Journals 5-8
So, before I get started documenting today's adventure, I wanted to take a minute to reflect on what we've accomplished so far this month. Looking back on my previous posts, I noticed a few things I could improve on. As I looked through my journal, I saw that I really focused on the facts we learned, and did a good deal of re-writing and citing what we talked about. While this is not necessarily a bad thing, I realized that I was not being very personal in my reflections. I would like to look back on this journal in the future and be able to re-experience what we learned and how it affected me. To do this, I intend to bring in more of the visceral feelings and emotions I experienced throughout the day.
And so, without further adieu, let's talk about the "Enchanted Eastside"!
And so, without further adieu, let's talk about the "Enchanted Eastside"!
Journal 5: The Enchanted Eastside (6/17)
Oh my goodness, today was 100% my favorite day-- the best so far! I know I've been saying this in almost every post but I promise you, this time I mean it!! When we began the day, I had no idea what I was in for. All of the art, poetry, beauty, emotion, and even witchcraft--it all came as such a welcome surprise. After today I can finally say I truly felt something in this class. What did I feel? Well, I'll get to that soon enough, but once again, let's start from the beginning.. But first, you should probably get comfortable, because I have a feeling this is going to be a long one :)
We kicked off our day by heading over to East Harlem (also known as Spanish Harlem or El Barrio [any of these terms can be used interchangeably]) (ENY, p. 85). This place was incredible! After every turn you were greeted by a beautiful, ethnic work of art. There were murals, mosaics, painted signs, interactive art put together on fences. It was unbelievable how much art there was! Our book was right, East Harlem certainly does boast a "distinctively Latino flavor" (ENY, p. 85).
We learned that East Harlem underwent an evolution much like the rest of New York we've covered. In its early days, wealthier people moved in and made the area nice. Eventually immigrants start to move into the territory, and the wealthy (wanting nothing to do with the squalor and disease that often accompanied the poor at that time) quickly moved uptown (ENY, p. 86). Seems to be almost the opposite of gentrification, if you think about it. Anyway, eventually East Harlem loses most of the other ethnicities that occupied it (Italians left by the 1970s, related to "white Flight" [ENY, p. 86]), and the Puerto Rican culture really dominated the area. A new culture of "Nuyoricans" sprang up. These Nuyoricans (as they call themselves) are the descendants of the Puerto Rican immigrant generation (ENY, p. 86).
According to Exploring New York, "An influx of immigrants from Mexico, the Caribbean and China in the 1980s and 90s have added to the multicultural mix" (p. 86). This statement couldn't be more true! I know a few from our group went to eat at a Mexican restaurant, and just a few blocks down my girls and I ate some incredible, authentic Caribbean food! What better way to see and appreciate the different cultures of the area than by spending time with their people and eating their food? Just thinking about that awesome lunch has me appreciating the Caribbean culture all over again!
Well, I think I skipped ahead of myself a bit. Let's take it back a few steps.
After arriving in East Harlem, we immediately come across the Carver Houses. These houses were named after George Washington Carver, the African-American scientist who "developed hundreds of uses for the peanut, soybean, and sweet potato" (ENY, p.86).
The Carver Houses are a housing project of 13 buildings that was created for low income residents (ENY, p.86). These projects were completed in 1958, and still stand today.
Prior to the 20th century, the poor were housed in tenements. This multifamily housing system collected a large number of poor, sickly immigrants and corralled them into one place. On the other side of the coin, we have apartments. Apartments were the same idea, but for the wealthier population.
In 1950 at the time the Carver Houses were built, someone thought that it would be a good idea to put the poor together and supervise them. Whoever came up with this idea clearly did not take into account the social pathologies attached to poverty (crime, drugs, teenage pregnancy) and the effect that condensing the poor into such a small, dense population would have.
By the time the 70s hit, the social pathologies and crime at play rendered the Harlem area extremely unsafe and almost unlivable. The amount of crime, vandalism and depravity that accompanied such a high concentration of public housing became too much.
As Don noted, Harlem began to see an increasing prevalence of its sub-economic system of sex, drug dealing, and car stealing.
Eventually, it became clear that this high concentration of public housing was a social disaster, and a result, we now no longer see this. According to Mike, the new idea behind housing systems is to have 2 to 3-family houses, and mix the lower class with the middle class. This mixing of the wealthier and the poorer should allow for the poor to learn from those on the middle-class side of things.
We left the Carver Houses with this phrase to think about, "That which is owned by all is cared for by no one".
After arriving in East Harlem, we immediately come across the Carver Houses. These houses were named after George Washington Carver, the African-American scientist who "developed hundreds of uses for the peanut, soybean, and sweet potato" (ENY, p.86).
The Carver Houses are a housing project of 13 buildings that was created for low income residents (ENY, p.86). These projects were completed in 1958, and still stand today.
Prior to the 20th century, the poor were housed in tenements. This multifamily housing system collected a large number of poor, sickly immigrants and corralled them into one place. On the other side of the coin, we have apartments. Apartments were the same idea, but for the wealthier population.
In 1950 at the time the Carver Houses were built, someone thought that it would be a good idea to put the poor together and supervise them. Whoever came up with this idea clearly did not take into account the social pathologies attached to poverty (crime, drugs, teenage pregnancy) and the effect that condensing the poor into such a small, dense population would have.
By the time the 70s hit, the social pathologies and crime at play rendered the Harlem area extremely unsafe and almost unlivable. The amount of crime, vandalism and depravity that accompanied such a high concentration of public housing became too much.
As Don noted, Harlem began to see an increasing prevalence of its sub-economic system of sex, drug dealing, and car stealing.
Eventually, it became clear that this high concentration of public housing was a social disaster, and a result, we now no longer see this. According to Mike, the new idea behind housing systems is to have 2 to 3-family houses, and mix the lower class with the middle class. This mixing of the wealthier and the poorer should allow for the poor to learn from those on the middle-class side of things.
We left the Carver Houses with this phrase to think about, "That which is owned by all is cared for by no one".
Next on the agenda was the Museum of the City of New York.
This Museum was established at its current location in 1932, where it now focuses on New York City's heritage of diversity, opportunity, and perpetual transformation (ENY, p. 87).
Here, we learned so much so quickly. Everything we had learned up to this point was condensed into "Landscapes", a short, 22-minute documentary (ENY, p. 87).
I absolutely loved this part of our day. It was so awesome to be able to take what we had learned in the past few weeks, and recall it while we watched the documentary. I remember over and over again thinking, "oh yeah! I knew that" and "I remember learning that!". For me, the documentary really took what we have been studying, brought it out from my memory and solidified it in my mind.
I learned a few new, exciting facts, too. I didn't realize that New York City (originally New Amsterdam) was purchased for $24.00! I also didn't know that NYC was destroyed during the American Revolution and had to start over.
It was so cool to see the development and evolution of DeWitt Clinton's grid system, too. I really got such an appreciation for all the things I take for granted in the city!
This Museum was established at its current location in 1932, where it now focuses on New York City's heritage of diversity, opportunity, and perpetual transformation (ENY, p. 87).
Here, we learned so much so quickly. Everything we had learned up to this point was condensed into "Landscapes", a short, 22-minute documentary (ENY, p. 87).
I absolutely loved this part of our day. It was so awesome to be able to take what we had learned in the past few weeks, and recall it while we watched the documentary. I remember over and over again thinking, "oh yeah! I knew that" and "I remember learning that!". For me, the documentary really took what we have been studying, brought it out from my memory and solidified it in my mind.
I learned a few new, exciting facts, too. I didn't realize that New York City (originally New Amsterdam) was purchased for $24.00! I also didn't know that NYC was destroyed during the American Revolution and had to start over.
It was so cool to see the development and evolution of DeWitt Clinton's grid system, too. I really got such an appreciation for all the things I take for granted in the city!
Just after we left the Museum of the City of New York, we made our way one block over to El Museo del Barrio. This museum was founded in 1969 by Puerto Rican activists who were seeking to preserve their cultural heritage in East Harlem (ENY, p. 87). Later that day, our tour guide described the history of this museum, by saying that it started in a cardboard box. The Museum's founders began collecting bits and pieces of whatever they could find that embodied their culture and heritage. They took those pieces and stored them in their box, and eventually, that cardboard box turned into El Museo. The idea of "the cardboard box" would come up later in conversation, as we were taken through the neighborhood, but before we get there, let's talk about our incredible tour guide.
Shortly after arriving at El Museo de Barrio, we met a man who Mike described as, "the coolest, best tour guide in East Harlem". I don't know what I was expecting, but boy was that an understatement. Luke (our guide) was just... so incredible. From the moment I met him, I knew we were in for quite an adventure.
Luke started us off with an incredible spoken word piece (which is my favorite form of poetry, and an art form I identify with and have preformed myself). He had mentioned earlier that he was involved in spoken word, and he and I talked about how that poetry-medium allows for the building and strengthening of community and relationships between people. He told me he was involved in teaching and participating in it with younger kids. I respected that so much, because for a young kid to be able to learn spoken word as a powerful way to communicate and process his feelings and emotions is so constructive, as opposed to other ways kids find to channel their issues (ie, drugs, sex, alcohol, crime).
Luke started us off with an incredible spoken word piece (which is my favorite form of poetry, and an art form I identify with and have preformed myself). He had mentioned earlier that he was involved in spoken word, and he and I talked about how that poetry-medium allows for the building and strengthening of community and relationships between people. He told me he was involved in teaching and participating in it with younger kids. I respected that so much, because for a young kid to be able to learn spoken word as a powerful way to communicate and process his feelings and emotions is so constructive, as opposed to other ways kids find to channel their issues (ie, drugs, sex, alcohol, crime).
I really believe in what he is doing with those kids.
I have personally experienced and seen on a greater scale so many young people who turned to these things. Their lives are almost always negatively affected, and some of them suffer serious injury as a result of their drug use, and are never the same.
Recently, my good friend has been in and out of different psychiatric hospitals because his drug use has taken such a toll on his mind and mental stability. Unfortunately, it's clear that this friend will never return to a "normal" state of mind and will never be himself again.
Would things be different if he were taught how to funnel his negative thoughts, feelings, desires, etc through a positive coping channel? We will never know.
I would like to think that something like that could have saved him from himself. Unfortunately at this point he's too far gone to be putting words and thoughts together in anything more than a rudimentary sentence.
When I meet people like Luke, people who invest in these kids lives and teach them these kinds of positive coping mechanisms and constructive ways to deal with their problems, I get a sense of hope for the upcoming generation. What they need are mentors, people who will build into their lives in ways that will equip them to live fulfilling lives and exceed their own expectations. This type of work is not easy, and not everyone is cut out for it. But talking to Luke and seeing his passion and excitement and genuine love for all people, especially children, really spoke to my heart. I so admire that work and just hope and pray that these kids take hold of the things they are being taught, and use them to contribute to society in rich, meaningful ways.
I have personally experienced and seen on a greater scale so many young people who turned to these things. Their lives are almost always negatively affected, and some of them suffer serious injury as a result of their drug use, and are never the same.
Recently, my good friend has been in and out of different psychiatric hospitals because his drug use has taken such a toll on his mind and mental stability. Unfortunately, it's clear that this friend will never return to a "normal" state of mind and will never be himself again.
Would things be different if he were taught how to funnel his negative thoughts, feelings, desires, etc through a positive coping channel? We will never know.
I would like to think that something like that could have saved him from himself. Unfortunately at this point he's too far gone to be putting words and thoughts together in anything more than a rudimentary sentence.
When I meet people like Luke, people who invest in these kids lives and teach them these kinds of positive coping mechanisms and constructive ways to deal with their problems, I get a sense of hope for the upcoming generation. What they need are mentors, people who will build into their lives in ways that will equip them to live fulfilling lives and exceed their own expectations. This type of work is not easy, and not everyone is cut out for it. But talking to Luke and seeing his passion and excitement and genuine love for all people, especially children, really spoke to my heart. I so admire that work and just hope and pray that these kids take hold of the things they are being taught, and use them to contribute to society in rich, meaningful ways.
Anyway, back to the day..
So Luke starts us off with an incredible piece of spoken word. He opens up, and puts himself out there for a group of 20 people he's never met. In doing this, he puts his heart on the table, and opens the floor for conversation and discussion. After his piece, he tells us about the tour we're about to take through his hometown and community. He expresses his love for the place and his excitement to be sharing it with us, and urges us to dialogue about what we see and feel throughout the day. So off we go!
So Luke starts us off with an incredible piece of spoken word. He opens up, and puts himself out there for a group of 20 people he's never met. In doing this, he puts his heart on the table, and opens the floor for conversation and discussion. After his piece, he tells us about the tour we're about to take through his hometown and community. He expresses his love for the place and his excitement to be sharing it with us, and urges us to dialogue about what we see and feel throughout the day. So off we go!
The first thing that came up for discussion with Luke was the all-familiar concept of gentrification. Now, this concept has come up a lot in our class, but this is the first time we really stopped to think about gentrification and its consequences. Luke told us about his mother, who had lived in the same rent-controlled apartment for years. He told us how her landlord was persistently harassing her in order to get her to give up her home. By giving up her apartment, it would allow for for the new wave of people, shops and businesses that accompany gentrification.
As Luke put a face and story to the "other side" of this process, I began to think more deeply about what we learned. Yes, gentrification has brought a LOT of good into different areas of NYC, but at what cost? Later in the day when we learned about the immigrants forced from their homes to make way for the great Central Park, I came back to this story and wondered how many families were uprooted and spat out to make room for the park. How did they feel when they were forced out of their homes, how did that affect mothers who no longer had a roof over their children's heads? I couldn't help but wonder.
As Luke put a face and story to the "other side" of this process, I began to think more deeply about what we learned. Yes, gentrification has brought a LOT of good into different areas of NYC, but at what cost? Later in the day when we learned about the immigrants forced from their homes to make way for the great Central Park, I came back to this story and wondered how many families were uprooted and spat out to make room for the park. How did they feel when they were forced out of their homes, how did that affect mothers who no longer had a roof over their children's heads? I couldn't help but wonder.
So onward we continued, following our awesome guide through the streets of his clearly-beloved hometown. As we walked he would tell us stories about his "compañeros" (friends of his). The first place we stopped was the La Casa Azul, the only independent bookstore in the area. As we entered, Luke introduced us all to his compañera, Aurora Cerda.
As Aurora shared the story of her bookstore, I couldn't help but be amazed! This little place was home to over 1,000 latino-related books (books written by or about Latinos/the Latino experience). From this store Aurora runs over 200 programs each year for the children and adults of her treasured community.
I was most taken back by how she was able to start her business. Through crowdfunding, La Casa Azul was able to take shape as a business. According to the bookstore's website, "Aurora lead ran the '40K in 40 days' campaign and successfully crowdfunded for La Casa Azul Bookstore. With the financial backing of 500 funders - La Casa Azul Bookstore opened in El Barrio on June 1, 2012".
Luke brought up the concept of the "Cardboard box" again, stating that Aurora's from-the-ground-up story was a perfect example of the cardboard box. Starting from nothing, she collected books, artwork, and other bits and pieces that she could envision in her store. La Casa Azul stands today as an adorable little shop that is bursting to the seams with literature, art, and passion.
As Aurora shared the story of her bookstore, I couldn't help but be amazed! This little place was home to over 1,000 latino-related books (books written by or about Latinos/the Latino experience). From this store Aurora runs over 200 programs each year for the children and adults of her treasured community.
I was most taken back by how she was able to start her business. Through crowdfunding, La Casa Azul was able to take shape as a business. According to the bookstore's website, "Aurora lead ran the '40K in 40 days' campaign and successfully crowdfunded for La Casa Azul Bookstore. With the financial backing of 500 funders - La Casa Azul Bookstore opened in El Barrio on June 1, 2012".
Luke brought up the concept of the "Cardboard box" again, stating that Aurora's from-the-ground-up story was a perfect example of the cardboard box. Starting from nothing, she collected books, artwork, and other bits and pieces that she could envision in her store. La Casa Azul stands today as an adorable little shop that is bursting to the seams with literature, art, and passion.
When we were finished looking around La Casa, we hit the streets of East Harlem to explore the streets. I'll quickly note the different murals we saw, and you will be able to browse the pictures below. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.
Click on the photos to read more about them! :)
Click on the photos to read more about them! :)
After walking through the streets of East Harlem, we had two more stops before moving on to Central Park. The first stop was the Modesto Flores Community Garden on Lexington Avenue. This garden was dedicated to the women and mothers of East Harlem, and boasts a beautiful, vibrant sculpture right in the middle of the park. This sculpture, titled "Blossom/En Flor" (read more about the work/artist here) was modeled after a certain part of the woman's body, the fallopian tubes. I would never have guessed that! How cool it was that an artist brought such a small, un-romantic part of the female physiology to life. Another interesting piece of the park was "Soldaderas", a mural tribute to Frida Kahlo, Julia de Burgos and Puerto Rican and Mexican solidarity. Soldaderas was designed by artist Yasmin Hernandez. She tells her story of the mural and its history, conception and symbolism here (Lots of great info in that link!).
After spending some time in the Modesto "Tin" Flores garden, we made our way over to Justo Botanica. We entered the shop, and were greeted immediately by thousands of saints, candles, beads, ointments, herbs and the smell of incense coming from deep within the four walls. We were introduced to Jorge Vargas, owner of the family business. Señor Vargas shared the story of his shop and its importance and function in the neighborhood to us. Unfortunately, it seemed like gentrification had taken its toll on his business. The shelves were dusty, looking like they hadn't been perused in months, if not years. The business itself had changed locations one or two times, a result of being uprooted from its original area to make way for the infiltration of new businesses and change. He himself seemed more than delighted to have so many people in his shop at one time. It seemed like such a sight was a rarity for him. It was in this shop that Mike told us about the lucky Santería skull bracelet. Apparently, this bracelet brings good luck and fortune to whoever receives it. Hmm I know I could really use some good luck these days. Here's to hoping I'm that student this year! ;)
So, with our time in East Harlem coming to a close, we said our goodbyes to Luke (in the form of an awesome, inspirational chant), and started our walk into Central Park. We entered into the Conservatory Garden through the Vanderbilt Gate, which stood just across from El Museo del Barrio. This part of the day was awesome. We took such a nice, looong walk in the beautiful shade of Central Park. We started off by entering a gorgeously maintained Italian-style garden. We then took a walk by the river, and moved along through some shady pathways. The temperature and breeze under the shade was perfect. I love being outdoors (hiking and biking being my two favorite activities) so being out and about, walking with friends was a great time.
As we walked through the Park I couldn't help but think about my all-time favorite movie, You Got Mail, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan. I can't tell you how many times this scene went through my head!! (please pardon the romantic sappy-ness-- I couldn't NOT include this!!)
Romantic, right!!? :)
Moving on...
We had a quick lesson about the three gardens of Central Park; the English, French, and Italian gardens. We learned about the 31 uniquely designed bridges (and later got to see one of them!) How crazy was this designer, that he put so much detail into designing so many one-of a kind bridges! It seems like such a small detail to me, but as I think about it, I suppose that's the difference between a good architect and a legendary one. We later saw Cleopatra's Needle, and learned that it was, in fact, the oldest non-natural thing in NYC. Unfortunately, as a result of New York's climate and pollution, the needle was being supported by steel structures to try to conserve it. The harsh winds and pollution levels almost destroyed the hieroglyphics of the needle. Interesting (and sad) that it could withstand thousands of years in the desert, but deteriorate so quickly in the New York climate.
After Cleopatra's Needle, Mike began to tell us about the Belvedere Castle. He argued that it was the most beautiful scene in New York. Now, while I don't know that I agree with him 100% on that, I will say that it was quite a lovely, relaxing, historic place to be.
We then learned about "The Rambles", and how they were designed to make you get lost. After walking into The Rambles, we actually ran into a native New Yorker who asked us, (the tourists!) for directions out of there. Hah! Poor guy. I wonder if he's still there now!
I jotted the name of the place down in my phone immediately-- I can't wait to go back there with my boyfriend! That should put his self-proclaimed "great sense of direction" to the test! ;)
Moving on...
We had a quick lesson about the three gardens of Central Park; the English, French, and Italian gardens. We learned about the 31 uniquely designed bridges (and later got to see one of them!) How crazy was this designer, that he put so much detail into designing so many one-of a kind bridges! It seems like such a small detail to me, but as I think about it, I suppose that's the difference between a good architect and a legendary one. We later saw Cleopatra's Needle, and learned that it was, in fact, the oldest non-natural thing in NYC. Unfortunately, as a result of New York's climate and pollution, the needle was being supported by steel structures to try to conserve it. The harsh winds and pollution levels almost destroyed the hieroglyphics of the needle. Interesting (and sad) that it could withstand thousands of years in the desert, but deteriorate so quickly in the New York climate.
After Cleopatra's Needle, Mike began to tell us about the Belvedere Castle. He argued that it was the most beautiful scene in New York. Now, while I don't know that I agree with him 100% on that, I will say that it was quite a lovely, relaxing, historic place to be.
We then learned about "The Rambles", and how they were designed to make you get lost. After walking into The Rambles, we actually ran into a native New Yorker who asked us, (the tourists!) for directions out of there. Hah! Poor guy. I wonder if he's still there now!
I jotted the name of the place down in my phone immediately-- I can't wait to go back there with my boyfriend! That should put his self-proclaimed "great sense of direction" to the test! ;)
Eventually, we came out of The Rambles and wrapped up our time in Central Park. We ended in Strawberry Fields, where we admired the legendary "imagine" mural; a dedication to John Lennon who, as we would see, held residence at The Dakota. As we exited Strawberry Fields, we wrapped up with a lesson about The Dakota. Apparently, this was one of the first upscale apartments in the City. The terrible, awful movie, Rosemary's Baby was filmed here. In addition, this is also where John Lennon was infamously, fatally shot by Mark Chapman.
And so, that wrapped up our day, and what an awesome day it was! I had an awesome time walking through and learning all about East Harlem. I really appreciated the fact that we got to check that neighborhood out, as I know I would never have had a reason or particular desire to go there on my own. I am still amazed by the story behind that community. I loved how everywhere you went, you were greeted with ethnic, meaningful art- murals, posters, poems, it was all so rich and inviting.I loved learning about the history and development of the city through the documentary, Timescapes. How great it was to be able to watch and interact with the documentary, recalling all the facts Mike had so effectively taught us about New York City. It was cool to be able to add some facts to that repertoire as well.
I can't wait to come back to Central Park and get lost with my man. I'm so excited to further explore its great landscapes and gardens, hand in hand with my favorite person by my side :)
I had such a great time today. I could honestly keep writing about all the stuff we took in! But I have to call it quits at some point! I have such great expectations for our next class, especially after this one. I can't believe we've passed the halfway mark already-- Time really does fly! Now that I'm set, it's time to get a good night's rest. I'd hate to be lagging around on Thursday! I wonder what this next class has in store for us :)
I can't wait to come back to Central Park and get lost with my man. I'm so excited to further explore its great landscapes and gardens, hand in hand with my favorite person by my side :)
I had such a great time today. I could honestly keep writing about all the stuff we took in! But I have to call it quits at some point! I have such great expectations for our next class, especially after this one. I can't believe we've passed the halfway mark already-- Time really does fly! Now that I'm set, it's time to get a good night's rest. I'd hate to be lagging around on Thursday! I wonder what this next class has in store for us :)
Journal 6: The Wild Westside (6/19)
Woohoo! The Wild Westside! What a day we had today! Can't wait to get started reliving all the fun we had. I hope you can feel the excitement from your side of the computer screen!! :)
Our big hits today were Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art. Can you believe how much we packed into one day?! I felt like such a tourist!!
We kicked off the day on one of the most recognizable roads- the legendary Broadway! Home to many a musician and actor, Broadway has quite an interesting history!
Take a look at this map, and see what you notice about Broadway; what sets it apart?
Our big hits today were Broadway, Times Square, Rockefeller Center and the Museum of Modern Art. Can you believe how much we packed into one day?! I felt like such a tourist!!
We kicked off the day on one of the most recognizable roads- the legendary Broadway! Home to many a musician and actor, Broadway has quite an interesting history!
Take a look at this map, and see what you notice about Broadway; what sets it apart?
Figure it out? Take a close look at that A on the map (Times Square). Now Look a little closer at that road it's on- That's Broadway! And yes, unlike the roads around it, Broadway runs diagonally! This is because Broadway predates the grid system, and the grid commissioners had to work around it when planning the city.
If you've ever been to this part of NYC, you will know that there is a LOT of space for foot traffic. That is because the Bloomberg Administration made it a pedestrian zone. Initially, the idea of this was a shock to local business owners. How could this happen? Surely it would decrease business. Interestingly enough, the creation of this pedestrian zone increased business to these shops and stores. As business and commerce increased, Broadway's economy was very positively affected.
If you've ever been to this part of NYC, you will know that there is a LOT of space for foot traffic. That is because the Bloomberg Administration made it a pedestrian zone. Initially, the idea of this was a shock to local business owners. How could this happen? Surely it would decrease business. Interestingly enough, the creation of this pedestrian zone increased business to these shops and stores. As business and commerce increased, Broadway's economy was very positively affected.
As we continued down Broadway, we finally came upon Times Square (located at the junction of Broadway and 7th ave [ENY, p.33]). Despite being recognized as "the world's busiest intersection and most popular tourist attraction" (ENY, p.33), I must say, I wasn't entirely excited about checking out Times Square today. I've never really cared for this tourist-heavy spot; the shops are expensive, it's way too crowded, there are creepy people walking around in costumes asking for money, and there isn't much to do there that appeals to me anyway!
As un-interested as I was, we did learn a few cool facts about the area. For example, I didn't realize that in the 1960s, Times Square was a really sleazy place! By the time the Great Depression hit, Times Square had become known as a hot spot for gambling and prostitution (ENY, p.33). From the period between the Great Depression and the 1970s, Times Square had a very marbled reputation. On one hand, it was the center of America's theatre scene and music industry, yet on the other, it was "the place New Yorkers went to cater to their darkest vices" (ENY, p. 33). Once the 1970s came around, the "dark" side of things had taken over, and Times Square became known as "New York's most notorious neighborhoods, filled with topless bars, sex shops and pornographic theaters" (ENY, p.34).
As Mike continued to recount Times Square's troubled past, I found it so easy to imagine the street we stood on being filled with such shops and populated by "drug dealers, prostitutes and criminals, prying on those who were reckless enough to enter the area" (ENY, p. 34).
Now, as we learned about the history of Times Square, I couldn't help but wonder how it was able to turn around so drastically. Mike told us that in the mid-1990s, Mayor Giuliani and his administration made cleaning up Times Square a top priority in order to revitalize New York City (ENY, p.34). As Giuliani increased police presence and shut down un-tasteful shops, he also began to bring more tourist-friendly locations into the area (ENY, p. 34).
Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Times Square became an entirely new place. The presence of upscale restaurants and tourist-focused stores brought about a great transformation. With this transformation came some complaints. Many people bemoaned the loss of Times Square's characteristic "edginess", and said the "Disneyfication" of the area brought a bland, white-bread flavor to the once very eccentric Times Square (ENY, p.34). The pruning and tourist-ifying of Times Square continued on despite these complaints, and has resulted in the "Crossroads of the World" (ENY, p. 33) we experienced today.
Like I said, I don't love Times Square. It's much too busy for me and, in my opinion, there are a hundred places in NYC I'd rather visit. However, learning about this incredible history has definitely given me a newer, more respectful perspective of the place. I definitely look forward to sharing this awesome information with the next person I end up in Times Square with :)
As un-interested as I was, we did learn a few cool facts about the area. For example, I didn't realize that in the 1960s, Times Square was a really sleazy place! By the time the Great Depression hit, Times Square had become known as a hot spot for gambling and prostitution (ENY, p.33). From the period between the Great Depression and the 1970s, Times Square had a very marbled reputation. On one hand, it was the center of America's theatre scene and music industry, yet on the other, it was "the place New Yorkers went to cater to their darkest vices" (ENY, p. 33). Once the 1970s came around, the "dark" side of things had taken over, and Times Square became known as "New York's most notorious neighborhoods, filled with topless bars, sex shops and pornographic theaters" (ENY, p.34).
As Mike continued to recount Times Square's troubled past, I found it so easy to imagine the street we stood on being filled with such shops and populated by "drug dealers, prostitutes and criminals, prying on those who were reckless enough to enter the area" (ENY, p. 34).
Now, as we learned about the history of Times Square, I couldn't help but wonder how it was able to turn around so drastically. Mike told us that in the mid-1990s, Mayor Giuliani and his administration made cleaning up Times Square a top priority in order to revitalize New York City (ENY, p.34). As Giuliani increased police presence and shut down un-tasteful shops, he also began to bring more tourist-friendly locations into the area (ENY, p. 34).
Throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s, Times Square became an entirely new place. The presence of upscale restaurants and tourist-focused stores brought about a great transformation. With this transformation came some complaints. Many people bemoaned the loss of Times Square's characteristic "edginess", and said the "Disneyfication" of the area brought a bland, white-bread flavor to the once very eccentric Times Square (ENY, p.34). The pruning and tourist-ifying of Times Square continued on despite these complaints, and has resulted in the "Crossroads of the World" (ENY, p. 33) we experienced today.
Like I said, I don't love Times Square. It's much too busy for me and, in my opinion, there are a hundred places in NYC I'd rather visit. However, learning about this incredible history has definitely given me a newer, more respectful perspective of the place. I definitely look forward to sharing this awesome information with the next person I end up in Times Square with :)
The next stop on our tour took us to the heart of Midtown's Rockefeller Center complex; the GE Building. Completed in 1933, this building was originally referred to as the RCA building (ENY, p. 36). In our day and age, we lovingly refer to it as "30 Rock" (the name being gleaned from the address, 30 Rockefeller Center [ENY, p. 36]). This building is NBC headquarters- home to classic shows such as Saturday Night Live, and my favorite, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Even more impressive than the shows it produces, the GE Building is home to a gallery of impressive, descriptive, beautiful murals.
After we walked through a long, decadent black and bronze chrome corridor, we were invited into the open space of the lobby, which was graced by one of the most clearly descriptive murals I have been so privileged to see. I say this because, in my experience with murals, their meaning and purpose is often abstracted and takes a period of mentation and reflection to decipher their message. Think back to the mural of Frida Kahlo and Julia de Burgos from the Modesto Flores Community Garden in East Harlem. We had to really think and discuss the piece to take it all in and interpret its meaning. Here at 30 Rock, this was not the case. The moment you set your eyes on the artwork, the interpretation is almost instantaneously derived. As Exploring New York states, "The theme of these murals is man's search for eternal truth through Christ's teachings. The first three panels represent the stages of man's conquest of the physical world and the final one his ultimately [sic] destiny with Jesus Christ" (p. 36).
After we walked through a long, decadent black and bronze chrome corridor, we were invited into the open space of the lobby, which was graced by one of the most clearly descriptive murals I have been so privileged to see. I say this because, in my experience with murals, their meaning and purpose is often abstracted and takes a period of mentation and reflection to decipher their message. Think back to the mural of Frida Kahlo and Julia de Burgos from the Modesto Flores Community Garden in East Harlem. We had to really think and discuss the piece to take it all in and interpret its meaning. Here at 30 Rock, this was not the case. The moment you set your eyes on the artwork, the interpretation is almost instantaneously derived. As Exploring New York states, "The theme of these murals is man's search for eternal truth through Christ's teachings. The first three panels represent the stages of man's conquest of the physical world and the final one his ultimately [sic] destiny with Jesus Christ" (p. 36).
After spending our time doing a little shopping at Rockefeller Center, we tarried along over to the Museum of Modern Art, or, as we so lovingly referred to it, The MoMA. Now before I get into the details of what we saw and learned, let me just say that my favorite part of our time at the MoMA was seeing Don totally and completely come to life. Throughout our time together, Don has always kind of hung back a little, putting in some facts here and there and adding a few interesting stories to our lectures, but he hadn't really taken the lead on much. At this museum, Don really commanded the crowd (even a few onlookers stopped to listen in on everything he had to say!) You could so tell he was just happy as a clam, especially when talking about certain artists and movements. Clearly, art is Don's passion, and that translated so effortlessly and visibly into his teachings. I only wish I could have seen this side more! Perhaps next year we'll see another museum or two on the agenda ;)
So getting back to the MoMA, let me add a little bit about its history, so we can get a good sense of what we're talking about here. The Museum of Modern Art is, "one of the most important and influential museums of modern art in the world... [it] houses an impressive collection of important works from the 19th and 20th centuries" (ENY, p. 39). The museum itself was the "brainchild" of the wife of John D. Rockefeller Jr, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (ENY, p. 39). After moving through four temporary locations, the museum landed itself on property donated by John Rockefeller himself. A building was built there in 1939 in the international style, and has since been renovated and expanded multiple times to accommodate its growing popularity (ENY, p. 39).
We spent most of our time on the fourth and fifth floors of the MoMA, both of which house the core of the museum's collection. According to Exploring New York, the fourth floor contains a good deal of art "form New York itself", while the fifth floor "contains works of painting and sculptures from 1880-1940, including artists such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse and Monet" (ENY, p. 39). As a class, we had the opportunity to walk through both floors. With every painting we stopped to see, Don grew increasingly involved in telling their stories and highlighting their importance to the art world.
Of all the works we learned about, two in particular stood out to me, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso, and One: Number 31, 1950 by Jackson Pollock. The two paintings are extremely different, Picasso's being a perfect representation of cubism, and Pollock's work being a massive-scale example of the beauty of the "drip" technique. What intrigued me so much about Les Demoiselles was the conversation Don opened up while teaching about it. As he explained Picasso and his work with cubism, Don extrapolated the fundamentals of cubism and put it in terms of our world today. He stated that cubism has become the way of the future, citing pop music as an example of this. As he talked about this, I began to imagine some of the more popular songs played on the radio today. The more I thought about it, the more right it seemed Don was! The synchronized, layered, repetitious beats we hear today in almost every "mainstream" song truly does reflect the principles we see at play in visual cubism. So cool to think about.
I was particularly pulled in by One: Number 31, 1950. This piece is of an enormous size, and consists of so many different layers of dripped paint. I got lost so quickly as I looked on it and meditated. That is what I liked so much about this piece; it draws you into a trance, and without realizing it, you've spent 15 minutes staring into this painting considering its never-ending vastness and complexities, thinking about the parallels between that and the interconnectedness of our individual and collective lives. Whew! Just thinking about it has me back in that state. That's what I love so much about this painting- you can't help but react and dialogue with it. It's almost as if Pollock knew you would get caught gazing, sighing and contemplating while looking at this piece. So, so cool.
So getting back to the MoMA, let me add a little bit about its history, so we can get a good sense of what we're talking about here. The Museum of Modern Art is, "one of the most important and influential museums of modern art in the world... [it] houses an impressive collection of important works from the 19th and 20th centuries" (ENY, p. 39). The museum itself was the "brainchild" of the wife of John D. Rockefeller Jr, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (ENY, p. 39). After moving through four temporary locations, the museum landed itself on property donated by John Rockefeller himself. A building was built there in 1939 in the international style, and has since been renovated and expanded multiple times to accommodate its growing popularity (ENY, p. 39).
We spent most of our time on the fourth and fifth floors of the MoMA, both of which house the core of the museum's collection. According to Exploring New York, the fourth floor contains a good deal of art "form New York itself", while the fifth floor "contains works of painting and sculptures from 1880-1940, including artists such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse and Monet" (ENY, p. 39). As a class, we had the opportunity to walk through both floors. With every painting we stopped to see, Don grew increasingly involved in telling their stories and highlighting their importance to the art world.
Of all the works we learned about, two in particular stood out to me, Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso, and One: Number 31, 1950 by Jackson Pollock. The two paintings are extremely different, Picasso's being a perfect representation of cubism, and Pollock's work being a massive-scale example of the beauty of the "drip" technique. What intrigued me so much about Les Demoiselles was the conversation Don opened up while teaching about it. As he explained Picasso and his work with cubism, Don extrapolated the fundamentals of cubism and put it in terms of our world today. He stated that cubism has become the way of the future, citing pop music as an example of this. As he talked about this, I began to imagine some of the more popular songs played on the radio today. The more I thought about it, the more right it seemed Don was! The synchronized, layered, repetitious beats we hear today in almost every "mainstream" song truly does reflect the principles we see at play in visual cubism. So cool to think about.
I was particularly pulled in by One: Number 31, 1950. This piece is of an enormous size, and consists of so many different layers of dripped paint. I got lost so quickly as I looked on it and meditated. That is what I liked so much about this piece; it draws you into a trance, and without realizing it, you've spent 15 minutes staring into this painting considering its never-ending vastness and complexities, thinking about the parallels between that and the interconnectedness of our individual and collective lives. Whew! Just thinking about it has me back in that state. That's what I love so much about this painting- you can't help but react and dialogue with it. It's almost as if Pollock knew you would get caught gazing, sighing and contemplating while looking at this piece. So, so cool.
As we were leaving the museum, this painting caught my eye, Still Life with Three Puppies by French artist, Paul Gauguin. I swear I can spot a dog in my vicinity from a mile away! Haha. Although we didn't stop and talk about this one, I went home and learned more about it on my own. Such a sneakily dynamic painting. I say sneakily because at first glance, it seems like such an innocuous image. Three dogs, a saucer, a few cups and some fruit. Interestingly enough, according to the Modern Museum of Art, "this painting features three distinct zones: a still life of fruit in the foreground, a row of three blue goblets and apples diagonally bisecting the canvas, and three puppies drinking from a large pan". The Museum later notes that, "the incongruous scale and placement of these objects on a dramatically upturned tabletop results in a disorienting composition". Hmm.. Very interesting. I could definitely feel that disorienting composition they note. I wonder if that's what draws me to the piece. I know I particularly like how the design of the puppies' coats almost corresponds with the faint pattern of the tablecloth. It's a small detail, but I love that it's there. So, so, so cool.
Once we had enough art for the day, we left the museum and headed for lunch! It was off to Yum Yum for our second on-Molloy lunch. This place was incredible. Seriously, SO good! I got the vegetarian plate with Basil sauce and it was delish! So fresh and light, but still enough to keep you filled up for a few hours! It was perfect! And it was here that I became the recipient of the legendary skull bracelet. This bracelet (a piece from our Santeria friend in East Harlem) is reported to have the power to bring good fortune to whoever wears it. I can't believe I won it! Haha. I will definitely have to report back any lottery winnings that come my way! Good-luck and I have never had a great relationship, so I look forward to seeing if this bracelet can change that :)
After lunch we headed to Morningside Heights to meet up with Jim who, in my opinion, is the coolest person I have ever met. He was so great. He knew everything about anything relating to his city. I could totally see him as Mayor or Governor or something. Great guy! Jim truly did give us a grand tour of Morningside Heights. He made sure we hit all the great historical spots, and gave us a kicker lesson on each of them. Our first stop was the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, "the largest church in the United States and the largest Gothic-style cathedral in the world" (ENY, p. 70). Before making our way into the cathedral, we took some time to appreciate the Children's Sculpture Garden that sits just to the right of the building. The focus point of this garden is certainly Gregg Wyatt's Peace Fountain sculpture. According to Exploring New York, this unique piece "shows the archangel Michael vanquishing Satan, depict[ing] the triumph of good over evil" (p. 71). How interesting is that! What a one-of-a-kind sight to see. Even more incredible were the teeny tiny little statues that encircled the great statue. There were so many small statues depicting little animals and animal families. They really looked like they had been plucked out of a little story book --so fitting for the garden we were in! :)
After admiring the Children's Sculpture Garden for a while, we entered into the Cathedral. I couldn't believe what unfolded as I walked into that sanctuary. The place was enormous. Looking up, you could see this incredible figure spanning the length of the sanctuary. As I asked around, I soon learned that this incredible figure floating above me was actually supposed to depict a Phoenix in flight. Incredible. The pictures I snapped can't even begin to show the grandeur and beauty of this statue.
As we silently walked through this living place of worship, we were able to take pictures of the things we were moved by. I had such a blast taking in all of the painted glass art, as well as admiring the different tapestries and other unique marvels, all of which called the Cathedral their home.
After admiring the Children's Sculpture Garden for a while, we entered into the Cathedral. I couldn't believe what unfolded as I walked into that sanctuary. The place was enormous. Looking up, you could see this incredible figure spanning the length of the sanctuary. As I asked around, I soon learned that this incredible figure floating above me was actually supposed to depict a Phoenix in flight. Incredible. The pictures I snapped can't even begin to show the grandeur and beauty of this statue.
As we silently walked through this living place of worship, we were able to take pictures of the things we were moved by. I had such a blast taking in all of the painted glass art, as well as admiring the different tapestries and other unique marvels, all of which called the Cathedral their home.
After our time at the cathedral was spent, we continued on through Morningside Heights, and stopped in at Columbia University. Oh my goodness, what a place this was! I loved learning about the history behind it, and Jim seemed to know it back and forth. We saw the Beaux- arts thumbprint of McKim Mead and White (ENY, p. 72), admired the beautiful lawn, statues and historic buildings. We took a quick walk up the grand staircase and through University Hall, where we admired the decor and history behind the building.
After leaving Columbia University, we made a quick stop at Grant's Tomb (where no one is buried ;). This tomb houses General Ulysses S. Grant, commander of the Union army during the Civil War and president of the United States from 1869-1877 (ENY, p. 74). This national memorial houses the remains of Grant and his wife Julia, as well as some of Grant's most notable generals (William Sherman, Thomas Sheridan, Lorenzo Thomas, Edward Ord and James McPherson [ENY, p. 74-75]). Although we weren't able to go inside, I really did enjoy being able to look at the memorial, and consider the turmoil our Nation endured to get where it is today. The thing that stood out most to me about this place, was the inscription, "Let us have peace", that graced the top of the portico (ENY, p. 74). This short, poignant phrase struck a chord with me, and I found myself recalling it throughout the day. If only this idea of peace was at the forefront of everyone's minds. How different would our world be then.
Upon leaving the General Grant National Memorial, our tour guide Jim took us on a lovely walk to Hamilton Heights. Jim noted that Hamilton Heights is a hot spot for gentrification right now. Interestingly enough, its history is one that is full of gentrification. According to our online PDF handout, the area was used for farming until the early 20th century. Once it was infiltrated by an extension of the subway system, it became ripe for development (p.1). Shortly after the subway came in to the picture, the white middle class started building their apartments and brownstones (p. 1). The City College of New York was also established there. Once the 1940's hit, black middle class homeowners started to move in, and by the 1980s, the area switched to a predominately Latino/Dominican population (p. 1).
Today, "more affordable housing is available [in Hamilton Heights] than is available in other parts of the city" (p.1) For this reason, we can start to see a great deal of gentrification taking place in this area.
Today, "more affordable housing is available [in Hamilton Heights] than is available in other parts of the city" (p.1) For this reason, we can start to see a great deal of gentrification taking place in this area.
According to our PDF, Hamilton Heights is home to the campus of the City College of New York. The College was founded on 23rd Street in 1847 as the Free Academy of the City of New York to provide qualified children of immigrants with access to free higher education (p. 1). In 1906 the college moved to Hamilton Heights, where it is now, "part of the CUNY (City University of New York) educational system and is recognized for being the first free public institution of higher education in the United States" (PDF, p.1). I really enjoyed this college's gothic style architecture and gorgeous Manhattan chist exterior. I hope one day to be able to pop inside for a bit, and see that talked-about mural, "The Graduate".
So with all these new places under our belt, we ended our day. I will say, this was not my all-time favorite class, but I did feel a lot more comfortable now that I have a better idea of what to expect in this class. I really enjoyed getting to see many of these sights, as they are all places I would never have thought to venture myself. The highlight of my day was definitely our time at the Museum of Modern Art. I'm already planning my next trip back! :)
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Journal 6: Lower Manhattan (6/24)
Lower Manhattan - where it all began for the City of New York!!
Lots of cool things going on today! We started off with a quick chat about the famous Woolworth Building, home to the Woolworth 5 and dime. When it came time to build his corporate headquarters in Lower Manhattan, FW Woolworth was determined that it would rise higher than any other in the world (ENY, PDF), and that is exactly what he did. This building was the sight of the tallest building in New York City for 17 years until the Chrysler Building was completed in 1930, and because of its Gothic ornamentation, during its opening celebrations, the building was nicknamed the “Cathedral of Commerce” (ENY, PDF).
I wish I could have been around in the age when this building was built. It seems like such an exciting era! A time where everyone was obsessed with building- up, up up!
Lots of cool things going on today! We started off with a quick chat about the famous Woolworth Building, home to the Woolworth 5 and dime. When it came time to build his corporate headquarters in Lower Manhattan, FW Woolworth was determined that it would rise higher than any other in the world (ENY, PDF), and that is exactly what he did. This building was the sight of the tallest building in New York City for 17 years until the Chrysler Building was completed in 1930, and because of its Gothic ornamentation, during its opening celebrations, the building was nicknamed the “Cathedral of Commerce” (ENY, PDF).
I wish I could have been around in the age when this building was built. It seems like such an exciting era! A time where everyone was obsessed with building- up, up up!
After our chat about Woolworth's, we took a walk to St. Paul's Cathedral. What an experience that was! We started our discussion there in the historic cemetery, home to hundreds of beautiful tombstones, touched by centuries of decay. We spent a few minutes talking about the role this church played in the 9/11 terror attacks. The most interesting thing I learned was the story about the tree. There was a tree that stood over the Cathedral in 2001, and protected the structure from debris and damage during the terror attacks. The roots of this tree have been preserved in bronze, and are displayed outside of the Cathedral, where people can come and see the tree that saved the Chapel. Was the presence and location of that tree a mere coincidence? Or was it divine intervention that sheltered the holy building. I wondered this as I stood in awe of the artist's depiction of the tree's roots.
Walking inside of the sanctuary was even more incredible. The humble sanctuary was framed by different homages and tributes to the rescue workers of 9/11. One part I found particularly striking was the small cot that the rescue workers would come in to sleep on and find rest. It had a few little stuffed animals on top of it. At the time of the attacks and rescue missions, the church would offer those cots and stuffed animals to provide rest and comfort for a bit throughout their long, torturous days.
Another interesting bit about the church is that George Washington used to be an attending member there while he was President. There is even a pew (Washington's pew) that he used to sit on that was preserved in a grand fashion.
I really liked the simplicity of this Georgian church. It stood in such stark contrast to the Gothic churches we visited in Morningside heights. There were no elaborate sculptures floating from the ceiling, no grandiose tapestries and stonework to marvel at. The church was beautiful in its simplicity. The only flourishes to admire were the chandeliers and painted glass. Very different than the previous churches we saw, but I quite liked it that way.
Walking inside of the sanctuary was even more incredible. The humble sanctuary was framed by different homages and tributes to the rescue workers of 9/11. One part I found particularly striking was the small cot that the rescue workers would come in to sleep on and find rest. It had a few little stuffed animals on top of it. At the time of the attacks and rescue missions, the church would offer those cots and stuffed animals to provide rest and comfort for a bit throughout their long, torturous days.
Another interesting bit about the church is that George Washington used to be an attending member there while he was President. There is even a pew (Washington's pew) that he used to sit on that was preserved in a grand fashion.
I really liked the simplicity of this Georgian church. It stood in such stark contrast to the Gothic churches we visited in Morningside heights. There were no elaborate sculptures floating from the ceiling, no grandiose tapestries and stonework to marvel at. The church was beautiful in its simplicity. The only flourishes to admire were the chandeliers and painted glass. Very different than the previous churches we saw, but I quite liked it that way.
After spending some time in St. Paul's, we took a trip to the 9/11 Memorial. I've visited this site in the past, and found that I much preferred it then. Back when I visited, there were not a lot of people, and the site was much more somber and respectful. The people that were there were there to pay their respects to their families and the memory of those whose lives were taken in the 9/11 attack. Today when we visited, I did not get that feeling at all. It was a mad house. There were people everywhere, laughing, chatting, taking pictures, walking in loud groups, leaning on the panels and obscuring the names of the victims. I did not like the vibe I was getting at all. When I visited previously, the majority of people kept an appropriate distance between themselves and the names on the wall, a lot of people were stopped at particular spots, placing a hand on the name of their loved ones. Today, that air of respect was very starkly absent. I tried to look for the names of my aunt and cousins, but couldn't do so, as so many people were leaning and sitting on the panels, completely obfuscating my ability to see the inscriptions. Very disrespectful and frustrating.
In the midst of my frustration, something caught my attention. As I stood in disgust of how this place was being treated, I caught the sound of bagpipes playing in the distance. Now, a little known fact about me: I love bagpipes. They are such a beautiful, emotional instrument, and I can't help but tear up a bit when I hear a well played bagpipe. I stood and listened to the three players for the remainder of my time at the memorial. Their music was so beautiful and poignant, a perfect break from all of the craziness going on in the park.
In the midst of my frustration, something caught my attention. As I stood in disgust of how this place was being treated, I caught the sound of bagpipes playing in the distance. Now, a little known fact about me: I love bagpipes. They are such a beautiful, emotional instrument, and I can't help but tear up a bit when I hear a well played bagpipe. I stood and listened to the three players for the remainder of my time at the memorial. Their music was so beautiful and poignant, a perfect break from all of the craziness going on in the park.
After leaving the 9/11 Memorial, we made our way to City Hall, where we were so lucky to get a guided tour of the place from a lovely, soft-spoken volunteer tour guide. Completed in 1811, this is the oldest city hall in the United States (ENY, PDF). We started in the Governor's Room, where we learned a lot about its history and purpose. According to our PDF, "the room is filled with historic furniture—most notably, the desks of George Washington and Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia—and large portraits of some of 19th century New York’s most prominent citizens". Today, LaGuardia's desk is no longer there, as it is being used by New York's current Mayor. The Governor's room today is used for official receptions (ENY, PDF).
This was my favorite room in City Hall, because it was literally filled from top to bottom with New York history. Even the colors of the walls are historic! Their paint was analyzed, and it was concluded that originally, the room had been painted that intoxicating shade of blue. The gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows were garnished with ornate drapes, and even the fireplace mantle boasted a beautiful historic figurine depicting George Washington. Such an intense room!
Another part of City Hall I really admired was the grand rotunda staircase in the lobby (ENY, PDF). I couldn't believe what Mike told us-- When the building was first built, people refused to go up the staircase! They thought it would collapse!! Well, I suppose I don't blame them, the staircase seemed to hang so precariously off the wall with no support. Little did they know, the case was built into the wall, so that the wall lended itself to its structure.
This was my favorite room in City Hall, because it was literally filled from top to bottom with New York history. Even the colors of the walls are historic! Their paint was analyzed, and it was concluded that originally, the room had been painted that intoxicating shade of blue. The gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows were garnished with ornate drapes, and even the fireplace mantle boasted a beautiful historic figurine depicting George Washington. Such an intense room!
Another part of City Hall I really admired was the grand rotunda staircase in the lobby (ENY, PDF). I couldn't believe what Mike told us-- When the building was first built, people refused to go up the staircase! They thought it would collapse!! Well, I suppose I don't blame them, the staircase seemed to hang so precariously off the wall with no support. Little did they know, the case was built into the wall, so that the wall lended itself to its structure.
As we wrapped up the day, we made two last "big" stops; Governor's Island and the Fraunces Tavern. Governor's island was such a blast!! Although the place was very sparse in the food-department, it was such a cool space! I loved the random, unique art pieces and playgrounds. I was particularly fond of Hammock Grove, the home of a whole bunch of inviting, cozy hammocks. I particularly enjoyed the whimsy of the place. It just seemed like such a little niche place to go and spend a happy summer afternoon. I only wish we had stopped here sooner in the day! I could only imagine what a hustling, bustling place this must be in the summertime. The bike rental station was enormous! I wonder how many bikes they average on a summer day! Carla, Chelsea and I rented a 3-person surry-- it was SO much fun!!!!! But definitely not easy to pedal! Haha. The single bikes were a good price to rent- $15 for 2 hours. I would really have liked to take a morning there and bike the entire island! Also, Mike, if you're reading this- Bike rentals are free for three hours if you rent by 10AM. That may be too early for this class, but for anyone that might want to return to visit, it's a great deal! If you pack a lunch and rent an early bike, you can have an amazing afternoon for next to no cost! Love that!
When our two hours at Governor's Island were up, we got back on the ferry and walked our way to Fraunces Tavern. I've never seen anything like this place before! A Tavern with a bonafide museum right above it! And the place was HUGE! Although small in appearance, the inside opened up with an abundance of different rooms, each with their own unique collection to show. According to the ENY PDF, The Fraunces Tavern is, "one of the most important historical sites in lower Manhattan". Its legacy dates back to 1763. In that time it was a popular meeting place for New York’s Sons of Liberty (ENY, PDF). This place was just bursting at the seams with all sorts of American history, which is a subject of great interest to me. I really enjoyed looking at the different paintings and memorabilia, and I think Mike was really enjoying the lovely revolutionary singin-dancin lady! Haha, I don't know her actual title, but she was just sitting in the middle of a large dance-hall style room, singing the songs of the Revolution. So cool! I definitely enjoyed spending a little extra time in this place. How could you take it all in in such a short amount of time? I have to take a look at their menu; I would love to have a meal here in the future!
So that about wraps up our last Tuesday class! What a day it was! I would definitely say the highlight of the day was hearing those men play their bagpipes (they were seriously SO good!). Second to that, however, would be Governor's Island. It was a nice break from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, with some really unique features to check out. I think with every class we have, my list of places-to-go-back-to gets longer and longer! I can't wait to see what I'll be adding to it this Thursday! :)
Journal 9: Immigrant New York (6/26)
The last day!!! I can't believe it's here!! And so quickly it did come!
I can't wait to dive into everything we did!!
Today we kicked off our class at the Tenement Museum. The word on the street was that this was an awesome place, but sweltering hot!! I heard many a person recall stories of people passing out or fainting from the heat. What was I getting myself into??!
We locked up our bags and met our guide, a very animated young woman who gave us an incredible tour! She was so lively, I couldn't help but imagine her taking lead in a Broadway musical or something! She knew her facts, and was happy to share her stories and information with us. She opened up by telling us that over the span of 70 years, 7,000 different people called this place home, all hailing from over 20 different nations!
She showed us two tenements, one belonging to the Gumperts, and the other to the Baldeses.
The Gumpert family moved into the building right at the beginning of its story. They were original German tenants in a time where moving to the Lower East Side made sense! At the time they lived here, the Lower East Side (LES) was a German-speaking community, and was actually known as Klein Deutschland (or, little Germany). The LES was the first immigrant neighborhood in New York City. As she showed us the rooms, I tried so hard to imagine myself living there at the time. There was no indoor plumbing, electricity, or lighting. There were 4 toilets in the rear yard that were to be shared between the 100+ tenants. The women would have to carry water up to their apartments, one bucket could weigh 17+ pounds, and would have to return seven or eight times to bring in enough water. The place was murky with muck, as this was a time before sanitation departments. The building itself was five stories with 4 apartments per floor, one family per apartment. Families at the time could be between six and ten members! All living in two/three tiny rooms! Goodness, I don't know how they did it!
The Baldeses were a family that moved in later, long after the Gumpert's time. When they moved in the amenities had been upgraded- there was now running water, indoor lighting, and electricity. There were two shared indoor toilets per floor (an upgrade from the 4 outdoor ones!). This family hailed from Sicily, Italia, and you could see that so clearly in the way the furnished and decorated their apartment. Our guide made a point of the fact that, prior to coming to the US, Rosario and Adolpho Baldese lived a comparatively lavish lifestyle. Although they were immigrants, coming to America was no vacation for them. They endured a life of great hardship while in America. My favorite part of this room was the fact that we got to listen to the daughter of Adolpho and Rosaria recount her life experience growing up in the tenement. It was so crazy to hear her voice echo in the apartment- this was no obscure piece of history, it was a lived in home to four real people.
After our awesome interactive tour through the Tenement Museum, we were split into teams and given our assignments. Next on the list was Chinatown, and we were sent off to explore it without our instructors. As we followed the directions and walked around the area, we experienced a lot of different things; the sights and sounds of the Chinese population. the different shops and exotic fruit stands. It was all very interesting! We took a pop into a Buddhist temple, a place brimming with insence, decorated very ornately with likenesses of Buddah. It was interesting, I suppose. Overall, this was not my favorite experience. It just seemed like there could have been better things to do with our last day together (not to be rude or disrespectful!).
When we completed our self-guided Chinatown tour, we met with Mike and Don and Congee Village, where we were greeted by an incredible spread of different Chinese foods. It was such a different dining style; everything was on the table on a lazy susan- just spin and get what you want! So cool- Thanks for the experience, Mike!
After lunch, we met up once again with Tour Guide Jim, who took us for one last guide through his City. He took us around and pointed out several churches and synagogues. We got to explore through one (quickly), and it was lovely! Not as beautiful and ornate as some of the other ones we had seen, but it was gorgeous in its own way.
Our final official stop of the day was the Economy Candy Shop. Oh my goodness, I went crazy. I bought SO much candy! I don't know what I'm going to do with it all!! I couldn't believe how much sugar was packed into such a small store- it almost gave me diabetes all over again!! It was awesome. I got a lot of my boyfriend's favorite Italian candies, and some black liccorice for me and my dad to share :) So tasty!
At this point, our class was officially over, but Chelsea and I decided to stick around and take a hike across the Williamsburg Bridge. I am so glad I stayed! The bridge was a marvel! Covered in grafitti, it so perfectly seemed to capture that alternative Williamsburg-hipster-y vibe. I can now say I've crossed the B and W of the BMW bridges! It was such a nice relaxing walk to end the day, and a great time to reflect on all the experiences I got to have this class!
After we crossed the bridge, the small group of us that were left stopped with Don and Mike for a celebratory "snack" together at a lovely little place. It was so nice to talk about our experiences with friends in such a layed-back setting.
When the time to leave had come, us students said our goodbyes and thank-you's to our GREAT AWESOME INCREDIBLE DAZZLING KNOWLEDGEABLE SMART professors (*cough* 25 *cough*) and made our way back to Penn.
I said goodbye to my friends at the station and hopped on the 7:22 back to Huntington. Whew! I couldn't believe what we did that day. It was incredible, and it was over.
I can't wait to dive into everything we did!!
Today we kicked off our class at the Tenement Museum. The word on the street was that this was an awesome place, but sweltering hot!! I heard many a person recall stories of people passing out or fainting from the heat. What was I getting myself into??!
We locked up our bags and met our guide, a very animated young woman who gave us an incredible tour! She was so lively, I couldn't help but imagine her taking lead in a Broadway musical or something! She knew her facts, and was happy to share her stories and information with us. She opened up by telling us that over the span of 70 years, 7,000 different people called this place home, all hailing from over 20 different nations!
She showed us two tenements, one belonging to the Gumperts, and the other to the Baldeses.
The Gumpert family moved into the building right at the beginning of its story. They were original German tenants in a time where moving to the Lower East Side made sense! At the time they lived here, the Lower East Side (LES) was a German-speaking community, and was actually known as Klein Deutschland (or, little Germany). The LES was the first immigrant neighborhood in New York City. As she showed us the rooms, I tried so hard to imagine myself living there at the time. There was no indoor plumbing, electricity, or lighting. There were 4 toilets in the rear yard that were to be shared between the 100+ tenants. The women would have to carry water up to their apartments, one bucket could weigh 17+ pounds, and would have to return seven or eight times to bring in enough water. The place was murky with muck, as this was a time before sanitation departments. The building itself was five stories with 4 apartments per floor, one family per apartment. Families at the time could be between six and ten members! All living in two/three tiny rooms! Goodness, I don't know how they did it!
The Baldeses were a family that moved in later, long after the Gumpert's time. When they moved in the amenities had been upgraded- there was now running water, indoor lighting, and electricity. There were two shared indoor toilets per floor (an upgrade from the 4 outdoor ones!). This family hailed from Sicily, Italia, and you could see that so clearly in the way the furnished and decorated their apartment. Our guide made a point of the fact that, prior to coming to the US, Rosario and Adolpho Baldese lived a comparatively lavish lifestyle. Although they were immigrants, coming to America was no vacation for them. They endured a life of great hardship while in America. My favorite part of this room was the fact that we got to listen to the daughter of Adolpho and Rosaria recount her life experience growing up in the tenement. It was so crazy to hear her voice echo in the apartment- this was no obscure piece of history, it was a lived in home to four real people.
After our awesome interactive tour through the Tenement Museum, we were split into teams and given our assignments. Next on the list was Chinatown, and we were sent off to explore it without our instructors. As we followed the directions and walked around the area, we experienced a lot of different things; the sights and sounds of the Chinese population. the different shops and exotic fruit stands. It was all very interesting! We took a pop into a Buddhist temple, a place brimming with insence, decorated very ornately with likenesses of Buddah. It was interesting, I suppose. Overall, this was not my favorite experience. It just seemed like there could have been better things to do with our last day together (not to be rude or disrespectful!).
When we completed our self-guided Chinatown tour, we met with Mike and Don and Congee Village, where we were greeted by an incredible spread of different Chinese foods. It was such a different dining style; everything was on the table on a lazy susan- just spin and get what you want! So cool- Thanks for the experience, Mike!
After lunch, we met up once again with Tour Guide Jim, who took us for one last guide through his City. He took us around and pointed out several churches and synagogues. We got to explore through one (quickly), and it was lovely! Not as beautiful and ornate as some of the other ones we had seen, but it was gorgeous in its own way.
Our final official stop of the day was the Economy Candy Shop. Oh my goodness, I went crazy. I bought SO much candy! I don't know what I'm going to do with it all!! I couldn't believe how much sugar was packed into such a small store- it almost gave me diabetes all over again!! It was awesome. I got a lot of my boyfriend's favorite Italian candies, and some black liccorice for me and my dad to share :) So tasty!
At this point, our class was officially over, but Chelsea and I decided to stick around and take a hike across the Williamsburg Bridge. I am so glad I stayed! The bridge was a marvel! Covered in grafitti, it so perfectly seemed to capture that alternative Williamsburg-hipster-y vibe. I can now say I've crossed the B and W of the BMW bridges! It was such a nice relaxing walk to end the day, and a great time to reflect on all the experiences I got to have this class!
After we crossed the bridge, the small group of us that were left stopped with Don and Mike for a celebratory "snack" together at a lovely little place. It was so nice to talk about our experiences with friends in such a layed-back setting.
When the time to leave had come, us students said our goodbyes and thank-you's to our GREAT AWESOME INCREDIBLE DAZZLING KNOWLEDGEABLE SMART professors (*cough* 25 *cough*) and made our way back to Penn.
I said goodbye to my friends at the station and hopped on the 7:22 back to Huntington. Whew! I couldn't believe what we did that day. It was incredible, and it was over.
Impressions of New York
Now that our class is over, I can look back and say "I can't believe how far I've come". From the Long-Island girl who dreaded trips into the city, to a girl with a newfound appreciation and understanding of our great New York, I believe I have come a very long way. I finally understand subways! And that grid system I so disdainfully referred to in my first post makes so much sense now! I've experienced so much, been so many places, made so many memories. I made friends, and interacted with a world so far outside my comfortzone. I still can't believe what a knowledge storehouse Mike is when it comes to the things of New York! This man is incredible and taught me so much in such a short amount of time!
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm genuinely looking forward to going back into the city in the future. I've got a loooong list of places to return to, and I can't wait to tackle them with my friends and family! I really truly loved this class and am so blessed to have been able to go through it with such an awesome group and such stellar professors.
Some tips for future students:
DONT FOLLOW MIKE ACROSS THE STREET. If he's crossing, that means you probably shouldnt.
Wear comfortable shoes!!! Sneakers, hiking sandals, anything your feet will thank you for!
Wear comfy clothes! Work-out attire seemed the clothing of choice, but I'm personally more comfortable in skirts, so I went with that :)
TAKE PICTURES of everything! It will help you visually recall what you did that day!
WRITE YOUR PAPERS EARLY! They come quick!
And HAVE FUN!!!!!!
This class is awesome and will definitely, definitely, without a doubt in my mind leave you with a newly awakened sense of adventure and a desire to go back and explore the city we call New York.
I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm genuinely looking forward to going back into the city in the future. I've got a loooong list of places to return to, and I can't wait to tackle them with my friends and family! I really truly loved this class and am so blessed to have been able to go through it with such an awesome group and such stellar professors.
Some tips for future students:
DONT FOLLOW MIKE ACROSS THE STREET. If he's crossing, that means you probably shouldnt.
Wear comfortable shoes!!! Sneakers, hiking sandals, anything your feet will thank you for!
Wear comfy clothes! Work-out attire seemed the clothing of choice, but I'm personally more comfortable in skirts, so I went with that :)
TAKE PICTURES of everything! It will help you visually recall what you did that day!
WRITE YOUR PAPERS EARLY! They come quick!
And HAVE FUN!!!!!!
This class is awesome and will definitely, definitely, without a doubt in my mind leave you with a newly awakened sense of adventure and a desire to go back and explore the city we call New York.
*Note:
Because of the incredible experience I had through this class, I have decided to add an additional tab, "My Future Experiences". In this tab I plan to keep notes and comments on any future trips I decide to take into the Big Apple. I don't know when the next time I will be able to go in will be, it may be a few weeks before I can, but because I had such an awesome experience with this blog, I wanted to keep it going.
So, feel free to check back in and see what I've been up to! Highest on my list will be: Returning to the MoMA, and crossing the Manhattan Bridge (to complete my quest to cross each of the BMW bridges!).
So stay tuned!! It's been a great ride, and it won't be ending anytime soon :)
All the best!!!
xo Nancy
Because of the incredible experience I had through this class, I have decided to add an additional tab, "My Future Experiences". In this tab I plan to keep notes and comments on any future trips I decide to take into the Big Apple. I don't know when the next time I will be able to go in will be, it may be a few weeks before I can, but because I had such an awesome experience with this blog, I wanted to keep it going.
So, feel free to check back in and see what I've been up to! Highest on my list will be: Returning to the MoMA, and crossing the Manhattan Bridge (to complete my quest to cross each of the BMW bridges!).
So stay tuned!! It's been a great ride, and it won't be ending anytime soon :)
All the best!!!
xo Nancy