Marie Fromage

It’s the Bee’s Knees – Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island

One of the best New York City summer events around is the Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island. The bi-annual picnic, now in its sixth year, is organized by Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra who is also featured as the main event.

Period costume is optional, but many folks went all out and donned their 1920s glad rags.

There were vendors hawking vintage clothes and jewelry, food (overpriced and lines were long so it’s best if you bring your own) and beverages – soft drinks and beer, along with St-Germain Elderflower Liqeur, a refreshing & boozy alternative.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But star of the show was the music! Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra featured a big band playing vintage jazz age dance music that made it hard to sit still. 

Another crowd pleaser was the Brooklyn-based sassy ragtime jazz of Gelber & Manning that really got the group on their feet.

Seriously good times and here’s something I learned – there is actually a jazz age scene going on in the city.  I was aware of a couple of bands that specialized in fun old-timey tunes (check out The Two Man Gentlemen Band, The Lucky Dogs, and Lauren Ambrose & The Leisure Class to name a few) but there is an entire vintage party circuit one could plug into. Turns-out there are a number of people who would rather party like it’s 1923 and here's a sampling (Wit's End, Gypsy Jam, The Champagne Riot). Who knew?

Now beat it four-flusher, I’m cutting a rug with my baby.*

Click here for more information about the Jazz Age Lawn Party.

 *(To help you fit-in when you hit the parties, here's a handy guide to jazz age slang)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2007-2012 Marie Fromage All Rights Reserved; Photos by Marie Fromage except where noted.

Stress-Free with a Side of Sea Spray

Brilliant.  That’s that best way to describe the SeaStreak high-speed catamaran ferry from Manhattan to Martha’s Vineyard.  Hop-on where E. 35^th Street meets the East River and five stress-free hours later hop-off at Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. The transition from harried New Yorker to a relaxed and smiling vacationer begins the moment you climb aboard.

Think about it - while everyone is sitting in traffic on I-95 and then waiting at the Cape Cod ferry terminals, you are kicking-back with a cocktail on the top of a lovely boat with a beautiful view, the sun and sea spray on your face.  Or stay below and watch one of the family-friendly movies screened during the journey.  Or read.  Or sleep.  Or just stare out the window.  The calming choices are endless!

The weekend-only seasonal ferries depart Manhattan at 4:45pm on Fridays and leave Oak Bluffs on Sundays at 4:45pm (departing from the Steamship Authority Terminal), which makes spending just a weekend on Martha’s Vineyard a reasonable proposition. No car necessary! Taxi vans are waiting to whisk ferry riders away to all points on the island.

And here’s a delicious tip – before heading home make a stop at Nancy’s in Oak Bluffs for one of the most sublime lobster rolls EVER.

If SeaStreak could just make a stop in Chatham my world would be complete.

SeaStreak ferries to Martha’s Vineyard from New York City operate from Memorial weekend to Labor Day weekend, with the final run of the season taking place during Columbus weekend. www.seastreak.com