So there I was, with a giant headache, sitting down by the river this morning, a little in the dumps with the end of summer, closing up of the Rancho, etc. I'm looking out on the gray river under the overcast sky when from behind the pier to the south, the Half Moon heaves into view. The Half Moon, Henry Hudson's ship, is particularly recognizable anyway, and this replica has been around a bit this summer because it's the 400th anniversary of HH's sailing into NY harbor, which wasn't NY harbor at the time of course. That's the day NYC dates our founding from, and the date, they think, was Sept. 9, 1609. Thus there have been events all year, and this week especially, including today: the Half Moon was leading a very long parade! Many sailing ships, mostly replicas of old ones, some with black sails(!); a series of Dutch and NATO Navy vessels; an entire fleet, maybe 50, of one-person sailboats, The Flying Dutchmen; and assorted other ships. They spent an hour sailing majestically up the river, and at the pier on 44th St. there was a 21-gun salute. They'll all be around all week, docked at different piers around NYC (Manhattan, Governor's Island, Brooklyn), gathering and sailing down again on Sunday. And there are lots and lots of other things going on this week and this weekend. If you're around, check it out. Guaranteed end of headache.