Spanish-American Institute

Student Club Newsletter

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June, 2008			Vol. 4, No. 6
	NYC in June for Free June-September. River to River Festival, 100s of free events in Lower Manhattan. (see right column). Sundays, 6-9 pm. Let’s Dance. Free salsa, swing, and hustle lessons by top instructors from the Soho Dance Studio in Riverside Park. 1,2,3, A trains to 72^nd St. and walk west to Riverside Park on the Hudson River. May 31/June 1, Saturday 6 pm-Sunday 6 am, Bang on a Can 12 Hour Marathon. Ear-twisting music by many different artists. Winter Garden, World Financial Center. See school bulletin boards for directions Mondays, 6-8pm, Outdoor Concerts on the Hudson River, Pier 84 at 44^th St. Free kayaking as well (see right column.) Friday Evenings, 6/6-8/2, 7-9pm, Sunset on the Hudson with Guitar Man David Ippolito, enjoy the beautiful sunset and mellow music on one of NYC’s most picturesque grass covered piers. Christopher St. and Hudson River in Greenwich Village, 1 train to Christopher St. and walk west to River. June 1, Sun. noon-5pm, Latin Dance Spectacular, South Street Seaport, South and Fulton Streets, 2,3,4,5,J,Z,M trains to Fulton St. A or C to Broadway-Nassau. Walk East on Fulton June 3, Tuesday, 6-9pm, Museum Mile Festival. 5^th Ave. from 82^nd-105^th St. Free admission to the Metropolitan Museum, Guggenheim, etc, and lots of music & outdoor activities. June 6, 13, 20, 27, etc. 7-10pm, Free Fridays at the Rubin Museum of Art, NYC’s museum of Himalayan art. 150 W. 17^th St. between 6^th/7^th Ave., 1 to 18^th St., 1,2,3 to 14^th St.. June 7, Sat., 11am, Mayor’s Cup Cricket Tournament, New Canarsie Cricket field, Canarsie Park, 80^th St. and Seaview Ave., Brooklyn, June 7-8, Sat.-Sun., Atlantic Avenue ArtWalk. Tour open studios, gallery shows, art projects, and special events on Brooklyn’s Atlantic Ave. featuring over 200 artists. 2,3,4,5,B,Q to Atlantic Ave/BAM Station or Court St./Borough Hall; N,R,M,D to Pacific St./BAM Station, etc., and walk along Atlantic Ave. June 7, Sat., 11-7pm, Red Hook Waterfront Arts Festival, enjoy the sea breezes, breathtaking views, and entertainment, Louis J. Valentino Park and Pier, Coffey and Ferris St., Red Hook, Brooklyn. June 8, Sat., Folk Feet Circle ‘Round Brooklyn, Dance workshops and performances including dance traditions from many countries, Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn near the War Martyr’s Monument, DeKalb Ave. and S. Portland. Summer Downtown in Lower Manhattan—NYC’s First Neighborhood NYC began in Lower Manhattan over 400 years ago. By the 19^th Century, New York City was America’s leading shipping port. Today, it is home to the South Street Seaport, Wall Street, the World Trade Center site, the World Financial Center, etc. as well as some of the oldest and most historic buildings in NYC. Almost every subway line stops somewhere in lower Manhattan. For free downtown maps and information, visit information booths near the Path Station entrance at the World Trade Center site, on Broadway near Park Row at City Hall Park, and at the Staten Island Ferry. Father’s Day Sunday, June 15. A Father’s Day joke--One evening a little girl and her parents were sitting around the table eating supper. The little girl said, "Daddy, you're the boss, aren't you?" Pleased, her Daddy smiled and said “yes.” The little girl continued "That's because Mummy put you in charge, right?"	River to River (R2R) Festival Hundreds of free indoor and outdoor events take place all summer downtown between the Hudson River and the East River. See listings on school bulletin boards. See maps below and on School Bulletin Boards. Many events take place in Battery Park or inside the World Financial Center’s (WFC) Winter Garden and Courtyard at the north end of Battery Park. Sit in the Winter Garden among the palm trees and enjoy the food court, exhibits, concerts, and beautiful views of the Hudson. Or enjoy a summer stroll outside through the 34 acres of Battery Park along the Hudson River. One Bowling Green, near northeast corner of Battery Park. 4/5 trains to Bowling Green, N/R to Whitehall, 1 to South Ferry. 1/2/3 trains to Chamber St. Kayaking on the Hudson Get Ready to—Kayak! –Weekends to October 19, 10-5 pm. Also some weekday evenings. You can kayak for free thanks to the New York City Downtown Boathouse. The Boathouse provides all equipment free at three locations on the Hudson River. You will learn to paddle in a safe enclosure on the water. You must know how to swim. Wear light clothing. The three Boathouse locations are: q Pier 40--at the Western end of Houston St. on the Hudson River side of the West Side Highway (1 train to Houston, A/C/E to Canal St.); q Pier 96--at 56th St. in the Clinton Cove Park at the West Side Highway and 56th St. (1/A/C/E to Columbus Circle and walk west to West Side Highway); q Riverside Park at 72nd St.—cross West End Avenue and take the 72nd St. stairs down into the Park, follow the walkway to the Hudson River, then walk north towards the 79th St. Marina until you come to the Boathouse. (1/2/3 trains to 72nd. St.) More information on Bulletin Boards or: www.downtownboathouse.org Statue of Liberty. See the Statue of Liberty from Battery City Park and pass close to her on the Staten Island Ferry. The 305 foot tall statue was a gift from the people of France to the USA to celebrate French-American friendship during the American Revolution. The broken chains at the Statue’s feet depict escape from tyranny [government by a cruel ruler with complete control]. The seven spikes in her crown symbolize the world’s seven seas and seven continents. The torch in her right hand symbolizes liberty. The tablet in her left hand reads “July 4, 1776,” the date of American Independence from British rule. Today, people from other countries usually arrive in NYC by plane. However, in the 1800s to the mid-1900s, most immigrants arrived by ship at Ellis Island in New York Harbor. One of their first views of America was the Statue. Museum of the American Indian While downtown, visit the free National Museum of the American Indian, open daily from 10 am-5 pm. The Museum is located in the US Customs House, one of the most beautiful buildings in Manhattan. The building itself is worth the visit. The exhibits portray the artistic culture of native Americans. One Bowling Green, near northeast corner of Battery Park. 4/5 trains to Bowling Green, N/R to Whitehall, 1 to South Ferry. Staten Island Ferry Stroll from Battery Park to the Staten Island Ferry. Ride the ferry free 24 hours a day. The trip takes 30 minutes each way. Sit outside and enjoy the cool ocean breezes and views of the Manhattan skyline, Governor’s Island, and the Statue of Liberty. (1 to S. Ferry. Ferry pier at Whitehall and Water Streets on southeast corner of Lower Manhattan.)