Lots & lots of city island pics and the #6 train ride too. Enjoy!:

 

 

first is some city island background – thx to wiki & forgottenny:

 

City Island is a small island approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) long by 0.5 mi (1 km) wide. At one time attached to the town of Pelham, Westchester County, it is now part of the New York City borough of the Bronx. As of the 2000 census the island had a population of 4,520.[1] Its land area is 1.023 km² (0.395 sq mi, or 252.835 acres).

 

The island has the look and feel of a small New England fishing village (I agree -- it’s true), with no spot more than a few minutes walking distance to the water. Most businesses are clustered along centrally-located City Island Avenue.

 

Originally inhabited by the Siwanoy band of Lenape Indians, City Island was later settled by Europeans as part of property and estate bought by English nobleman, Thomas Pell, in 1654. Prior to that, English settlers led by Anne Hutchinson (seeking religious freedom) settled in an area nearby on the river (now known as the Hutchinson River) in 1642.

 

After changing hands several times, in 1761 the Island (at that time known as Minefer's Island), was bought by Benjamin Palmer of New York. Up to this point the island had been inhabited by only a few homes and farms. It had a population of about 1000 people, who tended farms and livestock. Palmer had the vision of developing the island into a port, which could rival that of New York. He knew that ships heading north and south passed City Island using Long Island Sound as a safe inshore waterway. He envisioned shipyards, and stores that could cater to the ships. He went as far as to have the island mapped out in different plots designated as shipyards, docks, business, farms, homes, schools, and houses of worship, along with streets, paths, and access routes. He then appealed to the British Crown and received a patent that covered the ownership of waterfront properties 400' out from the high tide mark under water, around the perimeter of the Island. This patent, known as the "Palmer Grant" is unique to City Island; it has been contested in courts since, but has always held up.

 

Palmer is also responsible for changing the name from Minefer's Island to City Island in anticipation of things to come. However, Palmer's vision never fully materialized as the timing just before the American Revolution halted all progress, and the war depleted the capital of Palmer and his investors. It would be another sixty years before the island again started to be developed when oystermen, Hell-Gate pilots, and eventually shipbuilders arrived and introduced these industries.

 

Many of the boats which competed and won in the America's Cup in years past were built in The Minneford Boat Yard on City Island. Today the island is best known for seafood restaurants.

 

ok -- speaking of seafood, since we just came from orchard beach this thread starts at the end of city island at it’s most popular joint, the awesome johnny’s reef!

 

out back are some views from the end of city island - looking south at the throgg’s neck bridge

 

this one is looking east at the long island sound, note the old lighthouse out there

 

I dk how they could stand it outside as it was 95 scorching degrees  :-o

 

Later johnny!  :clap:

 

Heading up city island avenue, sammy has a lock on these blocks

 

I see the new bus stops have made it out here

 

They aren’t kidding about lots of restaurants --

it’s funny I’ve even been in many of them as we tend to have a lot of work parties out here

 

A catering hall business

 

You can see to the water from all the side streets

 

As you would expect lots of marinas ring the island too & they do like to stack’em up

 

Visitors stick to the ends of the island, locals keep to the mid-island “downtown.”

 

Waterfront inspired buildings  :laugh:

 

No high school, but they do have a public school

 

There was a flea market going on downtown

 

On the left is city island’s skyscraper (1895)

 

Off on a side street facing the sound

 

fwiw pelham cemetery is ny’s only waterfront cemetery

 

Some sort of old mysterious jules verne bathyscaphe?  :laugh:

 

The closed up city island museum was formerly p.s.17 until 1975

 

Still downtown, but Back on the main drag again

 

Flea market band in the downtown park

 

Water based businesses

 

Some city island homes:

 

samuel pell house (1876)

http://historicpelham.blogspot.com/2005/04/samuel-pell-house-on-city-island-once.html

 

 

Ahhh gotta love those sunken garages  :roll:

 

This rambling residence at the island's northern tip was once the home of the North Wind Undersea Institute, a museum that held old scrimshaw, shark jawbones, the 100-year old Andre Guillet tugboat, and aquariums featuring rare blue lobsters and some sea turtles. It was run by former Navy Seal Michael Sandlofer.

 

City island bridge & some stuff on the north end of the island

 

That’s all for city island -- time to go

 

The scratchitti’d pics on the #6 train home are facing west this time

 

Is that a patch of grass in the Bronx? What?  :laugh:

 

 

Castle hill pj’s

 

Parkchester aka the bronx’s version of manhattan’s middle class stuy-town complex

 

Almost back to whitlock station, the last above ground stop

 

*** I hope you enjoyed a city break on city island & the ride home ***

 

Damn.. very nice, definitely wanna check it out.

i like city island!

Thanks!

Looks like a nice break from Manhattan.  Almost New Englandish.

Quite a contrast! Looks like a delightful escape.

damn, talk about coverage!

City Island might be the coolest secret of NYC. The diversity of people that live and shop there is worth the trip alone.

 

Mr. NYC, have you ever glimpsed the boats that go to Hart Island? I'm assuming it's still a big "keep off" zone over there but it's amazing and somber stuff. One of the more fascinating stories of New York.

Yeah, City Island looks like a very fun area!