful things can occur. The Lawn Series from Recess is a refreshing and original happening aiming to eliminate the gap between endlessly inventive artisans and the arena of athletics. For three glorious days during the sweltering NYC summer on Governor’s Island, playful pastimes will overtake the creatively inclined as they attempt to best one another in exhilarating events such as badminton, table tennis, and bocce. In addition to the flowing of the competitive juices, each event will be met with some pretty kick ass sponsors as the likes of Tretorn and Puma will be putting their stamp on the festivities while Biomega and Kronan will be on hand to offer bike test rides. Count us in and bring it on. The first day of competition is June 20th. We’ll see you there…unless you’re afraid of defeat.