Journal 1
Impressions of New York:
One five minute car ride to the Rockville Centre train station and one 42 minute train ride on the LIRR into Penn Station - that's all it takes for me to reach one of the most famous, most historic, and most desired cities in the world. Having grown up with New York City so accessible to me, I guess you could say I took for granted all of the experience and opportunity it holds. When I was younger I commonly viewed the city as just another crowded, busy, dangerous and dirty place that seemed like a hassle to get to, but as I got older and had the chance to experience it for more than what it was, I've come to realize how magical of a place it can be and how lucky I am to have it at the tips of my fingers.
The majority of my time spent in New York City has been a result of my love for sports, entertainment and music. Places like Madison Square Garden, the Best Buy Theater, and Irving Plaza have become more like a second home to me than just a venue, and for most of my high school experience I think I was in the city on more weekends than I was at home. Although at this point I felt like I knew the city inside and out, I've realized that there is so much I have yet to see and experience and I look forward to having the opportunity to do so in this class.
Although the city is practically in my backyard, when family or friends who are not from around here ask me about famous attractions, to their surprise I often answer with, "I'm not sure, I've never been there." This summer alone was the first time in all of my 20 years that I saw the Statue of Liberty, and I still have yet to visit places like the Empire State Building. As I reflect in depth about what the city has to offer, I've come to the conclusion that based on its proximity to my home, I've used it as more of a recreational outing than a learning experience. By the end of this class, I hope to develop a greater appreciation for all of the nostalgia the city holds, and I am excited to expand my knowledge on the lifestyle and culture that surrounds it.
Although the city is practically in my backyard, when family or friends who are not from around here ask me about famous attractions, to their surprise I often answer with, "I'm not sure, I've never been there." This summer alone was the first time in all of my 20 years that I saw the Statue of Liberty, and I still have yet to visit places like the Empire State Building. As I reflect in depth about what the city has to offer, I've come to the conclusion that based on its proximity to my home, I've used it as more of a recreational outing than a learning experience. By the end of this class, I hope to develop a greater appreciation for all of the nostalgia the city holds, and I am excited to expand my knowledge on the lifestyle and culture that surrounds it.
Quixotic Queens: 9/6/13
When I woke up this morning all I could think about was the exciting adventures I was about to embark on during the day. As I prepared my backpack with enough water, some snacks, and a notebook to document all of the sites I would experience, I especially looked forward to the fact that the weather was going to be perfect for a day in the city - a high of 73-74 degrees and not a chance of rain! After purchasing my 10 trip ticket and metro card last night, I headed to the RVC train station around 10:00 am with my boyfriend Joe just in time for the 10:11 train to NYC. Though I knew this class would provide me the opportunity to meet new friends, I was and am especially excited to have the chance to experience all of these amazing sites with him by my side. Arriving in Penn Station around 10:50 am, we headed toward the famous time table board to meet with the rest of the class and shortly after were on our way.
Starting our day in Penn Station, we discussed as a class a little bit about the experiences the next seven weeks, and more importantly, what the next seven hours or so would bring. I immediately took note of the LIRR and subway iPhone applications that Mike and Meritta suggested since I am coming into this class completely unaware of how to travel by subway. After talking about the sites we would be seeing today, we headed toward the 8th avenue exit and began our walk to our first stop, the New York Public Library.
Starting our day in Penn Station, we discussed as a class a little bit about the experiences the next seven weeks, and more importantly, what the next seven hours or so would bring. I immediately took note of the LIRR and subway iPhone applications that Mike and Meritta suggested since I am coming into this class completely unaware of how to travel by subway. After talking about the sites we would be seeing today, we headed toward the 8th avenue exit and began our walk to our first stop, the New York Public Library.
On our way to the library we stopped in the middle of beautiful Bryant Park to have a quick "classroom" discussion about the logistics of the class. After talking and taking in our surroundings and observing the New York Library from the outside, we walked just a few short blocks before entering one of the most beautifully built buildings I’ve seen in NYC. In the short time it took to get to the entrance we made a quick pit stop on the side of the road to discuss the Chrysler building and its architectural style. The building was built by automobile manufacturer Walter P. Chrysler to express the luxury and mechanical precision of the automobile in its Jazz Age incarnation (BG p. 231). The architecture of the building, referred to as Art Deco, was a very popular style in the 1930’s and reflected a design that was very intricate and detailed. Although we were far away I could already tell how incredible the exterior architecture of the building was, and as we continued on our journey throughout the day I took note of several other buildings that reflected the same style. After hearing Mike discuss a little bit about Art Deco and Neoclassical architecture, we headed into the New York Library and more specifically, the Rose Reading Room.
The Rose Reading room that we saw today was the restored version of what was once covered during World War 2. After posing for a few pictures for Mike, I headed over to the computers and sat down to really soak in everything that was surrounding me. The inside of this library was like nothing I had ever seen before, and its design, especially on the ceiling, was absolutely incredible. According to the Blue Guide, the beautifully decorated ceiling, tall, arched windows, and the furniture designed by Carrere & Hastings make it one of the city's great interiors (p. 208). I can only imagine the focus and precision it took to create a design with such elaborate and eloquent detail. After taking a quick break to write some notes, we were off to our next stop of the day, Grand Central Terminal.
Commonly called “Grand Central Station” by city goers and tourists, I learned today that this world famous train station is actually named Grand Central Terminal. Grand Central is the largest train station with 67 tracks, and this year the station celebrates its 100th anniversary. The station is known to cover three city blocks - 42 to 45 streets between Vanderbilt and Madison Ave - and beneath it are electric power facilities and loops of track where trains can turn around without having to back out of the station (BG p. 229). To my surprise, Mike and Meritta explained that at one point Penn Station was nicer than Grand Central, which seemed completely unreal to me after seeing how not only clean the station was, but how its architecture and design looked like something out of a movie. We stopped for a brief minute under the clock in the middle of the lobby, which I learned is a common meeting place for those passing through the station, and I was once again in awe of the grandiose ceilings and intricate artwork that detailed it.
After learning about the rich history that Grand Central Terminal holds, we quickly stopped into the Waldorf Astoria hotel, an extremely fancy and high-class hotel. Also built around the 1930’s, the architecture of this hotel was that of Art Deco although its style was a little bit different than that of the Chrysler building. After stopping for a much needed bathroom break in one of the most beautiful bathrooms I had ever seen, we continued on our journey towards the tram that would take us onto Roosevelt Island.
Commonly called “Grand Central Station” by city goers and tourists, I learned today that this world famous train station is actually named Grand Central Terminal. Grand Central is the largest train station with 67 tracks, and this year the station celebrates its 100th anniversary. The station is known to cover three city blocks - 42 to 45 streets between Vanderbilt and Madison Ave - and beneath it are electric power facilities and loops of track where trains can turn around without having to back out of the station (BG p. 229). To my surprise, Mike and Meritta explained that at one point Penn Station was nicer than Grand Central, which seemed completely unreal to me after seeing how not only clean the station was, but how its architecture and design looked like something out of a movie. We stopped for a brief minute under the clock in the middle of the lobby, which I learned is a common meeting place for those passing through the station, and I was once again in awe of the grandiose ceilings and intricate artwork that detailed it.
After learning about the rich history that Grand Central Terminal holds, we quickly stopped into the Waldorf Astoria hotel, an extremely fancy and high-class hotel. Also built around the 1930’s, the architecture of this hotel was that of Art Deco although its style was a little bit different than that of the Chrysler building. After stopping for a much needed bathroom break in one of the most beautiful bathrooms I had ever seen, we continued on our journey towards the tram that would take us onto Roosevelt Island.
Taking the tram to Roosevelt Island was an interesting experience to say the least. I am usually not a fan of heights, but the ride was rather quick and extremely smooth, and the sight of the East River was amazing to see. The tram runs parallel to the Queensboro Bridge over the East River and connects Manhattan to Roosevelt Island. When we got to the island we first stopped to sit and talk a little bit about its history, and shortly after we headed down to FDR’s Four Freedoms Park. According to the Blue Guide, Roosevelt Island emerged in the 1970s as a community for people of varying economic backgrounds and at the ends of the island are newer residential developments (p. 382). In addition to these developments, the island is home to the Goldwater Hospital as well as what was once the first nursing school in New York. The park we visited, which opened last year as a dedication to FDR and his Four Freedoms Speech, is a beautiful and relaxing place to visit that overlooks the East River and is in direct line with the Queensboro Bridge.
Our next stop of the day was Jackson Heights in Queens, and to get there we took the subway over to Roosevelt Avenue from Roosevelt Island. I have always been a little skeptical about subways, but the ride was definitely not as bad as I thought and I was already beginning to learn about the subway system and how it operates. While the rest of the class headed to an Indian Buffet for lunch, Joe, Mike and I decided on playing it safe with a traditional PB&J and headed around the block to sit outside of a McDonalds. It was amazing to see the variety of ethnicities that passed by as we ate our lunch, and I was surprised at how ethnically diverse this area of Queens is. Right after lunch we embarked on our second subway ride of the day where we took the R train to Steinway Street which brought us to Astoria.
Our next stop of the day was Jackson Heights in Queens, and to get there we took the subway over to Roosevelt Avenue from Roosevelt Island. I have always been a little skeptical about subways, but the ride was definitely not as bad as I thought and I was already beginning to learn about the subway system and how it operates. While the rest of the class headed to an Indian Buffet for lunch, Joe, Mike and I decided on playing it safe with a traditional PB&J and headed around the block to sit outside of a McDonalds. It was amazing to see the variety of ethnicities that passed by as we ate our lunch, and I was surprised at how ethnically diverse this area of Queens is. Right after lunch we embarked on our second subway ride of the day where we took the R train to Steinway Street which brought us to Astoria.
Astoria, Queens used to be known for all of the films that were produced and directed in the neighborhood, but eventually the industry moved to California for better weather. While in Astoria we visited the Museum of the Moving Image, which celebrates New York’s film industry. The museum's core exhibit, Behind the Screen, looks at the technical aspects of producing movies and TV and displays the evolution of film making and editing (BG p. 499). Being that I am a communications major and have an interest in music and entertainment, this was definitely my favorite part of the day. While inside I visited several different exhibits about the history of film, and one of my favorite stops was a music center where you could create your own soundtrack for a popular movie scene. After toying around with this hands-on experience, I took a look at all of the different television sets, film cameras and TV cameras, and even stopped to look at all of the clothing and makeup designs from popular shows and films. One of my favorites was the mask made for Jim Carrey to wear in “The Mask,” and the original sculpture of his face was remarkable.
After leaving the museum about 45 minutes later, we took the M train to Long Island City. Throughout the day Mike and Meritta educated us on the idea of "gentrification," and Long Island City along with neighborhoods like Astoria are prime examples of it. Gentrification is the idea that places are transformed into rich urban neighborhoods which ultimately leads to the lower class being pushed out. This theory was especially visible in Long Island City when we passed by the apartment buildings that are currently being built that are already worth $1,000,000 if not more. After a little history on how the city is developing, we passed by MoMA P.S. 1, which was once the oldest public school in NY but was abandoned and later turned into an exhibition for contemporary art. From there we headed to the 5 Pointz Museum of Higher Burnin’, which is an incredible area of Long Island City that permits artists to openly display their works of graffiti. When I think of graffiti I usually picture the writing’s and drawings I see on city streets, but this was so much more than that. It was extremely interesting to hear from one of the graffiti artists we ran into because now I have a greater understanding that to them this is really a form of art and not just a way to be “reckless."
After stopping to take some photos and take in all of the amazing artwork we saw, we headed to our last stop of the day, Gantry State Park. While I thought this was actually going to be a park, I was surprised to see that it was more like a boardwalk and was home to the preserved gantries that are important to New York City's history. The gantries were actually ports connecting the eastern most part of Long Island to Manhattan where boats would come to deliver or pick up items. The water surrounding the park, also the East River that we saw from Roosevelt Island, was once again breath taking and I truly felt like I was not even in a city environment anymore.
Finishing our day earlier than expected, Mike gave us the option to take the subway back to Penn Station or the subway to Woodside where we could take a connecting train back home. I was a bit nervous about taking the subway and getting off at Woodside being that I have never traveled by subway alone and I faced the possibility of having to transfer at Jamaica to get back to Rockville Centre, something else I have never done. Along with Joe and a few other friends that I met throughout the day, I hoped on the 7 subway to Woodside and managed to get on the correct train back to Rockville Centre. I’m really glad that I chose to take this way home because I got to experience something new on my own and found that traveling from other stations and by subway really isn’t so bad after all.
Though I arrived home in more pain and more tired than I thought, I really enjoyed today’s class and am looking forward to next week. I can already tell that this class is going to be an incredible learning experience and I already I feel like I know so much more about the city than I ever imagined.
After stopping to take some photos and take in all of the amazing artwork we saw, we headed to our last stop of the day, Gantry State Park. While I thought this was actually going to be a park, I was surprised to see that it was more like a boardwalk and was home to the preserved gantries that are important to New York City's history. The gantries were actually ports connecting the eastern most part of Long Island to Manhattan where boats would come to deliver or pick up items. The water surrounding the park, also the East River that we saw from Roosevelt Island, was once again breath taking and I truly felt like I was not even in a city environment anymore.
Finishing our day earlier than expected, Mike gave us the option to take the subway back to Penn Station or the subway to Woodside where we could take a connecting train back home. I was a bit nervous about taking the subway and getting off at Woodside being that I have never traveled by subway alone and I faced the possibility of having to transfer at Jamaica to get back to Rockville Centre, something else I have never done. Along with Joe and a few other friends that I met throughout the day, I hoped on the 7 subway to Woodside and managed to get on the correct train back to Rockville Centre. I’m really glad that I chose to take this way home because I got to experience something new on my own and found that traveling from other stations and by subway really isn’t so bad after all.
Though I arrived home in more pain and more tired than I thought, I really enjoyed today’s class and am looking forward to next week. I can already tell that this class is going to be an incredible learning experience and I already I feel like I know so much more about the city than I ever imagined.
bodacious brooklyn: 9/13/13
All week I looked forward to today’s class, especially since our first stop would be the famous Coney Island. Once again the weather forecast illustrated a cool, sunny day, and although it seemed overcast during our initial walk to the subway, the rest of the day held true to the predictions.
Since Rockville Centre is one of the most difficult train stations to park at, this morning Joe and I headed to Molloy where we had our first Molloy shuttle experience. We arrived at school around 9:40 just in time for the 9:50 shuttle, which got us to the train at exactly 10:00. With a few minutes to spare, we headed down Front Street to Dunkin Donuts where we got ourselves a treat for the ride into the city.
Upon arriving in Penn Station we headed to our usual meting spot to prepare for the days events. After quickly taking attendance and going over our schedule, we began our journey by heading to the subway on 6th avenue; only a short walk from the Penn Station exit. Around 11:20 we hopped on the F train which was supposed to take us to Coney Island in about 45 minutes. To our dismay, the subway experienced quite a few delays and it ended up taking almost an hour and a half to get to our destination. While the ride was daunting and a bit aggravating, especially for someone like me who felt extremely claustrophobic every time we were stopped in a dark tunnel, the delay didn’t take away from the excitement I had for Coney Island.
Since Rockville Centre is one of the most difficult train stations to park at, this morning Joe and I headed to Molloy where we had our first Molloy shuttle experience. We arrived at school around 9:40 just in time for the 9:50 shuttle, which got us to the train at exactly 10:00. With a few minutes to spare, we headed down Front Street to Dunkin Donuts where we got ourselves a treat for the ride into the city.
Upon arriving in Penn Station we headed to our usual meting spot to prepare for the days events. After quickly taking attendance and going over our schedule, we began our journey by heading to the subway on 6th avenue; only a short walk from the Penn Station exit. Around 11:20 we hopped on the F train which was supposed to take us to Coney Island in about 45 minutes. To our dismay, the subway experienced quite a few delays and it ended up taking almost an hour and a half to get to our destination. While the ride was daunting and a bit aggravating, especially for someone like me who felt extremely claustrophobic every time we were stopped in a dark tunnel, the delay didn’t take away from the excitement I had for Coney Island.
“Coney Island was settled by the Dutch, who named it Konijn Island after the rabbits they found there. Its history as a resort started with the Coney Island Hotel, but its golden age began around the turn of the 20th century when three spectacular amusement parks opened: Steeplechase Park (1897), Luna Park (1903), and Dreamland (1904)” (BG pg. 492). I have been to Coney Island on several occasions to watch the Brooklyn Cyclone’s play baseball, but I have only been to the amusement parks once or twice. Although I am not one for rides, before the trip I reluctantly promised Joe I would step out of my comfort zone and go on one of the island’s most historic and thrilling rollercoasters, the Cyclone. Lucky for me the park was closed when we arrived, but I was a little disappointed since I was secretly looking forward to trying out the roller coaster and would’ve liked to take a ride on the Wonder Wheel. Since we weren’t able to check out the park and since our subway ride only left us with about 20 minutes to experience what the island had to offer, Joe, Mike, Erin and I headed to the original Nathan’s and sat down to have a quick bite before we had to leave. This iconic hot dog stand was founded in 1916 at 1316 Surf Ave and is still a popular attraction today for both tourists and residents alike (BG pg. 492). Even though we didn’t get to experience Coney Island the same way we would have if it was summer, I enjoyed being able to experience the atmosphere of this world famous site.
After reconvening as a group and taking some photos on the boardwalk, we headed on our way to the next stop, the Transit Museum. This museum is located in a part of Brooklyn known as Brooklyn Heights, and to get there we took the F train once again toward Jay Street. While this was another long subway ride, it wasn’t nearly as long as our first of the day and was much more comfortable and relaxing. Brooklyn Heights is an old residential neighborhood that is bounded by the East River, Old Fulton Street, Atlantic Avenue, and Court Street. It is sometimes labeled as New York’s first suburb and is known for its title as the first designated Historic District (1965) (BG p. 466). To my surprise, the museum is located underground in what is an unused but working subway station. Run by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, the museum includes exhibits on buses, bridges, and tunnels, with an emphasis on the subway (BG p. 468). For the first leg of the tour we were led by Catherine, one of the museum's guides, who introduced us to the history of New York’s transportation systems and the development of the subway. She explained that the station that once resided in this area closed in 1946 due to low ridership, and in 1976 an exhibit opened there to showcase old train cars. Although the site was going to close after 2 months, its popularity caused it to stay open and the small-scale exhibit eventually turned into what we saw today.
The first aspect of the museum that caught my attention was the “Sandhog” exhibit. Sandhogs were the construction workers who were responsible for building the tunnels so subways could be implemented, and they were known to have one of the toughest and most dangerous construction jobs. I’ve always been fascinated about how people are capable of building such intricate passageways for trains to transport people all over the city, so hearing about the people who have done it and how they do it was extremely interesting. Another part of the museum that really caught my attention was the “subway covers” room that displayed a selection of albums whose covers reflected New York. Within this room, Michael Jackson’s “Bad” music video was playing specifically because it was filmed in a subway station just a few blocks away. I am very interested in music so it was cool to see how many artists really value New York and how they used its scenery to be creative. A final part of the museum that interested me was seeing all of the old train cars that were used throughout history. The trains, which showcase the change in technology since 1904, are lined up on the tracks of what was formerly the Court Street subway station (BG p. 468). In fact, many of the old subway cars seemed much nicer and more comfortable than the ones we are familiar with today. Overall this museum was very interesting and I am glad we got to visit it since I would have never gone on my own.
Around 3:30 we met back up as a group to prepare for the next leg of our journey. At this point we went on a “walking tour” of Brooklyn Heights, stopping at several important historical sites. Our first stop was Brooklyn Borough Hall, which Mike informed us was representative of neoclassical architecture. Since Brooklyn was at one point its own city, this building was formerly known as Brooklyn City Hall. In 1898 however, Brooklyn was recognized as a borough, which caused the building to change its name.
The second part of our tour brought us to Brooklyn’s Borough of Churches. Mike described this area as a wealthy part of Brooklyn Heights, and originally residents could only get back and forth from home to Manhattan by taking the ferry. One of our stops was the corner of Montague Street, where we examined buildings like St. Ann and the Holy Trinity church and discussed its architectural style. This particular building represented a gothic style, but other buildings surrounding it such as the Brooklyn Trust Building reflected neoclassical and art deco styles.
Next we stopped to view the Brooklyn Historical Society. The Brooklyn Historical Society is located at 128 Pierrepont St at the Southwest corner of Clinton St and was founded in 1863 (BG p. 472). As a class we examined the extremely detailed figures of Benjamin Franklin and Christopher Columbus who are embedded in the building, and we also continued our discussion of the brownstone architecture that many buildings in Brooklyn Heights are made of. “Brownstone is a Triassic sandstone whose characteristic chocolate color comes from iron ore. A brownstone in the local dialect is a row house (built for a single family) faced with this material, usually dating from the late 19th century” (BG p. 415). From our discussion I learned that many of the buildings that appear to be made of brownstone are actually brown cement with a layer of brownstone material on top since it is prone to erosion, but regardless of how it was made I really enjoyed the architecture of this area.
The second part of our tour brought us to Brooklyn’s Borough of Churches. Mike described this area as a wealthy part of Brooklyn Heights, and originally residents could only get back and forth from home to Manhattan by taking the ferry. One of our stops was the corner of Montague Street, where we examined buildings like St. Ann and the Holy Trinity church and discussed its architectural style. This particular building represented a gothic style, but other buildings surrounding it such as the Brooklyn Trust Building reflected neoclassical and art deco styles.
Next we stopped to view the Brooklyn Historical Society. The Brooklyn Historical Society is located at 128 Pierrepont St at the Southwest corner of Clinton St and was founded in 1863 (BG p. 472). As a class we examined the extremely detailed figures of Benjamin Franklin and Christopher Columbus who are embedded in the building, and we also continued our discussion of the brownstone architecture that many buildings in Brooklyn Heights are made of. “Brownstone is a Triassic sandstone whose characteristic chocolate color comes from iron ore. A brownstone in the local dialect is a row house (built for a single family) faced with this material, usually dating from the late 19th century” (BG p. 415). From our discussion I learned that many of the buildings that appear to be made of brownstone are actually brown cement with a layer of brownstone material on top since it is prone to erosion, but regardless of how it was made I really enjoyed the architecture of this area.
One of the next stops on our walk was a memorial in front of the Promenade. This memorial was dedicated to the area in front of the East River where George Washington took his men during the Battle of Long Island to escape by ship to the city. After successfully distracting the British army, the fisherman were known to have rowed back and forth all night while staying hidden by fog, evacuating Washington’s entire force of 9,500 men by daybreak (BG p. 467). From here we headed a few blocks down where we quickly visited the Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims. This church is best known for its first preacher, Henry Ward Beecher who discussed several important issues such as temperance, woman suffrage, and slavery (BG p. 467).
One of our final stops was in an area known as “Dumbo” (District Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass) where we stopped for a short break before beginning our hike across the Brooklyn Bridge. In this area I noticed a fence that seemed to resemble the famous lock bridge that is popular in Paris. In Paris it is known as a place where people attach a lock to the fence as a symbol of love or something important to them and then they throw the key into the river under the bridge. On the boardwalk we stopped at I noticed a fence that looked just like this, and since I have always wanted to put a lock of my own on the one in France, this is definitely a place I hope to come back to with Joe.
Our day was completed by taking a leisurely walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge was designed by the Roebling family and was first opened on May 25, 1883. Before the completion of the bridge, anyone wishing to cross the East River had to do so by taking the Fulton Ferry. This eventually became difficult and after the Civil War ended a push began for a bridge that could accommodate the flood of goods and people who hoped to cross the river (BG p. 464). Though a great deal of construction blocked the view of the East River and the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges as we walked, I was still in awe of the amazing sights I could see as I made my way across. This was such an exciting experience for me and certainly not as scary as I thought! Although the walk seemed far, it was over quicker than I expected and finally the day came to end.
While some of the class headed to the Southstreet Seaport, along with a few other friends Joe and I headed home. Mike suggested we take the 1, 2 or 3 subway back to Penn, but navigating ourselves we decided to the take the A train uptown hoping it would bring us to our destination. About 15 minutes later we found ourselves exiting the train on 34th street and realized we had made it to the right place. Although I was extremely overwhelmed by the subways at first, and even though I still don’t really understand how you know when to take which subway and where, today I learned that the 1, 2, 3, A and C go up town and I feel that I am learning piece by piece exactly how to navigate. Overall, I really enjoyed all of the sites we visited today and I am looking forward to the villages we will visit next week.
A tale of three villages: 9/20/13
This morning started like any other except for the fact that I woke up feeling less than my usual self with a sore throat and a slight cold. Although I felt like I could've went right back to bed, I took all of the necessary steps to feel better for the day by packing extra tylenol and tissues, and I even got myself a Dunkin' Donuts hot chocolate for the train ride. Aside from this minor setback, my morning continued just like last week's with Joe and I heading to Molloy to catch the 9:50 shuttle to the train station. This week's train ride seemed a bit longer than usual, but nevertheless we arrived in Penn just in time to stop at the bathroom and meet with the class before our departure. Once again we were set to experience a beautiful day with outstanding weather, and as we discussed our plans for the day and the exciting places we would be going, I instantly forgot how crummy I felt.
The first part of our day consisted of a walking tour of Greenwhich Village. To get there we took the 1 train directly from Penn Station to Houston street, which brought us to a beautiful area of the city that I didn't even recognize as "the city." We first stopped to talk a little bit about the history of the street, and I learned why "SoHo" is known by that name - it is the area "south" of "houston" street! Greenwhich Village is considered to be the "bohemia" of New York City, as it is an area for all kinds of creativity such as art, literature, and music (BG p. 128). Although it has become very gentrified over the years, the village still represents several of the "free love" ideas that its inhabitants first expressed.
Several of the spots on this tour occurred on or slightly off of Bedford Street. Mike explained that this is one of the most desirable streets in the village because of its character which is made up of quaint coffee shops and stores. Two of our stops on this tour were the narrowest house in NYC and the White Horse Tavern. The narrowest house in NYC was a site often inhabited by authors such as poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and it was recently sold for $3.25 million. From there we walked to see the White Horse Tavern per Meritta's request, where she explained the nostalgia it holds and all of the famous people who once visited it. Frequent visitors to the bar were Norman Mailer, Jack Kerouac, and particularly poet Dylan Thomas, who on November 3, 1953 had one too many drinks there and passed away on November 9 after slipping into a coma the next day (BG p. 143).
The first part of our day consisted of a walking tour of Greenwhich Village. To get there we took the 1 train directly from Penn Station to Houston street, which brought us to a beautiful area of the city that I didn't even recognize as "the city." We first stopped to talk a little bit about the history of the street, and I learned why "SoHo" is known by that name - it is the area "south" of "houston" street! Greenwhich Village is considered to be the "bohemia" of New York City, as it is an area for all kinds of creativity such as art, literature, and music (BG p. 128). Although it has become very gentrified over the years, the village still represents several of the "free love" ideas that its inhabitants first expressed.
Several of the spots on this tour occurred on or slightly off of Bedford Street. Mike explained that this is one of the most desirable streets in the village because of its character which is made up of quaint coffee shops and stores. Two of our stops on this tour were the narrowest house in NYC and the White Horse Tavern. The narrowest house in NYC was a site often inhabited by authors such as poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and it was recently sold for $3.25 million. From there we walked to see the White Horse Tavern per Meritta's request, where she explained the nostalgia it holds and all of the famous people who once visited it. Frequent visitors to the bar were Norman Mailer, Jack Kerouac, and particularly poet Dylan Thomas, who on November 3, 1953 had one too many drinks there and passed away on November 9 after slipping into a coma the next day (BG p. 143).
Our next stop of the day was Christopher Street, which is a historic street that represents New York's gay and lesbian community. Upon our arrival we first walked through Christopher Park, which is a small but powerful commemorative to the founders of the gay liberation movement. After quickly looking at the statues the park contains, we ended up in front of the Stonewall Inn, which is possibly the most well-known bar to the gay and lesbian community. The Stonewall Inn is often known as the symbol of the Stonewall Riots. The riots began on June 28, 1969, when police raided the bar and hostile villagers on Christopher St. responded by throwing stones and bottles back at them. The rioting continued for several days, and to remember the uprising New York City's Gay Pride Parade takes place annually at the end of June and stops in front of the Inn (BG p. 130).
From Christopher St. we continued to Waverly Place and Grove Street where we saw the Northern Dispensary. This building is an example of federal style architecture and is the only public building still standing from the Federal period (BG p. 130). Mike explained that this building, which is designed in the shape of a triangle, was built for the purpose of offering free medical assistance to poor New Yorkers. After examining the building briefly we headed over to Gay Street where we saw some more examples of small homes built with the same federal architecture.
The next stop of the day was the Merchant's House Museum, which is located in the lower east side on east 4th street. The museum was home to one of New York's wealthy merchant families, the Tredwell's, from 1835 to 1933. The building is a three-story brick town house that was sold in 1835 to Seabury Tredwell for only $18,000. Its interior includes a majority of the original Tredwell furniture and its exterior reflects a style that was popular during the late Federal period (BG P. 158). For this museum we were led by Bill, one of the museum tour-guides, and were brought through each of the family's rooms while being told the history of the house, family, and some of their belongings. One of the things that interested me about this house was not the history of it (although that was interesting too), but rather how big it was. When I imagine New York City homes, I picture small, 2-bedroom homes (3 if your lucky), that are only about 2 floors if that. I was amazed to see not only how far back the house went including the yard, but how tall it was and relatively spacious. As far as the history of the home and family, I enjoyed hearing about how different life was for an upper class family, and I liked learning about all of the possessions in the home that have survived since the late 1800's.
After our tour of the museum we headed back towards Washington Square Park. The park's first inhabitants after the Native Americans were some black slaves freed by the Dutch, and by the end of the 19th century the land became a popular hanging ground. In the 1950's Robert Moses proposed a plan to build a highway through the park, but thanks to advocate Jane Jacobs the park was saved from construction (BG p. 131). Mike explained to us that in the 1970's this park was a popular place to obtain drugs, but since then it has been cleaned up and is one of the nicer parks in NYC. While walking through the park we stopped to see the Washington Arch, which mimics the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and then we continued on our way to MacDougal Street.
MacDougal St. and Bleecker St. are both known for their night life opportunities. On MacDougal street we briefly looked at popular hang outs including Cafe Reggio, Cafe Dante, and Cafe Wha, and then quickly discussed how the Slide Bar (a drag bar) on Bleecker street was known for bringing a diverse group of people together. Once we made our way to St. Mark's Place, the group broke for lunch so Joe, Mike, and I stopped for 2 Bros Pizza and explored the area where we were heavily persuaded to buy a pair of $4 sunglasses from a vendor (we did not purchase the sunglasses). After about 45 minutes we met back up as a class and continued on the second half our day which included St. Mark's Church, Tompkins Square Park, and the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space.
MacDougal St. and Bleecker St. are both known for their night life opportunities. On MacDougal street we briefly looked at popular hang outs including Cafe Reggio, Cafe Dante, and Cafe Wha, and then quickly discussed how the Slide Bar (a drag bar) on Bleecker street was known for bringing a diverse group of people together. Once we made our way to St. Mark's Place, the group broke for lunch so Joe, Mike, and I stopped for 2 Bros Pizza and explored the area where we were heavily persuaded to buy a pair of $4 sunglasses from a vendor (we did not purchase the sunglasses). After about 45 minutes we met back up as a class and continued on the second half our day which included St. Mark's Church, Tompkins Square Park, and the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space.
St. Marks Church is one of the oldest churches in NYC, coming in second to Trinity Church which we are set to see in the upcoming weeks. The church was built by Peter Stuyvesant and is one of the city's most socially active churches as well as an important cultural center that supports poetry, dance and theater (BG p. 166). From the church we walked through Tompkins Square Park to Avenue C where we went through a self-guided and guided tour of the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space. The museum's purpose is to preserve the history of the grassroots movements in the East Village and shows several public spaces that are essential to the activist community. One of the areas that our tour guide stressed were the community gardens. Particularly, the 9th St. Community Garden was the first created in this neighborhood in 1987 after apartment buildings and tenements were torn down. He explained that once the buildings were destroyed, neighborhood volunteers took over the abandoned land and turned it into a space that would preserve the richness and importance of public space. While we could not go in this garden, we were able to get into the second community garden, "La Plaza Cultural," which I thought was an excellent use of public space as it was a very calming and relaxing area to take a break and escape city life.
In addition to visiting the gardens this tour also included information on squatters, which is a term I was familiar with being that I have seen the broadway play Rent 3 times and to this day it is still one of my favorite movies. It was interesting to hear about the issue of squatters from the perspective of someone who is a proponent of what they did to change the neighborhood and in their opinion, better the buildings and community that was there. We eventually made our way to Armando Perez Place where Bill, our guide, discussed the issue of the block's community center, as well as the fact that NYU seems to be taking over several of New York's historic buildings and turning them into dorm buildings and classrooms. From there we walked back through Tompkins Square Park where we completed the tour by discussing the Tompkins Square Riots and its impact on New York. The park itself was originally part of a salt marsh known as Stuyvesant Swamp, and over the years it has witnessed two historic riots and several other political demonstrations (BG p. 167). One particular riot we discussed was over the issue of a park curfew that was enforced by police but refuted by squatters and community neighbors. As I looked around it was so interesting to see the diverse groups of people who inhabited the park, and although it was once deemed a "bad" area full of druggies and undesirables, I think it has really cleaned up nicely.
Our day ended with a class trip to the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop and a walk back towards St. Mark's Place. While a majority of the class took this opportunity to head back to Penn and go home, Joe and I decided that today we would stay in the city and meet our friend Nick for something to eat and visit his sister Melissa in her apartment on 3rd avenue. From St. Mark's Place we walked to east 21st street and 3rd avenue where we sat in Adrianna's pizza with Nick for about 45 minutes. After, we headed towards east 30th to surprise Melissa in her apartment and take a quick break before continuing our hike back to the train. After visiting for a little bit we hustled our way back to Penn Station just in time for the 8:08 train, which ended up being the perfect time since the past two weeks we have had to pay the $5 difference for a "peak" ticket. Although today's topics were not areas of history that I would take upon myself to learn about, I enjoyed experiencing a different part of New York's culture and learning about the history that surrounds it. I can't believe our third class is already over, but I am excited for what the last four have in store for us!
In addition to visiting the gardens this tour also included information on squatters, which is a term I was familiar with being that I have seen the broadway play Rent 3 times and to this day it is still one of my favorite movies. It was interesting to hear about the issue of squatters from the perspective of someone who is a proponent of what they did to change the neighborhood and in their opinion, better the buildings and community that was there. We eventually made our way to Armando Perez Place where Bill, our guide, discussed the issue of the block's community center, as well as the fact that NYU seems to be taking over several of New York's historic buildings and turning them into dorm buildings and classrooms. From there we walked back through Tompkins Square Park where we completed the tour by discussing the Tompkins Square Riots and its impact on New York. The park itself was originally part of a salt marsh known as Stuyvesant Swamp, and over the years it has witnessed two historic riots and several other political demonstrations (BG p. 167). One particular riot we discussed was over the issue of a park curfew that was enforced by police but refuted by squatters and community neighbors. As I looked around it was so interesting to see the diverse groups of people who inhabited the park, and although it was once deemed a "bad" area full of druggies and undesirables, I think it has really cleaned up nicely.
Our day ended with a class trip to the Big Gay Ice Cream Shop and a walk back towards St. Mark's Place. While a majority of the class took this opportunity to head back to Penn and go home, Joe and I decided that today we would stay in the city and meet our friend Nick for something to eat and visit his sister Melissa in her apartment on 3rd avenue. From St. Mark's Place we walked to east 21st street and 3rd avenue where we sat in Adrianna's pizza with Nick for about 45 minutes. After, we headed towards east 30th to surprise Melissa in her apartment and take a quick break before continuing our hike back to the train. After visiting for a little bit we hustled our way back to Penn Station just in time for the 8:08 train, which ended up being the perfect time since the past two weeks we have had to pay the $5 difference for a "peak" ticket. Although today's topics were not areas of history that I would take upon myself to learn about, I enjoyed experiencing a different part of New York's culture and learning about the history that surrounds it. I can't believe our third class is already over, but I am excited for what the last four have in store for us!
East of the park: 9/27/13
Today's adventure began similar to all the rest; a 9:50 shuttle ride from Molloy to the Rockville Centre train station with Joe, a trip to Dunkin' Donuts for a quick treat (except this week I got an orange juice and "NY Giants" doughnut), and a leisurely 42 minute ride on the LIRR into New York City. Though the trip to Penn Station was just like any other, this week we got to enjoy the experience of one of the old fashioned LIRR trains, which I must say I think was more comfortable and more enjoyable than my previous trips on the updated train cars. Arriving in the city with about 10 minutes to spare, I quickly used the bathroom before meeting up with the group. Once we were joined by Mike and Meritta, we started the day with our usual routine of taking attendance and mapping out the route our journey would take us on. Thanks to the generous insight of Meritta, Mike explained that this week we would not be stopping at the Guggenheim Museum as planned and would instead take advantage of the beautiful weather to experience all of Central Park from end to end. After a quick description of all of the sites we would be seeing, including "fabulous 5th Avenue" since we were set to have extra time, we were on our way to our first destination of the day, East Harlem.
Our journey to East Harlem began with a series of subway rides that I will admit confused me to no end. While I could keep up with which subways we would be taking where, I felt completely lost as we were navigating underground so I made it a point to stay close to Mike and Meritta! We began by taking the 3 train to Times Square where we transferred onto the Times Square Shuttle (the S Train), which we then took to Grand Central where we hopped on the 4 train to a destination I can't remember, and lastly we took the 6 train up to 103rd street in East Harlem. Stopping briefly on the corner of 103rd street, we discussed that just like many other areas in New York, Harlem is beginning to experience gentrification as seen through the construction of various apartment complexes. After taking in a bit of the community and culture surrounding us, we made it to our first stop, the Museum of the City of New York on 5th avenue and 101st street.
Our journey to East Harlem began with a series of subway rides that I will admit confused me to no end. While I could keep up with which subways we would be taking where, I felt completely lost as we were navigating underground so I made it a point to stay close to Mike and Meritta! We began by taking the 3 train to Times Square where we transferred onto the Times Square Shuttle (the S Train), which we then took to Grand Central where we hopped on the 4 train to a destination I can't remember, and lastly we took the 6 train up to 103rd street in East Harlem. Stopping briefly on the corner of 103rd street, we discussed that just like many other areas in New York, Harlem is beginning to experience gentrification as seen through the construction of various apartment complexes. After taking in a bit of the community and culture surrounding us, we made it to our first stop, the Museum of the City of New York on 5th avenue and 101st street.
The Museum of the City of New York was founded in 1923 and offers exhibits that explore the city's history from the days of the Dutch colony to the present. The museum's collection displays more than 3 million artifacts and also includes a 25 minute film that covers the development of the city from its beginning to 2001 (BG p. 376). Upon our arrival we quickly perused through the Central Park exhibit to look at several paintings, and then made our way into the Activist exhibit to view many of New York's sociological struggles. One particular section that I was interested in was the Bike Lanes. According to the historical description at the exhibit, activists for bikers' rights have been strongly pushing New York to provide a separate, safe lane for bikers to ride in without having to worry about interfering with pedestrians and vehicles. Bicycle advocacy has been growing since the 1960s, and its impact can clearly be seen by the numerous bike lanes found throughout the city in parks and on main roads. After briefly looking through the exhibit, we entered a small but comfortable viewing room where we watched a video on the history of New York. I was particularly interested in seeing the images that compared what the city used to look like to now, and I was also fascinated by the way water ways, ports, and roads have been built and how they are responsible for the city's legacy as the city of commerce. After the film was over, we headed towards our second museum of the day, also located on Museum Mile, called El Museo del Barrio.
El Museo del Barrio is a museum located in East Harlem that is dedicated to the Puerto Rican, Caribbean, and Latin American culture that is prominent in the area. It was founded in 1969 by community activists, teachers, and artists, and originated in a public school classroom before it moved to its permanent located on museum mile (BG p. 376). For this museum the class was split into two groups, each which was led by a tour guide from the museum. My group was led by Samantha who began by giving us a little history of the museum itself before taking us to view many of the historical paintings that can be found in the area. After walking a few blocks past the Metro North passageway, we arrived at our first destination where we discussed a mural that was done between 1973 and 1978 titled "Spirit of East Harlem." For this painting, the artist took photographs of 53 people in the neighborhood performing different cultural activities and then painted his collection on the side of a building. Samantha explained that this painting has been very important to the community since its completion and is truly viewed as a cultural phenomenon. From here we viewed three other art works; a depiction of poet Pedro Pietri, Manny Vega's "Espirita" (Spirit), and a collection of graffiti works in the field of an East Harlem school. My favorite piece was Manny Vega's creation, which was a mosaic made of tiles and other tangible items. I particularly liked this piece because of its abstract nature and colorful character, and I liked how it was made out of physical objects rather than paint. This piece was completed in 2012 and around the corner a piece very similar to it just went up on the side of a building's steps. After finishing the tour and meeting back up as a class, we had an hour to explore the area and have a bite for lunch. Joe, Mike and I headed to Little Caesar's for a $5.00 hot and ready pizza which we enjoyed in addition to our usual PB&J. Using this time to our advantage, we sat down in Central Park to enjoy the sights and rest our legs before heading out on our very, very long walk from 106th street to Penn Station.
Around 3:30 we met as group in front of El Museo del Barrio, where I quickly used the bathroom knowing it might be the last time we had access to one until we reached Penn Station. Our journey began at the gates of the Conservatory Garden, where we talked a little bit about the history of Central Park. In 1855, Manhattan's population doubled which caused a decrease in the amount of "green space" the city had to offer. As the city was struggling for parks and open land, Frederick Law Olmsted came to the rescue when he won a design competition with the landscaping of Central Park. Olmsted had noticed the dehumanizing effects of a "modern city" and sought out to create the park as an alternative to a stressful city life (BG p. 284).
Around 3:30 we met as group in front of El Museo del Barrio, where I quickly used the bathroom knowing it might be the last time we had access to one until we reached Penn Station. Our journey began at the gates of the Conservatory Garden, where we talked a little bit about the history of Central Park. In 1855, Manhattan's population doubled which caused a decrease in the amount of "green space" the city had to offer. As the city was struggling for parks and open land, Frederick Law Olmsted came to the rescue when he won a design competition with the landscaping of Central Park. Olmsted had noticed the dehumanizing effects of a "modern city" and sought out to create the park as an alternative to a stressful city life (BG p. 284).
Beginning on 106th street, we walked through the Conservatory Gardens as we approached the entrance to the very tip of the park. I was unaware that the Conservatory Gardens existed and was quite amazed at the beauty and design of this 6 acre landscape. This area is Central Park's only formal garden and is named for an elaborate greenhouse that was torn down in 1934 during the Great Depression (BG p. 297). From here we arrived at the Jackie Kennedy Reservoir, another area of Central Park I didn't know existed, which occupies the midline of Central Park stretching from 86th to 96th street. The reservoir supplied drinking water to the city from 1862 to 1993 and is now responsible for filling the three bodies of water in the northern park; the Loch, the Pool, and the Harlem Meer (BG p. 296). Our journey brought us almost completely around the reservoir's 1.58 mile track, and though our leisurely walk made it seem like an extremely long trail, we were evidently lapped by a runner by the time we reached our destination. In fact, he almost surpassed us twice!
By the time we exited the reservoir trail we had made our way from the east side of the park to the west. As we made our way to the park's end at 59th street, we stopped at several historical and important landmarks such as Central Park Lake, Strawberry Fields, and the Bethesda Fountain. Though I was surprised at how green and murky the water in Central Park was, the lake seemed like an extremely nice place for a relaxing row boat ride and I would love to come back one day and experience it for myself. One of the next stops on our tour, Strawberry Fields, is a 2.5 acre piece of land near Central Park West and the 72nd street park entrance dedicated to the life of John Lennon (BG p. 290). Before visiting the site we stopped for a moment to look at Lennon's former place of residence, the Dakota, and to briefly discuss his impact on New York and the music industry. John Lennon is most popular for his participation in The Beatles but is also widely known for the solo music career he had once they broke up. In 1980, Lennon was assassinated in the courtyard of the Dakota Apartments and because of his impact on society, Strawberry Fields was named after the Beatles song "Strawberry Fields Forever" in his honor (BG p. 291-292).
After briefly passing through this part of the park we continued on our way where we made one of our final stops at the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain. I immediately recognized this area due to its part in the Home Alone movies and was once again impressed with the beauty of the area's landscaping and design. At the center of the terrace is the Bethesda Fountain and its statue, Angel of the Waters, by Emma Stebbins. It is meant to depict the biblical angel who stirred the waters of the Bethesda pool in Jerusalem and was commissioned to commemorate the opening of the Croton Aqueduct in 1842 (BG p. 290).
By this time it was almost 6:00 and we had finally made our way to the end of the park at East 59th street. Mike congratulated us on being the only class, and probably the last class, to ever walk through Central Park in its entirety in one sitting. Although we had made it through, our adventure wasn't over yet since we still had to make our way down 5th avenue to 34th street and then back to 7th avenue. As we made our way down 5th avenue, or "fabulous 5th avenue" as Mike continued to call it, we stopped at the Plaza Hotel, F.A.O Schwarz, the Trump Towers, and Tiffany's.
By this time it was almost 6:00 and we had finally made our way to the end of the park at East 59th street. Mike congratulated us on being the only class, and probably the last class, to ever walk through Central Park in its entirety in one sitting. Although we had made it through, our adventure wasn't over yet since we still had to make our way down 5th avenue to 34th street and then back to 7th avenue. As we made our way down 5th avenue, or "fabulous 5th avenue" as Mike continued to call it, we stopped at the Plaza Hotel, F.A.O Schwarz, the Trump Towers, and Tiffany's.
The Plaza Hotel, which was seemingly given its name because it faces "the plaza," is located between 58th and 59th street. According to the Blue Guide, the hotel is just as famous for its guests as it is for its site, with views of Central Park and 5th Avenue, its architecture, and its luxury (p. 273). I had been to the Plaza once before (only to use its bathroom about 6 years ago when I was in Times Square with my family for New Years Eve), but even so I must agree that its architecture and luxury is incredible from the inside out. After passing through the lobby quickly, we made our way across the street to F.A.O Schwarz where we had about 15 minutes to experience the magic of being a kid again. I have never been to F.A.O Schwarz and although I expected it to be a little bit bigger, I was still extremely intrigued by all of the stuffed animals, toys, and more importantly, the assortment of candy the store offered. After browsing both floors and posing for a picture with Joe and Mike, we headed down to 57th street and took a quick glance at the inside of my favorie store, Tiffany's. From there we briefly stopped into the Trump Towers to look at the water fall and luxurious lobby, and upon our exit we only had one more stop to make - St. Patrick's Cathedral.
St. Patrick's Cathedral is one of the city's most famous landmarks and a symbol of success for the Roman Catholic Church and New York's Catholic population. The site of the cathedral was originally planned to be a burial ground, but unfortunately the land ended up being too rocky and unstable for its intended purpose. As a result, Archbishop John Hughes announced his intention to use the plot for a cathedral and by 1858, he had raised enough money to begin construction (BG p. 254). Although there is construction going on at the church right now, it is obvious by the exterior how detailed and intricate the architecture is. While I didn't go inside, I would love to go back when it is finished and experience what many people describe as one of the most beautiful churches in the world.
With St. Patrick's being our last stop, Mike gave us the option of walking back to Penn Station (another 20 blocks or so and a few avenues) or taking the subway. Since it was only a little after 6:45, Joe and I decided we would walk through Times Square to kill time before taking the 8:08 train home. While in Times Square we stopped at the Disney Store (another favorite of mine) and the Yankees Clubhouse, which seemed appropriate since Mariano's last game was the night before and we had watched it together. Although I was not a Yankees fan two years ago, I think Joe has successfully converted me and after seeing Mariano's reaction to it being his last game I must say that I think I have a new found love for the team. Around 7:30 we headed down 7th avenue back to Penn Station where we looked forward to a very relaxing train ride home.
As our 4th week of class comes to an end, I am sad to see that it is more than halfway over. Already this class has taught me more about New York City than I would ever learn in a classroom and I am so glad I had the opportunity to take it before I graduate. I am looking forward to the next 3 weeks and can't wait to see what exciting adventures we will go on next week as we experience the wild west side!
St. Patrick's Cathedral is one of the city's most famous landmarks and a symbol of success for the Roman Catholic Church and New York's Catholic population. The site of the cathedral was originally planned to be a burial ground, but unfortunately the land ended up being too rocky and unstable for its intended purpose. As a result, Archbishop John Hughes announced his intention to use the plot for a cathedral and by 1858, he had raised enough money to begin construction (BG p. 254). Although there is construction going on at the church right now, it is obvious by the exterior how detailed and intricate the architecture is. While I didn't go inside, I would love to go back when it is finished and experience what many people describe as one of the most beautiful churches in the world.
With St. Patrick's being our last stop, Mike gave us the option of walking back to Penn Station (another 20 blocks or so and a few avenues) or taking the subway. Since it was only a little after 6:45, Joe and I decided we would walk through Times Square to kill time before taking the 8:08 train home. While in Times Square we stopped at the Disney Store (another favorite of mine) and the Yankees Clubhouse, which seemed appropriate since Mariano's last game was the night before and we had watched it together. Although I was not a Yankees fan two years ago, I think Joe has successfully converted me and after seeing Mariano's reaction to it being his last game I must say that I think I have a new found love for the team. Around 7:30 we headed down 7th avenue back to Penn Station where we looked forward to a very relaxing train ride home.
As our 4th week of class comes to an end, I am sad to see that it is more than halfway over. Already this class has taught me more about New York City than I would ever learn in a classroom and I am so glad I had the opportunity to take it before I graduate. I am looking forward to the next 3 weeks and can't wait to see what exciting adventures we will go on next week as we experience the wild west side!