Impressions of New York
What do I think of New York City? The first thought that comes to mind is bright lights, a lot of action, fast paced, and basically always something going on no matter what direction you look. New York City brings to mind shopping, broadway shows and museums. Growing up on Long Island, I never really went to the city and if I did it was to go to work with my dad. When I did tag along to go to work with my dad, I personally hated the city. I did not like having to walk so far to get to one building. There was so many people, it was loud (people honking their car horns), and was just very chaotic. As I grew older and started to go to the city either by myself or with friends, I began to open up to liking the city. There was a lot of things to do and it was a totally different lifestyle from what I am use to. I rarely go to the city anymore and when I do I have a good time. I personally feel that the city is very overwhelming because it it such fast paced and never a dull moment. Living in the middle of the Island more towards the west, it only takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour to get to the city. That is the main reason why going to the city tends to be such a hassle. Driving in the city just brings bad thoughts because there are so many cars and the traffic seems to never end. Taking the train is another option but the price for a round trip ticket keeps going up and I never want to spend the money to go somewhere I am not excited to go. I believe New York City is actually a really nice place to live and grow up but since I did not grow up there,I can't seem to get accustomed to the lifestyle. Every corner has a shop, food place or entertainment which allows whomever it may be to always have something to do. Walking is the only thing that comes to mind when I think of New York City other than the Subway. There are thousands of people walking the city streets every single day and I personally do not like being cramped by many people. When it comes to the Subway I believe it is a great form of transportation and is very quick. The Subway can also get very crowded and I think that is why I never use it. Another thought that comes to mind when thinking of New York City would have to be crime. I am always told when going to the city to be careful of pick pocket thieves. I picture so many people walking the streets every day of the year and people take advantage of that to steal from others. The last thing that comes to mind of the city is the scenery. When the city is seen in a movie or portrayed in a book, it is shown or mentioned as being very beautiful. I picture nice parks, the water, boats and ferries, tall skyscrapers, and bright lights and signs. I have never seen New York City in person other than Penn Station and walking to Times Square. Everything is a mystery to me until I finally explore it. I would like to see all of New York City and see what it is really like other than just reading about it or seeing it.
Quixotic Queens
We started off our day by walking to Bryant Park. Very nice area to sit down and relax. We then headed toward the New York City Library and we saw the Chrysler building on the way. The design on this building is known as Art Deco. In the 1930s, this one of most beautiful buildings in United States and for one year, in 1931, it was actually the tallest building in New York City. Neo classical design is the next we were able to see which was how the library was built. It has columns and can be seen on many public buildings. The library itself is actually two city blocks in length or the length of a football field. The windows were blacked out during World War Two in the library and their are beautiful drawings on the ceiling. Very unique environment. Peaceful, calm and relaxing. Very big compared to my library in Levittown. One room is the size of the entire library in Levittown. Major writers wrote their books in this library to add to the significance of it. An interesting thing about the New York City library is that you need to request books to be brought to you.
We then headed towards Grand Central Terminal which is celebrating its 100th anniversary! In 1871 original station was built and in 1913 new one was built.(Blue Guide, 228-229) Earlier train stations were above ground because of steam trains compared to the diesel or gas ones today. In 1940, forty percent of travels came through this station! In 1950, highway system took over and almost destroyed travel of Grand Central Terminal. Famous brass clock is located inside of the terminal. We then walked down Park Avenue and stopped at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The bathrooms are very nice in there and a gentleman even handed me a paper towel to dry off my hands after I washed them. I then took a look at the unique clock in the lobby area. This clock was executed by the Goldsmith Company of London for exhibition at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. I got to see the Ge building next. A lot of chrome on inside which makes it very classy. On our way to the tram we saw the Citi bike stations which are only two months old. With a membership you can take bikes at select locations and rent them for a select time frame and return them to any bike station.
We took the tram which started in 1971 to Roosevelt Island next. It was Blackwell Island originally but the Indians and Dutch also were known in this Island. We were now heading towards Four Freedoms Park, where we had a great view of Queensborough Bridge. While walking to the Park, we saw the small pox hospital which is very old and looks like it is going to collapse at any second. The Park was just finished in 2012! Very bright Park and great views. Unfortunately, there was a photo shoot so we could not go past the Franklin D. Roosevelt area.
We then took the subway to Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights. So many different nationalities in this area. I declined the offer of an Indian buffet. As I am a very picky eater, I enjoyed my peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead along with Joe and Shannon. After finishing up lunch, we headed to Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens. Astoria is becoming more of a middle class white area. In the 1920's, film industry was all over Astoria. They then moved to California due to weather in New York. We then went to the Museum of the Moving Image which opened in 1988.(Blue Guide, 499) Right before making it to the museum, Meritta brought up a word we should get to know which is Gentrification. This can be defined as areas becoming more upscale and the poor are being pushed out of their home area.
We were now in the museum and got a quick introduction before heading up to the 3rd floor of the museum which was awesome. Was great how to see how certain things are done behind the scenes. It showed the equipment used from many years ago which are very antique looking. Very interesting to view all of the film accessories firsthand. I personally loved the editing equipment and how it is used in sports. I also got to see a lot of old television sets. What a difference from the flat screens and 3D TV sets they sell today! The coolest thing in the museum definitely was the feral fount which was created in 1996. This piece of artwork uses a strobe light to animate three dimension objects in real time. When we went down to the 2nd floor there was a ton of different costumes, masks and even old video game machines! What a very interesting museum to stop and take a look at.
We are now off to Long Island City from the museum. We are taking the subway to Court Square-23rd Street. This area is known for factories, and prostitution. We went on to Five Pointz which is an art gallery. It is actually being knocked down and rebuilt as regular buildings. The graffiti art was incredible and we were able to see a few people spray painting their art. Can't forget the thug photo we took of Mike, Joe and I! We then walked toward the water and Long Island City went from lower class to middle upper class.(Blue Guide, 495) It was a drastic change in a matter of a few blocks. Million dollar apartments and a beautiful view of New York City. We then walked to Gantry State Park and viewed where the trains used to deliver freight to and from Long Island. Our day then came to an end after a fun filled morning and afternoon!
We then headed towards Grand Central Terminal which is celebrating its 100th anniversary! In 1871 original station was built and in 1913 new one was built.(Blue Guide, 228-229) Earlier train stations were above ground because of steam trains compared to the diesel or gas ones today. In 1940, forty percent of travels came through this station! In 1950, highway system took over and almost destroyed travel of Grand Central Terminal. Famous brass clock is located inside of the terminal. We then walked down Park Avenue and stopped at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The bathrooms are very nice in there and a gentleman even handed me a paper towel to dry off my hands after I washed them. I then took a look at the unique clock in the lobby area. This clock was executed by the Goldsmith Company of London for exhibition at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893. I got to see the Ge building next. A lot of chrome on inside which makes it very classy. On our way to the tram we saw the Citi bike stations which are only two months old. With a membership you can take bikes at select locations and rent them for a select time frame and return them to any bike station.
We took the tram which started in 1971 to Roosevelt Island next. It was Blackwell Island originally but the Indians and Dutch also were known in this Island. We were now heading towards Four Freedoms Park, where we had a great view of Queensborough Bridge. While walking to the Park, we saw the small pox hospital which is very old and looks like it is going to collapse at any second. The Park was just finished in 2012! Very bright Park and great views. Unfortunately, there was a photo shoot so we could not go past the Franklin D. Roosevelt area.
We then took the subway to Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights. So many different nationalities in this area. I declined the offer of an Indian buffet. As I am a very picky eater, I enjoyed my peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead along with Joe and Shannon. After finishing up lunch, we headed to Steinway Street in Astoria, Queens. Astoria is becoming more of a middle class white area. In the 1920's, film industry was all over Astoria. They then moved to California due to weather in New York. We then went to the Museum of the Moving Image which opened in 1988.(Blue Guide, 499) Right before making it to the museum, Meritta brought up a word we should get to know which is Gentrification. This can be defined as areas becoming more upscale and the poor are being pushed out of their home area.
We were now in the museum and got a quick introduction before heading up to the 3rd floor of the museum which was awesome. Was great how to see how certain things are done behind the scenes. It showed the equipment used from many years ago which are very antique looking. Very interesting to view all of the film accessories firsthand. I personally loved the editing equipment and how it is used in sports. I also got to see a lot of old television sets. What a difference from the flat screens and 3D TV sets they sell today! The coolest thing in the museum definitely was the feral fount which was created in 1996. This piece of artwork uses a strobe light to animate three dimension objects in real time. When we went down to the 2nd floor there was a ton of different costumes, masks and even old video game machines! What a very interesting museum to stop and take a look at.
We are now off to Long Island City from the museum. We are taking the subway to Court Square-23rd Street. This area is known for factories, and prostitution. We went on to Five Pointz which is an art gallery. It is actually being knocked down and rebuilt as regular buildings. The graffiti art was incredible and we were able to see a few people spray painting their art. Can't forget the thug photo we took of Mike, Joe and I! We then walked toward the water and Long Island City went from lower class to middle upper class.(Blue Guide, 495) It was a drastic change in a matter of a few blocks. Million dollar apartments and a beautiful view of New York City. We then walked to Gantry State Park and viewed where the trains used to deliver freight to and from Long Island. Our day then came to an end after a fun filled morning and afternoon!
Bodacious Brooklyn
Today, we headed out and hopped right on the F train to Coney Island! It was a fairly long ride because we kept stopping in the tunnel a few times because of delays. This was by far the longest train ride I have ever taken. We finally made it to Coney Island but unfortunately, all the rides were closed due to it being the fall season. Coney Island is located in Brooklyn, the second largest county in the United States. At one point, Brooklyn was its own city before the Brooklyn Bridge connected it with Manhattan. In the 1960's, as well as 1970's, Coney Island went downhill.(Blue Guide, 492) It is starting to make its way back today but it is not as great as it was when it first became well known. It is a place where ordinary people can go to have fun and have a good time. As we made our way to the beach, we passed the original Nathan's hot dogs from 1916. I had to stop and get a hot dog! I have not had a Nathan's hot dog since I was a child. After, Joe and I went down to the water and surprisingly, the water was really warm. We only had a short time to enjoy Coney Island so right after Nathan's and the beach, we headed back to our meet spot to move on with our day.
We took the F train again to Jay Street. From Jay Street, we went to the New York Transit Museum. This museum is devoted to the essential role public transportation has played in the growth and development of the New York Metropolitan Region.(Blue Guide, 468) We had our own tour guide give us background about the New York Transit. The station in which the museum is in was actually built in 1936. This station was only open for ten years due to low amount of riders. In the 1970's, the subway system was unsafe and many were afraid to use them because crime was at an all time high. In 1976, the station was used to show old train cars and was only supposed to be open for a few months. It is still open today as we are here. In 1904, the New York City subway opened. The main form of transportation before this time was horses and buggies. By the 1900's, there were over 200,000 horses used for travel in New York City. In 1888, fifty inches of snow hit New York leaving elevated trains stuck and this is why they decided to move them underground. In this year, above ground power lines were put underground as well. Even sanitation was created within this year. Sand hogs were the workers that built the tunnels underneath the river beds. They had the roughest job because there were many health risks involved with it. This was amazing how they were able to build these tunnels. When I heard that there was a thing called tunnel blowouts, I was shocked that someone actually survived that. The original subway line started in lower Manhattan. There are a little under 850 miles of subway in New York making it the largest system in the world! After we got a lot of information from the tour guide, we were able to explore the museum amongst ourselves. I first was able to see all the different turnstiles from the late 1800's to 2013. After the first floor, I made my way to the lower level where I was able to see tons of old train cars. It was very cool seeing the transformation every few years to each model of the trains. I personally liked the older train models because they had padded seats and even looked a bit more upscale then the ones today.
After the museum, we walked towards Brooklyn Heights. We stopped for a brief background about the Brooklyn Borough Hall. We then walked to Montague Street which had a lot of old buildings including the Brooklyn Trust Building. This building has one of the most beautiful lobbies. We were able to see the Brooklyn Historical Society which has Christopher Columbus and Ben Franklin carved on the outside of it. Brooklyn Heights was actually known to have a lot of famous writers live there because Manhattan was too expensive so they would right next to it for a cheaper price. It also has brownstone building design all along the water. People would love to have a brownstone design on their building because it is basically an antique now. Later, I actually was able to stand where General George Washington's headquarters was during The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn. It was fought on August 27, 1776 and was a major victory for the British and defeat for the Americans. We then made it to the Brooklyn Heights promenade where we had a great view of the water and One World Trade Center.
We then saw the Brooklyn Bridge , which was finished in 1883.(Blue Guide, 464) They built it so people could have another form of access besides the ferry from Brooklyn to Manhattan. This bridge , also known as the Battle of Brooklyn. It was fought on August 27, 1776 and was a major victory for the British and defeat for the Americans. was initially being designed by John Roebling but he suffered an injury and died, leaving the project for his son, Washington Roebling. On our walk to the Brooklyn Bridge, we saw the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims. This church was founded in 1847 and was the third Congregationalist Church to be organized in Brooklyn. Henry Ward Beecher was its first pastor and many would come down to this church to hear him preach up until his death in 1887.(Blue Guide, 467) Before we ended our day, I got to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge which was a great experience. It was a decent walk across the bridge and the view was awesome. After making it back into Manhattan, our day through Brooklyn came to an end.
We took the F train again to Jay Street. From Jay Street, we went to the New York Transit Museum. This museum is devoted to the essential role public transportation has played in the growth and development of the New York Metropolitan Region.(Blue Guide, 468) We had our own tour guide give us background about the New York Transit. The station in which the museum is in was actually built in 1936. This station was only open for ten years due to low amount of riders. In the 1970's, the subway system was unsafe and many were afraid to use them because crime was at an all time high. In 1976, the station was used to show old train cars and was only supposed to be open for a few months. It is still open today as we are here. In 1904, the New York City subway opened. The main form of transportation before this time was horses and buggies. By the 1900's, there were over 200,000 horses used for travel in New York City. In 1888, fifty inches of snow hit New York leaving elevated trains stuck and this is why they decided to move them underground. In this year, above ground power lines were put underground as well. Even sanitation was created within this year. Sand hogs were the workers that built the tunnels underneath the river beds. They had the roughest job because there were many health risks involved with it. This was amazing how they were able to build these tunnels. When I heard that there was a thing called tunnel blowouts, I was shocked that someone actually survived that. The original subway line started in lower Manhattan. There are a little under 850 miles of subway in New York making it the largest system in the world! After we got a lot of information from the tour guide, we were able to explore the museum amongst ourselves. I first was able to see all the different turnstiles from the late 1800's to 2013. After the first floor, I made my way to the lower level where I was able to see tons of old train cars. It was very cool seeing the transformation every few years to each model of the trains. I personally liked the older train models because they had padded seats and even looked a bit more upscale then the ones today.
After the museum, we walked towards Brooklyn Heights. We stopped for a brief background about the Brooklyn Borough Hall. We then walked to Montague Street which had a lot of old buildings including the Brooklyn Trust Building. This building has one of the most beautiful lobbies. We were able to see the Brooklyn Historical Society which has Christopher Columbus and Ben Franklin carved on the outside of it. Brooklyn Heights was actually known to have a lot of famous writers live there because Manhattan was too expensive so they would right next to it for a cheaper price. It also has brownstone building design all along the water. People would love to have a brownstone design on their building because it is basically an antique now. Later, I actually was able to stand where General George Washington's headquarters was during The Battle of Long Island, also known as the Battle of Brooklyn. It was fought on August 27, 1776 and was a major victory for the British and defeat for the Americans. We then made it to the Brooklyn Heights promenade where we had a great view of the water and One World Trade Center.
We then saw the Brooklyn Bridge , which was finished in 1883.(Blue Guide, 464) They built it so people could have another form of access besides the ferry from Brooklyn to Manhattan. This bridge , also known as the Battle of Brooklyn. It was fought on August 27, 1776 and was a major victory for the British and defeat for the Americans. was initially being designed by John Roebling but he suffered an injury and died, leaving the project for his son, Washington Roebling. On our walk to the Brooklyn Bridge, we saw the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims. This church was founded in 1847 and was the third Congregationalist Church to be organized in Brooklyn. Henry Ward Beecher was its first pastor and many would come down to this church to hear him preach up until his death in 1887.(Blue Guide, 467) Before we ended our day, I got to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge which was a great experience. It was a decent walk across the bridge and the view was awesome. After making it back into Manhattan, our day through Brooklyn came to an end.
A Tale of Three Villages
Our third class, we took the one train downtown to the village (Houston street). The village became the heart of the city during the turn of the 20th Century. The village is also known to be very expensive making it difficult to live here. We made our way to Bedford Street which was actually very nice. The area seemed like a very mellow and casual area. We passed one of the most narrowest apartments where Edna St. Vincent Millay lived during 1924-1925. She was born in 1892 and passed away in 1950. This poet wrote "my candle burns at both ends," and at this apartment wrote the "Ballad of the Harp Weaver." We got the see the White Horse Tavern, one of Meritta's favorite spots, where many would go for a relaxing spot to have a drink. This place is also known for where many poets use to go to grab a drink. Christopher Street was the next stop where there is actually a very high amount of gay and lesbian people living here. It use to be the gay heart of the city but it is spreading out more to other parts in the city. One if by land, Two if by sea was another bar/restaurant we got to see which is very romantic and very expensive. We passed trough Christopher Park, which use to be a tobacco farm, where there is a Gay Liberation monument within it. We then went to The Stonewall Inn, which was a bar that was owned by the mob, in which the mob would pay off the police in the area. This was done because the Mafia were the only ones who had the power and authority to run gay bars. It is considered the nationwide monument of the start of the Gay Liberation because the Stonewall Riots of 1969 took place here.
After a short walk, we made it to the East Village. We went to the Old Merchants House of New York, which was built in 1831-1832 and is a national historic landmark. (Blue Guide, 158) We had our own guide named Bill give us a tour of this landmark that was built in the mid 19th Century. This house received its name because merchants were those with income who could afford this home. It was developed in a wealthy neighborhood making only those with high incomes able to live in the area. In 1835 this house was sold for $18,000 to Seabury Tredwell. (Blue Guide, 158) An interesting fact is that this house is landmarked on the outside as well as the inside. It is difficult to have something landmarked on the inside because it has to show no change from when it originated. The original pieces in this house are from 1835! Eighty percent of all the furniture is from the family who lived here. This house actually did not have running water or heat. Rain water was used for bathing and cleaning but not for cooking and drinking. Rats were a problem in these houses which was a downside because they would affect the water and they smelled. Whale oil was one way used to light the house but it was very expensive. If you could not afford the oil, candles were then used for light. After we finished the tour which lasted about an hour, we headed to Washington Square Park. It is a very nice spot to sit back and relax but back in the 1970's, it was a big place where drugs were a big hit. There is a huge monument here that shows George Washington at war and then on the other side at peace. While walking through the village it was interesting to see how New York University is taking over all the buildings surrounding it. We visited Macdougle Street and Bleecker Street in which both have a lot of activities and shops for the students at NYU. (Blue Guide, 138-139) We then took an hour lunch break on St. Marks Place. When we finished our lunch break, we stopped to see St. Marks Church and then headed even more east of the village for a tour at The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space.
Our tour guide Bill started off by showing us the 9th Street Community Garden. These gardens were once vacant lots that those of the community turned into attractive green spaces. GreenThumb, which was founded in 1978, is a program that helps local residents transform the vacant lots into gardens. In the 1980's, squatting became about where people would break into vacant buildings, hook up the plumbing and electricity, and live there. By the 1990's, the city wanted these vacant lots back and the police got involved to remove the squatters from the lots/buildings. We moved onto the second community garden built which was right across from the first one. Within this garden there are murals from 1985 that are still visible to this day. Bill later discussed how many of the old buildings are being looked at by companies or schools to use them for their use. The community is highly against it because they want to make these buildings community centers. Bill gave us a very detailed background of the East Village and enriched us in the history of this area. I then made my way on the F train as our day came to an end.
After a short walk, we made it to the East Village. We went to the Old Merchants House of New York, which was built in 1831-1832 and is a national historic landmark. (Blue Guide, 158) We had our own guide named Bill give us a tour of this landmark that was built in the mid 19th Century. This house received its name because merchants were those with income who could afford this home. It was developed in a wealthy neighborhood making only those with high incomes able to live in the area. In 1835 this house was sold for $18,000 to Seabury Tredwell. (Blue Guide, 158) An interesting fact is that this house is landmarked on the outside as well as the inside. It is difficult to have something landmarked on the inside because it has to show no change from when it originated. The original pieces in this house are from 1835! Eighty percent of all the furniture is from the family who lived here. This house actually did not have running water or heat. Rain water was used for bathing and cleaning but not for cooking and drinking. Rats were a problem in these houses which was a downside because they would affect the water and they smelled. Whale oil was one way used to light the house but it was very expensive. If you could not afford the oil, candles were then used for light. After we finished the tour which lasted about an hour, we headed to Washington Square Park. It is a very nice spot to sit back and relax but back in the 1970's, it was a big place where drugs were a big hit. There is a huge monument here that shows George Washington at war and then on the other side at peace. While walking through the village it was interesting to see how New York University is taking over all the buildings surrounding it. We visited Macdougle Street and Bleecker Street in which both have a lot of activities and shops for the students at NYU. (Blue Guide, 138-139) We then took an hour lunch break on St. Marks Place. When we finished our lunch break, we stopped to see St. Marks Church and then headed even more east of the village for a tour at The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space.
Our tour guide Bill started off by showing us the 9th Street Community Garden. These gardens were once vacant lots that those of the community turned into attractive green spaces. GreenThumb, which was founded in 1978, is a program that helps local residents transform the vacant lots into gardens. In the 1980's, squatting became about where people would break into vacant buildings, hook up the plumbing and electricity, and live there. By the 1990's, the city wanted these vacant lots back and the police got involved to remove the squatters from the lots/buildings. We moved onto the second community garden built which was right across from the first one. Within this garden there are murals from 1985 that are still visible to this day. Bill later discussed how many of the old buildings are being looked at by companies or schools to use them for their use. The community is highly against it because they want to make these buildings community centers. Bill gave us a very detailed background of the East Village and enriched us in the history of this area. I then made my way on the F train as our day came to an end.
East of the Park
Our fourth day we got on the three train to 42nd Street to catch the shuttle to Grand Central. From Grand Central we took the four train to 86th Street. We quickly hopped on the six train to 103rd Street in East Harlem, New York. This area was very quiet in the 1880's up until the trains started to head up this way. After World War One this area had the highest crime rate due to the influx of Minorities moving into here. Gentrification is occurring here as well as many other spots I have spoken about because it is right near Central Park and the city has no where else to build. After a brief background we walked over to the Museum of the City of New York. We first saw paintings of Central Park and then headed upstairs to the Activist section. The bicycle advocacy, which was from 1965-2011, was very interesting. The video they had showed the chaos over making bike lanes in New York. People protested because of the clogged streets due to cars and how bikes were a better alternative. Today, we have the Citi bike program, which would not be around if it was not for those who protested for having bikes and bike lanes. After this section we watched a short film on the background of New York City. (Blue Guide, 376) This film gives an overview of the city's growth from its beginnings, as a struggling settlement, to the present.
We then moved on to the El Museo Del Barrio (the Museum of the Neighborhood) for a guided tour. The Museum is located at the Heckscher Building and it was actually once at a firehouse. The museum itself actually has over 8,500 pieces of art but we were able to experience murals within the community on a walking tour. This neighborhood is Puerto Rican culture based and it is one of the few left that still feels like a neighborhood with similar cultures. (Blue Guide, 376-377) Manuela, our tour guide, took us to the Graffiti Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1892. Every year a different crew is able to put up their work on the wall. The Hall of Fame has one side of the wall in an elementary school yard so the art is untouched but on the other side, the art gets tagged by other graffiti crews. "Remembering Julia" was a mosaic work of art we got to see at the beginning of the tour. This piece is dedicated to Julia de Burgos, (1914-1953) who was a Puerto Rican poet of the 20th Century. Manny Vega is known for creating many of the mosaic art pieces in this area. We later got to see the Spirit of Harlem mural. All of the characters in the mural are actually from el barrio. (Neighborhood) We were able to see how the gentrification process is occurring because we saw a shop from 1930 closed and having to relocate due to the rent being too high. Right after the tour we stopped at Justo Botanica, a remedy and spiritual healing place, and got a brief background about it. We then got to eat lunch for a little bit where Shannon, Joe and I ate by the water in Central Park on a bench. Was very nice being able to sit down and relax with a great view because Long Island does not have a park like this.
We are now going to walk the entire Central Park in which we started at the Conservatory Garden. Central Park has about 25 million visitors each year and all of these people take a toll on the park. The Central Park Conservatory, founded in 1980, maintains the park and is also not-for-profit too. They have actually raised over $350 million to improve the park such as the Great Lawn, Harlem Meer and even bridges and playgrounds. (Blue Guide, 281) We walked around the Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir which holds enough water to supply the city for up to two weeks. (Roughly one billion gallons of water!) This Reservoir was built between 1858 and 1862 and was decommissioned in 1993. It only provides water to the pools as well as the Harlem Meer. (Lake) Since this was a very long walk, we took a short break before heading further south. This was our classroom break where we talked about what we experienced as well as what we have learned and liked so far. We then got to see the Dakota Building, which has apartments that actually range from $4-$30 million! John Lennon lived here from 1973-1980 up until his death which occurred at this building, right outside of it. The Dakota is actually known to be New York City's most prestigious and exclusive cooperative residential building. (Blue Guide, 414) We then went through strawberry fields which was named after a song written by John Lenon. After a very long stroll through the park we made it to the end! I personally did not think it was a horrible walk but looking back at how I made it through almost all of the park was impressive. After, we took a quick look inside the Plaza Hotel and FAO Schwarz. The Plaza Hotel was incredibly fancy from just walking through the lobby and seeing a dining area. I do not think I could afford a couple nights here anytime soon. FAO Schwarz was very cool. They have everything from stuffed animals to an entire candy area! We then ended at St. Patricks Cathedral and Mike told me how to head to Grand Central Terminal where I caught the 7 Train to Willets Point for the Mets Game.
We then moved on to the El Museo Del Barrio (the Museum of the Neighborhood) for a guided tour. The Museum is located at the Heckscher Building and it was actually once at a firehouse. The museum itself actually has over 8,500 pieces of art but we were able to experience murals within the community on a walking tour. This neighborhood is Puerto Rican culture based and it is one of the few left that still feels like a neighborhood with similar cultures. (Blue Guide, 376-377) Manuela, our tour guide, took us to the Graffiti Hall of Fame, which was founded in 1892. Every year a different crew is able to put up their work on the wall. The Hall of Fame has one side of the wall in an elementary school yard so the art is untouched but on the other side, the art gets tagged by other graffiti crews. "Remembering Julia" was a mosaic work of art we got to see at the beginning of the tour. This piece is dedicated to Julia de Burgos, (1914-1953) who was a Puerto Rican poet of the 20th Century. Manny Vega is known for creating many of the mosaic art pieces in this area. We later got to see the Spirit of Harlem mural. All of the characters in the mural are actually from el barrio. (Neighborhood) We were able to see how the gentrification process is occurring because we saw a shop from 1930 closed and having to relocate due to the rent being too high. Right after the tour we stopped at Justo Botanica, a remedy and spiritual healing place, and got a brief background about it. We then got to eat lunch for a little bit where Shannon, Joe and I ate by the water in Central Park on a bench. Was very nice being able to sit down and relax with a great view because Long Island does not have a park like this.
We are now going to walk the entire Central Park in which we started at the Conservatory Garden. Central Park has about 25 million visitors each year and all of these people take a toll on the park. The Central Park Conservatory, founded in 1980, maintains the park and is also not-for-profit too. They have actually raised over $350 million to improve the park such as the Great Lawn, Harlem Meer and even bridges and playgrounds. (Blue Guide, 281) We walked around the Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir which holds enough water to supply the city for up to two weeks. (Roughly one billion gallons of water!) This Reservoir was built between 1858 and 1862 and was decommissioned in 1993. It only provides water to the pools as well as the Harlem Meer. (Lake) Since this was a very long walk, we took a short break before heading further south. This was our classroom break where we talked about what we experienced as well as what we have learned and liked so far. We then got to see the Dakota Building, which has apartments that actually range from $4-$30 million! John Lennon lived here from 1973-1980 up until his death which occurred at this building, right outside of it. The Dakota is actually known to be New York City's most prestigious and exclusive cooperative residential building. (Blue Guide, 414) We then went through strawberry fields which was named after a song written by John Lenon. After a very long stroll through the park we made it to the end! I personally did not think it was a horrible walk but looking back at how I made it through almost all of the park was impressive. After, we took a quick look inside the Plaza Hotel and FAO Schwarz. The Plaza Hotel was incredibly fancy from just walking through the lobby and seeing a dining area. I do not think I could afford a couple nights here anytime soon. FAO Schwarz was very cool. They have everything from stuffed animals to an entire candy area! We then ended at St. Patricks Cathedral and Mike told me how to head to Grand Central Terminal where I caught the 7 Train to Willets Point for the Mets Game.