EAST RIVERRANDALLS ISLAND
The fulcrum of the Triborough Bridge—it’s where highways from Queens, Manhattan, and the
Bronx all meet—Randalls is also where Pelé first played for the New York Cosmos; Usain Bolt set
the then world record for the 100-meter dash (9.72 seconds); and the New York Black Yankees,
a Negro League team, played their 1938 season at the now-demolished Downing Stadium.
In July 1970, it was almost the site of a second Woodstock, New York Pop, a festival that would
have featured everyone from John Sebastian to Sly and the Family Stone, with proceeds going to
the Black Panthers and Young Lords. Then ticket prices fell and acts backed out; the Weathermen
threatened an attack on America. “Dig it, kiddies,” wrote the ‘East Village Other,’ “THERE’S
NOT GOING TO BE ANOTHER WOODSTOCK! The real one was an accident, anyway.”