Two comedians join in buying ferry that is 'a piece of New York'
-
Hotel Blacklist Launches New Accommodation Industry Risk Assessment Tool
-
Messi says Argentina retirement is 'saddest day of my career'
-
Bangladesh nuclear plant draws hope -- and worry
-
Oil rises and stocks fall as Hormuz worries flare
-
US beat Canada 1-0 to wrap up four-win international break
-
Pacific presses world for help 'surviving' climate change at pre-COP summit
-
Turkey, Australia's joint COP31 leadership raises doubts
-
Verstappen revival to be put to the test in steamy Singapore
-
For Turkish NGOs, COP31 offers rare space for action
-
US woman who survived botched execution is conscious, speaking: lawyers
-
Sleep, appetite, gene-editing experts contend for Nobel chemistry prize
-
Climate champion Australia digging more coal
-
Nobel Peace Prize haunted by the 'spectre' of Trump
-
Emotion, tears as Messi retires from Argentina national team
-
Africa launches own credit agency in bid for cheaper borrowing
-
Dodgers push Braves to the brink of MLB playoff exit
-
US, China, EU: three paths to regulating AI
-
Crisis-stricken Haiti postpones elections
-
Australia's High Court rules against coal mine in landmark climate case
-
N. Korea's Kim pledges 'invariable support' in Putin birthday letter
-
Australia touts new funds for Pacific infrastructure at Fiji 'pre-COP'
-
OGRD Alliance Advances PLPC Multi-Asset Platform Following APHELAR Milestone, Expanding Licensing and Strategic Capital Frameworks
-
Eva Marie Saint, Oscar winner of Hollywood classics, dies at 102
-
Emotion, tears as Messi prepares for Argentina farewell
-
Australia probes app used in cheap smart glasses over privacy fears
-
Kane eyes Ronaldo record after matching England cap mark
-
England needed to 'move on' from World Cup pain, says Tuchel
-
Spain fight back to beat Croatia, Kane adds to record for England
-
O'Neill to stay at Celtic after period of "reflection"
-
Merino double helps Spain beat Croatia, reach Nations League quarters
-
Kane marks 125th England cap with Wembley Nations League double
-
US stocks hit fresh records as oil stabilizes on rising supplies
-
Quebec's incoming separatist leader wants to block Crown from swearing-in
-
As Messi bows out, Argentines say 'thank you'
-
Emmys gala will now stream its premier television awards
-
Ronaldo opens door for Portugal return, apologises for walkout
-
Paramount completes Warner Bros takeover, creating Skydance
-
'Nobody seems to care': Russian city shrugs off plague reports
-
Trump blames France unrest on Islam, migration
-
Hundreds arrested in French school protests as Macron summons ministers
-
Apple's Cook praises EU over efforts to protect children online
-
WADA seeks tough anti-doping stance from Kenya
-
Nobel winner Halzen says years of October 'misery' finally over
-
German ex-spy chief arrested for suspected espionage, treason
-
Quebec separatist win rattles Carney's unity push
-
Furyk vows US will 'do more' to end Ryder Cup losing streak
-
'Itching' for change: Shiffrin cuts back slaloms this season
-
Iyer hits ton as India hammer West Indies in T20 opener
-
'Gen Z has risen up': Tens of thousands mass for tense France school protests
-
Mandhana named India women's team captain after Kaur quits
Two comedians join in buying ferry that is 'a piece of New York'
A retired, hulking ferry of the iconic line linking Staten Island and Manhattan has been purchased by a group of investors who include popular American comedians Pete Davidson and Colin Jost.
The goal: turn it into an entertainment venue.
The orange ferry John F. Kennedy, which was commissioned in 1965, was sold by New York City to Paul Italia, a real estate agent who owns a comedy club called "The Stand," and other investors including Davidson and Jost, both cast members of the long-standing comedy show "Saturday Night Live," Italia told AFP.
The sale -- through an auction that concluded this week -- was first reported by The New York Times.
Davidson is dating reality TV star Kim Kardashian and Jost is married to the actress Scarlett Johansson.
Both men are natives of Staten Island, one of New York's boroughs, and Davidson still lives there.
The city says the ferry they have acquired is 85 meters (277 feet) long, weighs around 2,100 tons and was retired from the fleet last year when its engines broke down.
These investors won the auction with a bid of $280,100.
"The idea is to turn the space into a live entertainment event space with comedy, music, art, food, etc.," Italia told AFP.
It is not yet clear how they will move the broken down ferry from the Staten Island terminal where it is now docked as they prepare to overhaul it and seek a permanent home for the ship.
Why buy one of these vessels that is a quintessential and free-of-charge part of life in New York? To keep the ship from being scrapped, for one.
"The reality is that everyone who came together on this has a sincere motive to see the right thing happen, to restore a piece of New York," Italia told the Times.
L.AbuAli--SF-PST
