"Memory Lane"

I am so glad to have picked this course because my New York experience was unlike any other. I do not imagine ever taking another course as awesome as this one. For 7 weeks, I looked forward to my Friday adventure where I yearned, learned, and burned! Now I'll be spending my Fridays at work. BORING! I made new friends and visited so many interesting places, and learned so much about NYC's history. I ate a variety of delicious food, and tried my first Pickle Back. Our Professors were so cool and down to earth that I'd like to clone them! I have pictures and great memories that I will forever cherish. I was raised in Manhattan, and have always been comfortable there. Riding the subway isn't new or different for me, but I had never visited the Transit Museum. Standing in an antique train was so cool! I visit Flushing Meadow Park every 20th of July, but I had never been in the Queens Museum. That Panorama was awesome! I have driven across the Brooklyn Bridge hundreds of times, but I had never walked it. My toe blisters are still healing, lol! Spanish Harlem was a first for me, and I intend to visit again soon. I have spent many summer days in Central Park, but I had never been in the Conservatory Garden. It was beautiful! Lucian Freud's art was as disturbing as Camilo Jose Vergara's was captivating. While this course expanded my education, it was also greatly entertaining. It was exceptional, and I am lucky for the wonderful experience.

"Grand Finale"

1st stop: Delancey Street:
As a kid, I used to come here with my family to shop til we dropped. While it is still a great shopping destination, today it lacks the abundance of mom and pop stores that were once the soul of Delancey. All things considered though, the Lower East Side is definitely gentrifying at a slower rate than many other urban communities. "Writers of the late 19th Century considered Hester Street, site of the neighborhood's push cart market, the quintessential ghetto street" (BG, p.120). Much like Hester Street, Orchard Street also had a large push car market. "The push carts represented one of the few ways for unskilled immigrants to eke out a living" (BG, p.120). Professor Mike explained that Mayor LaGuardia had Essex Street Market built to house the push cart peddlers. I enjoyed visiting this market. It offered many different types of food. I ate delicious spanikopita and a delectable dulce de leche cupcake.
As we walked through China Town, we visited interesting art galleries, and attracted the attention of the local residents. They thought we were tourists, how embarrassing!

                                                                                         

Next Stop: 97 Orchard St.
Visiting the Tenement Museum was an awesome experience."This museum, a former tenement, was
founded in 1988 to preserve the heritage of the nation's immigrants, honoring the millions who lived on the Lower East Side and other immigrant ghettos"(BG, p.122). Although I knew that tenement had been terrible places to live, it was not until I researched them for paper 1 that I truly understood how horrid they were. Many of them built before housing laws and building codes existed, they lacked plumbing and lighting. They were unsuitable for human inhabitants. Poor immigrants had no alternative, and these tenements quickly became terribly overcrowded. These tenements met the housing need for many immigrant families, but it did so without any regard for their self worth or physical well being. As I walked through the museum, I imagined the Katz and the Moores, and the hundreds of others who called this place home. Without the ruckus, the crowds, and the smell, it is difficult to truly capture the tenement experience. Our tour guide, Ruth, stated that the absence of plumbing coupled with the lack of a sanitation system, made life in a Lower East Side tenement "lousy from day 1." She explained that after the Civil War, newly appointed sanitation inspectors were highly concerned with the deplorable conditions. Really? Unlike most tenements in the Lower East Side, 97 Orchard Street's outhouses and privies were connected to the sewer system. Imagine that at 97 Orchard the toilets actually flushed! Well this certainly explains New York City's 3 huge cholera epidemics during that time. "On Gotham Court one cholera epidemic, that scarcely touched the clean wards, killed tenants at the rate of one hundred and ninety-five to the thousand of population" (Riis, 1971, p. 6). Yikes! The New York City Tenement housing system degraded immigrants and stripped many of their self worth, but luckily it did not eradicate their strong sense of clan and community. In the face of adversity, they stood strong, and their ethnic enclaves have created a city that is 
greatly diverse in character.

http://www.tenement.org/ has great tenement information.

3rd stop: Tom & Jerry's in NOLITA.

It was delightful! Ruby was an awesome guide. She explained that this bar was a community pub and compared it to Cheers. "where everybody knows your name." In a city where apartments are tiny, bars like these are nice for hanging out with friends. Ruby mentioned that in the last few years, the clientele has changed.Yuppies, young urban professionals are continually encroaching. Ruby briefly discussed the bartenders "moral dilemma." Deep right? As I sipped my Sangria, I tried to empathize. Ruby has made connections with many members of this community. She knows their life stories and their drama. She listens with all of her senses, cares, and gives advice. She reads her clients and plays shrink! Sounds a whole lot like nursing!! Before leaving Tom & Jerry's I had a Pickle Back, LOVED IT! 

Lunch was DELICIOUS! We were all very hungry, and it was nice to sit and indulge with our classmates and professors. I felt like I was home surrounded by family. I enjoyed the tea and every Chinese dish I tasted. My favorite was the eggplant and tofu. As we ate, we walked down memory lane. It was great to sit and discuss all of our New York experiences. We all agreed that this was the best school experience ever! I doubt there will ever be a course that will top this one.





"Seward Park (opened 1903) is named after William H. Seward (1801-72), governor of the state of New York, US Senator, and Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln" (BG, p.124). As we followed our tour guide through the park and I pictured little immigrant children playing here. Our tour guide brought us to the Forward Building and explained that it was built in 1912 for the influential Jewish daily newspaper. At the corner of Baxter and Worth, we discussed the notorious 5 points. Looking at the government buildings across from Columbus Park, you'd never believe that this was once a crime ridden slum, with wicked gangs, and a terribly high murder rate. As written in the Gangs of New York, "The New York City police made a gallant gesture late in 1910 against several of the gangs which had incurred their displeasure, or had operated with such boldness that public sentiment made even the politicians fearful of protecting them; and when the smoke of battle cleared away, half a score of the most noted figures of the underworld had been imprisoned"(Asbury, 1927, p. 321). Kudos to those New York City Police Officers!

Just as the others, Day 7 was a great adventure! Saying goodbye to my group
was sad, but tiramisu and cappuccino in Little Italy made me feel a whole lot better.

" Complex Emotions "

 Class 6 definitely stirred my emotions! The famous Episcopalian parish, Trinity Church, was our first stop. Despite its modesty in size and conception, Trinity Church is probably New York's most famous, and of the wealthiest houses of worship (BG, p.65). Standing next to the church is an immense sculpture made of the roots of a sycamore tree that once stood across from the Twin Towers. As I stood before this sculpture, I recalled September 11th, and pictured mobs of people seeking refuge inside this church. I hope that in their despair, they were able to find peace and serenity here.

The Gothic style interior of Trinity Church is very beautiful. Above the altar is a vibrant stained glass window depicting Jesus, Peter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Paul. Gorgeous Gothic arches are seen throughout the church. The church even houses a museum.

Next stop: Zuccitti Park- OccupyWall Street.
The protesters are exercising their right to freedom of speech and, being part of the 99%, I empathize and agree with the cause. I do strongly believe that the elitist has always benefited from the worker, and that struggles between classes have always and will always lead to conflict. It absolutely burns me up inside to know that mismanagement at the top, always falls on the backs of those below! I strongly agree with Tom when he said that government "unfairly shifts the burden of crisis to the working people." Occupy Wall Street is effectively raising awareness. In all fairness, I must say that some of the protesters inside the park were off the wall! It was like a scene from Woodstock. No disrespect to anyone, but it appeared to me that some had ulterior motives. I preferred not to photograph what was disgraceful. I am not an anarchist, far from it actually. I've been a civilian employee of NCPD for 15 years, and hold the police in high regard. I'm skeptical of the hype that's printed  in newspapers,
and am not quick to believe the hearsay. I hope that the protest can maintain its focus, and not deviate from the cause. USA Today posted a good article in yesterday's paper: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-16/occupy-wall-street-protests-spread/50797274/1

We walked over to the the Federal Hall National Memorial, the birthplace of American government. Due to the protest, the entrance at 26 Wall Street was barricaded. We entered through Pine St. It was awesome to visit the place where our first president was inaugurated.

This site was also home to the first Congress, Supreme Court, and Executive Branch offices. It was here that the First Congress wrote the Bill of Rights. This building is rich in history. In 1735, John Peter Zenger, publisher of the New York Weekly Journal, was tried here for libeling the royal governor. His acquittal established a precedent for freedom of the press (BG, p.69).
This building is a beautiful example of Greek Revival Style architecture. Although we were not able to see the heroic statue of George Washington on the front steps, we were able to see the gorgeous interior. The massive Corinthian columns and ornate ceiling of the rotunda were impressive. It was cool to stand before the stone on which George Washington stood. A peculiar visitor began meditating and chanting before this stone. What would George say? To learn more about the first Capitol of the United States, visit: http://www.nps.gov/feha/historyculture/inaugural-balcony.htm

When terrorists brought the Towers down, St. Paul's Chapel stood among ruins. As written in a poem written by J. Chester Johnson, "to stand was its purpose, long lines prove that. It stands, and around it now, a shrine of letters, poems, acrostics, litter of the heart." When I first walked into the chapel, the stone tablets on the altar caught my eye. Professor Meritta turned my attention to the Unwavering Spirit exhibit; in particular to the altar dedicated to all those we lost on September 11th. As I read the messages attached to the many faces, I was overwhelmed with grief. I, literally, bit my lip to keep the tears from flowing. I had not known this chapel was the site of an extraordinary relief ministry to more than 14,000 volunteers who offered assistance in the recovery effort from September 2001 to May 2002. Visiting this colonial era chapel was the greatest experience! http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/congregation/spc/
Rebuilding the World Trade Center is a way to rehabilitate and alleviate the pain our nation felt on that dark September day. The Freedom Tower is only one of several buildings that will be erected to create the new World Trade Center. I so look forward to seeing the finished product!
I tried to ignore my hunger pangs while visiting the Irish Hunger Memorial. The authentic Famine-era cottage and the path lined with native Irish plants were very nice. The memorial contains stones from all the different counties in Ireland. I remember studying about the Great Irish Famine, and how it led many Irish to emigrate. I was not aware that there were 1 1/2 million lost to famine related death and the Diaspora. I enjoyed visiting this memorial in Battery Park City.
The New York Times wrote "for nearly 25 years, the Poets House has been an anchor for poets and poetry lovers" http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/25/books/25poetry.html. Our entire class enjoyed a poetry experience here. My selection, Filtered Images: Women Remembering Their Grandmothers was excellent!
Our walk from downtown to Chelsea was eternal! Maybe it was because I had dressed for rain, and it turned out to be 70 degrees and sunny. Or maybe it was because I was starving, but I felt like I'd been walking for days when I sat down at Chelsea Market. I ate my pasta and stretched my legs. The sweet taste of relief, thank you Jesus! "In 1995 the former Nabisco factory reopened as the Chelsea Market, whose ground floor is filled with shops offering high-quality food, wine, kitchen wares, and flowers" (BG, p.186). Chelsea Market is pretty cool, but also pricey.
Professor Meritta told us that 11th Avenue was once called Death Avenue because of the many accidents between freight trains and regular traffic. The Westside Cowboys would ride in front of freight trains waving red flags for safety. The High Line was built in the 1930s to remove dangerous freight trains from the streets of Manhattan. In 1980 the last train, carrying frozen turkeys, ran on the High Line. "Beginning in the 1990s, a local advocacy group defeated proposals for demolition" (BG, p.188). Friends of the High Line and the City of New York have since been working together to preserve and maintain this elevated park. I enjoyed the High Line very much.
The Chelsea galleries were interesting. I nominate both Vincent Desiderio and Andrew Kreps for the most "disturbing" art award. If a museum is a school, then what's a gallery? I guess it depends on whose gallery we're referring to. The Ikea special was the exhibit that made us all laugh the loudest. SURREAL!

"East Side Exploration"

   As a Colombian-American, I'm ashamed to admit that today was the first time I'd ever been in SpaHa. I am glad to say that I was very pleased with the experience. Our tour guide, Meghan, was excellent.  She highlighted the quote written outside El Museo del Barrio that read "the museum is a school, the artist learns to communicate, and the public learns to connect."Although I had never thought of a museum as a school, it made perfect sense. Through art, an artist expresses himself, enabling the public to heighten their awareness, and grow in understanding. I loved this quote! Through Meghan we learned that El Museo was a product of 1960's cultural activism, and it's dedicated to Latino and Caribbean art. It is largely representative of the "barrio" and committed to celebrating culture. "Located at the edge of Spanish Harlem or 'El Barrio', El Museo was founded in 1969 by community activists, teachers, and artists, mainly Puerto Ricans"(BG, p.376). Walking through el barrio was interesting. There were an abundance of NYC housing complexes, and nice looking brown stones in close proximity. The people were very friendly, and invited us into their community gardens. While I didn't consider the graffiti hall of fame great, I was fascinated by the mural named "Spirit of East Harlem." Its authentic depiction of the community, stereotypes included, was awesome! El Museo's collection was pretty cool too. My favorite was a painting by Christian Curiel. It portrayed a young group hanging out on a stoop, an activity that's so typically "city." I loved it!

Next stop: food for our souls. Lunch at El Paso was fantastic and cheap! I ordered a burrito with guacamole, and it was delicious. The staff was great, the restaurant sat all of us, and everyone was satisfied with their meal. We stuffed our faces, and still had enough time for a siesta. I do intend to return soon, and try a few other dishes on their menu.

Founded in 1923, the Museum of the City of New York offers exhibitions that explore the city's complex history from its early days as a Dutch colony to its present eminence (BG, p.376). Its exterior was impressive, and the marble floors and stairs were spectacular. My favorite work on the 1st floor was the Stettheimer Dollhouse. Amazing and intricate detail was given to every piece in all the rooms. It was phenomenal! On the 2nd floor, Camilo Jose Vergara's photographs captured the place of the Twin Towers in NYC history. Viewing the skyline that I grew up with, and seeing it post 9-11 stirred my emotions.  This exhibition made me reflect on the gut-wrenching pain New York felt on the darkest day ever. Vergara's photos were most certainly worth a thousand words.
The short film, Timescapes, was nice. It took us through the history of New York, from a Dutch settlement to its modern day greatness. I enjoyed it very much.
The Conservatory Garden was very peaceful and pretty. I can just imagine how vibrant and beautiful it must be when the flowers start to blossom. I will definitely visit again in the Spring. Trekking through the park was exhaustingly fun! We started at E. 105th St and ended at W. 72nd St. Since it appeared that the majority of  Central Park joggers were older than me, I dared not complain. Although I loved the lake, fountain, and great photo ops, I don't think I'll be doing that again any time soon!
Saving the best for last: Strawberry Fields. It is dedicated to the memory of the musician John Lennon, and is named after a Beatles song. "Strawberry Fields Forever, one of Lennon's most popular songs, took its title from the name of a Liverpool Orphanage, though the lyrics in fact have hallucinogenic overtones. The title of another famous song 'Imagine,' is inscribed in the center of a black and white pavement mosaic"(BG, p. 292). The lyrical content of this song is reflective of Lennon's beliefs, "Imagine all the people sharing all the world...nothing to kill or die for, and no religion too...no need for greed or hunger, a brotherhood of man...you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one"
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY0COX0gcyw&feature=related

Sadly, Lennon's life was taken prematurely, but this anthem of peace has kept him alive in the hearts of millions. Happy Birthday John!