Birds of Inwood - Visit Teri's new blog about birds!

Birds of Inwood - Visit Teri's new blog about birds!
A visual journey exploring the birds of Inwood and Northern Manhattan

A Big Moon Rises Over the East River: The View from the Seaport, with a Legendary Film

On a night in New York City when the moon draws close to the earth, it makes sense to head for the East River if you want to see the moon rise. While the moon will technically not turn fullest until Monday, June 23 at 7:32 a.m. ET, the moon looked perfectly fine last night. And large.

View of the East River and Brooklyn Bridge Park from the South Street Seaport. 8:23 pm
Look for the big pale moon in this picture.

There it is.
The moon over Brooklyn. 8:24 pm

The perigee full moon, or so-called "supermoon," recurs every 14 lunar months. Last evening, I surmised that a good place to watch the moonrise would be somewhere south of the Brooklyn Bridge on the Manhattan side of the East River, maybe at the South Street Seaport. The ideal time would be near sunset. And, so it was.

The moon, 8:35 pm


Though thousands of people were partying at Pier 17 last night, few seemed to be watching the moon. On the other hand, many people there appeared to be feeling the full moon's legendary effects.

The moon over Brooklyn, 8:39 pm


Moon rising higher. The Brooklyn Bridge is on the left. 8:50 pm

The moon over Brooklyn and East River. 9:05 pm

On Fulton Street, I stopped to watch an outdoor screening of Casablanca. The screening was part of the South Street Seaport's Front Row movie series. In contrast to the raucous laughter emanating from the pier, the scene here was quiet and reverent. You know, the screenplay never gets old. I wager I have seen Casablanca many more times than I have watched a perigee full moon. It was extra special to see them together.

Watching Casablanca. 9:22 pm.
The moon is on the upper right of the picture.


"Tell me, who was it you left me for? Was it Laszlo, or were there others in between? Or - aren't you the kind that tells?"

Watching Casablanca, 9:22 p.m.

"If it's December 1941 in Casablanca, what time is it in New York?"

Watching Casablanca, 9:24 p.m.


"Major Strasser: Are you one of those people who cannot imagine the Germans in their beloved Paris?
Rick: It's not particularly my beloved Paris.
Heinz: Can you imagine us in London?
Rick: When you get there, ask me! 
Captain Renault: Hmmh! Diplomatist! 
Major Strasser: How about New York? 
Rick: Well there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn't advise you to try to invade."

Dialogue from Casablanca (1942). Director: Michael Curtiz. Screenplay: Julius J. Epstein, Howard E. Koch, Philip G. Epstein.

Images by Walking Off the Big Apple from the evening of Saturday, June 22, 2013. Made with a Canon Rebel T3 with 55-250mm lens. A set of nine hi-res pictures in this set on Flickr WOTBA.

Official site: South Street Seaport. A lot is happening at the Seaport this summer, so visit the website for changes and special events.

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