Unseen NYC: Manhattan

Showing posts with label Manhattan. Show all posts

FDR's Four Freedoms Park

I went yesterday, it was the perfect weather for something outdoors. I took the subway, and walked down to the southern tip of Roosevelt Island. There were lots of cherry blossom trees along the way, and beautiful views of Manhattan the whole way down.

This is a picture taken between the pieces of marble. It is about an inch apart, and behind it is the Pepsi~Cola sign, in Queens, seen in full below.

A view looking south, with the UN building on the right

The Silver Cup Studio sign

The 59th Street Bridge, which connects Manhattan and Queens.

It is a really nice memorial that has been 40 years in the making. The architect for this is Louis I. Kahn, and it was his last work before his death in 1974. After Kahn's death, his designs were continued by Mitchell Giurgola Architects, which kept the main design the same.

Brooklyn Botanical Garden

The cherry blossoms are close to blooming at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. Tuesday's are as usual, free days, so you should take advantage and check them out.

I know I have talked about this before, but it is truly amazing to get to walk down the Cherry Esplanade when the trees are blooming. A check of the website shows that the esplanade itself is still at pre-bloom:

The map is updated every weekday, so check before going!!

Another place to see some of these beautiful trees is on Roosevelt Island, along the shoreline facing Manhattan. I plan to do both in the next few weeks, but wanted to post here before the bloom, so you could plan on going, if you are in town, or if you live here.

Roosevelt Island trees

Getting to Roosevelt Island is easy, you can take the tram across, at the corner of East 60th Street and 2nd Avenue, and it will drop you off in the middle of the island. Or, you can take the F train, and get off at Roosevelt Island. There are escalators to bring you up from the subway station, since it is down pretty far.

F#%ked Up Everything

Last week, I happened to be on www.usedyorkcity.com. Jess had a post about a new off Broadway show called F#%ked Up Everything, and it included a giveaway for 2 tickets. I figured "sure, why not??" and did what was needed to be eligible for the tickets.

Imagine my surprise, when I get an email saying I won! A few emails later, I had 2 tickets waiting for me for last nights 8pm show. I did not know what to expect, apart from the review Jess posted, and did not want to look up the full story before hand, wanting a fresh experience.

We found the theater with no problem, we had to go into Times Scare, which is a year round haunted house, but once you go up the steps there is a sign to the right for the theater. There is a small bar right before the theater, and the theater itself is small and intimate.

I liked it a lot. It was hipster, but they were not afraid to make fun of themselves, which made it funny. All of the actors were very believable. My husband and I had a very nice night out.

About the show, from their website:

F#%KING UP EVERYTHING is a rock musical comedy with bongs, thongs and indie rock songs. It's also an old-fashioned boy-meets-girl love story. When these Brooklyn hipsters aren’t true to who they are, they ruin everything. Especially children’s puppeteer Christian Schwartzelberg when he meets singer-songwriter Juliana, the girl of his dreams.
Featuring a sexy, young cast of Broadway's rising stars including Max Crumm (Grease), Jason Gotay (Bring It On), George Salazar (Godspell), and Dawn Cantwell (NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation), a score that rocks the house, and an award winning book by David Eric Davis and Sam Forman, F#%KING UP EVERYTHING will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you with a heart on for days on end. Get into it, before everyone else does.

The new rock musical F#%king Up Everything, starring Max Crumm and Katherine Cozumel, opened at off-Broadway's Elektra Theatre on March 24. The musical is directed and choreographed by Jen Wineman, and the music and lyricsare by David Eric Davis and the book is by Davis and Sam Forman.

Unseen in Midtown...The Morgan Library and Museum

In the heart of midtown at 36th Street and Madison Avenue, The Morgan Library and Museum is a beautiful needle in the busy haystack in Midtown. It was founded in 1906 to house the private library of J.P. Morgan. Today, it serves as a scholarly research center and museum. There is Morgan's study, a librarian's office, his library, and 2 or 3 galleries (where no photos were allowed.) This picture is of the three story library, where included in his collection is 3 Gutenberg Bibles.

I want to live here...

Beethoven sheet music

Closeup of the bookcases

One of three Gutenberg Bibles in the library

Amazing

Closeup of the mantle piece in the Librarian's Office

Cast of George Washington

The galleries were amazing. I wish I could have posted pictures in there! The Drawing Surrealism Exhibit is "Sensational!" according to the New York Times. Their website has all of the info to visit them, it costs $15 for an adult ticket. Worth the money!

More pictures from my visit can be found on my Facebook page.

Easter

Ahhhh Easter....

Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival

On Easter Sunday, you can be a part of the Easter scene on Fifth Avenue during the Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival. Check out folks decked out in their Easter bonnets, which run the gamut from elegant to over-the-top creations. There are, of course, a number of dogs dressed up for the occasion as well.
Guide: Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival Guide
Photos: 2006 Easter Bonnet Festival Photos

2. Easter Activities Around New York City

From Easter-themed walking tours to Easter Egg Hunts, New York City has lots of Easter-related activities for young and old to enjoy.
More: Easter Activities in NYC

3. Easter Brunch and Dinner

Looking for something special to eat on Easter? Check out these choices for Easter Brunch and Dinner in New York City.

4. Easter Church Services in New York City

Find a church where you can celebrate Easter in New York City.

More About Easter in New York City

Ways To Enjoy Spring in New York City

This will be my weekend...

I hope this Easter holiday is a great one!! The chocolate bunnies sure don't think so.

Gracie Mansion

Archibald Gracie had this residence built in 1799, overlooking the area where the Long Island Sound, the East River, and the Spuyten Duyvil Creek converge.

Gracie Mansion has been the official residence of the NYC mayor since 1942 when Fiorello LaGuardia was the first mayor to live there. Of course, Michael Bloomberg chose not to there since he became mayor in 2002. 10 mayors total have occupied the upper floor, with the first floor being public space.

Before being the mayors residence, it was interesting to learn that it had been used as a concession stand and restrooms for the Carl Schurtz Park, a park still surrounding the Mansion.

Visiting dignitaries have stayed here, such as First Lady Rosalynn Carter and South African President Nelson Mandela. The building was expanded in 1966 with the addition of the Susan Wagner Wing. She was the wife of mayor Robert Wagner ('54-'65).

In addition to the numerous civic and community events held here throughout the year hosted by Gracie Mansion and the City, Tours and events are offered year-round. For more information, visit here.

*Any indoor pictures were found on the internet, since no photography is allowed indoors.

The floors in the foyer look like marble, but are actually wood made to look like marble, and even standing on it, it was hard to tell.

The first room we walk into after the foyer was this room, the parlor. It is fitted with a TV and phones, and like much of the decor, is in the Federal style, and very symmetrical.

This room was right across from the blue room, and also where the "Yule Log" video was taped, when the fireplaces were actually working.

This room is also symmetrical, and we were told the convex mirror over the fireplace, as well as the candles and crystals of the chandelier were specifically for the extra light that it would throw.

The dining room table is a reproduction, since it is used so much. It expands to fit 24 people.

Gracie Mansion is located at 87th Street and East End Avenue in Manhattan.

Pictures I took of the outside can be found here.

With This Post...

I have been posting for 3 years, and this is my 100th post... I hope to have 100 more, I love helping others take a bigger bite out of the Big Apple. Touring Gracie Mansion tomorrow, and will be posting about that this Saturday, so keep an eye out!!

La Traviata at The Met

from here

    I had the amazing opportunity to go to the dress rehearsal at the Metropolitan Opera of La Traviata. My very first live opera and I heard I would either love it, or hate it, but learn to appreciate it. I am happy to report, I love it.

           The opera stars Pitor Beczala as Antonio, Dianna Damrau as Violetta, and Placido Domingo as Giorgio, Antonio's father. Domingo has played Antonio in the past, and this is the first time he is playing the part of the father.

   I got goosebumps, and at the end I was in tears. The best part about this was the little panel in the front of each chair, which translates the opera for you if you want. It was very helpful, but I would have been able to loosely follow, since I looked up the story ahead of time to get the general idea of the story.

          The following pictures are the ones I took after the show on Monday afternoon. The information about the operas, and their showtimes is here. Also, more photos will be on the Facebook page here.