Journal 1
Impressions of New York
Born and raised in Carle Place, I have always lived about 20 minutes from the best city in the world. My family really did take advantage of this in many different ways. One of my favorites was every year from age 3 to 12; my family took part in one of the most beloved traditions in New York City history, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. My family was so excited for the parade that we would even travel by car the night before to watch the balloons be blown up. The next morning, my family and the family from up the block, would get into our cars and drive into the city. We would arrive at about 4:45/5 am and set up some sort of seating arrangement. My family would sit on the curb, walk across the street and get Dunkin Donuts, and occasionally sing Christmas Carols with the Carolers who set up bleachers to stand on across the street. The Christmas Carolers certainly made the wait more interesting, as they would get the whole NYC street singing Christmas songs at 6 in the morning.
My family also has a family tradition of seeing one of the various Christmas shows the city has to offer, whether it be the Rockette's, A Christmas Carol at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, or even How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Broadway.
For the past three years, I have been helping the Girls Scouts of Nassau County perform their version of the Amazing Race throughout New York City. By doing this, I have volunteered to be a station at a different area in the city. This year, I was stationed in Battery Park at the Battery Urban Farm and the year before I was stationed at Belvedere Castle in Central Park. I loved this experience because it helped me learn about the City in a way that I wasn't offered as a scout.
Both of my parents grew up in Queens; my father, Woodside, and my mother, Sunnyside. My family would go every Sunday to my Grandmother's house for family dinner in Queens and I spend most of my childhood in Woodside with my Grandmother. My father grew up on 48th St, with his backyard being a large cemetery. When I was younger, my cousin's used to tell me Dracula was buried there and that if I misbehaved that he would come to get me. My father didn't make this any better by driving me to see "Dracula's Tombstone". Most of my family still lives in Queens, but they seem to be moving to the 'burbs more and more now.
I know first-handed that New York City is the ultimate melting pot. My family is made form some of those immigrants escaping the potato famine, searching for the American dream, escaping war, or even joining the good fight. My father is a first-generation American, born to immigrant parents from Italy. My paternal grandfather came into America during WWII by joining the Army, while my grandmother came with her mother and siblings through Ellis Island. My mother is a second-generation American, born to first-generation Irish Americans. My paternal family made it very easy for me to relate to what I learned in many history classes because I would often talk to my Grandmother about her time traveling through Ellis Island and what it was really like to live through WWII (Mussolini had all of the children in school and the trains ran on time). My Grandmother always used to say, "there's no place like New York City," and I think she couldn't have been more correct. People from all over the world leave everything behind to come to this city and I think it's about time I really find out why. It's always been a train ride away, but I think it's now more important to figure out what makes New York City so special. One thing I have always wanted to do is take a trip to Ellis Island and find my grandmother's name, but my school had to cancel the trip due to the horrific acts of 9/11/2001. I love all of the Museums that New York City has to offer, although I have only been to MOMA and the Met. I would love to visit more of them and I know that in this class I will definitely do that. I'm really looking forward to seeing what this class will teach me. As a young adult on Long Island, it's fair to assume that I will at some point hold a job in the city that never sleeps and I would love to learn about the history of what that all means.
I love New York for many reasons and I think recently it has been making some great changes in the right direction, although I don't know that it matters how much soda a man could drink. The city is dirty, but getting cleaner. The subways and streets are getting safer. The Freedom Tower is almost completed. Things really seem to moving well for New York City, even with the terrible effects of Superstorm Sandy.
My family also has a family tradition of seeing one of the various Christmas shows the city has to offer, whether it be the Rockette's, A Christmas Carol at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden, or even How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Broadway.
For the past three years, I have been helping the Girls Scouts of Nassau County perform their version of the Amazing Race throughout New York City. By doing this, I have volunteered to be a station at a different area in the city. This year, I was stationed in Battery Park at the Battery Urban Farm and the year before I was stationed at Belvedere Castle in Central Park. I loved this experience because it helped me learn about the City in a way that I wasn't offered as a scout.
Both of my parents grew up in Queens; my father, Woodside, and my mother, Sunnyside. My family would go every Sunday to my Grandmother's house for family dinner in Queens and I spend most of my childhood in Woodside with my Grandmother. My father grew up on 48th St, with his backyard being a large cemetery. When I was younger, my cousin's used to tell me Dracula was buried there and that if I misbehaved that he would come to get me. My father didn't make this any better by driving me to see "Dracula's Tombstone". Most of my family still lives in Queens, but they seem to be moving to the 'burbs more and more now.
I know first-handed that New York City is the ultimate melting pot. My family is made form some of those immigrants escaping the potato famine, searching for the American dream, escaping war, or even joining the good fight. My father is a first-generation American, born to immigrant parents from Italy. My paternal grandfather came into America during WWII by joining the Army, while my grandmother came with her mother and siblings through Ellis Island. My mother is a second-generation American, born to first-generation Irish Americans. My paternal family made it very easy for me to relate to what I learned in many history classes because I would often talk to my Grandmother about her time traveling through Ellis Island and what it was really like to live through WWII (Mussolini had all of the children in school and the trains ran on time). My Grandmother always used to say, "there's no place like New York City," and I think she couldn't have been more correct. People from all over the world leave everything behind to come to this city and I think it's about time I really find out why. It's always been a train ride away, but I think it's now more important to figure out what makes New York City so special. One thing I have always wanted to do is take a trip to Ellis Island and find my grandmother's name, but my school had to cancel the trip due to the horrific acts of 9/11/2001. I love all of the Museums that New York City has to offer, although I have only been to MOMA and the Met. I would love to visit more of them and I know that in this class I will definitely do that. I'm really looking forward to seeing what this class will teach me. As a young adult on Long Island, it's fair to assume that I will at some point hold a job in the city that never sleeps and I would love to learn about the history of what that all means.
I love New York for many reasons and I think recently it has been making some great changes in the right direction, although I don't know that it matters how much soda a man could drink. The city is dirty, but getting cleaner. The subways and streets are getting safer. The Freedom Tower is almost completed. Things really seem to moving well for New York City, even with the terrible effects of Superstorm Sandy.
Quixotic Queens
Walking onto the train on Wednesday morning was equal parts nerve-wrecking and exciting. I was nervous to see what the day would bring, but excited to learn new things. My day started with a snotty woman on the train who didn't want to move her bag so I could sit and over-hearing a far too in-depth conversation between a mother and her son about the lack of a father figure in his life; only in New York. Today was exhausting and sweaty and exactly what you had warned us of, but still fun and enjoyable.
The day began in Pennsylvania Station and quickly went to the New York Public Library, where on the steps I wrote my most wonderful haiku yet: " Air conditioning / is really needed in July / in New York City " -
I really loved the library, mostly because as an English major, I really love books. I also enjoyed being in the Rose Room and in my head, reenacting a few scenes from one of my favorite New York City themed movies The Day After Tomorrow. There was a statue just to the side of the lobby that I really enjoyed and snuck away to take a picture of. It was a sculpture called "Frolicsome Girl" by Matvei Afanasevich Chizhov. I can't exactly explain what it was about this sculpture from 1873, but it mesmerized me. I really found it's beauty and I think it reminded me of a young girl standing in front of a small lake watching the ducks as they passed by. In the library, I also really enjoyed one of the original copies of the Gutenberg Bible because it was the first book ever mass-produced on the magnificient machine Johannes Gutenberg perfected in the 1450's. Gutenberg's invention has really helped me enjoy my obsession with reading and always moving onto new books. Unfortunately, it seems that Gutenberg's hard work will soon be diminished because of the internet and technology. (Long Live Hard Cover Books!)
My second-favorite stop of the day was the luxurious Waldorf-Astoria. Every inch of rich wood and marble was amazing. I have always had a taste for the finer things in life and New York City really brings it out in me. I loved the displays of the older memorabilia and even the old-school rotary telephones.
I enjoyed the trip over to Roosevelt Island and I even-more so enjoyed the Four Freedoms Park. FDR is one of my favorite past presidents and I love basically anything that has to do with him. The floating bust of his head was really awesome looking and I also really appreciated the quote on the adjacent side. However, I do understand what the irate woman was saying in that the surrounding walls seem unnecessary and disjointing. I suppose their aesthetically appealing when you stand at the trees and look down to the park, but from outside of the park, like where we were standing in Queens looking to Manhattan, the walls are very disjointed.
I tried the Tandori Chicken and Rice at lunch, but it was unsuccessful Unfortunately, my pick appetite did not appreciate the Indian spices the Jackson Diner so graciously offered.
My favorite part of the day had to be the Museum of the Moving Image. It is truly hard to pick a favorite part about this museum, I was like a kid in a candy store the whole time, but one part of the exhibit sticks out. That has to be the movie that plays on loop on the second floor called, Precious Images.Precious Images is an 8 minute movie of clips from all of the best and most well-known movies in movie history (before it was created in 1986, clearly Men In Black would be added to Precious Images, pt. 2.) I loved watching it so much that I came home and found it on YouTube (seriously, you can find anything on the internet.).
After the Museum, we went over to Long Island City. After a failed attempt to go to the MoMA PS 1, we went to the new 5 Pointz. Although most of the class seemed to really enjoy the 5 Pointz building, I felt rather indifferent towards it and it's mission. I suppose I understand what Mike was saying about it being a good place for kids and other graffiti artists to express themselves without harming anyone else's property, but I just don't appreciate the art of graffiti, I suppose. The building was cool looking and I do hope that they can keep it.
I enjoyed ending at the park overlooking the East River from yet another angle. I'm very happy to learn that New York City is now learning to preserve important things, such as the Pepsi-Cola sign or the Smallpox hospital on Roosevelt Island or the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria. I'm excited to see what else this class is going to teach me!
The day began in Pennsylvania Station and quickly went to the New York Public Library, where on the steps I wrote my most wonderful haiku yet: " Air conditioning / is really needed in July / in New York City " -
I really loved the library, mostly because as an English major, I really love books. I also enjoyed being in the Rose Room and in my head, reenacting a few scenes from one of my favorite New York City themed movies The Day After Tomorrow. There was a statue just to the side of the lobby that I really enjoyed and snuck away to take a picture of. It was a sculpture called "Frolicsome Girl" by Matvei Afanasevich Chizhov. I can't exactly explain what it was about this sculpture from 1873, but it mesmerized me. I really found it's beauty and I think it reminded me of a young girl standing in front of a small lake watching the ducks as they passed by. In the library, I also really enjoyed one of the original copies of the Gutenberg Bible because it was the first book ever mass-produced on the magnificient machine Johannes Gutenberg perfected in the 1450's. Gutenberg's invention has really helped me enjoy my obsession with reading and always moving onto new books. Unfortunately, it seems that Gutenberg's hard work will soon be diminished because of the internet and technology. (Long Live Hard Cover Books!)
My second-favorite stop of the day was the luxurious Waldorf-Astoria. Every inch of rich wood and marble was amazing. I have always had a taste for the finer things in life and New York City really brings it out in me. I loved the displays of the older memorabilia and even the old-school rotary telephones.
I enjoyed the trip over to Roosevelt Island and I even-more so enjoyed the Four Freedoms Park. FDR is one of my favorite past presidents and I love basically anything that has to do with him. The floating bust of his head was really awesome looking and I also really appreciated the quote on the adjacent side. However, I do understand what the irate woman was saying in that the surrounding walls seem unnecessary and disjointing. I suppose their aesthetically appealing when you stand at the trees and look down to the park, but from outside of the park, like where we were standing in Queens looking to Manhattan, the walls are very disjointed.
I tried the Tandori Chicken and Rice at lunch, but it was unsuccessful Unfortunately, my pick appetite did not appreciate the Indian spices the Jackson Diner so graciously offered.
My favorite part of the day had to be the Museum of the Moving Image. It is truly hard to pick a favorite part about this museum, I was like a kid in a candy store the whole time, but one part of the exhibit sticks out. That has to be the movie that plays on loop on the second floor called, Precious Images.Precious Images is an 8 minute movie of clips from all of the best and most well-known movies in movie history (before it was created in 1986, clearly Men In Black would be added to Precious Images, pt. 2.) I loved watching it so much that I came home and found it on YouTube (seriously, you can find anything on the internet.).
After the Museum, we went over to Long Island City. After a failed attempt to go to the MoMA PS 1, we went to the new 5 Pointz. Although most of the class seemed to really enjoy the 5 Pointz building, I felt rather indifferent towards it and it's mission. I suppose I understand what Mike was saying about it being a good place for kids and other graffiti artists to express themselves without harming anyone else's property, but I just don't appreciate the art of graffiti, I suppose. The building was cool looking and I do hope that they can keep it.
I enjoyed ending at the park overlooking the East River from yet another angle. I'm very happy to learn that New York City is now learning to preserve important things, such as the Pepsi-Cola sign or the Smallpox hospital on Roosevelt Island or the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria. I'm excited to see what else this class is going to teach me!
Bodacious Brooklyn
Brooklyn began with blisters on my feet and some rain in the air, but it ended up being better than Wednesday. I loved everything about Brooklyn, except the bathroom in Coney Island. The view from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade is now etched in my brain and I will never forget it.
The day began with a nice long relaxing subway ride over to Coney Island. Unfortunately, the hour of time given to "play" was not really enough. After the class took a wonderful picture, Danielle, Emily, and I walked back up to the street to get some Nathan's. Unfortunately for us, after we were done with our delicious meal, it was time to head back to our meeting place. This experience was good because you could see the appeal that Coney Island would have had for New York City folk back in the day and I think that they are trying hard to bring it back to it's former glory. As a kid, my family used to go to Coney Island Cyclone's (the Minor League Baseball team) games all the time and we would go to the Aquarium somewhat frequently so I have known Coney Island to be a nasty, dirty, scary place. However, I noticed that it was a lot cleaner now and although it may not be much safer, there seemed to be police officers on almost every corner and quite a few patrolling the boardwalk. We also learned about how Coney Island is also experiencing gentrification, just like Long Island City and Astoria. It was also interesting to learn that Coney Island was once an island, but that sand was put in to make the island a peninsula, but I could not find proof of that when I was doing a Google search.
After our Coney Island experience, we took another leisurely subway ride to downtown Brooklyn. We learned how Brooklyn was its own city until the unification of the Boroughs in 1889. While walking through Downtown Brooklyn, we walked past the New York Civil Court building that my mother worked in for a short time on our way to the New York City Transit Museum. The Transit Museum was a lot of information about the forming and the history of the subways. Our tour guide was really interested in the topic and the museum had some really great pictures that I really didn't think would be there. It was really interesting to know that this place was used to film movies and that the MTA used the tunnels as storage. I also really liked that the museum does actually take the old trains out and you can ride on the train to Coney Island. My overall favorite part of the museum was the advertisements in the old trains, like the advertisements featuring children saying "must the die during world war ii" or something to that effect. I found the museum to be very fascinating.
After the museum, we headed down to Brooklyn City Hall, which was beautiful. We also viewed the church and the Chase bank, which used to be the Brooklyn Trust. It was by far the prettiest bank lobby I had ever been in and the people working there were very friendly, too! After the bank, we walked a few more blocks until we came to the Brooklyn Historical Society where we noted the heads of Christopher Columbus and who I believe is Leif Erikson.
My favorite part of the day came next when we walked over to Brooklyn Heights. I found Brooklyn Heights to be some of the most beautiful neighborhood. It was interesting to see all of the places where real people and things happened, but how much it has changed. Walking around the neighborhood made me really picture the old world Brooklyn in my head. I loved the story of George Washington sneaking his troops to safety at night (and the compass on the floor that you missed across the river. I loved the view of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Promenade and I probably could have sat there all day if I could. The improvements to that area are looking really good and I'm very excited to see what it will look like.
After the Promenade, we walked some more and ended up at Dumbo where we looked at the plans for the area. We went down and saw the carrousel and another awesome view of the Brooklyn Bridge. We went to get fantastic ice cream before walking over the bridge. After getting ice cream, it obviously started to rain just in time for us to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge was an experience that really made me feel like a true New Yorker. It felt like an initiation to a beloved and exclusive club. Overall, I found the Brooklyn day to be really wonderful. I can't wait to see what's next!
The day began with a nice long relaxing subway ride over to Coney Island. Unfortunately, the hour of time given to "play" was not really enough. After the class took a wonderful picture, Danielle, Emily, and I walked back up to the street to get some Nathan's. Unfortunately for us, after we were done with our delicious meal, it was time to head back to our meeting place. This experience was good because you could see the appeal that Coney Island would have had for New York City folk back in the day and I think that they are trying hard to bring it back to it's former glory. As a kid, my family used to go to Coney Island Cyclone's (the Minor League Baseball team) games all the time and we would go to the Aquarium somewhat frequently so I have known Coney Island to be a nasty, dirty, scary place. However, I noticed that it was a lot cleaner now and although it may not be much safer, there seemed to be police officers on almost every corner and quite a few patrolling the boardwalk. We also learned about how Coney Island is also experiencing gentrification, just like Long Island City and Astoria. It was also interesting to learn that Coney Island was once an island, but that sand was put in to make the island a peninsula, but I could not find proof of that when I was doing a Google search.
After our Coney Island experience, we took another leisurely subway ride to downtown Brooklyn. We learned how Brooklyn was its own city until the unification of the Boroughs in 1889. While walking through Downtown Brooklyn, we walked past the New York Civil Court building that my mother worked in for a short time on our way to the New York City Transit Museum. The Transit Museum was a lot of information about the forming and the history of the subways. Our tour guide was really interested in the topic and the museum had some really great pictures that I really didn't think would be there. It was really interesting to know that this place was used to film movies and that the MTA used the tunnels as storage. I also really liked that the museum does actually take the old trains out and you can ride on the train to Coney Island. My overall favorite part of the museum was the advertisements in the old trains, like the advertisements featuring children saying "must the die during world war ii" or something to that effect. I found the museum to be very fascinating.
After the museum, we headed down to Brooklyn City Hall, which was beautiful. We also viewed the church and the Chase bank, which used to be the Brooklyn Trust. It was by far the prettiest bank lobby I had ever been in and the people working there were very friendly, too! After the bank, we walked a few more blocks until we came to the Brooklyn Historical Society where we noted the heads of Christopher Columbus and who I believe is Leif Erikson.
My favorite part of the day came next when we walked over to Brooklyn Heights. I found Brooklyn Heights to be some of the most beautiful neighborhood. It was interesting to see all of the places where real people and things happened, but how much it has changed. Walking around the neighborhood made me really picture the old world Brooklyn in my head. I loved the story of George Washington sneaking his troops to safety at night (and the compass on the floor that you missed across the river. I loved the view of Manhattan from the Brooklyn Promenade and I probably could have sat there all day if I could. The improvements to that area are looking really good and I'm very excited to see what it will look like.
After the Promenade, we walked some more and ended up at Dumbo where we looked at the plans for the area. We went down and saw the carrousel and another awesome view of the Brooklyn Bridge. We went to get fantastic ice cream before walking over the bridge. After getting ice cream, it obviously started to rain just in time for us to walk over the Brooklyn Bridge. Walking over the Brooklyn Bridge was an experience that really made me feel like a true New Yorker. It felt like an initiation to a beloved and exclusive club. Overall, I found the Brooklyn day to be really wonderful. I can't wait to see what's next!
A Tale of Three Villages
Today was hot and miserable. The day started with me feeling incredibly sick and tired, but I powered through the heat and made it through the day, somehow.
Today started with a train ride that didn't stop at our station and an unnecessarily long walk in the heat. But, it wasn't so bad. For the first hour or two of today's class, I felt miserable. We walked to the narrowest house in New York, 75 1/2 Bedford St. This tiny little narrow house just recently was on the market for $4 Million! That's incredible!
After 75 1/2 Bedford, we walked over to Christopher Park and saw the statues of the gay activists. The park was a great stop for those of us who felt like death to take a seat and relax for a moment, even if it didn't change the heat at all. After everyone had a moment to see the statues and somewhat read the signs, we walked across the street to Stonewall Inn, which was a bar that played a crucial role as a meeting place for the activists. The Stonewall Inn acted as a meeting ground for many of the social activists that were trying for their civil rights. As their website put it, "On June 28, 1969, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against what had become regular, tolerated, city sanctioned harassment by the police department. For the first time in history Gay people refused to accept the status quo of oppression and stood up for themselves and, ultimately, the global Gay community." The actions that occurred at the Stonewall Inn have shown that the Gay community is not unlike any other community. With the recent news about the refusal of DOMA, the Gay community has truly won another victory.
After the Stonewall Inn, we walked to Washington Square Park. On the way, we saw a lot of trailers for movies or t.v. shows and when we were actually in the park, we saw them filming Elementary, which I thought was really cool. The t.v. people really annoyed Mike by asking us to be quiet, but I don't think that it was as big of a deal. I understand Mike's point that the Washington Square Park is a park for the people, but I think that giving television shows the opportunity to film in New York is a great thing. Not only does it create jobs, it also creates business for the small businesses surrounding the filming area. Joe Schmo the sound guy for the episode is probably in a union in New York for film and gets to work because of this opportunity and he'll probably buy lunch at the local deli/pizza place/ Chinese take-out. I think that having the film industry in New York is incredibly beneficial, even if it annoys some people some times. Just look at how Astoria is prospering because of this.
After our brief stint in the park, we walked down to the Merchant's House Museum. I thought this was a great experience that I definitely would have never checked out before this. The Merchant House was the home of Seabury Tredwell and the home is completely intact, on both the inside and the outside. Our tour guide for this was phenomenal! She was understanding of our heat exhaustion and incredibly knowledgeable on the house, the family, and it's surroundings. As you may remember, I was completely enthralled in this experience. I loved the whole idea of a mid-1800's family and what their daily life would have been like. I also was impressed with how heavy that coal was and how many stairs there were for the servants to carry such a heavy load. I especially loved when the tour guide spoke about the experiences some people have had with the ghost, Gertrude, who was the youngest child of Seabury and Eliza. I tend to be fascinated by the paranormal and I think that being the "most haunted house in new york" was so exciting! I just kind of wish we could have experienced something paranormal.
After the Merchant's House, we went to the St. Mark's Church, the second oldest church in New York City.The St. Mark's Church is known for being the area of land that the once governor, Peter Stuyvesant, owned in the 1600's. The church is also the burial place of Peter Stuyvesant.
Unfortunately, after the St. Mark's Church, the day took a turn for the worse. On top of being miserable, hot, and exhausted we all walked through Tompkins Square Park, where Mike told us a little about how dangerous this area used to be. I think that his words did the area justice, because as he spoke of people being raped and murdered, all I could picture was an episode of Law and Order in my head. Although Mike and our tour guide Bill said that the area was being gentrified, the park still looked like it could use some tlc (tender-love and care). After our brief stroll through the park, we went to the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, where they really didn't seem to give a crap about us. The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space is located in an actual building that houses squats today called C- Squat.
After waiting around for about a half hour for our lousy tour guide to eventually show up, we headed out to hear what Bill the anarchist had to say. Bill was very knowledgeable in the area and it's rich and vast history, but he didn't make me care about it. I was very disinterested in what he had to say because of the way he was saying it. It was interesting to learn about the community gardens and it's easy to imagine how much hard work it took all of the squatters, druggies, and other people of the community to make the gardens come to fruition. The gardens themselves were nice to see and it does definitely bring about a great sense of community. However, when Bill was telling us about the Community Center/ developer issue, I really didn't understand his point because he did not convey it well enough. Sure, a community center is a good thing, but so is college students and a new, young community that will spend money in the community. I don't think that arguing against people who will bring business and money to a place is feasible. Another problem I had with Bill was his arguments against the late night curfew that the police and city put forth for the park. When Bill was telling about how the people and musicians would start to play and gather in the city late at night just to be rebellious, I thought it sounded foolish, childish, and irresponsible. I think that a late night curfew to stop people from being raped or mugged or murdered is a total sensible and logical thing. To rebel against that and thus, creating more raping, mugging, murdering, and noise, makes you sound like a spoiled brat, rebel without a cause and this overall, really left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sure that Bill and his people thought that what they were doing was right and just, but I whole-heartedly disagree.
Today started with a train ride that didn't stop at our station and an unnecessarily long walk in the heat. But, it wasn't so bad. For the first hour or two of today's class, I felt miserable. We walked to the narrowest house in New York, 75 1/2 Bedford St. This tiny little narrow house just recently was on the market for $4 Million! That's incredible!
After 75 1/2 Bedford, we walked over to Christopher Park and saw the statues of the gay activists. The park was a great stop for those of us who felt like death to take a seat and relax for a moment, even if it didn't change the heat at all. After everyone had a moment to see the statues and somewhat read the signs, we walked across the street to Stonewall Inn, which was a bar that played a crucial role as a meeting place for the activists. The Stonewall Inn acted as a meeting ground for many of the social activists that were trying for their civil rights. As their website put it, "On June 28, 1969, the patrons of the Stonewall Inn fought back against what had become regular, tolerated, city sanctioned harassment by the police department. For the first time in history Gay people refused to accept the status quo of oppression and stood up for themselves and, ultimately, the global Gay community." The actions that occurred at the Stonewall Inn have shown that the Gay community is not unlike any other community. With the recent news about the refusal of DOMA, the Gay community has truly won another victory.
After the Stonewall Inn, we walked to Washington Square Park. On the way, we saw a lot of trailers for movies or t.v. shows and when we were actually in the park, we saw them filming Elementary, which I thought was really cool. The t.v. people really annoyed Mike by asking us to be quiet, but I don't think that it was as big of a deal. I understand Mike's point that the Washington Square Park is a park for the people, but I think that giving television shows the opportunity to film in New York is a great thing. Not only does it create jobs, it also creates business for the small businesses surrounding the filming area. Joe Schmo the sound guy for the episode is probably in a union in New York for film and gets to work because of this opportunity and he'll probably buy lunch at the local deli/pizza place/ Chinese take-out. I think that having the film industry in New York is incredibly beneficial, even if it annoys some people some times. Just look at how Astoria is prospering because of this.
After our brief stint in the park, we walked down to the Merchant's House Museum. I thought this was a great experience that I definitely would have never checked out before this. The Merchant House was the home of Seabury Tredwell and the home is completely intact, on both the inside and the outside. Our tour guide for this was phenomenal! She was understanding of our heat exhaustion and incredibly knowledgeable on the house, the family, and it's surroundings. As you may remember, I was completely enthralled in this experience. I loved the whole idea of a mid-1800's family and what their daily life would have been like. I also was impressed with how heavy that coal was and how many stairs there were for the servants to carry such a heavy load. I especially loved when the tour guide spoke about the experiences some people have had with the ghost, Gertrude, who was the youngest child of Seabury and Eliza. I tend to be fascinated by the paranormal and I think that being the "most haunted house in new york" was so exciting! I just kind of wish we could have experienced something paranormal.
After the Merchant's House, we went to the St. Mark's Church, the second oldest church in New York City.The St. Mark's Church is known for being the area of land that the once governor, Peter Stuyvesant, owned in the 1600's. The church is also the burial place of Peter Stuyvesant.
Unfortunately, after the St. Mark's Church, the day took a turn for the worse. On top of being miserable, hot, and exhausted we all walked through Tompkins Square Park, where Mike told us a little about how dangerous this area used to be. I think that his words did the area justice, because as he spoke of people being raped and murdered, all I could picture was an episode of Law and Order in my head. Although Mike and our tour guide Bill said that the area was being gentrified, the park still looked like it could use some tlc (tender-love and care). After our brief stroll through the park, we went to the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, where they really didn't seem to give a crap about us. The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space is located in an actual building that houses squats today called C- Squat.
After waiting around for about a half hour for our lousy tour guide to eventually show up, we headed out to hear what Bill the anarchist had to say. Bill was very knowledgeable in the area and it's rich and vast history, but he didn't make me care about it. I was very disinterested in what he had to say because of the way he was saying it. It was interesting to learn about the community gardens and it's easy to imagine how much hard work it took all of the squatters, druggies, and other people of the community to make the gardens come to fruition. The gardens themselves were nice to see and it does definitely bring about a great sense of community. However, when Bill was telling us about the Community Center/ developer issue, I really didn't understand his point because he did not convey it well enough. Sure, a community center is a good thing, but so is college students and a new, young community that will spend money in the community. I don't think that arguing against people who will bring business and money to a place is feasible. Another problem I had with Bill was his arguments against the late night curfew that the police and city put forth for the park. When Bill was telling about how the people and musicians would start to play and gather in the city late at night just to be rebellious, I thought it sounded foolish, childish, and irresponsible. I think that a late night curfew to stop people from being raped or mugged or murdered is a total sensible and logical thing. To rebel against that and thus, creating more raping, mugging, murdering, and noise, makes you sound like a spoiled brat, rebel without a cause and this overall, really left a bad taste in my mouth. I'm sure that Bill and his people thought that what they were doing was right and just, but I whole-heartedly disagree.