New York StationBuzz by Barry Sher

June - August 2009

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Dear Reader, Dear Reader, Welcome to New York, and to the first issue of . We have designed our magazine to help you, our visitor, get the most from your visit while being part of the City’s exciting GO GREEN program, and reducing your impact on the environment . We will show you how to best use our great public transit system to get where you want to go quickly, safely, and at a reduced cost. It’s the best way to go if the weather is not inviting, the fastest in any weather, and you will help keep our city green. Using the NYC public transportation system, you will avoid traﬃc jams and thus get the most use of your limited time with us. We will show you how to conveniently visit some of the most interesting neighborhoods of our City which you might have thought were too far out of the way. Remember, for almost all destinations in New York you pay a FIXED SINGLE FARE, and you get a free bus transfer thrown in as well. While Manhattan may be the center for hotels and tourism, there is lots to see in the other boroughs! We show you interesting neighborhoods in every part of the City. Our magazine features many of the same maps, and information as other guides, but

we have organized our guide magazine around major subway stops and their neighborhoods. Our detailed local maps and listings will not only guide you to the most important destination, in the area, but will also introduce you to the less known and less well promoted, yet interesting places, which are right next door. I think even some of our New York resident readers will learn something new about their hometown from reading our magazine. Our featured articles will tell you about special and seasonal events taking place during your visit, and our website www.stationbuzz-newyork.com is updated frequently to bring, those of you who rely on your computers, even fresher information. Although we think we know our City well, no one can say they know everything about it, so we invite our readers, visitors as well as New Yorkers, to share their knowledge and discoveries of the riches and hidden treasures New York City has to oﬀer, so that we can feature them in one of our future issues. Have a great time in New York.

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Ludwig Gelobter publisher@newyork-stationbuzz.com 3

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FROM THE BOROUGH PRESIDENT

Welcome To The City

Welcome To The City That Never Sleeps

Dear Buzz Reader, Our City government has a mandate to make New York one of the premier green spaces in America. We have made a major commitment to improve our environment by encouraging the use of public transportation, clean energy, recycling, and reducing each individual’s carbon footprint . New York has the largest and best run public transportation system in the world. Our busses and subway systems cover more than 100 square miles, and are operational round the clock. Everyone knows Times Square, but have you ever been to City Island, Jackson Heights or Pelham? Williamsburgh, Chelsea, Park Slope and the Upper West Side are only a few subway stops away, and represent some of the most ethnically diverse and creative neighborhoods in New York. Find some of the ﬁnest architecture, crafts fairs, zoos, botanical gardens, out of the way museums and art shows, jazz dancing classes, swimming, tennis, and food choices from more than 100 countries. All while “going green” at less than ﬁve dollars a day. We have programs in place to reward shops, restaurants, and even hotels who save

energy and pursue green initiatives. Station Buzz will point you to these establishments in every corner of our city, so that you may, while visiting, eating and drinking, shopping, and relaxing, actually contribute to the reduction of your individual carbon footprint, all while having a good time. Enjoy our subway art and music, take this opportunity to explore out of the way neighborhoods, and meet our stalwart New Yorkers who welcome you with our traditional hospitality. In today’s economy, we are excited at the chance to oﬀer you travel solutions which are not reliant on fuel , and which oﬀer the opportunity for safe, low cost travel to out of the way places where you will have fun. As Borough President , let me say “Welcome” not just to Manhattan, but to the Bronx and Staten Island too.

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Scott Stringer Borough President of Manhattan

The Subway system has over 400 stations. We have decided to feature major stations in or near tourist destinations and interesting neighborhoods. In some cases, especially downtown, where stations may only be a block or two apart, we speak of “region”. XX

TheTheBuzz List Buzz List

SOUTH FERRY/ BOWLING GREEN/ BATTERY PARK REGION

Staten Island, Ferry, Ferries to Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Museum of Jewish Heritage, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Museum of the American Indian

WALL STREET REGION XX South Street Seaport, Fraunces Tavern, Museum of American Finance, New York Stock Exchange XX FULTON ST./B’WAY-NASSAU REGION World Trade Center Site, World Financial Center, Trinity Church, St Paul’s Chapel, South St. Seaport Museum

is designed to help you navigate our City by Subway. We want to encourage you to visit not just speciﬁc tourist destinations, but our neighborhoods as well. While we realize that many of our readers are staying at the mid-town hotels, our magazine is designed to start at the southern tip of Manhattan, and go north, like many of our Subway lines, and then head out into the boroughs. You may want to pick the chapter with the station closest to you, and start exploring in either direction.

BROOKLYN BRIDGE/CITY HALL XX City Hall, Historic Art Deco Court Buildings, Municipal Building, Park Row, Pace Uni. CANAL STREET REGION XX Tribecca, Little Italy, China Town XX GREENWICH VILLAGE REGION New York University, Washington Square Park, OffBroadway Theaters, Mc Dougal Street Coffee Houses, The Public Theater, East Village restaurants and boutiques, Broadway shopping and SOHO

UNION SQUARE-14TH STREET XX Webster Hall, Irving Plaza, Union Square Park & Farmer’s Market, Chelsea Market, Meat Packing District, Restaurants & Shopping XX CHELSEA REGION Restaurants & Boutiques, Art Gallery District, Chelsea Piers Sport Complex, Museum At the Fashion Institute of Technology XX

HERALD SQUARE; PENN STATION34TH STREET REGION

Herald Square, Madison Square Garden, Jacob Javitz Convention Center, Empire State Building XX

TIMES SQUARE42ND STREET WEST REGION

1 Times Square Building, Theater District, NY Public Library, Port Authority Bus Terminal, Water Taxis, Boat Tours

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GRAND CENTRAL 42ND STREET EAST

Chrysler Building, Tudor City & Park, United Nations

50TH STREET-REGION XX Rockefeller Center, W 47th St. Jewelry/Diamond District, Museum of Television and Radio, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, MOMA XX COLUMBUS CIRCLE-59TH STREET Carnegie Hall, The Plaza, The Russian Tea Room, Horse Drawn Carriages, Kayaking on the Hudson XX EAST 59TH STREET Roosevelt Island Tram, Bloomingdales, One of the most fun shopping areas which extends to 5th Avenue & the Iconic Apple Store at Grand Army Plaza

BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC XX The pre-eminent, progressive performing and cinema arts center of the twenty-first century GRAND ARMY PLAZA, BROOKLYN XX Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Prospect Park Cover photo: Maureen Plainfield | Dreamstime.com

PUBLISHER:

Ludwig Gelobter

XX WEST 66TH STREET Lincoln Center, Tavern on the Green, Café des Artistes

EDITOR IN CHIEF:

XX WEST 72ND STREET The Dakota Building & Strawberry Fields, The Historic Ansonia Building, Loeb Boat House & Restaurant, Central Park

PHOTOGRAPHY:

XX WEST 79TH STREET REGION Museum of Natural History, Rose Center Planetarium, 79th Boat Basin

CONTRIBUTORS/WRITERS:

XX EAST 86TH STREET Museum Mile, Yorkville/German Town, Carl Schurtz Park & Gracie Mansion XX

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTSW. 116 STREET & BROADWAY

Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Riverside Church, Columbia University

125TH STREET XX The Apollo Theater, The Lennox Lounge, Sylvia’s Restaurant

THE OTHER BOROUGHS XX BRONX ZOO Wild Life Conservatory, Seasonal Exhibits & Attractions

Dominique Pasqua

ART DIRECTOR & GRAPHIC DESIGN:

WEB DESIGN:

Mike Rampelt

John Stuart Studio Nando Rodriguez, Pasqua Direct Photo, Lisa Gelobter Nando Rodriguez Nate Festinger Nostradamus Advertising

IT EDITOR:

Vlad Alexandrescu

SALES DIRECTOR:

Fred Moskowitz

1800 7th Ave, Ste. 8C, New York, NY 10026 Ph.: 347 727 2622 editorial@stationbuzz-newyork.com www.stationbuzz-newyork.com

is a registred trademark of CRYSTAL PUBLISHUING GROUP All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher is not responsible for the content of advertisements

XX ASTORIA/LONG ISLAND CITY REGION P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, Kaufman Astoria Studios’ Museum of the Moving Image, Isamu Noguchi Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park, Restaurants Galore

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The New York Subway A Short History As in many large cities, public transportation in New York City began with horse drawn carriages, which quickly morphed into horse drawn streetcars. Because there were no traﬃc regulations, soon a variety of horse-drawn vehicles jammed the city streets; a precursor of today’s traﬃc jams.

ELEVATED TRAINS: The earliest form of truly rapid transit in New York was the elevated railway, or “El”. Designed to run on tracks, about three stories (10m) above city avenues, the elevated trains drastically changed the way in which New Yorkers viewed their city and lived their lives. By 1871, the age of “Els” had arrived and most Manhattan residents were within a ten-minute walk from an El. By 1903, the elevated systems in Manhattan and Brooklyn shifted from steam to electric power, oﬀering a smoother, cleaner ride. Because the El was such a successful mode of transportation, it ran uninterrupted while many other forms of transportation, which ran concurrently with it, were deemed no longer useful and were shutdown. 10

The Els helped to create the urban life we now take for granted – people were able to live, work, and shop in diﬀerent parts of the city, while constantly interacting with people from diﬀerent neighborhoods and backgrounds. Although the Els became dirty, noisy and blocked sunlight from the streets, for over 70 years people could travel quickly and cheaply throughout the city. To this day elevated trains still run in the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens as extensions of their Manhattan underground routes.

CABLE CARS: New York City’s ﬁrst cable car line opened in 1883. Cable Cars were pulled by steam-driven machines placed at either end of the line, which pulled an endless loop

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of wire cable running through a slot below street level. They were very useful in areas that were too steep for horses. As electrical power became available, the era of the cable car ended making way for the trolley.

TROLLEYS: For many years, trolleys ran in all five boroughs of New York City. They used electric current delivered to motors from overhead cables or underground conduits. They were faster and cleaner than their predecessors the horse drawn trolleys, and, trolleys were cheaper to build and operate than cable cars. Because they moved on fixed tracks in the center of city streets, trolleys became a nuisance in traffic, while getting on and off was dangerous for the passengers, causing many accidents, some fatal. Although some trolley routes operated until the 1950’s, the increasing number of gasoline or diesel driven cars and trucks in the 1920s doomed the trolleys, and, gradually motorbuses replaced them.

MOVING BELOW GROUND –THE SUBWAY: To meet New York City’s need for better rapid transportation, city authorities decided to build a subway which would meet two objectives. It would not only move people about in crowded Manhattan quickly and efficiently, it would also encourage them to move out of crowded Manhattan. Subway lines were extended to vast tracts of undeveloped land in the boroughs, where new neighborhoods could be created, helping to turn a cramped island city into a sprawling metropolitan area. Construction of the first subway line began in 1900. Initially the City turned to a private firm, The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (the IRT), which was under the direction of one of the richest men in New York, the financier August Belmont. Belmont employed a work force of 7,700 men comprised mostly of Italian and Irish immigrants. Instead of boring tunnels below the ground, trenches were dug down the middle of city streets; walls and platforms were built and tracks were laid. The “trench” was then covered over with a metal lid that served as the platform on which the city stood. The laborers used this magnificent method, called “Cut and Cover”, as they meandered between

and around the jumble of pipes and conduits that powered the city. Less than four years later, the IRT was whisking New Yorkers through an underground system of over twenty miles of track. On its very first day, the IRT carried over 100,000 riders! The subway trains, traveling at close to 40 miles per hour, were much faster than trolleys (6 miles per hour) and elevated trains (12 miles per hour). Passengers liked the features of the system, including local and express service, fewer weather-related delays and the single fare they had become accustomed to on the other modes of public transit – five cents regardless of the distance they traveled. Most of the subway system we know today was built during a great burst of construction from 1913 to 1931. To encourage rapid development, the city divided subway licenses between two companies. The arrangement, which became known as the “Dual System,” gave the IRT permission to expand existing lines in Manhattan, Brooklyn and The Bronx. Later the BMT (Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation) received contracts for new lines in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens. Additional lines were added by the IND (Independent Subway System) in the 1930s, terminating many older Els which operated along the same routes above ground. In 1940, the city unified all three subway lines under public ownership. New York City Transit was created by the New York State Legislature in 1953 and came under the aegis of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority when the MTA was created in 1968. Today, the NYC subway system serves nearly five million passengers every day with 26 train lines operating on over 800 miles of track. The subway runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and connects all boroughs except Staten Island. Early plans had included expansion of the system to Staten Island, but the route was never built. Staten Islanders depend on the Staten Island Railway, which became part of the MTA in 1971; it links 22 communities across the island. New York City’s subway system is one of the busiest and most extensive subway systems in the world.

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UsingUsing thetheSubway Subway The NYC public transit system holds the distinction of being the only system in the world to run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A number or letter designates the subway routes. The subway system’s more than 5,000 cars are climate controlled and well lit. Trains run every two to five minutes during rush hours (6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.), every 7 to 10 minutes at other times of the day and every 20 minutes between midnight and 5 a.m. Every subway station entrance displays the route numbers of the subways that serve that stop. Above the tracks on the platform, you will also see signs displaying specific routes and the direction the subway travels from that specific platform. Because there is no nightly shutdown for maintenance, tracks and stations have to be maintained while the system is operating. Maintenance work is done during the overnight hours or on weekends, sometimes seamlessly, at other times requiring a rerouting of trains or, when necessary, using shuttle buses. At these times, you will hear numerous announcements and see announcement signs posted in affected stations.

functions like a specialized Debit Card. You deposit money into your account—the card—and then use it up as you travel. Up to three children under and up to 44 inches tall and can ride free on subways and buses when accompanied by one fare paying adult.

TYPES OF METROCARDS Ü Pay-Per-Ride MetroCard Buy as many rides as you want from $4 to $80. Put $7 or more on your card and receive a 15% bonus. For example, a $20 purchase gives you $23 of credit on your card— eleven trips for the price of 10, with $1 balance. Reﬁll your card to use the balance. Conditions of Use: • You get an automatic free transfer between subway and bus, or between buses. • No transfers from subway to subway or to the bus route on which you started. • No free transfers between the bus routes listed below:

PAYING THE FARE

Downtown Fifth Av and uptown Madison Av buses (M1, M2, M3, M4) Downtown Lexington Av and uptown Third Av buses (M101, M102, M103) Southbound and northbound Grand Concourse buses (Bx1 and Bx2), M27 and M50, M31 and M57, M96 and M106, Bx40 and Bx42

The MetroCard is the present payment system for the subways and buses in the New York City Transit System, which operates under a single fare system. The MetroCard

Ü Unlimited Ride MetroCard Get an unlimited number of subway and bus rides for a ﬁxed price. Choose from a 1-Day Fun Pass, a 7-Day,

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14-Day, 30-Day, with others available. Conditions of Use: • May not be used again at the same subway station or the same bus route for 18 minutes. Ü 1-Day Fun Pass – Cost: $7.50 Conditions of Use: • Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides from first use until 3 a.m. the following day. It is sold at MetroCard Vending Machines and at neighborhood stores. It is not available at station booths. Ü 7-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard – Cost: $25 Conditions of Use: • Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 7 days from day of first use. Ü 14-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard – Cost: $47 Conditions of Use: • Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight 14 days from day of first use. This card is protected against loss of theft when purchased at a vending machine with a creditor debit/ATM card. Ü 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard – Cost: $81 Conditions of Use: • Good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight 30 days from day of first use. This card is protected against loss of theft when purchased at a vending machine with a creditor debit/ATM card.

TIPS FOR USING THE MTA SUBWAY SYSTEM Ü Use our guide and detailed maps so you know which trains to take and which stations to use in order to reach your destination quickly. Ü To enter the subway stations and access the trains, you need to swipe your MetroCard at the entrance turnstile. Upon doing this, the word “Go” will appear in the electronic display, indicating you should move forward through turnstile, the electronic read-out will also display your remaining MetroCard balance. Ü After entering the subway station, follow the appropriate signs to the subway platform for train you intend to use. Pay attention to the direction the train will be traveling, uptown or downtown, for example.

Ü In most subway stations, there is a Customer Information Center bulletin board with a subway map, train schedules and information about changes in service due to construction. Many subway stations also have a station agent to answer questions and provide directions. Ü The front and side of all subway trains display the route number or letter. Local trains make every stop along the designated route, while express trains make fewer stops. The subway maps indicate express and local stops. Ü As in any major city or crowded area, avoid showing cash or your wallet in public. Keep in mind that the subways are generally very safe, however pick-pocketing can occur. Keep a ﬁrm grasp on your briefcase, purse and wallet. Never leave your belongings unattended on a bus, a subway, or in a subway station.

OTHER NOTABLE FACTS Ü Globe Lamps: At the entrance to most of the system’s subway stations there are lampposts topped with a 2-tone colored spherical globe, one half being white. The color system uses green lamps to indicate 24-hour entrances while red lamps indicate limited hours of access. Ü Artwork: Many stations are decorated with intricate ceramic tile work, some of it dating back to 1904 when the subway ﬁrst opened for business. The subway tile artwork tradition continues today, a beautiful example of which can be found at the Broadway and West 86th St IRT Broadway line #1 stop. The Arts for Transit program oversees art in the subway system. Permanent installations, such as sculpture, mosaics and murals are as abundant as are talented musicians performing in stations. There are also commissioned posters on display in various stations. “Art cards”, some displaying poetry, are in many of the trains themselves, in unused advertisement ﬁxture slots. Some of the art is by internationally known artists, David Hockney being the most popular. Finally, if you need directions or assistance while riding the subway, consider asking a New Yorker. Most people will be more than happy to oblige.

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2 9 1

5 3 10

Now just how complete would a trip to New York City be without taking an easy ride to 59th Street-Columbus Circle? The subway line which runs beneath this landmark was completed in 1904 while the station went through a major renovation in 1934, connecting the No. 1 and 2 lines to the A, B, C and D, making this one of the city’s biggest subway hubs. Back in 1904, you could not easily transfer from the numbered trains to the lettered trains, as they were owned by diﬀerent private companies. Today, you can weave your way, seamlessly in and out of all the trains and grab a seat in the climate controlled cars as you merrily ride to your destination. Walking the passageways, make sure to take note of the original artwork (Whirls and Twirls) by conceptual artist, Sol 14

LeWitt. As native New Yorkers know, this destination is in the heart one of the city’s trendiest areas. Who would have guessed, back in 1492, that Christopher Columbus’s transatlantic exploits would land him on a pedestal at the lower reaches of the fashionable West Side? (Which stretches north from Columbus Circle to 110th Street, between Central Park and the Hudson River). Columbus Circle is a large-scale monument to this Spanish adventurer—the 70-foot granite rostral column is adorned with bronze reliefs of his three ships, the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria. In 2005, new fountains, wooden benches and the beautiful greenery that surrounds the monument were completed. It is said that when you are inside the circle, all

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your worries fade away as you listen to the sounds of the water cascading in the fountain. We will let you be the judge of that. Depending on when you are in New York, you may be able to celebrate Columbus Day in true New York style, by attending the fabulous Columbus Day Parade which takes place the second Monday in October. While the Parade starts at 44th street and moves north on Fifth Avenue to 79th Street, there is also a ceremonial wreath laying at Columbus Circle. NYC’s Columbus Day Parade is the largest Columbus Day celebration in the world complete with breath-taking ﬂoats, extraordinary costumes and wonderful music. On any given day, intriguing scenery, both natural and man made, awaits, as you allow your gaze to fall upon the colossal Time Warner Center complex, an 80-story multiuse skyscraper and one of the newest landmarks to join our skyline. The reﬂection of Central Park and the statue of Columbus on the glass frontage of the building will not only take your breath away, but will remind you that in New York, it’s all about being fabulous. A few gems we call the “Restaurant Collection” found inside this building will leave your taste buds in ecstasy; whether

you’re in the mood for a Steakhouse, Japanese, French, or a large brasserie with an Eastern European flavor, the star chefs will help you discover just why you had to stop by. As you walk the halls your inner shopaholic can indulge its desires, in shops like Coach, Armani Exchange, Aveda, and Dean & Deluca, just to name a few. The Millenia Fine Art collection on the 4th floor also has captivating art pieces featured throughout the Time Warner Center. There’s no doubt that you’ll find something to please your shopper’s soul. When you think of a park, you think of greenery, a shrub, maybe a tree here or there. But when New York set out to construct our version of a park, our forerunners went allout and the end result is the iconic Central Park. Frederic Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux’s design, called ‘the Greensward Plan’ was selected in 1857 and marked the park’s beginnings. At Columbus Circle, is the southwest entrance to the park, inviting you to come and walk inside. But even as you stand in the Circle you can marvel at the many activities happening all around you. From a romantic ride in a horse-drawn carriage or a bicycle rickshaw, a rented bicycle or even a pair of in-line-skates, you’ll find

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yourself faced with the myriad of options with which to explore the park. What better way to view New York than to take a romantic ride on a horse-drawn carriage? These old fashioned carriages can be found year round parked on Central park South, waiting to give you the opportunity to enjoy a sweet summer breeze or to snuggle up with a wool blanket to keep out the winter chill. And while on this delightful and picturesque ride, your driver will offer you some homespun insights making your ride both pleasurable and enlightening. Facing the corner of Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, known also as Grand Army Plaza, the Plaza Hotel, with its 282 luxurious guest rooms and 102 spacious suites, proudly keeps up tradition while introducing new luxurious features. Home to “Eloise”, the mythical heroine of the bestselling children’s books by Kay Thompson, with its legendary ambiance, the white glove service it offers—an elite group of white-gloved butlers with one stationed at every floor, this impeccable landmark offers you every pampering detail. Indulge in The Plaza’s glamorous lifestyle by taking High Tea at the Palm Court or having an unforgettable meal in the Oak Room. You won’t be sorry you did. If you are a fan of great music, you are already familiar with Carnegie Hall. Named

after Andrew Carnegie, a major contributor to its construction, it opened its doors in 1891 with a concert featuring the music of Tchaikovsky. To protect it for future generations, in 1964 it was declared a national historic landmark. This world famous concert hall, has presented almost every musical legend since its opening, including the Beatles. Ah, the sights, the shopping, the—wait, something’s missing. What about the food? For delectable dishes, ride to the 35th floor at the Mandarin Hotel and head into the decadent Asiate, 80 Columbus Circle (at 60th) for some of the City’s most talked about fusion experiences. Challenge your taste buds as you try savory dishes with a trendy French-Japanese vibe, and you’ll understand why New York is known as a city of distinct flavors. Okay, let’s be honest for a second. Has your New York adventure left you a bit tired? Do you have more pep but it’s pooped and it needs a little jolt? Head over to Yelo, a true New York destination, where you’ll find new wellness products for sale. This posh shop, at 315 W 57th St, welcomes your tired, your poor, you scrunched-up feet and offers you a luxurious aromatherapy-infused nap inside one of their stylish pods which will restore your senses and revive your spirits.

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Before you head back to the subway for your next destination, make sure you check out these other New York City gems, as they sparkle, waiting for your attention. • The Maine Monument 1 designed in 1901, at the entrance to Central Park, it was created to commemorate the 260 brave men who lost their lives when the battleship Maine sank in Havana Harbor in 1898. • Central Park Tours and Rentals 2 2 hr tour of Central Park for $30 includes bike rental available without guide – 20/2hr or $35/day. Located Columbus Circle, also at Lincoln Center (Corner of 59th/CPW for more info: 212.541.8759). Have a romantic time while riding in a horse-drawn carriage through the city. Estimated Cost (not including tip): $34 for the first 20 minutes and $10 for each additional 15 minutes. • Catch an insider’s view of Carnegie Hall 3 57th Street just east of 7th Avenue, by taking a tour, but make sure you’ve got plenty of memory in your digital camera, because being inside this historical monument will surely awaken the aspiring photographer in you. • The newly opened Museum of Arts and Design 4 at 2 Columbus Circle is a vibrant and engaging cultural center like no other institution in the city. The Museum also has a 155-seat auditorium and a ninth floor restaurant with sweeping views of Central Park. • Located at 150 West 57th Street between Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Tower is the Russian Tea Room 5 Opened in 1927 by former members of the Russian Imperial Ballet as a gathering place for Russian expatriates, it has withstood the test of time as one of NYC’s landmark restaurants. • Don’t rush off before taking a stroll through the Museum of Biblical Art (MOBIA) 6 where you will marvel at the relationships between art, religion and the Bible. The museum is at 1865 Broadway at 61 Street. • New York Society for Ethical Culture 7 at 2 W. 64th Street houses an 800-seat Auditorium, a favorite of musical groups because of its warm, full acoustics. A calendar of events is available in the lobby and on-line • The current façade of Roosevelt Hospital 8 was built in 1993. Along with being a full-service community and tertiary care hospital, it’s also an academic center with a wide range of residencies and fellowships. (10th Ave and 59th Street) • Make sure to stumble upon the Trump International Hotel and Tower 9 where two friendly doormen are ready to open the doors and let you inside to indulge in the atmosphere. You’ll recognize the building by its signature silver globe stratgically placed in front. (One Central Park West Near the intersection of Central Park West and Columbus Circle) • In the summer you may want to take advantage of free kayaking at the foot of the Hudson River Park 10 at 56th Street, Pier 96. Who knew the scenic waters of the Hudson could be so calming?

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New York City is a story that never ends. Millions of lives in a city that hustles and bustles its way to the top paint a colorful picture of diverse cultures, ﬁne food, fascinating history, and sights galore. And, 72nd Street and Broadway is the perfect place to experience that story for yourself. Whether you’re seeking amazing architecture and historic buildings or trendy restaurants and shopping, you’re bound to ﬁnd the at 72nd and Broadway, the crown jewel of the Upper West Side. Begin your trip to this breathtaking neighborhood by catching the 1, 2, or 3 train from wherever you may be to the 72nd Street station. Commonly called ‘7th Avenue line’, this train traverses the entire West Side of Manhattan. 72nd Street is both an express 20

and local station, so both trains stop at this hub of commerce and culture. As you exit from the station, you’ll notice something unusual. Unlike most stations, 72nd Street and Broadway sports 2 grand kiosks as entryways, both on islands in the middle of the intersection of Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. This wasn’t always the case. When the station opened in 1904, it featured just one entrance between 71st and 72nd street. But this conﬁguration didn’t allow passengers to change from the uptown to the downtown tracks, and had very narrow stairways. Some years ago the station was revamped to include a second kiosk, along with a crossover between tracks. Once you step out of the kiosk, you’ll ﬁnd yourself in the middle of Broadway –

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literally. The station sits on an island in the middle of this bustling thoroughfare, while the more recent kiosk is in Verdi Square, which features park-style seating and a newspaper stand. Verdi “Square” is actually a triangle. The so-called square’s centerpiece is a large statue celebrating the great Italian opera composer, Giuseppe Verdi, whose famous operas include Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Otello. But don’t start singing arias yet – your adventure has just begun! Head north along Broadway to admire one of New York’s most beautiful examples of Beaux-Arts architecture: the Ansonia. You’ll immediately recognize its majestic façade, which rises imperially from the corner of Broadway and 73rd. This palatial structure was completed in 1904 and originally served as one of New York’s ﬁnest residential hotels – and home to more than a few celebrities. As you pass through the stately archways that curve above the entrance to this landmark, you’ll enjoy the same experience as legends like baseball great Babe Ruth, composer Igor Stravinsky, novelist Theodore Dreiser, and maﬁa headman Arnold Rothstein, who were all attracted to the residence’s monumental apartments. Craving some present-day hype? The building is a

favorite set for many ﬁlmmakers, and ﬁlms like Single White Female, The Sunshine Boys, Perfect Stranger and many others all feature the Ansonia prominently. The Ansonia isn’t the only bit of history you’ll come across on your visit to this gem of a neighborhood. If you’ve ever heard of the Beatles (and who hasn’t?) you’ll want to pay a visit to The Dakota Building, as well as nearby Strawberry Fields. The Dakota rises from the northwest corner of 72nd Street at Central Park West, and features highly displayed gables and peaked roofs reminiscent of a North German Renaissance town hall. But architecture is usually the last thing on visitors’ minds when they come to view this landmark, which is most famous for housing cherished Beatles member John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono. The entrance to the building is the site of Lennon’s assassination on December 8, 1980. The event shook the world, and just minutes after the shooting, crowds gathered in front of the Daokta to sing, chant and pray in commemoration of one of modern history’s greatest icons. Five years after the devastating event, Strawberry Fields was dedicated. It is in Central Park, across from the Dakota. Named after one of the Beatles’ most famous Dakota Building

STATION BUZZ NEW YORK – SPRING 2009 | www.stationbuzz-newyork.com

songs, the monument pays tribute to the great Beatle who met his fate just a few feet away. The memorial is on a triangle-shaped plot of the park, and features a centerpiece of a circular mosaic of inlaid stones. At the center of the circle can be seen the sole word ‘Imagine’, reminding us of Lennon’s most well-known song and his philosophy of peace. Every day, people lay flowers on the circle to honor the beloved Beatle, and once a year on the anniversary of the assassination, Yoko Ono pays a visit to the memorial. After paying tribute to one of modern history’s great figures, why not lighten the mood and please your palate with a trip to The Boathouse Restaurant in Central Park? You’ll find the boathouse conveniently at the northeastern tip of The Lake, a large body of water which spans the west side of the park from 70th to 77th. The Boathouse Restaurant is where nature and nourishment convene in New York, here you can feast on savory menu items like grilled shrimp, chicken or crab cakes while enjoying one of the park’s most idyllic settings. After your meal, don’t miss the Boathouse’s other allure: rent a rowboat or take to the lake in a real Venetian gondola for a stomach-settling taste of New York’s most beautiful location. Of course, if you prefer your cuisine in the city, you’ve got plenty of options. And to make it even easier, Amsterdam Avenue, which runs parallel to Broadway north of

72nd Street is a smorgasbord of some of the city’s hottest restaurants. Here, you’ll find one-of-a-kind delights like Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto, whose main attraction is authentic Italian prosciutto. The people who run this unique restaurant are experts on Italy’s finest meats, and with over 15 different varieties of the delicacy, you’re sure to find one to please. Your taste buds will marvel as Chef Cesare Casallo brings his authentic Italian flair to the table, and the knowledgeable and passionate employees at this trendy establishment are ready with answers to all your questions. If you’d like to travel a more Eastern route to satisfaction, head up Amsterdam to Fusha, where pan-Asian cuisine awaits you in splendor. Inspirations for the cuisine here include Japanese, Thai, Malaysian, Chinese, and Vietnamese food, and menu items run from traditional Asian entrees like Fruity Crispy Duck and Honey Glazed Walnut Chicken to more adventurous dishes – for a jolt of Eastern excellence, be bold and try the Char-Grilled Sake-Miso Chilean Sea Bass. Of course, no pan-Asian restaurant is complete without its own full-service sushi bar. But the experience at Fusha doesn’t end with the food: from the moment you step into this classy restaurant, you’re virtually transported into a Chinese palace, the ornate wall carvings, fauxstone facades, and an aquarium all add to a distinctive experience.

• The Ansonia, 2109 Broadway. For lush architecture, New York history, and a healthy dose of celebrity. • The Dakota, between 72nd and 73rd Streets at Central Park West. John Lennon fans and Beatles admirers will appreciate this place of lore. • Strawberry Fields, in Central Park oﬀ 72nd Street. To pay tribute to the great, late John Lennon, see this memorial, which Yoko Ono visits every anniversary of Lennon’s death. • The Boathouse Restaurant, Northeastern tip of The Lake in Central Park, (212) 5172233. For posh dining in a green environment, and to don oars on New York’s favorite lake. • Salumeri Rosi Parmacotto, 283 Amsterdam Avenue, (212) 877-4800. For an authentic Italian experience, and anyone who’s ever been curious about prosciutto. • Fusha, 311 Amsterdam Avenue, (212) 877-9300. Experience pan-Asian cuisine in its fullest form.

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