A Little Red Lighthouse

Under the George Washington Bridge?

----New York for Kids Part 3----

Dear Postcard from New York Reader,

There is nothing like a visit from one's grandchildren to push your creative day planning skills into hyper mode. We’ve done all the playgrounds within a three mile radius, as well as museums and zoos in the outlying boroughs. They now wanted something different; actually, we all wanted something different.

I cannot recall which Internet link I followed, but I arrived at a site that gave me information about seven lighthouses that once guided ships up the Hudson River (the seven do not include the Statue of Liberty, possibly the best known beacon for harbor bound sailors in the world). It would take a whole day’s activity to visit them all, as they stretch up the river as far north as Hudson-Athens, but there’s one really famous one right here in New York City.

The Little Red Lighthouse sits under and slightly south of the George Washington Bridge, on a little bump in the west side of Manhattan. I presume the bump is the source of the light’s formal name: the Jeffrey's Hook Light. It was built in 1920, 10 years before the bridge was completed, and it was the second lighthouse to be erected on the site. The bridge, when opened however, rendered the small beacon “unnecessary,” and it was deactivated in 1947.

Before the light was turned out, the Jeffrey's Hook Lighthouse was immortalized in Hildegarde H. Swift’s book The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge. Millions of children who came to love the little lighthouse after reading the now timeless classic, created a public outcry at the plan to destroy it. Eventually, it was saved, and ultimately gifted to the City of New York.

So I had my objective, and our day planned. Since I thought I knew how to find the bridge, we headed out. It didn’t occur to me that a landmark whose photographs clearly show to be on the south side of the bridge, could not be approached from the south. But no matter; we were on an adventure of discovery.

After we found the streets of Washington Heights south of the bridge, a helpful woman with a baby carriage suggested we try the other side because "there was no lighthouse here!" It was true; the Henry Hudson Parkway and the other approaches to the bridge blocked every street we started down; with enthusiasm still running high, we decided to head north.

To be continued...

Henry Waxman
For Postcards from New York

Address to Remember: The Little Red Lighthouse, Fort Washington Park, 178th Street and the Henry Hudson Parkway, New York, NY 10033, dial 311 and ask for the Urban Park Ranger.

Directions: From Times Square MTA A to 175th Street. Follow directions above to the Lighthouse.

Photo by Henry Waxman

©Copyright 2008 The Cable Group

Come to the Carousel

A leaping frog keeps pace with the galloping horses

----New York for Kids Part 2----


Dear Postcard from New York Reader,

All it takes is a brief glance at the colorful brightly lit merry-go-round on the south side of Bryant Park behind the New York Public Library to put a smile on your face and tempt you to skip over and jump on the back of one of its moving animals. Now image hanging on to one of the poles, you fling your head back and watch the world go round and round. Whee-e! But no, you hesitate, you'll look foolish. People will think you have lost your mind.

A little kid as cover is a great way to disguise your secret desire to ride the carousel until you're dizzy. If you do not have a three, four or five year old, adopt one. Get a friend to make you an honorary aunt or uncle. If you do have a youngster, the carousel makes a terrific play date with other mom's for a fun-filled couple hours. The little ones will want to experience the backs of all the animals as this carousel has leaping frogs, rabbits and cats as well as horses.

Safety rules are strictly enforced; little kids must be strapped in, no riding backwards, side-saddle or two on an animal. No matter, goal accomplished, you get to ride the carousel for as long as you like and feel like a kid again. Notice the other adults who stand outside the carousel and watch the laughing children with wistful eyes and longing grins.

Keep tiny fingers warm, pick up hot chocolate and fresh-from-the -oven pumpkin muffins from Zeytinz's across the street. A child-friendly choice for Mom's after the park is Le Pain Quotidien. Try the delicious Belgian Hot Chocolate or have a cup of hearty organic soup. Rustic pine furniture, country French decor and comfortably-spaced-seating accommodate baby strollers.

Jacqueline Cable
Postcards from New York


Address to Remember: Bryant Park, 42nd Street and Avenue of the Americas. Carousel rides $2.00. Visit web site to learn more about the parks events like free tai chi classes, music and dance performances, poetry and book readings http://www.bryantpark.org/.

Zeytinz, 24 West 40th Street, New York, NY http://www.zeytinz.com/, 212-575-8080.

Le Pain Quotidien, 70 West 40th Street, New York, NY http://www.painquotidien.com/, 212-354-5224.

Directions: From Times Square MTA 7, to Fifth Avenue or S to Grand Central, a short walk toward Avenue of the Americas.


Photo by Joseph Knight


©Copyright 2008 The Cable Group

Everyone's Private Palace

Oh! Those Majestic Lions
----"New York for Kids" Part 1 ----

With the Christmas season over, the long months of winter are a great time for indoor activities. In the next few weeks, Postcards from New York will feature a series of great places to visit and enjoy with your youngsters.

*********************************************

Dear Postcards From New York Reader,

It has been awhile since your last Postcard, so let me officially wish you "Happy New Year!"

Proud, regal, majestic, their luxurious manes ruffled by the wind, El Polter’s two lions, named Patience and Fortitude by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, stare down their noses at us beneath hooded eyelids. Like two elder statesmen, they stand guard at the marble stairway entrance to the city’s only palace, The New York Public Library (NYPL) at Fifth Avenue and 41st Street.

“What is this place?” asked Holly Golightly as her friend Paul led her up the stairs in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961). Then as now, NYPL is too often overlooked as a terrific place to spend an afternoon; particularly with kids from 5 years to teenages, it is met with an anticipation of boredom (just insist on taking them, someday they will thank you).

While one can only roam the splendid rooms of the Louvre or Buckingham Palace to admire the many works of art, you can actually use this palace. Return again and again as often as you like, because it is open seven days a week, and it's free!

Walk the wide marble halls and go up one of the two grand staircases in Astor Hall to the third floor Main Reading Room. Take a seat beneath the coffered painted ceiling, look up to the sky and clouds; then sit in a high-backed wood chair made smooth and comfortable from decades of wear and explore current or past newspapers, magazines, rare books, prints, hundred year old maps and any book that has ever been published.

NYPL features art, print, and photography exhibits throughout the year. Stop to look at the incredible Gutenberg Bible dated 1455, one of the very first printed books on display on the third floor. Check the reception desks in Astor Hall for daily library tours and plan to attend one of the many lectures given each week on topics such as, "Uncovering your roots", "Genealogy research" or "The history of baseball". Check here for schedule of times. Reservations are not required; just show up.

If you are a visitor and need to check your email, the library provides free Internet access in the Main Reading Room.

Now a few things kids can look up on the library's many computers to make the visit a memorable learning experience. My seven year old niece Chanel became more and more fascinated with words and spent hours on the Oxford Dictionary (OED) computer. If your youngster has trouble, encourage him/her to ask the librarians for assistance, they are readily available and always helpful.

Find three headlines on the front page of The New York Times on the day of your birth.

Find at least five books on a subject that interest you on the computer.

Find a book about a famous person. Fill out the book request form near the computer, submit the form to the book clerk, then wait for your number and pick up the book in the Main Reading Room.

Look up the word “daisy” on the Oxford English Dictionary computer. Where did it come from and when first used? Now, look up any word you would like to know more about.

Find out who said “Give me Liberty or Give me Death.”

In the Map Room on the first floor, find an 1800's map of New York City.

Apply for an access card to use books in the Library.

Have fun!

Jacqueline Cable
For Postcards from New York

Address to Remember: New York Public Library, 476 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10138-0018, 212-930-0653, http://www.nypl.org/. The Library offers a free monthly e-newsletter that will keep you informed about everything exciting that is happening at the library. Sign up at http://www.enews.nypl.org/.

Directions: From Times Square. MTA 7 to 5th Avenue, Bus 42 or 104 to 5th Avenue.

Photo by Joseph Knight

©Copyright 2007 The Cable Group