JOURNALS 1-4
1. Impressions of New York
New York City is undoubtedly a place filled with so much life. Whether it is in the form of entertainment, business, food, or culture, New York City offers so much to those who are fortunate enough to experience it. I have lived in New York my entire life, yet each time I am driving over the Throgs Neck Bridge or flying into JFK, the sights of the skyline leave me almost speechless. Just the vision of it makes me think about how fortunate I am to live so close to it, while others dream their entire lives about being able to visit for even a short time. With that being said, I could kick myself when I think about the amount of times I go per year, because it’s not nearly enough.
Although I love taking a trip to the city, I often find myself feeling overwhelmed and lost in the infinite amount of activities to do, places to visit, and things to see. When I do go into the city, I like to try and mix it up. Some of the time I go and hit the major spots like central park, Time Square, or Rockefeller Center. Other times, however, I find myself aimlessly walking into a small café or shopping around a farmers market. I will admit though, whenever I’m in a popular spot such as Times Square, I can’t help but take out my camera and start snapping pictures, looking like such a tourist. But I have no shame. There is so much to see and do there that I want to be able to capture how amazing each thing truly is. Being in a place like Times Square, in the center of Manhattan, really makes me feel like I am apart of something great, something monumental. I believe many people feel this way and that is likely a big reason why so many people have the desire to come to New York City. Who wouldn’t want to experience something so fascinating, so famous, and so important to history?
I feel as though the diversity that New York City possesses is incomparable to any other place. Many cities across the country strive to match its vast sense of culture, but I really think it is just a unique quality to this city. The clothing, the food, and the languages spoken are of such a wide variety of cultures that people travel from around the world just to be apart of it. With that comes a sense of opportunity and individualism that I see people hoping to find when they go to this city. I definitely admire those who take the leap of faith and move to New York in hopes of building a life there through the many opportunities of having successful careers, while also maintaining the opportunity to be themselves.
New York City is the center of so many industries, such as: music, theatre, fashion, business, food, film, and television. I believe that every individual can find something they love there, whether its something grand like seeing a Broadway show, a major league baseball game, or visiting a museum. Perhaps it is something on a lesser scale like eating at a local bakery or sitting at a park reading a book. I cannot wait to discover all of the parts of New York City that I have yet to see and take advantage of all the great things this wonderful place has to offer. Although I have experienced it many times, there is still so much I don’t know about this city. I look forward to becoming more knowledgeable on the history behind it because I really feel that the history is what has turned New York City into the worldly icon that it is today.
Below i've shared some fun things I have done in New York City over the last year. Hope you enjoy!
1. A walk on The Highline with my sister 2. A Summerstage concert in Central Park 3. A Yankee game with my friends
4. The christmas tree in Bryant Park 5. Union Square farmers market 6. Enjoying a donut from Doughnut Plant
7. Smorgasburg in Brooklyn 8. Empire State Building during Christmas 9. Strolling through Williamsburg with my cousin
New York City is undoubtedly a place filled with so much life. Whether it is in the form of entertainment, business, food, or culture, New York City offers so much to those who are fortunate enough to experience it. I have lived in New York my entire life, yet each time I am driving over the Throgs Neck Bridge or flying into JFK, the sights of the skyline leave me almost speechless. Just the vision of it makes me think about how fortunate I am to live so close to it, while others dream their entire lives about being able to visit for even a short time. With that being said, I could kick myself when I think about the amount of times I go per year, because it’s not nearly enough.
Although I love taking a trip to the city, I often find myself feeling overwhelmed and lost in the infinite amount of activities to do, places to visit, and things to see. When I do go into the city, I like to try and mix it up. Some of the time I go and hit the major spots like central park, Time Square, or Rockefeller Center. Other times, however, I find myself aimlessly walking into a small café or shopping around a farmers market. I will admit though, whenever I’m in a popular spot such as Times Square, I can’t help but take out my camera and start snapping pictures, looking like such a tourist. But I have no shame. There is so much to see and do there that I want to be able to capture how amazing each thing truly is. Being in a place like Times Square, in the center of Manhattan, really makes me feel like I am apart of something great, something monumental. I believe many people feel this way and that is likely a big reason why so many people have the desire to come to New York City. Who wouldn’t want to experience something so fascinating, so famous, and so important to history?
I feel as though the diversity that New York City possesses is incomparable to any other place. Many cities across the country strive to match its vast sense of culture, but I really think it is just a unique quality to this city. The clothing, the food, and the languages spoken are of such a wide variety of cultures that people travel from around the world just to be apart of it. With that comes a sense of opportunity and individualism that I see people hoping to find when they go to this city. I definitely admire those who take the leap of faith and move to New York in hopes of building a life there through the many opportunities of having successful careers, while also maintaining the opportunity to be themselves.
New York City is the center of so many industries, such as: music, theatre, fashion, business, food, film, and television. I believe that every individual can find something they love there, whether its something grand like seeing a Broadway show, a major league baseball game, or visiting a museum. Perhaps it is something on a lesser scale like eating at a local bakery or sitting at a park reading a book. I cannot wait to discover all of the parts of New York City that I have yet to see and take advantage of all the great things this wonderful place has to offer. Although I have experienced it many times, there is still so much I don’t know about this city. I look forward to becoming more knowledgeable on the history behind it because I really feel that the history is what has turned New York City into the worldly icon that it is today.
Below i've shared some fun things I have done in New York City over the last year. Hope you enjoy!
1. A walk on The Highline with my sister 2. A Summerstage concert in Central Park 3. A Yankee game with my friends
4. The christmas tree in Bryant Park 5. Union Square farmers market 6. Enjoying a donut from Doughnut Plant
7. Smorgasburg in Brooklyn 8. Empire State Building during Christmas 9. Strolling through Williamsburg with my cousin
2. Queens
Our first class was spent exploring the largest (by land area) of all the five NYC boroughs- Queens! It was a hot, and i mean HOT day with a lot of walking... and i mean A LOT. But, no complaints here because it was well worth it. I would like to start off by saying there is definitely more to Queens than what most would assume. Queens is home to residents from every country in the world with over 120 different languages spoken by it's people every day (ENY, pg. 213). Queens became more accessible over time following the construction of parkways crossing the county created by Robert Moses, a new system of bridges, as well as the creation of the 7 train (ENY, pg. 213-215). I find it fascinating that the 7 train, otherwise known as the "International Express" has been "designated by the White House as a National Millennium Train, one of 16 such trails in the United Sates that reflect defining aspects of America's history and culture" (ENY, pg. 215). This was such a cool fact to read because it was almost like a reality check for me. I live in such an amazing place, yet I fail to realize it and appreciate it most of the time. That will be changing after this class, I can already tell!
So after some background of the basics of Queens, let's get into how our day panned out. Our first 11am meet in Penn Station was a success. Everyone was on time with their walking shoes on and metro card at the ready. We hopped off the 7 train and I have to admit, it was the first time I was exiting that station with Citi Field behind me. I usually attend a few Met games a year (why???... cheap tickets, obviously) but never think of exploring the area around the stadium, but today was the day. So anyway, we headed down the boardwalk bridge toward Flushing Meadow Park and passed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as fans flooded in to experience the 2014 US Open. We took a seat on a small set of bleachers next to some practice courts as Mike gave us some insight on what we would be passing. We talked about the Worlds Fair that occurred first in 1939 and 1940 and again in 1964 and 1965, right in the Flushing Meadows Corona Park where we stood. In fact, Robert Moses set out on a mission to clear the ashes and garbage that once inhabited that park in order to make it the home of that first Worlds Fair, which was attended by 44 million people (ENY, pg. 219).
Next, we headed toward the Unisphere, a 12 story high structure measuring 120 feet in diameter and 900,000 pounds in weight, that was built to represent all the continents together with the central idea being global interdependence (ENY, pg. 218). The thought that went into creating this structure is seen in the finished product, because what a sight it is. What I really loved about the Unisphere is not only that it is intriguing to look at with a great message behind it, but the mist it gives off is also a great way to cool off on a hot summer day!
Just a few steps away was the Queens Museum of Art, home to the remarkable Panorama of New York City, created for the second world’s Fair. Fun facts: it contains more than 895,000 buildings, spans about 900 square feet, and is built in a scale of 1 inch to 100ft (ENY, pg. 221). I was blown away by this structure. It was almost too much to take in, really. To be able to see all of New York City in that way was 100% beneficial to my understanding of the city. For the first time I realized the size of Manhattan as it compares to the other surrounding boroughs, for example. Seeing the bridges, the buildings, and event he parks in that structure really put NYC into a new perspective for me. I think it’s pretty cleat that I loved it! We had a wonderful guide who taught us all about the Panorama and other attractions in the museum like the New York Watershed exhibit, which was also very interesting to learn about for the first time.
After the Queens Museum, we walked back over to the 7 train (got a little confused in the newly changed subway station so good thing for the nice people hat work there that let us through without swiping our metrocards again) and took it up to Jackson Heights, or the area also known as “Little India.” We indulged in an Indian cuisine buffet at Jackson Diner, which was delicious! I am no stranger to Indian food so I enjoyed helping my friend’s discover their taste for it. I did however try something new. Goat! And I must say, it was tasty. Also, I am a HGUE bread fan and the Naan at this restaurant just takes the cake.
To Astoria we go! We got off the subway and had a quick chat about the idea of gentrification and how it is now occurring throughout Queens in addition to Brooklyn and Manhattan, transforming “parts of Western Queens into hip extensions of Manhattan” (ENY, pg. 214). We then made our way down Steinway Street, and made a right onto 35th Ave, heading to the Museum of Moving Image. This place was really awesome and unlike anything I have ever seen before. I loved that it took you through the process of film making fro the very beginning. The automated dialogue replacement, aka voice-overs, was by far the best part. We had a BLAST in that booth recording our own voices into the scenes of famous movies. I played the voice of Dorothy, and butchered the part where she discovers that she had gone over the rainbow… the best scene of course. Who wouldn’t though with their friends laughing in the back you try so hard to keep a straight face and repeat the lines every so diligently? It sure was hysterical though. We spent so much time upstairs enjoying the interactive aspects of the museum that we unfortunately had to rush through the lower level with all of the costumes, face makes, etc. However, there was enough time to set eyes on the actual face and costume that the late Robin Williams woe in his forever-famous movie, Mrs. Doubtfire. That was a tearjerker since he’s been one of my childhood favorites and recently passed so tragically. But, it was definitely amazing to be in the presence of the real thing. Overall, in the early 1900’s “Astoria became known as a center of film-making and home to the Famous Players- Laskey Corporation (later becoming Paramount Studios) (ENY, pg. 223). Just walking around that small portion of Astoria, it is made clear that the film industry is an important aspect of the area.
Our last stop of the day was to Long Island City, yet another place I have never been. In pervious years, this was a mainly industrial area. However, the gentrification process has recently changed the area into a hotspot for New Yorkers who wish to be close to Manhattan but do not wish to pay the high cost of living that it requires. Long Island City is now comprised of beautiful waterfront housing complexes, many art galleries/institutions, and studio space for instance (ENY, pg. 225). We took a short walk from the subway with the intentions of going into MoMA PS1 (a place I’ve been meaning to get to for a while now), however, we were unable to enter. This is the first actual public school of New York City, and now resides as an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art, while still maintaining the feeling of an old 19th century school building (ENY, pg. 225). One fo these days I will ge there to see some art! A short walk away was a beautiful waterfront view of the Manhattan skyline and Roosevelt Island, with close sights of the Queensborough and Roosevelt Bridges (I live for these views!), while tall skyscraper type apartment complexes stood behind us. We sat and spoke briefly about the architecture of the buildings sitting in Manhattan. For example, the Chrysler Building falls under the Art Deco category with the use of set backs and the more flashy look, while the original United Nations Building stands as an example of the modernist architectural time (ENY, pg. 37.
We continued our walk along the East River in Long Island City, and came to the 147 foot Pepsi Cola Sign. Despite the development of the apartment complexes behind the sign, it had “become an informal East River Landmark and a symbol of Long Island City’s industrial pats” (ENY, pg. 226). We had a quick chat about how it must be a bummer for those who have their apartments directly behind the huger letters to the sign. However, after some thought, I decided that I would gladly take of those apartments with a reduced price, right the Pepsi Colas Sign and all. The last thing we saw was the 19th century railroad gantry with the large “Long Island” painting across the top, right there in Gantry Plaza State Park. Learning about how the ships would come to that very dock and unload tons of cargo right up onto the trains to be brought to Long Island was definitely interesting (ENY, pg. 226). The docks and gantry sitting right along side of such a beautifully crated green space was lovely. The wedding ceremony taking place right there didn’t hurt my liking of the place either, of course. But in all honesty, I am a sucker for both greenery and the city life, so of course a combination of the two was my ideal location.
And so we came to the end of our first day. It was a long one, but a good one. We grabbed a drink to waste some time and then headed down to grab yet another ride on the 7 train, taking it first to Woodside before transferring at Jamaica to make it all the way back home. I barely made it to my bed before I passed out for a nice long sleep that night. Thanks Queens, you were great!
Our first class was spent exploring the largest (by land area) of all the five NYC boroughs- Queens! It was a hot, and i mean HOT day with a lot of walking... and i mean A LOT. But, no complaints here because it was well worth it. I would like to start off by saying there is definitely more to Queens than what most would assume. Queens is home to residents from every country in the world with over 120 different languages spoken by it's people every day (ENY, pg. 213). Queens became more accessible over time following the construction of parkways crossing the county created by Robert Moses, a new system of bridges, as well as the creation of the 7 train (ENY, pg. 213-215). I find it fascinating that the 7 train, otherwise known as the "International Express" has been "designated by the White House as a National Millennium Train, one of 16 such trails in the United Sates that reflect defining aspects of America's history and culture" (ENY, pg. 215). This was such a cool fact to read because it was almost like a reality check for me. I live in such an amazing place, yet I fail to realize it and appreciate it most of the time. That will be changing after this class, I can already tell!
So after some background of the basics of Queens, let's get into how our day panned out. Our first 11am meet in Penn Station was a success. Everyone was on time with their walking shoes on and metro card at the ready. We hopped off the 7 train and I have to admit, it was the first time I was exiting that station with Citi Field behind me. I usually attend a few Met games a year (why???... cheap tickets, obviously) but never think of exploring the area around the stadium, but today was the day. So anyway, we headed down the boardwalk bridge toward Flushing Meadow Park and passed the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center as fans flooded in to experience the 2014 US Open. We took a seat on a small set of bleachers next to some practice courts as Mike gave us some insight on what we would be passing. We talked about the Worlds Fair that occurred first in 1939 and 1940 and again in 1964 and 1965, right in the Flushing Meadows Corona Park where we stood. In fact, Robert Moses set out on a mission to clear the ashes and garbage that once inhabited that park in order to make it the home of that first Worlds Fair, which was attended by 44 million people (ENY, pg. 219).
Next, we headed toward the Unisphere, a 12 story high structure measuring 120 feet in diameter and 900,000 pounds in weight, that was built to represent all the continents together with the central idea being global interdependence (ENY, pg. 218). The thought that went into creating this structure is seen in the finished product, because what a sight it is. What I really loved about the Unisphere is not only that it is intriguing to look at with a great message behind it, but the mist it gives off is also a great way to cool off on a hot summer day!
Just a few steps away was the Queens Museum of Art, home to the remarkable Panorama of New York City, created for the second world’s Fair. Fun facts: it contains more than 895,000 buildings, spans about 900 square feet, and is built in a scale of 1 inch to 100ft (ENY, pg. 221). I was blown away by this structure. It was almost too much to take in, really. To be able to see all of New York City in that way was 100% beneficial to my understanding of the city. For the first time I realized the size of Manhattan as it compares to the other surrounding boroughs, for example. Seeing the bridges, the buildings, and event he parks in that structure really put NYC into a new perspective for me. I think it’s pretty cleat that I loved it! We had a wonderful guide who taught us all about the Panorama and other attractions in the museum like the New York Watershed exhibit, which was also very interesting to learn about for the first time.
After the Queens Museum, we walked back over to the 7 train (got a little confused in the newly changed subway station so good thing for the nice people hat work there that let us through without swiping our metrocards again) and took it up to Jackson Heights, or the area also known as “Little India.” We indulged in an Indian cuisine buffet at Jackson Diner, which was delicious! I am no stranger to Indian food so I enjoyed helping my friend’s discover their taste for it. I did however try something new. Goat! And I must say, it was tasty. Also, I am a HGUE bread fan and the Naan at this restaurant just takes the cake.
To Astoria we go! We got off the subway and had a quick chat about the idea of gentrification and how it is now occurring throughout Queens in addition to Brooklyn and Manhattan, transforming “parts of Western Queens into hip extensions of Manhattan” (ENY, pg. 214). We then made our way down Steinway Street, and made a right onto 35th Ave, heading to the Museum of Moving Image. This place was really awesome and unlike anything I have ever seen before. I loved that it took you through the process of film making fro the very beginning. The automated dialogue replacement, aka voice-overs, was by far the best part. We had a BLAST in that booth recording our own voices into the scenes of famous movies. I played the voice of Dorothy, and butchered the part where she discovers that she had gone over the rainbow… the best scene of course. Who wouldn’t though with their friends laughing in the back you try so hard to keep a straight face and repeat the lines every so diligently? It sure was hysterical though. We spent so much time upstairs enjoying the interactive aspects of the museum that we unfortunately had to rush through the lower level with all of the costumes, face makes, etc. However, there was enough time to set eyes on the actual face and costume that the late Robin Williams woe in his forever-famous movie, Mrs. Doubtfire. That was a tearjerker since he’s been one of my childhood favorites and recently passed so tragically. But, it was definitely amazing to be in the presence of the real thing. Overall, in the early 1900’s “Astoria became known as a center of film-making and home to the Famous Players- Laskey Corporation (later becoming Paramount Studios) (ENY, pg. 223). Just walking around that small portion of Astoria, it is made clear that the film industry is an important aspect of the area.
Our last stop of the day was to Long Island City, yet another place I have never been. In pervious years, this was a mainly industrial area. However, the gentrification process has recently changed the area into a hotspot for New Yorkers who wish to be close to Manhattan but do not wish to pay the high cost of living that it requires. Long Island City is now comprised of beautiful waterfront housing complexes, many art galleries/institutions, and studio space for instance (ENY, pg. 225). We took a short walk from the subway with the intentions of going into MoMA PS1 (a place I’ve been meaning to get to for a while now), however, we were unable to enter. This is the first actual public school of New York City, and now resides as an affiliate of the Museum of Modern Art, while still maintaining the feeling of an old 19th century school building (ENY, pg. 225). One fo these days I will ge there to see some art! A short walk away was a beautiful waterfront view of the Manhattan skyline and Roosevelt Island, with close sights of the Queensborough and Roosevelt Bridges (I live for these views!), while tall skyscraper type apartment complexes stood behind us. We sat and spoke briefly about the architecture of the buildings sitting in Manhattan. For example, the Chrysler Building falls under the Art Deco category with the use of set backs and the more flashy look, while the original United Nations Building stands as an example of the modernist architectural time (ENY, pg. 37.
We continued our walk along the East River in Long Island City, and came to the 147 foot Pepsi Cola Sign. Despite the development of the apartment complexes behind the sign, it had “become an informal East River Landmark and a symbol of Long Island City’s industrial pats” (ENY, pg. 226). We had a quick chat about how it must be a bummer for those who have their apartments directly behind the huger letters to the sign. However, after some thought, I decided that I would gladly take of those apartments with a reduced price, right the Pepsi Colas Sign and all. The last thing we saw was the 19th century railroad gantry with the large “Long Island” painting across the top, right there in Gantry Plaza State Park. Learning about how the ships would come to that very dock and unload tons of cargo right up onto the trains to be brought to Long Island was definitely interesting (ENY, pg. 226). The docks and gantry sitting right along side of such a beautifully crated green space was lovely. The wedding ceremony taking place right there didn’t hurt my liking of the place either, of course. But in all honesty, I am a sucker for both greenery and the city life, so of course a combination of the two was my ideal location.
And so we came to the end of our first day. It was a long one, but a good one. We grabbed a drink to waste some time and then headed down to grab yet another ride on the 7 train, taking it first to Woodside before transferring at Jamaica to make it all the way back home. I barely made it to my bed before I passed out for a nice long sleep that night. Thanks Queens, you were great!
3. Blissful in Brooklyn
This week we were off to Brooklyn, which is definitely my second favorite borough of New York City, with Manhattan sitting in the number one spot, of course. Apparently, I’m not the only fan of Brooklyn considering it has a population of 2.5 million people, making it the most populous borough of the city and the second largest county in the United States in regards to population (ENY, pg. 191). I found it interesting that the people of Brooklyn, or Kings County, named after King Charles II, used to make a living from farming, due to its location being so close to the great big city and an abundance of fertile land (ENY, pg. 191). I would never have guessed this looking at Brooklyn in its current state of population of both people and buildings. In the mid 19th century, Manhattan became less desirable to live in, especially for families, with is fast paced lifestyle and busy streets. Therefore, Brooklyn was the new hotspot with the ferry services providing easy transportation to the other side of the East River, allowing people to commute into Manhattan for work (ENY, pg. 192). Although Brooklyn went through a decline in the 1970’s, the more recent years have allowed Brooklyn to flourish, bringing about tons of trendy areas with an abundance of culture and life, now making it greatly sought after by so many individuals.
So our day began at Penn, where we then took a stroll down 34th street to the corner of 6th avenue to hop on the F train which would take us to none other than the famous Coney Island! The ride of the F train was a long, but not at all painful 50-minute commute. We all chatted, as usual, making the time go quicker. And also, let’s not forget the cute little kittens we made friends with on the way! (People tend to call me a cat lady, but I only have one cat! I believe having multiple cats is what makes up a cat lady, but hey, whatever!) So we made our way to the Coney Island station, which I actually found to be really nice. It was larger and more opened than most, reminding me a lot of Jamaica station. So anyways, here’s a fun fact! Before being called Coney Island, both the Dutch and the British renamed this place to be called terms meaning rabbit, as it was home to many different species of rabbits at one time (ENY, pg. 193). Because Coney Island was difficult to reach in its earlier years, it was undeveloped and mostly unpopulated. However, “That all changed in the 1830s and 40s, when new carriage roads and steamship service reduced the amount of time it took to reach Coney Island from half a day to just two hours, and the Island soon became a holiday destination for New Yorkers seeking a reprieve from city life” (ENY, pg. 193). Additionally, this location became a popular tourist attraction and even a popular day trip for New Yorkers after the creation of quicker transportation continued to arise.
So we were given an hour and 15 minutes to go off on our own and explore the area. Although I had been to Coney Island one other time about ten years ago for a film festival, I didn’t really see much, so this all was pretty new for me. Our first stop… FOOD. Nathan’s Famous hotdogs or pizza? That was the question. And much to Mike’s surprise, we chose pizza. But, ate it out on Nathan's patio… so doesn’t that kind of count? I don’t think we’ll ever live that down in Mike's and Meritta’s eyes. However, I don’t regret it one bit because oh my, that pizza was amazing!! So with our full belly’s, we headed over to the boardwalk to catch the beautiful sight of the Atlantic Ocean on such a perfectly sunny day. We walked along the boardwalk with the ocean to our right, waves riding along the shoreline, and the amusement park on our left. We took some great pictures of the Wonder Wheel and watched the famous Cyclone rollercoaster slither around the track. The 85 foot tall wooden coaster may be the most well known symbol of Coney Island, running since 1927 (ENY, pg. 194). I will admit, the second we started walking away from it, I regretted not taking a ride. We walked down a few different streets, trying to absorb all of the quirky shops and attractions around the area that are so unique to Coney Island. But, before we knew it, it was time to make our way back to the subway station. So long Coney Island!
After exiting the subway, we took a brief walk to get to the New York Transit Museum, which originally opened in 1976 as a temporary exhibit, but became a permanent spot when it proved to be of great interest to New Yorkers. Our great tour guide, Katherine, walked us through the first part of the museum, which was a detailed display of all the historic information on how the subways were first designed and constructed, dating back to the 19th century. It is noted that, “With 468 operating stations, the New York City Subway system is the most extensive public transportation system in the world” (ENY, pg. 202). With that being said, it was intriguing to discover the way that it all started and to really see and understand all of the extensive plans and manual labor that went into its creation. We learned that here were two methods used to building the subway system, cut and cover and deep bore tunneling. Cut and cover was when the street was dug up and a tunnel was created below, which would then be covered by a new road. However, this caused a large disruption of life up on the street. Therefore, the second method was used where gigantic tunneling machines would create the tunnels without complete disruption of the above streets (ENY, pg. 202). The images we saw and facts we were told really brought the creation of the subway systems into perspective. So, after Katherine finished with the historical aspect of the museum, we headed down to the lower level to play on all the old subways. So fun! I loved reading all of the old advertisements on the walls and seeing the simplicity of the times. Some of the old subways reminded me of images from the Titanic, with such elegance and history in each one. And then, you got to the end of the line where we have the subways from today. BORING, and so futuristic might I add. Let’s bring back the old ones! That’s my vote. I really did enjoy this museum because the thought of how the subway system was created truly is something that always boggles my mind to think about.
We exited the Transit Museum and began our walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, which I thoroughly enjoyed. We first stopped at Brooklyn Borough Hall, the oldest public building in Brooklyn, completed in 1848 (ENY, pg. 203). We shortly discussed some aspects of architecture and the different types of pillars that we would come across on our tour. We were given an acronym of DIC to remember the different types of columns, and learned that this particular building was a Greek Revival structure. It looked like a great spot to sit and enjoy a nice iced coffee on a hot summer day. And speaking of iced coffee- on to Montague Street we go! This is the main shopping street in the area and is filled with cute, small clothing stores and is littered with intimate cafes where of course, I got my iced coffee fix for the day… and it was delicious! We took a leisurely stroll through a branch of Chase Bank, which was formerly the Brooklyn Trust Company Building, built between 1913 and 1916. No we didn’t need to take money out or open an account, but rather we walked through to gawk at the amazing architectural design from floor to ceiling, which was all of Roman architectural inspiration (ENY, pg. 204). (Boo for not being allow to take pictures!) And just to across the street was the Brooklyn Historical Society, which also had spectacular architectural detail on the outer surfaces of the building. The floral cutouts greatly reminded me of a restaurant, and former bank in the 1700’s, in Dublin, Ireland that I just saw this past August when I visited. (I live for anything floral, really).
We walked toward the East River, passing by amazing Brownstones, homes that are famous to Brooklyn. Their distinctive look, originally made of brown sandstone from the Portland Brownstone Quarries in Connecticut, makes them extremely desirable in the Brooklyn area, allowing the prices of these homes to skyrocket to the millions (ENY, pg. 205). After we surprised a nice resident of one of the Brownstones by having him open his front door to all 24 of us, we got up and made our way to the Montague Terrace where we again briefly spoke about some history. Just a few feet away was the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a place I’ve been hoping to go for a while now. And boy, it did not disappoint. The views of spectacular lower Manhattan, the glimmering river, all of the water and air activity, and the traffic moving across the Bridges to our right were almost overwhelming. I had to take a minute to stand by myself and take it all in. It was yet another moment of “WOW, I live here!”
Next, we saw the historical Plymouth Church from 1849, located on Orange Street. We stood in the courtyard and listened to some of the history and talked about the statues that sat on the grounds there… before being quickly kicked out. Woops, sorry! We made our way back to the river again and saw the sights of Brooklyn Bridge Park. It was a great sight for picture taking, clearly, as we saw 3 different brides and their grooms posing for pictures on their wedding day. It was so sweet and lovely! I really like the idea of the recreational spaces that have been created there as a public-private partnership during the Bloomberg administration (ENY, pg. 206). It gives a great spot for people to enjoy the views, while also providing an area to do activities that other areas of Brooklyn don’t exactly have enough space for. We then walked east under the Brooklyn Bridge (not over it just yet) to the area known as DUMBO, or Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass (I think that’s hysterical). It is explained that the acronym was initially used in 1978 as “an effort by community members to encourage the development of the area” (ENY, pg. 207). And it seemed to have worked considering DUMBO has transformed into a popular neighborhood of Brooklyn.
We came out to the other side of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where Jane’s Carousel is located and spectacular views of both the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge can be had, along with sights of Manhattan from the lower end to the upper end. We saw another 3 couples being photographed on their wedding day (Congrats to all you newly married, September 12th couples out there!!!). Jane’s Carousel was built in 1922, but was later damaged in a fire. A woman named Jane Walentas, and her husband, bought the carousel and took 20 years to restore the beloved carousel. They also convinced the city to house it under a $9 million transparent “jewel box,” and good thing they did because I feel that is what makes it something extra extraordinary (ENY, pg. 209). We sat on the steps, right along the rocks in between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, enjoying the sounds of an upbeat, live band playing familiar tunes, while adorable babies performed some dance moves for us. Lets just say it was my ideal afternoon.
Our second to last destination of the day was a wonderful little ice cream shop where I enjoyed a creamy coconut ice cream piled onto a crispy waffle cone. Yum Yum Yum! And lastly, there we were at the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge. I definitely got a rush of excitement and energy as we set foot, ready to cross the famous bridge. Some fun facts about the Brooklyn Bridge include: it is the oldest suspension bridge in the Untied States, it was designed by John Roebling (but completed by Emily Roebling), it took six hundred workers, 14 years, and $15 million (at the time) to complete. Also, it was completed and opened on May 24th of 1883, and on this day Emily Roebling would be the first person to walk all the way across it, with 250,000 following her in the next 24 hours (ENY, pg. 209).
It was definitely a complete thrill to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Although I was a little worried to be struck by the bikers zooming by, I was also completely determined with capturing a great picture of my journey. However, I didn’t get too consumed with the photo taking to miss out on the astounding sights that surrounded me. The sun was setting and the skyline was perfection. I even enjoyed looking at the cars driving below (well, slowly driving…traffic, of course). I loved every minute of it and definitely hope to do it many more times in my future.
So, we made it to the other side… Manhattan! And we all parted ways with some of us heading to the A train to Penn Station, hoping to grab a seat on the LIRR after this very long, but informative and exciting day in Brooklyn. And hey Brooklyn, I now love you even more!
This week we were off to Brooklyn, which is definitely my second favorite borough of New York City, with Manhattan sitting in the number one spot, of course. Apparently, I’m not the only fan of Brooklyn considering it has a population of 2.5 million people, making it the most populous borough of the city and the second largest county in the United States in regards to population (ENY, pg. 191). I found it interesting that the people of Brooklyn, or Kings County, named after King Charles II, used to make a living from farming, due to its location being so close to the great big city and an abundance of fertile land (ENY, pg. 191). I would never have guessed this looking at Brooklyn in its current state of population of both people and buildings. In the mid 19th century, Manhattan became less desirable to live in, especially for families, with is fast paced lifestyle and busy streets. Therefore, Brooklyn was the new hotspot with the ferry services providing easy transportation to the other side of the East River, allowing people to commute into Manhattan for work (ENY, pg. 192). Although Brooklyn went through a decline in the 1970’s, the more recent years have allowed Brooklyn to flourish, bringing about tons of trendy areas with an abundance of culture and life, now making it greatly sought after by so many individuals.
So our day began at Penn, where we then took a stroll down 34th street to the corner of 6th avenue to hop on the F train which would take us to none other than the famous Coney Island! The ride of the F train was a long, but not at all painful 50-minute commute. We all chatted, as usual, making the time go quicker. And also, let’s not forget the cute little kittens we made friends with on the way! (People tend to call me a cat lady, but I only have one cat! I believe having multiple cats is what makes up a cat lady, but hey, whatever!) So we made our way to the Coney Island station, which I actually found to be really nice. It was larger and more opened than most, reminding me a lot of Jamaica station. So anyways, here’s a fun fact! Before being called Coney Island, both the Dutch and the British renamed this place to be called terms meaning rabbit, as it was home to many different species of rabbits at one time (ENY, pg. 193). Because Coney Island was difficult to reach in its earlier years, it was undeveloped and mostly unpopulated. However, “That all changed in the 1830s and 40s, when new carriage roads and steamship service reduced the amount of time it took to reach Coney Island from half a day to just two hours, and the Island soon became a holiday destination for New Yorkers seeking a reprieve from city life” (ENY, pg. 193). Additionally, this location became a popular tourist attraction and even a popular day trip for New Yorkers after the creation of quicker transportation continued to arise.
So we were given an hour and 15 minutes to go off on our own and explore the area. Although I had been to Coney Island one other time about ten years ago for a film festival, I didn’t really see much, so this all was pretty new for me. Our first stop… FOOD. Nathan’s Famous hotdogs or pizza? That was the question. And much to Mike’s surprise, we chose pizza. But, ate it out on Nathan's patio… so doesn’t that kind of count? I don’t think we’ll ever live that down in Mike's and Meritta’s eyes. However, I don’t regret it one bit because oh my, that pizza was amazing!! So with our full belly’s, we headed over to the boardwalk to catch the beautiful sight of the Atlantic Ocean on such a perfectly sunny day. We walked along the boardwalk with the ocean to our right, waves riding along the shoreline, and the amusement park on our left. We took some great pictures of the Wonder Wheel and watched the famous Cyclone rollercoaster slither around the track. The 85 foot tall wooden coaster may be the most well known symbol of Coney Island, running since 1927 (ENY, pg. 194). I will admit, the second we started walking away from it, I regretted not taking a ride. We walked down a few different streets, trying to absorb all of the quirky shops and attractions around the area that are so unique to Coney Island. But, before we knew it, it was time to make our way back to the subway station. So long Coney Island!
After exiting the subway, we took a brief walk to get to the New York Transit Museum, which originally opened in 1976 as a temporary exhibit, but became a permanent spot when it proved to be of great interest to New Yorkers. Our great tour guide, Katherine, walked us through the first part of the museum, which was a detailed display of all the historic information on how the subways were first designed and constructed, dating back to the 19th century. It is noted that, “With 468 operating stations, the New York City Subway system is the most extensive public transportation system in the world” (ENY, pg. 202). With that being said, it was intriguing to discover the way that it all started and to really see and understand all of the extensive plans and manual labor that went into its creation. We learned that here were two methods used to building the subway system, cut and cover and deep bore tunneling. Cut and cover was when the street was dug up and a tunnel was created below, which would then be covered by a new road. However, this caused a large disruption of life up on the street. Therefore, the second method was used where gigantic tunneling machines would create the tunnels without complete disruption of the above streets (ENY, pg. 202). The images we saw and facts we were told really brought the creation of the subway systems into perspective. So, after Katherine finished with the historical aspect of the museum, we headed down to the lower level to play on all the old subways. So fun! I loved reading all of the old advertisements on the walls and seeing the simplicity of the times. Some of the old subways reminded me of images from the Titanic, with such elegance and history in each one. And then, you got to the end of the line where we have the subways from today. BORING, and so futuristic might I add. Let’s bring back the old ones! That’s my vote. I really did enjoy this museum because the thought of how the subway system was created truly is something that always boggles my mind to think about.
We exited the Transit Museum and began our walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, which I thoroughly enjoyed. We first stopped at Brooklyn Borough Hall, the oldest public building in Brooklyn, completed in 1848 (ENY, pg. 203). We shortly discussed some aspects of architecture and the different types of pillars that we would come across on our tour. We were given an acronym of DIC to remember the different types of columns, and learned that this particular building was a Greek Revival structure. It looked like a great spot to sit and enjoy a nice iced coffee on a hot summer day. And speaking of iced coffee- on to Montague Street we go! This is the main shopping street in the area and is filled with cute, small clothing stores and is littered with intimate cafes where of course, I got my iced coffee fix for the day… and it was delicious! We took a leisurely stroll through a branch of Chase Bank, which was formerly the Brooklyn Trust Company Building, built between 1913 and 1916. No we didn’t need to take money out or open an account, but rather we walked through to gawk at the amazing architectural design from floor to ceiling, which was all of Roman architectural inspiration (ENY, pg. 204). (Boo for not being allow to take pictures!) And just to across the street was the Brooklyn Historical Society, which also had spectacular architectural detail on the outer surfaces of the building. The floral cutouts greatly reminded me of a restaurant, and former bank in the 1700’s, in Dublin, Ireland that I just saw this past August when I visited. (I live for anything floral, really).
We walked toward the East River, passing by amazing Brownstones, homes that are famous to Brooklyn. Their distinctive look, originally made of brown sandstone from the Portland Brownstone Quarries in Connecticut, makes them extremely desirable in the Brooklyn area, allowing the prices of these homes to skyrocket to the millions (ENY, pg. 205). After we surprised a nice resident of one of the Brownstones by having him open his front door to all 24 of us, we got up and made our way to the Montague Terrace where we again briefly spoke about some history. Just a few feet away was the Brooklyn Heights Promenade, a place I’ve been hoping to go for a while now. And boy, it did not disappoint. The views of spectacular lower Manhattan, the glimmering river, all of the water and air activity, and the traffic moving across the Bridges to our right were almost overwhelming. I had to take a minute to stand by myself and take it all in. It was yet another moment of “WOW, I live here!”
Next, we saw the historical Plymouth Church from 1849, located on Orange Street. We stood in the courtyard and listened to some of the history and talked about the statues that sat on the grounds there… before being quickly kicked out. Woops, sorry! We made our way back to the river again and saw the sights of Brooklyn Bridge Park. It was a great sight for picture taking, clearly, as we saw 3 different brides and their grooms posing for pictures on their wedding day. It was so sweet and lovely! I really like the idea of the recreational spaces that have been created there as a public-private partnership during the Bloomberg administration (ENY, pg. 206). It gives a great spot for people to enjoy the views, while also providing an area to do activities that other areas of Brooklyn don’t exactly have enough space for. We then walked east under the Brooklyn Bridge (not over it just yet) to the area known as DUMBO, or Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass (I think that’s hysterical). It is explained that the acronym was initially used in 1978 as “an effort by community members to encourage the development of the area” (ENY, pg. 207). And it seemed to have worked considering DUMBO has transformed into a popular neighborhood of Brooklyn.
We came out to the other side of Brooklyn Bridge Park, where Jane’s Carousel is located and spectacular views of both the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge can be had, along with sights of Manhattan from the lower end to the upper end. We saw another 3 couples being photographed on their wedding day (Congrats to all you newly married, September 12th couples out there!!!). Jane’s Carousel was built in 1922, but was later damaged in a fire. A woman named Jane Walentas, and her husband, bought the carousel and took 20 years to restore the beloved carousel. They also convinced the city to house it under a $9 million transparent “jewel box,” and good thing they did because I feel that is what makes it something extra extraordinary (ENY, pg. 209). We sat on the steps, right along the rocks in between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, enjoying the sounds of an upbeat, live band playing familiar tunes, while adorable babies performed some dance moves for us. Lets just say it was my ideal afternoon.
Our second to last destination of the day was a wonderful little ice cream shop where I enjoyed a creamy coconut ice cream piled onto a crispy waffle cone. Yum Yum Yum! And lastly, there we were at the entrance of the Brooklyn Bridge. I definitely got a rush of excitement and energy as we set foot, ready to cross the famous bridge. Some fun facts about the Brooklyn Bridge include: it is the oldest suspension bridge in the Untied States, it was designed by John Roebling (but completed by Emily Roebling), it took six hundred workers, 14 years, and $15 million (at the time) to complete. Also, it was completed and opened on May 24th of 1883, and on this day Emily Roebling would be the first person to walk all the way across it, with 250,000 following her in the next 24 hours (ENY, pg. 209).
It was definitely a complete thrill to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. Although I was a little worried to be struck by the bikers zooming by, I was also completely determined with capturing a great picture of my journey. However, I didn’t get too consumed with the photo taking to miss out on the astounding sights that surrounded me. The sun was setting and the skyline was perfection. I even enjoyed looking at the cars driving below (well, slowly driving…traffic, of course). I loved every minute of it and definitely hope to do it many more times in my future.
So, we made it to the other side… Manhattan! And we all parted ways with some of us heading to the A train to Penn Station, hoping to grab a seat on the LIRR after this very long, but informative and exciting day in Brooklyn. And hey Brooklyn, I now love you even more!
4. The Charm of Chelsea and The Village
This week, our class began very far away from our ending location, which was definitely tiring, but worth the effort. We started out at Penn Station, immediately making our way to Chelsea, and then finished the day off in the East Village, after taking a good chunk of the afternoon to explore Greenwich Village, as well. We gathered at Penn Station and departed at 11am to make our way to Chelsea. We stopped outside of Penn (after exiting a way that I rarely, if ever, use to get out of the station, so I was quite lost already!) to take a look at The United States Post Office building and Madison Square Garden, talking briefly about both of the iconic buildings. Then we were on our way! We walked and talked (in a loading dock) about Chelsea and what it had been in the past. After it was passed down to him from his Grandfather, poet Clement Clark Moore, owned the 94 acres of land along the Hudson that became known as Chelsea. In the early 19th century, he developed the land and divided it up into different lots and built stylish townhouses (ENY, pg. 83). According to ENY, “The neighborhood remained fairly exclusive until 1847, when the Hudson River Railroad laid tracks through Chelsea, precipitating its transformation into a heavily industrialized area” (ENY, pg. 83). And although it was predominantly a sleazy, working class area for much time, it eventually transformed to an upscale area again in the late 20th century when SoHo’s over priced rent forced the art galleries to relocate somewhere else. Chelsea was the perfect location in regards to space and price. Therefore, Chelsea soon became known as the “prestigious center of the New York art world” (ENY, pg. 84). But, more on that later, because here we come to the High Line!
We walked toward Tenth Avenue where we entered the highline at the 30th street entrance, where we were able to take a peak at the new extension to 34th street, which actually is set to open this Sunday, the 21st. We made our way down the beautiful path that lies over Chelsea, with the change of season being very evident in the browning plants and the lack of colorful blooms that were present when I visited in August. Nevertheless, it still loved it. This structure is a place where I really appreciate the simplicity of some musicians beating their drums for the people to enjoy, artists sketching amazing images of the buildings in front of them, and seeing tons of students sitting about, reading and writing. I really find the whole history behind the High Line intriguing, as well. In the 1800’s, a freight line ran along the streets of Chelsea transporting produce. This freight line, however, seemed to be doing more harm than good as it was the source of many fatalities over time, giving 10th avenue the nickname of “Death Avenue” (ENY, pg. 84). Therefore, in the 1930’s the New York Central Railroad raised the train line 30 feet above ground level. But when the railroad eventually became abandoned, it came close to being torn down. To prevent the destruction of the elevated structure, a non-profit community group proposed to change it into an elevated park (ENY, pg. 84). And what a great idea that was! The park, with its manmade landscape and 360 views of the city, opened in 2006 and was an instantly popular attraction. Additionally, it “spurred on the development of Chelsea with notable architects vying to construct innovative buildings alone the line” (ENY, pg. 85). A few of the most notable structures visible as you walk the path of the High Line, include: the IAC Building, 100 11th Avenue, and the Standard High Line Hotel. I can say with confidence that after visiting it for the second time, the High Line is one of my favorite parts of New York City.
Now, back to those galleries. By definition, an art gallery is “A private space devoted to displaying and selling works of art” (ENY, pg. 85). This was my first experience of gallery “hopping”, as we called it. Chelsea is filled with some of the most eclectic works of art which can be enjoyed just for entertainment, or it can be a destination for the rich people of New York to buy a piece for their homes. I thought it was interesting that many of the people buy pieces worth thousands of dollars, only to have them increase even more in value after time. And although we may not all be interested in the world of contemporary art that’s way out of our price range, our ears all perked up when we heard about the free wine and mingling with the rich and famous at the openings each month. See ya there! But really, there are so many options of where to stop in and look considering the galleries in Chelsea span from 27th street to 19th street between 10th and 11th avenues (ENY, pg. 85). I did enjoy getting to go (for free!) into the different galleries and look at the variety of artwork. My top two favorites from what we saw were definitely Unix and Danese Corey. Unix Gallery featured artwork by Kwangho Shin, which were large, abstract, colorful portraits of people. Although I am not a huge fan of art, something about the color and texture of the pieces really intrigued me. Also, in Danese Corey, an exhibition by Deborah Butterfield was on display titled New Sculpture. This was a fascinating portrayal of a horse built from wood. It was so unique and beautifully artistic, yet was so close to reality. I really enjoyed both galleries and the interesting works they had inside.
After gallery hopping concluded, we continued walking until we got to The Chelsea Historical District, located from West 20th to 22nd streets. This area includes the beautiful seven red brick row houses built in 1839 and 1840, known as Cushman Row. This area stands as a symbol of what Chelsea used to have in the early 19th century, as these row houses were home to the more fashionable and elite. They were built by Don Alonzo Cushman, a friend of Moore’s, and “are considered some of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the city” (ENY, pg. 86). It was intentional that these mid century houses be built the same, all having stoops, lower entrances for help and deliveries, and front yards for gardens to be enjoyed. Other attractions in the area that we were unable to hit are the Chelsea Market, a place well known for it’s amazing food, and the Meatpacking District, a popular location for bars, restaurants, clubs, and trendy clothing stores (ENY, pg. 87).
Next stop, Greenwich Village! The popularity of the Village becomes evident with the following statement, “It’s filled with elegant rowhouses on peaceful tree-lined streets, has some of the city’s coziest bookstores and cafes, and has a vibrant nightlife that appeals to people of all ages” (ENY, pg.88). Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? The Village became extremely populated with the outbreaks of cholera and yellow fever in the early 1820’s, causing an influx of residents from lower Manhattan into this area, soon becoming a great place for wealthy New Yorkers to live (ENY, pg. 88). Years in the future, however, as a result of decreased housing cost, it became a center for bohemian hippy life, anti-Vietnam War protesters, and gay and lesbian cultural changes. It is described as having been the “Fertile nurturing ground for non-conformist expression” (ENY, pg. 89). Again, however, times changed and it returned back to an area fit for those who area able to afford it’s expensive rent prices. With that being said, we walked along Greenwich Avenue, stopping first at The Jefferson Market Garden, with views of the Jefferson Market Library above. We spoke about the history of library and learned that it was a High Victorian Gothic-style building and that it was “so highly regarded in its time that it was voted one of the ten most beautiful buildings in America by a poll of architects in the 1880s” (ENY, pg. 91). Close by was Christopher Street, which we spoke about, discovering that it holds must history for the gay and lesbian population. Some of these historical places were the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park.
We continued on until we got to Washington Square Park, which is surrounded by the buildings and student life of New York University. Before it was a park enjoyed by many in the Village, this area served as a potter’s field, or burial for unknown or poor people, and for executions. Then, in 1950 Robert Moses proposed building a highway right through the park, however local activist Jane Jacobs demanded a fight, and so went the epic battle between the two, with Jacobs coming out on top (ENY, pg. 95). The park is now a beautiful space filled with countless New Yorkers enjoying their days, with a large water fountain right in the center of the area. Right here in the park is where I enjoyed one of my favorite parts of the day – watching the Bird Man! I’ve heard about him, and I finally saw him! It was a combination of gross and awesome. And my second favorite thing was seeing the arch in person. I’ve seen that arch on numerous episodes of Friends and in more than one movie, yet I never saw it in person, and then there it was as beautiful and enormous as I thought it would be. The Washington Square Arch was designed by Stanford White, was completed in 1891, standing 70 feet high, and is dedicated to the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration (ENY, pg. 95). We took a quick walk over to Washington Mews, and then made our way to the popular McDougal Street where we had a delicious lunch. There were so many options of where to eat, but when I saw Moumons Falafel, I knew I had to have one. I’ve heard of them and seen some of my favorite NYC bloggers eating those sandwiches, so I knew it was fate. And oh man, it was delicious! I’ll be back for more.
Now we come to the last portion of our day in the East Village, a separate area from Greenwich Village that spans from 14th street in the north and East Houston Street in the south. In the mid 20th century, the East Village was a center for music and artists, while it now has been experiencing a wave of gentrification, making it a trendy and desirable spot for people to hang out (ENY, pg. 98). We were lucky enough to go to the Merchant’s House Museum, a preserved federal-style house built in 1832 by Joseph Brewster, then sold to the Tredwell family, where they lived all their lives. We were able to hear all about the Tredwell family and how they lived their lives there in that very house in the 1800’s, really getting an authentic experiencing, as everything is exactly as it was during that time period. Through our tour guide, we learned a lot about the type of life this family lived. For instance, we heard about the calling cards and visits for the lady of the house, the family room that was for family only, the internal communication system of the bells within the house, and the architectural styles of the great room being symmetrical to be considered a true Greek revival design. Even though there were a lot of fascinating aspects of this tour, I found the architectural details of the crown moldings and southern pine wide plank floors to be my favorite. The house certainly had equal parts charm and history, making it a great place for us to have visited, in my book.
After leaving the museum, we made our way to 41 Cooper Square, where a bold building stands as a part of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The building is formally called the New Academic Building and was designed to “create a ground-breaking building that also reflected the college’s focus on advanced studies in art, architecture, and engineering” (ENY, pg. 101). Both the interior and exterior are bold and dramatic, with metal accents and interesting shaping. We took a quick look inside and it was definitely one of the more interesting academic buildings I’ve seen. Right across the way is McSorley’s Old Ale House, founded by an Irish immigrant in the mid 1800’s, with New York memorabilia covering it’s walls. It is famous for being a “Men’s Only” bar and not allowing women to enter until 1970 (ENY, pg. 102). We walked across the street to Astor Place and spoke a bit about this area before moving on to take a stroll through St. Mark’s Place.
We made our way east on Astor Place, where it turns into St. Mark’s Place. This area is now described as having a “rebellious feel to it and attracts large numbers of 20-somethings to its head shops, record stores, and inexpensive eateries” (ENY, pg. 104). Walking the streets I got a funky, unique vibe from this area. It’s definitely a place worth exploring more another time. On the corner of East 10th street and 2nd Avenue was St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery, a beautiful and old church built by Peter Stuyvesant in 1660. In time a Greek Revival styled steeple was created and the church became involved with the arts and performances in the city. We also passed the Russian and Turkish Baths and the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, learning briefly about both interesting places.
Our final two stops were La Plaza Cultural and Tompkins Square Park. La Plaza Cultural was created in 1976 by local residents who changed an abandoned city lot that was overrun with trash and rubble into a community garden for the neighborhood to enjoy. The lot was cleared, trees were planted, and an amphitheater was created with scrap materials. Here community residents hold cultural events, make compost, and have a space to use as an actual garden (ENY, pg. 106). When we stumbled upon it, there was some type of party going on, with kids playing and entertainment being enjoyed, while we watched and got a feeling for this community garden. I thought it was a really cool idea and I liked the design with all of the recycled materials hung around the park fence. Finally, we got to Tompkins Square Park at the end of our very long day. We learned that the park, formed in 1834 and named after a governor of New York, was home to a number of famous riots from the mid to late 1800’s, relating to the draft, unemployment, and homeless individuals (ENY, pg. 107). The park was closed down for renovations in order to make it so that no further riots could take place, which was successful since it is now a park enjoyed by the people of the East Village.
We had a nice, long day seeing so much of New York City. I was happy to revisit one of my favorite attractions, the High Line, and loved strolling around the Village, learning new information I never would have known before. I'll definitely be spending more time in the Village.
This week, our class began very far away from our ending location, which was definitely tiring, but worth the effort. We started out at Penn Station, immediately making our way to Chelsea, and then finished the day off in the East Village, after taking a good chunk of the afternoon to explore Greenwich Village, as well. We gathered at Penn Station and departed at 11am to make our way to Chelsea. We stopped outside of Penn (after exiting a way that I rarely, if ever, use to get out of the station, so I was quite lost already!) to take a look at The United States Post Office building and Madison Square Garden, talking briefly about both of the iconic buildings. Then we were on our way! We walked and talked (in a loading dock) about Chelsea and what it had been in the past. After it was passed down to him from his Grandfather, poet Clement Clark Moore, owned the 94 acres of land along the Hudson that became known as Chelsea. In the early 19th century, he developed the land and divided it up into different lots and built stylish townhouses (ENY, pg. 83). According to ENY, “The neighborhood remained fairly exclusive until 1847, when the Hudson River Railroad laid tracks through Chelsea, precipitating its transformation into a heavily industrialized area” (ENY, pg. 83). And although it was predominantly a sleazy, working class area for much time, it eventually transformed to an upscale area again in the late 20th century when SoHo’s over priced rent forced the art galleries to relocate somewhere else. Chelsea was the perfect location in regards to space and price. Therefore, Chelsea soon became known as the “prestigious center of the New York art world” (ENY, pg. 84). But, more on that later, because here we come to the High Line!
We walked toward Tenth Avenue where we entered the highline at the 30th street entrance, where we were able to take a peak at the new extension to 34th street, which actually is set to open this Sunday, the 21st. We made our way down the beautiful path that lies over Chelsea, with the change of season being very evident in the browning plants and the lack of colorful blooms that were present when I visited in August. Nevertheless, it still loved it. This structure is a place where I really appreciate the simplicity of some musicians beating their drums for the people to enjoy, artists sketching amazing images of the buildings in front of them, and seeing tons of students sitting about, reading and writing. I really find the whole history behind the High Line intriguing, as well. In the 1800’s, a freight line ran along the streets of Chelsea transporting produce. This freight line, however, seemed to be doing more harm than good as it was the source of many fatalities over time, giving 10th avenue the nickname of “Death Avenue” (ENY, pg. 84). Therefore, in the 1930’s the New York Central Railroad raised the train line 30 feet above ground level. But when the railroad eventually became abandoned, it came close to being torn down. To prevent the destruction of the elevated structure, a non-profit community group proposed to change it into an elevated park (ENY, pg. 84). And what a great idea that was! The park, with its manmade landscape and 360 views of the city, opened in 2006 and was an instantly popular attraction. Additionally, it “spurred on the development of Chelsea with notable architects vying to construct innovative buildings alone the line” (ENY, pg. 85). A few of the most notable structures visible as you walk the path of the High Line, include: the IAC Building, 100 11th Avenue, and the Standard High Line Hotel. I can say with confidence that after visiting it for the second time, the High Line is one of my favorite parts of New York City.
Now, back to those galleries. By definition, an art gallery is “A private space devoted to displaying and selling works of art” (ENY, pg. 85). This was my first experience of gallery “hopping”, as we called it. Chelsea is filled with some of the most eclectic works of art which can be enjoyed just for entertainment, or it can be a destination for the rich people of New York to buy a piece for their homes. I thought it was interesting that many of the people buy pieces worth thousands of dollars, only to have them increase even more in value after time. And although we may not all be interested in the world of contemporary art that’s way out of our price range, our ears all perked up when we heard about the free wine and mingling with the rich and famous at the openings each month. See ya there! But really, there are so many options of where to stop in and look considering the galleries in Chelsea span from 27th street to 19th street between 10th and 11th avenues (ENY, pg. 85). I did enjoy getting to go (for free!) into the different galleries and look at the variety of artwork. My top two favorites from what we saw were definitely Unix and Danese Corey. Unix Gallery featured artwork by Kwangho Shin, which were large, abstract, colorful portraits of people. Although I am not a huge fan of art, something about the color and texture of the pieces really intrigued me. Also, in Danese Corey, an exhibition by Deborah Butterfield was on display titled New Sculpture. This was a fascinating portrayal of a horse built from wood. It was so unique and beautifully artistic, yet was so close to reality. I really enjoyed both galleries and the interesting works they had inside.
After gallery hopping concluded, we continued walking until we got to The Chelsea Historical District, located from West 20th to 22nd streets. This area includes the beautiful seven red brick row houses built in 1839 and 1840, known as Cushman Row. This area stands as a symbol of what Chelsea used to have in the early 19th century, as these row houses were home to the more fashionable and elite. They were built by Don Alonzo Cushman, a friend of Moore’s, and “are considered some of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the city” (ENY, pg. 86). It was intentional that these mid century houses be built the same, all having stoops, lower entrances for help and deliveries, and front yards for gardens to be enjoyed. Other attractions in the area that we were unable to hit are the Chelsea Market, a place well known for it’s amazing food, and the Meatpacking District, a popular location for bars, restaurants, clubs, and trendy clothing stores (ENY, pg. 87).
Next stop, Greenwich Village! The popularity of the Village becomes evident with the following statement, “It’s filled with elegant rowhouses on peaceful tree-lined streets, has some of the city’s coziest bookstores and cafes, and has a vibrant nightlife that appeals to people of all ages” (ENY, pg.88). Sounds wonderful doesn’t it? The Village became extremely populated with the outbreaks of cholera and yellow fever in the early 1820’s, causing an influx of residents from lower Manhattan into this area, soon becoming a great place for wealthy New Yorkers to live (ENY, pg. 88). Years in the future, however, as a result of decreased housing cost, it became a center for bohemian hippy life, anti-Vietnam War protesters, and gay and lesbian cultural changes. It is described as having been the “Fertile nurturing ground for non-conformist expression” (ENY, pg. 89). Again, however, times changed and it returned back to an area fit for those who area able to afford it’s expensive rent prices. With that being said, we walked along Greenwich Avenue, stopping first at The Jefferson Market Garden, with views of the Jefferson Market Library above. We spoke about the history of library and learned that it was a High Victorian Gothic-style building and that it was “so highly regarded in its time that it was voted one of the ten most beautiful buildings in America by a poll of architects in the 1880s” (ENY, pg. 91). Close by was Christopher Street, which we spoke about, discovering that it holds must history for the gay and lesbian population. Some of these historical places were the Stonewall Inn and Christopher Park.
We continued on until we got to Washington Square Park, which is surrounded by the buildings and student life of New York University. Before it was a park enjoyed by many in the Village, this area served as a potter’s field, or burial for unknown or poor people, and for executions. Then, in 1950 Robert Moses proposed building a highway right through the park, however local activist Jane Jacobs demanded a fight, and so went the epic battle between the two, with Jacobs coming out on top (ENY, pg. 95). The park is now a beautiful space filled with countless New Yorkers enjoying their days, with a large water fountain right in the center of the area. Right here in the park is where I enjoyed one of my favorite parts of the day – watching the Bird Man! I’ve heard about him, and I finally saw him! It was a combination of gross and awesome. And my second favorite thing was seeing the arch in person. I’ve seen that arch on numerous episodes of Friends and in more than one movie, yet I never saw it in person, and then there it was as beautiful and enormous as I thought it would be. The Washington Square Arch was designed by Stanford White, was completed in 1891, standing 70 feet high, and is dedicated to the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration (ENY, pg. 95). We took a quick walk over to Washington Mews, and then made our way to the popular McDougal Street where we had a delicious lunch. There were so many options of where to eat, but when I saw Moumons Falafel, I knew I had to have one. I’ve heard of them and seen some of my favorite NYC bloggers eating those sandwiches, so I knew it was fate. And oh man, it was delicious! I’ll be back for more.
Now we come to the last portion of our day in the East Village, a separate area from Greenwich Village that spans from 14th street in the north and East Houston Street in the south. In the mid 20th century, the East Village was a center for music and artists, while it now has been experiencing a wave of gentrification, making it a trendy and desirable spot for people to hang out (ENY, pg. 98). We were lucky enough to go to the Merchant’s House Museum, a preserved federal-style house built in 1832 by Joseph Brewster, then sold to the Tredwell family, where they lived all their lives. We were able to hear all about the Tredwell family and how they lived their lives there in that very house in the 1800’s, really getting an authentic experiencing, as everything is exactly as it was during that time period. Through our tour guide, we learned a lot about the type of life this family lived. For instance, we heard about the calling cards and visits for the lady of the house, the family room that was for family only, the internal communication system of the bells within the house, and the architectural styles of the great room being symmetrical to be considered a true Greek revival design. Even though there were a lot of fascinating aspects of this tour, I found the architectural details of the crown moldings and southern pine wide plank floors to be my favorite. The house certainly had equal parts charm and history, making it a great place for us to have visited, in my book.
After leaving the museum, we made our way to 41 Cooper Square, where a bold building stands as a part of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The building is formally called the New Academic Building and was designed to “create a ground-breaking building that also reflected the college’s focus on advanced studies in art, architecture, and engineering” (ENY, pg. 101). Both the interior and exterior are bold and dramatic, with metal accents and interesting shaping. We took a quick look inside and it was definitely one of the more interesting academic buildings I’ve seen. Right across the way is McSorley’s Old Ale House, founded by an Irish immigrant in the mid 1800’s, with New York memorabilia covering it’s walls. It is famous for being a “Men’s Only” bar and not allowing women to enter until 1970 (ENY, pg. 102). We walked across the street to Astor Place and spoke a bit about this area before moving on to take a stroll through St. Mark’s Place.
We made our way east on Astor Place, where it turns into St. Mark’s Place. This area is now described as having a “rebellious feel to it and attracts large numbers of 20-somethings to its head shops, record stores, and inexpensive eateries” (ENY, pg. 104). Walking the streets I got a funky, unique vibe from this area. It’s definitely a place worth exploring more another time. On the corner of East 10th street and 2nd Avenue was St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery, a beautiful and old church built by Peter Stuyvesant in 1660. In time a Greek Revival styled steeple was created and the church became involved with the arts and performances in the city. We also passed the Russian and Turkish Baths and the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, learning briefly about both interesting places.
Our final two stops were La Plaza Cultural and Tompkins Square Park. La Plaza Cultural was created in 1976 by local residents who changed an abandoned city lot that was overrun with trash and rubble into a community garden for the neighborhood to enjoy. The lot was cleared, trees were planted, and an amphitheater was created with scrap materials. Here community residents hold cultural events, make compost, and have a space to use as an actual garden (ENY, pg. 106). When we stumbled upon it, there was some type of party going on, with kids playing and entertainment being enjoyed, while we watched and got a feeling for this community garden. I thought it was a really cool idea and I liked the design with all of the recycled materials hung around the park fence. Finally, we got to Tompkins Square Park at the end of our very long day. We learned that the park, formed in 1834 and named after a governor of New York, was home to a number of famous riots from the mid to late 1800’s, relating to the draft, unemployment, and homeless individuals (ENY, pg. 107). The park was closed down for renovations in order to make it so that no further riots could take place, which was successful since it is now a park enjoyed by the people of the East Village.
We had a nice, long day seeing so much of New York City. I was happy to revisit one of my favorite attractions, the High Line, and loved strolling around the Village, learning new information I never would have known before. I'll definitely be spending more time in the Village.