Adopt A Neighborhood - Southern Islands

August 4th

This year I decided to reinstate my "Adopt A Neighborhood" monthly excursions. For the few of you reading this that live far away, I pick a different area of the city each month, particularly one that I would have no other reason to visit, and just sort of wing it. Along the way I've acquired a loyal adventure group and they have made these explorations a ton of fun! Thanks peeps!

Since I can't take up too much space, you can go here AAN Photos to see the full set. There are some really great skyline shots as well as some funny silly ones included there.

Anyway, this past Saturday we began our day with a quick boat ride out to Governors Island. In the heart of New York Harbor, it's just off the southern tip of Manhattan and really close to previously "adopted" Red Hook, Brooklyn. One of the most historic locations in New York, Governors Island was one of the first settlements of the Dutch West India Company in 1624 and became a strategic coastal fortification in the early 1800s through the recent past. It offers the best view of the lower Manhattan skyline, the harbor, the cranes at the seaport and Statue of Liberty.

It is also full of open nice green space, lots of trees, old random buildings, and very few people. They host a concert series on Saturdays and a lot of people were there just enjoying the extra space, shade, and free tunes.

After a few hours wandering, we all hopped the super orange ferry out to Staten Island for a AAA Yanks game.

Before heading in to the stadium, we spent some time down near the water. Some really gross crap washes up on the shores of SI.

But they do have a really tasteful memorial to SI 9/11 victims.

It was a beautiful night, the game was totally entertaining and for $13, you couldn't beat the view. We got to see all the large ships coming in and out of the harbor and the sun set on the entire skyline.

As an added bonus, we experienced THE most amazing moonrise! The ferry was moving too fast for the shutter to stay open long enough to really catch a clear shot, but I think you'll get the idea.