Bugsy Malone-style vehicles are available for hire on Governors Island, and on Fridays some basic cruiser bikes are available free of charge. The free bike hire is sponsored by Transportation Alternatives.

Also tomorrow, Saturday the 23rd, is the last chance to enjoy Summer Streets, where miles of Manhattan roads are closed to cars. Now you won't have to deal with bike lanes being used by cars for cell-call stops.

The Battery Dance Company brought the Downtown Dance Festival over to Governors Island today. There will be more free performances tomorrow, Sunday August 17th.

We have already been impressed with just how surreal Governors Island can be, but this weekend it was the site of some of the most remarkable juxtapositions we've seen so far.

There was a great view of this afternoon's storm from Governors Island. 

Wow. Not only was today the 26th Mermaid Parade down at Coney, but Governors Island
became Punk Island for the day. My shins took a beating at punkfest, but the camera
survived. Slide shows and more pictures to follow soon. I heart NYC.

On May 31st Governors Island opened up to the public for the summer. Today we took our push-bikes on the free ferry and crossed over the river into the Jazz Age. Michael Aranella and the Dreamland Orchestra were playing to an authentic and beautifully turned out crowd as we arrived.

Most of the old island homes are open for you to wander through. 

There is also an outside sculpture exhibit presented by the Sculptors Guild, which has to be seen in amongst the grand and empty architecture. 

It is amazing how much open space you can enjoy on the island. Picnic on the abandoned golf course anyone?