I had a lot of fun being a last-minute replacement guest on a great New York City podcast last night, Rediscovering New York. You can watch it here via Facebook Live. The subject was Saboteurs and Spies, and I covered the Civil War in New York as well as WWI and the Black Tom Island explosion in 1916. My fellow tour guide Robert Brenner was also a guest covering WWII and those pesky Nazis in Continue Reading →
A story dominating the news this month is about how the U.S. Army has ten posts named for Confederate Generals. A second story is the only Army post in New York City, Fort Hamilton, has roads named for Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson. Because I wrote the book about Governors Island and have spent untold days visiting and leading tours of New York’s greatest park, it got me to examine why this post, which Continue Reading →
I have paid my respects to the Confederate soldiers buried in Brooklyn. Oh, you didn’t know that more than 500 war dead who served in the Confederate States of America are interred there? There are more Confederate graves in New York City than any other place in the Northeast? I’ve been waiting to talk to a couple of reporters for two days, since I wrote a book about city war memorials, and give tours of Continue Reading →
Last summer I started work on a project that is small in scope but means a lot to me. Today I submitted the final grant application information to the U.S. World War I Centennial Commission for what I am calling the Governors Island World War I Memorial Project. Last year when my book The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide was published I was not done with the island, which is by far my favorite park in Continue Reading →
I am happy to announce that my latest book has been nominated for an Apple Award, presented by the Guides Association of New York City. This is a big honor for me and my book, The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide: Adventure and History in New York Harbor. This is the second consecutive year I have been nominated for an Apple Award; last year I was also up for the award for The Algonquin Round Table Continue Reading →
I meant to share this photo on the blog in July, when it was taken. I was invited to attend the ribbon-cutting of The Hills, on Governors Island, on July 19. It was a fantastic event. Incredible turnout. It was also hot as blazes, in the mid-90s. I wore a t-shirt and was under-dressed. As the event was ending, folks were posing with Mayor Mike Bloomberg for selfies. It was my chance. I thrust my Continue Reading →
I am signing copies of my new book The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide (Globe Pequot Press) on Saturday and Sunday, May 28 and 29, from 11 AM to Noon both days. The location is a national historic landmark, a city landmark: Castle Williams on Governors Island. The fort is part of the Governors Island National Monument and is run by the National Park Service. The rangers have free tours of Castle Williams. I’ll be in Continue Reading →
Last night I was proud to have an intimate launch party for my new book The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide. It was held in Red Hook, Brooklyn, within sight of the Island itself. The venue was Kevin’s Red Hook, 277 Van Brunt Street. I picked the restaurant because this is who runs Little Eva’s on Governors Island Liggett Terrace, my favorite restaurant on the Island. All of my walking tours end here with cold ones Continue Reading →
I’m happy to say that today my sixth book comes out, The Governors Island Explorer’s Guide. I started writing it in 2010, but put it aside because there were so many changes taking place on the Island. If it had come out a few years ago, it would already have been out of date. But thanks to my editor at Globe Pequot, Amy Lyons, we got the book completed in near-record time. I’m glad the Continue Reading →
The wait is nearly over! The publication date for my new book, Governors Island Explorer’s Guide: Adventure & History in New York Harbor, is just one month away: Eight easy-to-follow maps cover all 172 acres of Governors Island. Also included is information about planning a trip, ferry service, where to eat, and bicycle paths. Learn the history of Castle Williams and Fort Jay—protecting New York since the 18th Century. Read a guide to the island’s Continue Reading →