5. EL Barrio and Central Park
7/17/14
Our next adventure took us to East Harlem, which is also referred to as "Spanish Harlem" due to the majority of the Latino community. Like all of our adventures we all met in Penn Station and headed to a place filled with so much heritage. East Harlem is a neighborhood in Uptown Manhattan that has recently been experiencing gentrification (ENY pg 75). In the nineteenth century, East Harlem was an developmental area for different ethnic groups such as the Irish, Eastern Europeans, and the German immigrants. Around World War 1 a drastic shift in diversity occurred when a majority of Puerto Ricans arrived to the area (ENY pg 76). It was a time in East Harlem where poverty was a main issue among the new immigrants, which led to large housing projects that later on brought violence to the area. It was a section of New York that did not feel safe for most, but was a time where rich culture took over. The Puerto Rican immigrants who settled in East Harlem overtime, established a place that today is filled with art and expression that have people from all over embracing their unique style.
The first stop was the Museum of the City of New York, which was a museum that had amazing art work that really embraced the culture of East Harlem. I was intrigued by an area of the museum that had graffiti art. I always thought that graffiti was an act of vandalism, but quickly learned it can viewed in so many different ways. The art work I saw represented emotions that people experience in their everyday lives. It made me feel that these graffiti artists were trying to tell a story from their life experience in their neighborhoods, family members, and friends. Even though they don't use the traditional route such as; paint brushes or pencils, they instead express their feelings with spray paint. In a lot of ways it makes me wonder why use that specific tool, because in a sense it does not seem so ideal when visioning art . Many can debate what graffiti art really is to them, but because I had the opportunity to visit this museum it changed my perspective on the subject. Living in New York for some time, I noticed graffiti art is everywhere and when the artists use the city as their canvas, it should be something to be proud of. In my opinion, this is what makes New York so unique, it is a city incorporated with diverse opinions of what art really means to others. In the museum we watched a 20 minute film that explained how New York City had come a long way since it was founded. The film described that New York is a city with so much potential that since people have been settling in this great city it has grown tremendously. The film also explained that even in times of hardships we as a society have come together and helped the city flourish as one. In different parts of the museum we had a chance to look at other art work as well understand why so many people from all over came to New York and why they fought so hard for it.
After the Museum we headed to the El Museo Del Barrio where we met an enthusiastic tour guide by the name of Luke. Luke's first impression was very vibrant where you can tell he was an individual who had such a passion for the neighborhood. He began the tour by reciting a poem about a girl riding the D train. He stated the poem represented people of all walks of life and that even if we are so different we all can still join together no matter what. He was a tour guide like no other, his presence really wanted you to understand why East Harlem is special and explained that the different places in the neighborhood have a back story, which gives people pride. When most of these immigrants came for Puerto Rico they had nothing but now have established a better life for themselves and their families. When we walked around the neighborhood I can feel that each individual was a proud person of their culture and enjoyed where they lived. In my opinion, it might not look like the best place to live but it did reflect a place of beauty because of how people embraced their roots. As we walked further, we encountered a mural that was dedicated to Rev. Pedro Pietri. Luke was explaining that this individual was born in Puerto Rico and was a life long resident of East Harlem as well as a community activist. On the other side of the street there was a garden that had a painting of a Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and Puerto Rican poet Julia Burgos (ENY pg 78). I thought the art work represented a collision of two Latin countries coming as one. These women are powerful figures in the community and in history and the painting expresses the beauty within them. Before we went to lunch we stopped in "Justo Botanica" a store that opened in the 1930's by Jorge Vargas. This type of shop has herbal medicines, religious statues, and home remedies. I liked this particular shop because it reminds me so much of my culture and how we use most of these products for treating sickness or spiritual use. For lunch it was tacos for me, to be honest it wasn't the best tacos I have eaten but were good at the time because I was starving.
After lunch we headed to Central Park. Central Park is a park like no other, its a area with numerous activities and miles long of beautiful scenery. The park is so unique because its a place that has diverse monuments, ponds, and a reservoirs (ENY, pg 63). The unique design of central park was formulated by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Olmsted envisioned the park to be a naturalistic landscape with people, horseback, and vehicles can occupy the area (ENY, pg 63). By 1873, the park was essentially completed and became the first major public park in the United States (ENY, pg 64). Around the early 20th century, the park had become rundown because of neglect, but soon after the park was handled by Mayor Fiorella La Guardia and Robert Moses, the master builder who rehabilitated the park (ENY, pg 64). The park itself is divided up into two sections, the upper and lower sides. When walking around the park from start to finish I realized the park is a place where people from all over come to make memories. The park itself has so much history that over the years has established itself as an important landmark of New York. When I was in the park there wasn't an area that did not surprise me, I had all this excitement because it was different than any other park I have been to. In addition, the park had this essence, which made people embrace it. The vibe of the park was very happy where many people were laughing, taking pictures, and walking their dogs. As a class we decided to walk along Strawberry Fields an area dedicated to a former Beatle and activist John Lennon. When the Beatles broke up in the 1970's, John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono decided to live in New York. Tragedy struck in the 1980's when an obsessed fan shot Lennon. Because of Lennon's countless activism for peace, Mayor Ed Koch in 1985, dedicated a 2.5 acre site on the western edge of Central Park (ENY, pg 70).
In conclusion, I enjoyed this day because even though I went to Central Park before I never embraced or experienced it with a class. I liked how when we walked to a part of the park, Mike gave a piece of information that was interesting about the site. When I travel to areas in New York I don't really have an idea why some areas exist. I loved the vibe of East Harlem and how culture in that specific area has brought so many people together. Like most places in New York improvement is necessary but those imperfections is what makes this city so great.
Our next adventure took us to East Harlem, which is also referred to as "Spanish Harlem" due to the majority of the Latino community. Like all of our adventures we all met in Penn Station and headed to a place filled with so much heritage. East Harlem is a neighborhood in Uptown Manhattan that has recently been experiencing gentrification (ENY pg 75). In the nineteenth century, East Harlem was an developmental area for different ethnic groups such as the Irish, Eastern Europeans, and the German immigrants. Around World War 1 a drastic shift in diversity occurred when a majority of Puerto Ricans arrived to the area (ENY pg 76). It was a time in East Harlem where poverty was a main issue among the new immigrants, which led to large housing projects that later on brought violence to the area. It was a section of New York that did not feel safe for most, but was a time where rich culture took over. The Puerto Rican immigrants who settled in East Harlem overtime, established a place that today is filled with art and expression that have people from all over embracing their unique style.
The first stop was the Museum of the City of New York, which was a museum that had amazing art work that really embraced the culture of East Harlem. I was intrigued by an area of the museum that had graffiti art. I always thought that graffiti was an act of vandalism, but quickly learned it can viewed in so many different ways. The art work I saw represented emotions that people experience in their everyday lives. It made me feel that these graffiti artists were trying to tell a story from their life experience in their neighborhoods, family members, and friends. Even though they don't use the traditional route such as; paint brushes or pencils, they instead express their feelings with spray paint. In a lot of ways it makes me wonder why use that specific tool, because in a sense it does not seem so ideal when visioning art . Many can debate what graffiti art really is to them, but because I had the opportunity to visit this museum it changed my perspective on the subject. Living in New York for some time, I noticed graffiti art is everywhere and when the artists use the city as their canvas, it should be something to be proud of. In my opinion, this is what makes New York so unique, it is a city incorporated with diverse opinions of what art really means to others. In the museum we watched a 20 minute film that explained how New York City had come a long way since it was founded. The film described that New York is a city with so much potential that since people have been settling in this great city it has grown tremendously. The film also explained that even in times of hardships we as a society have come together and helped the city flourish as one. In different parts of the museum we had a chance to look at other art work as well understand why so many people from all over came to New York and why they fought so hard for it.
After the Museum we headed to the El Museo Del Barrio where we met an enthusiastic tour guide by the name of Luke. Luke's first impression was very vibrant where you can tell he was an individual who had such a passion for the neighborhood. He began the tour by reciting a poem about a girl riding the D train. He stated the poem represented people of all walks of life and that even if we are so different we all can still join together no matter what. He was a tour guide like no other, his presence really wanted you to understand why East Harlem is special and explained that the different places in the neighborhood have a back story, which gives people pride. When most of these immigrants came for Puerto Rico they had nothing but now have established a better life for themselves and their families. When we walked around the neighborhood I can feel that each individual was a proud person of their culture and enjoyed where they lived. In my opinion, it might not look like the best place to live but it did reflect a place of beauty because of how people embraced their roots. As we walked further, we encountered a mural that was dedicated to Rev. Pedro Pietri. Luke was explaining that this individual was born in Puerto Rico and was a life long resident of East Harlem as well as a community activist. On the other side of the street there was a garden that had a painting of a Mexican artist Frida Kahlo and Puerto Rican poet Julia Burgos (ENY pg 78). I thought the art work represented a collision of two Latin countries coming as one. These women are powerful figures in the community and in history and the painting expresses the beauty within them. Before we went to lunch we stopped in "Justo Botanica" a store that opened in the 1930's by Jorge Vargas. This type of shop has herbal medicines, religious statues, and home remedies. I liked this particular shop because it reminds me so much of my culture and how we use most of these products for treating sickness or spiritual use. For lunch it was tacos for me, to be honest it wasn't the best tacos I have eaten but were good at the time because I was starving.
After lunch we headed to Central Park. Central Park is a park like no other, its a area with numerous activities and miles long of beautiful scenery. The park is so unique because its a place that has diverse monuments, ponds, and a reservoirs (ENY, pg 63). The unique design of central park was formulated by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Olmsted envisioned the park to be a naturalistic landscape with people, horseback, and vehicles can occupy the area (ENY, pg 63). By 1873, the park was essentially completed and became the first major public park in the United States (ENY, pg 64). Around the early 20th century, the park had become rundown because of neglect, but soon after the park was handled by Mayor Fiorella La Guardia and Robert Moses, the master builder who rehabilitated the park (ENY, pg 64). The park itself is divided up into two sections, the upper and lower sides. When walking around the park from start to finish I realized the park is a place where people from all over come to make memories. The park itself has so much history that over the years has established itself as an important landmark of New York. When I was in the park there wasn't an area that did not surprise me, I had all this excitement because it was different than any other park I have been to. In addition, the park had this essence, which made people embrace it. The vibe of the park was very happy where many people were laughing, taking pictures, and walking their dogs. As a class we decided to walk along Strawberry Fields an area dedicated to a former Beatle and activist John Lennon. When the Beatles broke up in the 1970's, John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono decided to live in New York. Tragedy struck in the 1980's when an obsessed fan shot Lennon. Because of Lennon's countless activism for peace, Mayor Ed Koch in 1985, dedicated a 2.5 acre site on the western edge of Central Park (ENY, pg 70).
In conclusion, I enjoyed this day because even though I went to Central Park before I never embraced or experienced it with a class. I liked how when we walked to a part of the park, Mike gave a piece of information that was interesting about the site. When I travel to areas in New York I don't really have an idea why some areas exist. I loved the vibe of East Harlem and how culture in that specific area has brought so many people together. Like most places in New York improvement is necessary but those imperfections is what makes this city so great.
6. Times Square/ Morning Side Heights/ Harlem
7/18/14
As I got to Penn Station eagerly waiting for our next adventure, Mike lets us know that we are exploring other parts of the city before heading to Harlem. As we walk along Manhattan, I noticed that most buildings in the area were formed in a way of glided mansions. Each building that I passed seemed to be getting more and more beautiful, which made had me wondering how structurally perfect these buildings are now and how amazing they must of been when constructed. In the 1960s, 6th ave had buildings that had a modernist/international style, which had to do with the massive expansion that was occurring around the time the avenue was established. One particular area of Manhattan I found intriguing was 42nd street Times Square. The street itself gives off this vibe of never ending fun, which made me realize that the whole area is a corner stone of where people of all walks of life remember if they just visit once. Around 42nd there are numerous colors, bright lights, advertisements, and art that is displayed for everyone. On the other hand, if people are not interested in moving screens they could always take pictures with different cartoon characters on the street.
As we walked further, we ended up in Rockefeller Center/NBC studios, which is located in the famous GE building. When I entered the building I had so much excitement because this specific area is the home to television legacies. NBC has guided tours for tourists and whoever books a guide can have a chance to learn about what makes this building so fascinating. In addition, they have an opportunity to gain behind the scene secrets and an all access pass of the NBC headquarters. Mike discussed the significance of the building and explained the kind of art work that was displayed on the walls. The art work in the building represented propaganda and how the government oversees the "little people". What I mean by the little people is that these individuals don't have a voice because they are not high ranking politicians or members of the elite. Just walking around in the building, I start to understand what type of person Rockefeller was. When I realized what the art work represented, he to me seemed as a person whose demands always needed to be met and if they were not accomplished or done to his liking, there were consequences. The building also has numerous restaurants and shopping areas and each shop seems to be more elegant then another.
After spending some time in Rockefeller Center we head to the MOMA, which stands for the Museum of Modern Art. The MOMA is not like every other art museum, its an area that fuels creativity and provides inspiration. The MOMA is filled with the most amazing exhibits that make you feel so many different emotions at once. I have been to the museum before, but that was time when I was much younger and did not have an appreciation for art like I do now. Damian starts off by explaining that there are many different types of art and that some are easy to understand, where other art work might make you think a little more about its significance. He stated that there is representational, symbolic, indexcal, iconic, and abstract artists that formulate their ideas in a way that to some might be obvious and to others not so clear cut. The first artist I came across was Pablo Picasso, whose art work is formed in a three dimensional picture. He used many different shapes, which in a sense made the picture pop out that I can figure out what it might represent. Another artist by the name of Willem de kooning had me second guessing what his art work stood for. I didn't understand what the artwork was portraying, I felt somewhat frustrated because it wasn't as obvious as I wanted it to be. One artist in particular that I really dislike is Jackson Pollock. The reason for the dislike is because when I look at his art work I don't have the feelings of excitement or sadness as I do for other works of art. When I look at his paintings I always have this facial expression of confusion and that later on leads to disinterest. Mike explained that Pollock was a drunk and a tortured soul. To many, Pollock's abstract paintings would describe his life and the struggles he had with alcohol and his aggressive personality.
For lunch we headed to Hell's Kitchen where we tried Thai food. I have tried Thai food before so I already knew what was expected. I ordered a spring roll and cashew chicken with white rice, which I enjoyed very much. I liked the area of Hell's Kitchen because it had a lot of walk-up apartments, which I don't see often in Queens. After lunch, we walked to the train station and took a ride to Morning Side Heights. Depending upon who you ask, Morning Side heights to some is part of Manhattan's Upper West Side or could be refereed to as "Greater Harlem" (ENY pg 80). Whatever you decide to call this area, it does not change the fact that Morning Side heights is a neighborhood with various historical sites. Originally it was called Vandewater's Heights where the area became popular during the American Revolution at the site of the Battle of Harlem Heights (ENY, pg 80). In addition, that area became notable for being one of George Washington's first victories during the war (ENY pg 80). Morning Side Heights had a major turning point around 1904 when the IRT train service began running (ENY pg 81). Overtime, the area had been through several economic changes, which led to Columbia University buying more real estate in the neighborhood. As a result of the excessive purchase in the area, Columbia University is now the largest property owners (ENY pg 81). In Morning Side Heights we met our tour guide Jim who provided some information about the cathedral in neighborhood. The construction for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine began in 1892, and when it was completed it had become the largest church in the United States (ENY pg 81). The cathedral has a Gothic style structure , which from the outside looks breath taking. When we went inside the church I was in awe because the attention to detail amazed me. Every corner of the church had an important design or sculpture, which made it unique.
From the church, we walked towards Columbia University, where Mike pointed out that President Obama went as a graduate student there. Columbia was the first college established in New York and only the fifth in the United States (ENY pg 83). Originally the university was located in lower Manhattan in 1754, which at the time was known as Kings college. After the Revolution the college was relocated and renamed Columbia (ENY pg 83). Walking north through the campus we spotted the Low Memorial Library, which really is the center piece of the university. In front of the library there is a statue of a bronze Alma Mater, the symbol of the college (ENY pg 84). As we walked further we reached Riverside Park, which is one of only "five" designated landmarks in NYC. This park is narrow and is four miles long which expands from 72nd street all the way to 158th street along the Hudson River (ENY pg 85). When we walked north through the park, crossing the Riverside Drive West, we ended up in the General Grant National Memorial. Ulysses S. Grant was a commander of the Union army during the Civil War and the President of the United States around 1869-1877. After him and his wife died the tombs were created from white granite and have been established in the memorial for people of all ages to visit.
In our next destination we made a stop in Morning Side Park. The park is east along 120nd street and is 3 acres wide. The park was created by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1867. For awhile, the creation of the park was halted due to the financial panic of 1873 (ENY pg 86). During the 1970's the park had a reputation for violence and being a place that was dangerous.
The last stop of the day was Harlem, which is a uptown neighborhood that lies north of Central Park. Originally Harlem was established as a Dutch community but when the English took control of the Dutch colony, they tried to change the name of the community (ENY pg 87). When we arrived in Harlem it was a neighborhood filled with loud music, multiple people selling clothes, jewelry, and food outside. I liked the area because there were numerous individuals just embracing their culture and having a good time.
As I got to Penn Station eagerly waiting for our next adventure, Mike lets us know that we are exploring other parts of the city before heading to Harlem. As we walk along Manhattan, I noticed that most buildings in the area were formed in a way of glided mansions. Each building that I passed seemed to be getting more and more beautiful, which made had me wondering how structurally perfect these buildings are now and how amazing they must of been when constructed. In the 1960s, 6th ave had buildings that had a modernist/international style, which had to do with the massive expansion that was occurring around the time the avenue was established. One particular area of Manhattan I found intriguing was 42nd street Times Square. The street itself gives off this vibe of never ending fun, which made me realize that the whole area is a corner stone of where people of all walks of life remember if they just visit once. Around 42nd there are numerous colors, bright lights, advertisements, and art that is displayed for everyone. On the other hand, if people are not interested in moving screens they could always take pictures with different cartoon characters on the street.
As we walked further, we ended up in Rockefeller Center/NBC studios, which is located in the famous GE building. When I entered the building I had so much excitement because this specific area is the home to television legacies. NBC has guided tours for tourists and whoever books a guide can have a chance to learn about what makes this building so fascinating. In addition, they have an opportunity to gain behind the scene secrets and an all access pass of the NBC headquarters. Mike discussed the significance of the building and explained the kind of art work that was displayed on the walls. The art work in the building represented propaganda and how the government oversees the "little people". What I mean by the little people is that these individuals don't have a voice because they are not high ranking politicians or members of the elite. Just walking around in the building, I start to understand what type of person Rockefeller was. When I realized what the art work represented, he to me seemed as a person whose demands always needed to be met and if they were not accomplished or done to his liking, there were consequences. The building also has numerous restaurants and shopping areas and each shop seems to be more elegant then another.
After spending some time in Rockefeller Center we head to the MOMA, which stands for the Museum of Modern Art. The MOMA is not like every other art museum, its an area that fuels creativity and provides inspiration. The MOMA is filled with the most amazing exhibits that make you feel so many different emotions at once. I have been to the museum before, but that was time when I was much younger and did not have an appreciation for art like I do now. Damian starts off by explaining that there are many different types of art and that some are easy to understand, where other art work might make you think a little more about its significance. He stated that there is representational, symbolic, indexcal, iconic, and abstract artists that formulate their ideas in a way that to some might be obvious and to others not so clear cut. The first artist I came across was Pablo Picasso, whose art work is formed in a three dimensional picture. He used many different shapes, which in a sense made the picture pop out that I can figure out what it might represent. Another artist by the name of Willem de kooning had me second guessing what his art work stood for. I didn't understand what the artwork was portraying, I felt somewhat frustrated because it wasn't as obvious as I wanted it to be. One artist in particular that I really dislike is Jackson Pollock. The reason for the dislike is because when I look at his art work I don't have the feelings of excitement or sadness as I do for other works of art. When I look at his paintings I always have this facial expression of confusion and that later on leads to disinterest. Mike explained that Pollock was a drunk and a tortured soul. To many, Pollock's abstract paintings would describe his life and the struggles he had with alcohol and his aggressive personality.
For lunch we headed to Hell's Kitchen where we tried Thai food. I have tried Thai food before so I already knew what was expected. I ordered a spring roll and cashew chicken with white rice, which I enjoyed very much. I liked the area of Hell's Kitchen because it had a lot of walk-up apartments, which I don't see often in Queens. After lunch, we walked to the train station and took a ride to Morning Side Heights. Depending upon who you ask, Morning Side heights to some is part of Manhattan's Upper West Side or could be refereed to as "Greater Harlem" (ENY pg 80). Whatever you decide to call this area, it does not change the fact that Morning Side heights is a neighborhood with various historical sites. Originally it was called Vandewater's Heights where the area became popular during the American Revolution at the site of the Battle of Harlem Heights (ENY, pg 80). In addition, that area became notable for being one of George Washington's first victories during the war (ENY pg 80). Morning Side Heights had a major turning point around 1904 when the IRT train service began running (ENY pg 81). Overtime, the area had been through several economic changes, which led to Columbia University buying more real estate in the neighborhood. As a result of the excessive purchase in the area, Columbia University is now the largest property owners (ENY pg 81). In Morning Side Heights we met our tour guide Jim who provided some information about the cathedral in neighborhood. The construction for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine began in 1892, and when it was completed it had become the largest church in the United States (ENY pg 81). The cathedral has a Gothic style structure , which from the outside looks breath taking. When we went inside the church I was in awe because the attention to detail amazed me. Every corner of the church had an important design or sculpture, which made it unique.
From the church, we walked towards Columbia University, where Mike pointed out that President Obama went as a graduate student there. Columbia was the first college established in New York and only the fifth in the United States (ENY pg 83). Originally the university was located in lower Manhattan in 1754, which at the time was known as Kings college. After the Revolution the college was relocated and renamed Columbia (ENY pg 83). Walking north through the campus we spotted the Low Memorial Library, which really is the center piece of the university. In front of the library there is a statue of a bronze Alma Mater, the symbol of the college (ENY pg 84). As we walked further we reached Riverside Park, which is one of only "five" designated landmarks in NYC. This park is narrow and is four miles long which expands from 72nd street all the way to 158th street along the Hudson River (ENY pg 85). When we walked north through the park, crossing the Riverside Drive West, we ended up in the General Grant National Memorial. Ulysses S. Grant was a commander of the Union army during the Civil War and the President of the United States around 1869-1877. After him and his wife died the tombs were created from white granite and have been established in the memorial for people of all ages to visit.
In our next destination we made a stop in Morning Side Park. The park is east along 120nd street and is 3 acres wide. The park was created by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1867. For awhile, the creation of the park was halted due to the financial panic of 1873 (ENY pg 86). During the 1970's the park had a reputation for violence and being a place that was dangerous.
The last stop of the day was Harlem, which is a uptown neighborhood that lies north of Central Park. Originally Harlem was established as a Dutch community but when the English took control of the Dutch colony, they tried to change the name of the community (ENY pg 87). When we arrived in Harlem it was a neighborhood filled with loud music, multiple people selling clothes, jewelry, and food outside. I liked the area because there were numerous individuals just embracing their culture and having a good time.
7. Lower Manhattan
7/23/14
Today's adventure had me a little sad than other days because we were traveling to Lower Manhattan, an area where a horrible event occurred. As always we all met in Penn Station and took the E train to the last stop, The World Trade Center. A little history of Lower Manhattan is that in the 19th century it became the home of Wall Street, which is the nation's largest corporation (ENY, PDF, pg 39). This specific area of New York came under fire on September 11, 2001, where the Twin Towers were attacked and destroyed. To outsiders it was believed that Lower Manhattan would not flourish or become what it once was, but because of this tragedy we as New Yorker's became stronger and helped each other through the tough times. When we got out of the train station we immediately came across St. Paul's Church, which is the oldest church in Manhattan and was built in 1764. At that specific time that area was considered "Uptown" and had a very special guest attend the church services, George Washington. The church is built in a Georgian style structure and really is one of the only churches formulated in this style. Mike pointed out that after the 9/11 attacks, workers had stayed in the church, eating and sleeping during the time they cleaned the debris from the tower site. We had the chance to go inside the church, which right away gave off a feeling of hope and the first thing I noticed was this huge banner from the state of Oklahoma, which had "Keep Your Spirits Up" written. Mike stated that many believe during the 9/11 tragedy the reason why the church was not damaged was because of a very old tree that blocked debris and other materials from harming the church.
As we walk further, we come across the Woolworth Building, which is a neo-gothic style skyscraper. The building was designed by Cass Gilbert and was completed around 1913 where it was one of the early skyscraper of its time (ENY, PDF, pg 46). In my opinion, the building is in a perfect location because right across the street there is a park where people can admire its beauty. Mike stated that Woolworth wanted such a tall building that people would be able to see it from the Brooklyn Bridge. Mike also points out that the building was the tallest until the Chrysler building was built in the 1930's. As we entered the park near city hall, I realize that the building looks much smaller than it does on television. The area of city hall is referred to as the Civic Center because the neighborhood houses most of the city's governmental offices (ENY, PDF, pg 40). New York City Hall is a place, which houses the offices of the Mayor and City Council. This city hall is actually the third one established in New York, where the first one was established in the 17th century by the Dutch on Pearl Street (ENY, PDF, pg 40). City Hall was completed in 1811 making it the oldest city hall in the United States (ENY, PDF, pg 41). Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to go inside but I can imagine it is remarkable because of how much detail was put into it. From city hall we walk towards Centre Street, a street known for the Municipal Building. This building is one of the largest governmental buildings in the world (ENY, PDF, pg 42). The building fits the elegance of the area, where anybody walking towards the building can see how magnificently structured it is. Municipal Building is currently the home to thirteen agencies of the City of New York (ENY, PDF, pg 42). Next we head to Foley Square, which is north along Centre Street. The square was named after Tammany Hall district leader Thomas F. ("Big Tom") Foley. At one time the square was the site of a 48 acre pond, which was the city's source of fresh drinking water (ENY, PDF, pg 43). As we continued walking down Broadway and made a left onto Chambers Street, we noticed in the middle of the block there is the Tweed Courthouse. Built between 1861 and 1881, the Italian style courthouse was designed by John Kellum and Leopold Eidlitz (ENY, PDF, pg 45). At the time both individuals were the most prominent architects. While sitting on the steps of the courthouse, Kathleen discusses the Five Points. She states that Five Points was a neighborhood that quickly became an area of disease-ridden and crime infested slum.
Our next stop was The African Burial Ground National Monument, which is located on the first floor of the Ted Weiss Federal Building. Outside of the building there is a large structure that says "For all those were lost, for all those who were stolen, for all those who were left behind, for all those who were not forgotten" is a very power message of hope and dignity. Inside we view a 20 minute film about how Africans were treated and how even with inequality this group of people prospered with strength and courage. Around 1690 to 1794 an estimated 20,000 Africans and slaves were buried in 6.6 acre ground, which in 2007 became a historical memorial of how important African Americans roles were in the United States (ENY, PDF, pg 44 & 45). When watching the film I had different types of emotions because I did not understand how human beings can be so cruel to other human beings. We leave the monument and head to the 9/11 memorial museum, which is located in the World Trade Center complex. This complex is 16 acres that was built between 1966 and 1987, which had seven buildings around it as well as an underground shopping mall (ENY, PDF, pg 48). The re-development of the World Trade Center complex after the attacks was a time where New Yorker's were looking for hope and to capture that essence they needed to incorporate the lives that were lost. The 9/11 memorial opened in 2011 and it was a structure like no other. The structure represented a reflection of absence, which consists of two one acre pools with a 30 feet water fall that has the victims names around the edge of the waterfalls (ENY, PDF, pg 49). In my opinion, the architects formulated a beautiful structure, which represented a time of sadness, but as a nation we overcame the sadness with dignity and bravery.
For lunch we head to Hudson Eats, located in Battery Park. To be honest I liked Hudson Eats much better then Chelsea Market because it was not as crowed and I can actually have a conversation with my classmates. I had a burrito from Dos Toros which was tasty but does not compare to Chipotle. After lunch, we venture on to Trinity Church, located on the western end of Wall Street. This Gothic revival church is actually the third church to stand on the site. The grave yard outside the church has this Trinity Root, which is a bronze sculpture by Steve Tobin who created a memorial of the tree that protected St. Paul's church from the debris of 9/11 (ENY, PDF, pg 50). Our next and final stop of the day was Governors Island. We took a 3 minute ferry to the area, which cost $2. Governors Island was originally called "Paggank" or "nut Island" by the Native Americans, possibly due to the large amounts of hickory and oak trees around the area (ENY, PDF, pg 57). For over 200 years, the island was used as the United States Army post but in January 31, 2003 it had become a recreational area for residents to visit (ENY, PDF, pg 57). I really enjoyed Governors Island because I took a great nap on the hammock and realized the island is a very peaceful place filled with bike rides, tours, and picnics. Around 6 p.m. we leave the island and head back to the train station. Over all, this day was filled with non-stop fun and excessive sweating, which was worth it because I learned and understood so much about New York.
Today's adventure had me a little sad than other days because we were traveling to Lower Manhattan, an area where a horrible event occurred. As always we all met in Penn Station and took the E train to the last stop, The World Trade Center. A little history of Lower Manhattan is that in the 19th century it became the home of Wall Street, which is the nation's largest corporation (ENY, PDF, pg 39). This specific area of New York came under fire on September 11, 2001, where the Twin Towers were attacked and destroyed. To outsiders it was believed that Lower Manhattan would not flourish or become what it once was, but because of this tragedy we as New Yorker's became stronger and helped each other through the tough times. When we got out of the train station we immediately came across St. Paul's Church, which is the oldest church in Manhattan and was built in 1764. At that specific time that area was considered "Uptown" and had a very special guest attend the church services, George Washington. The church is built in a Georgian style structure and really is one of the only churches formulated in this style. Mike pointed out that after the 9/11 attacks, workers had stayed in the church, eating and sleeping during the time they cleaned the debris from the tower site. We had the chance to go inside the church, which right away gave off a feeling of hope and the first thing I noticed was this huge banner from the state of Oklahoma, which had "Keep Your Spirits Up" written. Mike stated that many believe during the 9/11 tragedy the reason why the church was not damaged was because of a very old tree that blocked debris and other materials from harming the church.
As we walk further, we come across the Woolworth Building, which is a neo-gothic style skyscraper. The building was designed by Cass Gilbert and was completed around 1913 where it was one of the early skyscraper of its time (ENY, PDF, pg 46). In my opinion, the building is in a perfect location because right across the street there is a park where people can admire its beauty. Mike stated that Woolworth wanted such a tall building that people would be able to see it from the Brooklyn Bridge. Mike also points out that the building was the tallest until the Chrysler building was built in the 1930's. As we entered the park near city hall, I realize that the building looks much smaller than it does on television. The area of city hall is referred to as the Civic Center because the neighborhood houses most of the city's governmental offices (ENY, PDF, pg 40). New York City Hall is a place, which houses the offices of the Mayor and City Council. This city hall is actually the third one established in New York, where the first one was established in the 17th century by the Dutch on Pearl Street (ENY, PDF, pg 40). City Hall was completed in 1811 making it the oldest city hall in the United States (ENY, PDF, pg 41). Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to go inside but I can imagine it is remarkable because of how much detail was put into it. From city hall we walk towards Centre Street, a street known for the Municipal Building. This building is one of the largest governmental buildings in the world (ENY, PDF, pg 42). The building fits the elegance of the area, where anybody walking towards the building can see how magnificently structured it is. Municipal Building is currently the home to thirteen agencies of the City of New York (ENY, PDF, pg 42). Next we head to Foley Square, which is north along Centre Street. The square was named after Tammany Hall district leader Thomas F. ("Big Tom") Foley. At one time the square was the site of a 48 acre pond, which was the city's source of fresh drinking water (ENY, PDF, pg 43). As we continued walking down Broadway and made a left onto Chambers Street, we noticed in the middle of the block there is the Tweed Courthouse. Built between 1861 and 1881, the Italian style courthouse was designed by John Kellum and Leopold Eidlitz (ENY, PDF, pg 45). At the time both individuals were the most prominent architects. While sitting on the steps of the courthouse, Kathleen discusses the Five Points. She states that Five Points was a neighborhood that quickly became an area of disease-ridden and crime infested slum.
Our next stop was The African Burial Ground National Monument, which is located on the first floor of the Ted Weiss Federal Building. Outside of the building there is a large structure that says "For all those were lost, for all those who were stolen, for all those who were left behind, for all those who were not forgotten" is a very power message of hope and dignity. Inside we view a 20 minute film about how Africans were treated and how even with inequality this group of people prospered with strength and courage. Around 1690 to 1794 an estimated 20,000 Africans and slaves were buried in 6.6 acre ground, which in 2007 became a historical memorial of how important African Americans roles were in the United States (ENY, PDF, pg 44 & 45). When watching the film I had different types of emotions because I did not understand how human beings can be so cruel to other human beings. We leave the monument and head to the 9/11 memorial museum, which is located in the World Trade Center complex. This complex is 16 acres that was built between 1966 and 1987, which had seven buildings around it as well as an underground shopping mall (ENY, PDF, pg 48). The re-development of the World Trade Center complex after the attacks was a time where New Yorker's were looking for hope and to capture that essence they needed to incorporate the lives that were lost. The 9/11 memorial opened in 2011 and it was a structure like no other. The structure represented a reflection of absence, which consists of two one acre pools with a 30 feet water fall that has the victims names around the edge of the waterfalls (ENY, PDF, pg 49). In my opinion, the architects formulated a beautiful structure, which represented a time of sadness, but as a nation we overcame the sadness with dignity and bravery.
For lunch we head to Hudson Eats, located in Battery Park. To be honest I liked Hudson Eats much better then Chelsea Market because it was not as crowed and I can actually have a conversation with my classmates. I had a burrito from Dos Toros which was tasty but does not compare to Chipotle. After lunch, we venture on to Trinity Church, located on the western end of Wall Street. This Gothic revival church is actually the third church to stand on the site. The grave yard outside the church has this Trinity Root, which is a bronze sculpture by Steve Tobin who created a memorial of the tree that protected St. Paul's church from the debris of 9/11 (ENY, PDF, pg 50). Our next and final stop of the day was Governors Island. We took a 3 minute ferry to the area, which cost $2. Governors Island was originally called "Paggank" or "nut Island" by the Native Americans, possibly due to the large amounts of hickory and oak trees around the area (ENY, PDF, pg 57). For over 200 years, the island was used as the United States Army post but in January 31, 2003 it had become a recreational area for residents to visit (ENY, PDF, pg 57). I really enjoyed Governors Island because I took a great nap on the hammock and realized the island is a very peaceful place filled with bike rides, tours, and picnics. Around 6 p.m. we leave the island and head back to the train station. Over all, this day was filled with non-stop fun and excessive sweating, which was worth it because I learned and understood so much about New York.
8. Lower East Side
7/25/14
Our final adventure was exploring the Lower East Side, an area known for various immigrants who fled their countries to make a better life for themselves in the United States. The historical neighborhood of Lower East Side is located on the southeastern part of Manhattan (ENY, PDF, pg 65). When we all arrived in Penn Station, a whole new attitude filled the air, this was our last class and most of us did not want the class to end because of the amazing places we experienced together. It was a bittersweet moment but we all were determined to finish this last adventure on a high note. From Penn Station we walked to the F train and took it all the way to Delancey street. Around the 1880s a staggering amount of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe occupied the area where they gave the neighborhood its character. The Ashkenazi Jews that settled in the area came to the United States with little wealth and few belongings (ENY, PDF, pg 65). At the time the Jews were forced to work in very harsh conditions such as sweatshops, and live in tenements. The tenements were three room apartments that had no running water, electricity or even indoor toilets (ENY, PDF, pg 66). Despite the many disadvantages the Jewish immigrants faced, overtime, they have established their own influence in the area, which today has various sections filled synagogues and a Yiddish newspaper. As we walked along the street we came across Kossar's Bialys, which is a bakery filled with numerous bagels and their famous garlic and onion bialys. Mike was kind enough to buy everyone a bialy, which we enjoyed in nearby Seward Park. While we were in the park enjoying our bialys our tour guide Jim arrives to give us the rundown of the Lower East Side.
In our tour, Jim explains that across the park the Forward building is the home to the largest Jewish newspaper. He explains that over the years the newspaper has experienced several changes to expand more. Jim also points out that Essex place used to be an area where the best tasting pickles were sold. As we left the park, I realized most streets in the neighborhood have somewhat of the same stores still being occupied, but as Jim pointed out that most of these stores are not doing so well because the population who uses it often are the elderly and their food stamps. We crossed Delancey street and walked along the right hand side of the entrance ramp of the Williamsburg Bridge, where we made a right on Willet street and saw the Bialystoker Synagogue. The synagogue was founded in 1865 by Jews who came from Poland (ENY, PDF, pg 68). Sometime later that group of individuals merged with another Poland congregation and enlarged the synagogue by purchasing the Willet Street Methodist Episcopal Church (ENY, PDF, pg 68). We made our way onto Henry Street, where the Henry Street Settlement was founded by Lillian Wald. She was a nursing student who was horrified by the conditions that she experienced while volunteering on the Lower east side to teach classes on home health care (ENY, PDF, pg 69). In 1893, she founded the Nurses settlement to bring education and care to the immigrant population in the area. With that great deed 2 years later the organization would receive a permanent home (ENY, PDF, pg 69).
As we left Henry Street we encountered another synagogue, this one being in Eldridge street, which is a architectural masterpiece of the Lower east side. This synagogue was built in 1887 and was the first synagogue in New York constructed by Eastern European Jews (ENY, PDF, pg 71). Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to go inside but according to Jim, it is one of the most beautiful synagogues established. The Gothic influence synagogue on the outside seems to have a Christian influence, but symbolically it is different. The twelve stars that line the circumference of the window represent the twelve tribes of Israel.
Our final stop was to a restaurant named Congee Village Chinese, which I was really excited about because I love that type of food. As we entered the eatery there was Mike already ordering for the tables. We head sesame chicken, dumplings, fried rice, and steamed vegetables that represented the culture so well. I have to say this was the best restaurant that we went to as a class because in my opinion, it was a place where we all can interact and nobody really had a problem with the food. It was time for us to go our separate ways, which was filled with numerous goodbyes and great memories that I will cherish forever.
Our final adventure was exploring the Lower East Side, an area known for various immigrants who fled their countries to make a better life for themselves in the United States. The historical neighborhood of Lower East Side is located on the southeastern part of Manhattan (ENY, PDF, pg 65). When we all arrived in Penn Station, a whole new attitude filled the air, this was our last class and most of us did not want the class to end because of the amazing places we experienced together. It was a bittersweet moment but we all were determined to finish this last adventure on a high note. From Penn Station we walked to the F train and took it all the way to Delancey street. Around the 1880s a staggering amount of Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe occupied the area where they gave the neighborhood its character. The Ashkenazi Jews that settled in the area came to the United States with little wealth and few belongings (ENY, PDF, pg 65). At the time the Jews were forced to work in very harsh conditions such as sweatshops, and live in tenements. The tenements were three room apartments that had no running water, electricity or even indoor toilets (ENY, PDF, pg 66). Despite the many disadvantages the Jewish immigrants faced, overtime, they have established their own influence in the area, which today has various sections filled synagogues and a Yiddish newspaper. As we walked along the street we came across Kossar's Bialys, which is a bakery filled with numerous bagels and their famous garlic and onion bialys. Mike was kind enough to buy everyone a bialy, which we enjoyed in nearby Seward Park. While we were in the park enjoying our bialys our tour guide Jim arrives to give us the rundown of the Lower East Side.
In our tour, Jim explains that across the park the Forward building is the home to the largest Jewish newspaper. He explains that over the years the newspaper has experienced several changes to expand more. Jim also points out that Essex place used to be an area where the best tasting pickles were sold. As we left the park, I realized most streets in the neighborhood have somewhat of the same stores still being occupied, but as Jim pointed out that most of these stores are not doing so well because the population who uses it often are the elderly and their food stamps. We crossed Delancey street and walked along the right hand side of the entrance ramp of the Williamsburg Bridge, where we made a right on Willet street and saw the Bialystoker Synagogue. The synagogue was founded in 1865 by Jews who came from Poland (ENY, PDF, pg 68). Sometime later that group of individuals merged with another Poland congregation and enlarged the synagogue by purchasing the Willet Street Methodist Episcopal Church (ENY, PDF, pg 68). We made our way onto Henry Street, where the Henry Street Settlement was founded by Lillian Wald. She was a nursing student who was horrified by the conditions that she experienced while volunteering on the Lower east side to teach classes on home health care (ENY, PDF, pg 69). In 1893, she founded the Nurses settlement to bring education and care to the immigrant population in the area. With that great deed 2 years later the organization would receive a permanent home (ENY, PDF, pg 69).
As we left Henry Street we encountered another synagogue, this one being in Eldridge street, which is a architectural masterpiece of the Lower east side. This synagogue was built in 1887 and was the first synagogue in New York constructed by Eastern European Jews (ENY, PDF, pg 71). Unfortunately, we did not have a chance to go inside but according to Jim, it is one of the most beautiful synagogues established. The Gothic influence synagogue on the outside seems to have a Christian influence, but symbolically it is different. The twelve stars that line the circumference of the window represent the twelve tribes of Israel.
Our final stop was to a restaurant named Congee Village Chinese, which I was really excited about because I love that type of food. As we entered the eatery there was Mike already ordering for the tables. We head sesame chicken, dumplings, fried rice, and steamed vegetables that represented the culture so well. I have to say this was the best restaurant that we went to as a class because in my opinion, it was a place where we all can interact and nobody really had a problem with the food. It was time for us to go our separate ways, which was filled with numerous goodbyes and great memories that I will cherish forever.
9. Overall Experience
My overall experience of this class has mostly been positive because of the massive information I obtained about New York City. I enjoyed the class because it was filled with students who are enthusiastic and teachers who inspire the students to work hard and appreciate New York for its fascinating history. Because of this class, I became interested in various building structures and how different styles correlate throughout the years. I am happy I took this class during the summer because it gave me an opportunity to meet people from other majors. During the semester, I don't get to see anybody else expect the Nursing majors who already have so much anxiety. It was nice to bond with people who are less anxious and have a positive outlook on everything. From this experience, I will have the courage and knowledge to bring friends and family to explore these historical areas, and hopefully as I get older I can get a chance to become somewhat of an New York expert myself. I thought I knew everything about New York because I live her for over 20 years. But this class quickly proved to me that I knew very little about New York and in a sense made me embrace this great city. So thank you Mike and Damian for the adventure and the great memories.