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Published on 9/5/08
Sometimes blatant marketing stunts end up being pretty cool...
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THE BASICS
The New York City Waterfalls
Dates: Thu 26–Oct 13
Hours: Daily 7am–10pm (the falls are lit at sunset)
Locations:
1. Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn anchorage
2. Governors Island by Soissons Dock ferry landing
3. East River near Pier 35 (north of Rutgers Street), Lower East Side
4. East River near Piers 4 and 5, Brooklyn Heights
BEST VANTAGE POINTS
Manhattan Bridge pedestrian walkway
Pier 17, South Street Seaport
Battery Park City Esplanade
Fulton Ferry Landing, Dumbo, Brooklyn
Brooklyn Heights Promenade between Joralemon and Remsen Sts
FACTS AND FIGURES
The four waterfalls pump out a total of 35,000 gallons of water per minute. That’s pretty puny compared with the 35 million gallons per minute cascading down Niagara Falls, but vastly more impressive than a New York City fire hydrant, which sputters out a mere 1,000 gallons.
The biggest waterfall, located between Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn, is 120 feet tall, just 31 feet shy of the Statue of Liberty (sans pedestal) .
The privately-funded project costs $15 million—a bargain when you consider the $21 million shelled out for Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s The Gates.
TOURS
Circle Line Downtown Water Tours
Pier 16, South Street Seaport (866-925-4631, circlelinedowntown.com)
Free half-hour tours of The New York City Waterfalls are offered daily 9am–8:30pm and include taped audio commentary from Eliasson. Space is limited, though, and advance registration is required. Hour-long tours aboard the Zephyr aren’t free, but they cover more territory ($25, seniors $23, children $15).
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Pier 83, W 42nd St at Twelfth Ave (212-563-3200, circleline42.com). Two-hour tours daily 11:30am, 3:30, 7pm; $16–$27. Three-hour tours daily 9:30am–4:30pm, $18–$31.
Not to be confused with Circle Line Downtown, this 63-year-old operation offers leisurely two- and three-hour harbor tours. Or, for $50,000, you can book a private Waterfalls package that includes a gold-encrusted bottle of Dom Pérignon, diamond earrings from Tiffany & Co., Knipschildt truffles, dinner courtesy of Daniel Boulud’s Feast & Fêtes catering, and a stay at one of Gotham’s snazziest hotels. Um, how much for a rowboat and a night at HoJo?
Classic Harbor Line Yacht Cruise
Pier 59, W 18th St at the Hudson River (646-336-5270, sail-nyc.com). Mon–Wed 6:30pm; Thu, Sat, Sun 2:30, 4:30, 6:30pm; Fri 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 8:45pm. $40–$50.
See the waterfalls in style (as well as the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and other harbor attractions) aboard the 80-foot Manhattan. It’s a hell of a lot classier than riding the Staten Island Ferry—and with complimentary champagne, a lot more fun.
New York Water Taxi Tour
Pier 17, South Street Seaport (212-742-1969, nywatertaxi.com). Mon–Fri 11am–5pm; Sat, Sun 11am–6pm. $25, seniors $20, children $15.
A water taxi isn’t the most glamorous way to see Eliasson’s masterpieces, but this 60-minute jaunt gets you close enough to feel the spray on your face. Want some turf with your surf? For $45, you can rent a bike for up to four hours and see the sites from the shore. Then return your two-wheeler to the NYWT kiosk at South Street Seaport and take the boat ride at no additional cost. (Bikes available 10am–6pm daily.)
GRRR
Mon, Aug 25, at 09:11am
As I lifelong NYer, I love this city and all it has to offer. But these waterfalls are positively uninspiring. You see water... I see scaffolding. This guy's no Christo. His Gates were the stuff of wonder, turning Central Park in Winter into a big, beautiful strolling party.
amanda
Tue, Jul 01, at 08:05am
My friends and I took a happy-hour sailing trip on the Shearwater, out of the WTC marina. It was a really lovely evening, with beer and wine, and we were able to see 3 or the 4 falls, the Governor's Island and Brooklyn Bridge falls at close range. Not quite a full tour...but not nearly as touristy, either...
amanda
Tue, Jul 01, at 08:05am
My friends and I took a happy-hour sailing trip on the Shearwater, out of the WTC marina. It was a really lovely evening, with beer and wine, and we were able to see 3 or the 4 falls, the Governor's Island and Brooklyn Bridge falls at close range .
Laurie
Mon, Jun 30, at 07:19am
The Water Taxi is not recommended - although they will sell you a ticket for a particular time online, there is no guarantee that you can get on that ferry. Be prepared to queue for an hour - that's what we did. And they certainly didn't get us within any spray distances. Just chugged around the harbor for an hour - which certainly was not bad! Falls installation breathtaking.
Leigh
Sun, Jun 29, at 09:37pm
My sources say that it was privately funded by the Bloomberg Corporation.
Anonymous Coward
Sat, Jun 28, at 10:33am
It says that it's a *privately* funded art project.
Perry Miyauchi
Sat, Jun 28, at 02:58am
It's free.
Perry Miyauchi
Sat, Jun 28, at 02:58am
If it's free?
Emily
Fri, Jun 27, at 08:02am
By the way - there is NO Promenade between Remsen and Joralemon. The Promenade in Brooklyn Heights ends at Remsen St. . I believe you meant to say between Remsen and Montagues streets where the viewing is very good.
John
Thu, Jun 26, at 04:29pm
By the way...the Rocks Off Boat Cruise is another way to see the waterfalls and hear great live rock music...
http://rocksoff.com/
KevinV
Thu, Jun 26, at 04:28pm
It's not a waste. This money was from art funding programs and would have never ended up financing schools of public transportation.
Richard
Wed, Jun 25, at 08:34am
Irene--
Any interest in a cruise this weekend?
Richard
eric
Wed, Jun 25, at 12:05am
what an effin waste. couldn't this money have been used to improve city schools or public transportation or ANYTHING ELSE WORTHWHILE?
