Results tagged “georgewashington”

Beloved forefather George Washington was nothing but a criminal, and stole over $300,000 from our country! At least, that's with calculated inflation. Washington allegedly checked out two books from the New York Society Library on East 79th St over 200 years ago, and has yet to return them! But that's nothing compared to the heartbreaking news for Tea Partiers that Washington was just a liberal Nazi socialist using the big government institution of a public library. more ›

It may be The Battle of Long Island to England and the rest of America—including Queens—but from Bath Beach, where the Brits landed 20,000 troops, to East New York, where they executed the nifty turn that outflanked the rebels, it's known as the Battle of Brooklyn—if it's known at all. This weekend "Brookland" (as it was known) offers a series of events that promise to show how "the Kinges Countie" became anything but—including a reenactment of the battle itself, redcoats and all, in Green-Wood Cemetery. more ›

Looks like typo fever has taken hold of the city. First a subway mosaic with a 72-year-old error was spotted, setting spellcheckers into a frenzy, and now the NY Post points out an 82-year-old error carved into stone on the Manhattan Supreme Courthouse. more ›

While the folks in DC have the real front row seat to history today, New Yorkers were once at the center of the Inaugural events. Our own Joe Schumacher looks back to April 30th, 1789 when George Washington took the oath of office at Federal Hall on Wall Street; his address from that day can be seen here (transcript). By giving an address he began a tradition that's been followed by every elected president after him (four years later he delivered the 2nd one, which still holds the record for the shortest at 135 words). This morning New Yorkers gathered on the steps of the historic address for a special ringing of the NYSE bell. more ›

CityRoom points out that 225 years ago, the last of the British Red Coats "left from a longboat in the Battery after occupying the city for seven years. Happy Evacuation Day!" more ›

The Battle of Brooklyn (also known as the Battle of Long Island) was the "largest of the American Revolution" and was fought after the Declaration of Independence on August 27, 1776. For the 232th anniversary, the battle was re-created at Green-Wood Cemetery (the Minerva Statue is on Battle HIll). WNBC reported, "Re-enactors in period costume demonstrated the use of Revolutionary War muskets and other weapons in Green-Wood's Meadow and the surrounding area near the main entrance." more ›

Why can't a Williamsburg luxury rental building offer, besides a doorman and health club, a nod to the founding of the country? That's what new development The Continental does, and Curbed observes it's almost genius (besides being weird), since "the building is across the street from Continental Army Plaza, which has a statue of him at Valley Forge." No word on whether landscaping will include cherry trees. Funny sidenote: Christopher Walken as The Continental. more ›

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A landmark Tottenville home that caused a bitter fight between its owner and neighbors has entered a new stage of its existence: foreclosure proceedings. The Staten Island Advance reports John Grossi, who bought the 1869 Bedell House in hopes of razing it to build townhouses, is happy to let the bank have the building, "I won't put another dime into the property." more ›

Today is a federal holiday honoring the birthday of first president George Washington. Washington was actually born on February 22, but in 1971, the holiday was "shifted to the third Monday in February, by the Uniform Monday Act" (per Wikipedia). Given that Abraham Lincoln's birthday is February 12, some state governments call the holiday "President's Day." And then the marketers got involved, making this day for sales as well and many presidents in one fell swoop. more ›

WWOR/channel 9 got a wake-up call that it's supposed to be a New Jersey TV station when the FCC held a hearing about the station's license renewal. Critics say the station's license shouldn't be renewed because it has failed to discuss NJ news and issues. The station, owned by News Corporation whose local media holdings include WNYW/Channel 5 and the NY Post, was moved to NJ in 1986 due to FCC law that each state... more ›

We hope all of you, whether you have stayed in the city or have traveled to spend the holiday with loved ones, have a happy and safe Thanksgiving. While, for many people, Thanksgiving is about the bounty of food, football games, or the start of the holiday shopping season, it's also a good opportunity to appreciate your life. The History Channel has an extensive website about the history of Thanksgiving (with video). Scholastic's school-children-targeted... more ›

There have been a few ads in the NY Times weddings section that spoof the real wedding announcements. For instance, we believe we recall a few for divorce services, but less ironically, there have been ads for marriage-related movies, like The Starter Wife. And this week, there's an ad for an upcoming wedding on the ABC comedy Ugly Betty. Of course, the ad is a lot wordier than the usual NY Times wedding announcement, but any mention of Wilhemina assistant Marc St. James is worth the extra ink. more ›

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a pedestrian struck at White Plains Rd. and 219th St. in the Bronx, an animal incident on Rochelle Pl. on Staten Island, and a hate crime at Columbia University in Manhattan. A tour of Jam Master Jay's studio, where the rap impressario was gunned down five years ago. A brief update on the unforgettable case where a man beat the bejeezus out of a grunting and yelping spin class... more ›

Three-year-old Curlin, jockeyed by Robby Albarado, won the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic yesterday after finishing the 1 1/4 mile race with a home stretch run that ended with a 4 1/2 length victory. Curlin set the track record for the distance at Monmouth Park, despite conditions that were left sloppy after days of rain. It was an exciting race, with Curlin even with Street Sense coming out of the final turn--both chasing front runner Hard Spun. Unfortunately, a great race was marred by tragedy. Irish import George Washington, who was a turf runner competing on dirt for only the second time, severely broke a bone in his right front leg. It was necessary to euthanize the animal on the track. more ›

Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a white powder incident at 25 Beaver St. in Manhattan, report of a large crowd gathered at the center of the south side of the George Washington Bridge's upper level, and an explosion in the basement of a building at 77th St. and Lexington Ave. in Manhattan. Dedicated bike paths and fences separating them from traffic can only do so much when a cab driver really wants to take... more ›

Of all the forbidden sites that were opened for public viewing last weekend in the 5th annual Open House New York program, the High Line was one of the crown trophies. It offered rare views of the city, sexy industrial details, and the mysterious allure of a wild grassy flying carpet that won't open until at least a year hence. Built during the same era (early 1930s) as the Empire State Building, the George Washington Bridge and other Gotham landmarks, could this elevated former freight railway become a comparably iconic amenity? more ›

Sen. Clinton proposed awarding every newborn American with a $5,000 bond that could be invested and allowed to grow to a sum that could be redeemed for educational or home buying needs when they reached adulthood. It became a point of widespread criticism for the Senator for New York, even among those who are politically sympathetic. The Daily News quotes a professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University saying "Oh, what a blunder, big time." Republicans piled on, seeking to paint Clinton as a traditional tax-and-spend Democrat. With approximately four million Americans born every year, Clinton's plan could cost upwards of $20 billion annually. more ›

Historical ecologists and research cartographers are using historical pre-Revolution military maps produced by the British to create a 21st Century digital rendering of the topography of Manhattan in the 17th Century, before the arrival of European colonists. The New Yorker has a slideshow of a number of images that are attempts to show Manhattan as it was occupied solely by Lenape Indians. The basis for the topographical model was drawn from this 1782 map* drawn up by the British military to help defend the colony from George Washington and the Continental Army. The image above is a rendering of what a 17th Century Times Square looked like in comparison to West 42nd St. today. more ›

Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse, better known to many as the Little Red Lighthouse, is located right under the George Washington Bridge, in Fort Washington Park. And the Parks Department is having the 15th Annual Little Red Lighthouse Festival today between 12PM and 5PM, with hayrides, face painting, the antics of a stiltwalker, live music, and tours of Manhattan's only lighthouse. more ›

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• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a homicide on Melrose Ave. in the Bronx, a lightning strike at 82nd Ave. and 249th St. in Queens, and a hate crime on the walkway of the Williamsburg Bridge.
• 25-year-old former model and current vice president of the Trump Organization Ivanka Trump was appointed to the board of directors of Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. A recent New York Times column noted that investors in Trump's casinos would have lost 93% of their money since the company went public in 1995.
• Two people were rescued from the Hudson River yesterday after they fell from a jet ski just south of the George Washington Bridge. A helicopter was needed to pluck a 25-year-old woman clinging to pylons after being swept downriver by the strong current.
• NJ State Senate Majority Leader Bernard Kenny Jr. was found severely injured on a street in Hoboken this morning. Kenny was jogging this morning when he stepped in a pothole and broke bones in his pelvis, leg, and face.
• A new limited bus line on Staten Island will enable mass transit between Eltingville in New York and Bayonne, NJ.
• NY Sen. Chuck Schumer thinks FAA chief Marion Blakey should be forced to resign, citing growing flight delays at area airports.
• Curbed notes some religious real estate development and marketing by Orthodox Jews in South Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
• The area around the Chelsea Health Clinic on 28th St. and 9th Ave. is reportedly overrun by rats.

The New York Public Library is closed today––it is a national holiday––but New Yorkers should be proud to hear that the main branch on 42nd St. and 5th Ave. has been entrusted with one of two surviving copies of the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson himself. The document is a handwritten duplicate of the document signed in Philadelphia 231 years ago, asserting the original thirteen colonies' indepedendence from England and starting the American Revolution. more ›

Staten Island needs some cheerleaders every once in a while, especially after their ice cream flavor was named after their landfill. The NY Times has a piece on the borough's historian, "Brooklyn has Walt Whitman to sing praises of its 'ample hills.' Manhattan has Woody Allen to capture its outsize style and neuroses. And Staten Island? Well, Staten Island has Thomas W. Matteo for a borough historian to chronicle its glories, its goofs and, yes, its landfill." more ›

Yesterday, a suicidal man on he George Washington Bridge caused traffic delays up to two hours. Newsday reported that the man was "armed with a box-cutter razor climbed a bridge cable, slashed his arms and wrists repeatedly and threatened to jump," but police officers were able to talk him down. We wrote about New York bridge jumpers last month. more ›

Two bridges spanning the Hudson River just north of the city will be getting suicide prevention phones instead of physical barriers following three fatal leaps in close succession earlier this year. The phones to be installed on the Tappan Zee and Bear Mountain Bridges will be connected to a 24-hour suicide prevention hotline. Plans for installing physical barriers were turned down as being too expensive to install and maintain. more ›

Remember how the Port Authority wanted to put Geico ads on various toll booths at the George Washington Bridge? Maybe it's a good thing that plan was scotched, because now the Port Authority is considering elmination of tollbooths at all Hudson River crossings. From the NY Sun:

The plan, which is expected to reduce traffic bottlenecks on the highways leading into the city, would complement Mayor Bloomberg's proposal to charge drivers a fee to use the city's most crowded streets, Port officials said. The Port Authority would use the same camera technology to charge drivers that the city is planning to use if it implements congestion pricing.

The dust-up over Rudy Giuliani's waffling over abortion is small political beans in comparison to a liability he cannot possibly shrug off. Rudy Giuliani is an unapologetic Yankees fan, and people outside of NYC (and some within the confines of the city) HATE the Yankees. With a passion. There's a fabled Broadway musical called "Damn Yankees!" and it's not about Paul Revere or George Washington. To the hometown fan and natural supporter, Giuliani's support for the Yankees (and he appeared at the Mets home re-opener following 9/11, which preceded the Yanks') seems like a no-brainer and genuine. Other policiticans from parts farther afield have donned Yankees caps and looked ridiculous. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery on Amboy Rd. on Staten Island, a shooting on Lexington Ave. in Brooklyn, and a water rescue in the area of the George Washington Bridge, near Manhattan's 176th St.
• The Italian boyfriend of actress Anne Hathaway is being sued by a business partner for misusing $1.3 million of a joint venture fund, spending it on things like private jet trips with his girlfriend and subsidizing a lavish lifestyle.
• Former police officer Charles Schwarz completed his five-year prison term and was released from a halfway house where he finished it. While always maintaining his innocence of any involvement in the attack on Abner Louima that occurred while the man was in police custody, Schwarz agreed to a plea deal just before starting his fourth trial.
• Rudy Giuliani's getting it from both social conservatives and liberals after equivocating on questions of abortion during this week's Republican Presidential debate. Critics from both sides stressed that there is no middle ground in the debate.
• Ten current and former members of the M.T.A. Police Department are suing the agency, alleging discrimination against black and Hispanic officers.
• A ruptured 48-inch underground pipe near the Yonkers train station spewed as many as four million gallons of sewage into the Hudson River today.
• We thought stoners were immune to these types of impulses, but an LSU student was arrested after he made repeated threats of a violent attack against Senator Clinton, who is scheduled to be in Baton Rouge today. He was also found posessing marijuana and drug paraphenalia.
• The possible remains of six more WTC victims were found by recovery workers. Four potential body parts were found in material dug from beneath a service road and the potential remains of two more people were found on the roof of a Cedar St. building.

The rain may be keeping people in, but by the looks of theNY Times Weddings announcements, many local weddings were yesterday. more ›