Journal 2
~The Wild Westside~
Today our class started at our usual time then we all headed to one of the most famous spots in NY which is Times Square and Broadway! The amazing bright lights is what makes it so incredible. The city definitely does not sleep at night or day in Times Square.....The time we were able to see Times Square a little sleepy I think was during hurricane Sandy. Times Square is 4 acres of land. Before 1904 the area was called Longacre Square, which was dominated by horse exchanges, carriage factories, stables and blacksmith's shops. (BG 217) In late 1920's to 1940's the place was very famous for the theatres and it had 80 theatres. During that period many independent producers started shows which brought millions of dollars into the city in the period of a year. Many restaurants, hotels, theatrical clubs and agents had started during the the late 1920's. The great depression had devastated Broadway. Many theatres were changed into burlesque theatres or to move houses whose offerings deteriorated from Hollywood hits, to second run movies, to X-rated pornography. By the 1970's the area was known for crimes, drug dealing and prostitution.( BG 217 218). By 1980's changes started to happen as the government took over most space. Mayor Rudy Giuliani is responsible for most of the clean up that has happened such as it became more safer for the public. He turned into Times Square into a little Disney. As this happened the population had increased and many people were not afraid to walk along the streets day or night. Many public spaces had also been created for people. It was started by Mayor Bloomberg as an experiment to reduce accidents by creating public spacing for people by closing down some streets. This has made the accidents to decrease and more people are visiting the area. The population and amount of visitors have increased and still increasing as compared to decades ago. Even this is known as a public place it is owned by private owner.
Rockefeller Center is an attractive place that brings so many people during the holidays. The beautiful amazing Christmas tree with the ice skating ring and how about the musical snow flakes that changes according to beats. During the summer months the skating ring turns into an outdoor cafe. It is the most famous skating ring in the world. Rockefeller Center is well known for their art deco approach in the city. Rockefeller Plaza a three-block private street which pleasantly breaks up the long east west block, separates the Lower Plaza from the GE building. (BG 247) GE Building is the first building constructed at Rockefeller Center is still its most famous and imposing. Art Deco beard, speaks a compass above a glass screen made up of 240 blocks of Pyrex cast in relief in 84 molds. (BG 248) Diego Rivera Fresco was a famous artist that had created murals for Rockefeller Center. His mural was asked to be changed due to Lenin's portrait but then later his murals were removed by John D Rockefeller. Radio City Music hall was the largest theatre when it was built in 1932. It has been taken over but is still one of the best places where art deco was kept. It still entertains more than a million visitors. (BG 251)
Rockefeller Center is an attractive place that brings so many people during the holidays. The beautiful amazing Christmas tree with the ice skating ring and how about the musical snow flakes that changes according to beats. During the summer months the skating ring turns into an outdoor cafe. It is the most famous skating ring in the world. Rockefeller Center is well known for their art deco approach in the city. Rockefeller Plaza a three-block private street which pleasantly breaks up the long east west block, separates the Lower Plaza from the GE building. (BG 247) GE Building is the first building constructed at Rockefeller Center is still its most famous and imposing. Art Deco beard, speaks a compass above a glass screen made up of 240 blocks of Pyrex cast in relief in 84 molds. (BG 248) Diego Rivera Fresco was a famous artist that had created murals for Rockefeller Center. His mural was asked to be changed due to Lenin's portrait but then later his murals were removed by John D Rockefeller. Radio City Music hall was the largest theatre when it was built in 1932. It has been taken over but is still one of the best places where art deco was kept. It still entertains more than a million visitors. (BG 251)
Our next stop was at MOMA (Museum of Modern Arts) was opened in 1929. It was given by the Rockefeller family. It was started first as having daring art pieces. It was located on fifth avenue by 57th avenue at the beginning and was relocated in 1932 to the present site. (BG 260) It recently has 840 million dollar restoration. It has many forms of art pieces such as sculptors, paintings, photographs. It holds work of many well known artists. By 1860 photograph became an art. 19th century Pablo Picasso changed art saying all paintings are based on what the artist is thinking at that time. His famous works was the painting of a bunch of working prostitutes who is naked. Jackson Pollock was another famous artist from New York., he was tortured and was living with another artist and attended the social realism school of painting. Robert Ryman was another artist that had a painting of just white plain painting which he made loads of money on........I guess art depends on the person who is looking at and also how it is based on the luck of the artist because some of the work was not that beautiful. The campbells soup can was pretty cool. Seeing art by Pablo Picasso- Les Demoiselles DAvignon, was also nice especially when I did learn about his art work in a previous class. Seeing the most famous art piece of Vincent Van Gogh- Starry nights, I was thrilled to see that. I would like to go visit the museum one more time in future to get a better taste on the work.
Our next walk was to Hell's Kitchen to have our delicious Thai food. Most of us also stopped to satisfy our sweet tooth at the wonderful Amy's bake shop.
Our next stop Morning Heights a walk with Jimmy, who has his own business weekday walk. Our first visit was to the Hungarian Bake Shop which is a well known shop for its bathroom art work, where people have scribbled over and made into an art work. Today we were lucky to participate hanging the angel of Agape which meant the angel of unconditional love, something everyone seems to want in life. The angel is suppose to bring reconciliation, unconditional love, power of healing pain and bring joy into lives. It was very nice to hang an angel and best of all to get an angel to keep! St John the Divine Cathedral was our next visit, well prior to that we all sat down and admired this big statue and around it had some quotes from various different people. You can see it below in the pictures.
The Cathedral Church of St. John the divine rises uncompleted splendor on the heights above Morningside Park. The enormous stone arches erected to support the never built dome tower of the crossing stand exposed to the sky and to the eyes of passers-by, who have a rare opportunity to see a mansory cathedral under construction. St. John the Divine, sometimes irreverently called " St. John the Unfinished". (BG 419) It was once the largest cathedral but it was never completed. It is so beautiful the architect exterior and interior. The detailed work is just stunning. The park also has 2 peacocks that roam around. We did not see it. Then the walk began, St. Lukes hospital is maybe the only hospital they have a nurse as a president of the hospital. I was happy to hear the achievement of the nurse. Our next stop was Columbia University. The college was chartered by King George II in 1754 and named King's College(BG 427) Four American President's have attended this University. It is well known for their medical programs, law etc. The Red brick building was the start of this amazing famous institute. Next was a walk to see a nice view of Morningside Park which occupies about 30 acres, including a rocky cliff of Manhattan schist, which plunges down to the Harlem Plain. (BG 426) Morningside Park got the name because the sun rises. They have 3 parks in Morningside. Columbia University had a riot due to taking over the public park and it had a riot for racism that went on the university.
Our next was walk towards Harlem. We started off from Fedrick Douglas Blvd and West 116th street. In 1878 the train started to come on 9th avenue so people can live there and work downtown. The lower east side it was populated with Jewish people that the name "Jew Bridge" was formed. In 1920 there was 30,000 Jewish people but it came in a decline by 1930 due to many other culture people coming in. By 1930's Harlem was known for the artists, and 19 groups culture were moving in. A lot of gentrification has happened in this town. Old Nicholas Road is the oldest street in New York. A big statue of Harriet Tubman is kept for the railroad. Magic Johnson has a theatre in Harlem. Another famous place was the Apollo theatre. It was only for the white community and mostly the people who went to the theatre was German and Jewish during 1913. It has changed over time and it was fallen in 1970 and became a movie theatre. In 1991 it was restored and changed. It still is very famous. (BG 440)
Harlem is also the place where Bill Clinton resigned as a president and where Martin Luther King had got stabbed.
At the end of the day it started to rain so I was unable to go and grab some very famous food but maybe one day I can visit on my own.
Our next walk was to Hell's Kitchen to have our delicious Thai food. Most of us also stopped to satisfy our sweet tooth at the wonderful Amy's bake shop.
Our next stop Morning Heights a walk with Jimmy, who has his own business weekday walk. Our first visit was to the Hungarian Bake Shop which is a well known shop for its bathroom art work, where people have scribbled over and made into an art work. Today we were lucky to participate hanging the angel of Agape which meant the angel of unconditional love, something everyone seems to want in life. The angel is suppose to bring reconciliation, unconditional love, power of healing pain and bring joy into lives. It was very nice to hang an angel and best of all to get an angel to keep! St John the Divine Cathedral was our next visit, well prior to that we all sat down and admired this big statue and around it had some quotes from various different people. You can see it below in the pictures.
The Cathedral Church of St. John the divine rises uncompleted splendor on the heights above Morningside Park. The enormous stone arches erected to support the never built dome tower of the crossing stand exposed to the sky and to the eyes of passers-by, who have a rare opportunity to see a mansory cathedral under construction. St. John the Divine, sometimes irreverently called " St. John the Unfinished". (BG 419) It was once the largest cathedral but it was never completed. It is so beautiful the architect exterior and interior. The detailed work is just stunning. The park also has 2 peacocks that roam around. We did not see it. Then the walk began, St. Lukes hospital is maybe the only hospital they have a nurse as a president of the hospital. I was happy to hear the achievement of the nurse. Our next stop was Columbia University. The college was chartered by King George II in 1754 and named King's College(BG 427) Four American President's have attended this University. It is well known for their medical programs, law etc. The Red brick building was the start of this amazing famous institute. Next was a walk to see a nice view of Morningside Park which occupies about 30 acres, including a rocky cliff of Manhattan schist, which plunges down to the Harlem Plain. (BG 426) Morningside Park got the name because the sun rises. They have 3 parks in Morningside. Columbia University had a riot due to taking over the public park and it had a riot for racism that went on the university.
Our next was walk towards Harlem. We started off from Fedrick Douglas Blvd and West 116th street. In 1878 the train started to come on 9th avenue so people can live there and work downtown. The lower east side it was populated with Jewish people that the name "Jew Bridge" was formed. In 1920 there was 30,000 Jewish people but it came in a decline by 1930 due to many other culture people coming in. By 1930's Harlem was known for the artists, and 19 groups culture were moving in. A lot of gentrification has happened in this town. Old Nicholas Road is the oldest street in New York. A big statue of Harriet Tubman is kept for the railroad. Magic Johnson has a theatre in Harlem. Another famous place was the Apollo theatre. It was only for the white community and mostly the people who went to the theatre was German and Jewish during 1913. It has changed over time and it was fallen in 1970 and became a movie theatre. In 1991 it was restored and changed. It still is very famous. (BG 440)
Harlem is also the place where Bill Clinton resigned as a president and where Martin Luther King had got stabbed.
At the end of the day it started to rain so I was unable to go and grab some very famous food but maybe one day I can visit on my own.
~Lower Manhattan And Captivating Chelsea~
As we started our day at Penn Station, the morning itself felt so gloomy. The day was feeling sad. We were expecting rain today and had other plans if the rain started which I was not looking forward to. (Because it was the MET museum and I have been there several times! But we got lucky and it did not rain! (yay)
Our first stop was looking at the Woolworth Building which was the tallest building from 1913 to 1930. F.W Woolworth started out as a farm boy and then he began his life working as a clerk in a general store. During that time he was convinced people would shop more if a five- ten cent store was opened. Eventually he had opened his first five-and-ten-cent store which became a success so he started more chain stores. By 1913 he was able to pay $13,500,000 in cash to built this building. (BG 79) It was known also as a financial building.
Next stop was the amazing City Hall. I have heard so much about this place but never had the opportunity to see it. It started to drizzle a little bit. We all walked in through security as groups of 6 each. Then we met our tour guide. First people that came into that area was the French. The area was found by Henry Hudson who was looking for a route to the spice island- Asia. By 1653 the area had enough people to become it's own city. By 1699 to early 1700s another city hall was also built to accommodate the rising population. In 1802 there was a competition held for the design for city hall. One of the architects Joseph Francois Mangin, was a French immigrant; the other, John McComb Jr., was a native New Yorker, brought up in the tradition of master builders. The two won a price of $350 for the design of the building. (BG 84) Jean-Antoine Houdon a creator of sculptor created George Washington's sculpture using life mask material so it is one of the most realistic looks of George Washington which is marble and it sits inside city hall. He is dressed in a military uniform and the back side has a plow, bundle of rods which shows the level of authority.. The inside staircase is an Roman arch design with key stones around it. There were beautiful pillars. In 1865 Lincoln's body was brought to city hall. In the honor of his death the place was draped in black all around. 2o years later Hugh's body was also brought for public viewing.
The reception area from 1790's they have different painting portraits of important people such as presidents, governors and mayors. The balcony was for the public to hear inspirational messages. There is a picture of Thomas Jefferson which is life size, it was commissioned by Levy who was an admirer of Jefferson. The courthouse is used to film many shows. The architect inside it is very beautiful. The Governor's Room had a desk that George Washington had used during his presidency. The decor and furniture was told to be from that time The hall is been converted into a museum.
Our next stop was St. Paul's Chapel, built in 1766, it is considered one of the most oldest chapel. It survived the fire of 1776 with the help of people carrying water from the Hudson river. It is very important place for many people especially during September 11 2001. The chapel severed both as a place of refuge for workers at Ground Zero and as a temporary memorial for visitors, who attached messages and memorials to the fence of the the church. (BG 77) Walking into the chapel brought back many memories of that day. It was very emotional seeing all the people's messages and some of the flyers of missing person was still inside the chapel. The chapel really told a story of many people and their families.
After that we walked over to see the September 11, 2001 Memorial, I always wanted to go to the memorial to pay my respect for couple of the people I knew that were inside the towers. It was so emotional walking inside the memorial, it felt like the whole incident just happened recently. It brought back every single memory I had from that day. I still remember watching it live on TV when the second tower was hit. There was a mistake in my schedule and I was just sitting in my counselor's office watching the television when it happened. I remember her saying "oh my lord, my baby, my baby is in there.....tears just flowing...." then we were able to leave school very early. There is a tree which is special to everyone because it is known as the survival tree. The tree survived the attacks also it has outgrown it's life expectancy. It was located in the middle of both towers. We were also able to get a beautiful view of the Freedom Tower which is just so beautiful the architect of the building is amazing. Below is a video of the time lapse of the Freedom tower process which I thought it was amazing!
Our first stop was looking at the Woolworth Building which was the tallest building from 1913 to 1930. F.W Woolworth started out as a farm boy and then he began his life working as a clerk in a general store. During that time he was convinced people would shop more if a five- ten cent store was opened. Eventually he had opened his first five-and-ten-cent store which became a success so he started more chain stores. By 1913 he was able to pay $13,500,000 in cash to built this building. (BG 79) It was known also as a financial building.
Next stop was the amazing City Hall. I have heard so much about this place but never had the opportunity to see it. It started to drizzle a little bit. We all walked in through security as groups of 6 each. Then we met our tour guide. First people that came into that area was the French. The area was found by Henry Hudson who was looking for a route to the spice island- Asia. By 1653 the area had enough people to become it's own city. By 1699 to early 1700s another city hall was also built to accommodate the rising population. In 1802 there was a competition held for the design for city hall. One of the architects Joseph Francois Mangin, was a French immigrant; the other, John McComb Jr., was a native New Yorker, brought up in the tradition of master builders. The two won a price of $350 for the design of the building. (BG 84) Jean-Antoine Houdon a creator of sculptor created George Washington's sculpture using life mask material so it is one of the most realistic looks of George Washington which is marble and it sits inside city hall. He is dressed in a military uniform and the back side has a plow, bundle of rods which shows the level of authority.. The inside staircase is an Roman arch design with key stones around it. There were beautiful pillars. In 1865 Lincoln's body was brought to city hall. In the honor of his death the place was draped in black all around. 2o years later Hugh's body was also brought for public viewing.
The reception area from 1790's they have different painting portraits of important people such as presidents, governors and mayors. The balcony was for the public to hear inspirational messages. There is a picture of Thomas Jefferson which is life size, it was commissioned by Levy who was an admirer of Jefferson. The courthouse is used to film many shows. The architect inside it is very beautiful. The Governor's Room had a desk that George Washington had used during his presidency. The decor and furniture was told to be from that time The hall is been converted into a museum.
Our next stop was St. Paul's Chapel, built in 1766, it is considered one of the most oldest chapel. It survived the fire of 1776 with the help of people carrying water from the Hudson river. It is very important place for many people especially during September 11 2001. The chapel severed both as a place of refuge for workers at Ground Zero and as a temporary memorial for visitors, who attached messages and memorials to the fence of the the church. (BG 77) Walking into the chapel brought back many memories of that day. It was very emotional seeing all the people's messages and some of the flyers of missing person was still inside the chapel. The chapel really told a story of many people and their families.
After that we walked over to see the September 11, 2001 Memorial, I always wanted to go to the memorial to pay my respect for couple of the people I knew that were inside the towers. It was so emotional walking inside the memorial, it felt like the whole incident just happened recently. It brought back every single memory I had from that day. I still remember watching it live on TV when the second tower was hit. There was a mistake in my schedule and I was just sitting in my counselor's office watching the television when it happened. I remember her saying "oh my lord, my baby, my baby is in there.....tears just flowing...." then we were able to leave school very early. There is a tree which is special to everyone because it is known as the survival tree. The tree survived the attacks also it has outgrown it's life expectancy. It was located in the middle of both towers. We were also able to get a beautiful view of the Freedom Tower which is just so beautiful the architect of the building is amazing. Below is a video of the time lapse of the Freedom tower process which I thought it was amazing!
Our next short stop was Trinity Church for many years it was the highest point. It was the first gothic church that was made in America. (BG 65)
After that we strolled through wall street (New York Stock Exchange). It is the world's largest stock exchange. It was moved in the current area in 1903. Many major corporations and banks were located in this area. (BG 64) We were able to see the George Washington statue in New York City Hall outside, were were not allowed to go inside because of the Government Shut Down! Then we walked over to touch the bull for the good luck! Did I take the challenge to touch the bull and run up the stairs? No way! our next stop is National Museum of the American Indian but we were not allowed to go in because of the Government Shut down! It was to inspire the immigrants that came along.
We then strolled to the place where Occupy Wall Street took place then we got to Battery Park, a place I always wanted to go....I was glad to go but the view was not that great due to the foggy weather but we still enjoyed the place. We were able to see a piece from the trade center placed into the park, its a sphere that was damaged from the world trade center but it was not destroyed. We also got to see lady liberty, the staten island ferry. The amazing thing was the musical wood piece - while we stepped on it, it played a note. The name of Battery park recalls a row of cannons that defended the original fort and stood near the present sidewalk west of the Custom House. (BG 46) There was a big eagle which faced the water. Below is a video that was made by someone else which is a tour of Battery Park.
After that we strolled through wall street (New York Stock Exchange). It is the world's largest stock exchange. It was moved in the current area in 1903. Many major corporations and banks were located in this area. (BG 64) We were able to see the George Washington statue in New York City Hall outside, were were not allowed to go inside because of the Government Shut Down! Then we walked over to touch the bull for the good luck! Did I take the challenge to touch the bull and run up the stairs? No way! our next stop is National Museum of the American Indian but we were not allowed to go in because of the Government Shut down! It was to inspire the immigrants that came along.
We then strolled to the place where Occupy Wall Street took place then we got to Battery Park, a place I always wanted to go....I was glad to go but the view was not that great due to the foggy weather but we still enjoyed the place. We were able to see a piece from the trade center placed into the park, its a sphere that was damaged from the world trade center but it was not destroyed. We also got to see lady liberty, the staten island ferry. The amazing thing was the musical wood piece - while we stepped on it, it played a note. The name of Battery park recalls a row of cannons that defended the original fort and stood near the present sidewalk west of the Custom House. (BG 46) There was a big eagle which faced the water. Below is a video that was made by someone else which is a tour of Battery Park.
We took the subway to Chelsea, we went into the chelsea market and had a small lunch, most of us felt it was pricey to get a simple meal. Western and eastern Chelsea have developed differently through years. The Hudson River Railroad, later absorbed the New York Central, laid tracks down Eleventh avenue attracting breweries, slaughterhouses, and glue factories, which in torn attracted job-hungry immigrants. (BG 185) After that we talked about the meat industry which it was previously known as Gansevoort Market, it gentrified rapidly during the 1990s with stylish bars and restaurants, high concept clothing and design stores, and art galleries spilling south from Chelsea. (BG 184) All the restaurants got their meat from chelsea. After that we all went and walked into the high line. The high line was built in the mid 19th century, the New York Central Railroad used to run at the street level down Eleventh and, further south, along Tenth Avenue. The streets were clogged with traffic, the trains were dirty and the tracks were dangerous which lead its name as death avenue. (BG 188)
After walking through the high line we hopped off then walked to do our gallery hopping. The first one was mostly about prostitution. It was all photographs not provocative or anything but of people waiting for customers at random places and some people sitting in motels. Then the next gallery we went to had a piece of very unique art which had a painting, a photograph and piece of hair hanging. It was interesting and a combination of many different types of art.
After walking through the high line we hopped off then walked to do our gallery hopping. The first one was mostly about prostitution. It was all photographs not provocative or anything but of people waiting for customers at random places and some people sitting in motels. Then the next gallery we went to had a piece of very unique art which had a painting, a photograph and piece of hair hanging. It was interesting and a combination of many different types of art.
~Immigrant New York~
Our journey is ending as this is our last class. As usual we all met at Penn Station. Then we all headed our way to explore the Lower East Side by Delancey Street. In 1850 the Irish and Germans were occupied but caused many crimes. By 1860's many Jewish people came due to all the executions that were happening. By 1880s - 1990s many Italian and Chinese people had arrived, the population of Chinese people were so much that the government had to shut down immigrants from China. The 1900s Lower East side was the most dense area in the world. Latin Americans and many other different cultures appeared as gentrification started to happen.
Essex park came during the 1900s as peddlers would sell vegetables and meat on the streets which caused a bigger problem because all the rotten vegetables, fruits and meat would be left behind on the sidewalks which caused smell, dirt and many diseases due to the inviting rodents. Due to the increasing problem La Guardia created the Essex Market which was an indoor place for everyone to shop. We all got the chance to go inside and yes! they sell everything you can possible think of. They had vegetables, fruits, rice, bakeries, meat, seafood, coffee shops and bakeries! I thought it was nice to get everything at one stop. After this we met the wonderful tour guide Jim again.
Our first stop was at heaven! I meant Economy Candy- world's best candy store. It had every possible candy you can ever imagine. I saw candies while I was a child which I thought didn't exist anymore. Yes I was so excited to tell my brother and cousins about this. We all plan to visit the store. I got some goodies for my nephew and niece and of course for myself!
We stopped by 92 st which was significant for the amount of tenements in 1833. By 1877 the crowd had gotten worse and people that lived in the tenements only had 1 bathroom for every 20 people. The rooms were very small without any ventilation. By 1979 a law passed to have window in every room. By 1916 the beautiful fire escapes became a law.
Bugsy Seagle who was a famous Jewish mobster had created a huge underground tunnel which is now in the process of becoming the next high line but this should be underground for 6 blocks.
Williamsburg relieved the density of the amount of people who were in lower east side, many of the carts that sold vegetables and meat usually crossed the bridge to provide for both side customers. Jay Z used to live in Williamsburg among the project housing. 1st street is one of the oldest project housing. Project housing is an adequate housing for the poor. Currently, they are going to built taller buildings to accommodate more people. James De Lancey was the largest real estate owner.
Alphabet street is the only street which is named by just letters.
The largest sugar factory in the world was Domino Factory which has been closed. We were able to see it while crossing the Williamsburg Bridge at the end of the day. It was nice to see something that famous.
Bialystoker Synagogue was built in 1826 but later on converted into a Church. It was an AME which means two types of segrations coming together. We were later on able to see Ritualarium which is where Jewish women need to get showered before their marriage to get purified.
After that from a distance we were able to see the Old Grant Street playhouse.
Henry Street Settlement was built for prosperous shop-owners, ship's captains from the South Street Seaport area, and others in the maritime trades. (BG 125) Lillian Wald is the founder of Henry Street Settlement she is one of New York's greatest figure. She devoted herself tirelessly to the poor to awaken the awareness of money needed for the poor to work towards diseases, illness and malnutrition. (BG 125)
Next stop was St. Teresa which is the third most oldest Roman Catholic church. Forward is the largest Jewish Newspaper.
We walked around Chinatown grew only slowly for centuries. By 1869 the Chinese population increased. Peasant laborers brought to build the railroad found themselves without work, and the increasing racial hostilities in the west drove many eastward in the late 1870s. (BG 108) We strolled around, we sampled some ice cream from the famous Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. It smelled horrible while walking through the streets so I did not enjoy much. We all later gathered to Congee Village and had our wonderful final lunch together. It was delicious. It was so nice to talk more to Jim and Meritta. Mike was running around because our table was not getting the food but he made sure we were full by the end of the trip.
Our final stop was the Tenement Museum, a former tenement, was founded in 1988 to preserve the heritage of the nation's immigrants, honoring the millions who lived on the Lower East Side and other immigrant ghettos. (BG 122)It was one of the best trips we took. It was fun and interesting. It was a living history tour. So we all went back to October 18. 1916 and we were a Russian family that had just came to New York. Victoria Confino's visitors. Victoria Confino was a Sephardic Jew who had siblings who lived in horrible living conditions. She used to live in a big house and she had to move and live in a small apartment with no ventilation, only 2 toilets per floor which atleast 4 familes lived and sleep on the floor. Entering the country she had to go through a line inspection which they tested everyone's eye using a button hook. The same button hook was used eye after eye so if someone was infected with pink eye they would be send to the local hospital and the next person can get affected! Settlement houses were to help immigrants to get jobs, learn English and start a new life in America. I thought the actress was amazing! She really did a great job in explaining and acting. Below is a video of the Tenement Life...
Essex park came during the 1900s as peddlers would sell vegetables and meat on the streets which caused a bigger problem because all the rotten vegetables, fruits and meat would be left behind on the sidewalks which caused smell, dirt and many diseases due to the inviting rodents. Due to the increasing problem La Guardia created the Essex Market which was an indoor place for everyone to shop. We all got the chance to go inside and yes! they sell everything you can possible think of. They had vegetables, fruits, rice, bakeries, meat, seafood, coffee shops and bakeries! I thought it was nice to get everything at one stop. After this we met the wonderful tour guide Jim again.
Our first stop was at heaven! I meant Economy Candy- world's best candy store. It had every possible candy you can ever imagine. I saw candies while I was a child which I thought didn't exist anymore. Yes I was so excited to tell my brother and cousins about this. We all plan to visit the store. I got some goodies for my nephew and niece and of course for myself!
We stopped by 92 st which was significant for the amount of tenements in 1833. By 1877 the crowd had gotten worse and people that lived in the tenements only had 1 bathroom for every 20 people. The rooms were very small without any ventilation. By 1979 a law passed to have window in every room. By 1916 the beautiful fire escapes became a law.
Bugsy Seagle who was a famous Jewish mobster had created a huge underground tunnel which is now in the process of becoming the next high line but this should be underground for 6 blocks.
Williamsburg relieved the density of the amount of people who were in lower east side, many of the carts that sold vegetables and meat usually crossed the bridge to provide for both side customers. Jay Z used to live in Williamsburg among the project housing. 1st street is one of the oldest project housing. Project housing is an adequate housing for the poor. Currently, they are going to built taller buildings to accommodate more people. James De Lancey was the largest real estate owner.
Alphabet street is the only street which is named by just letters.
The largest sugar factory in the world was Domino Factory which has been closed. We were able to see it while crossing the Williamsburg Bridge at the end of the day. It was nice to see something that famous.
Bialystoker Synagogue was built in 1826 but later on converted into a Church. It was an AME which means two types of segrations coming together. We were later on able to see Ritualarium which is where Jewish women need to get showered before their marriage to get purified.
After that from a distance we were able to see the Old Grant Street playhouse.
Henry Street Settlement was built for prosperous shop-owners, ship's captains from the South Street Seaport area, and others in the maritime trades. (BG 125) Lillian Wald is the founder of Henry Street Settlement she is one of New York's greatest figure. She devoted herself tirelessly to the poor to awaken the awareness of money needed for the poor to work towards diseases, illness and malnutrition. (BG 125)
Next stop was St. Teresa which is the third most oldest Roman Catholic church. Forward is the largest Jewish Newspaper.
We walked around Chinatown grew only slowly for centuries. By 1869 the Chinese population increased. Peasant laborers brought to build the railroad found themselves without work, and the increasing racial hostilities in the west drove many eastward in the late 1870s. (BG 108) We strolled around, we sampled some ice cream from the famous Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. It smelled horrible while walking through the streets so I did not enjoy much. We all later gathered to Congee Village and had our wonderful final lunch together. It was delicious. It was so nice to talk more to Jim and Meritta. Mike was running around because our table was not getting the food but he made sure we were full by the end of the trip.
Our final stop was the Tenement Museum, a former tenement, was founded in 1988 to preserve the heritage of the nation's immigrants, honoring the millions who lived on the Lower East Side and other immigrant ghettos. (BG 122)It was one of the best trips we took. It was fun and interesting. It was a living history tour. So we all went back to October 18. 1916 and we were a Russian family that had just came to New York. Victoria Confino's visitors. Victoria Confino was a Sephardic Jew who had siblings who lived in horrible living conditions. She used to live in a big house and she had to move and live in a small apartment with no ventilation, only 2 toilets per floor which atleast 4 familes lived and sleep on the floor. Entering the country she had to go through a line inspection which they tested everyone's eye using a button hook. The same button hook was used eye after eye so if someone was infected with pink eye they would be send to the local hospital and the next person can get affected! Settlement houses were to help immigrants to get jobs, learn English and start a new life in America. I thought the actress was amazing! She really did a great job in explaining and acting. Below is a video of the Tenement Life...
We had the option of either going home or crossing the Williamsburg Bridge. So I wanted to go and see the difference.....It was amazing! There was so much graffiti there and some were very nice but there were some not that great. One interesting fact was the bridge has a walking/running path, bike lane, between both there is a subway track and below there are cars and trucks going through!!!! how amazing is that! I was so impressed with that. But honestly I would not feel safe to go alone in the bridge because we did not see much people crossing it, it was only a handful. We crossed and we went to the waterfront as the sun was setting.......the view was amazing! just incredible! As we viewed that I departed from everyone because I promised my cousin to have dinner with him since it was my last day of annoying him. LOVED MY EXPERIENCE!
~Final Impressions of New York~
My final thoughts about this class is, it was a unique fun class and the BEST class I took! The work that came along with the class was not easy but the journals created on the website made a place that I can look back and take my family or friends to places I enjoyed the most. I learned so much about the subway system which I can travel alone and manage not to get lost. (hope so)
My favorite places were 5 pointz graffiti art work, I was very upset to know it was soon to be gone. It was something I always looked at while going to class (LIC to PENN) and notice changes each week. I enjoyed Roosevelt Island, I was crazy scared to get on the tramp but I LOVED it!!! I can't wait to bring people into Roosevelt Island, I just enjoyed the triangle view. Then I also loved the Museum of Moving Images.....it was the coolest museum! I just enjoyed it very much. I also enjoyed seeing the cola sign in Long Island City also the beautiful water front view.
I enjoyed crossing the Brooklyn Bridge and see the difference between Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge. I think I did enjoy Williamsburg more because of all the creative art work plus I thought it was amazing to see subway,bike lane, pedestrians and cars/trucks! how cool! But if you want an elegant stroll and safer stroll I believe Brooklyn is better since there is more crowd. I also enjoyed seeing the Transit Museum, it brought back good childhood memories, getting in the train with my dad! The doctor's office was always a cry from the train to the hospital, which my doctor still made fun of me recently when I saw her!
I have a better appreciation for the history and amazing art work, sculptures around the city. I learned so many different things in this class.
Things I hated the most was the reclaimed urban space museum.....I thought it was torture and waste of time! Central park.....I didn't think all that walk was necessary, yes at the beginning was fun but it got a little tiring at the end. I would prefer doing something else with that time.
My summary of the amazing class through pictures......below! Thanks Mike and Meritta for the awesome experience and amazing picture!
My favorite places were 5 pointz graffiti art work, I was very upset to know it was soon to be gone. It was something I always looked at while going to class (LIC to PENN) and notice changes each week. I enjoyed Roosevelt Island, I was crazy scared to get on the tramp but I LOVED it!!! I can't wait to bring people into Roosevelt Island, I just enjoyed the triangle view. Then I also loved the Museum of Moving Images.....it was the coolest museum! I just enjoyed it very much. I also enjoyed seeing the cola sign in Long Island City also the beautiful water front view.
I enjoyed crossing the Brooklyn Bridge and see the difference between Brooklyn Bridge and Williamsburg Bridge. I think I did enjoy Williamsburg more because of all the creative art work plus I thought it was amazing to see subway,bike lane, pedestrians and cars/trucks! how cool! But if you want an elegant stroll and safer stroll I believe Brooklyn is better since there is more crowd. I also enjoyed seeing the Transit Museum, it brought back good childhood memories, getting in the train with my dad! The doctor's office was always a cry from the train to the hospital, which my doctor still made fun of me recently when I saw her!
I have a better appreciation for the history and amazing art work, sculptures around the city. I learned so many different things in this class.
Things I hated the most was the reclaimed urban space museum.....I thought it was torture and waste of time! Central park.....I didn't think all that walk was necessary, yes at the beginning was fun but it got a little tiring at the end. I would prefer doing something else with that time.
My summary of the amazing class through pictures......below! Thanks Mike and Meritta for the awesome experience and amazing picture!