Floating Lady and other characters
The promenade was abuzz with activity on Saturday. A glance to the right revealed an unpleasant event—there was a jumper on the Brooklyn Bridge. I wouldn’t have noticed but I overheard someone saying that the pedestrian walkway on the bridge was closed because of it. I could see the police cars at the midpoint of the bridge but didn’t see the guy. (Update: police got him down.)
A bit further down, there was a guy doing tai chi. Couldn’t tell whether he was really into it or not really all there. There was also a guy who had brought a cage full of little birds out to the promenade for a sunbath. A little boy on his way to the playground was most intrigued!
Another interesting find was the “Floating Lady” pool at the pier below the north end of the Promenade. I read a NYT article about this last fall and was amazed to finally see it in Brooklyn (and if it was there all winter and I am just now noticing it, then I win the dunce award…but I think it is a new arrival.) Similar to the Badeschiff in Berlin, the floating lady pool is a pool built into the hull of a cargo ship. The Badeschiff was probably cooler because it was hip, had a tiki bar attached to it and was very close to the water level. The “Floating Lady” will be a public swimming pool and will be moved from BHeights and dock elsewhere once the renovations are completed.
The NYT article points out that the Floating Lady is not the city’s first floating pool. William Tweed (of Tammany Hall fame) opened 5 floating baths in the 1800’s. By the end of the 1800’s, more than 20 pools were stationed on the shores of the city. Women got to use the pools 3 days/week and men got them to use for 3 days (and could swim sans suits:-o) The pools ran into problems when health inspectors proved that raw sewage was being dumped into the water nearby, water that was also getting into the pools. There haven’t been any floating pools in the city since WWI.
This new pool will certainly serve a good purpose in the summer, but NYC is in need of a German-style Badeschiff…it could be the next hot thing…a pool and beach with city views, cocktails and good music. Plus the Berliners dome their pool and use it as a sauna in the winter. A NYC version could be used all year long too!
A bit further down, there was a guy doing tai chi. Couldn’t tell whether he was really into it or not really all there. There was also a guy who had brought a cage full of little birds out to the promenade for a sunbath. A little boy on his way to the playground was most intrigued!
Another interesting find was the “Floating Lady” pool at the pier below the north end of the Promenade. I read a NYT article about this last fall and was amazed to finally see it in Brooklyn (and if it was there all winter and I am just now noticing it, then I win the dunce award…but I think it is a new arrival.) Similar to the Badeschiff in Berlin, the floating lady pool is a pool built into the hull of a cargo ship. The Badeschiff was probably cooler because it was hip, had a tiki bar attached to it and was very close to the water level. The “Floating Lady” will be a public swimming pool and will be moved from BHeights and dock elsewhere once the renovations are completed. 
The NYT article points out that the Floating Lady is not the city’s first floating pool. William Tweed (of Tammany Hall fame) opened 5 floating baths in the 1800’s. By the end of the 1800’s, more than 20 pools were stationed on the shores of the city. Women got to use the pools 3 days/week and men got them to use for 3 days (and could swim sans suits:-o) The pools ran into problems when health inspectors proved that raw sewage was being dumped into the water nearby, water that was also getting into the pools. There haven’t been any floating pools in the city since WWI. This new pool will certainly serve a good purpose in the summer, but NYC is in need of a German-style Badeschiff…it could be the next hot thing…a pool and beach with city views, cocktails and good music. Plus the Berliners dome their pool and use it as a sauna in the winter. A NYC version could be used all year long too!
posted by Erin at 5:05 PM
6 Comments:
Hi! i've been enjoying your blog. just wanted to tell you that the floating pool thing has been there since like...november, maybe. it's funny you havent noticed it until now. ive been staring at it all winter wondering just WHAT it is!
Ha, see I had a feeling that I had just missed it over the winter. Not sure why it stuck out to me on Saturday but not before. Glad that I could at least shed some light on the matter for you:-)
how big is this floater compared to the Badeschiff? it looks gigantic in the pics, but I can't really tell...
and, it's only a great floating pool if 85% of the men wear small, brightly covered mankinis.
Am I now speaking to Mrs. Sprolter??
I actual pool is definitely wider and probably a bit longer too. I think the article I read said it is 1/2 the size of an Olympic pool. The whole barge is way bigger! Don't you think NYC needs a Badeschiff? Want to move the fam to town and start one with me?
P.S. NO mankinis in NYC...because you know they would only be on hairy guidos and that's just wrong!
BTW, while I first heard that this barge was going to move elsewhere for the Summer, it's now going to stay in Brooklyn Heights and be open to the public this Summer.
Pool party!
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