City of Water

Today: a couple of double-crested cormorant youngsters still on a nest on U Thant Island in the East River. Which, of course, isn’t a “river” at all. At best it’s a tidal strait. The Burmese U Thant, meanwhile, was the third Secretary-General of the UN (serving 1961-71); the island is a canon shot across the water from the UN Secretariat building. It’s just a short length of rocks — originally called Man o’ War Reef — that has been added to over time. Most notably by old man Steinway’s plans for a trolley tunnel to his piano factory in Queens. ! Pretty amazing city when you think about it. Come on over and visit sometime.