Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for new york
A New York City Treasure
By Linda Tancs
On the east side of New York City’s Park Avenue between 52nd and 53rd streets you’ll find an architectural gem, the Seagram Building. One of the finest examples of skyscrapers in the International Style, the building was the first with floor-to-ceiling windows. The interior is no less spectacular, particularly The Four Seasons Restaurant. Designed in 1959 by Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, it is the only Manhattan restaurant designated an architectural (interior) landmark. Alas, its tenure at the Seagram will end on July 16, but the restaurant will re-open next year at a nearby location.
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35 Centuries of Glass
By Linda Tancs
Founded in 1951 by Corning Glass Works (now Corning Incorporated) as a gift to the nation for the company’s 100th anniversary, the Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, New York, is a key resource on the history of glassmaking. The galleries boast more than 3,500 years of glass history, ranging from the glass portrait of an ancient Egyptian pharaoh to contemporary sculptures. You can even make your own glass at a daily workshop or immerse yourself in the art with a one-day, weekend or multiple-week course. The facility is located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region, halfway between Niagara Falls and New York City.
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Grand Canyon of the East
By Linda Tancs
New York’s Letchworth State Park is known as the Grand Canyon of the East because of its scenic gorge. Indeed, its magnificence can hardly be ignored, the Genesee River roaring over three major waterfalls amidst towering cliffs. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes region, the park covers over 14,000 acres of land along the river. The locale is popular with campers, but those not interested in roughing it will find ample accommodations like guest houses, inns and lodges with light housekeeping. Given its size, there are no shortage of activities at this park, among them 66 hiking trails, guided walks, tours, swimming, kayaking and rafting. Hot air ballooning is a must to take in the glorious vistas.
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New York City Goes a Little Bit Country
By Linda Tancs
Hey, New York City, ready for some honky tonk? Don’t worry about heading to Nashville. Nashville is coming to you. Farmborough is a brand new three day country music festival coming to Randall’s Island in New York City this weekend. The lineup reads like a who’s who of the CMAs: Dierks Bentley, Brad Paisley, Dwight Yoakam, Luke Bryan, Maddie & Tae, Brandy Clark, Cassadee Pope, and the list goes on and on. Randall’s Island is easily accessible via car, ferry, taxi, bus, subway and bike. Y’all come down now, ya hear?
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A Farm in Brooklyn
By Linda Tancs
Wyckoff, Wycoff, Wykoff, Wikoff or Wicoff. No matter how you spell it, the vast majority of Americans and Canadians bearing the surname can trace their lineage to a tenant farmer on a homestead located in present-day Brooklyn, New York. Their common link is Pieter Claesen, who ultimately chose the surname Wykhof (later Wyckoff) when required to do so by the British when they assumed control of what was then the Dutch-controlled colony of New Netherland. Now a museum and testament to Dutch architecture and farm life, the Wyckoff family occupied their Brooklyn homestead for eight successive generations until 1901. Wyckoff House is open to guided tours on Fridays and Saturdays. Located on Clarendon Road, the site is easily accessible via public transit.
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Peace on Earth
By Linda Tancs
More than 70 sculptures grace the property known as Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth), a truly peaceful sanctuary in Warwick, New York. Located along the Wawayanda River on Covered Bridge Road, the grounds sport the handiwork of its longtime owner, the late dental surgeon-turned-sculptor Frederick Franck. Nursing an interest in human spirituality, Franck’s work complements his best known book, The Zen of Seeing, with the human eye infused into the large iron works of art enveloping the estate. Given its moniker, the property is appropriate to highlight on this Christmas Day although it’s only open seasonally from May to September. In the meantime, you can visit his work in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Fogg Art Museum, the Tokyo National Museum, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
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A Series of Firsts at New York Port
By Linda Tancs
On July 31, 1789, the Second Session of Congress chose the village of Sag Harbor in New York as the first official port of entry into the United States. That was a smart choice, considering that the hamlet had more square rigged vessels engaged in commerce than the Port of New York about 100 miles away. This enterprising locale enjoys the distinction of having had the first custom house in the country, the first volunteer fire company in the State of New York and the first newspaper printed on Long Island. Its ascension as a whaling capital was fueled by the need for whale oil to light lamps. The Broken Mast Monument in Oakland Cemetery is a testament to the whalers lost at sea centuries ago.
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A Symbol of Resilience in Manhattan
By Linda Tancs
Today marks the official opening of New York City’s National September 11 Museum to the general public. The complex includes an outdoor memorial plaza with reflecting pools (already accessible to visitors from around the world) and a museum of 10,000 artifacts and exhibits, including personal effects, wreckage and videos. The twin reflecting pools sit within the footprints where the World Trade Center’s twin towers once stood. The name of every person who died during the 1993 attack as well as those who died on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center, near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and at the Pentagon are inscribed into bronze panels edging the pools. Inside, the museum’s Last Column (an imposing hulk of steel that helped support the inner core of the south tower and was last to be salvaged) serves as a somber backdrop in a cavernous hall that recounts the heroism and courage displayed on that fateful day. Purchase advance museum tickets for access at your preferred time and date. The site is within easy reach of public transportation.
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Manhattan’s Oldest House
By Linda Tancs
On July 10, 1790, George Washington dined at Manhattan’s Morris-Jumel Mansion with members of his Cabinet. Actually, he did more than just dine there, having used New York City’s oldest house as headquarters during the Revolutionary War’s Battle of Harlem Heights. Known in those days as Mount Morris, the hilltop estate located in Washington Heights offered sweeping views of the Harlem River, the Bronx, and Long Island Sound to the east, New York City and the harbor to the south, and the Hudson River and Jersey Palisades to the west. Exhibitions as well as arts and cultural programming are presented at the home year round.
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The Tallest Hotel in New York
By Linda Tancs
Marriott boasts that its Residence Inn New York Manhattan/Central Park is the tallest hotel in North America. Although it may not exactly rival Dubai’s goliath hotel, it matches a skyscraper’s view of sights like Times Square, the Manhattan skyline, Central Park or the Hudson River. Your home away from home, studio suites at this extended stay property offer a kitchenette, large desk, free Wi-Fi and grocery shopping services.
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