THE SIX NEW YORK CLASSICS
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
This building is still worth checking out, and is these days with its
102 floors, the tallest building in town and of course King Kong's
main hang out. It is worth the wait and the security checks to finally
get to the top and see the city skyline and learn more about its
history and architecture, with or without a blond girl in a tight fist.
Some interesting notes are that it is here the the lead singer of
mid-90's Danish rock band "Bush Pilots" got shot in the head on the
observatory deck one week, and the next another danish artists showed
his Holden Caulfield inspired shots called "Catcher in the Eye" with
accompanying fashion show and transvestites.
CENTRAL PARK
Once you are in the heart of the park, it is strange to realize that
you are in the middle of the city. A suggestion is to take the subway
up to East 86th street and walk all the way down through the park.
There are endless things to see and experience. However, you can not
visit Central Park without going by HC Andersen by the Conservatory
Water by East 74th Street. This is the same water pond where Woody
Allen is taking a walk with Diane Keaton in Annie Hall and where old
men play with little handcrafted remote-controlled sailboats.
Then there is the IMAGINE memorial by Strawberry Fields, created by Yoko Ono in memory of
John Lennon and the not so exiting Zoo with very few animals, but that
was the inspiration for the brilliant kids movie Madagascar. There is
also a piece of Egypt in Central Park. It is a three and a half
thousand year old obelisk and was given to New York in the 1880's as
a "thank you" for America's help building the Suez Canal. It is 70
feet tall and weighs 200 tons, places right behind The Metropolitan
Museum on a little hill. Cleopatra's Needle, or the Central Park
obelisk. The obelisk was originally one of two standing in the Ancient
Egyptian city of Iwnw, otherwise known as On in the Bible and
Heliopolis, the name the Greeks later gave it, meaning city of the
sun. Its twin, also called Cleopatra's Needle, now stands on Victoria
Embankment on the River Thames in London. The Central Park obelisk
sits atop several sealed lead boxes containing "time capsule" items
from the late 19th century such as a copy of the Declaration of
Independence, a set of military medals, the complete works of
Shakespeare, coins, a hydraulic pump, a guide to Egypt and Masonic
emblems.
BROOKLYN BRIDGE
The walk over Brooklyn bridge from Manhattan and back might sound
rather boring, but it's not. If you make the destination Brooklyn
Heights that is also the setting of many of Paul Austers books and
Bob Dylan's song "Tangled up in Blue", or a visit to the charming Danish
Seaman's Church (for a re-load of liquorice or curry herring), the
Promenade with the best view of Manhattan downtown, or one of the
classic diners in the neighborhood.
If you are more into art, you can pop by one of the galleries in
DUMBO, that is short for "Down Under Manhattan Brooklyn Overpass".
CONEY ISLAND
The name came from the Dutch who called the area Konijn Eiland (rabbit
Island) back in the days. In the beginning of the 20th century it soon
became New York's main day trip resort with a wonderful beach,
amusement park and world famous freak shows. Several movies take place
in Coney Island, such as Requiem for a Dream, The Warriors and He Got
Game. Woody Allen has of course also used Coney Island in several of
his films, but most memorable was when he as Alvy Singer lived
underneath the rollercoaster as a kid in Annie Hall. One can not go to
Coney Island without dipping the toes in the water and have a
Nathans's hotdog. You might
remember the Seinfeld episode where they go to Coney Island just to
have a Nathan's hotdog, as it is something extraordinary. It is also
here the world hotdog eating contest takes place every year. It is
also important to mention Lou Reed's album Coney Island Baby, along
with Coney Island being mentioned in songs by The Ramones, Velvet
Underground, Tom Waits, David Bowie and even recently Franz Ferdinand.
GRAND CENTRAL STATION
The above images is of the constallations in the ceilings, and the red dots are balloons
Grand Central Station is the main connection-point of all
transportation in New York City. There are several great stories and
myths about the building and its architecture. The best might be the
Main Concourse's elaborately decorated astronomical
ceiling. There are two peculiarities to this ceiling: the sky is
backwards, and the stars are slightly displaced. One explanation is
that the ceiling is based on a medieval manuscript, which visualized
the sky as it would look from outside the celestial sphere, or "as
seen from God": this is why the constellations are backwards. The
other interesting thing is a small dark circle in the
midst of the stars right above the image of Pisces. In a 1957 attempt
to counteract feelings of insecurity spawned by the Soviet launch of
Sputnik, Grand Centrals Main Concourse played host to an American
Redstone missile. With no other way of erecting the missile, the hole
had to be cut in order to lift it into place.
The "whispering gallery" is located on the dining concourse near the
famous Oyster Bar & Restaurant. Here, the acoustics of the low ceramic
arches can cause a whisper to sound like a shout. Check it out; you
and a friend will have to stand in opposite corners of the large
arched entryway. Now face the corner and whisper.
Your friend should be able to hear your voice as if you were right
next to them, not whispering into a far-away corner. According to
experts, this happens because the whisperer's voice follows the curve
of the domed ceiling. The Whispering Gallery is a popular spot for
marriage proposals and dirty little secrets. The Grand Central Station
is also the main entrance to the city underneath Manhattan inhabited
by thousands of so called "mole people".
STATUE OF LIBERTY
"You Maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!"
Charlton Heston gives a performance of a life time (2nd place to the
one in Fahrenheit 911) when he in the final scene rides up
to The Statue of Liberty on the beach in the lovely film "Planet of
the Apes" from 1968.
She was the first thing that greeted the immigrants to America when
they arrived to New York from Europe and was a gift from France in
1886. Designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel who of course also designed the
Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Statue of Liberty functioned as an actual
lighthouse from 1886 to 1902 and has undergone several restorations to
have people from all over the world penetrate her body daily.
One takes a boat from Battery Park on lower west side of Manhattan to
get out to the Liberty Island. There are often very long lines to walk
up the 354 steps inside of the Lady with the torch, but it is worth
the wait and crowds once you are up there.
If you hate lines and tourists: take the Staten Island Ferry back and
forth to get a good look at her from a nice distance and have a
relaxing time without too many tourists, but tasty hotdogs.
Some Essential New York Experiences
THE CIRCLE LINE BOAT RIDE
It is expensive, the lines are long and you will be crammed together
with tourists but the guides talking about the island of Manhattan are
very entertaining. You will get an idea how the city is organized, in
uptown, downtown, west side, east side, etc. It is suggested to take
this trip in the beginning of your visit, so it will be easier to
navigate the city by foot, cab or subway for your inner compass. Or go
on the Staten Island Ferry, without the guide but with the tribal folk
of Staten Island.
THE FLAT IRON BUILDING
It is the first "sky scraper" in Manhattan, built with a steel construction and was completed in 1902.
It sits on a triangular island block at 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue and Broadway, facing Madison Square
& Park, an obelisk and the Empire State Building.
There is a small triangular Island in front of it that is worth a visit. It is said that this triangle is the main energy center of the city.
STATEN ISLAND FERRY
A trip to Staten Island and back is the best spent money you can
experience in Manhattan. There are intimidating Homeland Security
Guards with machine guns and killer dogs, people who seem very normal,
a pretty cool boat, tasty hotdogs and even beer with a view over the
skyline of Manhattan and a good glance at The Satue of Liberty rather
close up. Without the lines and tourists.
WEST 25TH STREET OOUTDOOR FLEA MARKET
Every weekend the fleamarket that used to inhabit several parkinglots
on 6th Avenue from 24th Street to 27th Street (now turned into condos)
is open for action. Here you can find all kinds of high end fleamarket
curiosities, from clothing to antiques. It's expensive, but it is
possible to make good finds, if you know what to look for.
LONG ISLAND CITY
Just take the 7 or E train and you arrive in Queens. There is not
much to see other than PS1 that is the most contemporary of the larger
art institutions in the New York area. It hosts both a solid permanent
collection and a always changing internationally important
exhibitions. In the summertime they hold Warm-Up dance parties in the
courtyard with the cream of the international dj and chill-out live
acts. There is also the best and biggest area for graffiti under the
railway bridge close to the Court Square Diner where you can eat one
of New York's best tuna melts, served by a greek waiter, in small booths that
used to have their own private juke box.
THE CHELSEA PIERS
If you need to work on that hook or go for a good jog, go to th Chelsea Piers. They are under total renovation to serve the city as a fully fledged recreational area for the many new young families of Manhattan.
WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK
This park is often shown in movies about chess. In south west corner
of the park you will find many tables with professional chess players
and hustlers. It is worth the experience--if you have any idea of how
chess works--to play a game with one of these gentlemen. In the middle
of the park there is a huge fountain, that when its is not filled with
water also functions as a stage for street performance artists. The
Washington Square Arch looks alot like the one in Paris, and it was
through this arch one could see the World Trade Center when
Sally and Harry first interacted in a key scene in the film with similar name.
It lies in the center of New York University Campus so the surrounding
areas has several good restaurants and cafes with healthy food at
reasonable prices.
THE CHELSEA HOTEL
Even if you do not choose to live at The Chelsea Hotel during your
stay in New York, it is worth the visit. The architecture of the
building and the connecting establishments are all interesting, as
well as the hidden club in the basement. There is a small art
installation in the lobby of the hotel that was part of the payment
from the different artists living more or less permanently in the hotel
over the years. Bob Dylan composed songs while staying at the Chelsea,
poets Allen Ginsberg and Gregory Corso chose it as a place for
philosophical and intellectual exchange and also where Sid Vicious of
the Sex Pistols lived for a while with Nancy Spungen. It was also
here Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Oddyssey while in residence.
Andy Warhol's "Chelsea Girls" took place there, because most of the
people connected to Warhol in the 60's lived at the hotel so it was a
practical location.
NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
The flagship New York public library building, on
Fifth Avenue running from 40th to 42nd
Street in Manhattan,
is a National Historic Landmark. Other than having
great classic facade with two guarding lions, it is also very
impressive and worth checking out on the inside . It is connected to
Bryant Park towards 6th Avenue that in
the summer hosts open air outdoor film screenings and concerts on the
large grass lawn also perfect for evening picknics.
It was here the kids in "The Day After Tomorrow"
were keeping warm waiting for the father figure to come and save them
and the ghosts in Ghost Busters was haunting the librarians.