Square Parks' Ruled!

This tour rocked. It was a photo takers dream from beginning to end. Saturday July 2 started early in the anxious AM as my good friend, Antonio Champion, who took the tour with me and was my inspiration to return to doing this had us aim for an 8 a.m. start. Thank you mucho amigo! We planned to start at the location by 8:00 a.m. but got there around 715-730 a.m.


We took the L to Union Square 14th Street and exited at the southern most exit for the train station which started us actually on 14th Street. The first item of notice was George Washington on horseback. This statue is actually one of the first to depict the Father of our Country in such a manor to elevate him stoically.
















Following the card was rather misleading and it was used as a rough reference tool from here on in. Where the card was a plus is that we did go on a Saturday in which the Farmers market is in full swing and is well recommended. The smells of fresh baked goods, fresh herbs, fruits, vegetables, etc. were fantastic. The urge to pull out the cash was hard to fight. But as we were looking around we noted these bronze plaques of copper in the ground. Now with all the historical statues and the word "Union" would lead you to believe the park is named for the Union of a nation but it's just a Union where the two main roads of the time when founded met for the Old Bowery and Broadway.

The plaques in the ground depicted what the area looked like and represented to those who lived in the 1800's. There were several of these in the ground and are available in the slide show. This is one example of many at the southern end of Union Square park. Some were covered in gum or some other kind of muck but were an absolute delight to gander over.






As we passed along the western side of the park we passed this fountain. It was actually one of the first pictures I snapped even before George Washington. With the weather as perfect and the flowers so beckoning that day the beauty of it was too much to avoid making it my first click.




I really dug this statue. It puzzled me to no end when I saw it as it was about midway up the west side of the park. Antonio would research it and I'm now committing to plagiarizing his efforts: "...the James Fountain (1881), a Temperance fountain with the figure of Charity who empties her jug of water, aided by a child; it was donated by Daniel Willis James and sculpted by Adolf Donndorf." Directly behind it was a beautiful floral arrangement and I couldn't resist getting behind this statue and taking pictures of them.























As we began to approach the northern end of the park we cut across to the east side and in doing so passed the statue of Abraham Lincoln. More historical American figures and dedications to them were abound on this tour and a desire to know one's heritage being important humbled me quite a bit. Especially stumbling upon Lafayette.














On the northern face of the pedestal it reads a quote from this French General, "As soon as I heard of American Independence my heart was enlisted." By the by, 40% of American's do not know what year it was that we declared our independence. Most of New Yorkers walk the streets and/or come to the stops on the train for Lafayette and have no idea who this is. It was this man who aided George Washington a great deal in coordinating the French provisions and troops against the English and trained a good amount of the armies formed in revolution during the eh, hmmm, what war was it...oh yeah REVOLUTIONARY WAR. In fact, this joke is going to go over your head if you are part of that 40% I just mentioned....His heart was enlisted when he heard he could kill English for another good reason...ha, ha, ha....because the French had been fighting with England for like ever....anywho. Look him up please.





The card had recommended coffee at the Coffee Shop at the corner of Union Square West and 16th Street.

Outside of the broken cup decor and retro set up inside the coffee is eh. So eh, I think the wall decor was made from people going out of their way to try the coffee at a place called the Coffee Shop with all the neon and hype and smashed their cups in disappointment.

While we were waiting for the Coffee Shop to open we walked from Union Square West to 5th Avenue on 16th Street and came across this very intriguing place called Olde Good Things. The window display was so cool I took about 10 pictures of which the following were the only ones worth sharing:























































































After viewing the window display at Olde Good Things we ventured to the corner of 5th Avenue and 16th Street and found the following plaque on the northern corner building: Levi Parsons Morton outside of all that which is on the plaque, drove the first rivet in the construction of the Statue of Liberty. Was originally asked to be the Vice Presidential candidate for James A. Garfield and had that happened and history continued as it did, he would have been president after Garfield's assassination. He was Vice President for Benjamin Harrison from 1889 to 1893. As a morbid fact, the man died on his birthday, the only Vice President to have done so at the age of 96.

After our sub par coffee we continued north up Broadway to get to Madison Square Park. On the way we passed a statue dedicated to Andy Warhol. 1968 to 1984 Union Square had a factory where Andy Warhol did his thang! Artist extraordinaire, the specific spot where his statue stands is where he signed and gave away copies of Interview Magazine. It's a bit eerie to look at and to make matters more weird, someone for reasons unknown hung cherries on a string on the statue. If anyone knows why let me know. Something tells me there is a significance to that in the way they were so perfectly hung.











From Andy we wondered up to the corner of Broadway and 23rd Street to enter Madison Square park. At the entrance was a statue of William H. Seward. I had no idea who this was so I had to look him up. He ran for president but was such an outspoken candidate talked his way out of being elected. If this nation thought Lincoln wanted slavery abolished, may we quote Mr. Seward, "there is a higher law than the Constitution" was his quip at the South and their slaveholdings and further stated on the subject, "either entirely a slaveholding nation, or entirely a free-labor nation." In translation, practice what you preach America! Lincoln had him as a member of his war cabinet. In fact, when Lincoln was assassinated, William H. Seward barely escaped an attempt on his life the same night as he was as much a target as Lincoln as the South wanted it's ability to still succeed from the Union. He and several family members were brutally attacked and all survived their wounds, the only one to perish from this in time was his wife from the stress of the whole situation. However, this was a man more famously remembered for purchasing Alaska which was considered such a fools aquisition it was named "Seward's Folly". In fact when asked his greatest acheivement William H. Seward replied, "The purchase of Alaska—but it will take the people a generation to find it out."
After passing the statue of William H. Seward we passed this fountain. Very serene and peaceful it would have kept my attention longer if not for the art piece in the center of the park...














This piece is called Echo. Daunting in size and haunting in it's pale white casting it stands just at or short of 4 stories in height and is dead center in the park. Jaume Plensa is the artist responsible from this work. The piece represents his neighbor's 9 year old daughter from Barcelona Spain. It is exactly 44 feet tall and the pictures I took do not translate it's awesome affect on the viewer. It was amazing.




















Well...David Farragut, Aye, Aye Captain..Admiral...SIR! What did he say? "Damn the torpedoes and full speed ahead!" That's what he said, during the Battle of Mobile Bay. Here is a monument to him at the north end of Madison Square Park.













So, remember a few pictures/paragraphs ago we learned of Levi Parsons Morton missing his opportunity to be President by declining the Vice Presidency under James A. Garfield? Well, here's the guy who took the job instead and became our 21'st President following Garfield's assassination. Chester A. Arthur's statue is also in Madison Square park at the northeast corner. This man was another famous Abolitionist whose remembered as "The Father of Civil Service." This President pushed a law that makes those working government jobs to pass tests to be promoted and not due to who you knew and blew. On his way out of office Alexander K. McClure wrote, "No man ever entered the Presidency so profoundly and widely distrusted, and no one ever retired... more generally respected." Even Mark Twain who was so far left before being left was popular stated, "It would be hard indeed to better President Arthur's administration."






Ah, the Flatiron Building. I snapped this shot upon leaving the park and crossing Broadway to get a good shot of it. Built in 1902 it is named the Flatiron Building because it sat in what was known as the Flatiron district. The building was originally named the Fuller Building. The wind sheer and gusts during storms cause a very interesting wind affect which the term "23 Skidoo" may have originated. It is said to have been coined by police officers for men waiting for women passing the building in their dresses to get a peek up a woman's skirt when it flew up from the wind blowing off the building's triangular corner at 23rd Street and they would yell it at the men "HEY! 23 Skidoo!". Now, it's debatable that this is the true origin as it was part of the lexicon of the pre 1920's mostly around the end of World War I. But, I buy that's where it comes from. Basically, "23 skidoo" means to beat it, get lost or carry on. Watch some old Hollywood films and you'll see that's what this means or is intended. It's a very impressive building to peer at for certain.





One of two tombs to historical figures in Manhattan lies William Jenkins Worth. Now I stumbled on this, wasn't looking for it as I was crossing Broadway to snap pictures of the Flatiron Building. This man fought in so many wars it amazes me a bout of Cholera took him down. His many achievements in uniform include negotiating the surrender of the Mexican city of Matamaros during the Mexican-American war. He is also required learning of military cadets for the following West Point's "Bugle Notes", a book of knowledge all cadets must know by heart. They are as follows: "But an officer on duty knows no one -- to be partial is to dishonor both himself and the object of his ill-advised favor. What will be thought of him who exacts of his friends that which disgraces him? Look at him who winks at and overlooks offences in one, which he causes to be punished in another, and contrast him with the
inflexible soldier who does his duty faithfully, notwithstanding it occasionally wars with his private feelings. The conduct of one will be venerated and emulated, the other detested as a satire upon soldiership and honor."


Each spike of the cast-iron fence surrounding the memorial is topped with a plumed helmet, reflective of the plumed helmet Worth is shown wearing in the memorial.















Now there was a lot of amazing skyline photo's I snapped but they weren't really part of the tour. They are in the slideshow and like I said this tour was a camera nut's paradise. So much to see and learn and was well capped off by Antonio's decision to have lunch at Katz Deli. A good 2 miles give or take walk from where we were but you need to make room in your stomach for a Katz sandwich. Worth every step and penny spent for my pastrami on rye. This tour was great and I can't wait for the next one.

There's A Return To Tour

Anxious to get going this morning, I will be doing a tour of Union Square during their Farmer's Market and walking past the infamous Flat Iron building walking to Madison Park. As always, any and all were invited and welcome. It's thanks to my good friend Antonio Champion that I make this return to touring. Can't wait.

I Hate Being Sick!

Remember when you were a kid and you felt the only acceptable time to be sick was when you had to go to school? That's how I feel about this beautiful week-end. I originally planned to go to NoLita this week-end. However, on Thursday, I began feeling a bit under the weather and wound up home sick from work on Friday. Then this morning I thought I was feeling better until lunchtime. I was all set on making the journey by myself until after I ate and began feeling nauseous, tired and chilly. So, I laid my head down and slept 5 hours and only woke up just now. So, next week probably, although I hope tomorrow, or who knows when but I want to get back on the flippin' horse and get back to touring. This month has been a bit disorganized and maybe April I'll have better luck. My son has gotten out of his cast but is now off for the week from school for Easter Holiday and so, I'm still fighting for time on the computer. If this blog is a bit of rambling nonsense, it fits how my head feels. Hope I feel better soon.

SOHO Tour

Another Georgeous day in New York for a tour so with friends, off I went. Today I was joined by my friend and his wife, Tony
and Maricel. We grabbed the L train to 6th Ave and grabbed the 1 train going downtown. We got off the 1 at the Houston Street stop to begin our tour at Seventh Street and Houston. Upon exiting the train we saw this interesting tile art on the wall. There would be a lot of art today, but I can't help but appreciate the art that's in the Subway that goes almost completely unnoticed by the ample majority leaving and entering the train stations. I'm not sure if this comes across in the photo you see here, but looking at it in person it had this 3D effect that made you feel as if the turtles were truly floating in air as they are displayed as being submersed in the waters, maybe of the train station we were in. Well, I liked it.

The tour led us east on Houston to 6th ave, south to Prince Street and due east to Sullivan. For those of you who can't remember which compass direction the sun rises and sets, in more simpler terms, we zig zagged a bit based on the map on our card until we came upon Sullivan Street between Spring and Houston Streets. The first stop on the card was supposed to be Sullivan Street Bakery at 73 Sullivan Street which is now the Grandaisy Bakery. We stopped in as most of us were starting to get hungry as it was getting to be lunchtime. We foolishly figured, eh we'll stop and have us a nosh. So we walked in and living on the edge I literally asked what they recommended. The counter person recommended 4 different pastries to which I said we'd have one of each. This was the magic words as she not only bagged us one of each, she gave us a ton of samplers. We went outside and sat on some benches set outside of the door to the place and took a taste of each item. There were chocolate pastries, citrus cakes, flat-bread pizza's, and all kinds of heavenly yum-yums. I went back in, dropped a good tip in the jar and grabbed a business card. If you are in the area, I highly recommend stopping in. Their website is www.grandaisybakery.com. They actually have a few locations in Manhattan so give em a try sometime.
After leaving the bakery, we walked up Sullivan Street from Spring walking toward Houston. The weather was so good, it looked as if the Empire State Building was a block away. So I snapped this picture just to give you an idea how nice it was outside today.

The next point of interest was this location called Once Upon a Tart. The window display was georgeous and unfortunately, the glass was so clean it reflected my image and not what you could see beyond the glass. Their window display makes it appear as if Strawberry Shortcake lives there. Very pretty, but very cramped interior. We were so full, we couldn't make ourselves order a tart but they were all so very pretty.

Upon leaving Once Upon a Tart we headed up to Houston where at the corner is St Anthony of Padua church. Built in 1866 it is one of the oldest Catholic churches in New York. Built by mostly Italian immigrants it's interior is loaded with marble and fantastic stained glass windows. Now, I always feel uncomfortable with just snapping pictures inside of churches so you'll have to go for yourself to be awe inspired by it's rich interior architecture.



Now, we followed the card to 150 Thompson Street where there is supposed to be a great antiques shop called Eileen Lane Antiques. It's this building by the way. Inviting looking isn't it? We walked up to the door which was locked and had a series of bells to enter the building. We rang the one that appeared correct for the antique shop but nobody answered or buzzed us in. So, we walked on.

We were lead by the card to West Broadway to walk between Houston and Broome Street. The street is full of art galleries inside the buildings and artists who have made their own on the street. I felt it rude to just snap pictures of work these men and women prided themselves on and were selling for varying and large amounts of money. Now, we have a very rude saying in New York that goes, "If you kick over a garbage can you'll find a starving artist in New York." Many of these people in my opinion did not deserve this saying to be rested upon their shoulders. It was a very culturally enriching experience and for such a beautiful day was an absolute pleasure. Why go to an art museum you have to pay an entry fee for when you can see a fantastic one at no charge. This was the most significant part of the walk to me.

Somewhere along our walk was the place called Pet Bar with what appears to be a giant paper mashey(how do you spell this word?) of this 5 foot dog. It reminds me of my golden retriever Max who stands about this tall when he jumps up on you. Except, you'll never see my doggie in such a nice bow tie.










Now I somehow missed a bunch of things on the card with the exception of Balthazar's on Spring Street. There is Dolce & Gabbana, Emporio Armani, Anthropolgie, Broadway Panhandler, Jacques Carcanagues Antiques and Kelley & Ping in this area. Maybe I was too engrossed in the artwork along Broadway to care, but if you decide to go to this area, send me some photo's of these places.

Now, when I went to City Hall I had walked up to this area near to where the tour ends at Spring Street and Crosby.
About a block or so away is Rice to Riches. I'm not a rice pudding fan.
But members of my household go mental if I don't bring them home good rice pudding when I'm near it.
37 Spring Street between Mott and Mulberry Street is where you can find this rice pudding ...museum which the gift shop is rice pudding. If you think I'm nuts for writing that, you have to go there to understand. These pictures are only a small sampling of the signs and pictures throughout the store. Even in the bathroom are signs hailing the plight of the gravitationally gifted and their quest for an exquisite treat. When you go to get your rice pudding, there is a display glass like that at Baskin Robbins but a lot nicer. Multiple flavors to choose from as well as "Jesus Droppings" which are the toppings for your rice pudding. The flavors all have interesting names also. My favorite to mention is "Sex, drugs and Rocky Road". So, I brought home the goods for my wife and my father-in-law and took a good nap. After all the walking I did this week-end a good nap was well deserved. Until next tour...

Williamsburg Bridge Tour

This was a beautiful day to be walking in New York. The weather was in the low 70's with virtually no humidity and very little to no cloud cover. A very early preview of what weather is to come and I hope for very many more days like this.

The card recommended I start in Manhattan, but I chose to start on the Brooklyn side. I took the J train to Marcy Ave. At the Marcy Ave station I took a picture of one of the stained glass art windows there. When I exited the station I followed the signs which pointed to the Williamsburg Bridge.

Before reaching the bridge I walked through a park just before the bike/run/walk path for the bridge. The park is dedicated to Valley Forge with a statue of Washington upon his horse.


Right at the entrance to the pedestrian path of the bridge was a bike dedicated to the death of someone struck by a car as a bicyclist. "CYCLIST KILLED HERE DAN VALE 26 YEARS OLD FEBRUARY 18, 2009 REST IN PEACE" is what the sign above the bike reads. You might not be able to see this in the picture, but there are several signatures on the bike from loved ones to this man.

Following the memorial I entered the path to walk across the Williamsburg Bridge. Now there are clear instructions on the floor all the way across that indicate that pedestrians running and walking are to be on the left side of the divider and bicyclists on the right. NOBODY seemed to care except me. Key word is "seemed", because the New York attitude is of general indifference and those who were not on the correct side may have been wished excruciating death by slow torture by their "fellow" New Yorkers. Most of the view was obstructed for picture taking by this heavy metal fencing. Since we have to stop people from killing themselves, I couldn't take all the pictures I would have liked. Here's an example so you know what I mean.

















The first picture worth sharing was the your leaving Brooklyn sign. Oy Vey?!? Really? Anywho....







As I was walking the bridge I was able to get up close to the fence and snap a shot of a rooftop that was well painted in a mosaic. Didn't think I knew that word did ya? Actually, I'm not sure I used it right so, it was all artsy and stuff and I liked it so I took a picture of it.

As I got near the first tower of the bridge there was a bronze plaque that had been graffitied over telling you the start and finish date and probably the history of the bridge. However, I could only read the opening year which was 1903. I'd have taken a picture of it, but it was truly disgusting to see and I didn't want to save it. The view of the Manhattan skyline was amazing. I did my best to take photo's of it. Very few were worth saving. I'll post the ones of interest here.













































After I made it to Manhattan, I made a trip into Brooklyn on the F train. At the Essex and Delancy station for the F train there was some interesting tile art on the walls that I snapped a few pictures.































My day ended with a walk along the shoreline of Brooklyn looking over at Staten Island with my good friend Joe. However, this was not part of the tour. But I thought I'd share the picture I took of the Verrazano. Hope to see you next tour.