NYC Then and Now

Black History Month tour 2013 so far (2) Queens and NOT Bronx

My Queens for a day visit to the Louis Armstrong House and the Langston Hughes Community Library was very enjoyable. After leaving the #7 I followed the bus route to the house in this very working class Corona neighborhood. It was not my first visit. I've been out there to a concert with grandfather granddaughter clients and took the house tour at least once before with some friends.

This time I learned that the Welcome Center is where Louis used to store his cadillac. I was not the only visitor doing the Black History month tour, there were couples from Germany and Belgium. It was a special treat to have the new curator David as my guide. Agelita's, the Dominican restaurant across the street, is still fun for a quick hot meal although there are other restaurants in the neighborhood.

Speaking of the neighborhood, this is what it looks like across the street. The house has a really find gift shop but it is not online yet. I picked up a book for my great nieces and nephews that I am reading first called Travels with Louis. It really gets to the soul of the man and of the neighborhood. The souvenir picture given to Black History Month visitors also has a story to tell about Louis's performance in New Orleans. Go visit any day but Monday.

The stroll through the neighborhood and along Northern Blvd to the Langston Hughes library was delightful and there were plenty of interesting looking food places along the way. The library was busy and there was an exhibition gallery on the second floor. I was too early for the evening program in the auditorium but you can get more information on upcoming events here.

The bus to the R train was fun. I really got a feel for the cultural diversity in this county when a group of school children got on to make their way home.

Alas, Woodlawn was not meant to be because of icy conditions in the cemetery. It is such an interesting place to explore. I went one summer when they were unveiling a monument to Illinois Jacquet and you could here the joint jumping from the music provided by Julliard and the other Jazzmen upstairs who were all buried nearby. Contact me privately if you want to make a trip some other day. We would make stops at Yankee Stadium and the Bronx Museum and maybe Harlem on the way back.

 

Black History Month tour 2013 so far (1)

First stop Wednesday was the African Burial Ground National Monument. The visitor center has expanded since I was last there in about 2010. Sometimes the outside monument area is closed due to icy conditions but this place is well worth a visit. The burial ground is part of a much great story of the role of African Americans in building New York and is certainly a part of the U.S. immigration story not covered by Ellis Island. The price is free and there are frequent ranger lead tours and the rangers are very available for questions. Many of the gift shop choices will not be found elsewhere. And if you have a National Parks passport you can get it stamped there. Open Tues thru Saturday indoors and 7 days a week when the ground allows outside.

 

Thursday was my day in Brooklyn. The journey to early free African settlement Weeksville is a bit over an hour by subway (and optional bus) and some walking. But, this look back in time at a settlement that was actually demapped from the grid structure is fascinating and educator Nia does a wonderful job of telling the story. I was in fact the first non-group visitor to mention the Black History Month promotion. I hope more of you follow in my footsteps or come later in the year when their new visitor center opens.

From Weeksville, it was a bus ride and a short walk to MOCADA on Hanson Place. MOCADA is an outstanding museum that captures the vibe of the largest African Diaspora county (Brooklyn) in the country. While, I knew they were having an opening in the evening - their openings are great fun. I didn't realize that the museum was closed until the party but I will be back. I have been to MOCADA before several times.

My last stop in Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Museum, was not part of the Black History Month tour although it could have been. They have a fabulous collection of African Art. I went to see the winners of the Go Brooklyn Art Open Artist Studio event that I attended in August. I think the crowd of visitors made great choices. I didn't make it to these artists but all of the works selected were awesome.

When going to a specific exhibition in a museum, it is hard NOT to enjoy the art along the way.

 

This particular sculpture reminded me of a recent New York Times article about pianos being taken to recycling dumps.

 

 

 

 

 

NOTE: While some of you don't do subways because there is "nothing to see". There is some great art underground thanks to the MTA Arts for Transit program. This is from the Brooklyn Museum stop. You can tour some of the Manhattan subway art on friend Darryl Reilly's subway tour.

My Brooklyn itinerary can be done on any day although Thursdays are good because the Museum is open late. The nearby Brooklyn Botanic Garden can also be visited.

You don't have to wait until next year to go to these places!

International Tourist Guide Day NYC Feb 21, 2013

This year's full International Tourist Guide Day in NYC FREE Tour list for Feb 21, 2013 is out. Many of my fellow Licensed NYC Tour Guide Guides Association of NYC members and I are exploring great places and spaces on the day.

You can find more about my tours here.

I hope some of my guide friends will describe their tours in more detail in the comments section.

 

February 19, 2013 Jazz Museum in Harlem

UPDATE: I have had no response from anyone so I am still heading to the Jazz Museum in Harlem program but will not meet anyone in Grand Central. Come on up town. I know the program will be good. I will see you there.

We will meet at Grand Central on the South Side of the Clock at 4:30 and head up to the Jazz Museum in Harlem which these days is a Museum without walls. I have seen their programs at the Museum of the City of New York.  After a brief wander, we will eat locally and regroup at the Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church to see the program about Abbey Lincoln.

After the performance, directions will be given for public transportation (subway or bus) back to wherever you need to go.

Note: Applebee's is a sponsor of this 5 boro Black History Month challenge.  I intend to thank them by getting a bite at the nearby 1 West 125th Street location. You are welcome to join me or eat at other local restaurants.

Cost: Suggested donation to A Guide Named Sue is $10 dollars. 

Other Costs: MetroCard with at least 2 fares per person. Money for your own food, drink and a donation to the Jazz Museum.

If you are planning to attend please email me at:  suenyc@aguidenamedsue.com  so I know to expect you.

For other Jazz tours in Harlem, you might want to contact Gordon Polatnick at Big Apple Jazz tours.

Next stop Sandy Ground Staten Island - Feb 26, 2013.

 

Feb 26, 2013 Sandy Ground

I have managed to miss some wonderful Guides Association of NYC trips to Sandy Ground because I was working. Please join me on this Tour Guide's Daze off exploration of Staten Island after Hurricane Sandy enroute to the early African settlement known as Sandy Ground.  We will take the 11:00 Ferry from Battery Park or meet at the fish tank in the SI Ferry terminal at 11:30. Then we will head off on the s74 bus to Sandy Ground. The ride is just over an hour.

Tour guide Sylvia will meet us for a 1 o'clock tour. The cost is $5 for seniors and $7 regular price. She hopes that I get some of you to make the journey. It should be a fun journey.

If anyone wants to head out to Staten Island earlier to see the 9/11 memorial, the WPA murals in Boro Hall and/or the St George theater let me know.

Email me at suenyc@aguidenamedsue.com if you plan to attend. Have at least 4 fares on your MetroCard.

Last stop - the Schomburg Center - Wed Feb 27, 2013.

Feb 27, 2013 Schomburg Center

The last stop on my Black History month challenge will be the Schomburg Center of the New York Public Library. I have already registered for a lecture at 2PM called I, Too, Am America with illustrator Bryan Collier.

If any of you are interested in joining me, register for the lecture and send me an email at suenyc@aguidenamedsue.com  . The Plan is to meet in midtown and have a wander through the neighborhood. I would like to do lunch at Miss Maude's if we have a group and I have indeed made it to all 9 sites.

Estimated midtown start time is 11 AM. Plans will be finalized when I know I have company.

NYC Food Glorious Food

Thank Ziggy60 at Trip Advisor for spotting this post elsewhere. It is simply the best NYC food post I have ever seen.

And now you can enjoy it here.

Explore NYC Black History Month 2013

The Black History Month 5 boro challenge has inspired me to create some tours.(Unfortunately, I only found out about the challenge a few days ago so these posts aren't very glitzy)

 I have been to almost all of the places and I would like to share them with anyone who wishes to join me.

My goal is to visit all 9 places on the list and then some and to share with you places that are way beyond the obvious. These tours are also priced at a discount. It is winter. It is cold and we will be traveling long distances to visit some of these places.

However, I am not the only tour guide in town and I can't begin my tours until February 13th. This weekend, Eric Washington has a great Black History tour at Trinity Cemetery on February 10th (and you can visit Ed Koch's new home afterwards). The tour is sponsored by The Municipal Arts Society.

I have posted tours starting on February 13 at the African Burial Ground.  

I am also planning an early morning tour of Central Park on February 23rd that will include the site of Seneca Village which is not part of the 5 boro challenge. The Central Park Conservancy will have a free tour that is focused on Seneca Village later that day.

Stay warm. Come sightseeing!

February 13, 2013 African Burial Ground National Monument

The African Burial Ground National Monument examines the early history of Africans in New York City and is dedicated to Amercans of African Descent today.

Our visit will begin in midtown at 9:30. We will subway to Lower Manhattan and take a stroll up Broadway to the monument. If we have more than 10 people, I will try to arrange a group tour. If not, after an overview, we will enter and you will be on your own to explore the exhibits. I will happily provide directions to wherever you are heading after your tour.

You may want to return for specific tours dedicated to Black History Month. 

Cost: suggested donation to A Guide Named Sue is 10 dollars. 

Other Costs: MetroCard with at least 2 fares per person. Money for your own food, drink and a donation to the African Burial Ground National Monument.

If you are planning to attend please email me at:  suenyc@aguidenamedsue.com  for information about the meeting point.  I will post the meeting point as a comment when I receive at least 3 emails from others wishing to join the group.

On February 14, I am heading to Brooklyn to visit 2 sites and the Brooklyn Museum. Come join me.

 

Feb 15, 2013

Today we will visit the sites in Queens. We wil meet in midtown at 9:30 and head to the Louis Armstrong House. I would like to arrive in time for an 11 AM house tour. Tours cost $10.00 but the group rate is $6.00. The house is pretty amazing and well worth the price of tour admission. I've been before and attended concerts in the garden. Please email me at suenyc@aguidenamedsue.com if you are planning to attend. I will need to give the house a count.

After the tour we can have some lunch at the really "local" place across the street - Angelita's - and then head to the Langston Hughes Community Library. The library is one of two sites that will be a first for me. Some of you may want to visit this Saturday Feb 9th for the Langston Hughes festival. Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend.

Some of you may want to continue exploring in Queens but I will be returning to midtown after visiting the library.

Cost: suggested donation to A Guide Named Sue is 10 dollars payable at the start.

Other Costs: MetroCard with at least 4 fares per person. Money for your own food, drink and tour fee at the Louis Armstrong House (oh there is a great gift shop here) and a donation at the library.

If you are planning to attend please email me at:  suenyc@aguidenamedsue.com  for information about the meeting point.  I will post the meeting point as a comment when I receive at least 3 emails from others wishing to join the group.

 Here is the tour on February 16th