Exploring Intriguing Sights in Midtown Manhattan and Beyond
By Susmita Sengupta
New York City is one of those rare cities where there’s always more to do than time will ever permit. And of course, if one ever thinks of the Big Apple, our thoughts immediately pivot to Manhattan, the island borough of urbanity. Here are some intriguing Manhattan sights you might have never seen.
The first-timers will hone in on the world-famous sights — Central Park, Rockefeller Center Plaza, the World Trade Center zone, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to name just a few. You will quickly find that each neighborhood requires a separate visit and you will think of a repeat trip.
Starting with the Dogs at the AKC Museum
My sojourn began at an unusual museum — the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog. Located at East 40th Street and Park Avenue, this museum in the Murray Hill neighborhood celebrates a human’s best friend in all its glory. The result is a collection that will bring joy to every visitor, whether or not a dog lover.
On a freezing December evening, my daughter and I spent a sublime hour admiring paintings, and sculptures of dogs in a variety of milieu. The permanent collection showcases fine arts, ceramics, and bronzes, all highlighting dogs in a variety of moods and scenarios from the 19th century onwards. Do not forget to try out the fun AI exhibit that will help you find the dog breed you resemble the most.
Close by is also the newest attraction on the tourist circuit, Summit One Vanderbilt, the fourth tallest skyscraper right now in Manhattan. You can crane your neck to try to see the apex or you can buy your ticket and head up 1100 feet to soak in the delectable city view.
A step away from Summit One, make a detour to gaze at the magnificent Beaux Arts interior of Grand Central Terminal, a major commuter train station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue. Enter the main concourse which you might have seen in numerous Hollywood movies and even in a Bollywood movie.
Admire the newly restored grand hall with the robin’s egg blue ceiling depicting the sky, the awesome chandeliers and the famous Grand Central clock keeping time since the 1920s. You can head to the indoor market selling a variety of delicacies and gift items and perhaps even eat at one of the many food stall booths or pricey restaurants.
Into A Regal Library
About three blocks down from the Dog Museum is another hidden gem, The Pierpont Morgan Library and Museum, a U.S. National Historic Landmark, sitting between 36th and 37th Street at Madison Avenue.
What used to be the residence and private library of financier J. P. Morgan from the 1800s was later on opened to the public as a museum and thus it displays his phenomenal collection of art and artifacts, rare books and manuscripts along with temporary exhibitions in a spectacular architectural setting.
After enjoying the exhibits, I stepped into the grandiose library and study, an opulent collection of rooms from 1906, designed by Charles McKim of the famed architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, who shaped New York City architecture in the 19th century. Admire the splendidly preserved ceiling of the rotunda through which you will walk to reach the library.
Walking Towards Downtown
When you finish your visit here, keep walking towards downtown and continue to admire the Empire State Building, the prime attraction of this neighborhood.
I was now heading to Kips Bay and I decided to stop at Madison Square Park to rest my tired feet. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes when you start on this walk.
This not-too-big public green oasis is situated between Fifth and Madison Avenue and 23rd and 26th Street, in the Flatiron and Nomad areas of Manhattan. Spend some time sitting on a bench, admiring the beautiful reflecting pool with a bubbling fountain and notice an icon of this city — the Flatiron building, built in 1902 and located at the crossroads of Fifth Avenue, Broadway, and 22nd Street.
You might want to eat the classic burger and fries accompanied by the famous milkshake at the highly popular city eatery chain, Shake Shack, created by Danny Meyer, a celebrated New York restaurateur. The kiosk in the park is the first outlet in the city, having opened in 2001.
Or you might cross the street and enter Eataly Flatiron at the crossroads of 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue to enjoy a cornucopia of Italian delicacies. This is an Italian marketplace where you can eat at restaurants, cafes, and ice cream stores and also shop at grocery, produce, meat, seafood, and dessert shops and stands for a complete immersion into Italian food and culture.
Visiting A Presidential Birthplace
The Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site is located at East 20th Street between Park Avenue and Broadway. After a snack or meal at Eataly, you can easily saunter over to this historic house museum, since it is barely a 5-minute walk away.
I joined a guided tour as it is the only way to visit the living quarters and then spent an interesting and informative hour (our enthusiastic guide regaled us with stories past the allotted time of 45 minutes), learning about the birth and early life of the 26th American President.
The brownstone building is not original and was rebuilt in 1923 and opened as a museum for the public. The authentic furnishings and decor reflect the everyday lives of rich New Yorkers of the 19th century.
Exploring Union Square
Next, I ambled towards Union Square, another 5-minute walking distance away, the area near New York University and a neighborhood noted for its liveliness.
You will be in the midst of a bustling shopping and entertainment area and buzzy restaurants and eateries to suit different pockets.
If you happen to be there on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Saturday, you will most certainly be impressed by the Union Square Greenmarket, the largest farmer’s market in the city.
From fruits and vegetables to artisanal and heritage meats, bread and cheeses, from jams, pickles, oils, cider, and wine to a profusion of flowers and plants and much, much more, you are bound to spend a lot more time here than necessary. Remember to stop by the many cooking demonstrations and try the free offerings.
For book lovers, a required stop would be at the Strand Bookstore, about a four-minute walk from the green market, two blocks south of Union Square.
The bright red awnings of this New York institution founded in 1927 beckons visitors from afar. The store carries more than two million used, rare, and new books that are displayed over four floors along with stationery, apparel, gifts, and other literary-themed items.
Resting at Washington Square Park
In the vicinity lies Washington Square Park and the stop-in-your-tracks attraction, the soaring Washington Square Arch. Built in marble in the triumphal Roman architectural style by the noted 19th-century architect Stanford White in 1895 and reflecting Paris’s Arc de Triomphe, the arch commemorates and honors the democratic values of George Washington, the first American president.
You will find the park filled with students of nearby New York University, tourists, and families, all spending moments, minutes, and hours enjoying the park ambiance, especially on bright, sunny days.
Enjoying the World of Jackie Robinson. Baseball
Whether you are a baseball fanatic or are merely familiar with the game, a visit to the Jackie Robinson Museum is bound to be enjoyable. Located in between Varick Street and Canal Street in a sprawling warehouse-like space, the museum is the fruition of Rachel Robinson’s dream to honor the legacy of her trailblazing late husband.
Jackie Robinson was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers team on April 15, 1947. This ended racial segregation in professional baseball which before this allowed black players to only play for Negro leagues since the 1880s.
Two main galleries in the museum detail the major events of Robinson’s life and include a variety of memorabilia, notably the plaque that celebrates his induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962, audio and video clips, and letters.
We see this through the lens of the turbulent history of that era.
We then enjoyed looking at the many, many medals and trophies Robinson received not just in baseball but in other sports as well. It was fun reading the vintage scorecards, ticket stubs, and trading cards.
Of prime attraction was the elaborate model of Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field Stadium, the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers team that was demolished in 1960.
Thus ended my day of activities where I immersed myself in the unique cultures of a few iconic New York City districts.
For tickets and more information:
https://www.nps.gov/thrb/index.htm
https://www.jackierobinsonmuseum.org/
Susmita Sengupta, an architect by background, from New York City, loves to travel with her family. Her articles have been published frequently in GoNOMAD, Go World Travel, In The Know Traveler, and other travel websites.
Read more of Susmita’s stories on GoNOMAD.com Travel.`
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