Journal 1
Impressions of New York
My impression of New York is that it is a big city filled with people of many different cultures. New York is very unique because it offers various opportunities for people. There are thousands of people that live and work in the city and many taxis and buses that are always on the go. The there is no place like New York City. The city has an electric atmosphere and a smell that is one of a kind.
I am very excited about adventuring through the different boroughs in New York. I am very excited about learning and visiting different museums and landmarks. It will be interesting to learn of the many historical events that took place in the different boroughs. I am open to learning about the different cultures and experiencing some of their traditions. I'm very excited that our first class will take place in Brooklyn and that we get to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. I know at the end of each class I will be exhausted and that I will get a good nights sleep.
I have some fears of the unknown. I am a Long Island girl who does not know her way around the city that well. I know from taking this class I will have a better understanding of using the subways and knowing my way around the city. I am very excited about the adventures that I will experience by taking this class.
I am very excited about adventuring through the different boroughs in New York. I am very excited about learning and visiting different museums and landmarks. It will be interesting to learn of the many historical events that took place in the different boroughs. I am open to learning about the different cultures and experiencing some of their traditions. I'm very excited that our first class will take place in Brooklyn and that we get to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. I know at the end of each class I will be exhausted and that I will get a good nights sleep.
I have some fears of the unknown. I am a Long Island girl who does not know her way around the city that well. I know from taking this class I will have a better understanding of using the subways and knowing my way around the city. I am very excited about the adventures that I will experience by taking this class.
Bodacious Brooklyn
6/6/2013
My first experience with this class was great! My morning started out by taking the 9:39 from Baldwin to Penn Station. After the ride was over, I walked to McDonald's and got something to eat. After eating breakfast, I walked over to the spot where we gather for class. I waited from my classmates to show up and waited for attendance to be taken. After attendance was taken we headed out for our adventure in bodacious Brooklyn.
After leaving Penn Station we headed to 6th Avenue to get on the D-train which would take us to our first destination, Coney Island. It was a beautiful day to go to Coney Island. The sun was shining and there was a delightful breeze. We headed to the beach where we gathered to talk a little about what to expect throughout the day. After our brief meeting, we headed out on our own to experience Coney Island. My friends and I headed headed straight to the original Nathan's to grab something to eat. Nathan's was founded in 1916 (BG, p. 492) and has been an American tradition since then. I of course had Nathan's delicious french fires and a root beer. It was delicious and refreshing. After eating, we headed back to the boardwalk where we took pictures and rested until we started our real journey through Brooklyn.
After leaving Coney Island, we headed back onto the subway. We took a quick subway ride to Myrtle Promenade & Jay Street. After getting of the subway we headed to the New York Transit Museum but we took a little detour due to walking in the wrong direction. The transit museum was really cool. I learned about when the first subway was invented and how the subway systems were built. I learned that the subways were very dangerous to work in because they required their workers to go underneath the ground in order to build tracks and tunnels.
After leaving the transit museum we headed out on a long walk to the Brooklyn Bridge. On our way to the Brooklyn Bridge, we walked through the quite streets of Brooklyn Heights. We saw beautiful multi-million dollar apartments and even saw were a famous writer once lived. We walked along a path that is above the Bronx-Queens Expressway. The walk was beautiful. We walked along the water and were able to see the Statue of Liberty. We could also see the the beautiful Manhattan skyline along with the Brooklyn Bridge. The view into the city was absolutely amazing. We headed down to the dock where we could get even closer to the Brooklyn Bridge. We were given a 15 minute break so that we could rest up for our walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. But before we went to the Brooklyn Bridge, we headed to DUMBO's where we ate ice cream. After eating ice cream we headed to the Brooklyn Bridge.
We walked the Brooklyn Bridge before it started to rain. There were many people walking, running, and bike riding their way over the bridge. After walking the bridge, I headed back to Penn Station. I took the 2-train back to Penn Station and got on the 7:08 train back to Rockville Centre. I was completely exhausted when I got home on Thursday. I came home had dinner and was asleep by 10:00. I am very excited for my future classes and can't wait to experience new things!
My first experience with this class was great! My morning started out by taking the 9:39 from Baldwin to Penn Station. After the ride was over, I walked to McDonald's and got something to eat. After eating breakfast, I walked over to the spot where we gather for class. I waited from my classmates to show up and waited for attendance to be taken. After attendance was taken we headed out for our adventure in bodacious Brooklyn.
After leaving Penn Station we headed to 6th Avenue to get on the D-train which would take us to our first destination, Coney Island. It was a beautiful day to go to Coney Island. The sun was shining and there was a delightful breeze. We headed to the beach where we gathered to talk a little about what to expect throughout the day. After our brief meeting, we headed out on our own to experience Coney Island. My friends and I headed headed straight to the original Nathan's to grab something to eat. Nathan's was founded in 1916 (BG, p. 492) and has been an American tradition since then. I of course had Nathan's delicious french fires and a root beer. It was delicious and refreshing. After eating, we headed back to the boardwalk where we took pictures and rested until we started our real journey through Brooklyn.
After leaving Coney Island, we headed back onto the subway. We took a quick subway ride to Myrtle Promenade & Jay Street. After getting of the subway we headed to the New York Transit Museum but we took a little detour due to walking in the wrong direction. The transit museum was really cool. I learned about when the first subway was invented and how the subway systems were built. I learned that the subways were very dangerous to work in because they required their workers to go underneath the ground in order to build tracks and tunnels.
After leaving the transit museum we headed out on a long walk to the Brooklyn Bridge. On our way to the Brooklyn Bridge, we walked through the quite streets of Brooklyn Heights. We saw beautiful multi-million dollar apartments and even saw were a famous writer once lived. We walked along a path that is above the Bronx-Queens Expressway. The walk was beautiful. We walked along the water and were able to see the Statue of Liberty. We could also see the the beautiful Manhattan skyline along with the Brooklyn Bridge. The view into the city was absolutely amazing. We headed down to the dock where we could get even closer to the Brooklyn Bridge. We were given a 15 minute break so that we could rest up for our walk across the Brooklyn Bridge. But before we went to the Brooklyn Bridge, we headed to DUMBO's where we ate ice cream. After eating ice cream we headed to the Brooklyn Bridge.
We walked the Brooklyn Bridge before it started to rain. There were many people walking, running, and bike riding their way over the bridge. After walking the bridge, I headed back to Penn Station. I took the 2-train back to Penn Station and got on the 7:08 train back to Rockville Centre. I was completely exhausted when I got home on Thursday. I came home had dinner and was asleep by 10:00. I am very excited for my future classes and can't wait to experience new things!
A Tale of Three Villages
6/11/2013
Tuesday's destination was to Greenwich Village, East Village, and West Village. It was a very long day of waking and I know that before we stopped for lunch we walked about five miles. It was also very hot in the city due to high humidity and incoming thunderstorms. I do not due to well in the humidity which makes me grouchy and irritated. But I did enjoy our journey through downtown Manhattan!
My morning started out by taking the 9:39 train to Penn Station. I got into Penn Station around 10:20 and quickly went to Jamba Juice to grab a healthy smoothie before the busy day started. After getting my smoothie, I walked over to the meeting spot and waited from my classmates to arrive and for attendance to be taken! After attendance was taken, we walked to the subway station located in Penn Station and got onto the 1-train which we took to Houston Street.
After getting off the subway, we started walking through the streets of Greenwich Village. On our walk, we saw beautiful and charming apartments and buildings. Each of the buildings had their own unique characteristics. Our first stop in Greenwich Village was 75 1/2 Bedford Street. This home is considered the narrowest home in the city and was once the home of Carey Grant and Margaret Meade. We also walked to Hudson and 11th Street where the White Horse Tavern was located. White Horse Tavern was opened in 1880 and provided a Bohemian atmosphere for the Village. Next, we made our way to Christopher Street where we learned that it is the center of the gay and lesbian community. We then made our way to Christopher Park where we saw statues. The statues in the park were of the men and women who started the gay liberation movement.
After walking through the very small Christopher Park, we made our way to Washington Square Park. Washington Square Park has beautiful trees that help shade a majority of the benches where people can sit and relax. In the middle of the square, there was a fountain where many people sat and gathered to watch the water spray in the fountain. After our visit to Washington Square Park, we made our way Old Merchants House of New York. According to our tour guide, the house was built in 1831 by Joseph Brewster and was purchased by Seabury Tredwell. The home of the Tredwell's has been a museum since 1935 and has undergone numerous restorations. Tredwell was a merchant who had eight children. His family occupied the house on 29 East and 4th Street until 1933 when Tredwell's youngest daughter Gertrude died. The Tredwell's home is the only 19th century Manhattan home to survive. The home is intact with the original furniture and family belongings. Some of the furniture and belongings include couches, chairs, mirrors, beds, bedding, and clothing.
After our visit to the museum we headed to St. Marks Place. St. Marks is filled with different bars, restaurants, and small shops. This street has so much to offer and is very busy due to its various restaurants and shops. While at St. Marks I had lunch. Jill, Katie, Jackie, Amanda, and Tom and I headed to Chipotle. It was a great one hour break. I was able to refuel, rest my feet, use the bathroom, and even charge my phone!
After a well rested lunch, we made our way for a walking tour at The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS). We met our tour guides Bill and Biil and they were able to give us a four block tour of community gardens, and Tompkins Square Park. MoRUS discusses the history of grassroots activism in the East Village. I learned that local activists transformed vacant buildings and lots into beautiful community gardens and spaces. The public gardens are maintained by neighborhood volunteers. They were founded in 1978. One of the community gardens that we went through was La Plaza Cultural. This garden was filled with beautiful flowers and little ponds. The garden also had beautiful murals along the wall in the back. Our tour guide Bill was very informative. He went through a lot of history in a short amount of time. Bill knew his information and helped me have a better understanding of many historic events that took place in the East Village.
After our walking tour, we headed on a walk back to the the subway. I got on the F train which took me to 34th Street and 6th Avenue. I then ran one block to Penn Station. I just made the 7:08 train back to Rockville Centre. I had a great day experiencing life downtown. Visiting Old Merchants House of New York was very cool and I really enjoyed our walking tour through Tompkins Square Park. I was completely exhausted when I got home and I could not wait to sit down because my feet were killing me! I am excited for Thursday's class because we go to the Eastside of Manhattan and we also adventure into the northern part of Central Park!
Tuesday's destination was to Greenwich Village, East Village, and West Village. It was a very long day of waking and I know that before we stopped for lunch we walked about five miles. It was also very hot in the city due to high humidity and incoming thunderstorms. I do not due to well in the humidity which makes me grouchy and irritated. But I did enjoy our journey through downtown Manhattan!
My morning started out by taking the 9:39 train to Penn Station. I got into Penn Station around 10:20 and quickly went to Jamba Juice to grab a healthy smoothie before the busy day started. After getting my smoothie, I walked over to the meeting spot and waited from my classmates to arrive and for attendance to be taken! After attendance was taken, we walked to the subway station located in Penn Station and got onto the 1-train which we took to Houston Street.
After getting off the subway, we started walking through the streets of Greenwich Village. On our walk, we saw beautiful and charming apartments and buildings. Each of the buildings had their own unique characteristics. Our first stop in Greenwich Village was 75 1/2 Bedford Street. This home is considered the narrowest home in the city and was once the home of Carey Grant and Margaret Meade. We also walked to Hudson and 11th Street where the White Horse Tavern was located. White Horse Tavern was opened in 1880 and provided a Bohemian atmosphere for the Village. Next, we made our way to Christopher Street where we learned that it is the center of the gay and lesbian community. We then made our way to Christopher Park where we saw statues. The statues in the park were of the men and women who started the gay liberation movement.
After walking through the very small Christopher Park, we made our way to Washington Square Park. Washington Square Park has beautiful trees that help shade a majority of the benches where people can sit and relax. In the middle of the square, there was a fountain where many people sat and gathered to watch the water spray in the fountain. After our visit to Washington Square Park, we made our way Old Merchants House of New York. According to our tour guide, the house was built in 1831 by Joseph Brewster and was purchased by Seabury Tredwell. The home of the Tredwell's has been a museum since 1935 and has undergone numerous restorations. Tredwell was a merchant who had eight children. His family occupied the house on 29 East and 4th Street until 1933 when Tredwell's youngest daughter Gertrude died. The Tredwell's home is the only 19th century Manhattan home to survive. The home is intact with the original furniture and family belongings. Some of the furniture and belongings include couches, chairs, mirrors, beds, bedding, and clothing.
After our visit to the museum we headed to St. Marks Place. St. Marks is filled with different bars, restaurants, and small shops. This street has so much to offer and is very busy due to its various restaurants and shops. While at St. Marks I had lunch. Jill, Katie, Jackie, Amanda, and Tom and I headed to Chipotle. It was a great one hour break. I was able to refuel, rest my feet, use the bathroom, and even charge my phone!
After a well rested lunch, we made our way for a walking tour at The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS). We met our tour guides Bill and Biil and they were able to give us a four block tour of community gardens, and Tompkins Square Park. MoRUS discusses the history of grassroots activism in the East Village. I learned that local activists transformed vacant buildings and lots into beautiful community gardens and spaces. The public gardens are maintained by neighborhood volunteers. They were founded in 1978. One of the community gardens that we went through was La Plaza Cultural. This garden was filled with beautiful flowers and little ponds. The garden also had beautiful murals along the wall in the back. Our tour guide Bill was very informative. He went through a lot of history in a short amount of time. Bill knew his information and helped me have a better understanding of many historic events that took place in the East Village.
After our walking tour, we headed on a walk back to the the subway. I got on the F train which took me to 34th Street and 6th Avenue. I then ran one block to Penn Station. I just made the 7:08 train back to Rockville Centre. I had a great day experiencing life downtown. Visiting Old Merchants House of New York was very cool and I really enjoyed our walking tour through Tompkins Square Park. I was completely exhausted when I got home and I could not wait to sit down because my feet were killing me! I am excited for Thursday's class because we go to the Eastside of Manhattan and we also adventure into the northern part of Central Park!
East of the Park
6/13/2013
Thursday's weather was not looking to promising. We were suppose to have torrential rain and massive flooding but the rain held out till I got home! As usual I got on the 9:39 train and headed to Penn Station. I got into Penn Station around 10:20 and went and got a filling smoothie from Jamba Juice. After getting my smoothie, I headed to our meeting spot and waited for my classmates to arrive. Attendance was taken and we headed to the subway to begin our journey to East Harlem!
We took the 2-train to the Time Square Shuttle over to Grand Central Station and took the 6 train uptown to East Harlem. After taking numerous subways to East Harlem, we came out of the station and headed to the Museum of the City of New York. This museum explores the past of the city, learn lessons about the future, and celebrate the diversity, opportunity, and transformation of New York City. The museum offers collections and different artifacts of many different items from different periods of time. In the museum we had about ten minutes to venture to the different collections that are in the museum. After wandering around, we watched a twenty minute film. The film was very interesting. It gave an overview of the history of New York and how the city started to develop. The film gave me a better understanding of New York City and also taught me a great deal of information about the city that I did not know!
After our time at the Museum of the City of New York, we headed to E 104th Street and Lexington Avenue. There we met with our tour guide Luke. Luke gave us a tour of "Spanish" Harlem. He showed us beautiful murals that were painted on the walls of buildings. Luke also gave a lot of history about life in Harlem. He said that East Harlem is very diverse and many people who grew up in East Harlem still live there. I really enjoyed the tour that he gave us. After our tour, we braked for lunch. A group of us had lunch at the restaurant El Paso. The food was so good. I had a chicken and cheese quesadilla and guacamole and chips. It was good to sit, relax and recharge for our walk through Central Park!
After lunch, we set out to explore the northern part of Central Park. Central Park is one of the world's greatest public parks. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and opened in 1873. The Central Park Conservancy was founded in 1980 by a group of civic and philanthropic leaders. These leaders were determined to end the decline of Central Park in the 1970s. The leaders were determined to restore the park to its former splendor as America's first and major urban space. Conservancy crews look after and care for 250 acres, 24,00 trees, 150 acres of lakes and streams, and 80 acres of woodlands. This park is absolutely breathtaking and has so much to offer. When we first entered the park, we walked through the Conservatory Gardens. The Conservatory Garden was the only formal garden in Central Park composing of six acres. The flowers and well manicured lawn make for a beautiful picture! We also walked along the Central Park Reservoir. It was built in the 1860s as a temporary water supply for New York City when the Croton Water System was shut down for two weeks each year for repairs. The reservoir is forty feet deep and holds more than a billion gallons of water. The reservoir was decommissioned in 1993 due to Third Water Tunnel.
We walked through Central Park East to 82nd Street. At 82nd Street, we entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a quick visit. The museum has so much to offer but we only had time to visit Punk: Chaos to Couture. This section of the museum dresses and outfits of famous designers. The clothes that the mahicans were dressed in were so cool. It was interesting to see how the clothing styles of different years have changed. I rally enjoyed our visit to this section of the museum. I wish we had more time so I could really read the different captions of the different designers. I also wish we could have taken pictures because the clothes were so beautiful!
After we left the museum, we headed back for our walk through Central Park. Making our way through Central Park we saw the Dakota and Strawberry Fields. Strawberry Fields is located near Central Park West between 71st and 74th Streets. These area is compose of 2.5 acres that pays respects to the late Beatle, John Lennon. John Lennon was a singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist. John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono lived in the apartments the Dakota which is located across from Strawberry Fields. The Dakota is where John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980. In Strawberry Fields, there is the iconic black and white Imagine mosaic. This mosaic is a vision and hope for a world without strife and conflict. This is a beautiful tribute to John Lennon!
After our visit to Strawberry Fields and to the Dakota, it was time to get back to Penn Station. Instead of walking the rest of the way to Penn Station, we walked to 72nd Street and got on the 2-train. We got back to Penn Station just in time to catch an earlier train. I had a great day and was grateful that it didn't rain and that it wasn't too hot. I really enjoyed my trip to East Harlem and to Central Park! I am very excited for Tuesday's class where we will visit the Westside of New York City!
Thursday's weather was not looking to promising. We were suppose to have torrential rain and massive flooding but the rain held out till I got home! As usual I got on the 9:39 train and headed to Penn Station. I got into Penn Station around 10:20 and went and got a filling smoothie from Jamba Juice. After getting my smoothie, I headed to our meeting spot and waited for my classmates to arrive. Attendance was taken and we headed to the subway to begin our journey to East Harlem!
We took the 2-train to the Time Square Shuttle over to Grand Central Station and took the 6 train uptown to East Harlem. After taking numerous subways to East Harlem, we came out of the station and headed to the Museum of the City of New York. This museum explores the past of the city, learn lessons about the future, and celebrate the diversity, opportunity, and transformation of New York City. The museum offers collections and different artifacts of many different items from different periods of time. In the museum we had about ten minutes to venture to the different collections that are in the museum. After wandering around, we watched a twenty minute film. The film was very interesting. It gave an overview of the history of New York and how the city started to develop. The film gave me a better understanding of New York City and also taught me a great deal of information about the city that I did not know!
After our time at the Museum of the City of New York, we headed to E 104th Street and Lexington Avenue. There we met with our tour guide Luke. Luke gave us a tour of "Spanish" Harlem. He showed us beautiful murals that were painted on the walls of buildings. Luke also gave a lot of history about life in Harlem. He said that East Harlem is very diverse and many people who grew up in East Harlem still live there. I really enjoyed the tour that he gave us. After our tour, we braked for lunch. A group of us had lunch at the restaurant El Paso. The food was so good. I had a chicken and cheese quesadilla and guacamole and chips. It was good to sit, relax and recharge for our walk through Central Park!
After lunch, we set out to explore the northern part of Central Park. Central Park is one of the world's greatest public parks. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead and opened in 1873. The Central Park Conservancy was founded in 1980 by a group of civic and philanthropic leaders. These leaders were determined to end the decline of Central Park in the 1970s. The leaders were determined to restore the park to its former splendor as America's first and major urban space. Conservancy crews look after and care for 250 acres, 24,00 trees, 150 acres of lakes and streams, and 80 acres of woodlands. This park is absolutely breathtaking and has so much to offer. When we first entered the park, we walked through the Conservatory Gardens. The Conservatory Garden was the only formal garden in Central Park composing of six acres. The flowers and well manicured lawn make for a beautiful picture! We also walked along the Central Park Reservoir. It was built in the 1860s as a temporary water supply for New York City when the Croton Water System was shut down for two weeks each year for repairs. The reservoir is forty feet deep and holds more than a billion gallons of water. The reservoir was decommissioned in 1993 due to Third Water Tunnel.
We walked through Central Park East to 82nd Street. At 82nd Street, we entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a quick visit. The museum has so much to offer but we only had time to visit Punk: Chaos to Couture. This section of the museum dresses and outfits of famous designers. The clothes that the mahicans were dressed in were so cool. It was interesting to see how the clothing styles of different years have changed. I rally enjoyed our visit to this section of the museum. I wish we had more time so I could really read the different captions of the different designers. I also wish we could have taken pictures because the clothes were so beautiful!
After we left the museum, we headed back for our walk through Central Park. Making our way through Central Park we saw the Dakota and Strawberry Fields. Strawberry Fields is located near Central Park West between 71st and 74th Streets. These area is compose of 2.5 acres that pays respects to the late Beatle, John Lennon. John Lennon was a singer, songwriter, musician and peace activist. John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono lived in the apartments the Dakota which is located across from Strawberry Fields. The Dakota is where John Lennon was shot and killed on December 8, 1980. In Strawberry Fields, there is the iconic black and white Imagine mosaic. This mosaic is a vision and hope for a world without strife and conflict. This is a beautiful tribute to John Lennon!
After our visit to Strawberry Fields and to the Dakota, it was time to get back to Penn Station. Instead of walking the rest of the way to Penn Station, we walked to 72nd Street and got on the 2-train. We got back to Penn Station just in time to catch an earlier train. I had a great day and was grateful that it didn't rain and that it wasn't too hot. I really enjoyed my trip to East Harlem and to Central Park! I am very excited for Tuesday's class where we will visit the Westside of New York City!
The Wild Westside
6/18/2013
Tuesday morning I was a little worried because of the train derailment that happened during rush hour on Monday. I was worried that my train was going to be canceled or diverted to Atlantic Avenue but luckily the 9:39 to Penn Station was running on time and was going directly to Penn Station. I got into Penn at the usual time and headed to Jamba Juice to get a smoothie. After getting a smoothie, I went and waited by the meeting spot for my classmates and teachers! Attendance was taking and we headed out for a walk along Broadway.
Broadway is filled with a ton of life. There are people everywhere due to the formation of pedestrian zones. We ended up in the vibrant Times Square. Times Square is filled with many people, restaurants, and entertainment! Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Times square was a popular center for entertainment and theater. But by the 1960s and 1970, Times Square had become known for drugs, pornography, and prostitution. The efforts of the Rudy Giuliani administration cleaned up the area of Times Square and brought the area back to its previous glory.
After visiting Times Square, we headed to the G.E Building. The building is an Art Deco skyscraper that forms the centerpiece for Rockefeller Center. The G.E. Building is the tenth tallest building in New York City and is the home of NBC Studios. We were able to walk through the beautifully air conditioned building and saw the different shops and the beautiful murals that were on the walls. After walking through the building we were giving a ten minute break, so a few of us walked down the bar the that was located in Rockefeller Center! After our break, we headed to the Museum of Modern Art.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is located on 53rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Midtown Manhattan. This museum has been important in developing and collecting modernist art. MoMA is also considered one of the most influential museums of modern art in the world and offers a variety contemporary and modern collections of art. While in MoMA we had the chance to visit various collections and even got the chance to see Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night." Van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist artist. His painting of "Starry Night" was painted in 1889 on an oil canvas. The picture depicts the view outside his sanitarium room window at Saint-Remy-de-Provence at night. The painting has been part of the permanent collection in the MoMA since 1941. "Starry Night" is one of Van Gogh's most famous works and has inspired many artists.
After our visit to the Museum of Modern Art, we headed to Hell's Kitchen. We stopped at Yum Yum 2 for a delicious Thai meal. For lunch, I had a diet coke, steamed dumplings and chicken with vegetables, rice, and sweet and sour sauce. My meal was really good! After a quick meal we headed to Harlem. We took the 3-train to 125th Street. After getting off the subway, we quickly walked to meet with our tour guide Jin who was going to show as around Harlem. Unfortunately, due to the rain we were unable to continue our tour throughout Harlem. So my classmates and I got back onto the subway. We took the 2-train back to Penn Station. I was able to get on the 5:03 train back to Rockville Centre. I am upset that we could not finish our tour but I am looking forward to our next class destination!
Tuesday morning I was a little worried because of the train derailment that happened during rush hour on Monday. I was worried that my train was going to be canceled or diverted to Atlantic Avenue but luckily the 9:39 to Penn Station was running on time and was going directly to Penn Station. I got into Penn at the usual time and headed to Jamba Juice to get a smoothie. After getting a smoothie, I went and waited by the meeting spot for my classmates and teachers! Attendance was taking and we headed out for a walk along Broadway.
Broadway is filled with a ton of life. There are people everywhere due to the formation of pedestrian zones. We ended up in the vibrant Times Square. Times Square is filled with many people, restaurants, and entertainment! Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Times square was a popular center for entertainment and theater. But by the 1960s and 1970, Times Square had become known for drugs, pornography, and prostitution. The efforts of the Rudy Giuliani administration cleaned up the area of Times Square and brought the area back to its previous glory.
After visiting Times Square, we headed to the G.E Building. The building is an Art Deco skyscraper that forms the centerpiece for Rockefeller Center. The G.E. Building is the tenth tallest building in New York City and is the home of NBC Studios. We were able to walk through the beautifully air conditioned building and saw the different shops and the beautiful murals that were on the walls. After walking through the building we were giving a ten minute break, so a few of us walked down the bar the that was located in Rockefeller Center! After our break, we headed to the Museum of Modern Art.
The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is located on 53rd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in Midtown Manhattan. This museum has been important in developing and collecting modernist art. MoMA is also considered one of the most influential museums of modern art in the world and offers a variety contemporary and modern collections of art. While in MoMA we had the chance to visit various collections and even got the chance to see Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Night." Van Gogh was a Dutch post-impressionist artist. His painting of "Starry Night" was painted in 1889 on an oil canvas. The picture depicts the view outside his sanitarium room window at Saint-Remy-de-Provence at night. The painting has been part of the permanent collection in the MoMA since 1941. "Starry Night" is one of Van Gogh's most famous works and has inspired many artists.
After our visit to the Museum of Modern Art, we headed to Hell's Kitchen. We stopped at Yum Yum 2 for a delicious Thai meal. For lunch, I had a diet coke, steamed dumplings and chicken with vegetables, rice, and sweet and sour sauce. My meal was really good! After a quick meal we headed to Harlem. We took the 3-train to 125th Street. After getting off the subway, we quickly walked to meet with our tour guide Jin who was going to show as around Harlem. Unfortunately, due to the rain we were unable to continue our tour throughout Harlem. So my classmates and I got back onto the subway. We took the 2-train back to Penn Station. I was able to get on the 5:03 train back to Rockville Centre. I am upset that we could not finish our tour but I am looking forward to our next class destination!