Last but not least

Waking up this morning I realized that today was the last day of class I was a little excited but disappointment hit when I realized that I would probably never see the people I met in this class again. As I dragged myself out of bed it was raining and all I could think of is I hope today doesn’t get washed out and we are not doing too much walking today. Meeting at Penn Station I felt as if everyone felt the same way relieved that the class was coming to an end but sad that it is coming to an end.           

Today’s class we toured through Little Italy, Chinatown and the Bowery so I was excited to explore. I love the Bowery the lower east side. Taking the F train we started our day at the Essex Street Market. This market began in 1940 with an effort by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia to find a new place for merchants to do business. The market offers food for all tastes such as Latino, Jewish and upscale urbanite (BG, 123).Walking around the market you can see the culture fusion of the Latino, Korean, Asian and Italian. The little bakery shops engulfed my nostrils and the aromatic smell took over the front of the market. In the rear of the market the fresh meat look pink and ready to be cooked nothing like the frozen meat I find in the regular grocery story.

 

Our next stop was the Tenement Museum. This museum was a former tenement founded in 1988 to preserve the heritage of the nation’s immigrants, honoring the millions who lived in the Lower East Side and in other immigrant ghettos (BG, 122). I was very excited to go to the museum I love history and was excited to actually visit the house where a family actually lived. Each floor housed four families, while each apartment consisting of three small rooms, a bedroom, kitchen and living room.  If the family needed water or use the bathroom they would have to walk down 5 flights of stairs to then bring water back to the home or use the bathroom.

We entered the house of Bridget and Joseph Moore. The Moore’s had three daughters; our specific attention was on Agnes Moore the baby, after moving to the tenement they had to deal with hard living conditions and shortly after the death of their newborn daughter Agnes due to poisonous milk given to the poor living in the neighborhood. The main struggles of the people living in the tenements were to keep their family healthy in such small confinements. During this time the type of medicine that was available for struggling immigrants consisted of opium and alcohol. It took a lot of money and months before a doctor would be able to visit. Next it was time for lunch my classmates ate at Congee Village authentic Chinese Food; I was not really in the Chinese mood so I opted to eat somewhere else.

Next was our walking tour thankfully the rain subsided and we had a great tour guide.  While many of Manhattan's other ethnic areas are shrinking, Chinatown is expanding eastward beyond its original boundaries into the Lower East Side and northward into Little Italy (BG, 106). Chinatown is the area in NYC known for the most illegal immigrants. Most people believe that Chinatown was founded by Chinese from China, but actually Chinese from California who could no longer find work there after the Gold Rush founded Chinatown. While walking around the neighborhood we passed the Yung Wing school, named after Yung Wing  the first Chinese to every obtain a degree from a American College, and the first to get a degree from Yale University. Following the school we walked along Doyers Street; one of the most crooked streets in NYC and was originally a cart lane (BG, 112). This street was known for high crime and the Chinese once said that they could see the blood running down the street when the gangs would fight.

Lastly, was the Transfiguration Church. I think the name fits the church perfectly it was in a constant flux. The church has undergone many changes, originally a Lutheran church, the church became Catholic in the 1850’s. Shortly after Italians moved into the area and as the newbies on the block, the Irish would make them worship in the basement until Italians became the dominant population. Now, the church being in the heart of Chinatown has become the Chinese Catholic church. Services for this church are spoken in Cantonese, Mandarin and English (BG, 112).

We walked a couple blocks east and entered Columbus Park, named after Christopher Columbus the park was previously named Mulberry Bend Park, located in the area known as 5 points. The park had a 5 point intersection, which no longer exists. This area was primarily Irish and African American who were poverty-ridden. Nowadays the park is used to practice Tai chi, play mahjong or enjoy the passing scene (BG, 112). Last was Little Italy, the Italian population has aged or moved away and today Little Italy has become a tourist draw, attracting people for the food (BG, 114).

Overall today was a great. I feel very sad that the class is over but i am excited with what I learned. My eyes have been open to so many different things and I personally think this would help me be a better-rounded person, able to discuss art and history if needed.  

Well Let's See Chelsea!!!!

Today we started our day at the World Trade Center and St. Paul’s church. When we arrived at the site I thought that I would be very emotional I have not been to the world trade center in a while and the last time I was there I bawled like a baby. St. Paul's is Manhattan's only remaining colonial church. St. Paul's served British officers as a house of worship during the British occupation and survived a fire of 1776 thanks to the bucket brigade who carried water from the Hudson. St. Paul's was also used by George Washington following his inauguration at Federal Hall (BG, 77). More recent St. Paul’s church was a place of refuge for the firefighters and volunteers of ground zero. The church was later transformed in a museum to honor the heroic actions of these people. The interior of the church is painted in pale colors, graced by slender Corinthian columns supporting a barrel-vaulted ceiling (BG, 78). 

 Next we ventured over to Zuccotti Park. Zuccotti Park formerly called Liberty Plaza Park is located in the Lower East Side of Manhattan just steps away from the Freedom Tower. In 2011, the plaza became the site of the Occupy Wall Street protest camp. During the demonstration, activists occupied the plaza and used it as a staging ground for their protests throughout the Manhattan Financial District.

We walked pass Trinity Church which is one of New York’s most famous houses of worship. The architecture of this building is a beautiful neo-gothic theme. Trinity was one of the first gothic revival Churches in the nation, as well as the first gothic revival in the city.  The architect was Richard Upjohn (BG, 65). The churchyard houses the bodies of many famous people like Alexander Hamilton, Robert Fulton, William Bradford, the publisher of the New York Gazette and Captain James Lawrence (BG, 66).    

Next we walked through Wall Street. Wall Street gets its name from a wall in 1653, which stretched river to river to protect the Dutch town from its British neighbors. Since the New York Stock Exchange moved here in 1903, Wall Street has been synonymous with New York’s financial industry (BG, 64). A lot of people most of them were dressed in business suits were bustling through the area. The cobble stone roads were really nice, Wall Street is home of the New York Stock Exchange. We stopped in the Federal Hall National Monument. This site was home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch. George Washington took the oath of office in 1789 as the first president of the United States (BG, 69).   I learned about the beginnings of the United States of America Congress and Treasury Department.  I really enjoyed this monument just because I love law and wanted to pursue a career in the government.

Walking not too far we reached Battery Park. Battery Park was originally a landfill, but is now a 23-acre park and offers views of the harbor (BG, 46). Mike said that Battery Park got the name because it housed cannons in case of invaders. We then walked along the Esplanade which was beautiful even though it was very cold with a light mist of the river. The view was immaculate we saw Jersey and I beautiful boats in the docks. I would think this place would be beautiful in the summer and probably packed with New Yorkers.

Our next stop was the Poet's House.  The Poets house is a national poetry library and literary center that invites the public and poets to join the living tradition of poetry.  It is embodies with a lot of culture and diversity.  I enjoyed this beautiful place with so many books for all types of people. When Mike said there is a book of poetry for everyone I so didn’t believe him but I was sadly mistaken. I found books that I was very much interested in and I must return to this place.  By the time I left, though, I was feeling really terrible my chest started to tighten up more than usual, but I was determined to finish the day.

Finally we made it to Chelsea!! Thanks to Mauretta executive decision we took the train instead of walking, which was a great relief to my lungs and legs. If we had to walk I think I would have passed out midway there (LOL) Chelsea was originally an area known for drugs, transvestites and prostitution. Since then it has undergone a rapid change and now has numerous art galleries and chic shops (BG, 186). It was time to for Lunch and I was starving I was so happy we reached the Chelsea Market. The former Nabisco factory, Chelsea Market now contains shops offering high-quality good, wine, kitchen wares and flowers (BG, 186).  I was just so excited to be out the cold and eat that I didn’t really get to explore the Market as much as I wanted to but I will definitely come back.

Next we walked on Highline which is an elevated railroad track if it wasn’t so cold I think my classmates and I would have enjoyed it more. Finally we entered some galleries in Chelsea by then my chest was really hurting me and I was ready to go home. My favorite little corky place in Chelsea was the Printed Matter Inc. shop. The shop offered many different unique books it was really interesting to me. In total the day was very eventful and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite places of the day would have to be the Federal Hall National Monument, the Poet house and the Printed Matter Inc. shop. Well in that case I would think if the day wasn’t so cold and I felt better this would be one of my top two days.

Harlem is where its at!!!

Today class takes us to Harlem and Morningside Heights our first stop took us to the Museum of New York on Fifth Avenue in East Harlem. The museum explores the past and present of New York City through heritage of diversity, opportunity and perpetual transformation. While there we watched a very interesting movie on New York City history I believe this movie really tied all the loose ends about the class. It showed a bit of Brooklyn and Queens it really focused on the island of Manhattan. In the movie it showed Manhattan as large farm land, it discussed how Wall and Canal Street got its name. Wall Street had a long wall that helped defend the settlers for invaders and Canal Street was actually a canal. The film also discussed how Harlem was founded in 1658 by the Dutch ten miles north of New Amsterdam and called it Niebuhr Harlem. During the 18^th and 19^th century the outlying land of fertile soil and strategic advantages of the Harlem plain attracted gentlemen farmers and wealthy merchants, who developed the estate and built country mansions (BG p.437)

 East Harlem was the location of many immigrants coming to NYC, in its successive years immigrants from Russia, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Scandinavia, England and Spain, was well as Eastern European Jews (BG.437). Being a nursing major the second best part of the Museum was the Lillian Wald: Creator of the Henry Street Settlement. Lillian Wald had a great impact on Community Nursing and the Henry Street Settlement was the first to provide care to immigrants in New York. 

Next we walked down a couple blocks to Justo Botanica owned by Jose Vargas. Being from South America I have been to a botanica a couple of times and I was very excited that some of my classmates would be able to share in a bit of my culture. Jose was very warm and receptive to us and discussed how long he has been at this location and how he would have to move in a couple weeks due to the increasing rent price at the hands of gentrification.

Walking down the street I saw very beautiful mosaics and murals dedicated to important figures and all designed by artist Manny Vega my favorite painting  was dedicated to Julia de Burgos 1914- 1952. It read in English and Spanish: 

The madness of my soul cannot repost
 It lives in the restlessness                                                                                                                                                           

In the disorder

In the imbalance of things dynamic

In the silence of the free thinker who lives alone in quiet exile

To our surprise we saw the artist himself Manny Vega touching up Espirtu is current project. He explained how he designed his mosaics and how they move from his dining room table and being his own to the street mosaics we admire now as the communities artistry and heritage.

 We broke for lunch and then headed more up top to Harlem 125^th street. I have been there many of times and still love it every time.Harlem is the most famous center of African-American life and culture in the US African-American blacks make up most of the population (BG, 437) We met our tour guide, he spoke about the Apollo Theater had how it was the birth place of many artist we listen to today. It launched many careers from Ella Fitzgerald to Diana Ross (BG, 440)., he also discussed the tree trunk that they rub for good luck before headed out on the stage  He showed us beautiful brownstones that go for about 1.5 million dollars and the signature NY stoops that is rarely found anywhere in the world. Next we stopped in front of the church of the Harlem Boys Choir and proceed to Marcus Garvey Park.Originally called Mount Morris Park, but was renamed in 1973 to honor Garvey, who dedicated to the advancement of his race (BG, 439).  Next we walked pass like one of the greatest bakeries ever Make my Cake bakery, I really wanted to leave and get a cupcake but I stayed and listen to our Tour Guide and learned something very useful St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem is one of the longest avenue in Manhattan it runs all the way to Washington Heights. After St. Nicholas Ave we visited the Harriet Tubman statue then to the most dreadful part of all, we walked up what felt like 1,000 steps to Morning Heights. Ending our day at the beautiful feet of Colombia University I was exhausted and tired but looking forward to my long trip home to my bed.

Splishing and Splashing Thru Manhattan

 

The day started of pouring raining I was praying that class would be cancelled and I could stay home in my cozy bed, sadly I was wrong approaching my group in Penn Station and seeing the look of joy on Mike’s face that all his students came out in the rain. I knew just knew my day just started and my warm bed would have to wait for me tonight. Our first stop of the day was 42^nd street Time Square. Before 1904 Times Square was known as Longacre Square and it was dominated by horse exchanges, carriage factories, stables, and blacksmiths' shops (BG, 217). In the late 70’s to 90’s Time Square was a place for drugs and prostitution, nothing like the Time Square we know today. Today Times Square is cleaner, safer, more profitable, and more visitor-friendly than it was a decade ago, with as many as 20 million tourists visiting annually (BG, 218) It is the highlight on every tourist vacation to New York you can go anywhere around the world and if you say NYC time square comes to mind.

Next on the agenda was Rockefeller Center as a child I always visited Rockefeller Center during the winter season to ice skate or watch the lights and the Christmas tree. Entering the GE I was amazed looking at the old 50^‘s feeling in the building was great. I loved the feeling of it being fancy, and high fashioned it made me feel as if I was underdressed. The painting on the ceiling was breathtaking. The painting was originally created by Diego Rivera. His artwork contained a portrait of Lenin after refusing to take Lenin out Rivera was fired and artist Josep Maria Sert was hired to finish the mural.  Sert's mural was originally called Triumph of Man's Accomplishments through Physical and Mental Labor, now it is called American Progress (BG, 249).

Museum of Modern Art, this was my first time at this museum and I was excited I heard so many good stories about MoMA and we previously visited MoMA PS1 in Long Island City. At MoMA a painting by Picasso, The Ladies of Avignon was so beautiful it was originally titled The Brothel of Avignon; it depicts 5 nude women whom were prostitutes on a street in Barcelona. My other favorite picture was Bruce Nauman Punch and Judy II Birth & Life & Sex & Death. 1985. It really caught my eye. At first I didn’t know what I was really looking at but then when I stepped back I saw all the emotion and hurt in the painting.

After leaving Manhattan we headed to Williamsburg Brooklyn. We walked towards The City Reliquary Museum and Civic Organization.  When we first turned the corner I wanted to know why we were going into a corner store. I was an interesting museum I like its location and other different types of memorabilia it offered my favorite would have to be the Yankee Stadium turnstile and the Manhattan Schist from the building of the train station line.

 Last but not least was our stop to the Brooklyn Art Library and home of the Sketchbook Project. OMG this was probably by far the coolest place I have seen. I loved the sketchbook from all over the world and ended it up in this one location every type of idea you can think of there is a scrapbook for it. Everyone is eligible to participate in the library for on 30 bucks. I think that it is just super cool. Overall the day was very nice and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The Eastside

Today our journey took us to the enchanting East side. We visited the Metropolitan Museum of art. The building has grown from modest Ruskinian Gothic beginnings to its present size and complexity, with additions reflecting the reigning architectural styles of the past century (BG327) I have visited the museum many times before to experience the beautiful painting and sculptures. This present time was to visit the styling and artistry of Andy Warhol. I have previously heard the name and saw some of his work before but never a whole exhibit dedicated to his art. I enjoyed myself thoroughly I wish we were allowed to take pictures so I could share some of the amazing artistry. If anyone is ever in the area and available to visit the museum while he is on display I would honestly recommend it. After the exhibit we were allowed to explore the museum on our own I was so excited to go to the Roman exhibit. I love the sculptures of David, he Roman gods and the medieval art. The earliest pieces come from the Roman Empire at the time of Constantine, whose conversion to Christianity marked a turning point in the history of the ancient world (BG 327)

Next we ventured to Central Park. Central is the heartland of Manhattan, 843 acres set aside for the recreation of New Yorkers and visitor alike (BG279) I have been to central park for summer concerts but never to experience the whole park and its beauty. Strawberry Fields in honor John Lennon, the songwriter, singer and member of The Beatles, who was assassinated in the courtyard of the nearby Dakota Apartments in 1980(BG 290) There we witness an ancient Chinese tea service  the lady wardrobe was so cute.

My favorite tour of the day was visiting the Plaza Hotel. I loved the books Eloise the Plaza and the movie was so nice, it depicted the hotel to point. I never knew that the hotel was now apartments and had a mall in the lobby it was so cool. Architect Henry J Hardenbergh has long been admired for his skill in manipulating the details of its French Renaissance design- dormers, balustrades, high roofs, and rounded corner turnings- to create a harmonious whole. In the past 20 years the hotel has changed owners several times and undergone $400 millions dollars in renovations (BG273)

 Before The Plaza we visited FAO Schwartz I have never been to the store before and was excited when I saw that it was a toy store, my favorite part of the store was the candy section in the rear, the candy was good and was not overprices like most things in Manhattan.

Walking down 5^th ave I was able to see all the expensive stores and go into Tiffany &Co. I loved the movies Breakfast at Tiffany’s and as soon as we walked outside I was able to notice the iconic scene when Audrey Hepburn stood outside eating her croissant.

Overall today was a very relaxing day we did a lot of walking and saw numerous sights. I enjoyed my day but so far nothing has really compared to out Brooklyn tour.

Bodacious Brooklyn

Waking up this morning I was excited to know that we would be traveling around Brooklyn. Brooklyn is the largest borough in New York City. When I arrived at Coney Island, I met up with the “Queens Crew” and we discussed our expectations for the day. Our day started in Coney Island I was so excited, because as a little girl my parents would take me to Coney Island every summer. When we got onto the boardwalk I could remember the vivid smells of the Nathans hotdog, cotton candy and popcorn on those summer nights with my parents eating Funnel Cake, watching the Freak show and all the boardwalk entertainers. The Dutch name for the island originally was Konijn Eilandh, which translated to Rabbit Island, then the English name renamed it as we know it today Coney Island(BG, 492). Between about 1880 and World War II Coney Island was the largest amusement area in the United States, attracting several million visitors per year. The Coney Island the birthplace of the hot dog and home of the world’s most terrifying roller coaster the Cyclone (BG, 492).  The Cyclone is an historic wooden roller coaster and replicated all over the North. On June 18, 1975, Dewey and Jerome Albert, owners of Astroland contracted to operate the Cyclone under an agreement with New York City.


Our next stop was to the Transit Museum, although I have visited there previously, this had to be my favorite location. The first time I visited there I did a walk around tour on my own with my nephew, today I was able to really understand the framework behind building the subway.This unused subway station was inaugurated in 1976 and is run by the Metropolitan Transit Authority, its exhibits include buses, trains, bridges and tunnels (BG,468) Our tour guide was extremely interesting and kept me engaged. She spoke about Manhattan Schist as tough stone in which the skyscrapers are built into and the subway had to plow through to be constructed. The dangerous job of the Irish and Italian Sandhog, and the opening of the first subway was on October 27, 1904. I loved the turnstile exhibition upon leaving the museum it starts with some of the oldest turnstile to the more modern. My favorite turnstile at the museum would have to be the early wooden ticket chopper to a fullbody turnstile known as " iron maiden"(BG,468), just because it seems to give a little nudge right on your bum to get you on your way.

 

Walking from the Transit Museum we headed over to the Brooklyn Historical Society, being a history buff I enjoyed walking through the neighborhood. The Brooklyn Historical Society was founded in 1863 as the Long Island Historical Society( BG,472). Brooklyn Heights stretches from Old Fulton Street near the Brooklyn Bridge to Atlantic Avenue and from the east River to Court Street and Cadman Plaza. Located in Cadman  is the now Brooklyn Borough Hall, before it was known as the Brooklyn City Hall up until 1898. I knew that New York had a lot of history but it really hit me today, especially Brooklyn. In Downtown Brooklyn Jackie Robinson was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers on Montague Street, named after Lady Mary Wortley Montagu (BG,472), and location of the original Arts Institute before BAM incorporated the art institute into their program. I attend  church just a few steps from these historic locations and did not know all the historical content it encompassed

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Taking in the beautiful sights of Brooklyn Heights we made our way to the Promenade. At the Promenade there is a plaque in stone that landmarks The Battle of Brooklyn in 1776, after the British army invades on Long Island and starts attacking the Continental Army, General George Washington constructed a major plan to withdraw his army after losing to the British Army. Make a skillful retreat across the East River to Manhattan with the remaining troops andsupplies, Washington was able to recoup his army and come back with a vengeance ultimately defeating the British army.

 From the Promenade we mad our way to start our journey over the Brooklyn bridge!!! L I stretched out my legs and decided that I would walk the bridge at my own pace, and I will make it over (then again what choice did I have). When the bridge first opened on May 25,1883, it was the largest bridge arching 1,595 ft across the East River ( BG, 464). Arriving at the highest point of the bridge and taking in the breathe taking view of the Manhattan skyline I was taken back. I have crossed the Brooklyn Bridge driving about a million times but never really had the chance to take in the view. Being up on the bridge it felt so surreal, the birds eye view of the city as the sunset kisses the buildings I felt proud to be a New Yorker ( as cheesy as it sounds). My city is so beautiful, and I was glad I had a chance to experience it. On the way down the bridge entering Manhattan I felt energized, and even more ecstatic that the day was over.

Quite Interesting Queens

Waking up this morning I was excited that my fellow classmates will be able to experience my borough. I figured since I lived in Queens I would know all the places we would explore. To my surprise I was pleasantly wrong. The day started on the 7 train to Citi Field being on this train brings back memories of my high school softball days. As we arrived at the Willets Point Station I could feel the heat consuming the platform, and I knew this was going to be a very long day. Walking on the ramp I prayed that we will be visiting places with air conditioning. The first place visited was the Unisphere. I would pass the Unisphere often driving on the Grand Central.  The Unisphere is housed in Queens Flushing Meadow Park for the 1964-1965 World's Fair. The US Steel Corporation built it as a symbol of world peace. While walking to the Unisphere we learned about Flushing Meadows Park history and the 1964-1965 World’s Fair. Flushing Meadow Corona Park has become a recreation and cultural meeting area for many different cultures in Queens. The 1939 and 1964 World's Fair was held in this park, these fairs put this park on the world's stage, and it has stayed there, hosting the United Nations General Assembly for five years before it moved to Manhattan. Before all these events occurred in Flushing Meadow Park was once a dusty wasteland full of ashes. Parks Commissioner Robert Moses and other city planners laid out an elaborate scheme to replace these ashes with beauty and excitement.http://www.unisphereinc.org/unisphere/about_the_park.html

Our next stop on our journey was the Queens Museum. I remember as a little girl it housed an ice skating rink and a roller rink, to my surprise they were gone, replaced by a beautiful and more spaced out museum.  When entering the museum I was so happy for the air conditioning, outside was sweltering. The first exhibit visited in the museum was the watershed. I actually liked the watershed exhibit; it is enlightening to know where our water source comes from. I thought our water came from the Ocean and purified and then to our faucets through some tunnels. It wonderful how Mother Nature has a system for everything and how science has evolved to explain that the water moves from a higher gradient to a lower gradient just to supply New York State and Connecticut.

Next was the Panorama, it was so cool to see NYC on such a small scale. I was surprised that I knew a lot of the locations on the model, but when I am driving around the area I always seem to get lost. Built by Robert Moses for the 1964 World’s Fair, this 9,335 square foot architectural model includes every single building constructed before 1992 in all five boroughs, a total of 895,000 individual structures. Although they cut off a small portion of Far Rockaway the model is very accurate. It was actually nice to see the Twin Towers still standing strong in the NY skyline, the skyline I remember as a child looking out my elementary school window.

http://www.queensmuseum.org/exhibitions/visitpanorama

Jackson Heights was next on the agenda we dined for lunch at the Jackson Diner for authentic Indian food. The food was good it was nice to see my classmates trying new foods. Hearing them speak about all the flavors and spices was interesting. I have previously eaten Indian Food so this was nothing new to me, but just the excitement on their faces made me feel like I was eating this cuisine for the first time. Jackson Heights was once populated by the Greek in the earlier years now is populated with many different cultures.

My favorite part of the day didn’t come until we entered the Museum of the Moving Images on Steinway Street in Astoria. Steinway Street houses the Astoria Studio which Sesame Street, CSI and other television productions were taped, it was like a little Hollywood. Inside the museum were many television exhibits and games from my childhood. I especially liked the Super Mario Brothers game on the first Nintendo; I remembered the days when I would play that game for hours with my cousins and sister.

Next was my all time favorite place of the whole day was 5 Pointz: The Institute of Higher Burnin’” in LIC. 5Pointz Aerosol Art Center, Inc. is an outdoor art exhibit space in Long Island City, New York, considered being the world’s premiere “graffiti Mecca,” where aerosol artists from around the globe paint colorful pieces on the walls of a 200,000-square-foot factory building. This had to be the highlight of my day, loving Long Island City and always here I never knew this existed. The art on the walls here is so grungy and reminds me of old school hip hop. The era of door knockers, bamboo earrings, beat boxing, and scratching, with the new transition that hip hop is going I wouldn’t be surprised if 5 Pointz was used I a upcoming music video.

Ending our day in Gantry Plaza State Park was very relaxing and comforting to the feet. The park offers picnic tables, a playground, fishing pier, playing fields and a waterfront promenade with a view of the United Nations Headquarters and the Midtown Manhattan skyline. After a quick quiz on our NY skyline and architecture we were able to point out my favorite Manhattan building the Chrysler building with Gothic influenced architecture and the current UN headquarters.

Overall the day was long and hot, but I was able to experience new places in my own borough that I knew nothing about until this class, and I will definitely be returning to some of the places.

   

 

A NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

There is no place like it, no place with an atom of its glory, pride, and exultancy. It lays its hand upon a man's bowels; he grows drunk with ecstasy; he grows young and full of glory, he feels that he can never die. -Walt Whitman

New York City the melting of cultures, an oasis, a utopia for meeting different people, within every corner there is a new world waiting to be explored.

When think of New York City I would have to start with the borough of Manhattan just because it’s a major tourist attraction and the heart of NYC. When people think of Manhattan they think Time Square, Rockefeller Center, 5^thavenue, Central Park, and Penn Station. When I think of Manhattan I think of Harlem, 125^th street, Rucker Park, Dykman, Washington Heights, and the Lower East Side. As a child growing up my parents would always take my sister and I to see the lighting of the Christmas tree and go ice skating in Rockefeller skating rink, and as a child I thought that was the whole borough of Manhattan. As an adult I began to explore different parts of Manhattan. I am in love with the African American History that Harlem has to offer, while appreciating the Spanish spices the Latino population in Washington Heights gives.

Next the borough of The "Boogie Down" Bronx the birth place of Hip Hop, beat boxing and scratching the home of the Bronx zoo and the New York Yankee. The Bronx has a variation of cultures the South Bronx housing a lot of Puerto Ricans and Dominicans to “Little Italy” on Arthur Avenue, or Hunts point also known as the “Red Light District” for its crime.

Queens would have to be the best borough of all (just because I live here, all bias intended). I absolutely love Queens it is the real melting pot of NYC you can find every culture and cuisine. Melt in your mouth Indian and South Asian food in Jackson Heights to mouth watering Guyanese food on Liberty Avenue. It houses LaGuardia and JFK airport, Citi Field, Unisphere, and my favorite Beer Garden Studio Square (the loaded lemonade is to die for). Queens has so many different cultures with different cuisine your tummy never gets tired of the same old food.

Brooklyn home of the now Brooklyn Nets, the Barclays Center, and the Famous Coney Island Boardwalk. Brooklyn has a lot of Caribbean culture, the smell of jerk chicken on the grills outside on Flatbush to the relaxing scenery of Canarsie pier, the hustle and bustle of Atlantic Terminal to the West Indian Parade on Eastern Parkway. If you love Caribbean culture and want to see people you have not seen Brooklyn is the place to be.

I do not hanging out in Staten Island much, but when I do visit Staten Island I must stop off and eat pizza from Mario’s Pizzeria on Hylan Blvd. A great way to get to Staten Island without paying the $13 Verrazano Bridge toll and see a beautiful New York City skyline the Staten Island Ferry does the job. Overall when I think of NYC I think of each borough and what different wonders it has to offer me. For a person like me who likes to explore I think my parents chose the right location for me. I absolutely love my city and there is no other place I rather live.