Manhattan By Bus
Introducing my new book, Manhattan by Bus! 
To learn more and to make a purchase go to:
CreateSpace - https://www.createspace.com/3671458
or
Tour guide turns tourist!
Hey!
As some of you know, my husband and I are traveling around the world. My focus has turned to our travel blog, www.knosack.com
Please check it out!
My favorite hometown attraction
Jeff and I spent our last month before the big adventure in my hometown of Franklin, TN. I have always been really passionate about the history of my town and the local sights. My absolute favorite visit is Carnton Mansion.
Since I have completed my book, Manhattan by Bus and we are now setting out to travel and I am not quite sure how my tour guide heart will handle being in places I know nothing about.
This video serves as a short introduction to Carnton Mansion and a “bon voyage snippet” of my favorite place before I head out into the wild blue yonder of the world…in search of other… snippets.
Wish me luck!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGWb3aVqFKI&edit=ev&feature=uenh
Highlights of Bus Tour – Lower East Side, Soho, & West Village.
Start on East Houston and Ave C (Loisaida)
End of Bus Tour – Spring St. and Washington St.
Duration – 25 minutes (off-peak time)
What to see before the tour?
Walk the Williamsburg Bridge. The entrance is three blocks south of where the bus picks you up at Clinton and Delancey
Begin Tour once you are on the bus
Lower East Side (L/R neighborhood)
The borders of LES are 14th St. to the north, East River to the east, Fulton St. to the south and Pearl St. to the west. Is known for it’s tenement buildings, immigrants, food, and pop culture. This area was one of the original neighborhoods developed for the poor immigrants trying to make their way in America. The famous slum area known as ‘5 points’ was part of the Lower East Side. Jacob Riis’s famous book “How the other half Lives” was published in 1890 and depicts the tenement building conditions at the time. Because of the diversity of the people in the neighborhood, it meant that there were scores of different types of food that would eventually make the neighborhood famous. In the 1970’s, there were tons of rock venues helping famous bands get their start i.e. Blonde and the Police.
Houston Street (L/R)
The fastest way to give away that you are a tourist is to pronounce Houston St. like the city in Texas. You should pronounce it “how-stən” or “house” plus “ton”. This isn’t meant to be a cruel trick against tourist it was a corruption through time. The street is named for William Houstoun. He was a member of the Continental Congress and lived in this area in the 1780’s. Through time the spelling changed through absent-mindedness or laziness and the streets signs show that change, but we still pronounce it correctly. The Street was important at the time of the commissioner’s grid plan was adopted in 1811. Since the city was developed up to this street that meant that the grid plan was put into effect above Houston St. So in theory the city’s streets and avenues are organized north of Houston even though it really doesn’t go into effect until 14th Street and below Houston St. the streets and avenues are very confusion because they are part of the original city.
Cross Clinton St. / Avenue B
ABC Playground (L & Norfolk)
This playground opened in 1934 to help with the overcrowding that has always been a problem in the Lower East Side. It is the named ABC playground because Alphabet City is nearby. In 2007, Tom Otterness unveiled his play sculpture, titled Large Coqui. It is a larger-than-life Puerto Rican tree frog with animated facial features. Mr. Otterness has lived in the neighborhood for years and wanted to build something that was great for the kids to play on and that gives respect to the Puerto Rican community that has been in the neighborhood.
Cross Essex St. / Avenue A
Katz Deli (L, 205 Houston)
This kosher style delicatessen opened in 1888. They are famous for a few things. Number one would be their Food i.e. hot dogs and pastrami sandwiches. They started a campaign during WWII that was “send a salami to your boy in the army”. They still send out sandwiches when our troops are abroad. The most famous scene from a movie that was shot in Katz is from “When Harry met Sally”. Meg Ryan’s character fakes an orgasm and there is a sign at the booth it was shot in. You can also see tons of celebrity photos that line the wall inside Katz.
Russ & Daughters (L & 179 Houston)
Opened in 1914 this “appetizing store” is still owned and operated by the Russ family. The “appetizers” on the front sign refers to jewish cuisine and kosher standards, so everything Russ and Daughter sells is in line with that. They mainly sell lox, whitefish and cream cheese which are all wonderful additions to a NYC bagel.
Peretz Square (R)
Named in 1952 for Isaac Loeb Peretz. He was a Jewish Pole who has been thought of as the father of modern Jewish literature. He died in 1915
Cross Allen St. / First Avenue
Sunshine Theatre (L & 134 Houston)
Built – 1909
It was known as the Houston Hippodrome, a yiddish theatre. In 1945, it fell into disrepair and was used as a warehouse. Sunshine theatre company took over the space in the 1990’s and renovated the old theatre into a 5 theatre movie house. It was one of the best film art houses in the city.
Yonah Shimmel Knish Bakery (L & 137 Houston)
Yonah started his bakery in 1890 as a street cart vendor. Once business picked up he move into this location on Houston street. He was bought out by his business partner Joseph Berger in 1910, but Berger did not change the name. Their knishes are considered the best knishes in the New York. For those who don’t know, a knish is a yiddish snack food made with potato.
Sarah D. Roosevelt (L)
Named after President Roosevelt’s mother Sarah. This is a green oasis amid the glass and concrete of the Lower East Side. The city opened this park in 1934. It is the largest park in the neighborhood at 7 acres.
Cross Chrystie / Second Avenue
Cross Bowery
Cross Elizabeth
Cross Mott
Little Italy (neighborhood)
Little Italy use to be the largest ethnic neighborhood in the city. The neighborhood borders were Bleecker to the north, Lafayette to the west, Canal to the south and Bowery to the east. Then, the chinese started immigrating in droves and building up neighboring Chinatown. Now Chinatown is huge and Little Italy runs the length of Mulberry St. from Canal at the south to Houston at the north. It is a big tourist destination with shops and restaurants. We lovingly call this area of town Nolita, which means North of Little Italy.
Cross Mulberry
Puck Building (L & Lafayette St.)
Built – 1893
Style – Romanesque Revival
By – Albert Wagner
The Puck Building was originally home to J. Ottmann Lithographing Company and Puck Magazine. Hence the two Puck sculptures on the facade of the building. The building housed many different printing companies until the 1990’s. Now it is an office space with event ballrooms on the ground floor. If you recognize the building it might be because you were a big fan of the sitcom “Will & Grace”. The show used a facade shot of the Puck building as the location for Grace’s agency.
Cross Lafayette
Gas Station (L)
I point out this not-so-special gas station because gas stations are limited on Manhattan island, mainly because real estate is so expensive.
Cross Crosby St.
Cross Broadway
SOHO (L, neighborhood)
Is one of the most famous areas of NYC. The borders of the neighborhood are Houston to the north, Crosby to the east, canal to the south and 6th Ave. to the west. The acronym SoHo stands for “south of Houston”. This trend to give neighborhoods acronym nicknames came from the real estate industry. In the 1970’s they were trying to get people to move into SoHo, but at the time it was a shady neighborhood with vacant warehouses and crime. The sexy “SoHo” name didn’t sound so dangerous and it attracted artist who could afford the low rent. Once you have artist inhabit a place it becomes hip and developers will put money into renovating rundown buildings, hence Soho became the first gentrified area in NYC.
The Wall (L & Broadway)
Built – 1973
Style – Outdoor Art installation
By – Forrest Myers
This outdoor art installation was originally commissioned in 1973 as a way to bring art to the masses and hide some less attractive elements of the west wall of 599 Broadway. In 2005, the building owner wanted to sell the wall area for advertisements. The art installation was taken down and after many years of debate and a decision was made to let art and commerce co-exist. The Wall was raised from it’s previous spot to make room for advertisements at street level.
Cable Building (R & 611 Broadway)
Built – 1884
Style – Beaux Art
By – McKim, Meade and White
Metropolitan Traction Company built this building to serve as office space with a basement dedicated as a hub for the new cable car industry. Steam engines and giant wheels were put in the basement where they would constantly pull 60 cable cars from downtown uptown. The cable cars went 30 miles an hour and we are an upgrade from the dirty horse and carriages people were use to. On the southeast corner of the building is the Angelika Theatre.The independent theatre moved into this space in 1989. The theatre has 6 cinemas and a great cafe at entry-level that is open to everyone – not just ticket holders.
Cross Mercer
University Village (R)
Built – 1967
Style – Modern
By – James Ingo Freed & I. M. Pei
These three towers are part of a housing complex built for NYU students. The buildings were added as a landmark in 2008.
Crosses W Broadway and La Guardia Pl
Cross Thompson
St. Anthony of Padua Church (L & 155 Sullivan St.)
Built – 1888
Style – Italian Renaissance
By – Arthur Crooks
This Roman catholic church was started in 1859 by the Church of St. Vincent de Paul. This is the second site the church has been on and it is largely an Italian Catholic parish. St. Anthony is known as the Doctor of the Church.
Crosses Sullivan Street
Crosses Macdougal Street
Crosses 6th Avenue
West Village (L/R neighborhood)
This legendary neighborhood is the oldest neighborhood in the city. When all the city of New York was down where Battery park is today. There was a small village name Greenwich. In the 1780’s it was considered another town. In the 1830’s it was considered a sanctuary for those who were trying to survive the yellow fever epidemic. In the 1811, there was a commissioner plan that stated all the island of Manhattan would be gridded off for two reasons; One – to create organization by numbering streets and avenues, the second reason – once that the island was gridded off then the city could sell blocks of land (The city has always needed money). What made this a landmark step in the early cities history is that they could not have foreseen this city becoming home to 8 million people and now the number grid is crucial to navigate our way around the city, tourist and locals alike. This is why Greenwich Village is so special and confusing to walk through. The Village was already established making it exempt for the grid plan that in theory starts at Houston Street and in actuality starts at 14th St. Because the Village was undisturbed during this time we still have a nineteenth century space in our big city. In turn, providing a quaint atmosphere for the artist who lived here in the 1960’s. Now much of the village is coveted residential space with a heavy gay scene, theatre scene and stores galore. The borders of this neighborhood are; 14th St. to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston to the south and to the west the Hudson River.
Film Forum (L & 209 Houston)
Film Forum started in 1970 as an independent art house to view independent films. The Film Forum has been on Houston St. since 1989. It has three movie screens and 489 seats. You can always find a great flick here.
Crosses Varick St.
Crosses Hudson St.
Crosses Greenwich St.
Bus turns left on Washington St.
Bus turns left on Spring St.
James Brown House (R & 326 Spring St.) ~ one of my favorites!
Built – 1817
Style – Federal
This home was built for James Brown. Rumoured to be an African-American, who was an aide to Washington during the revolution. This was a newly developed area in the 1810 moving from swamp land to residential get away. The shoreline of Manhattan island use to be about 5 feet from the front door. It was common later in manhattan’s history for sections of the shoreline to add landfill to create more space on the island. Brown had made money in tobacco and could afford a new home in the ritzy area. After Browns death Thomas Clarke took over the house in 1850. He brewed whiskey and beer in the basement. In the 1890’s, it became a bar/restaurant with the apartment upstairs used as a boarding house, smuggler’s den and a brothel. It was a speakeasy during prohibition and once prohibition was lifted it was famous from coast to coast for it’s unofficial name “the green door”. In the 1970’s, new owners of the Bar wanted to give it a proper name. They decided to black out certain parts of the neon sign that read “Bar” so that it read “Ear”? Why you might ask. The answer is two-fold. They did not want to go through the legal hassle of changing the neon sign with landmark preservation and “Ear” magazine was being published on the second floor. All signs pointed to naming the bar “Ear Inn”.
Last Stop is on Spring St.
After tour:
Subway -
A / C / E subway trains are at Spring and 6th Avenue
Food -
The Ear Inn / James Brown House – $$
326 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013-1322
(212) 431-9750
Hundred Acres – $$$
38 MacDougal Street
New York, NY 10012
(212) 475-7500
Dessert -
Jacques Torre Chocolate $
350 Hudson St
NYC, NY 10014
(212) 414-2462
More History & Culture -
New York City Fire Museum $
278 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013-1405
(212) 691-1303
Shopping:
Walk east on Spring St. to Thompson St. and W Broadway. This is Soho shopping at it’s finest.
Free:
Walk west to the Hudson River Greenway to walk on the edge of the island
M72 Crosstown from Upper West Side to Upper East Side
Bus Tour – M72 East Side York Av Crosstown
Highlights of Bus Tour – Upper West Side, Central Park, Upper East Side
Start on 70th St. and Freedom Place
End of Bus Tour – 72nd Street and First Avenue
Duration – 25 minutes (non-rush hour)
What to see before the tour?
Riverside Park is a gorgeous park that begins at 72nd St and runs north on the west coast of the island. You can start your walk at 72nd St. and Riverside Drive.
Tour begins – Get on Bus at W 70th Street and Freedom Place on the Upper West Side. The bus will move east across Manhattan Island.
Upper West Side (neighborhood)
The upper west side is known as a residential neighborhood full of artists and creative types. Made famous for it’s luxurious apartment buildings that were built at the turn of the century just in time for the subway to open, guiding the rich out of their row houses downtown and into the highrise apartment buildings that we know today. The Upper West Side is known for being a very good area to raise a family, it is a bit hip, and has great upscale restaurants, shops and bakeries. The boundaries of the neighborhood are 125th St. to the north, Central park west to the east, 59th St. to the south and the Hudson river to the west.
Bus turns left on to West End Ave
Bus turns right on 72nd Street
72nd Street Subway Station (L @ Broadway)
Built – 2002
Style – inspired by the original control house
By – Gruzen Samton and Richard Dattner and Partners
This entrance to the 72nd Subway stop for the 1,2, & 3 train was paramount since the original station (across the street) did not allow for commuter free transfers and connection to the uptown and downtown platforms. The new control house opened in 2002 and has provided much-needed easy of access to the 1, 2, and 3 trains.
Verdi Square (L @ Broadway)
The city acquired the square in 1887.
In 1906, a statue of famed Opera composer Giuseppe Verdi by Sicilian sculptor Pasquale Civiletti was unveiled.
72nd Street Subway Station (R @ Broadway)
Built – 1904
Style – Beaux Art
By – Heins & LaFarge
This was the first subway stop that was built on the upper west side. It opened in 1904, making it possible for this neighborhood to thrive as a residential area. The subway control house is the original control house. It is famous for its narrow stairway and platforms. This is an express stop which was the first of it’s kind when it was finished. It is one of only a few remaining “control houses” and it has amazing original mosaic tile work on the walls of the station.
Bus crosses Broadway
Bus crosses Amsterdam Avenue
Gray’s Papaya (R @ Amsterdam)
This is a famous hot dog restaurant that is a true new york staple. The namesake “papaya” is in reference to the fruit drinks they sell. This location has been in many movies. Haven’t had a hot dog yet? Better get one.
Bus crosses Columbus Avenue
The Dakota Apartments (L @ Central Park West)
Built – 1884
Style – North German Renaissance
By – Henry Hardenburg
This gorgeous apartment building was the first of it’s kind on the Upper West Side. It was finished in 1884 and there was nothing else in the neighborhood except Central Park. It was coined the “Dakota” apartments because it’s location was so far out-of-town it might as well be in the “Dakota territory”. You will also notice a Dakota indian in the facade of the building to the front entrance of 72nd St., way up at the top of the building. The apartment building was originally 65 apartments that ranged from 4 rooms to 20 room apartments. The arched entrance was meant for horse and carriages to enter into. Unfortunately, right outside the archway is the site where the former Beatle, John Lennon, was shot by murderer, David Mark Chapman. Yoko Ono, John Lennon’s wife still lives in the building.
Bus turns right onto Central Park West
Central Park (L )
Built; 1859
Style: English romantic tradition
By: Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmstead
Talks about a an impressive park in Manhattan began in the 1850’s. Major cities of the world, like London and Paris, had beautiful public parks and promenade areas. If New York wanted to secure itself as a major city it had to have an impressive public space. The 842 acres was acquired because it was famously a swampy, rocky, and inconsistent part of Manhattan island. Developing it for real estate in the 1850’s would have been unthinkable so making the middle of the island a grand park was a very popular idea.
Calvert Vaux and Frederick Law Olmstead submitted their entry to the “Greenwards Plan” into the Central Park Landscape Design contest and won. Their plan consisted of rolling sheep’s meadow, the Ramble, the Mall, the Promenade and Bethesda Terrace. It also included 4 transverse roads that run below the park and carry cross town traffic in a very discreet way.
Bus turns left onto 65th Street transverse Road
Tavern on the Green (L @ park entry)
Built: 1870
Style: High Victorian Gothic
By: Jacob Mould
Tavern on the Green was originally a barn for 200 sheep and a shepherd. This was part of the original “Greenwards Plan” to have a sheep’s meadow where real sheep frolicked. Once the stock market crashed in 1930, it was feared that people would begin slaughtering the sheep so they were moved upstate leaving the barn empty. The barn was renovated into a restaurant in 1934. Tavern on the Green is one of the most famous restaurants in the world.
Central Park Zoo (R @ 5th Avenue)
Built: 1864
Style: Neo Georgian
By: Aymar Embury II
Central Park Zoo was not part of the original Greenwards plan for Central Park. It began as a menagerie in 1864. Then in 1934, it became a zoo ( 2nd in the country next to Philadelphia) with new buildings and animals. The zoo is a popular stop in central park.
Temple Emanu-El (L @ 5th Ave)
Built: 1927
Style: Art Deco
By: Stein, Kohn and Butler
The temple is the largest Jewish house of worship in the country.
Bus crosses 5th Avenue
Upper East Side (neighborhood)
The Upper East Side boundaries are Central park to the west, 96th St. to the North, East River to the east and 59th St. to the south. This area has always been an upper class residential neighborhood. Many mansions were built-in this area at the turn of the century and those mansions have been converted into art galleries, consulates, and museums.
Bus turns left on Madison Avenue
Madison Avenue (L/R & Street)
The name “Madison Avenue” has become synonymous with the Advertising industry that flourished in the 1920 as well as the high-end shops that line the avenue from 70th St. to 86th.
St. James Church (R & 71st Street)
Built: 1884
Style: Romanesque
By: R. H. Robertson
The Protestant Episcopal congregation of St. James goes back to 1810. This is the church’s third home. The interesting bell tower is affectionately called “the tin can”. It was designed by Richard Kimball and added in 1950.
Bus turns right onto 72nd Street
Bus crosses Park Avenue
Park Avenue (L & R)
Park Avenue is one of the swankiest streets in the city, but it was not always that way. Notice how big the avenue is. It is the largest avenue on Manhattan island, but why? The reason it is so big is because the road was originally a train yard for the Steam Locomotive that were coming into Grand Central Depot (the predecessor to Grand Central Terminal). It was an extremely treacherous place to cross as a pedestrian which made the real estate to the east of the rail yard inhabitable. Between 1903 – 1913 Grand Central Depot was torn down to make way for the new and improved Grand Central Station. As part of this renovation, the train rails were put underground and electrified. This meant that Park Avenue could become a safe place to travel for pedestrians, it opened up the neighborhood for real estate development and naturally became the beautiful thoroughfare we know of today
Bus Crosses Lexington Avenue
Bus Crosses Third Avenue
Bus Crosses Second Avenue
Bus Crosses First Avenue
Last stop is at 72nd Street and First Avenue
After tour:
Subway -
4 & 6 subway trains @ 68th Street/Hunter College @ Lexington Ave. This is the only subway line on the east side so use it.
Food -
Brother Jimmy’s (E 77nd St. and 2nd Ave.) $$
Southern Food, BBQ
1485 2nd Avenue
New York, NY 10075
(212) 288-0999
Dessert -
Lady M Cake Boutique (E 78th St. and Madison Avenue) $$
41 East 78th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 452-2222
More History & Culture -
Frick Collection (70th between Madison and 5th)
1 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 288-0700
East River Esplanade
Walk down to 71st. and east to the water.
Then you can walk north or south on the water front walkway
Shopping:
Go back to Madison Avenue.
M42 Crosstown Tour: Pier 83 to United Nations
Bus Tour – M42 Un – 1 Av Crosstown
Highlights of Bus Tour – Times Square, Bryant Park, Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal and the UN building
Start on – 12th Avenue and 42nd St.
End of Bus Tour – 42nd St. and 1st Avenue
Duration – 31 minutes (non rush hour)
What to see before the tour?
Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum at Pier 86. The Intrepid is a ship that served during WW II and is now a national landmark and museum.
* * * *
Tour begins – Get on the Bus at 12th Ave. and 42nd St. The bus will head east on 42nd St.
You are in the Neighborhood known as Hell’s Kitchen -
Has the best name in town. It use to be a super sketchy side of town and now it is quite posh. Borders include (clockwise): 59th N, 8th Ave. E, 34th S, Hudson W. There are many stories about why the neighborhood is known as “Hell’s Kitchen”. My favorite one is from a New York Times report on Sept. 22, 1881. States, “Dutch Fred The Cop, a veteran policeman, who with his rookie partner, was watching a small riot on West 39th Street near 10th Avenue. The rookie is supposed to have said, “This place is hell itself,” to which Fred replied, “Hell’s a mild climate. This is Hell’s Kitchen.”
Lucky Strike (R, 42nd)
This is an upscale bowling alley that hosts private parties
Bus crosses 11th Ave
Peter Norton Space (L, 555 W 42nd)
This is a 160 seat theatre space.
Castille Theatre (L, 543 W 42nd)
This is an off-off-broadway house known for it’s experimental theatre.
Bus crosses 10th Ave.
Playwrights Horizon (R, 416 W 42nd)
Is a writers theatre dedicated to developing contemporary American Playwrights
Bus crosses 9th Ave.
Holy Cross Church (L, 329 W 42nd St.)
Built – 1870
Style – Italianate Gothic
By – Henry Engelbert
This is a Roman Catholic church that prides it’s self on having the oldest structure on 42nd st. Father Duffy was a pastor for the church after he served as a chaplain for the “Fighting Irish”, 69th Regiment in WW I. There is a statue of him in Times Square’s north end at “Duffy” square.
Port Authority Bus Terminal (R, @ 8th Ave.)
Built – 1950
Style – International Style II
Is the largest bus terminal in the US and the busiest in the world. About 200,000 commuters travel in and out daily, mainly from New Jersey.
Bus crosses 8th Avenue
AMC theatre (R @ 8th Ave)
Built – 1912
Style -
By – Thomas Lamb
This movie theatre was original the Eltinge Theatre. It was a Broadway house that seated 880 people and was named after famous female impersonator, Julian Eltinge. In the 1990’s the theatre was moved down the street to make way for the Madame Tussaud’s museum. The theatre was then converted into a movie theatre and renamed Empire AMC theatre. The facade and lobby are original.
American Airlines Theatre (L, 227 W 42nd)
Originally known as the Selwyn theatre. The Roundabout theatre company took over the theatre and renovated it in 2000. It is now the American Airlines theatre.
Madame Tussauds (R, Street)
Built 1997
Madame Tussaud’s is a wax museum with life-size wax models of celebrities, world leaders and historically significant people. It all began with Madame Tussaud being forced to make death masks of her former employers Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette upon their death. She later moved her wax museum to London. Now there are locations throughout the world.
Foxwood’s Theatre (L & 213 W 42nd)
Built – 1998
There has been a theatre on this site since the 1900. The most recent theatre is the Foxwood’s theatre which hold 1800 people.
New Amsterdam Theatre (R & 214 W 42nd)
Built – 1903
Style – Beaux Art
By – Herts and Tallant
The theatre was renovated in 1994 and now Disney has a 81 year lease on the property.
The New Victor Theatre (L & Street)
Built – 1899
Style – Venetian Renaissance
By – Albert Westover
The is theatre was originally built by Oscar Hammerstein as the Theatre Republic. It became the first burlesque house in 1931. Gypsy Rose Lee performed there. In 1942, the theatre was renamed the “Victory” and became the first XXX rated movie house. The city bought it in 1990 and renovated it. It reopened in 1995 as the New Victory.
Bus crosses 7th Avenue
Original New York Times Building (L @ 7th Ave)
Built – 1905
This is the location of the original New York Times building. It was finished in 1905 and was the first skyscraper in this area. The area was originally called “Longacre Square” and when the Times building was finished this area was renamed “Times Square”. The owner of the Times in 1905 wanted to celebrate the new building by holding a fireworks display on New year’s eve which was a big change for the city since up to this point everyone flocked to lower Manhattan to ring in the new year at Trinity church. Of course the rest is history, since Times square is synonymous with new year’s eve celebrations.
Knickerbocker Hotel (R & 6 Times Square)
Built – 1906
Style – Beaux Art
By – A.L. Pennock
Originally built as a hotel for John Jacob Astor. Upon his death on the Titanic, his son took over management. Times grew tough so the building was converted into office space and Newsweek became the tenant.
Bank of America building (L & 1 Bryant Park)
Built – 2009
By – Cook and Fox
This is the second tallest skyscraper in the city next to the Empire state building. It has 55 floors and a height of 1,200 ft. It houses the Bank of American company.
Buss Crosses 6th Avenue
Bryant Park (R )
Built – 1847
In 1847, this area became a public park. It was renamed Bryant Park in 1884 after William Cullen Bryant, who was an early advocate of public parks. Originally on this site, was the Croton reservoir (where the public library is now) and the Crystal Place (where the park is located). Both were torn down in the early 1900’s, to make way for the Library and the redeveloped park. This is the location for the annual fashion week.
New York Public Library (R @ 5th Ave)
Built – 1911
Style – Beaux Art
By – Carrere and Hastings
The New York Public Library was originally started by three families donating their private collections to the public good. These families were the Astor Family, the Tilden Family and the Lenox Family. Upon receiving these collections it became imperative to have a grand space to be house these libraries. The 5th Avenue branch had its cornerstone laid in 1902. The famous lions that guard the gate are named Patience and Fortitude. The names were coined by Mayor LaGuardia, Stating that new yorker’s needed Patience and Fortitude to make it through this trouble time. He was speaking of the stock market crash of 1929. Today the library system has 87 libraries.
Bus Crosses Madison Avenue
Grand Central Terminal (L & 89 E 42nd St)
Built – 1913
Style – Beaux Art
By – Warren and Wetmore
This train station is one of the most spectacular in the world. Known as Grand Central Terminal because all trains terminate here, it has 44 platforms with 67 tracks. It was saved from demolition in the 1960’s and continues to be a flourishing station, market and shopping location. If you step inside the main concourse you will see the painted starlit sky with zodiac characters. If you notice very closely there is a small black square in the northwest corner of the vaulted ceiling. This was left after the renovation of the ceiling as a reminder of how tobacco stained the beautiful ceiling once was.
Bus crosses Lexington Avenue
Chrysler Building (L & 405 Lexington Ave)
Built – 1930
Style – Art Deco
By – William Van Allen
This building was commissioned by Walter Chrysler, who owned Chrysler Automobiles. The shining steel frame is reminiscent of the car radiator, and the eagle ornamentations on the facade are replicas of the 1929 hood ornaments. Once completed, the Chrysler building was the tallest building until the Empire State Building was completed.
Bus crosses Third & Second Avenue
Tudor City (R @ first Avenue)
Built – 1928
Style – Neo – Gothic
By – Fred French and H. Douglas Ives
In the 1920’s this area was a slum. As an urban development initiative, this area was redesigned as an apartment complex in the “tudor style” of old england. The complex has 12 buildings that consist of residential space and hotels.
Last Stop is E 42nd St. and First Ave. @ UN Complex
The United Nations
Built – 1953
Style – International Style II
By – Le Corbusier
Though the complex is located in New York City, it is considered international territory. The complex includes the Secretariat Building, the General Assembly, the Dag Hammarskjold Library, the perimeter fence and outdoor sculpture garden. The United Nations was started after WW II as an international organization whose mission was to stop wars and provide dialogue for countries.
After tour:
Subway -
Head back to Grand Central via 42nd Street to connect to the 4, 5, 6, 7, and Shuttle
Food -
Grand Central Station – has a food court in the lower concourse and nicer restaurants like Naples 45, and Campbell Apartments.
Dessert -
Buttercup Bake shop
973 2nd Ave ( between 51st 7 52nd)
(212) 350-4144
Junior’s Cheesecake @ Grand Central
(212) 983-5257
More History & Culture -
- United Nations – has tours and you can gain access to the outdoor garden.
- Transit Museum – This is an annex museum located inside Grand Central Terminal. It has great a great gift shop too.
Shopping:
- Grand Central – has tons of shops
M14 Ave D – “M14 AD Lower East Side, Delancey – FDR”
http://www.mta.info/nyct/bus/schedule/manh/m014cur.pdf
Highlights Include – Chelsea Pier, Union Square, Alphabet City, Lower East Side and Williamsburg Bridge
Bus Tour Basics
Starts at 18th St. between 11th Ave and 10th Ave.
Tour Ends at is Delancey & Columbia
Duration:
What to see before the tour?
Chelsea Pier
Chelsea Pier is a 30 acre sporting complex that offers a hitting range, rock climbing wall, a spa, a microbrewery, a health club, batting cages and restaurant. Historically, the pier was at its heyday during the 1910’s – 1930’s. The Titanic was supposed to dock at pier 59 and instead the Lusitania, who had just left New Yorks pier 54, heard the distress call from the Titanic. The Lusitania was the ship that brought the Titanic survivors to New York City.
Highline (L & R)
In 1934, the Highline elevated railroad opened to connect the industrial area of 34th St. to St. John’s Terminal at Spring St. The elevated railroad was thought to cut down on accidents at street level and by allowing the train to run straight through buildings meant that loading and unloading freight could be efficient and kept from public view. The Highline flourished until the 1950’s when interstate trucking took off. The Highline slowly began to deteriorate and was slated for demolition in the 1980’s. Luckily “Friends of the Highline” was formed in 1999 and saved the Highline. In 2004, the architect firm that won the “Redesign the Highline” competition was , Diller Scofidio + Renfro. It is now an elevated public park.
Begin Tour
Chelsea (neighborhood)
Is a neighborhood of tenements, row houses, apartments and city housing. Named after the district of Chelsea in London. Borders of the neighborhood are 30th St. to the north, 6th Avenue to the east, 14th St to the south and west street to the west. Today it is famous for its independent art galleries, fabulous gay scene and designer boutiques.
Bus makes a right turn on to 9th Avenue
Chelsea Market (R, 16th St.)
Built:1890
Style: Corporate style??
By: Albert Zimmerman
This building was originally the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco). It was their warehouse where such favorites like Oreo’s, Fig Newtons, Saltines and Vanilla Wafers. Nabisco moved out of this warehouse in the 1940’s. A developer bought the warehouse and redesigned it into Chelsea Market in the 1990’s. Today the first floor of Chelsea Market is superb retail store and most of the offices in the higher floors are TV shows like Oxygen, the Food Network and NY1.
Port Authority Building (L, 16th)
Built:1932
Style: Art Deco
By: Abbot, Merkt and Co.
This building was originally the Port Authority commerce building. It is one of the largest buildings in the city taking up the full square block. Today it is known as 111 8th Ave. It is an office building that houses the Atlantic Theatre Co.
Apple Store (R, 15th St.)
Built: 2007
Style:
By:
Formally a Meat Market, this warehouse was turned into Apple’s 2nd largest store in 2007.
The Bus makes a left turn on to 14th St.
Our Lady of Guadalupe & St. Bernard’s Church
Built:1873
Style: English and French Gothic Revival
By: Patrick C Keely
This is a Roman Catholic church.
New York Savings Bank Building (L, 8th Ave.)
Built:1896
Style: Classic Revival
By: Robert Henderson Robertson
This building is now an upscale grocery called “Balducci’s”
New York County National Savings Building (R, 8th Ave.)
Built:1907
Style: Classical Revival
By:Theodore Wilhelm Emile De Lemos and August Wilhelm Cordes with Rudolph L Daus
This building in now a Men’s spa called “Nickel”
200 14th St. (R, 7th Ave.)
Built: 1889
Style: French Flat
By: James W. Cole
This apartment building was intended to be an eight family home. A notch up from the dumbbell tenement buildings that were being built throughout the city at this time. Jeanne d’arc statue was added to the facade as a decorative piece.
128 W 14th St. (L, )
Site of original metropolitan Museum of art from 1873 – 79
Salvation Army (R )
Built: 1928
Style: Art Deco
By: Voorhees, Gmelin, and Walker
Built to be the New York home for the Salvation Army.
56 W 14th St. – Original Macy’s Building (R, )
Built:1898
Style:??
By: Schickel & Ditmars
This building was the original Macy’s. You can still see a Sign on West Wall and sign over door that reads “Macy’s”. The building was vacated in 1902 when the store moved to it’s home at 34th Street.
Union Square ( L, )
In 1807, the commissioner working on the grid plan that would become the cities famous numbered streets and avenues deemed this area “Union Place”. It was named “Union” because this is where the two main roads in the city came together. The roads were Broadway and Bowery (which is 4th Ave.). In 1839, the park official opened as a Union Square and in 1852 the Statue of George Washington was put in the park. The park has played a huge roll in the labor union rallie s of the 1920’s, which is why it is sometime incorrectly assumed that the park is named for labor “union”. The park is a natural meeting place for New Yorkers, so it was the unofficial place everyone gathered to mourn. Today, the park is popular for it’s retail stores and it’s green markets that are open Mon. Wed., Fri. and Sat.
Consolidated Edison Company Building (L @ Irving Pl.)
Built:1914
Style:
By: Henry Hardenburgh
This building is Con Edison’s headquarters. The “Tower of Light” was added to the top of the building by architects, Warren & Wetmore in 1929.
New York Eye and Ear infirmary (R, 2nd Ave)
The Eye Infirmary was founded in 1820 and the founders added “ear” research in 1824. The Infirmary was incorporated in 1864. The building you see on 14th Street is an added building that was completed in 1968. One block south of the 14th St. building, on 13th and 2nd ave, is the original Infirmary designed by Stanford White and opened in 1893.
Tifereth Isreal Town and Village Synogogue (R, )
Built:1866
Style: Rundbogenstil
By: Julius Boekell
This church was originally the First German Baptist Church. In 1962, Town and Village synagogue took over the building.
Stuyvesant Town – Peter Cooper Village (L @1st Ave.)
Built: 1943
Style:
By:Clavan & Clarke
Stuyvesant Town and the adjacent complex known as Peter Cooper Village were built in 1943. This project was part of an urban renewal of the gas light district that had become beyond seedy. The complex was built post – World War II for veterans and their families. It contains 35 buildings, each 14 story high. “Stuy Town” is named after Peter Stuyvesant, who was the last governor of New Amsterdam before the city was taken over by the British. Peter Cooper Village is named after Peter Cooper. He was an industrialist and he started Cooper Union.
Immaculate Conception Church (R,)
Built: 1896
Style:French Gothic
By: Barney and Chapman
Originally an Episcopal church called Grace Chapel, the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic parish took over the building in 1943.
Bus Turns Right onto Avenue C
Con Edison Plant (L @ East River)
Built: 1926
Style:
By: Thomas E. Murray
Known as the East River Plant, this is one of the 5 steam plants in Manhattan. This plant produces steam and electricity for the neighborhood. Con Edison runs the largest steam system in the world.
Alphabet City (neighborhood)
This is a neighborhood that is a part of the East Village and the Lower East Side. Known for its Alphabet avenues and streets, hence the name “Alphabet” city. This area was home to the Germans who lived in this area during the 1880’s – 1920’s, then in the 1950’s – 1970’s a wave of puerto rican immigrants made this neighborhood their home. In the 1980’s the area became run down with homeless and drug addicts. The Musical “Rent” speaks to this time and place. As is with most neighborhoods in NYC, this area is gentrifying and becoming an expensive and posh place to live.
Bus Turns Left on 10th St.
Jacob Riis Housing
Built: 1949
Style: International Style I
By: MacKenzie, Strauss and Walker & Gilette
This was an urban renewal project that demolished the infamous tenement buildings that Jacob Riis became famous for photographing. His book, “How the Other Half Lives” used photography to show how bad it was in the poor tenement communities of the Lower East Side and 5 points.
Bus Turns Right on Avenue D
Bus Turns Left onto Houston
Bus turns Right onto FDR drive
FDR Drive
Is a 9.5 mile freeway on the east side of Manhattan. Named after our president Franklin Delanor Roosevelt. The freeway starts at Battery Park underpass and runs north to 125th St. where it becomes Harlem River Drive
East River Park (L)
Built: 1939
This park is 57. 5 acres long. Up to to the 1930’s the water front would have been an active shipping yard, making it almost impossible for the residents of the Lower East Side to access the water, the fresh breeze or open green areas. Because of this, it became a major push for Robert Moses (NYC park’s commissioner) to make as many green spaces as possible on the water’s edge.
Bus turns Right onto Delancey St.
Williamsburg Bridge (L)
Built:1903
Style: Structural Expressionism
By: Hornbostel & Buck
The Williamsburg Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects the Lower East Side of Manhattan to the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. It carries 8 lanes of traffic and 2 tracks for subway.
Last Stop is: Delancey & Columbia St.
After tour:
Subway -
Walk on Delancy west to Norfolk street to grab the J,M,Z train or walk one more block west to Essex and take the F train.
Food -
Schillers - $$$
131 Rivington St
New York, 10002
(212) 260-4555
Bondi Rd. – $$
153 Rivington Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 253-5311
Burger King – $
146 Delancey Street
New York, NY 10002-3325
(212) 777-9522
Clinton Street – $$$
4 Clinton Street
New York, NY 10002-1703
(646) 602-6263
Dessert
Il Laboratorio del Gelato – $
95 Orchard Street
New York, NY 10002
(212) 343-9922
Sugar Sweet Sunshine – $
126 Rivington St # 1
New York, NY 10002-2391
(212) 995-1960
More History & Culture -
Walk over the Williamsburg Bridge into Brooklyn – It’s a 1.3 mile walk to the Brooklyn side
Visit the Tenement Museum – 108 Orchard between Broome and Delancey
Walk into Chinatown – Walk west on Delancey, take a left on Bowery and a right on Canal St.
Walk into Little Italy – Walk west on Delancey, take a left Mulberry St.
Shopping -
Essex’s Street Market (Delancey & Essex) – an indoor food market
M4 Bus Tour – Morningside Heights to Herald Square
M4 – “M04 Midtown via Broadway via 5th Ave.”
Highlights Include Central Park, Museum Mile, Empire State Building and Herald Square
http://www.mta.info/nyct/bus/schedule/manh/m004cur.pdf
Bus Tour
Starts at 110th St. (Cathedral Pkwy) and Amsterdam Ave.
Route Ends at 32nd St. and 7th Ave.
Duration:
What to see Before the tour?
St. John the Divine (1047 Amsterdam between 113th St. and Cathedral Pkwy)
Style: Gothic Revival
St. John the Divine is an Episcopal church that was designed in 1888. Construction began in 1892 and has virtually never stopped.
Start the Tour
Morningside Park (L, @ Morningside Heights Drive)
Finished in 1885 by, Calvert and Vaux, the famous team who designed Central Park. Morningside Heights gets it’s name from the cliffs in the park that get drenched in the morning sun. The 30 acre plot of land was left out of the Commissioner’s Grid Plan of 1811 because it was so rocky and hilly. Making it a park was the best use of the land.
Frederick Douglass Circle
Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist, a fighter for equality and women’s rights. It seems customary that this traffic circle be the entry way into Harlem, the famous african american neighborhood. The circle was named after Douglass in 1950 and the plaza was finished in 2010.
Central Park (L, )
843 acre park was finished in 1857 by Calvert and Vaux. The landscape architect team has submitted and won the Central Park Design competition with their “Greenward Plan”. The plan called for 36 bridges,……………
Harlem Meer
Duke Ellington Circle & Statue (L, )
This circle was renamed Duke Ellington Circle in 1995. The statue celebrating the famous musician was made by Robert Graham and unveiled in 1997.
Bus Turns Right on 5th Ave.
Central Park ( R, )
Do you notice the body of water in the park? This is the area of Central Park known as Harlem meer. The original designers named it that the “meer”, which means “lake” in dutch.
Across the water is a Victorian cottage that is the Charles Dana discovery center. It is one of the main welcome centers in the park. It was finished in 1993.
El Museo de Barrio (L, @105th St.)
Formally known as the Heckscher Building . This latino cultural museum moved into this space in the 1970’s and is the pride of Spanish Harlem.
Museum of the City of New York (L, 104th St.)
Built: 1930
Style: Neo-georgian
By :Joseph Freedlander
The museum was founded in 1923. It is an art & history museum whose focus is this great city
Mt. Sinai (L, 101th St.)
Founded in 1852, as the Jews’ Hospital in the City of New York. The Hospital was for jewish patients only until the civil war broke out and they began admitted union soldiers into their care. In 1866, the hospital changed it’s name to Mt. Sinai (in an effort to be religiously neutral) and began admitting patients in regardless of background or religion.Mt. Sinai one of the oldest and largest hospitals in the country. Famous for numerous “firsts” in the medical field.
The Jewish Museum (L, @ 93rd St.)
Built: 1909
Style: Francois I
By: C.P.H Gilbert
The building was originally Frieda and Felix Warburg mansion. Frieda had been a trustee to the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (founded in 1904). In 1944, Mrs. Warburg donated the mansion to the Seminary so that it could have a permanent home and a museum. The museum moved into the mansion in 1947.
Convent of the Sacred Heart (L, 92nd St.)
This is an independent girls school, founded in 1881 by the Society of the Sacred Heart. The school is housed in two landmark mansions. The first is the Otto Kahn Mansion ( the school took it over 1930) and the second is the James Burden Mansion (the school took it over in 1940).
The Otto & Adelaide Kahn Mansion
Built: 1918
Style: Neo-Roman
By: C.P.H Gilbert
The James & Adele Burden Mansion
Built: 1901
Style: Beaux Art
By: Warren & Westmore
Cooper – Hewitt Museum – National Design Museum (L, 91st St.)
Built: 1903
Style: Georgian Revival
By: Babb, Cook and Willard
The mansion was originally the home of Andrew & Louise Carnegie. Louise lived in the house up to her death in 1946. The museum took over the home in 1977. It is now a subsidiary of the Smithsonian Family of museums.
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis reservoir – (R, )
The reservoir was built-in Central Park in the 1860’s. It’s original function was to receive water from an aqueduct that traveled from upstate New York to give new yorkers clean drinking water. In 1993, it was put out of service because more modern tunnels were being built. The city renamed “Central Park” Reservoir to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis reservoir in 1994 to commemorate all the wonderful things she had done for the city. She would frequently run the loop around the reservoir which it why it the renaming seemed so fitting.
The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest (L, 90th St.)
Built: 1929
Style: Neo – Gothic
By: Mayer, Murray & Philips
The church was started in the 1865 by a group of veterans of the civil war. Their mission is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.
Guggenheim Museum (L, 89th St.)
Built: 1959
Style:Modern Movement
By: Frank Lloyd Wright
An international institution focusing on 20th century art and beyond.
Neue Galerie (L, 86th St.)
Built: 1914
Style:Beaux Art
By: Carrere and Hastings
Neue Galerie means “New Gallery” in German. The building was originally the home of William Starr Miller. The museum is dedicated to German and Austrian art and design.
Metropolitan Museum of Art (R, 84th St.)
Built: 1874
Style: Beaux Art
By: Vaux & Mould
Lovingly known as the “MET”, this museum is considered the best museum in the nation. It houses 2 million works of art. It is considered a “must-see” for visitors and locals alike.
Ukrainian Insititute of America (L, 79th St.)
Built: 1899
Style: French-Gothic Style.
By: C.P.H Gilbert
Originally known as the Fletcher-Sinclair Mansion, the museum purchased the house 1955.
The Institute focuses on promoting knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Ukrainian art.
Temple EmanuEL (L, 66th St.)
Built: 1927
Style: Art Deco
By: Stein, Kohn and Butler
The temple is the largest Jewish house of worship in the country.
Central Park Zoo (R, 65th St.)
The zoo was established n 1864 making it the second zoo in the country. The zoo went through major renovations in 1934 thanks to Robert Moses and now it is a very popular spot in the summer.
Grand Army Plaza (R, 60th St.)
This plaza is at the south-west corner of Central Park. It was finished in 1916 and named for the Union Army in the civil war. The bronze statue is of William Tecumseh Sherman, who was famous for his military strategy during the civil war.
The Plaza Hotel (R, 59th St.)
Built: 1907
Style: Late 20th century revival
By: Henry Hardenbergh
This famous landmark was originally built to be a luxury hotel. Today it is half hotel and half condo. When you step out the front doors of the Plaza, you see Pulitzer Fountain. The fountain is called “Abundance” and it depicts the goddess, Pomona, who is goddess of the orchard. The Plaza is a famous backdrop for movies like the Great Gatsby and Barefoot in the park, as well as the “Eloise” childrens books
The General Motors Building (L, 59th St.)
Built: 1968
Style: International Style
By: Stone & Associates
The General Motors Building is a true representation of the building style of the late 1960’s. The famous lobby which use to house a showroom of GM cars is now the home of the famous toy store FAO Schwartz. The Apple store that opened in 2006 has a unique presence with its glass cube entrance. Also, housed inside is the CBS show “The Early Show”.
Bergdorf Goodman (L & R 58th St.)
Built: 1928
Style: Beaux Art / second empire baroque
By: Buchman & Kahn
The company was founded in 1899. Once Bergdorf’s apprentice, Edwin Goodman, bought shares of the Bergdorf’s tailor stop they renamed it Bergdorf Goodman. Bergdorf Goodman moved to the location at 59th St. in 1928. The location on the left “The men’s store” was opened in 1990.
Trump Tower (L, 57th St.)
Built: 1983
Style:
By: Swanke, Hayden & Connell
Trump owns many buildings in New York, but this is where the infamous TV show the apprentice was filmed. The atrium is open to the public so go in and check things out.
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church (R, 55th st.)
Built: 1875
Style: Gothic
By: Carl Pfeiffer
The church was founded in 1808 and moved to this present site in 1875
St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue (R, 53rd St.)
Built: 1914
Style: French High Gothic
By: Cram & Goodhue
This is an Episcopal church whose incorporation dates back to 1824.
Cartier (L, 57th St.)
Built: 1905
Style: Renaissance Revival
By: C.P.H Gilbert
This building was formally the home of Morton Freeman Plant. He and his wife exchanged the mansion for a pearl necklace from Cartier. Cartier took over the mansion and it has been their store ever since. The architecture is breathtaking and a great example of the many mansions that use to line fifth avenue before it became a shopping destination.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral (L, 51st. St.)
Built: 1878
Style: Neo-Gothic
By: James Renwick
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a Roman Catholic church that is the oldest in the country, dating to 1785. It is one of the most famous landmarks in New York City.
Saks Fifth Avenue ( L, 50th St.)
Built: 1924
Style:
By: Starrett & Van Vleck
Saks Fifth Avenue was founded in 1867 by Andrew Saks. It was incorporated in 1902. The company moved into this building in 1924. They are famous for their window displays.
Rockefeller Center ( R, 50th St.)
Built: 1939
Style: Art Deco
By: Raymond Hood
John D. Rockefeller originally intended to build a home for the Metropolitan Opera on this site. After the stock market crash of 1929, he lost many of his investors. Instead of abandoning development all together, he decided to build an “internation complex” with 19 separate buildings that he solely financed. Included in the complex is Radio City Music Hall, The GE building with it’s roof top observation deck called, “Top of the Rocks”.
Diamond District (R, 47th St.)
The original diamond district was downtown near Canal and Bowery. When Hitler came to power many of the Orthodox jews who worked in the diamond districts of Europe fled to New York. The district grew and moved to it’s present location in the 1940’s. It is largely still run by Orthodox jews to this day. The governing body of the diamond district is called “The Diamon Dealers Club” they handle all transactions with a handshake and the yiddish saying “mazel und brucha which means “luck and blessings”.
New York Public Library ( R, 42nd St.)
Built: 1911
Style: Beaux Art
By: Carrere & Hastings
The New York Public Library was originally started by three families donating their private collections to the public good. These families were the Astor Family, the Tilden Family and the Lenox Family. Upon receiving these collections it became imperative to have a grand space to be house these libraries. The 5th Avenue branch had its cornerstone laid in 1902. The famous lions that guard the gate are named Patience and Fortitude. The names were coined by Mayor Laguardia, Stating that new yorker’s needed Patience and Fortitude to make it through this trouble time. He was speaking of the stock market crash of 1929. Today the library system has 87 libraries.
Lord and Taylor ( R, 39th St.)
Built: 1914
Style:
By: Starrett & Van Vleck
Samuel Lord and George Taylor founded their store in 1826 on Catherine St. In 1914, following the fade of moving uptown. Lord and Taylor opened it’s doors at this location. They were innovative at the time with for their store windows. Each display window could lower to the basement and be redesigned while not being an eye sore on the street level.
New York Public Library of Science, Industry and Business (L, 35th St.)
Built: 1906
Style: Renaissance revival
By: Trowbridge & Livingston
B. Altman & Co. was established in 1865. In 1906, the company moved to this location from ladies mile on 6th Ave. The store stayed at this location until it closed in 1989. In 1996, the New York Public Library of Science, Industry and Business moved in.
Bus makes a right turn on to 34th St. heading west.
Empire State Building (L, 5th Ave)
Built: 1931
Style: Art Deco
By: William F. Lamb
Empire State Building is the most famous landmark in the city. It was built during the stock market crash and it became a beakon of hope for new Yorkers as they watched it being built at record breaking speed. It took a year and 45 days to finish they 102 story building. Once it was finished it was the tallest building the city until the Twin Towers were built in 1973. It is famous for the observation deck at the top of the building and a fun feature are the floodlights that illuminate the top of the building every night (inspired by a variety of social events).
Macy’s (R, 6th Ave,)
Built: 1924
Style: Beaux Art
By:
The original Macys was opened in 1858 at the corner of 6th Avenue and 14th street. This store opened in 1924 as the “world’s largest store”. Macy’s is responsible for the world famous “Thanksgiving Day parade” which started in 1924 and in 1976 they began sponsoring the 4th of July fireworks spectaculor. Macy’s has proven itself in the New York landscape and will continue to be a “must-see” when visitors & locals alike.
Last stop for the tour is at 34th St. & Broadway
After tour:
Subway -
When you get off the Bus you are in Herald Square you are at a massive subway hub. You can catch the N, Q, R, B, D, F, M
Food -
Playwrights Bar & restaurant – $$
27 West 35th Street
New York, NY 10001-2247
(212) 268-8868
Jimmy’s Coffee Shop – $$
990 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10018-5419
(212) 244-2211
Cucina & Co. @ Macy’s – $$$
151 West 34th Street
New York, NY 10001
(212) 868-2388
Dessert
Haagen Dazs Ice cream – $
1286 Broadway
New York, 10001
(800) 767-0120
More History & Culture -
-Walk a block and a half east to the Empire State Building
-Walk two blocks to Madison Square Garden
-Walk 8 Blocks North to Times Square
-Walk 8 Blocks North to Bryant Park
Shopping:
-Shop at Macy’s. Herald square is loaded with great retails stores, so knock yourself out!
Bus Tour on M20 – Old New York
Start at the south tip of the island at Whitehall St. & State St. which is west of Pier 5 (ferries to Staten Island).
Get on the “M20 bus W63rd St. /Broadway”
As the bus makes a left on State street, immediately to your right between Pearl and Whitehall are two fantastic buildings. The first is the James Watson House in the Georgian style from 1793. This house is one of out oldest buildings on Manhattan island. The second building is a church built-in 1965, called the Seton Shrine. The shrine commemorates, Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 – 1821), the first American born saint who lived at this site in the eighteenth century.
Battery Park (L, )
Battery park is called “battery” because of artillery batteries that were stored at this site when the city was first being settled. You will notice the round stone building in the center of the park. This building is called Castle Clinton. It was once a fort, an aquarium, an opera house, and it is now where you pick up the ferry to the Statue of liberty and Ellis Island. There was a time when the “fort” was surrounded by water and a bridge would take you out to the fort, but in time the dutch filled in the land around it making a park.
Also in the park is “The Sphere”. This sculpture was in a plaza between the twin towers. After 9.11 it was found and relocated to Battery Park. It will be returned to its original location once the site is finished
Museum of the American Indian (R, State & Battery)
Was originally the US Customs House. It was finished in 1907 by Cass Gilbert. It is a gorgeous representation of Beaux Art. Daniel Chester sculpted the four statues that greet you as you enter the building. They represent the four continents (in order) American, Asia, Europe and Africa. The building is now the National Museum of the American Indian.
Bowling Park (R, State & Battery)
In 1733, this park became the first park official park in New York City. Notice the black fence that surrounds the park, it is the original fence from 1770.
Cunard Building (R, 25 Broadway)
This is a Renaissance Revival style building was built for Cunard Line and finished in 1921. This building served as the ticket office to the famous transatlantic passenger ships like the Queen Mary and the Queen Elizabeth II. You can still see remnants of this on the facade of the building. Look closely over the doors and you will see “first class” and “cabin class” identifing where you should enter to pick up your ticket.
Pier A (L, Battery Pl & West St.)
Was finished in 1886 and is in desperate need of repairs.
Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park (L)
This park has the best view of the statue of Liberty.
Museum of Jewish Heritage (L)
Is a living memorial to the holocaust. The building was designed by Roche-Dinkeloo and finished in 1997.
Skyscraper Museum (R, 39 Battery Pl)
The museum opened in 1997. It is the only museum of its kind that focusing solely on high-rise buildings, the manor we build them and the progress of specific highrise projects world-wide. In addition, the museum is designed to make you feel like you are in a construction zone with its tall ceilings and metal floor.
Rector Park (L & R)
One of the many green spaces provided by the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy
World Financial Center (200 & 225 Liberty)
This complex of buildings was finished in 1988. It includes four buildings and an internal garden called “Winter Garden”. I am especially fond of the Winter Garden because I spent a lot of time here before 9.11. In the years to come, leading tours in and out of Winter Garden became a treasure because this was the one spot where I could remember how the world trade center looked before the catastrophe. Ironically it became the one place I could bring groups to view to hallowed ground, the new construction site and explain what happened here on 9.11
World Trade Center – Ground Zero
The original world trade center was finished in 1973 by Minoru Yamasaki. The acts of 9.11 destroyed the two towers that stood 110 stories in the air, we lovingly called them the “twin towers” and 5 other buildings the made up the original complex. Now a new complex is under construction and will consist of 5 new skyscrapers (tower 1,2,3,4,5,), National Sept. 11th Memorial and Museum, and a new transportation hub. The actual footprints of the “twin towers” will be memorialized by two massive pools of water with waterfalls running down all four walls. The construction is slated to be finished in 2017
Borough of Manhattan Community College
The school opened at this location in 1983. Known as BMCC, it is the only community college in Manhattan and the largest college in the City University of New York system
Welcome to Tribeca – Tribeca stands for Triangle below Canal street. It runs south of Canal to Chambers Street and east to west from west street to Broadway. This use to be a residential area in the eighteenth century. When the city was taken up by the industrial revolution the houses were destroyed to make way for the warehouses and loft buildings you see today. Most date to the 1880.
St. John’s Park (R )
This park was once part of a dutch plantation in the 1670’s, then became a swanky park in the 1830’s surrounded by wealth home and adjacent to St. Paul’s Chapel (destroyed in 1918) In the 1860’s, this was where the first ice skating rink was. Then times got tough and the park was paved over to make way for a railroad freight yard and then the Holland tunnel.
Today it serves as the Holland Tunnel Exit plaza.
Canal Street
Canal street was an actual canal built-in 1805 to relive the city of the contaminated water at the Collect Pond (Centre & Leonard). Manhattan Island has always had a vast topography and this area was essential marsh land. The city needed to have a way to drain the land. The open canal ran from the East River to the Hudson. It was 40 feet wide with bridges that you could walk over. The canal began to get overloaded with garbage because passers-by would use it as a trash can. It was eventually covered in 1821. To this day, water still runs under Canal street. Today Canal street is synonymous with New york’s famous Chinatown.
Greenwich Village
This legendary neighborhood is the oldest neighborhood in the city. When all the city of New York was down where Battery park is today. There was a small village name Greenwich. In the 1780’s it was considered another town. In the 1830’s it was considered a sanctuary for those who were trying to survive the yellow fever epidemic. In the 1811, there was a commissioner plan that stated all the island of Manhattan would be gridded off for two reasons; One – to create organization by numbering streets and avenues, the second reason – once that the island was gridded off then the city could sell blocks of land (The city has always needed money). What made this a landmark step in the early cities history is that they could not have foreseen this city becoming home to 8 million people and now the number grid is crucial to navigate our way around the city, tourist and locals alike. This is why Greenwich Village is so special and confusing to walk through. The Village was already established making it exempt for the grid plan that in theory starts at Houston Street and in actuality starts at 14th St. Because the Village was undisturbed during this time we still have a nineteenth century space in our big city. In turn, providing a quaint atmosphere for the artist who lived here in the 1960’s. Now much of the village is coveted residential space with a heavy gay scene, theatre scene and stores galore. The borders of this neighborhood are; 14th St. to the north, Broadway to the east, Houston to the south and to the west the Hudson River.
J. James Walker Park (R )
Use to be a cemetery. You can still see a sarcophagus from 1834 there honoring three firemen. It became a park in 1896. The park’s namesake was a politician who was famous in the Jazz Age. He made baseball playing legal on Sundays and legalized professional boxing.
Church of St. Luke’s – (L, )
Was finished in 1821 in the Federal Style. Clement Clarke Moore was one of the founding wardens of the church and the man who coined, “Twas the night before Christmas”. Because of its location in the Heart of Greenwich village, it became a safe haven for those afflicted with AIDS in the early 1980’s.
Bleeker St. Playground (R )
The park was opened in 1963 as the first playground in Greenwich Village. The park was named after Anthony Bleecker. His family owned a farm in this area of the village, hence “Bleecker St.” which is the street that cuts through the farm – long since sold off. He was a writer of prose and poetry, ran around with William Cullen Bryant and Washington Irving, and was the founder of the New York Historical Society (founded in 1804)
Abingdon Square Park (L, @ Bleecker St.)
This park was established in 1831 by the city. It is named after Charlotte Warren’ s husband, Willoughby Bertie, the Fourth Earl of Abingdon. The Warren family had a manor and land in this area that became part of Charlotte’s dowery when they were married.
Jackson Square (R, @ Horatio St.)
This park is impressive because it shows up on the Commissioner’s Plan of 1811, but isn’t identified by name. Also, the road on the north end of the park is the oldest street in Greenwich Village – Greenwich Street. These two facts can sum up that this is indeed an old park. The park is named after President Jackson, the 7th president of the United States.
Chelsea (neighborhood)
Is a neighborhood of tenements, row houses, apartments and city housing. Named after the district of Chelsea in London. Borders of the neighborhood are 30th St. to the north, 6th Avenue to the east, 14th St to the south and west street to the west. Today it is famous for its independent art galleries, fabulous gay scene and designer boutiques.
Joyce Theatre (L, @ 18th St.)
Is a famous theatre foundation, est. in 1982, that promotes dance and choreography. The theatre space that the Joyce foundation took over was once called the Elgin theatre. It was a movie house in the 40’s and like many theatre spaces in the 80’s turned into a pornographic movie theatre. The Joyce foundation took over renovations and opened in 1984.
United States Post Office (L, 31st. St.)
Finished in 1912 by McKim, Mead and White in the Beaux Art Style sits one of the most beautiful Post offices in the country. Named after James Farley, who was the 53rd Postmaster General. The famous quote inscribed in the facade states, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” Movie Trivia – What movie used this building as the home for “Operation Santa”?
Miracle on 34th St.
Madison Square Garden / Pennsylvania Station (R, @ 31st. St)
Is the world’s most famous arena. It is an indoor complex famous for sports and musical events. It was built-in 1968 by Charles Luckman Associates. In conjunction with this complex is Pennsylvania Station; a train/subway station that is built below MSG. This station was finished in 1964. This complex is probably is hottest button you could push for a city preservationists or historian because when this complex was built it meant destroying the most beautiful piece of architecture in the whole city. The original Pennsylvania Station was a Beaux art masterpiece finished in 1910 (it made Grand Central Station look like the ugly step sister.) When developers wanted to demolish the station preservationists took to the streets in protest, but unfortunately the laws were not in effect to save the building. This is considered the catalyst that started the Architecture Preservation movement in the US. Fortunately, a decade later when developers wanted to destroy Grand Central, it was saved by the landmarks preservation law that was put in place because of the demolished Pennsylvania Station. Once the new complex was finished, the public was dispirited by claustrophobic, bare, stifling atmosphere of the new Pennsylvania Station. Vincent Scully, a renowned Architecture Historian, said it best when he wrote, “One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat.”
The Port Authority Bus Terminal (L, @ 40th St)
Is the largest bus terminal in the US and the busiest in the world. About 200,000 commuters travel in and out daily, mainly from New Jersey. It was finished in 1950.
The New York Times Building (R @ 40th)
Designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop and FXFOWLE Architects and finished in 2007. It is The New York Times newest headquarters. Just two blocks from the original 1902 building that is the namesake of “Times” Square.
Hell’s Kitchen (neighborhood)
Has the best name in town. It use to be a super sketchy side of town and now it is quite posh. Borders include (clockwise): 59th N, 8th Ave. E, 34th S, Hudson W. There are many stories about why the neighborhood is known as “Hell’s Kitchen”. My favorite one is from a New York Times report on Sept. 22, 1881. States, “Dutch Fred The Cop, a veteran policeman, who with his rookie partner, was watching a small riot on West 39th Street near 10th Avenue. The rookie is supposed to have said, “This place is hell itself,” to which Fred replied, “Hell’s a mild climate. This is Hell’s Kitchen.”
Hearst Building (L, @ 56th St.)
This building is unique building because of it’s facade and it’s environmentally friendly features. First, notice the stone facade that goes up to the 6th story. This is a 1928 landmark building commissioned by William Randolph Hearst himself. The original skyscraper was put on hold because of the Great Depression. It took 80 additional years for the Hearst company to finish their headquarters.
Second, this is the first “green” skyscraper that is built up and out of the 1928 landmark original facade. The building features a three-story waterfall in the lobby that cools and humidifies the entry way. Also, rain is stored from the roof to the basement and runs through the building to irrigate plants and provide water to the lobby. It was also the first skyscraper to break ground after 9/11.
Columbus Circle
Columbus’s statue was put here in 1892 to celebrate the 400th anniversary to him “Sailing the ocean blue in 1492”. You can notice three ships sailing through the column of the statue (the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria). Once the Statue was put here, it naturally became a traffic circle, which was the first in the US. Columbus Circle was updated in 2005 by widening the area around the statue to provide for a waterfalls and public seating. Others sites located around the circle include:
1.Museum of art and design (R, 2 Columbus circle)
Dedicated to shining a light of the “gray” area between art, design and crafts. The building was originally built-in 1964 by Edward Durnell Stone. Talks started in 1996 to landmark the building, but was denied approval. In 2005, the new owners of the Building ( Museum of Art and design) received permits from NYC department of Buildings to begin changing the facade.
2. Central Park (R, @ 59th st.)
This the south-eastern edge of Central Park. Finished in 1857, it was considered a waste of space at the time because the city only went to 14th St. It was a day’s journey just to get to 59th Street to promenade through the park. Obviously, for today’s standards we could not survive without it. It takes up a huge 843 acres out of our 8 mile by 13 mile island. The landscape architects that are responsible for our park are Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux. At the entrance to the park you will notice a large monument. This is tribute to the 266 seamen who lost their lives in 1898 on the USS Maine, a famous slogan was “Remember the Maine”. It was shot off the coast of Havana Cuba and is thought to be the spark that started the Spanish – American War.
3. Trump International Tower (L, 1 Central Park West)
This is one of many buildings owned by Donald Trump in NYC. Finished in 1997, it stands 44 stories high. It is built-in the Late Modernist Style. The building is a half hotel, and half condo.
4. Time Warner Building (L, 10 Columbus Circle)
This complex was finished in 2003 by David Childs. It’ s named after the tenant, AOL Time Warner Company. The building is made up of a four-story atrium of retail shops,that includes whole foods. As well as, two 80 story towers that house; residential space, CNN headquarters, Per Se restaurant, Mandarin Oriental Hotel
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (L @ 65th St.)
Completed in 1904 in the Gothic Revival Style by William Schickle
ABC News (R, @ 66th St.)
The American Broadcasting network is famous for such shows as: Good Morning America, Regis and Kelly, and World New Tonight.
Alice Tully Hall (R, @ 66th St)
Is a performing arts space that is a part of the Julliard School. The building received a “face lift” in 2009.
Dante Park (R, @ 64th)
The park has been around since 1868. The park is named after Dante Alighieri (1265-1321), who was an italian poet. The “Timesculputer” is by Philip Johnson and was dedicated in 1999.
Lincoln Center (R, @ 65th St.)
Is the largest performing arts complex in the country. It was part of an urban renewal project in the late 60’s to clean up the neighborhood known as San Juan Hill. The complex was built-in the International Style II and houses the: Julliard, New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, New york City Ballet, New york city opera, Vivian Beaumont Broadway house, The New York Library of Performing Arts, and the Film Society of Lincoln Center.
The last stop on the bus is 63rd and Broadway.
Subway? – Walk south on Broadway to 59th St. Columbus Circle. You can catch the 1,2,A,B,C,D trains back to home/hotel.
More in the Neighborhood? -
1.) I would walk west two blocks to Central Park and check it out.
2.) Walk South on Broadway to 59th Street and Columbus Circle and check out the Time Warner Center. They have shops, restaurants, or take a tour of the CNN newsroom.
My favorite spots we passed on the way:
Shopping:
House of Cards and Curiosities – Awesome Gifts
23 8th Avenue
New York, NY 10014-1802
(212) 675-6178
Food:
Nobu – Super famous and expensive, $$$
105 Hudson Street, New York
(212) 219-0500
Bubby’s – Southern cookin’, reminds me of Nashville, $
120 Hudson Street, New York
(212) 219-0666
EN Brasserie – Japanese modern, $$
435 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 647-9196
Cowgirl – BBQ in the Big City, $
519 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014-2601
(212) 633-1133
Soup Man – Famous from Seinfeld, $
59 West 55th Street, New York
(212) 956-0900
Dessert
Magnolia Cupcake – Famous from Sex in the City
401 Bleecker Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 462-2572
Drink
Ear Inn – A must for Historians who like a pint
326 Spring Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 431-9750
Henrietta on the Hudson – Ladies looking for ladies
438 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
(212) 924-3347
White Horse Tavern - Feel like Dylan Thomas while sitting outdoors
567 Hudson Street, New York
(212) 989-3956
Bus Tour on the M104
M104 bus tour: Mid town to Harlem
Travel time: One hour (without getting off the bus)
To begin: Hang out in Times Square
When you are over the chaos, walk to 8th avenue & 46th St.
Get on the M (for manhattan)104 W Harlem 129th St. via Bway
At 55th St. is the Famous ‘Soup Man’ (on your right). The soup man was made famous on Seinfield when he would yell, “‘No soup for you” to his customers.
At 59th St. is Columbus Circle. A large traffic circle with a statue of Columbus from 1892, celebrating his 400 anniversary of sailing the ocean blue in 1492.
Also, at Columbus circle:
-Museum of art and design
-Southern tip of central park has a statue dedicated to those who perished on the USS Maine
-Time Warner building with CNN headquarters, Per Se, Jazz at Lincoln Center and Landmark restaurant.
-Trump International tower
At 64th St. (to your left) is Lincoln Center (finished in 1960) home to the New York City Opera, New York City Ballet, Metropolitan Opera, Vivian Beaumont Broadway Theater, New York Philharmonic, New York public library for fine arts to name a few
At 61st St. (on your left) is the Museum of biblical art
At 65th St. (on your right) is the Folk art museum
At 68th (on your right) is the Loew’s plaza movie theater where most of the red carpet affairs happen
Ahead in the distance is a gorgeous Beaux Art building “The Ansonia”, Finished in 1904 it was the first apartment building to offer luxurious ammenities like seals in the fountains of the entrance, a farm on the roof to supply the building with fresh milk and eggs and a turkish bathhouse in the basement. Its actually location is 2109 Broadway.
At 71 S.t is the Dorilton Apartment (171 W71th). It was finished in 1902 in the Second Empire Baroque Style. This apartment building is on of the most striking in the city for its facade decoration.
At 72nd St. is the subway station for the 1,2,3 trains. There are two subways entrances at 72nd St. One is from 1904 (the southern station) and the other from 2004 (the northern station).
—Side Note— If you want to get off the bus here you can walk two blocks east to central park. On your ways you can have a hot dog at the famous Gray’s Papaya, see the famous “Dakota Apartments” on 72nd and Central Park West, and walk into Central Park to visit Strawberry Fields (memorial garden to John Lennon who was a formal member of the Beatles, who was shot outside of the his home, the Dakota, in 1980.)
Continuing on the bus uptown you will see,
At 74th St. (on your right) is the Beacon Theatre, finished in 1929
At 79th St. (on your left) is the First Baptist church finished around 1900 by the same Architect as the Apollo theatre in Harlem (George M. Keiste).
A New York Tradition is on 80th St. Zabar’s is a gourmet/kosher grocery. Go in and check this place out!
At 83rd St. (on the right – a block away) is Cafe Lalo. It is a super small cafe made famous by the movie You’ve Got Mail. If you love wonderful cappuccino and lovely sweets then get off the bus now and head over to 201 W83rd.
At 84th St. (on the left) is Edgar Allen St. It was named after him when he lived in a house at this location in 1844. He and his wife, Virginia Clemms Poe, moved her when she was diagnosed with Tuburculosis. There is a small restaurant called Edgar’s cafe that is a nice place to eat.
At 94th St. is a special gem (you need to get off the bus for this one). It is called Pomander’s walk. This is a quaint row of houses built in 1921. Walk halfway down the block and you will see a small gated entrance to a magical space within the big city.
Hungry?
Since you are off the bus walk over to Pearl Chinese $$(796 Amsterdam Avenue @ 99th St.- (212) 749-0300) and have some free white wine with your meal. Delicious. If you love Mexican walk a little further up to Mama Mexico $$$ (2672 Broadway @ – 102nd St. (212) 864-2323). Holy Mole is right! Best Mexican in the city.
Back on the bus…
At 106th st. (on your left) is a small park. It is called the Straus Park, named after Ida and Isidor Straus. Ida was a US congressman and co-owner of macy’s. They lived at 2747 Broadway at the time they lost their lives on the Titanic. Ida’s choice to stay with her husband and not get safely on a lifeboat was the inspiration for the inscription on the statue.
At 112th St. (on your right – one block) is the famous and massive St. John the Divine Church. The joke is ‘it has never been finished’. The land was purchased and development began for the church in the 1880′s and just never stopped. Drop in and check out this amazing church.
Snack? – Hungarian Pastry shop is a across the street (1030 Amsterdam Avenue @111th St. - (212) 866-4230). Take a cookie to go.
Back on the bus at 113th St. and Broadway, basically, you are in Columbia University campus. You will see the main entrance to the campus at 117th St.
Once the bus makes a right turn on Dr. Martin Luther King Blvd. you are in HARLEM! Way to be an NYC traveler! The last stop on the m104 bus in at 129th St. and Amsterdam Ave.
End of tour suggestions:
1.Want to see the Apollo Theatre? Walk three blocks south to Dr. Martin Lurther King Blvd (aka 125th St.), turn left and walk four long avenues to the Apollo theatre (it is on the left). The Apollo Theatre was finished in 1913. It is one of the most famous theatres in US especially for promoting african american talent. It received it’s landmark status in 1991.
2. Hungry for Soul Food?: Manna’s soul food and salad bar is awesome ($). Walk three blocks south to Dr. Martin Lurther King Blvd. Then make a left and walk three long avenues blocks to Frederick Douglass (which turns into 8th at 125th). It is located at 2331 Frederick Douglass Blvd. & 125th St. (212) 749-9084
3. More touring? Pick up the m60 bus tour from here.
4. Heading back to Mid town? Walk three blocks to Dr. Martin Lurther King Blvd (which is also 125th St.) For the 1/2 train make a right at 125th, walk three block and you will see it arching over Broadway, get on the train headed downtown
For the A/B/C/D train make a left at 125th, walk two longer avenue blocks to the train station, head downtown
Thanks for touring!
Lori
Lori Tours NYC
