News
Constance Hockaday’s Boggsville Boatel and Boat-In Theater
July 7 – August 20, Thursdays, Fridays, & Saturdays
Marina 59, 5914 Beach Channel Drive, Far Rockaway
Artist and boat-builder Constance Hockaday has constructed a series of floating hotels and a theater at Marina 59 at Far Rockaway in New York City. Boggsville is a floating hotel and theater built in the Neutrino tradition, that is, fashioned out of abandoned and remodeled boats from the marina. Five of the vessels are leisure fishing crafts from the 70’s and early 80’s, ranging from 28 to 35 feet long. Another is a 70’s drifter houseboat remodeled into a rustic penthouse. The boats are all moored around a floating platform in the middle of a small bay.
Named for Ms. Nancy Boggs, who would move her floating brothel to either side of the Willamette River of Portland to evade the law – depending on where the authorities were bringing trouble to her business – the Boatel explores the boundaries of the hospitality experience.
Artist TJ Hospodar will man an “office of local tourism” for your perusal at the marina.
The boatel opens on July 7; rooms cost between $50 and $100 a night. It’s only open on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. Tickets for the month of July will be available right here, beginning at 6 pm on Saturday, June 25.
-The Theater-
Each night there will be a movie or lecture themed on the water screened on the floating platform. Hotel-goers and boaters from the area are welcome to pull up alongside the platform and view the entertainment.
If you would like to attend the theater but you don’t want to rent a boat for the night, that’s great! Please bring a chair (and snacks). There are no tickets just for the screenings or lectures, but donations are welcome.
Some entertainment possibilities:
- Random Lunacy – a documentary on the Floating Neutrinos
- Last Free Ride – a documentary on a house boat community in the 60’s and 70’s in Sausalito, CA
- An Extremely Long Lecture on Absolute Absolution – by Connie Hockaday
- A documentary on Bas Jan Ader
- Water-themed vintage porn
- Independent shorts and Hollywood favorites, like Jaws and Water World
-THE BOATS-
Americano is a Guido vessel with a long sloping bow. This boat is very private. The windows are tinted and the inside is very Slick Rick. $50 a night.
CRUMB is a quaint and comfortable boat and was probably previously owned by an elderly couple. There is a private sleeping area; it’s spacious and perfect for rolling around in. She sleeps 4 people. This boat also has a shaded top deck with reclining furniture. $50 a night.
New York, NY is Euro. This boat has been remodeled to be more open than she was originally designed to be. She sleeps 3-4 people, and she has a breakfast nook, a great space for preparing lunches, and a desk for the writer-ly types. $50 a night.
Queen Zenobia is a classy little 30-foot yacht. She can sleep 3-4 people, if they are willing to snuggle up. On this boat there is a comfortable little breakfast nook and plenty of deck space for lounging around. $50 a night.
Shamrogh is a cozy couples getaway boat. It sleeps 2 or 3 people. This boat is one of our favorites. Let’s just leave it at that. $50 a night.
Ms. Nancy Boggs is a rustic floating cabin. This 1967 Drift-R houseboat has been remodeled into down-home love nest. This boat can sleep 6 people. There are two beds, one of which can fit 5 people. It is the perfect place to roll around with more than one or two. It has a spacious breakfast nook and several decks for sun bathing, fishing, or picnicking. $100 a night.