Iwalked New York City’s Bloomingdale’s

Iwalked New York City’s Bloomingdale’s - When one thinks of shopping in New York City, one name immediately pops to the forefront of most individual’s minds—Bloomingdale’s. With seven and a half stories of retail space to conquer, it’s no wonder that even Queen Elizabeth II made it a pit stop on her list of “to-do’s” during a visit in 1976.

Bloomingdale’s

Bloomingdale’s began in 1872 when two brothers named Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale began selling hoop skirts in a small row house located at 938 Third Avenue. In a time when most retailers were only selling one specialty item, the brothers Bloomingdale were so bold as to begin to carry other items as well. This was one of the first instances of a true department store as we know it today.

In the store’s earliest days it thrived on an image of bargain prices. This image maintained until the 1970’s when “Bloomies” became a name associated with the finer things in life. Suddenly shoppers could buy branded underwear with the name “Bloomies” etched on it to show their own sophistication. Riding the tide of the spend thrifty 1980’s, the retail giant underwent a dramatic expansion.

Fast forward to the next decade (January 1990 to be specific) and Bloomingdale’s suddenly found itself facing enormous amounts of debt. The company had to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy and was eventually acquired by Macy’s which still owns the chain.

Bloomingdale’s iconic image has been featured in numerous high profile movies. In the 1984 Tom Hanks film, Splash, Darrell Hannah’s piercing mermaid voice destroys a series of televisions in the store. More recently (2001), John Cusack romanced Kate Beckinsale at the glove counter in Serendipity.

• Website: http://www.bloomingdales.com/
• Address: 1000 Third Avenue, New York City
• Cost: Free to view…once inside, it’s up to you.

Iwalked New York City’s Chrysler Building

Iwalked New York City’s Chrysler Building - The Chrysler Building is to New York City what the Eiffel Tower is Paris or Big Ben is to London. It is truly the single piece of architecture that most individuals have come to associate with New York…and for good reason. After all, fans of the 1978 musical film The Wiz, will recall, it was images of the Chrysler Building depicted along the yellow brick road…not the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center.

Chrysler Building

The Chrysler Building stands 1,046 feet from street level to its Art Deco spire. (The spire itself is 185-feet tall.) It is constructed of a ribbed stainless-steel and contains ornamentation throughout that symbolizes the automobile manufacturer for which it is named. For instance on the building’s 59th floor there are gargoyles shaped like hubcaps, eagles on the 61st floor (as depicted on the hood ornament of a 1929 Chrysler Plymouth), and the spire is meant to evoke images of a car’s radiator grill.

The inspiration for the Chrysler Building began as the vision of Walter Percy Chrysler, the famed automobile manufacturer. In 1928 he hired New York architect William Van Alen to construct him what would be the world’s tallest building, surpassing the 792-foot Woolworth Building. His instructions to Val Alen specifically stated that he wanted the world’s highest toilet so he could look down and “shit on Henry Ford and the rest of the world.” The site selected was the former locale of the city’s largest beer-maker, the Bloomingdale Brewery.

Construction on the structure began on September 19, 1928. Meanwhile across town, one of Van Alen’s former partners whom he had had a falling out with, Craig Severance, had similarly entered into contract to erect the world’s largest building. Severance’s client, the Manhattan Company, began construction on their skyscraper around the same time at 40 Wall Street (a locale we visit on our Lower Manhattan tour).

Over the ensuing months, Val Alen and Severance raced to not only complete their structures first, but also ensure they were not outdone by the other. Each made multiple modifications to their original plans as rumors leaked on their rival’s approach. At one point when while feeling backed into a corner and running out of ideas, Van Alen was chastised by his employer who threw automobile metaphors at him for supposed inspiration. Chrsyler challenged Van Alen by stating that, “Your values need grinding,” and to “Speed up you carburetor.”

Van Alen was apparently up to the task as progress proceeded on the Chrysler Building at an incredible pace. The building was built at a rate of approximately four stories per week and completed in just twenty months. Up to 3,000 workers were actively engaged on the building’s construction at one point. Their efforts included laying approximately 3,826,000 bricks and applying some 400,000 rivets.

During the building’s final stages (literally in the month before its unveiling), unknown to Severance and the rest of the world, Van Alen had begun construction on a secret spire that would ensure his building would receive the title of world’s tallest building upon completion. The spire was actually assembled into four discrete sections within the fire shaft of the Chrysler Building to ensure its secrecy. When the spire was ready to be hoisted atop the 66th story on October 23, 1929, crews worked feverishly to install it within just ninety minutes! Upon its installation, the Chrysler Building’s spire officially ensured its height exceeded 40 Wall Street by 121 feet.

Unfortunately just eleven months later, the Empire State Building would surpass both buildings by more than 200 feet in 1931. Currently the Chrysler Building is tied for third amongst tallest structures within the city. A title it shares with the New York Times Building and two positions behind the Empire State Building and the Bank of America Tower. Upon completion of One World Trade Center, each of these structures will fall one place in their respective positions.

As for our hero Mr. Val Alen, despite having succeeded in not only creating the tallest building in the world and one of the most iconic structures of the 20th Century, he never again undertook a significant project after the Chrysler Building. Val Alen’s professional reputation reportedly took a bit of a hit when he sued his former employer, Mr. Chrsyler for not paying his commission of approximately $840,000 after having failed to enter into a formal agreement prior to commencement of the project. While Van Alen did win his day in court, he was virtually ostracized and relegated to teaching for the remainder of his days.

Meanwhile, Walter Chrysler’s $14 million investment remained within the Chrysler family until 1953 when they sold their interest in the property. While the Chrysler Corporation maintained headquarters within the facility from 1930 until the 1950s, it was never owned any rights in the building. Walter had financed the entire project himself as a family investment for his children. Today the Chrysler Building is 90% owned by the Abu Dhabi Investment Council.

• Website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/wonder/structure/chrysler.html


• Address: 405 Lexington Avenue, New York City, NY


• Cost: Free

Iwalked New York City’s Stone Street

Iwalked New York City’s Stone Street - Stone Street is probably my favorite stretch of Lower Manhattan and if you choose to visit this site I’m sure you’ll see why. This narrow, cobblestone path was developed by the Dutch in 1656. In addition to the low-rise architecture you will also get swept back in time via other dated elements such as the old street lamps dotted along the street. Originally many of these buildings in this area were home to brewers and dry-goods merchants.

Stone Street

Its proud name served as a gentle reminder that this was the first paved path in all of New York. It originated under the name of High Street before the English changed it to Duke Street and finally settling on Stone Street in 1794.

If you looked at a map of this area you will notice that there are actually two separate stretches of Stone Street. The street was split as part of the construction of the Goldman Sachs building at 85 Broad Street in the 1980s.
Many of the existing Greek-Revival buildings are replacement structures from the originals which existed in this area. Nearly all of the houses along this row were built immediately following the Great Fire of 1835 (in 1836) and served as counting houses. Nowadays they serve as popular restaurants and pubs. Unfortunately not even the stone on which you are currently walking is per the original path, as these stones have also had to undergo replacement.

• Website: http://www.forgotten-ny.com/Alleys/stonestreet/stone.html
• Address: Stone Street, New York City, NY
• Cost: Free to visit. Pubs and restaurants are not.

Iwalked New York City’s Riverside Park

Iwalked New York City’s Riverside Park - I personally think of Riverside Park as Central Park’s bastardized twin in the sense that it is every bit as elegant however, receives none of the same recognition as its peer. Although it is a bit narrower, Riverside Park is longer and stretches for four miles along the Hudson River from West 72nd Street to 158th Street (versus Central Park’s 2.5 mile stretch from 59th Street to 110th).

Riverside Park

Ironically the initial idea and proposal for Riverside Park even came from the same man who designed Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted. Olmsted provided his plans to the city in 1875 and construction began on the park five years later. The upper terrace section and the picturesque street with which it runs parallel (Riverside Drive) were actually both a part of Olmsted’s original design.

Overall the park contains three terraced levels including a promenade. These lower levels are perhaps the most frequented due to their trails along the Hudson River. In all, one hundred thirty-four acres of space was added in 1937-1941 based upon designs provided by Gillmore D. Clarke and Clinton Lloyd.

• Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverside_Park_(Manhattan)
• Address: Riverside Park, New York City
• Cost: Free

Iwalked New York City’s Waverly Inn

Iwalked New York City’s Waverly Inn - One only needs to stroll through the once bohemian neighborhood of the Village to really understand how much it has really changed. This change is clearly illustrated via the uber trendy Waverly Inn located on Bank Street. On any given day you can find celebrities coming in and out of this locale to enjoy assumingly top end hamburgers priced at $20+. How do “you” get in? Well, good luck with that. One thing is for certain, you won’t be calling for a reservation any time soon as the Waverly does not claim to have a phone, or at least publish one, apparently adding to its mystique.

Waverly Inn

A mystique that is further heightened by its refusal to allow for any media to take photographs of its interior. Within the Waverly its ambience is said to be a dimly lit room decorated with various knick-knacks such as old book volumes and historical photos. Along the dining room is also a mural painted by artist Edward Sorel. Depicted within the mural are 43 famous figures from the Village’s past such as Jack Kerourac, Walt Whitman, Dylan Thomas, and Bob Dylan. Edward Sorel, if you are unfamiliar, is a noted artist whose work often frequents The New Yorker magazine.

The Waverly has been around in various forms since 1920 and currently resides within a building at 16 Bank Street which dates back to 1844. Through the years the site of the Waverly has been home to a variety of businesses including a tavern, bordello, and carriage house before taking on its present form.

One guest who has managed access to the Waverly and has actually taken up residence is the ghost said to frequent the former smoking room in Room 16. This mischievous waistcoat-cloaked spirit has been known for its critical eye for furniture placement as it seems to have a taste for moving items within the room rather frequently. The tenant ghost does have the presence to take care of its space though as demonstrated via a fire which occurred at the Waverly a few days before Christmas in 1997. The Waverly faced substantial damage from the fire, less this one room, which appeared nearly unharmed.

Website: http://nymag.com/listings/restaurant/the-waverly-inn/
Address: 16 Bank Street, New York City
Cost: Free to walk past and stalk celebrities. Food/drinks inside are not.
Hours: Sun-Mon 6pm-11:45pm; Tue-Sat 6pm-12:45am

Iwalked New York City’s Former Home Of Thomas Jefferson

Iwalked New York City’s Former Home Of Thomas Jefferson - Thomas Jefferson only called New York City his home for a rather short period lasting six months in total (March-September 1790). During this time he served as the Secretary of State under newly appointed President George Washington.

Thomas Jefferson

His first residence during this period was a small space rented for one hundred pounds a year from two grocers by the names of Robert and Peter Bruce at 3 Front Street. He voiced his displeasure at the availability of space during this time in a letter to his daughter Martha in which he was quoted as, “I find it difficult to procure a tolerable house here.” He remained here a very short period of time as he later moved to a locale on Broadway before “settling” for a small home at 57 Maiden Lane in June.

It was here that perhaps one of the most significant negotiations in the history of our young nation occurred. Intent on moving our Nation’s capitol Jefferson organized a dinner with his friend James Madison to convince the one man who held sufficient sway within Congress to potentially block such a proposal—Alexander Hamilton. Jefferson’s opposition to New York was not only based upon its cramped quarters but also largely due to his distaste for its largest proponent, Mr. Hamilton.

On June 20, 1790 Jefferson and Madison concocted a careful negotiation to ensure both parties achieved their ultimate objective. Jefferson and Madison wanted to move the nations Capitol south and Hamilton, at the time, was actively promoting the creation of a national bank. With both parties holding such significant power to block either initiative the two sides agreed to at least not impede the vote on the other. This dinner agreement was later known to history as the derivation of the Compromise of 1790. Hamilton ultimately achieved his National Bank via a charter approved on February 25, 1791. And Jefferson received his wish to move the nation’s headquarters to a space along the Potomac after a temporary 10 year residency in Philadelphia.

In reference to Mr. Jefferson’s New York residency, upon his successful negotiations in June, he planned his return home to Virginia. By September he had moved out of 57 Maiden Lane.

• Website: http://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/new-york-city


• Address: 57 Maiden Lane, New York City, NY


• Cost: Free

Iwalked New York City Former Twin Towers

Iwalked New York City's Former Twin Towers - Some four hundred fifty companies were previously headquartered within the seven building complex of the original World Trade Center (WTC). The two most noted buildings were, of course, 1 WTC and 2 WTC or also referred to as Towers 1 and 2, or the Twin Towers. Upon completion of the one hundred ten storied twin towers in 1970-1971 they stood as the tallest buildings in the world before being surpassed by Chicago’s Sears Tower in 1973.

Twin Towers

At 8:46 am on September 11, 2001 the north tower was hit by a hijacked airliner, American Airlines Flight 11, originally having departed from Boston. The airplane impacted at the 93rd floor. Shortly thereafter at 9:05 a.m. a second plane, United Flight 175, also from Boston, struck the south tower between the 77th and 85th floors. 7 WTC collapsed later in the day at 5:20 p.m. While the remaining buildings in complex remained standing they would be required to be demolished due to the substantial amount of damage undertaken.

The official death toll was recently restated as 2,751 in 2009 after a long missing doctor was added to toll following a study which concluded no other explanation for his disappearance. Of those who perished three hundred forty-three were NYC Fire Department firefights and twenty-three were NYC police department officers.

Iwalked New York City’s Avery Fisher Hall

Iwalked New York City’s Avery Fisher Hall - Avery Fisher Hall opened as Philharmonic Hall on September 23, 1962. It was designed by the firm of Harrsion & Abramovitz with the consulting of audio specialists Bolt, Beranek and Newman. Per the advice of Bolt, Beranek and Newman the original designs consisted of a narrow rectangular design similar to Boston’s Symphony Hall with a maximum capacity of 2,400 seats. Caving to pressures to expand this capacity to just over 2,700, these designs were altered which ended up materially altering the acoustics. Critics immediately panned the new hall and musicians meanwhile complained that they couldn’t hear themselves play. Alterations began almost immediately to attempt to tweak the existing structure. After multiple failures, a complete overhaul was finally conceded. Through a $10.5 million donation via Avery Fisher, the hall reopened in October 1976.

Avery Fisher Hall

Avery Robert Fisher is described as an audio specialist. He is perhaps best known for his stereo designs which led to significant improvements in existing AM-FM tuners.
Despite the significant alterations in 1976, critics still did not embrace the new Avery Fisher Hall. Finally in 1992 and then again in 2005, further renovations were undertaken. Alas a formula seems to have finally been found as Fisher Hall is now recognized for having excellent acoustics once more.

The primary beneficiary of the enhanced acoustics is the hall’s primary tenant—America’s oldest orchestra by nearly forty years, the New York Philharmonic. The Philharmonic traces its earliest roots back to 1842 when it provided its first concert on Broadway to an audience of 600 individuals. The first work performed that evening? Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. Since that initial performance the Philharmonic has gone on to perform over 15,000 concerts as of May 2010. They currently perform about 180 concerts per year.

Similar to the Met’s PBS specials and in trying to keep with the times, the Philharmonic began releasing a subscription-based download series via iTunes in 2009. From this subscription, listeners were able for the first time to get numerous works previously unavailable. Overall, the Philharmonic has recorded over 2,000 works since their first recording in 1917. Of these recordings, approximately one-fourth of them are commercially available.
If you’re interested in attending a performance and cost is a concern, you may attend rehearsals here every Thursday morning on the evenings of performance at 9:45a.m. Rehearsals cost about $18 to attend versus the evening performance which currently goes for about double that at $40. Rehearsal tickets may be purchased online at www.nyphil.org or at the door.

The New York Philharmonic is not the only body however which utilizes this facility. A number of local high school and colleges host their graduation ceremonies here. And on January 22, 1967, Avery Fisher Hall was where Simon & Garfunkel recorded Live From New York City, 1967

Iwalked New York City’s Jerry Seinfeld and Cosmo Kramer Apartment

Iwalked New York City’s Jerry Seinfeld & Cosmo Kramer Apartment - This building is the address provided in the television series Seinfeld as the location of the Shelby apartments where Jerry Seinfeld and Cosmo Kramer call home. Obviously upon inspection this building is not used for any of the exterior shots in the show. That building is actually located in Los Angeles at 757 South New Hampshire Avenue. This address is, however, where a young and up-coming Jerry Seinfeld did formerly reside as he was beginning to make a career as a stand-up comedian here in New York.

To read about Jerry’s current real home at the Beresford on Central Park West, read here.

Jerry Seinfeld & Cosmo Kramer Apartment

• Website: http://www.nyc10best.com/culture-history/10-best-places-and-locations-from-the-seinfeld-show-in-new-york-city/
• Address: 129 West 81st Street, New York City, NY
• Cost: Free.

Iwalked New York City’s St. Paul’s Chapel

Iwalkedaudiotours.com - The Episcopal church of St. Paul’s Chapel is the oldest surviving church in New York City. The initial chapel was constructed in 1766 as a chapel of ease for those individuals who lived north of the city and were unable to attend Trinity Church just a quarter of a mile to the south.

St. Paul’s Chapel

The church was built in a much less elaborate Georgian style and made to face the Hudson River which was then located just two blocks to the east. It was constructed on Manhattan mica-schist. The octagonal steeple with two bells was erected in 1794 and designed by James C. Lawrence who was paid the handsome sum of $25 for his efforts. It was around this time that the entire building including the brownstone trim were coated in white paint before reverting to its more natural and current appearance in 1840.

St. Paul’s is the site, where on April 30, 1789, that George Washington attended service immediately after taking his oath of office at Federal Hall. While Trinity Church may seem like a more natural selection, Trinity was at the time a victim of the Great Fire of 1776 and in the process of being rebuilt. St. Paul’s had survived this devastation via a bucket brigade, which may provide some insight as to why it and not Trinity, is the oldest church in New York City. The pew where Washington sat in 1789 is now roped off along the northern wall for viewing if you visit the interior. This box has only been used once since this time when, in 1989, then President George H.W. Bush attended a mass here in honor of the bicentennial of establishment of the US presidency.

For its 200 plus years of existence St. Paul’s has largely maintained much of its original design. In 2007 it made perhaps one of its most significant changes, however, when it decided to remove all of the pews to create a more open space for worship.

Of course, St. Paul’s is also known for its close association and proximity to the events of 9/11. It has been described by many as “the little chapel that stood” for amazingly, through all of the dust and debris it did not suffer even a single broken window. During the subsequent clean-up efforts, St. Paul’s served as one of the major volunteer centers for which 14,000 people assisted. The iron perimeter fence during this time was also an often recorded site as family members posted pictures here searching for missing loved ones.

While walking around the yard at St. Paul’s take some time to admire the oak statue which resides just atop the Ionic columns on the front façade of the building. This statue is of St. Paul the apostle who is recognized as one of the primary authors of the New Testament. If you are doing this walk between the hours of midnight and 1a.m., then keep your eyes peeled to see if this statue comes alive. Various legends and tales have arisen over the years telling of how this statue would leave its perch and either come to greet onlookers or else make its way to a nearby water pump and refresh its parched wooden pallet.

From the rear of the chapel direct your attention to the center window. This is the back side of the alterpiece titled “Glory” which was designed by the same man who created the layout of Washington D.C., Pierre L’Enfant. While you may obviously get a better view from the inside of the chapel it is interesting to note from the backside that you can see the thirteen rays of light (representing the then thirteen colonies) emitting from the sun of the sculpture.

Also right within this vicinity (behind the chapel) is a large bell known as the Bell of Hope. It was presented to St. Paul’s by the Lord Mayor of London in September 2002. The bell was cast at the oldest manufacturing company in all of England, and the same foundry which cast the 13.5 ton bell for Big Ben in 1858 and the Liberty Bell in 1752, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry. Every year on September 11, the bell is rung.

If you want to spend a bit more time to take in the interiors of St. Paul’s Chapel feel free to do so. Admission is free and it is open 10am-6pm Mon-Fri, 10am-4pm Saturdays and 7am-4pm Sundays.

• Website: http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/congregation/spc/
• Address: 209 Broadway, New York City
• Cost: Free.
• Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; 10am-4pm Sat; 7am-4pm Sun