Staten Island Shows Off A Few Of Its Many Wonders
On July 29th, eighteen adventurous Greeters headed for Staten Island on the Staten Island Ferry - and we proceeded to experience the time of our lives.
We were met by our guide, Doreen Cugno, in the lobby of the grand St. George Theatre, opened in 1929 to compete with the glorious theatres of Manhattan. Designed in Spanish and Italian Baroque styles, its winding staircases and fabulous décor includes resplendent stained-glass chandeliers. The theater showed vaudeville acts and movies; Al Jolson, Kate Smith and Guy Lombardo all performed there.
The theater was mostly unused in the 1980s and 90s, and many times it faced demolition to make way for new buildings. However, in 2004, Doreen’s mother Rosemary Cappozalo, a ballet teacher, along with Doreen and her sister, Luranne, formed a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the historic theater. Rosemary donated her life savings, and they were able to acquire federal, city and state funding, as well as individual donations and much community support. A David and Goliath story if ever there was one.
Doreen introduced us to her colleague, Joe DeAngelis, who took us behind the scenes. We went up on the stage, up to the dressing rooms, then backstage to see a wall with hundreds of scribbled autographs of the theatre’s star performers from over the years!
After more than an hour experiencing the historic theater, and with our stomachs growling, we headed for Empire Outlets, the city’s only outlet shopping mall, and the home of Clinton Hall.
The family-friendly restaurant has enormous outdoor space where kids can play games. Adults can appreciate amazing views of the NYC harbor and enormous outdoor bar.
Next stop, a baseball game! The Staten Island FerryHawks played the Lancaster Barnstormers. Our seats were so close to home plate we could see amazing details, all set against magnificent views of Manhattan in a gem of a waterfront ballpark.
Everything is so close on Staten Island: the St. George Theatre, Clinton Hall, the Staten Island FerryHawks, the Empire Outlet shopping mall – all a five-minute walk from the famous Staten Island Ferry. And speaking of the Staten Island Ferry, this world-famous New York City icon is free! The Ferry offers stunning views of Lower Manhattan, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Governors Island. Our heartfelt thanks go to former board member Travis Noyes who sponsored the baseball tickets and recommended the theatre tour and restaurant.
Great fun. Great prices. Group tours of St. George Theatre are only $7.00 per person. Staten Island FerryHawks baseball tickets are $16.00. Events at the St. George Theatre are much less than Manhattan events. In this age of raging inflation, Staten Island’s wonders…are wonderful!