Category: New York City

The Bridges of New York City

Posted on by Marcia Mayne
Brooklyn Bridge, photo courtesy wallpaperhd.net
Brooklyn Bridge

Several bridges connect Manhattan to the boroughs of Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island, and New Jersey. Nine bridges cross the East River, two on the Hudson and twelve on the Harlem River.

Bridges are fascinating inventions. I marvel at the ingenuity of the architects and engineers who create these amazing structures and of the people who now work on them daily. We cross so easily and quickly, we hardly ever imagine what life would be like without them.

Here are a few New York City bridges.

Brooklyn Bridge: Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge, which connects Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River, is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the U.S. At 1,595.5 feet, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world until 1903. It was designed by John Augustus Roebling and was designated a National Historic Landmark, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and a New York City Landmark. The bridge has been featured in movies such as Once Upon a Time in America, Deep Impact, I Am Legend, and Kate & Leopold.

George Washington Bridge: With fourteen lanes of traffic, this bridge connects Upper Manhattan to the Fort Lee section of New Jersey and sees daily traffic of over 289,000. One of the newer bridges, it was designed by Cass Gilbert and opened in 1931. The GWB has paths for pedestrians and bikers. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks.

Manhattan Bridge: At 6,855 feet, this suspension bridge connects Manhattan and Brooklyn over the East River. It opened in 1909 and was designed by Leon Moisseiff. The bridge has vehicle lanes on the upper level, subway tracks for the B, D, N and Q lines, a walkway and bikeway. Daily traffic volume: 70,341.

Verrazano-Narrows Bridge: This double-decker suspension bridge over the Hudson River marks the gateway to the New York and New Jersey harbor. It also marks the starting point of the New York City Marathon. Completed in 1964, it connects Staten Island to Brooklyn, spans 4,260 feet and carries 12 lanes of traffic. It was named after Giovanni da Verrazano, a European navigator who was the first to enter New York harbor.

Washington Bridge: Opened in 1888, this bridge connects Manhattan and the Bronx over the Harlem River. It carries more than 50,000 cars, buses and pedestrians daily. The Washington Bridge was designed by William Rich Hutton and Edward H. Kendall and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Williamsburg Bridge: This East River bridge connects Lower Manhattan via Delancy Street to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. It stretches 7,308 feet and has eight lanes of roadway and tracks for the J, M and Z subway lines. Opened in 1903, it’s been seen in movies such as Serpico, Once Upon a Time in America, The French Connection, Live and Let Die and Scent of a Woman. Daily traffic volume: 106,783.

Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge: If you watch the New York City Marathon, you would no doubt have seen the runners crossing this bridge. Opened in 1909, it connects Manhattan at 59th Street and Long Island City, Queens. It was renamed in 2010 in honor of former New York mayor, Ed Koch. It spans 3,724 feet and was used as a backdrop in the 2002 Spider-Man film and in the movie, Anger Management.

New York Morning Shows – Your Chance to Get on TV

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

When NBC relocated their Today Show studios to the ground floor of Rockefeller Center in 1994, it began drawing scores of people curious to see for themselves what the rest of us were watching on our television sets at home.

Soon the other morning shows on the major networks – The Early Show (CBS) and Good Morning America (ABC) – followed suit.

ABC Window, Time Square
Spectators outside ABC's GMA window in Times Square

Watching how these three windows have been shaped by individuals’ interactions with them have been interesting. People bring signs, celebrate major milestones or just show up for a chance to be noticed on national television. They are the cheering section, the studio audience that producers don’t even have to worry about booking.

Showing up and watching the shows have become a major draw for visitors to New York. On days when there are free concerts, people gather from 4 and 5 in the morning just to get a good spot. But usually, getting there any time before they start broadcasting at 7:00 a.m. is fine.

If you’re planning a trip to New York City and are interested in watching one of the morning shows, here’s where to find them. The good thing is, they’re all free and it looks like a lot of fun.

  • ABC – Good Morning America, 44th Street & Broadway, Times Square, New York.
  • CBS – The Early Show, 524 W 57th Street, New York
  • NBC – Today Show, 30 Rockefeller Center, New York

All three shows start broadcasting at 7:00 a.m. Get there early to ensure a good spot. Have fun and enjoy!

Other Places to See in New York City:

You can combine a trip to watch Good Morning America with a visit to Toys “R” Us, the world’s biggest toy store at 47th & Broadway and Madame Tussauds wax museum, which is located a couple blocks away at 234 W 42nd Street. Tickets start at $36.

From the CBS studios, you can visit any number of stores around 57th Street – from well known toy store, FAO Schwarz (founded in 1862) to high end stores like Prada, Louis Vuitton, Bergdorf Goodman, Chanel, Hermes and Bulgari.

If you’re at NBC, don’t leave without checking out Top of the Rock (tickets required) for a sweeping view of New York City, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Saks Fifth Avenue on Fifth Avenue. While at Rockefeller Center, take a photo of the Prometheus sculpture and when you leave St. Patrick’s, take a look at the statue of Atlas, which is right across the street.

New York is a walking city, so bring comfortable shoes and wander around. Because the streets are numbered, it’s an easy city to figure out — take it from me, my friends say I’m directionally challenged. The only times I get lost in the city is when I venture down to Lower Manhattan, which is all named streets.

Getting around New York City:

Public transportation’s pretty inexpensive — $2.25 will get you on the bus or subway. It also gets you a transfer so you go from one to the other. My suggestion: buy a 7-day unlimited pass for $29. Up to three children who are no taller than 44 inches ride free when accompanied by a paying adult. There are also reduced rates for seniors.

Getting to the airport:

New York Airport Service operates buses from Grand Central, Penn Station and Port Authority to the major airports – JFK, LaGuardia and Newark starting at $12. There are also several shuttle buses as well as AirTrain service which connects via subway to JFK for $7.50.

Enjoy New York City!

12 Must See New York City Buildings

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

As you can imagine, many New York City buildings have their own rich histories. Even though I’m partial to the old classic styles, I still love some of the new buildings. And I’m thrilled when I notice the way the sun highlights a color that makes a building I’m used to seeing look new and exciting. If I have my camera and I’m not in a hurry, I usually stop and take a photo.

Central Synagogue, New York City
Central Synagogue, New York City

I’ve been fortunate to have visited many, worked in a few and pass by a number of them on my way to and from work everyday. Here are some of my favorites.

  • The Chrysler Building. At 1,047 feet, this Art Deco building, located at 405 Lexington Avenue, was the world’s tallest building from 1930 when it was completed, to 1931 when the Empire State Building edged it out. It is now the second tallest building in New York City after the new Bank of America Tower and the world’s tallest steel supported brick building. No workers died during its construction despite its four floors a week building pace. Although it was built for the Chrysler Corporation and served as its headquarters until the 1950, the Chrysler Building was a project for Walter P. Chrysler’s children. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a U.S. National Historic Landmark.
  • Grand Central Terminal: Built and owned by the Vanderbilt family, Grand Central Terminal opened in 1871. Located at 89 E 42nd Street, it spans 48 acres and is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms: 44. It serves commuters from Connecticut and New York’s northern counties as well as subway riders. Over 750,000 people pass through Grand Central every day, more than 1 million during the holiday season. The main concourse (275 feet long, 120 feet wide and 125 feet high) houses the information booth. With its four-faced opal clock, estimated to be worth between $10-20 million, is a popular meeting place in this very busy station. Following a 12-year restoration, a beautiful ceiling decorated with constellations of stars was revealed and is now one of the terminal’s attractions. Grand Central Terminal is a New York City Landmark, a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Continue reading “12 Must See New York City Buildings” →

15 Interesting Facts About New York City

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, a few weeks ago, I offered to help my blog buddy, Tony, plan his latest trip to New York City. Since then, I’ve been doing a bit of research on the city that’s been my home for the past 11 years.

Here’s what I discovered:

  • New York City was the capital of the United States from 1785-90.
  • The first president of the United States, George Washington, was inaugurated at Federal Hall, 26 Wall Street, in 1789.
  • Federal Hall, was the site of the first Capitol Building
  • At just under 19,000,000 residents, New York City is one of the most populous cities in the U.S. with just under 19,000,000 people who live in five boroughs: Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island.
  • The Holland Tunnel, which connects New York to New Jersey, which was built in 1927, was one of the first ventilated tunnels in the world. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark.
  • The New York City subway system is the largest mass transit system in the world. It has 468 stations and 842 miles of track.
  • The New York City subway runs 24 hours a day.
  • Musicians who perform in the subway go through a very competitive audition process.
  • There are more than 4,000 food vendors in New York City.
  • Central Park, which was opened initially in 1857, spreads 843 miles.
  • 25 million people a year visit Central Park
  • Times Square, formerly Longacre Square, was renamed in 1904 when the New York Times moved its headquarters to the Times Building.
  • The first ball was dropped in Times Square on December 31, 1907.
  • The Empire State Building is 102 stories. Including the spire, it is 1,454 feet tall.
  • For 40 years, from 1931, the year it was completed, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world. It lost that designation with the construction of the North Tower of the World Trade Center in 1972.

How many of these facts are you aware of?

Innocence Lost – 9/11 Remembered

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

My office, a block south of Grand Central, is empty except for one person when I arrive at a few minutes past nine on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. I greet him as I go towards my desk and ask where everyone is.

Without taking his eyes from his monitor, he says casually, “Oh, they’re in the lunch room. Somebody flew a plane into the World Trade Center. If you look out the window, you can see the smoke.”

Walking the few feet to the window, I think how unlucky people in the WTC are. I remember the 1993 bombing and news footage of employees emerging from the building covered by something whitish.  I remember the look of terror on some of their faces.

With many of its employees traumatized by the experience, my company made the bold decision to move from the thirteenth floor at One World Trade Center to the fifth floor of a building almost a world away on Park Avenue.

When I get to the window, I notice an unimpressive plume of smoke curling its way towards the sky. This had to be a small private plane or tour helicopter, I think. Several companies take tourists on helicopter tours of New York City everyday. One must have crashed.

Continue reading “Innocence Lost – 9/11 Remembered” →

Friday, 9/9/11

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

It’s the weekend of the 10th anniversary of September 11th and I really didn’t want to be in New York. I want to be someplace far away where there’s no television blasting wall-to-wall coverage, no extra police presence, no threats of terror threats.

All this is probably why my brain feels like it’s shut down. Why I feel like I’m under siege.

September used to be a pleasant month for me. I looked forward to the Labor Day weekend, the changing leaves, the inevitable slowing down of life’s hectic pace. The days go by smoothly until the 11th rises like an unexpected roadblock, one that some years feels easier to go round. Not this one. I feel anxious; I want to hide.

While I didn’t lose anyone in the World Trade Center, I feel deeply for and empathize with those who did. In one week, I lost a significant friendship and before I could even begin to grieve, I received word about my mother. We had spoken just hours before. Seven months later, my grandmother was also gone. These losses changed my life in many fundamental ways.

September 11th also changed our lives. As I write, police sirens screech in the distance. It could be for reasons totally unrelated but it’s hard not to connect it to the upcoming anniversary.

An unexpected consequence of that day is that flying, in particular, is not as pleasurable as it used to be. A simple thing like opening a bank account is now subject to deeper levels of scrutiny, and the government has broader powers to spy on us and intercept our communications. But are we truly any safer?

Life has returned to Lower Manhattan and the World Trade Center site but it’s difficult to see it and not remember.

A 9/11 Memorial, a tribute to those who fell will open to the families on Sunday and to the public on Monday, September 12th. Maybe I’ll visit.

Getting There:

If you’re in the New York City area and want to visit, passes must be obtained before you go and can be  obtained by going to the website.

The best way to get there is by public transportation. Several subway (A, C, J, M, R, Z, 4, and 5) and bus lines (M5, M20 and M22) stop within walking distance, and the E, 1, 2, and 3 and New Jersey PATH trains to go directly to the WTC terminal.

Hours: Monday-Friday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays.

An Art Walk in Harlem’s Historic Strivers Row

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

The Strivers Art Circuit (SAC) is a free, self-guided walking tour that will take place on October 8th and 9th, in the Historic Strivers Row area of Harlem (130th street to 145th street, 5th Ave to St Nicholas Ave).

The Circuit allows participants to view some of Harlem’s visual and craft artists at work in their galleries and studios.

The Strivers Art Circuit was created to develop a hub of arts activity and thereby gain increased visibility and exposure for SAC participants.

Strivers Art Circuit

Opening reception: Friday, October 7th from 6:00 p.m.

Tour Dates: Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The event is free to the public. However, if you plan to attend, click here to RSVP. Strivers Art Circuit Participants

The Harlem Arts Alliance is a sponsor of the Srivers Art Circuit.

 

 

Saying Goodbye to Summer 2011

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

It happens every year. In April, I make plans for the summer then Labor Day rolls around and I wonder where the time went.

This year was no different. When the weather began to get warm, I planned my summer: free concerts around the city, Shakespeare and other plays in the park, dinners and get togethers with friends at some of our favorite outdoor restaurants, picnics and reading a few books on a blanket in Central Park, watching old movies at twilight in Bryant Park, concerts in Prospect Park, and trying my hands at something different.

Then my friend Elizabeth, who blogs at Mirth and Motivation, posted a few of her music picks and introduced us to Somi, a singer I’d never heard of. Off I went to Google to find her and get more of her music. That’s when I discovered that she performed all over the city this summer, including at Summerstage with, of all people, Hugh Masekela. She also performed in Prospect Park with Oumou Sangaré and Seun Anikulapo Kuti.

Where was I and how did I miss these? I usually have my ear to the ground and a good network that keeps me up to date on happenings in the city. Whatever I miss, they catch. What happened?

Looking back, it feels like I did nothing. But I know I did. I must have. Or else, how would I have gotten to September without driving myself nuts?

Summer underscores how fleeting time is. To counter the notion that I did nothing, I went back to April in my mind to see what I did.

There were a few highlights. The biggest, my two weeks in London and Paris and meeting my new nephew; antiquing in Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA; seeing the Spanish Gardens exhibition at the New York Botanical Gardens, and discovering new places and new restaurants close to home.

But the one thread that ran through my entire summer was the preparation for my sabbatical in Jamaica. I haven’t started writing about it yet because there’s much that I’m dealing with, emotionally and psychically, and I want to respect the process. There are a few more things to put in place but once they are, I promise I’ll share.

In the meantime, please enjoy these selections from Somi, who I’m listening to as I write – Ulale Malaika Wangu and Ingele.

Enjoy!

Harlem’s Cotton Club

Posted on by Marcia Mayne

I heard about the Cotton Club long before I moved to Harlem. It was one of the places I knew I wanted to see. But the Cotton Club I saw was not the one of legend.

The old club was located at 142nd Street and Lenox Avenue, the site of the Club De Luxe, which was owned by the black boxing champion, Jack Johnson. Owney Madden, a well-known mobster and bootlegger, bought the Club De Luxe in 1923 and renamed it the Cotton Club, an interesting name given the kind of clientele the establishment would serve.

Continue reading “Harlem’s Cotton Club” →