Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club

A Persistence of Cormorants Poetry Reading
2026-06-28 13:30 - 15:30, 2026-07-12 13:30 - 15:30, 2026-07-19 13:30 - 15:30, 2026-07-26 13:30 - 15:30, 2026-08-02 13:30 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, United States
A Persistence of Cormorants is a summer-long poetry reading series on our shoreline featuring accomplished and exceptional poets from the New York area, many of who live in Brooklyn. On each of the scheduled Sundays, from 1:30 to 3:30, up to four featured poets will read for 10 to 15 minutes each.
Gerry reads poetry at the canal
The readings will be followed by open mic time limited to ten readers (one poem no longer than 3 minutes) who have signed up the day of the reading on a first come basis.
Reading will be outdoors at the Gowanus open shoreline and we invite you to engage with the emerging Gowanus Canal habitat as we witness the EPA conduct their SuperFUN/d cleanup program. Event may move to inside the boathouse if it begins to rain or we want to escape the summer heat. If other activity is occurring on the street or esplanade, event may move inside.
Participation is free but we encourage donations to sustain the efforts of the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club, an advocacy stewardship organization who has been representing neighborhood interests for over two decades.
May17 Linda Lerner, Patricia Carrigton, Abigail Welhouse, Bill Lessard
June7 Susan Michele, Gregory Crosby, Melinda Wilson, Dennis Nurkse14 Donna Masini, Richard Smith, Maria Lisella, Elizabeth T Gray Jr.28 Elaine Sexton, Karen Hildebrand, Don Yorty, Judith Lee Herbert
July12 David Catz, Estha Wiener, Shean Nevin, Katherine Swett19 Sarah Wallace, Ashley Mabitt, Zoe White, and Michael T. Young26 Broadstone Books: S.H. Case, Myra Malkin, Vera Salter, Stephanie Laterza, David Mills, Lucia Cherclu
August2 Jiwon Choi, Amy Holman, Miranda Beeson, Sarah Sarai9 Kimiko Hahn, Joanne Solfrian, Sam Cha, Mervyn Taylor16 KGB: John Demming, Selena Spier, Tyler Allen, Penny Susan Lewis, Jada Gordon23 Karen Neuberg, Scott Hightower, Indran Amirthanayagam, Neil Shepard30 Titanic
September13 Hilary Sideris, Tom Sleigh, Austin Alexis, Kristine Esser-Slentz20 Joanne McFarland, Ruth Danon, Brad Vogel, David Formanek27 Amy Lemmon, Jane Rosenberg LaForge, Richard Levine, Nicole Callihan
October4 Lisa Andrews, Lisa Badner, Arden Levine, Anthony Capo11 Broadstone Books: Amy Barone, Margo Taft Stever, Billy Cancel, Mary Moloney

Yacht Rock Choir - Free Show!
2026-06-28 17:00 - 18:00 | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, United States
Hop aboard for a sun-soaked voyage back to the best of 1970s/1980s soft rock and smooth soul.
Yacht Rock Choir began as a dream to create a space where the groovy magic of yacht rock could thrive in multi-part harmony. Our no-audition community choir brings together first-time singers and seasoned sailors alike.

RSVP:
https://www.yachtrockchoir.com/event-details-registration/yacht-rock-choir-june-shows

IG: @yachtrockchoir

Yacht Rock Choir grows almost entirely by word of mouth — so if you have a friend, neighbor, coworker, or fellow soft-rock enthusiast who might enjoy our shows or pop-up choirs, please send them our way.

Full Moon Gowanus Voyage - JUNE
2026-06-29 20:15 - 22:15 | Gowanus Dredgers Bunker (19th St.), 2 19th St., Brooklyn, NY
Join our Crew on a full-moon guided adventure!! Meet at the the Gowanus Dredgers Bunker, at the end of 19th St / off 3rd Ave, 11232 – NOT our 2nd St. boathouse.
🎟️ Tickets required, get yours here. 🎟️ (Tickets go on sale Monday, June 1 at 12:00 PM)
Sunset 20:30 |Moonrise 20:47 | Civil End 21:04 | Nautical End 21:46
The stars should be on display along with harbor lights. We will provide lights for each canoe, you’re welcome to bring/wear your own head lamp as well. Each canoe will have up to 3 people. Solo paddlers are welcome, you will be paired with other members of the group based on experience and comfort in a canoe. Close-toed shoes are recommended, and wear clothing you don’t mind potentially being splashed. Use a restroom before arrival, as we have limited facilities on-site.
Due to EPA cleaning of the Gowanus Canal, voyage will head towards the 9th St bridge and return to Gowanus Bay and our new South Gowanus Bunker.
If raining or threatening weather (high winds, lightning) by 6:15 pm we may cancel. Attendees will be notified via the email used to purchase tickets. Tour is not cancelled due to clouds but let’s hope for a clear sky for the moon rise!
Tickets are nonrefundable for any event that proceeds as planned. We will offer the option to transfer your ticket to another event if we have to cancel for weather. Transfer must be requested before the tour starts. If you choose not to transfer, the cost of your ticket becomes a tax-deductible donation to the Gowanus Dredgers.

Gowanus Jug & String Band Sessions
2026-06-30 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-07 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-14 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-21 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-28 18:00 - 20:30 | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, United States
Tuesday evenings, 6-8:30 April through October.
At the Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse 165 2nd Street between Bond and the Gowanus Canal. We are excited to expand our musical offerings with this new weekly jam.
Dredger Host: Liz Rabson Schnore
Jam Leader: Papa Ernie Vega
What Jug band and String band music?
Let’s start with String band music. Black String band music, which will be our focus, was created by Southern Blacks and pre-dates the Blues & Jazz. Groups which consisted of mostly stringed instruments (guitar, banjo, bass, violin, mandolin, ukulele, etc) performed a wide variety of songs and styles for all manner of social functions and for personal enjoyment; two-steps, waltzes and breakdowns for dances, ballads and love songs, humorous & novelty songs, as well as blues, jazz, and pop tunes as they came into fashion. This genre, sadly, was under-represented by the burgeoning recording industry in the 1920’s and 30’s, which helped contribute to its already declining popularity in the wake of the success of the Blues and Jazz: though groups like the Mississippi Sheiks and the Dallas String Band did make great and popular recordings. The genre never completely died out, however, and is alive and well today thanks to the perseverance of its practitioners and the dedication of its fans, which has led to a rediscovery and a new appreciation by audiences young and old.
Jug band music developed in the early 20th century within Southern Black communities and was essentially a string band with a jug used as a “poor man’s tuba”, in the role of a bass instrument. Other household items as instruments were popular as well; washboard and/or spoons for percussion, washtub bass, and kazoo. These combined with the guitars, banjos, mandolins/violins of the traditional string band, along with the harmonica, made for a unique sound that won the hearts of the public in the early days of the recording industry. The Memphis Jug Band and Cannon’s Jug Stompers recorded well over a hundred examples of blues, ballads, pop and dance numbers – and they’re just the tip of the iceberg. The genre found new life in the Folk Music Revival of the 1960’s and remains popular to this day.
These sessions will be open to Intermediate and above players, and we encourage you to sing along and bring a song to lead. To lead a song, you will be expected to sing it loudly enough for those around you to hear, to know the key you will sing in, and to explain the chord changes and form of the song if need be. We may also discuss some ideas for performing in an ensemble to help everyone find their place in the music.
Papa Ernie Vega is a NYC singer, instrumentalist, bandleader, teacher, songwriter and performing/recording artist. He has over 20 years of professional experience and has performed at the Newport Folk Festival, the Jug Band Jubilee and the Osaka Jug Band Festival. He also taught and performed at the Port Townsend Acoustic Blues Festival from 2016-2021. He is a lover of fine cheap food, old movies, humor, and photography.
More information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE

Boathouse Bluegrass Jam
2026-07-01 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-08 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-15 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-22 18:00 - 20:30, 2026-07-29 18:00 - 20:30 | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, United States
The Boathouse Jam every Wednesday evening 6-8:30 April-Oct. Just come, bring an acoustic instrument.
The Boathouse Jam is hosted by the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club to activate our shoreline while fostering the continued resurgence of acoustical collaborations in Brooklyn. We are inclusive of all – young & old, new & seasoned musicians. Just bring a smile and your musical instrument and/or your voice to join our one night makeshift band.
Free but a $5 suggested donation is encouraged, limited beverages are provided.
The Boathouse is located at 165 2nd Street, Brooklyn NY between Bond Street and the Gowanus Canal. Sessions are rain or shine, we gather outside the Boathouse unless it’s cold or raining then we move inside.

Since 1999, the Dredgers have empowered people to care for the Gowanus Canal through advocacy, conservation, and education. Our organization promotes waterfront stewardship and is raising awareness of sewer overflow issues that affect our Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, NY.
More information on all the Boathouse Jams HERE

FREE Walk-Up Paddling - 2nd St.
2026-07-04 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-05 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-07-11 15:00 - 19:00, 2026-07-18 10:00 - 14:00, 2026-08-02 09:00 - 13:00 | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, United States
Hop into a Gowanus Dredgers canoe and paddle at your own pace inside the protected Gowanus Canal. Enjoy discovering the canal’s unique mix of wildlife and urban waterway infrastructure, practice your paddling skills, or take a guided audio tour and learn more about the history, cleanup and revitalization of our favorite urban waterway.
We’ll outfit you with a life jacket (which must be worn at all times) and paddle, offer some basic instruction on how to paddle and safety tips on how to use a canoe, and help you set off on your own self-guided journey. Trips may be limited to 20 minutes if there’s a crowd — but usually we just expect you to return to the dock 15 min. prior to closing.
Who can participate? Paddling is for everyone! Free walk-up canoeing is open to all ages. Groups, families, solo paddlers, and intrepid first dates are all welcome! Minors require a guardian’s signature to participate, and all participants must sign a waiver.
What should I wear? Dress for the weather: wear sunscreen, hats, and bring a water bottle — and bring layers if there’s a breeze! Close-toed shoes are recommended, and wear clothing you don’t mind potentially being splashed.
Is it really free? Yes! But donations are encouraged to help us continue offering these and other programs.
Can I volunteer? Yes! You can sign up to volunteer on our event registration page. Volunteer shifts run from 30-minutes before the start of the program through the first two hours, or from the middle of the program to 30 minutes after the end of the scheduled time.

Guided Sunset Paddle
2026-07-09 19:30 - 21:30 | Gowanus Dredgers Bunker (19th St.), 2 19th St., Brooklyn, NY
Join the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club for a secret, one of a kind, personal sunset cruise in canoes above Brooklyn’s Gowanus Canal. Meet at the the Gowanus Dredgers Bunker, at the end of 19th St / off 3rd Ave, 11232 – NOT our 2nd St. boathouse.
🎟️ Tickets required, get yours here. 🎟️ (Tickets go on sale Tuesday, June 9 at 12:00 PM)
After a short presentation where you and your crew our outfitted with safety gear, we embark on a narrated voyage filled with questions and conversation on how recreation can have a positive influence on improving and encouraging environmental awareness and activism in an urban setting.
Sunset 8:28 | Civil End 9:01 | Nautical End 9:42
Paddle along our Gowanus Canal to see a hidden side of Brooklyn, including the underside of bridges and our transforming industrial neighborhood. Discover the fun of canoeing as you explore the history of our Brooklyn neighborhood’s rich past, present, and future.
Close-toed shoes and a light jacket are recommended, and wear clothing you don’t mind potentially being splashed. Use a restroom before arrival, as we have limited facilities on-site.
Due to EPA cleaning of Gowanus, voyage will head towards the 9th St bridge and return to Gowanus Bay and our new South Gowanus Bunker.
If raining or threatening weather by 6:30 pm, we may cancel or reschedule.
Tickets are nonrefundable for any event that proceeds as planned. We will offer the option to transfer your ticket to another event if we have to cancel for weather. Transfer must be requested before the tour starts. If you choose not to transfer, the cost of your ticket becomes a tax-deductible donation to the Gowanus Dredgers.

Brooklyn Tides: Excerpts from New York Waterfront Diary
2026-07-11 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-18 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-07-25 13:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-01 13:00 - 17:00 | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, United States
Brooklyn Tides: Excerpts from New York Waterfront Diary is a solo exhibition by Brooklyn-based photographer Sophie Fenwick. The exhibit showcases photographs of various Brooklyn waterfront neighborhoods culled from the artist’s book New York Waterfront Diary, published by 5 Continents Editions in 2023.
The 19 photographs on view feature the northwestern Brooklyn neighborhoods of Gowanus, Sunset Park, Red Hook, DUMBO, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard — where views of waterways conjure memories and inspire dreams. Some photos feature derelict buildings found in these waterfront locales, highlighting the beauty and mystery in decay. In haunting black-and-white and vivid color, the images serve as an unofficial timeline, showing these neighborhoods over the years, from the 1990s to just before the pandemic.
Fenwick’s evocative portraits demonstrate how these areas of Brooklyn have transformed over three decades. The images of Gowanus are especially timely as the neighborhood undergoes unprecedented change — with longtime locals no longer recognizing the surrounding streets, and new residents moving into rapidly rising luxury buildings. The photos shot prior to the 2021 Gowanus rezoning preserve the industrial grit and quirkiness that made the neighborhood unique and beloved.
Brooklyn Tides: Excerpts from New York Waterfront Diary
Sophie Fenwick
On view Saturdays, July 11, 18, 25, and August 1, 1pm–5pm
CITY OF WATER DAY | SPECIAL SCREENING
Saturday, July 25 is City of Water Day. Please join us at the Gowanus Dredgers Boathouse for Sophie Fenwick’s photography exhibition, Brooklyn Tides: Excerpts from New York Waterfront Diary as well as a special screening of a 30-minute film. The Super 8 footage, shot by Fenwick and edited with Maya Han, is an extension of the artist’s book and exhibition, highlighting many of the sites seen in both. The film features excerpts of footage Fenwick shot along New York City waterfront neighborhoods in the early 1990s. This body of work pays tribute to NYC’s maritime history.
The film will be shown on a loop throughout the day.
Brooklyn-based musician and composer Leslie Braver (Gowanus Fish Queen) will accompany Fenwick’s short film from 2:00pm to 4:00pm.
The Gowanus Dredgers will also host free walk-up paddling from 3-7pm.

For more information about the artist and New York Waterfront Diary, visit fivecontinentseditions.com/en/p/new-york-waterfront-diary/

Ukulele Cabaret
2026-07-18 18:00 - 22:00 | Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club Boathouse, 165 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY, 11231, United States
For twenty years the Ukulele Cabaret has provided a stage for musicians, artists and performers from New York’s underground ukulele scene.

Ted and Jason of Sonic Uke started the cabaret in May 2005 in the back of Julius bar in West Village. After outgrowing our stage there we settled in for a residency at legendary East Village gastropub Jimmy’s 43, with cameos at Barbes, The Zipper Factory and Banjo Jim’s before moving to The Red Room at the KGB Bar — an East Village speakeasy that in 1914 was the headquarters of Emma Goldman’s Secret Society of anarchists.

Monthly Meeting + Paddle
2026-07-20 18:30 - 20:30 | NY
Socialize with the Dredgers at our BUNKER (2 19th St, off of 3rd Ave) for a casual member catch-up and paddle! We’ll gather at 6:30 for some chatting and aim to be on-water around 7:15.
Meet at the Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club 19th St. Launch, 2 19 St, Brooklyn, (off of 3rd Ave.). If you plan to join the paddle, wear sunscreen and bring a bottle filled with water. Close-toed shoes are recommended, and wear clothing you don’t mind potentially being splashed. Use a restroom before arrival, as we have limited facilities on-site. All paddlers must sign a waiver.
Weather (wind, waves or evidence of storm) may cancel the paddling portion with one hour advance notice. In case of inclement weather, meeting will be relocated follow us on Instagram or sign up for our mailing list to stay informed.

Full Moon Gowanus Voyage - JULY
2026-07-29 19:45 - 21:45 | Gowanus Dredgers Bunker (19th St.), 2 19th St., Brooklyn, NY
Join our Crew on a full-moon guided adventure!! Meet at the the Gowanus Dredgers Bunker, at the end of 19th St / off 3rd Ave, 11232 – NOT our 2nd St. boathouse.
🎟️ Tickets required, get yours here. 🎟️ (Tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 1 at 12:00 PM)
Sunset 20:14 |Moonrise 20:32 | Civil End 20:45 | Nautical End 21:23
The stars should be on display along with harbor lights. We will provide lights for each canoe, you’re welcome to bring/wear your own head lamp as well. Each canoe will have up to 3 people. Solo paddlers are welcome, you will be paired with other members of the group based on experience and comfort in a canoe. Close-toed shoes are recommended, and wear clothing you don’t mind potentially being splashed. Use a restroom before arrival, as we have limited facilities on-site.
Due to EPA cleaning of the Gowanus Canal, voyage will head towards the 9th St bridge and return to Gowanus Bay and our new South Gowanus Bunker.
If raining or threatening weather (high winds, lightning) by 5:45 pm we may cancel. Attendees will be notified via the email used to purchase tickets. Tour is not cancelled due to clouds but let’s hope for a clear sky for the moon rise!
Tickets are nonrefundable for any event that proceeds as planned. We will offer the option to transfer your ticket to another event if we have to cancel for weather. Transfer must be requested before the tour starts. If you choose not to transfer, the cost of your ticket becomes a tax-deductible donation to the Gowanus Dredgers.
