mEET mE IN UNION SQUARE By Christina Holtzen with contributed stories & photographs
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Historical Beginnings:
UNION SQUARE IN THE MAKING pg 9
INTRODUCTION BY AUTHOR pg 7
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September 11, 2001:
A COMMUNITY UNITES pg 21
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may 25, 2009:
WHEN I MET UNION SQUARE pg 47
April 7, 2007:
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NATIONAL PILLOW FIGHT DAY (AND OTHER EVENTS) pg 33
7 November 19, 2012:
CONCLUSION & SOURCES pg 57
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July 7, 2007:
NO ORDINARY DAY IN THE SQUARE pg 41
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For nearly 170 years Union Square has been a gathering place—for commerce, for entertainment, for labor and political events, and for recreation. The park owes its name to its location at the intersection—or union—of two major roads in New York City, Bloomingdale Road (now Broadway) and Bowery Road (now Fourth Avenue). When the Commissioner’s Plan, the famous gridiron of Manhattan streets and avenues, was projected in 1807, the former potter’s field at this intersection was designated as Union Place. The site was authorized by the State Legislature as a public place in 1831 and acquired by the City of New York in 1833. This book is intended to show Union Square as a meeting and gathering place for New Yorkers and tourists a like. For such a small space, it may surprise you at how much takes place. From season to season, there are events that draw people to Union Square where they can socialize with their friends and the city can feel like a community. The book pinpoints important dates that have taken place throughout the decades. These events show how New Yorkers have come together in times of despair or to celebrate life’s triumphant moments.
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Historical Beginnings:
UNION SQUARE IN THE MAKING
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1800s
1840s
1900s
1872 The renowned landscape architects Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux— of Central Park fame— redesigned Union Square Park.
1832
1815 By act of the state legislature, this former potter’s field became a public commons for the city, at fi rst named Union Place.
It was officially designated as a public space. When the space was surrounded by empty lots Samuel Ruggles, one of the founders of the Bank of Commerce and the developer of Gramercy Park to the northeast, convinced the corporation to name it Union Square.
1848
1913 May Day 1913, strikers in Union Square. Also known as International Workers’ Day is a celebration of the international labor movement.
The Everett House on the corner of 17th Street and Fourth Avenue was built. For decades one of the city’s most fashionable hotels. It was demolished in 1908.
1820s Union Sq. became an exclusive residential neighborhood as New Yorkers began to move north to get away from the crowds of incoming immigrants settling in Lower Manhattan.
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1928
1842 A fountain was built in the center of Union Square to receive water from the Croton Aqueduct.
1882 25,000 marchers gathered in support of an eight-hour workday and a ban on child labor in what became America’s fi rst Labor Day parade.
The park was completely recreated and elevated when a subway expansion was constructed below the square.
1960s
1990s
2000s
1930 March 6, 1930, when a demonstration against unemployment turned into a free-for-all after the police prevented protestors from marching down to City Hall. The melee, which was immortalized in a famous 1947 painting by Peter Hopkins, resulted in 100 injuries, 13 arrests and pressure on city officials to allow freedom of assembly in the square.
2001 September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Union Square became a primary public gathering point for mourners. People created spontaneous candle and photograph memorials in the park and vigils were held to honor the victims.
1976 Barry Benepe, who, with the approval of the city government, brought in local farmers who set up stalls on a parking lot just north of Union Square park. The Greenmarket became a huge success and the activity caused by the market sparked a revitalization of the whole neighborhood.
1997 Union Square was named a National Historic Landmark, primarily to honor it as the site of the fi rst Labor Day parade.
2008 March 2008, an eighteenmonth renovation began on the northern end of the park.
1983 1960s Union Sq. Park had become known as “Needle Park” and was synonymous with crime and drug use.
The city began a $3.6 million renovation of the park. The new lighting fi xtures, walkways and removal of overgrown shrubbery discouraged drug dealers and made the park more familyfriendly. Retailers began to move in, restoring Union Sq.’s status as one of the city’s chief commercial hubs.
1999 The massive “Metronome” by artists Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel, was installed at 1 Union Sq. S., where it has kept track of time ever since.
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A WALK IN THE PARK
rederick Law Olmsted oversaw a redesign of Union Sq. Park in the 1870s. By then, Union Sq. was a mecca for the rich and famous and a part of the upscale Ladies’ Mile shopping district, which started on Eighth St. and branched out onto Broadway, and Fifth and Sixth Aves.
As the rich of New York City continued to move north, however, the upscale department stores were gradually replaced with discount emporiums and five-and-dimes, such as S. Klein, which was housed in the building on Union Sq. E. between 15th and 16th Sts. that until recently held a Toys ’R’ Us. Union Sq., however, was more than a center for bargains and cheap goods. It became a civic center for the city’s left, as well its working class and immigrants. Union Sq. was home to the Communist Party’s national headquarters, the radical Yiddish newspaper Freiheit and the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union. The last headquarters of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that had dominated city politics for nearly a century, was located in what is now the New York Film Academy. Amalgamated Bank, the nation’s first labor-owned bank, still occupies a building on 15th St. and Union Sq. W. For decades before, however, Union Sq. had already been known as the city’s “Speaker’s Corner.” On Sept. 5, 1882, 25,000 marchers gathered in support of an eight-hour workday and a ban on child labor in what became America’s first Labor Day parade. Through the first half of the 20th century, Union Sq. continued to be the scene of myriad demonstrations— and frequent clashes with police.
“There were people who said that Union Sq. Park was where you could get the best drugs,” said Rob Walsh, executive director of the 14th Street-Union Square Business Improvement District from 1989 to 1997. When S. Klein’s closed in 1975, the area was so unattractive to business owners that the building remained empty for more than a decade. Walsh, now commissioner of the city’s Department of Small Business Services, credits the revitalization of the park to intrepid small business owners like Danny Meyer, who opened his popular Union Square Cafe in 1985 when “the square wasn’t a cool place to be,” and the farmers who helped start the Union Sq. Greenmarket in 1976. But the single most important factor in Union Sq.’s revitalization, Walsh says, was the building of Zeckendorf Towers, the massive brick structure at the corner of Park Ave. S. and 14th St. that houses over 650 apartments, a Food Emporium and the Beth Israel Medical Center. The building complex was met with controversy when it was first proposed in the early 1980s by developer William Zeckendorf Jr.
“There were people who said that Union Sq. Park was where you could get the best drugs.”
“People didn’t like the color of the brick, they didn’t like the idea of gentrification,” said Walsh, “But what the Zeckendorf Towers did was bring in thousands of new residents to the park.”
Rob Walsh, executive director of the Union Square Business Improvement District, 1989-1997
One of the most significant riots was on March 6, 1930, when a demostration against unemployment turned into a free-for-all after the police prevented protestors from marching down to City Hall. The melee, which was immortalized in a famous 1947 painting by Peter Hopkins, resulted in 100 injuries, 13 arrests and pressure on city officials to allow freedom of assembly in the square. “The square was the one spot where people could talk about anarchism or communism and not go to jail. Every society needs at least one spot like that,” said Alfred Pommer, owner of New York City Cultural Walking Tours and a student of U.S. labor history. “What started as a union of roadways became, symbolically, a good place for people to unite.”
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By 1943, however, Tammany Hall had shut down for good and many of the labor unions and political parties relocated to other locations in the city. In the late 1960s and 1970s, Union Sq. Park had become known as “Needle Park” and was synonymous with crime and drug use.
Residents and community activists began to put pressure on the city to renovate the square. Sweet 14th, dedicated to the restoration of the park, was created in 1976 and in the following years both the 14th Street Local Development Corporation and the 14th Street-Union Square BID were founded. In 2004, the BID and L.D.C. united under the name Union Square Partnership. In 1983, the city began a $3.6 million renovation of the park. The new lighting fixtures, walkways and removal of overgrown shrubbery, Walsh said, discouraged drug dealers and made the park more family-friendly. Retailers, including Barnes and Nobles, Circuit City and Virgin Records, began to move in, restoring Union Sq.’s status as one of the city’s chief commercial hubs. Story by: Catherine Shu
Old POSTCARD depicts when Union Square Park had a fountain. But when Union Square was ripped up during the subway construction in the 1920s, the fountain went with it.
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UNION SQUARE’S mONUmENTS GEORGE WASHINGTON
This impressive bronze equestrian portrait of George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States, is the oldest sculpture in the New York City Parks collection. It was modeled by Henry Kirke Brown (1814–1886) and dedicated in 1865. In 1851, a committee of concerned citizens interested in erecting a monument to Washington in New York approached sculptor Horatio Greenough (1805–1852), known for his huge classical marble portrait of Washington. Simultaneously, the committee also invited Henry Kirke Brown to submit a design, though it was unclear whether he was to assist Greenough or compete with him for artistic selection.
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MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE
MOHANDAS GANDHI
This bronze sculpture depicts the Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), the French-born general who fought on behalf of American rebels during the American Revolution. Cast in 1873 and dedicated in 1876, the piece is a token of appreciation from the French government for aid New York provided Paris during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1)— thus the inscription “in remembrance of sympathy in times of trial.”
This bronze sculpture depicting Mohandas Gandhi (1869–1948) was sculpted by Kantilal B. Patel (born 1925). After its dedication on October 2, 1986, the 117th anniversary of Gandhi’s birth, the sculpture joined monuments to Washington, Lafayette, and Lincoln in Union Square Park as a quartet of works devoted to defenders of freedom. Noted civil rights leader Bayard Rustin (1912–1987) was the keynote speaker at the dedication.
The larger-than-life-sized figure was sculpted by Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi (1834–1904), who also designed the Statue of Liberty (1886), another gift from the French government that figures prominently in New York Harbor.
The monument, donated by the Gandhi Memorial International Foundation and underwritten by Mohan B. Murjani of Murjani International, Ltd., was installed at Union Square because of the tradition of protest associated with the park.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN
One of three sculptural renditions of Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) in New York City’s parks, this larger-thanlife bronze by Henry Kirke Brown (1814–1886) stands vigil on a busy crossroads at the north end of Union Square Park. It was dedicated on September 16, 1870. Brown combines a classically styled pose with a perceptive naturalism, uniting realistic detail with an idealistic stance. The sculpture originally stood in the street bed at the southwest corner of Union Square, at the location today occupied by the statue of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869-1948).
THE JAMES FOUNTAIN
Also known as the Union Square Drinking Fountain, this ornate piece by German sculptor Karl Adolph Donndorf (1835–1916) was donated by philanthropist Daniel Willis James (1832–1907) to promote the virtue of charity to 19th century New Yorkers. One of a few public drinking fountains of this type left, the figural group contains a mother holding a baby with an infant at her left side. The fountain’s figures were modeled on the artist’s family and the granite is from Sweden. The lion’s heads on the fountain’s four sides dispense water; the fountain originally featured tin cups chained to the piece to allow passersby to quench their thirst.
ANDY WARHOL
The pop art icon, who worked in the Union Square area until 1984 and passed away in 1987, is returning to the area in the guise of a ghostly silver 10-foot-tall sculpture by Rob Pruitt. He imagined Warhol in 1977, dressed in Levi’s 501s, a Brooks Brothers blazer, wearing a Polaroid camera around his neck and carrying a Medium Brown Bag from Bloomingdale’s, which in Pruitt’s mind, is filled with copies of Interview magazine. Warhol founded the magazine in 1969 and would often hand out copies on the street, Pruitt said.
The piece, located in an alcove on the west side of the park, was dedicated October 25, 1881.
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Lessons in Greenmarket Etiquette
A CHANGE Of PALATE
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nce a major hub of activity in New York City, Union Square Park had fallen into disrepair by the 1970s and was widely considered to be unsafe. In 1976, the Union Square Greenmarket began setting up on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in the parking lot surrounding the park. Though this was not a traditional use for parks, the Greenmarket established a physical presence that drew residents to buy the produce trucked in from farms throught the region. It prompted positive activity around the park from early morning until afternoon. A special Holiday Market operates at end of each year, featuring crafts and gift items selected on the basis of uniqueness and design quality. In the early 1980s, the market’s popularity helped lead to a multimillion-dollar renovation of
the park, and a management district was also established in the area. This resulted in an improvement of the neighborhood itself, with the Greenmarket serving as its hub. The market draws visitors to the park and new residents to nearby housing; it has even spurred the development of new restaurants specializing in cuisine prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Market days draw tens of thousands of people; some just browse, enjoying a leisurely stroll past the vendors, perusing the merchandise. Since the market is not a high-pressure retail environment, it allows people to be comfortable. Vitality and community, long absent, can again be found in and near Union Square, even on days when the market is not operating. In 1976, Barry Benepe chose Union Square as the site for the second Greenmarket, with several goals: bringing high-quality produce to New York; protecting the viability of local small farms; and strengthening the community by forging bonds between farmers and consumers and local residents. By forming a coalition of producers and working with a number of New York City agencies (the Council on the Environment and the Departments of Planning and Parks and Recreation), the Greenmarket has helped considerably to revitalize Union Square. Greenmarket utilizes a state-sponsored coupon program to assist low-income people with food purchases, thereby including them in the community attracted by the market.
GO EARLY. IT’S MORE PLEASANT. “The crowds are so much smaller, and people who are up at that time like being up at that time,” says Beth Linskey of Beth’s Farm in Stuyvesant Falls, NY. She sells her jam at spots including the Union Square. TALK TO THE FARMERS! “Ask as many questions as possible to know what [you’re] getting,” says Sonia Sola, owner of Nectar Hills Farm in Schenevus, NY. She sells her grass-fed meat at Columbia market. DON’T WRITE A SHOPPING LIST. “Respond to [the produce] in front of you,” says Edible Manhattan’s Gabrielle Langholtz. Be inspired by what’s there. SAVE THE HAGGLING FOR FLEA MARKETS. “It’s just bad etiquette to haggle with a dairy farmer or a farmer in general,” says Dancing Ewe Farm member Jody Somers. TAKE A STROLL BEFORE YOU SHOP. “When people first start going to greenmarkets, they should scan before they decide to buy something. A lot of the farms have a lot of the same stuff,” says Union Square Caf chef Carmen Quagliata, who shops at the Union Square Greenmarket four times a week. HANDS OFF THE CHEESE, PLEASE! “I discourage people from touching the cheese,” says Somers, who sells Dancing Ewe Farm’s Tuscanstyle cheese at the Union Square Greenmarket on Fridays. HIT THE CASH MACHINE HARD. “Basically everyone shops until they’re out of cash, and then they realize there is all this other stuff they want to buy,” says Edible Manhattan’s Gabrielle Langholtz, who used to work for NYC greenmarkets in the mayor’s office. So get more money out than you think you’ll need. BRING YOUR OWN BAG. “We really like it when people bring their own totes,” Linskey says. “It’s less plastic that is being pushed out into the world.”
Contributed by Project for Public Spaces
SAMPLE—JUST NOT TOO MUCH. “Oh, we have the eaters, the people who come and eat every week. We just ask them to move on,” says farmer Beth Linskey. Unfortunately, not all shoppers take the request in stride. “We had one woman who got so mad at us . . . that she picked up the jar and threw it.” Don’t do that, either. Story by: Dana Schuster, 2010
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September 11, 2001
A COMMUNITY UNITES
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VIGIL: PUBLIC GRIEVING
hen it was redesigned in 1872 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the previously fenced-in Union Square was opened “to meet the public requirement of mass meetings.” This was code for military assemblages meant to maintain social order, but, thanks to its open space and proximity to Lower East Side working-class and immigrant communities, the park soon became home to rather different gatherings. “Ones held by labor organizations or generally left-wing political groups,” explained Marci Reaven, of the New York Historical Society. Union Square hosted the first Labor Day parade in 1882, workers’ rallies dur-
ing the Great Depression, and the first Earth Day, in 1970. But in the days following 9/11, the space became the central grieving point for New Yorkers just looking to stand together. Mourners brought flowers, lit candles, and wrote messages in chalk on the ground. A vigil on Friday, September 14, brought together kids and adults, punks and professionals, who prayed and sang through the night. The communal spirit would be short-lived, however: Union Square quickly became a locus for protests against the Iraq War. Story by: Chris Rovzar, 2011
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I WONDER WHERE THIS IS NOW? A woman stops to sign a paper in memoriam of the fallen victims of the September 11th attacks. 24
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remembering 9/11
’ve shared this photo before but it’s one of my faves. I took it a week after the 9/11 attacks at Union Square Park in NYC—which became a gigantic memorial. The words were scribbled on a concrete divider: “you were so brave.” Listening to Rudy Giuliani on the radio this morning, recount his ‘where he was when the first plane hit’ story had an unexpected effect on me. For years the memories from that day have gotten easier to deal with but today, hearing his details, so much of that day came flooding back again. I don›t usually talk about that day but feeling the need to share a few of my own details today.
The day was sunny and perfect and it was Tuesday, just like today. Not a cloud in the sky or drop of humidity. A perfect early fall day. There was a huge thunder storm the night before—I was out in the city and watched awnings get blown off a building across the street from a restaurant where I was with friends. We joked that ‘all hell had broken loose in the city.’ We all thought it was a small plane at first. And we all thought it was an accident. But we talked about how there was such a huge explosion for a small plane. I was discussing the
accident on the phone with my mom when the second plane approached and hit. My mother was watching the news as that happened and recounting what she was seeing in horror. When the second plane hit, the explosion shook my office building. “Come home right now,” was the next thing she said. Once the second plane hit, we thought what’s next? My boss put on lock down in our office. No one was allowed to leave for several hours. I couldn›t leave anyway. All the trains & mass transit were stopped and I couldn›t get back to NJ. I was afraid to walk over the bridge to Brooklyn. When I finally did get home, (around 9 p.m.) I stepped off the commuter train in my town and was greeted by the fire department hazmat team. They had set up a kiddie pool and hose to decontaminate all the people who came home with the dust on them. So many people on the train were covered with it. Men, who I’d see every day in their business suits, looking professional, standing in a blow up kiddie pool getting hosed off is a sight I will not forget. Story by: Valerie, Paper & Cookies Blog, September 11, 2012
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ray of hope French President Jacques Chirac carries a bouquet of flowers towards a makeshift memorial to the victims of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. 27
“In Union Square in the underground corridor above N/R line on the west wall, are all the names of those who perished. Label stickers someone put up onto the subway tile, some names are fading. You could miss it if you’re not paying attention. A quiet reflection of the gravity and loss, slowly fading from the finger tips that brush over the names.”
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—Cathy Grier, NYC Subway Girl
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A SUBWAY’S TRIBUTE
nniversary’s of this kind are tricky, on the one hand we must reach into our collective and personal grief to remember the tragedy, the loss, the deep shattering and on the other hand, how to balance the knowledge of our resiliency and not eclipse the memory?
As I walked through the streets of my home, my city, for the days months and years after 9/11, I saw what was obviously physically missing, those towers that always pointed me "downtown" and then when was it that I stopped looking for the reference and couldn’t remember exactly where they stood in the skyline? Singing in the subway was where I could sense what was missing within each of us. When was it that I could feel by watching commuters body language and my own, that we were over the shock, the loss, the intense sense of horror?
I can’t remember, it just slowly evolved into a new being. Now I look to the sky and watch floor upon floor growing up from the scared land, what was left of the World Trade Towers. Honestly it’s strange to see the buildings stretching now taller than the Empire State building. Ground Zero. Ground Rebirth. I can never forget those days after 9/11, how our world changed. As I do every year I remember and I weep. Today I remember for the families who lost loved ones, for the firefighters, police and emergency workers who lost their lives. To those who volunteered to help rescue and recover. For the workers who spent months carting away the debris at risk to their own health and who may have also lost their lives, or be forever disabled. To the health care workers who under such duress worked endlessly and who continue to help and heal to this day. To
our soldiers and National Guard who have fought two wars directly related to the event of September 11, 2001, including the countless innocent lives lost overseas as a result of those wars. Today I remember we can rebuild, we can love and sing again. I only began singing in the NYC Subway system in 1999, I know that the events of September 11, 2001 is reason enough why I continue to do so to this day. I have hope for our future where we encourage education for all people, re-imagine our financial systems, work tirelessly towards a more energy efficient and socially conscious society. I dream this new century moves more towards a place of collective peace and love. I came into this world a dreamer and I continue to dream that dreams do become reality. I remember. Story by: Cathy Grier, NYC Subway Girl, September 10, 2012
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April 7, 2007
NATIONAL PILLOW FIGHT DAY
(AND OTHER EVENTS)
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urban playground
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rom a massive Mobile Clubbing event in a London train station to a giant pillow fight near the Eiffel Tower in Paris to a subway party beneath the streets of Toronto, it is clear that the urban playground is growing around the world, leaving more public and more social cities in its wake. This is the urban playground movement, a playful part of the larger public space movement.
The goal is to make these unique happenings in public space become a significant part of popular culture, partially replacing passive, non-social consumption experiences like watching television, and consciously celebrating public spaces in our cities as our “urban living rooms.� The result will be a global community of participants in a world where people are constantly organizing and attending these happenings in every major city in the world. Pillow Fight Day, is a collaboration of many people who comprise a loose, decentralized network of urban playground event organizers all over the world. Story by: Kevin Bracken from Newmindspace, organizers of the New York City and Toronto pillow fights
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FEATHERS WILL FLY
wasn’t exactly planning to attend the pillow fight in Union Square this weekend but when a friend requested that I joined in, I suited up and rode the L right into the battlefield. I expected to be surrounded by teenagers unleashing their unfamiliar hormonal angst issues and I wasn’t wrong in my assumption. But to my surprise, they were joined by all sorts of demographics. Before entering the ring I was pushed aside by two gleeful women well into their forties, if not fifties. Get ‘em girls.
The most awkward moment was my first leap into the ring. It was then I questioned the type of person I was. Am I really going to just hit a stranger for no reason? Am I too mature for this? God, what made me even come here? POWWWWWWWW. It’s on.
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One hit was all it took to break my inhibitions. While I was most definitely afraid of some folks (men with helmets, goggles, and combat boots undoubtedly came to destroy), the only pain I left with was the soreness in my tummy from non-stop giggling that brought me back to the days when sleepover parties were the most anticipated events of the year. National Pillow Fight Day was unexpectedly the purest form of fun I think I’ve had since I’ve moved to the big apple. Nothing like bringing all walks of life together to share in one common joy: safely & softly beating the shit out of each other. As of 2011, Union Square was the last year to hold the event. National Pillow Fight Day now takes place at Washington Square Park. Story by: Unknown Tumblr Blogger, 2011
“The most awkward moment was my first leap into the ring. It was then I questioned the type of person I was. Am I really going to just hit a stranger for no reason? Am I too mature for this? God what made me even come here? POWWWWWWW. It’s on.”
—Unknown Tumblr Blogger, 2011
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Keep these Events in Mind DAILY: WORLD FAMOUS GREENMARKET It has grown exponentially over the past 35 years. In peak season, 140 regional farmers, fishermen, and baker descend upon Union Square to sell their products to a devout legion of city dwellers who support local agriculture with their food dollars. SAT @ 2 P.M.: "CROSSROADS OF NEW YORK" TOUR
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mEETING & GATHERING
ince the 1800’s, Union Square has become a major hub for meeting and gatherings alike. It’s a place for people to speak out on what they believe in—think May Day or Occupy Wall Street. Whenever I am out and about in Union Square, I always seem to come across random attractions and people. One Sunday in September I came across the Petco Adoption Fair. I thought it was interesting to see how New Yorkers came together to seek out a pet of their own or just to let their pets frolic among the others. Union Square is a spot for bringing people together. Strangers talk amongst themselves as if they have known each other for more than a few moments. What makes Union Square a unique attraction is the type of people that linger around the area. It makes for an intriguing people watching spot. I could sit for hours watching people come and go as they please. Since I moved here in 2009, I have been able to explore the Square to it’s fullest. There is indeed the good, bad and the ugly. First off, it’s incredibly convenient, but if you’re meeting someone it can prove to be tricky with its massive crowds. The trick is to give precise directions to your meeting spot and try to stay away from the hoards of people where they come in and out of the subways—and keep your phone handy. In my opinion the best spots are the pathways interspersed in the park. While you’re waiting, you can take in a bit of nature by watching the dogs play in the nearby dog park. The ‘ugly’ I am referring to is the late night strolls where rats pass from bench to bench in the park. There is also that lingering smell of urine at times—which is something I try to forget given that I meet people here often. Story by: Christina Holtzen
A free, 90-minute walking tour departs from the Abraham Lincoln Statue located along the 16th Street transverse. You will explore the social and political history of the Union Square neighborhood through discussions of the people, history, architecture, and forces that have shaped this community. MID-JUNE: SUMMER IN THE SQUARE Union Square Partnership’s free weekly entertainment and programming series in the park during summer months. Running every Thursday from mid-June through midAugust in the South Plaza, the series offers a vibrant mixture of activities. AUG: SUMMER STREETS DAY An annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation. In 2012, more than 250,000 people took advantage of the open streets. SEPT: THE PETCO ADOPTION FAIR More than 200 animals are up for adoption, from various rescue centers and shelters, to meet New Yorkers looking for pets. In addition to adoptions, there are raffles, training and grooming centers hosted by Petco, specialty vendors, and more. SEPT: HARVEST IN THE SQUARE A festive celebration of community and cuisine presented by the Union Square Partnership. It is Manhattan’s premier food and wine tasting event where signature dishes are prepared by some of the most popular restaurants in the Union Square district using fresh farm produce from our very own Union Square Greenmarket. NOV-DEC: UNION SQUARE HOLIDAY MARKET The holiday shopping season officially begins with the opening of the popular Union Square Holiday Market, operated by Urban Space Management, open annually between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. Be sure to stop by for a variety of unique items that would make perfect holiday gifts such as handcrafted jewelry, fine art, clothes, handmade ornaments and toys for kids of all ages. 39
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July 7, 2007
NO ORDINARY DAY IN THE SQUARE
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BEAUTy AND THE STREET
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t 11:55 pm on Friday, 6 July 2007, my lead production assistant Robin Hutchins covered me with a blanket, smoothed down my hair, and whispered pragmatically, “Everything is to be okay. Besides there’s no turning back now.” Just over 72 hours later, she congratulated me with a huge hug and a laugh. Fashionably Late for the Relationship is the name of the solo performance art piece that took place on the Union Square traffic island in New York City during those 72 hours; the live events also shares its name with a documentary fi lm of the performance directed by my partner, R. Luke DuBois, and an architectural installation in collaboration with DuBois.
For three days, I lived on a small set on the Union Square traffic island on Park Avenue South off the southeast corner of Union Square Park, performing as though I were in my boudoir, preparing for a date. The event was open to the public and was continuous over the course of the three days. This project directly addressed the exposure of woman to the public gaze and explored private space within the public environment.
Story by: Lián Amaris, performance artist of Fashionably Late for the Relationship, 2007
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“I think I noticed smells. I noticed when someone was smoking a cigarette. At one point I could smell something that smelled like baking bread or a pastry or something. I could feel when a flash went off along with that residual eye flash. And so I lost it when that alarm went off . . .” —Lián Amaris, performing artist
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72 HOURS IN THE SQUARE
ho would’ve thought an alarm clock would wake me up? Seriously I am awake now in Union Square and it took me a good three hours to fall asleep and an alarm clock woke me up. Hours and hours of eyes forced shut and alarm clock wakes me up. What was it like? It was so difficult to keep my eyes shut. So fucking difficult. I think I got very good at feeling when someone was there or not. I think I noticed smells. I noticed when someone was smoking a cigarette. At one point I could smell something that smelled like baking bread or a pastry or something. I could feel when a flash went off along with that residual eye flash. And so I lost it when that alarm went off because it took so much work to keep my eyes closed. It took so much work. My whole body was screaming to change positions. My left leg was burning like there was
something holding it down keeping it in place . . . There was definitely a moment when I fell asleep and my legs fell out from beneath me. My eyes opened by accident and I think it was 4 a.m. But I can’t be sure. It is almost 6 a.m. now I have to pee but I don’t think I am going to do that just yet. I am really uncomfortable. Some woman is standing watching and I am writing in my journal. A woman is watching me write in my journal . . . Now would be a good time to pee. So I think I am going to get up. I am afraid to get up because once I do; I won’t be able to stop. It starts once I stand up. And now I am in a bad position. I am cold and I half to pee. I wrote half instead of have. Story by: Lián Amaris, Journal Entry 1, 6 am, Saturday
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May 25, 2009
WHEN I MET UNION SQUARE
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the way I remember it
I
t was shortly after I had landed into La Guardia Airport that I had my introduction with Union Square. I remember driving past the Square in a cab and looking out the window. I wondered what all of the hustle and bustle was about in this small span of space. I later learned that not only was it a major hub of subway stops, but that it was a popular meeting spot for New Yorkers. Regardless of the main purpose, the square has held a close spot in my heart. Union Square becomes more and more unique as seasons pass. Not only do I appreciate seeing the different colors of the trees from the park (being
that the city is a concrete jungle), but I also enjoy the events and seasonal attractions that come with the Square. I remember my first encounter with the Union Square Holiday Market. It’s true, shopping is a favorite past time of mine, but I thought this was so uncommon compared to my old stomping grounds of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Not only was 2009 a year of firsts for me in New York City, but it also happened to be the first time I became acquainted with public transportation. Union Square was the first subway station I ever encountered. I remember being very intimidated and worried I was going to get lost. But with the help of a few very friendly New Yorkers I found my way. Story by: Christina Holtzen
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close encounters
he subway at Union Square is a story all in itself. Waiting for the subway can be an annoyance when you are trying to hurry from uptown to downtown, but when you do have the patience to wait, people watching down below is by far one of the most amusing activities to do in the city. Some of the best encounters with people take place while waiting for the subway or on your ride. Take for example this story: “Is that scruffy looking fellow who perhaps had a little too much happy during happy hour . . . peeing on the subway? Why yes. Yes, he is. Aha!” This may be a great excuse to share I-once-saw-thecraziest-thing-ever-on-the-subway stories to a new friend sitting next to you.
rush hour. But you are likely to get a seat to read or jam out to music if you are traveling mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
It seems as though living in New York City that people are too busy with their lives to actually pay attention to the world around them. The subway can be a peaceful spot to sit and reflect about your day—that is if you’re not sitting in a crammed subway during
Story by: Christina Holtzen
If you’re not stuck in your own little world, you can easily sit and observe people in action. Watching people in their everyday ritual is a great way to get insight into one’s psyche. Believe it or not, people are most like themselves when they are stuck on a crowded subway. I am always surprised to hear some of the conversations that take place. Sometimes it’s too much for my ears or eyes to handle. Next time you’re on a crowded subway or waiting for one to come by, take time to observe your encounters with people. You’d be surprised at how therapeutic it can be.
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fOR THE EATER
UNION SQUARE CAFE October of 1985, Danny Meyer opened his first restaurant. A new breed of American eatery, USC paired imaginative food and wine with caring hospitality, comfortable surroundings and exceptional value. Serving American cuisine with an Italian soul, USC was an immediate hit. At Union Sq. W and 5th Ave.
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BLUE WATER GRILL Award-winning restaurant has delivered top seafood, sushi, scene and jazz to Union Square for almost two decades. The former bank digs separate the front bar area, main dining room and jazz room, making it well suited to take all types and people watch in Union Square. At 16th St & 17th St.
COFFEE SHOP
OLIVES @ W HOTEL
In May 1990, this popular spot was born. Open 23 hours a day, it was once a Page Six fodder for power lunches and went well into the night with an A-list crowd enjoying great Brazillian-American food and cocktails.
Todd English established Olives as one of the most prestigious names in the nation. Serves interpretive Mediterranean cuisine. The restaurant has an emphasis on seasonality to create sumptuous pastas, wood-fired flatbreads, fresh fish and succulent meats.
At S Park Ave and 17th St.
At Park Avenue South
fOR THE SHOPAHOLIC
BARNES AND NOBLE
FOREVER 21
The largest Barnes & Noble in the world with 4 floors of books, music and magazines. Famous for having major author signing events.
Fashion for tweens and young 20-somethings who are on a budget. This store is open late so it’s easy to be able to create an outfit for a late-night outing. With two floors of fashion, you are bound to put together something on a dime.
At the north side of Union Square between Broadway and Park Avenue
Directly across from Union Square
DSW Right after you stop at Forever 21, complete your outfit by accessorizing at DSW. It also boasts one of the few hidden panoramic views of the Square. Directly across from Union Square
LULU LEMON Every Saturday morning, the purveyor of yoga-inspired apparel— hosts its very own free yoga classes, even including mats at no charge. Instructors rotate on a monthly basis, representing a variety of studios and styles. Located at 15 Union Square West
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November 19, 2012
CONCLUSION & SOURCES
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h
Hopefully by now it is possible to see how Union Square is much more than just a spot for New Yorkers to pass through as they end or start their day. Through tumultuous times, Union Square will always be the first place in a metropolitan city where dozens of people can feel like a tight-knit community. From the Square’s first political demonstration in the 1800’s to the recent Occupy Wall Street, Union Square remains to be a place where people can have their voices heard. So you might ask why Union Square? True, there are many other popular meeting spots throughout the city such as Grand Central Station or Washington Square Park. But it’s the unique Greenmarket and other community events that bring people to gather in one locale. It’s also a spot where transportation and meeting spots come together, making it highly accessible for New Yorkers or tourists. Union Square’s landscape may transform in the future but it will always remain a meeting spot for years to come.
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BIBLIOGRAPHy CONTRIBUTED ARTICLES: All monument descriptions gathered from http://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/unionsquarepark Amaris, Lian, Beauty and the Street: 72 Hours in Union Square, NYC , The Drama Review, Vol. 52, Number 4, Winter 2008, MIT Press Bracken, Kevin, Urban Playground, http://www.newmindspace.com Project for Public Spaces, A Change of Palate, http://www.pps.org Rovzar, Chris, Vigil, New York Magazine, Aug 27, 2011 Schuster, Dana, Shop Right: How To Friend A Farmer At The Greenmarket New York Post (New York, NY). (Nov. 5, 2010): Arts and Entertainment: p.38 Shu, Catherine, 175 Years Of Making History At Downtown Crossroads, The Villager, May 25-31, 2005 Unknown Blogger, Tumblr, Feathers Will Fly, 2011 Valerie, Remembering 9/11, Paper & Cookies Blog, September 11, 2012
IMAGES: Cover image: Andrea Brizzi, 2011 Map images courtesy of Google Earth Introduction: http://2.bp.blogspot.com Old Postcard: http://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com Historical Timeline: http://digitalgallery.nypl.org Old Panoramic View: www.shorpy.com Greenmarket: Instagram 9/11 photos: Associated Press Valerie, Remembering 9/11, Paper & Cookies Blog, September 11, 2012 The Atlantic Google Images Pillow Fight: Google Images 72 Hours in the Square: http://vimeopro.com/bitforms/dubois/video/30496329 Places to Eat/ Shop: Google Images Conclusion: Joseph Larzano Photography
All other images were photographed by Christina Holtzen
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about the author Christina Holtzen is from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has been living in New York City for nearly four years. She is obtaining her MS in Digital Design at the Pratt Institute. She created this book because she sees Union Square as more than a place to pass to and from when on her way to class or work. It’s held a close spot in her heart since she has moved here in 2009. She says Albuquerque doesn’t have a spot where a community gathers like they do in New York City. When she came to the city, she was in awe of the way people stopped right in their tracks to people watch or partake in a last minute event in the square. Some of her favorite spots in the Square include Coffee Shop where she and her friends brunch on Sundays. She also enjoys strolling through the Greenmarket to pick up fresh ingredients for a recipe or sipping a Starbucks while waiting to meet a friend.
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