City Island, Bronx - Misplaced Pages

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City Island is a small populated island approximately 1.5 mi (2.4 km) long by 0.5 mi (1 km) wide located in the Borough of the Bronx in New York City, New York. It is located in Long Island Sound, south of Pelham Bay and east of Eastchester Bay. It is adjacent to nearby Westchester County, New York.

The small island adjacent to the northeast of City Island is called High Island and is owned by Time Warner Inc. and is connected to City Island by a sandbar that emerges at low tide and a private bridge. Two AM Radio Transmitter towers for WCBS AM 88 and WFAN AM 66 are located on High Island causing radio interference on telephones and Hi Fi's.

The body of water between City Island and the even smaller (and uninhabited) Hart Island to the east is known as City Island Harbor. A Ferry for Hart Island Prison, operated by the NYC Dept. Of Corrections, is piered on Fordham Street. Stepping Stones Lighthouse, marking the main shipping channel into New York, is off the southern tip of the island.

As of 2004, the island has a population of about 4500.

130 years ago City Island was known as Greater Minneford Island.

Description

The island has two supermarkets, one gas station, one bank, an elmentary school, Public School 175, a Roman Catholic Grade School, a U.S. Post Office (10464) and a firehouse, but no police station. There are three churches, and a synagogue. There is a branch of the New York Public Library. The branch is probably the smallest branch in the entire system, even after the recent expansion which doubled the size of the building. City Island has it's own small newspaper called "The Island Current" which is printed about 10 times a year. It's address is P.O Box 6 City Island Station. The island has many Antique Stores. There are many Community Access Beaches at many dead end streets. Most Community Beaches are illegally locked.

Bridges and Public Transportation

City Island is connected to the mainland by the City Island Bridge, a single 2-lane bridge. A small footbridge connects City Island to High Island.

This City Island Bridge was originally a turntable bridge over the Harlem River to Manhattan Island but was moved to where the old wooden bridge was. The City Island Bridge crosses what local residents call the City Island Channel, a waterway that connects Eastchester Bay with Pelham Bay. This 101 year old bridge has been condemned and is due to be replaced with a modern Cable-Stayed design with two tall mastlike towers. The far end of the City Island Bridge touches down in Pelham Bay Park, which is where The Battle of Pell's Point occurred during the American Revolutionary War.

Public transportation consists of the Bx-29 bus run by the New York City Transit Authority, and an express bus run by the New York Bus Service. The Transit Authority does not even show City Island on its subway map .

Local Businesses and Attractions

The island famous for its seafood dining, notably for lobster. Notable restaurants include Johnny's Reef Restaurant, Seafood City, Sea Shore Resaurant, The Harbor Inn, Tito Puente's, Sammy's Fish Box, The Crab Shanty, Tony's Pier Restaurant. It also has big charter boats for fishing, though the Sail and Power boating industry has been declining in recent years as boatyards are being sold and being turned into condominiums.

The Island has several landmarks like Samuel Pell Mansion on City Island Avenue near St. Mary Star of the Sea Church and has a number of old Victorian mansions complete with spires and gables such as Delmours Point on Tier Street.

Boating

The island has four yacht clubs, all situated on the Eastchester Bay side of the island. They are, from North to South, the Harlem Yacht Club, Stuyvesant Yacht Club, City Island Yacht Club, and Morris Yacht and Beach Club. The Touring Kayak Club is on the West side of the island. There are two active sail lofts (Ulmer-Kolius and Doyle). The island also has several commerical marinas.

Many of the boats which competed and won in the America's Cup in years past were built in Minneford Boat Yard on City Island. The Eastchester Bay Yacht Racing Association is the major organizer for sailboat races in the area.

Interesting Facts

The island has earned the nickname "Cinema Island" for the numerous films and television shows that been shot on the island. Films shot there include Long Days Journey into Night, starring Katharine Hepburn, Awakenings with Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, and Love Is All There Is starring Lainie Kazan and Angelina Jolie. Television series include Coronet Blue. An episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent called Sound Bodies was also filmed there and was based on a real-life incident of several teenagers who drowned in Long Island Sound. Many TV Commercial have also been filmed in City Island. It has the telephone exchanges of 718 885 (Verizon)and 347 427(Cablevision).

Notable residents of the island include Oliver Sacks who wrote the Book "Awakenings" which was filmed on Marine Street at his home. Famous former residents include announcer Big Wilson, writer Ernest Hemingway, actors Harry Carey Sr. and Harry Carey Jr.

City Island also has a Mute Swan named Audrey that talks like a Parrot and can actually speak "Good Morning" and is now locally famous. It is the only known talking Swan on Earth.

External links

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