Thoughts and Thank "Yous"

Wow, wow, wow! I absolutely enjoyed this course! Gotham: The New York Experience has taken me beyond my original thoughts of what NY is: a great place to shop and travel, explore nature, and a place to learn tolerance. Through this course I have learned about the rich history of the City of New York, the City’s resilience during hard times, and the innovative ways New Yorkers preserve nature. With my classmates, I celebrated its diversity and beauty, and learned how to appreciate the arts and culture. Most importantly, I discovered my urban heritage and learned a lot about the ‘urban’ Self within me I hadn’t realized until now.  

The course

The course work was as intense as the walking. It was difficult to keep up with the daily journal and provide two papers. I will say the blogs are fun and researching the internet to attach links led to a deeper knowledge of the City. In my opinion, one paper would have been sufficient for the summer program. I enjoyed the walking and most of the sites visited. I wasn’t a fan of the Skyscraper Museum, or walking through Harlem. The Immigrant Experience tour was ok, but I think I would have appreciated the Tenement Museum more. I thoroughly enjoyed the Indian and Chinese lunches. Despite some snags and detours, this class was well organized and definitely fulfilled its objective “to introduce students to the culture, history and arts of New York” (Mike’s course description). If it were not for the combination of the professors and students attending, this experience wouldn’t have been nearly as rewarding. I give it an A!

Thank you…

First, I want to thank the professors, Mike and Don, for their knowledge, passion, and humor throughout this course. It was a pleasure to have them guide us throughout the heights and depths of the city. They have now been added to my short list of favorite professors.

Secondly, I enjoyed our ‘tour guests’: Rani, Damian, Bill (Don’s son), Brian, and Maritta. It was also a great pleasure to meet Don Cornelius after the West Side tour. Each person brought a special energy to the group. Their contributions to the adventures and learning experiences were an added bonus.

Thirdly, I thank my classmates for being awesome. It was so awesome to meet different people from Molloy and bond with them during our tours. What a great bunch of people who contributed to my laughter, and discovered the city with me. I hope to see them on campus and/or graduation day.

Lastly, to the City of New York, of which has given me a deeper understanding of why we are here. I am truly fortunate to call it my home. The experience has just begun as I endeavor to return to it as soon as July 4^th, 2011, to continue exploring it and revisit some of the sites that brought me closer to this wonderful city.

Good luck to all wherever you may travel!

Photos - Deep Downtown

Will always be Alexis' spot

Steve, Tim, John & Mike

Michele, Staci, & Liz

Federal Hall

"You all scream tourist!"
- Quote from an obnoxious subway rider

Platform of the first Inagural Address

Trinity Church

St. Paul's and its church yard

Trinity Church
Top of the World (Once upon a time)

Peace Cranes given to WTC

The Famous Tom and Jerry Bowls

Ah, the interior of Tom and Jerry's

The Immigrant Experience Tour Guide,
Drew

The Forward Building

The Former S. Jarmulowsky Bank

A Dumbell Style Tenement Building

Bloody Angle
(said with gravely voice)

Deep Downtown - The Last Class

Our final day was a short one beginning with a walk down Wall Street. I’ve been down this street many times before but never entered the Federal Hall National Monument. Visiting the place where our first president, George Washington, was sworn in (BG, 69) reminded me that I must celebrate our nation’s birthday in downtown NYC. This also was a reminder that New York was the first nation’s capital.

                              We then walked to Trinity Church, which once upon a time, was the highest point in Lower Manhattan (BG, 65) Outside is a bronze sculpture called the Trinity Root, a replica of the remaining roots of a sycamore tree that fell as a result of debris falling from the 9/11 attacks. On the top step leading into the church is a plaque commemorating Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s visit for the Bicentennial celebrations. We couldn’t enter the church due to a service in progress, so I must remember to return to view the actual roots of the fallen sycamore tree.  

     Leaving Trinity Church, we walked toward the World Trade Center site where construction workers are diligently working on physically rebuilding our City’s gaping wound. In my heart I had hoped to bring the group to a beautiful FDNY memorial that resides around the corner from Ladder Co. 10 across from the site. There is also a lovely bar down the block decorate with patches from all the emergency response crews that assisted with disaster recovery. We continued walking to St. Paul’s Chapel, which is where so many went for physical and spiritual refuge on that fateful day.

           The trip to the Lower East Side was a little foggy after visiting WTC. As we passed City Hall, it occurred to me that our Brooklyn Bridge crossing a couple weeks earlier was somewhat of ceremonial entrance to Manhattan, the primary location for this course. We walked through the down-to-earth, artsy streets to Tom and Jerry’s bar (formerly 288 Bar) to meet Ruby McDonald, a bartender in this trendy part of town. According to the Blue Guide (116), this neighborhood is known as NoLIta, North of Little Italy or now “a kind of SoHo East. Ruby first served refreshing beverages to us, as any good hostess would, and spoke of her experience of being a barmaid in the most awesome city on the earth. I thoroughly enjoyed this site, but I must admit I was expecting a more historical location.

     After Tom and Jerry’s, we went to Congee Village, a Chinese restaurant off Canal St. to have a most delicious lunch provided by the professors (Thank you!). We had chicken prepared 3 different ways, a beef dish, mei fun, fried rice and lovely tea. The food was so filling, some of my classmate and I had to run to Starbucks to add a little sweetness to our bellies, not to mention caffeine to continue our trip.

     We then went on a professional tour through downtown called the Immigrant Experience, to visit the streets where the first (and current) immigrants inhabited. We saw what were once tenement buildings what, which housed hundreds of immigrant families per apartment, the Forward Building which has been converted to condos, the former S. Jarmulowsky Bank, and the first synagogue built on the Lower East Side, the Eldridge Synagogue. I learned that the Jews came to New York for religious reasons. To me that was fascinating that a group of people understood how serious our country was about freedom of religion, that they were willing to risk their lives coming to New York City for the sake of their God. We walked down Doyers Street, the original Chinatown. This was one time referred to “the Bloody Angle” per our guide and the Blue Guide (112), for the number of killings by shooting and hatchet that were committed on that very bend. It was interested that the term ‘hatchet men’ was created as a result of the murders committed. At one time it was the worst corner in the United States for violent deaths.

We ended our tour and the course on the crossroads known as The Five Points (our experience began looking at the 5 Pointz: The Institute of High Burning while traveling to Queens on the 7 train), a location regarded as a disease-ridden, crime infested slum. Even in daytime, this area is still a little sketchy for my liking. I was happy to exit this neighborhood, walk under Manhattan Bridge and escape to a nearby subway. As we crossed our last street as a class (too preoccupied with catching the 6:41 train to remember the street name), we all turned to our professors shouting “goodbyes,” and “thank you” as they blew kisses a waved ‘goodbye’ in return. These experiences and images will not be forgotten.

Photos - Dashing Downtown

Another riveting lecture from Don in Front of Museum of American Indian

Molloy students watching construction at the World Trade Center site

Rebuilding Sacred Ground - WTC

Tolle's Cottage - Irish Hunger Memorial

Poet's House

From Songs of Love and Wind - Luis Horacio Duran

Outside Chelsea Market and Under the High Line

"Are these gluten free?" - Anthony with a smirk
at a Chelsea gallery

A Chelsea gallery

Awesome!

My favorite superheroes!

Dashing Downtown

Battery Park brings wonderful memories of celebrating the 4^th of July there with my family when my dad worked on Water Street. It was a little disappointing not to be able to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island due to the weather. According to the Blue Guide (46), it is filled land and the location of where the City’s history began (nycgovparks.gov).  I knew this park had a lot of memorials dedicated to people, countries, and events, but apparently I’ve discovered many more with my ‘grown-up’ eyes. Despite the weather, it was fun to walk along the Esplanade.

A building I didn’t realize existed is the Museum of the American Indian.  This may be because it became a satellite space of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, in Washington, D. C., in 1989 (BG, 44)…I left the home I love in 1987. What was formerly the Alexander Hamilton Customs House is a beautiful structure with murals depicting the history of shipping and trade. What I also appreciated where the depictions of the great explorers. I could just imagine the loud hustle and bustle of commerce conducted in the hall.

We went to the Skyscraper Museum to investigate the history of skyscrapers in New York City. The museum was a little disappointing in that it was small and the exhibit depicted international buildings. It was interesting, however, to read early newspaper articles about the Twin Towers.

Visiting the Skyscraper Museum was a good precursor to where we traveled next, the World Financial Center. The building that is home to many businesses and the Winter Garden, a beautiful atrium of palm trees, was severely damaged during the 9/11 attacks. According to the Blue Guide (61), it was a place of refuge and exit for the many people who fled the towers. There is a ground level installation showing the timeline of the rise, fall and rebuilding of the World Trade Center I must return to see (BG, 61).

After we viewed the construction from inside the World Financial Center, we walked through the Irish Hunger Memorial, which commemorates the primary reason why so many Irish people immigrated to the U.S., the Irish potato famine. Stones had been collected from Ireland to build this beautiful memorial that. According to the Blue Guide (63), an 1838 ruined stone cottage was donated by artist Brian Tolle’s family. It was so fitting to visit this site on this rainy day.  

We then went to the Poet’s House where thousands of books on poetry have been donated by poets for collection.  It was striking to learn that approximately one thousand books are donated for their annual exhibit. The Constance Laibe Hays Children’s Room is not only filled with poetry for children but it’s an exhibit of antique school desks, chairs, rotary phones and manual typewriters. We were encouraged to select a book from the vast collection of publications on the 2^nd floor and make copies of any verse that interested us. At random, I walked down an aisle and found a book entitled Songs of Love and Wind by Luis Horacio Duran. Naturally, the title drew me to open the book. Another interesting discovery was that the book is bi-lingual. The references of nature within its pages spoke to me, once again reminding me of the many facets of my life:

That is why I know I am from of you,

And from your air,

From your passion of sand and mountain,

Your utter silence

And the whirling of your waters. - Luis Horacio Duran, 1992

Since the weather was getting worse, we took the train to Chelsea Market on 16^th Street instead of walking. What a fantastic place! This wonderful place for foodies, filled with fruit stands, bakeries and eateries, at one time was the world famous Nabisco (BG, 186). At that very moment I realized this is definitely where I will return to for the 4^th of July weekend, and weather permitting; make the long journey from Chelsea Market to Battery Park.

 After lunch we walked the http://www.thehighline.org/ which is an old freight train line converted to approximately 1.6 miles (BG, 188) of garden flowers and interesting fountains and birdhouses from West 16^th to West 30^th Streets. This was such a wonder confirmation to continue looking for resource on community gardens for my second paper. The idea of bringing nature to what my Uncle Sam used to, “the concrete jungle,” was a dream brought to life.

We then descended the High Line at 20^th Street to view the many galleries Chelsea is known for these days. There were some bizarre works of art and photography as well as very interesting absolutely beautiful creations for the public to see. The professors ended the day after viewing several collections. A few of us stayed behind to go to an off Broadway show with the professors, Adam of the Apes.

Adam of the Apes is a clever comedy that touches on Life’s age old questions and concepts about God, death, feminism, even human relationship to the animal kingdom. My friend who has never been to even a Broadway play was able to join us (thanks, Mike). We both enjoyed it and later laughed  and recited some lines from it pizza. What a great day!

 

Photos - The Elegant East Side

New York's Bravest

Van Gogh at The Met

Cezane at The Met

Kapoor at The Met

Prousette-Dart, Symphony No. 1, Transcedental

Rothko, No. 21

Listening as Don lectures on Rauschenberg

More Modern Art

View from the Rooftop Gardens at The Met

Caro's Blazon

Caro's Midday

My gorgeous classmates & Caro's End Up



Beautiful willow in Central Park



Bethesda Fountain in Central Park

Stawberry Fields Memorial



New York's Colorful!



The Dakota

Where John Lennon was assasinated

Class Time!

Toyland!



Even dollhouses need a bar



The Ugly dolls

The BIG piano

I love Teddy Bears

Beautiful photo of Alex praying in St. Patrick's Cathedral

St. Pat's

A prayer of my own

Exhibit in The New York Public Library

Windows in the Main Reading Room

The Main Reading Room