Posted by James Katzenstein on November 17, 1999 at 04:26:03:
Here are my thoughts on the 25th reunion.
There is no way we could match $30 per person for like we did for the 20th reunion. After all, a number of us (Billy, Ernie,Kate, Tommy,Nancy, and I, among others) donated food, flowers, entertainment, and baby sitting services. There is no way that could be matched for $50. You would be looking at a minimum of perhaps $75-100 per person.
I have done a few World Yacht dinner cruises that were a lot of fun. The food and music were pretty decent too. I'm not sure if World Yacht goes up the Hudson as far as Hastings, which would be ideal for our reunion.
An alternative to World Yacht is a 1917Hudson River Cruise ship, The Commander, out of Haverstraw. Haverstraw is 20 minutes north of the Tappan Zee Bridge, on the Rockland side.
I have been on many affairs on this boat, including my Grandmothers 80th Birthday. Its not fancy, but we could tailor what we want to do on it. I think we can arrange food and entertainment. I'm also pretty sure we could arrange to sail past Hastings. I have done both night and day cruises. I could get more details if this sounds like a good idea. I also like it because the boat would be OURS for the cruise.
The Commander has a Web site: www.hudsonhighlandscruises.com. For a non-profit cruise, which we would be, it would cost $400 per hour for a minimum of 3 hours. If a hundred of us showed up, it would only be $12 per head. That's a bargain. Now, we or they could supply food. They would do the bar. Both would be an added expense, but I bet it would be way less then $50 per person!
I could take care of the cruise, if that's the route everyone wants to go. We should jump on it early, so we can get a weekend scheduled. We can do either a night or day cruise too.
PS. I think Nancy's idea of a picnic at Draper Park is a fantastic idea. Great location, and a great view of the Palisades. It's also an easy walk down town or along the Aqueduct.
PPS. I'm not sure how many people have seen the changes in Hastings, down where the DPW used to be has been reclaimed and looks like something out of Europe. I believe the heirs to one of the Hudson River School of artists has built a museum. I think it may be Church’s or Cole’s heirs, but I'm not sure.