Summer In The City
Alternative sightseeing, green space, and lesser-known museums…I love researching relatively unknown places to visit in New York City and I have come across some that I am definitely adding to my list of spots to explore! Here are a few of those places that I have found beyond the city’s more famous attractions:
A city like New York has many sightseeing opportunities but who wants to deal with the crowds? Or maybe you think you have seen it all. Trust me - there are endless quirky and unique spots to visit. I am always intrigued by the places that tell fascinating stories of a city with such a rich past.
What happens when land owners refuse to sell their plots to the city? Well, not many have done what David Hess’ heirs did. In 1910, the city wanted to demolish a number of buildings to make way for a new subway line. Instead of selling the tiny triangle of land, the Hess family estate decided to make a stand and fight back against eminent domain by installing a plaque on the site, declaring it private property. Hess’ Triangle has been in place since 1922 and you can see it in the West Village at Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street.
Related reading: The City Beneath Us: Building the New York Subways
Five Points…New York City’s most infamous neighborhood. But does it still exist today? The neighborhood of Five Points in Lower Manhattan has changed dramatically since the time of the slum and gangs that once plagued the city. Five Points was originally built over Collect Pond that was a vital source of water, until it became so polluted that it was filled in and turned into landfill. The tenements were then built on the landfill, which caused the buildings to be poorly supported. The ground around these buildings seeped and released foul odors. Today, the tenements are no longer around, but instead you can visit Columbus Park which has been built on the main square of the former Five Points neighborhood.
Related reading: Five Points: The 19th Century New York City Neighborhood that Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections, and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum
Hidden Waters of New York City: A History and Guide to 101 Forgotten Lakes, Ponds, Creeks, and Streams in the Five Boroughs
Winters in Manhattan are magical. The glimmering holiday lights and the famous tree in Rockefeller Center are perfect sights to invoke holiday spirit but my favorite time of year in the city is summer. Though it is famously referred to as a “concrete jungle,” are you aware of how many green spaces there are in New York City? After you check out the alternative tourists spots, you might be in need for a quiet place to rest. Let’s take a look at a few to check out on your next trip to the Big Apple.
The High Line is a park open to the public that runs from Gansevoort Street to West 34th Street. It was built on an elevated freight line that had fallen into disuse during the 1980s. Inspired by the plants that had overrun the tracks, the track was transformed into an open space walkway and runs for about 1.5 miles. It includes art installations along the path that complement the natural atmosphere of the walkway. The High Line offers amazing views of the city and overlooks the Hudson River. It is definitely a unique way to see the city!
Related reading: Gardens of the High Line: Elevating the Nature of Modern Landscapes
The Elevated Acre is located on Water Street at the tip of Manhattan. This green space is set three stories up and surrounded by high rise buildings, a hidden sanctuary from the busy streets of the city. The Elevated Acre provides an escape, but it also serves as a theater for outdoor concerts and has a recently opened beer garden. Who knew that nestled between soaring buildings one could find an acre of open space, like a park in the sky!
The Tudor City Greens are located in the historic district of Tudor City. The parks are open to the public each day from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. and are on the National Register of Historic Places. The Tudor City Greens are a tranquil place to take a moment out of your trip to rest. The parks also host cultural programs throughout the year.
Related reading: Artwalks in New York: Delightful Discoveries of Public Art and Gardens in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island
Peaceful Places New York City: 129 Tranquil Sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island
NYC is home to some of the world’s most famous museums. I could visit the Met and the Museum of Natural History over and over again and find new and awe-inspiring exhibits. But there are many lesser-known museums in the city to check out that provide unique opportunities for new experiences. One that I found most intriguing is the Tenement Museum.
The Tenement Museum is inside the apartments of former immigrants on the Lower East Side at 97 Orchard Street. The tenement apartments have been preserved to give the public a glimpse into the lives of the working class, from sweatshop workers and Italian-Americans during the Great Depression to Irish families who faced discrimination to the family who ran the store that was located on the first floor of 97 Orchard. You can tour the apartments, hear the stories of the families that once lived there, sample the food of local shops, and tour the neighborhood to see first-hand how the immigrants impacted the neighborhood and the culture of the city.
Related reading: 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement
Don’t forget MCL has two NYC Museum Passes (reserve them here):
A city like New York has many sightseeing opportunities but who wants to deal with the crowds? Or maybe you think you have seen it all. Trust me - there are endless quirky and unique spots to visit. I am always intrigued by the places that tell fascinating stories of a city with such a rich past.
Related reading: The City Beneath Us: Building the New York Subways
Related reading: Five Points: The 19th Century New York City Neighborhood that Invented Tap Dance, Stole Elections, and Became the World's Most Notorious Slum
Hidden Waters of New York City: A History and Guide to 101 Forgotten Lakes, Ponds, Creeks, and Streams in the Five Boroughs
Winters in Manhattan are magical. The glimmering holiday lights and the famous tree in Rockefeller Center are perfect sights to invoke holiday spirit but my favorite time of year in the city is summer. Though it is famously referred to as a “concrete jungle,” are you aware of how many green spaces there are in New York City? After you check out the alternative tourists spots, you might be in need for a quiet place to rest. Let’s take a look at a few to check out on your next trip to the Big Apple.
Related reading: Gardens of the High Line: Elevating the Nature of Modern Landscapes
Midtown East’s Greenacre Park, opened in 1971, is known as a “vest pocket park,” a small park t that offers large amount of peacefulness. There are terraces of plants and flowers and an open space for rest in front of a trickling cascade fountain. The park is maintained by Abby Rockefeller Mauze’s Greenacre Foundation.
The Elevated Acre is located on Water Street at the tip of Manhattan. This green space is set three stories up and surrounded by high rise buildings, a hidden sanctuary from the busy streets of the city. The Elevated Acre provides an escape, but it also serves as a theater for outdoor concerts and has a recently opened beer garden. Who knew that nestled between soaring buildings one could find an acre of open space, like a park in the sky!
Related reading: Artwalks in New York: Delightful Discoveries of Public Art and Gardens in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island
Peaceful Places New York City: 129 Tranquil Sites in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Staten Island
NYC is home to some of the world’s most famous museums. I could visit the Met and the Museum of Natural History over and over again and find new and awe-inspiring exhibits. But there are many lesser-known museums in the city to check out that provide unique opportunities for new experiences. One that I found most intriguing is the Tenement Museum.The Tenement Museum is inside the apartments of former immigrants on the Lower East Side at 97 Orchard Street. The tenement apartments have been preserved to give the public a glimpse into the lives of the working class, from sweatshop workers and Italian-Americans during the Great Depression to Irish families who faced discrimination to the family who ran the store that was located on the first floor of 97 Orchard. You can tour the apartments, hear the stories of the families that once lived there, sample the food of local shops, and tour the neighborhood to see first-hand how the immigrants impacted the neighborhood and the culture of the city.
Related reading: 97 Orchard: An Edible History of Five Immigrant Families in One New York Tenement
Don’t forget MCL has two NYC Museum Passes (reserve them here):
- Isabel F., Ewing Branch
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