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.