Yorkville's Best Shade Station Demolished

Yorkville’s best shade station is gone. East of Gracie Mansion at 88th Street where the flagpole over looks the river, the Drive begins its curve down to the old fire boat pier. On the outside of the railing ten feet towards the river are two stone landings with grass surfaces. There, scrub trees and scrub bushes grew up and over the walkway providing shade from the sun and hiding lovers from whoever. The shade station went back to the 1940s after the construction of the FDR Drive. It’s gone.

No more peek-a-boo through the branches with the bridges and the Lighthouse on Roosevelt Island. No more escape from the heat. I assume it was a maintenance decision, but it’s a great loss to Yorkville fans who grew up loving the spot and anyone in the neighborhood who still enjoyed it.

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My story, "Over Her Dead Body," is part of "Have a NYC 2,"a terrific new anthology from Three Rooms Press.

This Friday, May 3rd at 6pm, Three Rooms Press, is throwing a book launch party at Cornelia Street Cafe. $8 admission with a free drink.

Please come down and help us celebrate the book's release and hear NYC 2's contributing writers read their New York City tales.