What to do at New York City 2

Central Park
Central Park is a lush oasis in the middle of Manhattan and is easily a local favorite for all that it provides. Grab some sandwiches at a local deli (there's practically one on every corner of every block) and head to the Park for a picnic. The weekends are most crowded, but it's when the Park really seems to come to life. Stop off at the Whole Foods in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle (59th St. and Columbus Circle/8th Ave.) for your choice of gourmet-style foods (hot and cold) already prepared or made to order, fresh baked bread, a great selection of cheese, and a variety of smoked/cured meats like prosciutto, serrano ham, etc. But you can pick up sandwiches, snacks, etc. from any deli (there's just about one on every corner throughout the city!) or take your food "to go" or just buy a famous "dirty water" hot dog from one of the many vendors you'll see. If you're on a budget, this is a great way to grab a bite and still see/experience a treasure of NYC.

Or, just head to the Park and take a walk through the zoo, ride the carousel, row a boat on the lake, listen to music at Summerstage, stroll through Strawberry Fields, watch the rollerbladers and rollerskaters show off their skills, take a jog around the reservoir, see Shakespeare in the Park...or just lay on the grass and read a good book, marveling at the fact that you are right in the middle of Manhattan, yet without all the noise and hustle, you feel a world away. If you don't want to do the work, but would like to relax on a boat in the lake, make a reservation for the gondola at the Boathouse. You'll get a little history lesson and perhaps be serenaded by the gondolier. $30 for 1/2 hour.


Battery Park

At the southernmost tip of Manhattan Island lies Battery Park. The Battery is named for the artillery battery that was stationed there at various times by the Dutch and British in order to protect the harbour. You’re likely to find yourself here at some point, catching the ferry that goes to the Statue of Liberty and to Ellis Island, or the Staten Island ferry. But this fairly small park is worth devoting some time to rather than simply passing through en route to somewhere else. For one thing, it of course affords great views of the harbour. With the sweeping Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, the skylines of Brooklyn and Queens, Governors and Staten Islands and of course Liberty herself, this has to be one of the world’s great harbour views.

Among the main sights in the park itself is the historic Castle Clinton, nowadays serving as the ticket office for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferries. It was built between 1808 and 1811 to defend New York during the anticipated War of Independence. The War over, it became in turn a cultural centre for the city, an immigration centre (pre-dating Ellis Island), aquarium and now ticket office. Interpretive displays around the walls of the fort explain a little of this varied history, although you may feel as we did that after standing in line in the hot sun for your ferry tickets for some time, you have seen enough of the fort and want only to get out on the water or into the shade of the park’s trees.

As part of the restoration of the park a Garden of Remembrance has been created, paying tribute to those who lost their lives in the attack on the World Trade Center and those who survived. There is also a memorial which features an eternal flame lit on the first anniversary of the attacks – it burns in front of the mangled sculpture "The Sphere for Plaza Fountain", which adorned the World Trade Center Plaza prior to the 9/11 attacks. I was also very taken with Luis Sanguino's sculpture “The Immigrants” which shows a group of people waiting in line for inspection to be admitted to the country. This reminds us how many of New York’s immigrants must have passed through this park over the years.

NB The park area is currently (2008) undergoing some extensive renovations and improvements, so be aware that some parts may be closed off when you visit. The aim is to restore this southern tip of the island to a premier position in the life of the city. Much has already been done, such as the new promenade by the waterfront, and the aim is to complete all works by 2010.

South Sea Port
South Street Seaport is part shopping mall, part scenic area - don't make a point of stopping, but if you are in the area, it may be a good spot for some lunch, a drink or to sit and relax. The best view of the Brooklyn Bridge is at the east-end patios. In nicer weather, get a beer from one of the vendors and relax there. Plenty of shops if you are in the mood, high-speed ferry across to Brooklyn departs from here, plenty of open-air cobblestoned areas to mingle. It makes a nice spot if you need to "regroup" after a trip to the WTC site or Staten Island Ferry.


Soho District
An acronym for SOuth of HOuston (pronounced "how-stun") Street. This eclectic neighborhood in lower Manhattan had a long history before becoming New York City's artistic haven. The SoHo that surrounds you, with its cast-iron warehouses and cobblestone streets arose in the 1850's after the residential population moved uptown. Up rose these ornate edifices housing fabrics, china, glass and more for companies like Lord & Taylor and Tiffany's. The lower floors were designed for displays and became perfect for the art galleries to come. By the late 1900's, the fashionable businesses moved uptown and the area developed into a seedy, sweatshop-filled slum known as "hell's hundred acres."New labor laws forced the sweatshops to evacuate leaving SoHo a ghost town ripe for a revolution!

Through the 1960's artists quietly moved into the abandoned buildings which provided "lofty" spaces to contain their creativity. (Even if there often was no electricity!) But by the 1970's SoHo developed into a community, transforming itself into a residential / commercial / artistic zone. beginning in the 1980s, in a way that would later apply elsewhere, the neighborhood began to draw more affluent residents. This led to an eventual exodus of the area's artists during the 1990s, leaving galleries, boutiques, restaurants, and young urban professionals behind.

SoHo's boutiques and restaurants are clustered in the northern area of the neighborhood, along Broadway and Prince and Spring streets. The sidewalks in this area are often crowded with tourists and with vendors selling jewelry, t-shirts, and other works, sometimes leaving no space for pedestrians to walk. SoHo is known for its eclectic mix of different boutiques for shopping, including Prada, Chanel, popular skateboard/sneakerhead stores such as Supreme and Clientele, Kid Robot, and the newly established Apple Store.