Saturday, July 19, 2008

NYC Waterfalls Art Project - A View From Brooklyn

Last weekend I went to the Brooklyn waterfront to get some photos of the temporary art project exhibit called the New York City Waterfalls. The waterfalls were designed by the internationally acclaimed artist Olafur Eliasson.

This project, commissioned by the Public Art Fund and presented in collaboration with the City, will be on display from June 26 through October 13, 2008. It features four 90- to 120-foot-tall waterfalls installed along the East River. Fish and aquatic life are protected by filtering the water through intake pools suspended in the river

The Waterfalls will flow daily from 7am to 10pm, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 10pm.
(Click on all photos to enlarge)

Since I was already in the DUMBO (down under the Manhattan Bridge overpass) neighborhood in Brooklyn, I walked down to that waterfront first to take some photos of the Manhattan Bridge.
There is a nice walkway located there that has some good views of the bridge. A few different subway lines go over this bridge connecting Brooklyn to Manhattan, and there is always lots of car and truck traffic, so the sound can be quite interesting when you stand underneath the bridge!

This is the waterfall on Pier 35 in Manhattan, as seen from across the East River from Brooklyn.
Then I walked from the Manhattan Bridge towards the Brooklyn Bridge. You can faintly see the waterfall at this point.
A nice view below of the Manhattan skyline from Brooklyn. If you remember my blog post about July 4th, I was standing on the Pier 17 that you can see in this photo, taking photos of the waterfalls from the Manhattan side that day.

Getting closer to the Brooklyn Bridge from the east side.

Close up of the Brooklyn Bridge east anchorage waterfall.....it created a little bit of a rainbow as I was taking the shot looking into the sun.


The next few photos are a little out of order, but I wanted to show you the pretty walkway and park, and views you can have from the Brooklyn waterfront of lower Manhattan skyline. It really is a lovely place to take pictures of the city skyline.

Another view of the Pier 35 waterfall.


An artist was making an interesting twig sphere in the park.


A little man made "pebble beach" along the East River -- no swimming allowed!

Another view of the east side of the Brooklyn Bridge waterfall.


A pretty bride having her photos taken with a NYC skyline and Brooklyn Bridge background.


Now I approach Fulton Landing, where in 1642, men in rowboats served as the first ferries crossing the East River currents to shuttle early New Yorkers back and forth between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Then in 1883 the Brooklyn Bridge was opened to pedestrian and horse and buggy traffic. Today you can still walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, on a walkway above vehicular traffic, and I highly recommend doing that if you visit NYC!
This is The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, housed in an old fire boat building on Fulton Landing. There are always long lines to buy some fantastic ice cream! Also if you remember my blog post about "The Slice Of Brooklyn Pizza Tour" the first pizzeria stop, Grimaldi's, is located right down the block from the landing.
Now I am on the west side of the Brooklyn Bridge waterfall! What a good view! It sounds so wonderful!

In the photo below, you can see The Manhattan Bridge in the background, and The Brooklyn Bridge waterfall and the building at the bottom is part of an elegant restaurant called The River Cafe, which has a beautiful view of Manhattan and New York Harbor with an outdoor terrace and an indoor water garden. Seeing the NYC skyline lit up at night is so magical, so this is the place to have a very special romantic dinner if you visit NYC.

A water taxi about to go under the bridge.

New this year, and in the process of being expanded, is a brand new park extension of the Brooklyn waterfront, called Brooklyn Bridge Park It was outfitted with picnic tables and umbrellas and it even had a bar selling beer, wine and soda and water, and some free outdoor concerts will be held here at different times of the summer season.

What a wonderful place to enjoy some nice summer weather, some great views of the city, and to just watch the river traffic go by!

Remember the water taxi? These lucky passengers got very close to the waterfall!

I loved the views of the waterfall from this angle, so I took quite a few photos of it.

You can see two waterfalls in this photo at the same time.


The East River has quite a bit of traffic -- barges, tugboats, taxis, sightseeing boats, fire and police boats, coast guard, private yachts and sailboats, etc.

This is the view of the New York Harbor and The Statue of Liberty looking from the Brooklyn Bridge Park.

We are now driving home on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, and we pass one more waterfall located between Brooklyn Piers 4 and 5, and adjacent to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.

You can see my camera in our car's side view mirror if you enlarge the photo!
There is one more waterfall included in this arts project that is positioned next to the north side of Governor's Island in the New York Harbor, but I could not get a good photo of it from a Brooklyn vantage point. It is pictured in my blog post about July 4, however.

I hope you found our NYC Waterfalls cool and refreshing, and I hope you, too, can get a chance to see them in person, before they disappear!

26 comments:

Susie Q said...

This was wonderful Pat! I loved seeing all of these pictures. I have heard about the waterfall and
what a fun new feature for the area!

Thank you for sharing all of this!

Love,
Sue

Unknown said...

Great photo tour and comments Pat.
I don't think I'll make it up there before Oct., so your post is probably as close as I'll get to seeing them! I can't imagine how they must look and sound in person. Thanks for posting,
Diane

Picket said...

I loved those pics..coming here is like the best history class ever! lol Oh that one with the bride was gorgeous! Hope you are having a great weekend friend!

Rosie's Whimsy said...

What a great idea! That's got to be beautiful and refreshing to see and hear in person!

((hugs)) Rosie

Vee said...

How beautiful those waterfalls are! I very much enjoyed seeing all your photos today. Have a great Sunday!

Unknown said...

Hi Pat...me again!
I have an award for you when you have a minute...I didn't see one of these on your site!
Stop in when you can,
Diane

steviewren said...

My son and DIL have put NY on a short list of possible places to celebrate their 10th anniversary next year. I made a note to tell them about the restaurant you recommend with the romantic views of the city skyline.

Another great post!

Alexandra MacVean said...

Good morning, Pat.
These falls are simply beautiful and relaxing. I wish I were there to sit under them (even though I can't swim) and let it just soak me and wash away my fears.
Thank you for sharing. I hope you have a beautiful day.

Anonymous said...

Pat, each one is magnificent. I wish they could remain.

Sandi @the WhistleStop Cafe said...

I think it cooled things down here by just looking at the pictures. Thanks for taking us along!

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

Great pictures and post Pat! I've seen the waterfalls on the news...it's and interesting art project.

Debi said...

Hi Pat,
Thanks so much fro visiting my blog the other day! Your pictures are wonderful! I just LOVE that waterfall! I use to live in Manhattan and enjoyed every
minute of it.Everyday was a new adventure! Looking at your phots was a real stroll down memory lane for me.
Thank you so much for sharing your fabulous day!
I'll be back soon!
Hugs,
Debi

Michelle said...

What a fun place to visit! I enjoyed my tour ..

Michelle

Strider said...

What a great post. You always do such a great job as a "tour guide" for all of us "outsiders." Thanks so much for putting forth the effort to bring us interesting views of the city and even mixing in a little history.

Kathy said...

Pat These waterfalls look amasing, I have just stopped by quickly to let you know that I have a special award for you and hope you drop by to pick it up, I will return to finishing reading your post tomorrow, good night and hugs, Kathy.

Joanne Kennedy said...

Oh I just love love love coming to your blog. But I have to tell you every post about NY just makes me want to go and stay at least a month. I so want to get to know the city much better. You know I long to be a true NY gal.

Those waterfalls are so awesome. They look like they would make a loud roar as the water pounds down. Do they?

Big hugs.
Joanne

Unknown said...

Love love love to go there!! Beautiful Pat and tks for sharing :)

Tara said...

Hi Pat

This looks great! Please stop by my blog, I have an award for you!

:0) Tara

Kathy said...

Oh Pat I should have mentioned one of the rules for accepting this award is to mention the link to Gail at http://squaredoff.blogspot.com/
as she originally created this award. ooppsss, sorry. Kathy.

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Hi Pat!
Awesome photos of the waterfalls and the bridge! Looks like you could spend a whole day just sitting and relaxing and watching the river & waterfalls. The River Cafe looks like it would be so fun and enjoyable! I have to put that on my list!
Thanks for the wonderful sites Grandma! You know, Grandma's Rock!!
Hugs, Grandma Sherry

Edie Marie's Attic said...

Ok, I looked at the River Cafe's menu and prices and I think I will only be able to see it from the outside in the daytime, with a burger from the street vendor! LOL
Question: How did you get your favorite blogs to come up with their last post on them? I think that is so clever. It really helps to tip you off on the most recent posts of others!
Hugs, Sherry

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful art project! I love waterfalls- the sound the power and the beauty.

Marg said...

I appreciate you giving us this comprehensive tour guide of NY
When you you only have 3 days to tour, you don't get to see all those details.

Alexandra MacVean said...

Hi Pat. :)

Proud Italian Cook said...

Thanks for taking all those photos Pat, what a great view you gave us of all those waterfalls that I would not normally see. Loved it!!

Lavinia said...

How cool and refreshing these waterfalls photos look to my dry eyes!