Monday, August 10, 2026 0 Brooklyn Ferry Fun: Good Eats & New Sights

By admin

A Sailing from
 
Roosevelt Island

Monday, August 10, 2026

Judith Berdy


Issue # 1728

A hot summer Sunday. I stopped off at the kiosk where have been very busy selling cold water to visitors or the last 2 months. I decided Ellen would be at kiosk this afternoon and I was off to take the ferry. The site of gorgeous sallboat passing was another motive to make me set sail

After a quick ferry ride, I was into Building 77 at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. On a quiet Sunday Russ & Daughters was open and ready to serve my need for appetizing. I left with bages, smoked salmon, whitefish salad,ruggelah and some other delicacies. I tasted some and decided it was time to take an Uber tothe Weir Greenhouse outside Green-Wood Cemetery.

When exiting the Navy Yard, I spotted the Sand Street entrance. All entrances to the yard are secured and you must have permission to entrance. Remember for over 200 years the yard has buit ships and served military and civilian needs therefore the restricted entrance to most areas.

The gates were restored in 2015 and one of them now is home to the Kings County Distillary venue and distillary in the old Paymaster Building, nearby.(Open for tours and tastings)

While traversing Brooklyn of the very deteriotated BQE, I spotted the bridge that has been in service since 1883, Thanks Roeblings!

This mural was the only distraction from the onslaught of high rise structures blocking the harbor view.

(not my photo) There it was! After decades of starts and stops the greenhouse is now a visitor center for the Green-Wood Cemetery. For years the buiding was closed and an eyesore, finally the cemetery acquired the remains of the building and how it is fully restored and a visitor center is adjoining.

Inside the greenhouse is a large multi sided room with the wonderful glass walls and images of the cemeteries history on the walls. There is seating and guests are welcome to bring snacks and refreshments.

Adjoining the reception area is a gallery with the history of Green-Wood, displays and relics of times past.
It is a great illustration of how Green-Wood was developed and the importance it is to our countries and cities history.

In an adjoining gallery is the wonderful installation CELADON LANDSCAPE by Jean Shin

Thousands of broken celadon pottery surround the works and you can recognize some and a few still in their original unbroken state.

The R train station is only a block away from Green-Wood.  This abandoned house was en-route, straight our of a Halloween movie…and very spooky looking.

Happily the R train was running thru Roosevelt Island this Sunday, so I did not have to change trains, thus I had about a 24 station ride back to Roosevelt Island.

THE LOSS OF A DEAR FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR

It is with a heavy heart that we notify you that our longtime volunteer, Pilar Sierra, has passed away on Thursday, August 6th. Pilar will be missed dearly by the Roosevelt Island Older Adult Community. Her family has kindly invited the community to attend. All memorial details have been posted outside the Older Adult Center. 

“Wherever a beautiful soul has been, there is a trail of beautiful memories.”

-Roosevelt Older Adult Center 

CREDITS

Judith Berdy

All image are copyrighted (c) Roosevelt Island Historical Society unless otherwise indicated
THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.

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rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com