Just a little over a month before the 26th annual Greenport Maritime Festival, the East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation has lost the space where it planned to hold its Land & Sea gala.
Last night Sarah Phillips, owner of First and South, member of the Greenport Business Improvement District, and representing the Seaport Museum, said last year, the event was held at Claudio’s, with the Altour Travel Company allowing use of a large tent on the Claudio’s property.
This year, Altour is not involved with the event, and Claudio’s declined to volunteer the tent and the space, Phillips said, leaving fundraiser organizers scrambling for another locale.
The Land & Sea event, slated to take place on Friday, September 25 — the Maritime Festival runs September 25 to 27 — is the kickoff to the festivities, and a fundraiser.
In the past, the event was held in the space behind the Museum, near the Greenport railroad dock.
Last year’s event featured three spirit sponsors, 25 restaurants, six wineries, and the release of Greenport Harbor Brewery’s new kolsch “Bug Light”, Phillps said. In addition, Little Creek Oysters coordinated with Southold Project in Aquaculture Training, or SPAT, and local artists were featured.
Of last year’s event, Phillips said, “The vision was simple: Give people an event to attend, to plan for in the years to come, and to create for. Bring together the EESMMF, the village, the restaurants, merchants, waterfront, the wineries, serve some great food and beverage, dance a little — a real kickoff to the whole weekend. Our plan was to make this ‘friend’raiser a real fundraiser.”
But this year, the event has no space. The initial thought, Phillips said, would be to use Mitchell Park, but policy dictates that the only spot for the tent would be by the marina office, which she said wasn’t the right fit.
Instead, Phillips asked the village board for the possible use of the 5th Street Park, with the tent going up from 5 to 9:30 p.m., and approximately 500 in attendance.
Those who donate and contribute to the event are “in love” with the village, and want to give guests a taste of all they can “come back and enjoy,” she said.
Mitchell Park, near the carousel, would be the first choice, with the 5th Street Park the secondary site, she said.
Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard asked how big the tent would be; Phillips said it would be 40′ x 80′ feet.
“I want us to try and figure out a way to help,” said Greenport Village Trustee Doug Roberts. “It’s a great event for the village and it kicks off the Maritime Festival.”
He added that the beach was an interesting spot, because it had parking and the tent could also provide shade for those attending the festival; Phillips said the tent could stay up if village officials liked the idea.
Roberts also suggested Tuttle Park, at the MTA parking lot near the side of the East End Seaport Museum.
Phillips also said guests could be shuttled to the 5th Street beach from the museum.
She added that the ideal location would be close enough that those participating could walk from their shops to the tent. Also, “We’d like to keep it by the waterfront, since it’s the ‘Land & Sea’ event,” she said.
Hubbard said he was also in favor of trying to help and said the 5th Street Beach could work, especially in terms of parking.
Resident Bill Swiskey spoke out against the idea, stating that he would like to know exactly how much the museum pays in rent to the village and stating that a restaurant in that space, a “village asset”, could generate “12,000 a month in rent” for Greenport.
“You’re going to give 5th Street Park away — the last residential neighborhood they haven’t invaded?” he asked. “I don’t owe these merchants anything. That money goes to support Bug Light. I can’t see Bug Light from where I live.” If the idea proceeds, he said, “I’m going to raise hell.”
Ian Wile, a Greenport business owner and new member of the East End Seaport Museum board, said one of his goals is to change perception so the museum is seen as a “maritime institution, an actual museum that doesn’t just throw parties.”
He detailed the long list of free programs and lectures available for the public and a newly refurbished aquarium where children can learn about local waters and life beneath the bay.
Oral histories, he said, tell the “stories of people who live in this village, teaching us about our history, before it disappears.”
He added, “All of this is funded” by the Maritime Festival. “Not all of it goes to Bug Light. It’s nice to have a museum here that can become important.”
All the organization’s funding comes from the Maritime Festival, he said. “Whether we love or hate it, maybe there’s a cooperative way we can participate.” He added that over the last few years, the focus has been on the area’s rich maritime legacy, such as ice boating, and “less about sausage and peppers.”
Volunteers spend hours on free programs, including a remote control sailing club, that benefits local children, he said.
“Chairman Ron Breuer is currently in Europe, thus the EESM does not wish to respond to any issues concerning the Seaport Museum that rose during a general work session of the village board of trustees. Upon his return, Mr. Breuer will address any concerns the village board may have,” the EESM said in a statement.
No decision was made at last night’s meeting about the location for the event.
