Journal #5: The Wild Westside

            “What a Beautiful day.” Those were the first words that I said as I got into Maria’s car so that her husband could drive us to Penn Station. As usual, we arrived early and ate breakfast at the European Café. Once again, if you want a delicious bagel or breakfast burrito for a great cost, you have to try it out! I would recommend it for anyone traveling in the city! We met the rest of the students and the professors and were off to start our day!

            As I walked up the stairs from Penn Station to the street the sun was shining and I was actually really excited to walk. Mike told us that we were on our way to NBC studios for a tour. How exciting!!! I could not wait to see where all the action from television takes place. As we walked down Broadway, I saw that people were eating and reading the newspaper in the middle of the street. How bazar? Mike Proceeded to tell us that this was a pedestrian zone, which is also very popular in Europe.

 A pedestrian zone is an area where cars are not allowed to drive through. People can sit, have coffee, and take a break from the hectic city life. Mike Bloomberg announced that the pedestrian zone was going to be made permanent because of the drop in traffic injuries, an increase in taxi cab use, and the utilization of city space for the residents. He stated “New York has fallen behind its city competitors around the globe.” This pedestrian zone will help NYC to catch up in the modernization of the streets. Times Square is a place where people from all over the world want to experience. Before 1904, Times Square was known as Longacre Square. It was “dominated by horse exchanges, carriage factories, stables, and blacksmiths’ shops (BG, 217).”

With my obsession of horses, I definitely would have loved to live during this time. In 1904 the New York Times had a publisher who was able to persuade the city to rename it Times Square (BG, 217). Thank goodness this happened. I mean seriously, Longacre Square? When I think of this famous part of the city, the New Year ball drop always comes to mind. In 1904, Adolph Ochs celebrated the paper’s appearance with all day festivities and a firework show. This was during the same time as the New Year. Unfortunately, two years later fireworks were banned. Ochs then came up with the idea to lower a wooden and iron ball with 100 25-watt light bulbs from the buildings flagpole (BG, 221). This ball has now evolved into a beautiful crystal sphere, which brings in the New Year with kissing, laughter, and engagements every year in the big apple.

 Before we went to NBC Studios, we were able to see where the famous ice skating rink and tree is every year during Christmas time. I have actually visited Rockefeller Center often because my boyfriend’s father works for the Rockefellers. This is what I have always considered the big apple to be. Rockefeller Center is “a complex of commercial buildings, theaters, plazas, underground concourses, and shops developed principally during the Depression, is the world’s largest privately-owned business and entertainment center (BG, 243).”

  We then made our way to NBC studios. I was so excited! NBC hosts some of the biggest shows on television, such as Dr. Oz, The Voice, and America’s Got Talent. I was surprised when I found out that NBC Studios has offered a tour since 1933. During the first half of our tour, we watched a movie which showed us all of the shows and movies NBC has offered through the times. Mike said it perfectly by stating “It was the biggest propaganda shoot I have ever watched.” We then made way to the room where the news was broadcasted. I learned some interesting things like the screen behind the broadcasters is not the real city. It is just a picture that plays over and over again. I also learned that they use over 1000 lights to make the lightening perfect in the room. It is a little over the top if you ask me. The tour guides tried to be funny; I would have rather learned more about the history of the studio. Anyways, we then saw the room where Dr. Oz shoots his show. This was kind of exciting because I happen to love that show (considering I am going to be a nurse one day). Other than seeing the room and learning that germs accumulate on a person’s bag overtime, we didn’t learn much about the “root” of NBC.    There was one really cool thing that I got to do when the tour was almost over. I was able to broadcast the weekly weather! It defiantly is not as easy as it looks! You have to point backwards, try not to look at the camera, and put some personality into what you’re saying. Honestly, I was a little embarrassed and didn’t know what I was volunteering myself for, but I was happy with the end product. After the tour, we all met outside of the studio. We all agreed that we would have much rather learned more about the studio, then see where all the famous people performed.

After all the excitement, I sure was getting hungry. Thankfully, mike told us it was time for lunch!! WOOOHOOO!! We ate this great Thai food place called YUM YUM. I NEVER thought I would love Thai food as much as I do. Mike and Damian have exposed me to a whole new world of culturally diverse food. I decided to have the dumplings and fried beef with chili sauce. It was delicious! I was afraid that it was going to be deep fried, but it was the opposite. It was crispy, sweet, and spicy all at the same time. I definitely will NOT pass on Thai food when I am given the chance. I’m kind of upset that it has taken me 22 years to actually try it!

            Our next stop was Harlem. Oh Boy! In 1658, the Dutch were attracted to Harlem for its fertile soil and the advantages of the land. In the 18^th and 19^th centuries, farmers and wealthy merchants were attracted to the area and began to build mansions and estates of all kinds (BG, 437). By the 1920’s, “its black population increased from 83, 248 to 203, 894 with a density of 236 people per acre, twice that of the rest of the city (BG, 438).” My perception of Harlem has always been one of crime. I knew I needed to keep an open mind in order to get the full effect of this area. As soon as we stepped off the subway, I was pleasantly surprised. It was exciting and new for me. There were vendors, music, and people who were proud to call themselves “Harlemnites”. We met our tour guide, who was very informative and extremely intellectual. You could tell how much Harlem meant to him and how much he really loved the neighborhood.

We first learned about the Apollo Theatre. Ironically, the Apollo theatre was for whites only, when the neighborhood was largely Jewish and German. Fortunately, as the neighborhood started to change so did the theatre that would eventually become a star producing machine (BG, 440). The Apollo Theatre foundation is a non for profit organization that was founded in 1991 that is committed to the preservation and progress of the theatre, which has been the home of where legacies have been made.  Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown, and Jimi Hendrix are just some of the stars who have performed on the Apollo Stage. Our tour guide informed us that every Wednesday is amateur night, where another legacy may be found. In 1991, the state of New York bought the theatre. The building has been updated so that people in years to come will always be able to enjoy the theatre (BG, 440).  We then passed another building, which Bill Clinton occupies an entire floor. Who would have thought that the Nation’s past president would be working in a building in the middle of Harlem.

 We then passed Hotel Theresa where Fidel Castro stayed on his first visit to the United Nations. We made our way past Silvia’s Lounge, where people like Mary J Blouge and Justin Timberlake have shot their videos there. At this point I was becoming exhausted. My feet were done and the sunburn was starting to set in. So as the tour progressed I bought an ice from one of the stands. I chose coconut, which really energized and had me ready to go for the next stop. It was a dollar for two scoops! How could you go wrong? We learned about how Harlem is becoming gentrified.

It is an extremely controversial issue because people, who have been living in this community for years, are being kicked out. The result of Gentrification is a 4 million dollar unit in the middle of Harlem. We then made our way towards Mount Morris Park. It was beautiful. Children were playing basketball, jumping rope, and climbing on the monkey bars. This lovely park was established in 1839. Because the terrain was rocky and inappropriate for building, the park was able to be constructed. In 1973, the park was renamed to honor a man Garvey. He was an appealing black leader who was fond of “titles and prerogatives”. He arrived in Harlem in 1914 from the West Indies. The park was ultimately dedicated to him for the progression of his race (BG, 439). 

 After climbing a million steps and observing a beautiful view, we were able to visit Harriot Tubmans statute. Harriet Tubman's life “was a monument to courage and determination that continues to stand out in American history. Born into slavery in Maryland, Harriet Tubman freed herself, and played a major role in freeing the remaining millions.” The monument spoke of just that. It was truly breathtaking to see how this art piece depicted the struggles in her life and how she dedicated her life to helping others.

We made our way passed the Riverside church, which is huge!! The architecture and sculpting of this church was spectacular. Our last stop was the tomb of Ulysses S. Grant, who was a successful union commander during the civil war. He served our country as president from 1869 to 1877. The structure that was designed in 1897 by John Duncan and remains the largest mausoleum in North America.  It is unbelievable that I never knew this structure was here. It is a piece of history that I haven’t experienced. Unfortunately, it was closed, but I do hope to visit there one day. 

            As I headed back towards the subway, I thought to myself “This place is not so bad.” I was mad at myself that I could be so close minded to put a “crime tag” on a place that I never visited before. I’m not saying that I would go walk the streets at eleven o’clock at night, but I wouldn’t mind coming back during the day to explore more. The tour guide was amazing and really went into depth about what Harlem was all about. It was an experience that I will never forget and taught me a lesson that you don’t judge a book by its cover in any situation. The class is just about half way over and I’m still so excited to see what is to come.

Journal #4: The Elegant Eastside

The Elegant Eastside

            When I got on the train this morning, it began to drizzle. The clouds were dark and I just got finished telling Maria that I was happy that I bought my raincoat and umbrella. Maria and I met everyone else in Penn Station. Damian and Mike proceeded to tell us that we were going to trench through the rain and make the best of our adventure. I mean a little rain can’t hurt anyone right?

            We began to make out way down 42^nd street. It was hot and humid and to tell you the truth I was hoping for a LITTLE rain (shhhuuushh). Our first stop was at the New York Public Library. In the front of the library there are two famous marble lions. Mayor Fiorello La Guardia named them Patience (south side) and Fortitude (north side). He gave them these names for virtues for the struggling public during the Depression (BG, 208). The library mounts brilliant exhibitions on literary, artistic, and historical subjects in Gottesman Hall on the ground floor and also upstairs in the smaller galleries (BG, 207).

 When we entered into the hall, it was covered in marble. Can you imagine how much that must of cost? The ceilings were magnificent, with different colors and textures that lined the room. It truly was breath taking. We then entered into the main reading room, this room has a collection of over 30, 000 reference books (BG, 208). We all were asked to sit down and write a HIKU poem based on our feelings on the library. “The ceilings above…Captivate and draw you in…The books of Unknown…” My second poem states “The mysterious…it surrounds the world as is…The world of the books.” While in the library I learned that the collection of books developed from two private libraries, the Astor and Lenox libraries (BG, 208). The marble, elaborate ceilings, and wide staircases really had me in awe and I hope that I will be able to study there next year for the nursing boards.

            We then made our way to Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. My family and I always visit this church around Christmas time and it never gets old. This church is truly outstanding, from the outside structure to the inside décor, it's unbelieveable. Saint Patrick’s Cathedral was one of the two major churches in 1828 in New York City. The other major church was Saint Peter’s (BG, 254). When I walked into the church, I was happy that I was finally able to view a service. I am a practicing Catholic and have always wanted to experience what it would be like. I know that the church is a large tourist site, but the people who are looking at the church during the service are very distracting. I lit a candle and prayed for my family, classmates, animals, and friends. I asked god to keep up safe through our journey and thanked him for the wonderful life he has given me.

            Our next stop was 53^rd street. There were so many interesting and unique stores including Tiffany and Co., FAO Schwarz, Louis Vitton, BCBG, Gucci and many more. By this time it had started to poor! I guess I got what I asked for. I was thankful for my raincoat and umbrella that I grabbed before I left the house. My feet were soaking wet, but that was expected. We made our way into FAO Schwarz. FAO Schwarz was founded by Frederick August Otto Schwarz and his brothers in Baltimore around1862. It is known as the oldest toy store (and most expensive) in the United States. This store is every child’s dream. I was greeted with Spiderman and thought to myself “This is going to be a good time.”  There is a different toy and piece of candy for everyone who enters FAO Schwarz. There are stuffed animals, a dinosaur room, a Hello Kitty room, a dedication to Harry Potter, and an entire isle dedicated to magic show tricks. The class started to pig out on candy and Mike was nice enough to buy the entire class a little taste of what the store has to offer.  For $16 dollars a bag, the candy better be worthy!

            We then ventured to the Plaza hotel. I was kind of was embarrassed by the way I looked. It was this big ritzy place and I was soaking wet from head to toe. Mike informed us that even though it looks really expensive, the food there is reasonable. The Plaza Hotel offers 282 guest rooms, including 182 suites. It had the largest square footage of any other hotel in the city! Betsy Johnson, a clothing designer, designed a room in zebra print in one of the largest rooms the hotel has to offer. One day, when I am a successful nurse, I would like to spend a night or two at this beautiful and striking hotel.

            Our next stop was Central Park. We passed the horse and carriages. The horses were standing out in the rain, cold and wet. I don’t think being the animal lover I am, could ever take one of those carriage rides. At this point, not only was it pouring, but the winds started to pick up as well. As a class, we said hell to the rain and kept on chugging through. In 1844, a poet by the name of William Cullen Bryant wanted a public park. The architecture and population was taking over the city. He wanted a place where he could escape city life. In 1856, the city bought the park for $5 million dollars (Holy cow!).The park was intended for the relief of the working class. The Greensward Plan (1858) by Olmsted and Vaux was chosen. This plan would emphasize the importance of the picturesque landscape that was there (BG, 280-281). About 25 million people visit this park each year, which obviously takes a toll on the land. The Central Park Conservancy is a not-for-profit group that maintains the park and keeps it up to date and clean (BG, 281).We also ended up at the Belvedere Castle. Although we may have been lost at this point, it was interesting to find out the history of the castle. The Belvedere Castle  was “Originally designed in 1865 by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould. The Belvedere Castle was intended to be a Victorian Folly, a fantasy structure that provides a great backdrop and views, but without a real intended purpose.”  We passed the Central Park Zoo, which was torture because I wanted to go inside. I was able to see the sea lions that were swimming around in their tanks. We finally made it through Central Park and took a break for lunch. We all went to this inexpensive BBQ place. I had chicken fingers and fries and it just hit the spot after walking in the rain all day.

            The last Stop was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is known to be the largest art museum in the world. The building “Occupies 1.5 million square feet and its collections include more than 2 million objects (BG, 326).” We then made our way through the Modern and Contemporary art wing. Mike and Damian educated us on all the different artists and what each one of them had to offer throughout time. I took a great interest in Jackson Pollock, because he painted with feelings. His drip art became famous and I really could see his raw emotion through his art work. I learned that he did not paint with brushes, but rather with objects in order to allow different types of textures. We then made our way into the Arica, Oceania, and the Americas art. The art was very unique to the culture and captured by eye. The galleries devoted to African art offer and array of exquisitely wooden sculptures (BG, 334). After I visit the African gallery, it was time to go home.

            Even though it was pouring rain today, I tried to make best of the situation. The City is an interesting place and just because I’m wet doesn’t mean I’m not going to have a good time. Today’s story is definitely one that I will be telling my friends and fellow classmates. Even though it rained, it was still better than sitting in the class room and we all got a really good laugh out of it.

Journal #3: The Bold and Beautiful Brooklyn

Bold and Beautiful Brooklyn

            My alarm clock awoke me to a beautiful sun shining out my window. I was excited because Mike told me that as long as the sun was shining we were going to Cony Island. I wanted to experience Brooklyn and see exactly what it has to offer. I was especially excited for the roller coaster, hot dogs, and games that were waiting for me in the theme park.  Brooklyn is a place that I never really thought of visiting before this class. I’ve only associated Brooklyn as a place where my dad once worked and the home to the Brooklyn Bridge. I was ready to start my second adventure with an open mind and a good pair of walking shoes.

            We all arrived at Penn Station ready to start our journey. We jumped on the Q train for a very long, but amusing ride to the thrilling Cony Island. I was amazed to have learned that not only does the Q train run to Stillwell Avenue, but the D, F, and N train do as well (BG, 491).  Even though the train ride was long, it was a great time to get to know one another. As a class, we were warming up to the idea of spending the next couple of weeks together. As I stepped off the train, my stomach was in knots. It was the kind of feeling I get whenever I go to Hershey Park, Six Flags, or Adventure Land. Unfortunately, the Cony Island Exhibition Center was closed, but mike did a great job explaining the significance of this amazing place in Brooklyn. The Dutch settled Cony Island, naming it Konijn Eiland, after the type of rabbits that were found there (BG, 492). The Golden age of Cony Island was in the 20^th century, when three outstanding amusement parks opened their doors. The Steeplechase Park (1897), Luna Park (1903) and Dreamland (1904), all offered a variety of entertainment for children and adults of all ages (BG, 492). We proceeded to walk down the boardwalk and admire the beach before us. The boardwalk and beaches attracted many people in the 1920’s and 30’s. By the 1940’s, the crowds started to become smaller because of “the rise of the automobile, the development of air-conditioning, and the policies of Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, who built parks and beaches that would lure people to more salutary forms of entertainment” (BG, 492). Mike then told us that we had an hour to explore on our own.

 I decided to ride the Cyclone, play some games, grab a Nathan’s Famous hot dog, and walk the boardwalk. I walked towards Luna Park and felt like a five year old child. I thought to myself “I need more than one hour!” Kids were screaming, parents were laughing, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I seriously feel that Luna Park does not get the recognition that it deserves. It may be an old amusement park, but people love their old grandparent’s right? Haha… I always heard stories that the park was run down and nothing special to visit, but this trip definitely proved everyone wrong.

There were games, rides, food, and people of all different ages. I bought my ticket for the Cyclone and was excited to ride in the very first row. As old as this roller coaster is, it still made my stomach flip, my hair flew, and I screamed with my friend beside me. The Cyclone was built in 1927 by Vernon Keenan and Harry Baker. The coaster has an eighty five foot drop and runs at sixty miles per hour, which made my heart beat a thousand times a minute! Some people still consider it to be the standard to which all other roller coasters are compared by. The Parachute Jump (not operating), Cyclone, and Wonder Wheel are all rides that are landmarked and cannot be destroyed (BG, 492). It was amazing to think that I just rode on one of those rides! Now it was time to play some games! I played whack a mole, shoot the target, and the horse races. The games were kind of expensive, but I was in Luna Park and it was worth every penny. I even won the horse race game (how ironic?). Next, it was time to get something to eat. I wanted to get a hot dog at Nathan’s Famous, a desirable hot dog stand that was founded in 1916 at 1316 surf avenue, which is now know was Stillwell Avenue (PG, 492). As I was walking, I wanted to go see the mounted horses. Luckily, I had a classmate that was willing to go with me. To my surprise, the police officer riding the horse knew my father! The officer even let me sit on his horse. Even though this was not planned on the trip, it was so cool.

 It seems like NYC is a small world, considering I met one person who knows my father out of the thousands of people who were there that day. We started to make our way to Nathan’s Famous hot dogs, but the line was just too long, and we needed to meet Mike in five minutes. Unfortunately, I had to skip on the hot dog and make my way back on the boardwalk. The boardwalk was beautiful and reminded me of Long Beach. There were people biking, roller skating, and jogging all along the pathway and many different types of vendors. As we made our way back to the meeting point, I became really depressed that we did not have more time to spend here. I understand that this trip is only going to give us a little taste of what Cony Island has to offer, but I wanted more. I will definitely be visiting Cony Island with my friends in the near future. The City of New York Parks and Recreation puts it perfectly by stating “Whether you’re a beach bum or a thrill-seeker with a day off, Cony Island is the perfect getaway.”

            Our next stop was Brooklyn Heights. We visited the Transit Museum, which was much more interesting then I planned,

because it is a real subway. The Museum was opened in 1976 for the bicentennial celebrations and ended up becoming extremely popular with the public (PG, 468). The Museum consists of two floors and has exhibits on trains, buses, bridges and tunnels. It also shows a variety of tickets booths and tickets stubs, which have evolved throughout time.

 On what was the former Court St station, there are examples of different types of cars that have traveled since 1904 (BG, 468). It was very interesting to walk into all of the old subway cars and to see how they have evolved throughout time.

I actually loved the subway car that was made in 1916. It is very comfortable and more inviting then the cars that are made today. It seems that the trains have become more modernized throughout the years with the use of different types of fabrics and materials. Train builders should take notes from people back then.

The museum also taught me about how the tunnels were made for the subways. Although dynamite was able to make pathways for where the tracks would go, it also can become very dangerous. I learned that on October 24, 1903, a disaster occurred in the Washington Heights tunnel. Ten people died after a dynamite blast loosened rock and killed the people underneath. After this disturbing event, more safety precautions were instituted in the making of the subways. There are now subway precautions and rules that are instituted for the workers and passengers of the subway. Even though the museum is based off of subways, it was nice to be able to sit in the buses and ticket booths and see what it is like to be on the other side. It was interesting to see how all the train cars have evolved throughout the years. It is another museum that I hope I can visit with my nephews, who are obsessed with Thomas the train.

            From the Transit Museum, we continued on to get lunch. My classmates and I ate at this cute pizzeria, which was really good. The price was reasonable and I always associated ridiculous prices with the city. We had just about a half an hour to eat before we were on to our next venture. After lunch, we walked and walked and walked and walked through Brooklyn Heights, learning history on each one of the buildings. I learned that Brooklyn Heights is known as the borough of churches, because there is a church on almost every corner. It was also considered New York’s first suburb and became its first designated historic district in 1965 (BG, 466).  We saw the Church of the Saviour, which really was an exquisite church. “Some of the windows are by the Tiffany Studios" (BG, 471). We also learned about the Brownstone and how unique it is to the buildings in the city. Before the 1830’s, most of the buildings were constructed with either brick or wood. Many materials were available, such as marble, but they all were too expensive. By the mid-19^th   century, the middle class wanted a more refined look.

 The brownstone was available in New Jersey and Connecticut, which made it easily accessible. This was the beginning of how the Brownstone entered the architectural era. There were many beautiful churches, but they were surrounded by buildings. I feel that they would be even more striking if we were able to see all the sides of the church. The architecture of the churches is breath taking and you can truly see how much religion meant to the people during that time. We eventually made it to DUMBO, Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. Mike explained to us how DUMBO was a home for artists of all kind because there were enough studios to accompany all of them. The atmosphere of DUMBO has changed a bit because of the pricy rise in the apartments. Still, there are gorgeous art studios, delicious places to eat, and an ice cream shop that we all stopped in. As we walked on, I saw that there was a merry go round.

 For two dollars a ride, I had to go. I felt like a little kid again. The ice cream shop we stopped in, Jacques Torres Chocolate shop, offers a variety of ice cream flavors and is perfect for the traveling DUMBO tourist. I would recommend the vanilla. It’s traditional, but so good!

            Finally, we made it to the Brooklyn Bridge! This was one of my favorite parts of the trip. The bridge opened on May 25, 1883. It was considered one of the wonders of the world. It is known as the largest suspicion bridge in existence.

This bridge was able to employ 4,000 people at the time. It took 14 years to make, costing a shocking $15 million dollars (BG, 464). The construction of the Brooklyn Bridge took just about 14 years to makeThe Brooklyn Bridge stretches at 5,989 feet between Brooklyn and Manhattan, making it much easier for people to travel to different parts of the city.

 The view was unbelievable. As I was crossing the bridge, I could not help but think that it was an amazing Idea to build different paths for people to drive, bicycle and walk across. I was happy to have completed the bridge because my mom used to walk it five days a week when she was in nursing school. Here i was now, on the bridge, in nursing school, trying to complete the same dream she did. I give her so much credit now, considering this was not a short bridge. At the end, mike dismissed us and explained how to get home. I was happy to get to Penn Station, where I could sit in the train car with my feet up and my head back!

            Today I learned that Brooklyn is a miraculous place. Today’s trip changed my entire outlook on what I thought Brooklyn was about. The culture and architecture had me at a loss of words. Because I went into today’s class with an open mind, I was able to learn more about Brooklyn then I ever would in a classroom. I can’t wait until next week, when we start a new journey and learn even more beyond the textbooks!