Marie and I took the subway back down to Chinatown and walked over to the museum. We got tickets to a 3:00 tour for FREE from Patrick's roomate, Matt. Matt belongs to the American Association of Museums, and because of that gets free tickets to any museum.
I flashed the card and they gave us two FREE tickets. I may join next year.
The museum took place at 97 Orchard street. It was a tailor shop with apartments above it. The apartments were furnished with clothing, furniture, dishes, etc. from different eras and the tour guides told stories about the families that lived in each apartment. It was very interesting as our tour was led by a man who grew up in an immigrant apartment in Brooklyn.
After the tour we took part in a Kitchen conversation around the topic of immigration today. There were people from Minnesota, Mexico City, France, Ft. Lauderdale, and our host was from Serbia. It was interesting but could have been shorter. It was like every discussion based Master's class I had been too.
After the museum, Marie got some Gelato from a close by shop and was happy with the Fig flavor. It didn't taste that interesting to me. We then wandered around to find the Brooklyn bridge and try and walk across it. I lead us slight astray but we found the edge of the East river and a view of Manhattan bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge. We walked quite a way already, but then headed back to the subway station to find a line to the Staten Island ferry.
When we got to the station there was a giant crowd that piled on the ship. If you go to NY, this is another FREE activity. 
The museum took place at 97 Orchard street. It was a tailor shop with apartments above it. The apartments were furnished with clothing, furniture, dishes, etc. from different eras and the tour guides told stories about the families that lived in each apartment. It was very interesting as our tour was led by a man who grew up in an immigrant apartment in Brooklyn.
After the tour we took part in a Kitchen conversation around the topic of immigration today. There were people from Minnesota, Mexico City, France, Ft. Lauderdale, and our host was from Serbia. It was interesting but could have been shorter. It was like every discussion based Master's class I had been too.
After the museum, Marie got some Gelato from a close by shop and was happy with the Fig flavor. It didn't taste that interesting to me. We then wandered around to find the Brooklyn bridge and try and walk across it. I lead us slight astray but we found the edge of the East river and a view of Manhattan bridge and the Brooklyn Bridge. We walked quite a way already, but then headed back to the subway station to find a line to the Staten Island ferry.
When we got to the station there was a giant crowd that piled on the ship. If you go to NY, this is another FREE activity.
The Staten Island Ferry goes back and forth from Manhattan to Staten Island and takes mostly commuters from what I could see. The ferry passes right by the Statue of Liberty and gives the best view of Manhattan. We took a lot of pictures on the hour long ride back and forth.
Marie and I then walked to another station and found a line to Ground Zero. When we came up from underground, there was a quiet feeling about the place. The buildings fell in a two block area that is now fenced off and only accessable to certain vehicles. Pedestrians have to walk around the perimeter and are only allowed a glimpse in on the Northwest corner on an overpass and the South side near the firemen memorial.
Marie and I then walked to another station and found a line to Ground Zero. When we came up from underground, there was a quiet feeling about the place. The buildings fell in a two block area that is now fenced off and only accessable to certain vehicles. Pedestrians have to walk around the perimeter and are only allowed a glimpse in on the Northwest corner on an overpass and the South side near the firemen memorial.
The absence of cars makes the feeling of the area slowed, somber and quiet. Marie and I were both pretty quiet during the walk. Two buildings on the South side were still marred by ash and soot and were being renovated.
We left ground zero and walked to find John's Pizza on Bleeker Street. John's pizza shop was great. Marie describes the wait staff as being a Puerto Rican construction crew that works at a pizza joint at night. They were not your typical waiters. The pizza was touted by some passer by's as the best in the city and the twenty minute wait was worth it. The crust is toasted but not too much, thin but not too crispy or doughy and the sauce and cheese were tasty. On the wall they had three pictures of celebrities there, a professional boxer, a linebacker for the jets, and Barbara Streisand.
After John's we returned home to find Patrick and his roomates playing videogames. We stayed up chatting again and packed our bags to depart the next day. New York was a great city to visit and I would love to go back again. It has a completely different feel because they built everything up. Not only is the financial district tall, all buildings are tall. It is quite the place.
We left ground zero and walked to find John's Pizza on Bleeker Street. John's pizza shop was great. Marie describes the wait staff as being a Puerto Rican construction crew that works at a pizza joint at night. They were not your typical waiters. The pizza was touted by some passer by's as the best in the city and the twenty minute wait was worth it. The crust is toasted but not too much, thin but not too crispy or doughy and the sauce and cheese were tasty. On the wall they had three pictures of celebrities there, a professional boxer, a linebacker for the jets, and Barbara Streisand.
After John's we returned home to find Patrick and his roomates playing videogames. We stayed up chatting again and packed our bags to depart the next day. New York was a great city to visit and I would love to go back again. It has a completely different feel because they built everything up. Not only is the financial district tall, all buildings are tall. It is quite the place.
2 comments:
I totally ate at John's pizza when we were in NYC this spring! Doug claimed it was the best pizza in NYC and it wasn't Little Ceasers or anything, but it was pretty decent.
And the Staten Island Ferry is a hilarious experience in people watching -- we actually rode it during rush hour and I have never heard so many colorful conversations in my life.
It sounds like you guys are really enjoying your trip. All your descriptions of familiar places are making us a little homesick!
Post a Comment