If you want to imagine rural NYC with rolling hills and vistas everywhere, go to the Morris-Jumel Mansion. It’s actually pretty hard to imagine the city in colonial times especially when you look around and it’s extremely developed but the land the mansion sits on is the same. It’s amazing being able to walk into a house that was built in 1765 (9 years before the American Revolution). Continue reading
Temple Emanu-El is located at One East 65th Street, across the street from Central Park. It is one of the largest Reform synagogues in the world. On April 1845, Emanu-El was founded by German Jews on the Lower East Side in a rented hall around Grand and Clinton Streets. At the time, Germany wasn’t unified (federated), they consisted of a German confederation of states. This is the oldest Reform congregation in New York. Continue reading
This Art Deco beauty opened on June 2, 1930, a popular style in the 1920s and 1930s. The hotel was built in the Garment District by developer Mack Kanner. It was designed by Sugarman and Berger and the original plan was 38 stories. When it was finished the hotel stood 43 stories, had 2500 rooms, and cost $22.5 million (original estimated construction cost was $8 million). Continue reading
Kings Theatre is one of the five Loew’s wonder theaters in the NYC area. We had the pleasure of visiting two of them. This one is in the Flatbush neighborhood in Brooklyn. The building was deisgned by Rapp and Rapp architectural firm. Kings Theatre opened in 1929, seated 3,676 people, and presented movies and vaudeville shows. Continue reading
Modern Art Foundry is a third generation family owned foundry in Astoria, Queens. It was founded by John Spring in 1932. They specialize in fine art services. Continue reading
March for Science was a fun crowd, the signs were really creative. It’s estimated about 20,000 marchers came out. It was very well organized so it didn’t feel overcrowded. We didn’t get to take many pictures since we were holding up our signs. Holding up a sign for about two hours tires out the arms, they are still a little sore today. Continue reading
March 25, 1911 was one of the deadliest industrial disasters in NYC and one of the deadliest in US history. It occurred at Triangle Shirtwaist Factory at 23-29 Washington Place in Greenwich Village. 146 garment workers – 123 women and 23 men died. Some jumped to their deaths because entrances were blocked, others died from smoke inhalation, falling, and fire. The oldest victim was Providenza Panno, 43 and the youngest Kate Leone and Rosaria “Sara” Maltese, 14. Most garment workers were Jewish and Italian immigrants. Continue reading
We’ve been eying this tour since the summer. We read it gets really hot in some areas so we waited for cooler weather to go. Behind the Scenes Grand Central Tour is one of our favorites. We booked it through New York Adventure Club which is one of our favorite off the beaten path local tour companies. Continue reading
The Eldridge Street Synagogue was built in 1887 and is located on the Lower East Side. This landmarked beauty was a synagogue from the very beginning unlike others that were converted from churches. The building was designed by architects Francis and Peter Herter in Moorish Revival style. Continue reading
My Dad used to take us for long walks around Downtown Manhattan. Whenever we’d pass by Chatham Square, he would bring us to Oliver Street and tell us the story of how he lived there with his family as a kid. Then he would walk us over to First Shearith Israel Graveyard and tell us to look at the sign – this is the first and oldest Jewish Cemetery in Manhattan. Continue reading
Jebus Mews & Andrea 