For all the latest news on sailing trips and what else there is to do in the neighborhood, check out this Classic Harbor Captain's Blog, updated once a week!
Looking for one special event to punt you into the land of Holiday Spiritdom? This annual series, now in its 3rd run, has become increasingly popular among our guests. The heated, cozy Manhattan is just breathtaking this time of year with her interior observatory space in full holiday decore. Poinsettias and lighted garland swaddles the main cabin, while the exterior is fully lit with white lights. She is truly a magical space this December, having hosted several wedding proposals and special family gatherings.
For the Cocoa & Carols/Holiday Jazz Series, guests on what is normally our "city lights cruise", are entertained each night with alternating programming - either the local Chelsea Opera hosts carols, our in-house live Jazz Trio dazzles the crowd with jazzy holiday tunes, or some of our musically-inclined Manhattan Mates lead caroling programming for 20-30 minutes while cruising up the East River on this 1.5 hour cruise.
All guests are also treated to complimentary Hot Cocoa by Jacques Torres, holiday cookies and one complimentary beverage form the bar.
This cruise is a real treat for families and couples. Seeing the city light up at night is an absolute treat any time of year. Secure tickets here: Cocoa & Carols Cruise on the Yacht Manhattan
The parade is open to all mariners. Some local passenger boats are entertaining private charterers, and some, like ourselves, are hosting ticketed events. The Yacht Manhattan will participate in the parade in full holiday decor. It is an ideal cruise for families and couples. While on board guests are entertained with a live holiday jazz trio, light hors d' oeuvres, hot cocoa by Jacques Torres and cupcakes by Billy's Bakery. Click here to buy tickets: NY Harbor Lighted Boat Parade aboard Manhattan
We will be boarding promptly at Pier 62 from Chelsea Piers at 6:00, 11/28. The Parade starts just off the end of our pier at 6:30. The route feature 3 tight double-backs so guests will have plenty of opportunities to see the other boats in the parade. Guests can also expect a close pass by the Statue of Liberty and South Street Seaport.
Today marks the start of the 3rd Annual Classic Week Regatta here in New York Harbor! You can join the race by sailing aboard the schooner Adirondack while she competes! Each day features a special route through the harbor with a competing sloop, yawl, schooner and ketch class. You can see more race details and results on the Manhattan Yacht Club site.
New York City's Channel 11 paid the Adirondack on Pier 62 a special visit this morning to cover this annual sailing race:
For some guests, coming to the West Side on Manhattan is a near burden. Chelsea Piers is a 4 avenue walk from the nearest Subway (the A/C/E along 8th avenue). So, if the best sailing in New York isn't enough of a draw for you, there are a number of other activities to make your "journey" worthwhile.
Many thanks to the Hudson River Park, a wide variety of summer programming has been prepared for the 2009 season. It varies from music concerts and movie showings, to dances and free yoga classes.
If you're joining us for the 6-8 sunset sail August 19th, just afterward you can take advantage of the film "Pineapple Express" being shown on Pier 54 starting at 8:30. The films are free and so is the popcorn!
On Sunday August 23rd, Pier 54 hosts their 10th annual "Blues BBQ Festival" from 2pm to 9pm. Blues bands from across the country perform alongside 4 of the 10 Best New York City BBQ restaurants for a fantastic summer day on the river. Take a break from the feast that day with a New York Harbor schooner day sail offered a 1,2,3:30, or 4:30.
Manhattan's most anticipated public space - a walkway that towers two stories over Chelsea - has finally opened to the public this month.
The new park, called The High Line, leads pedestrians on a concrete path surrounded by intentionally messy-looking gardens or stark, clear views of the city and Hudson River. Though architects, community members and celebrity donors have been meticulously planning the look and feel of The High Line for years, there's an unfinished quality about New York's newest public, open space that is an homage to The High Line's past.
The space has been an eyesore for nearly 30 years, collecting weeds and almost getting torn down by the city. Prior to that, it had been an above-ground railroad, and some of the tracks remain intact.
There are only four access points to The High Line. It runs from Gansevoort Street in the meatpacking district up to 20th Street in Chelsea. This roughly half-hour walk is only part of The High Line master plan. Section 2 will continue up to 30th Street, and is currently under construction.
The cost of the mile-and-a-half long stretch of Section 1 was $86 million, and the entire, finished project is estimated to cost $152 million. While the city chipped in for more than half of the cost, it's been getting major help from celebrities. Mogul Barry Diller and fashion designer Diane Von Furstenberg donated $10 million together, and prompted other New Yorkers to pledge millions.
The High Line began as a long-shot dream of an organization called Friends of the High Line, which formed in 1999. Now, the new park is attracting tons of attention, with star architects lining up to build unique structures in Chelsea. As a result, Chelsea is quickly becoming one of the hottest locations to see new, inventive architecture in New York.
At Classic Harbor Line, we've been planning our big move from Chelsea Pier 59 to Pier 62 for an entire year. We were finally slated to move last week, but construction hasn't been completed on our new pier.
For the next few days, we'll still be operated at Pier 59, and all guests will be notifying when things change. Our ticket booth is no longer at the pier, but we'll have a CHL representative on hand to get you checked in!
Other CHL News:
Jazz musician and CHL mate Michael McGarrill put on a jazz show on our Friday night cruises!
Starting this week, the yacht Manhattan will have on board a new wine, a dry Riesling from the cellars of Dr. Konstantine Frank. The new wine is from the finger lakes, and is part of our plan to showcase new local wines each month!
Dr. Konstantine Frank immigrated from the Ukraine in 1951 and began growing European grapes in the finger lakes region to produce a completely new genre of wine, a movement now known as the Vinifera (European) Revolution. Their wines consistently win top awards in local and national contests, and are still made locally with European grapes.
A new red wine is also coming soon! Take advantage of our Classic Harbor Line summer promotion and get $10 off your next cruises in June by using the code MayJune09 when you purchase tickets online or by phone!
Captain Mary Pat Driscoll, a captain on Classic Harbor Line's yacht Manhattan, is working to promote the Erie Canal - a beautiful manmade waterway that many New Yorkers don't realize still exists!
The Erie Canal opened in 1825, and uses a gravitational system with no pumps to help propel boats up and down stream and connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. For decades, the canal was a thriving place for commercial goods to be transported, but its commercial use has diminished in recent years as transporting goods by truck has become more popular.
Still, many community exist around - and because of - the scenic canal, and Captain Mary Pat helps to raise awareness that the canal and its surrounding areas is a great tourist destination!
Mary Pat has been volunteering for six years to promote the canal: For four years, she flew to New York from her previous home in Kansas to give history tours to fourth graders. After relocating to New York, she was able to join the State Council on Waterways Board of Directors.
Mary Pat grew up in Rochester, New York and her first job was on a tug boat on the Erie Canal. She was instantly mesmerized by the canal and realized she wanted to spend the rest of her life on the water.
The canal is bordered by "tow paths" - lanes originally designated for horses, who would pull boats through the water. Now, the space is a gorgeous bike and walking path.
"You can ride for days just following the water on that path," Mary Pat said.
A painting of the Erie canal done in the 1830s.
The canal has 57 locks - gates that close behind a boat to raise the water level and allow the boat to move forward. The operation used to be funded by tolls, but since commercial use is down, the tolls no longer exist. Today, the Erie generates revenue for cruises and nearby B&Bs, but is having trouble finding funding to stay in business.
But that may start to change. Mary Pat points out that it's cheaper and more ecologically responsible to ship goods by boat rather than truck.
"You can move something with a gallon of diesel on a canal much farther than on a truck," she said.
New Yorkers could start to see the fruit of this change, literally. Upstate farmers are considering sending their fruit to the city via boat as early as this summer!
In April, Mary Pat helped organize an educational event about the canal in Manhattan.
"It was awesome," she said. "It was a packed house."
Because of the success of the first seminar, the State Council on Waterways plans to host another Erie Canal educational event in Manhattan in late summer or early fall. Check back with Classic Harbor Line's New York City blog for information and updates on Mary Pat and the Erie Canal and click here to read more about the history and uses of the Erie Canal!
