JOURNAL 2
East Harlem
We began our day in East Harlem by observing the New York Museum of the City of Dreams. After watching an awesome video on the history of New York, we were able explore the rest of the museum. I checked out some cool graffiti art on the bottom floor. We met a poet by the name of Luke Nephew, who gave us a tour of his town. He first recited a poem about life and brought us into the cypher. The cypher meant to be in an open circle so we all were able to see and interact with everyone in our group as well as our surroundings. Luke brought us to The Garden of Matriarchs. The most influential women were portrayed in the garden.
Mike took a few of us to a traditional Mexican food place for lunch. After lunch, we began our journey to explore Central Park. We learned that it is very easy to get lost in a certain places in Central park. We saw Cleopatra's Needle which is the oldest structure in the entire city. It came from Egypt and was built thousands of years ago. That was really cool to see something that old.
We began our day in East Harlem by observing the New York Museum of the City of Dreams. After watching an awesome video on the history of New York, we were able explore the rest of the museum. I checked out some cool graffiti art on the bottom floor. We met a poet by the name of Luke Nephew, who gave us a tour of his town. He first recited a poem about life and brought us into the cypher. The cypher meant to be in an open circle so we all were able to see and interact with everyone in our group as well as our surroundings. Luke brought us to The Garden of Matriarchs. The most influential women were portrayed in the garden.
Mike took a few of us to a traditional Mexican food place for lunch. After lunch, we began our journey to explore Central Park. We learned that it is very easy to get lost in a certain places in Central park. We saw Cleopatra's Needle which is the oldest structure in the entire city. It came from Egypt and was built thousands of years ago. That was really cool to see something that old.
Westside
As we made our way from Pennsylvania Station, we passed Rockefeller Center, one of the last art gecko style buildings. Our first stop was the Museum of Modern Art also commonly known as the MOMA. Don was able to give a quite elaborate tour of the museum. We learned that the museum decided to be a museum of contemporary art. We also learned that New York City is one of the greatest places for an artist to gain exposure. Dubai is another popular place for artists. We saw some great works created by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, and Leonardo Di Vinci. Warhol went to Carnegie Mellon University to become an artist doing commercial advertisings for boating magazines and sneaker ads.
One point Don made was that artists have a lot of control over their works, but what they do not have control over is how the viewer feels when looking at the artwork. We learned that abstract expression was a romantic form of art. After the visit to the MOMA, Mike took us to a authentic Thai restaurant called Yum Yum. I had the chicken fried rice and I thought it was amazing! We were to see some jaw dropping chapels that were beautiful and enormous. We visited Colombia's campus where former president Alexander Hamilton's estate. Overall, it was a great day for the city.
As we made our way from Pennsylvania Station, we passed Rockefeller Center, one of the last art gecko style buildings. Our first stop was the Museum of Modern Art also commonly known as the MOMA. Don was able to give a quite elaborate tour of the museum. We learned that the museum decided to be a museum of contemporary art. We also learned that New York City is one of the greatest places for an artist to gain exposure. Dubai is another popular place for artists. We saw some great works created by Jackson Pollock, Andy Warhol, and Leonardo Di Vinci. Warhol went to Carnegie Mellon University to become an artist doing commercial advertisings for boating magazines and sneaker ads.
One point Don made was that artists have a lot of control over their works, but what they do not have control over is how the viewer feels when looking at the artwork. We learned that abstract expression was a romantic form of art. After the visit to the MOMA, Mike took us to a authentic Thai restaurant called Yum Yum. I had the chicken fried rice and I thought it was amazing! We were to see some jaw dropping chapels that were beautiful and enormous. We visited Colombia's campus where former president Alexander Hamilton's estate. Overall, it was a great day for the city.
Lower Manhattan & Governor's Island
We started our day visiting St. Paul's chapel. It is the oldest chapel in the city and George Washington's pew was still intact! We were in for a treat when we heard we were getting a tour of City Hall. Mike said not just anybody can take a tour of city hall and we had the privilege to see the governor's room. From the governor's room, the atlantic ocean used to be visible. However, all of the buildings created over the years has kept that from happening.
We went from City Hall down the block to the Governor's Island Ferry. On the way there, we learned about a new building structure from Mike, the equitable building. An equitable building maximizes floor space for a maximum amount of workers. Once we arrived to Governor's Island, we had an hour and a half to explore and find somewhere to eat. Finding lunch was not easy. Being that it was a weekday, many of the food places were closed. We did find a food cart and finally got to eat! So it was back on the ferry to Manhattan to enjoy some entertainment in Battery Park. We ended our day in Battery Park where we watched a crew of dancers. It was a great way to end the day and yet another successful journey to the big apple.
We started our day visiting St. Paul's chapel. It is the oldest chapel in the city and George Washington's pew was still intact! We were in for a treat when we heard we were getting a tour of City Hall. Mike said not just anybody can take a tour of city hall and we had the privilege to see the governor's room. From the governor's room, the atlantic ocean used to be visible. However, all of the buildings created over the years has kept that from happening.
We went from City Hall down the block to the Governor's Island Ferry. On the way there, we learned about a new building structure from Mike, the equitable building. An equitable building maximizes floor space for a maximum amount of workers. Once we arrived to Governor's Island, we had an hour and a half to explore and find somewhere to eat. Finding lunch was not easy. Being that it was a weekday, many of the food places were closed. We did find a food cart and finally got to eat! So it was back on the ferry to Manhattan to enjoy some entertainment in Battery Park. We ended our day in Battery Park where we watched a crew of dancers. It was a great way to end the day and yet another successful journey to the big apple.
Downtown
Starting our day out we learned that the lower east side used to be a very undesirable place. In 1900 the city was the most crowded place on earth. We visited the Tenement Housing Museum to learn about the conditions people had to live in during those times. The terrible living conditions lead to a series of laws to help improve those conditions. The tenement building we were able to walk through was cramped. It seemed unimaginable that multiple families had lived together in those three small rooms. In the basement of what once was a tenement house was 'Slater's German Saloon.' The guide really painted a picture of what life was like during those times, zero sanitation, garbage in the streets, and no regulations on building codes.
We learned that there was 2781 people living in one square block. By the time of the 1880's, the Chinese Exclusion Act was the first act limiting the open door policy. We also learned about the fire departments during that age. They were very local and ran with volunteers. They didn't unify the FDNY until the consolidation of New York City in 1803.
After the museum, Mike split us up into four groups to explore Chinatown. It was great to see how the city transformed from what we have been seeing all month to what we see as Chinatown. It was pretty crazy I was seeing all of these fruits, spices, vegetables, grains, and other foods that I had never seen before! Also, I was able to grab a (usually priced between $2-$3) water bottle for 70 cents! Crazy.
We made our way to Canal Street via Mott street and we went to one of the oldest Buddist Temples in America, The Eastern States Buddist Temple of America. It was very spiritual. After that, we had lunch at Congee Village. That was probably the best place we've eaten at all month!
After lunch we met up with our guide and saw the first tenement house. The Economy Candy Store was unbelievable. It was the biggest candy store with the most throwback treats. Any candy you can think of they most likely had. As we made our way along, our guide pointed out a statue of John Lennon. That ended our final class and I was able to take in a lot. It was a great experience I will not forget.
Starting our day out we learned that the lower east side used to be a very undesirable place. In 1900 the city was the most crowded place on earth. We visited the Tenement Housing Museum to learn about the conditions people had to live in during those times. The terrible living conditions lead to a series of laws to help improve those conditions. The tenement building we were able to walk through was cramped. It seemed unimaginable that multiple families had lived together in those three small rooms. In the basement of what once was a tenement house was 'Slater's German Saloon.' The guide really painted a picture of what life was like during those times, zero sanitation, garbage in the streets, and no regulations on building codes.
We learned that there was 2781 people living in one square block. By the time of the 1880's, the Chinese Exclusion Act was the first act limiting the open door policy. We also learned about the fire departments during that age. They were very local and ran with volunteers. They didn't unify the FDNY until the consolidation of New York City in 1803.
After the museum, Mike split us up into four groups to explore Chinatown. It was great to see how the city transformed from what we have been seeing all month to what we see as Chinatown. It was pretty crazy I was seeing all of these fruits, spices, vegetables, grains, and other foods that I had never seen before! Also, I was able to grab a (usually priced between $2-$3) water bottle for 70 cents! Crazy.
We made our way to Canal Street via Mott street and we went to one of the oldest Buddist Temples in America, The Eastern States Buddist Temple of America. It was very spiritual. After that, we had lunch at Congee Village. That was probably the best place we've eaten at all month!
After lunch we met up with our guide and saw the first tenement house. The Economy Candy Store was unbelievable. It was the biggest candy store with the most throwback treats. Any candy you can think of they most likely had. As we made our way along, our guide pointed out a statue of John Lennon. That ended our final class and I was able to take in a lot. It was a great experience I will not forget.
My Gotham Experience Conclusion
I really appreciate Mike and Don for making this course possible. I learned so much about the art, the people, the architecture, the food, along with the life styles of the settlers for hundreds of years. I can't believe this class is over already! One of my favorite parts of the experience was going through east harlem being guided by Luke. He was certainly an interesting person. The culture of East Harlem was surprising to me. There was a great sense of community there, and Luke even interacted with a person who was living there for 3 generations with her family. She said she would never live anywhere else. That definitely impacted my view on a place I really knew nothing about.
The food in the city is unmatched and I can honestly say that was another great part of this class. Mike showed us all of the most authentic cusines the city had to offer. My favorite place was the authentic Thai food restaurant, Yum Yum. I also really enjoyed Congee Village. That whole day was awesome though. We toured downtown and experienced Canal Street. It was unbelievable to see the transition the city makes once you reach Chinatown. It's like a totally different country. Chelsea was another spot that I'd love to revisit. It was such a peaceful walk through the high lines. It was a highly industrial area which I found fascinating.
The final place that I really enjoyed was the tour through Town Hall. It was really cool to see George Washington's desk that he sat at in The Governor's Room. So much history in one building.
So, that concludes my New York Experience. I really had a blast and met some really great people. I hope to show my family the sites I learned about during this course one day. The experience was great and I'd recommend any student at Molloy to take this course. It was truly an awesome experience. Therefore, I would just like to thank Mike and Don again for a great month in the city of dreams! Thank you!!!
I really appreciate Mike and Don for making this course possible. I learned so much about the art, the people, the architecture, the food, along with the life styles of the settlers for hundreds of years. I can't believe this class is over already! One of my favorite parts of the experience was going through east harlem being guided by Luke. He was certainly an interesting person. The culture of East Harlem was surprising to me. There was a great sense of community there, and Luke even interacted with a person who was living there for 3 generations with her family. She said she would never live anywhere else. That definitely impacted my view on a place I really knew nothing about.
The food in the city is unmatched and I can honestly say that was another great part of this class. Mike showed us all of the most authentic cusines the city had to offer. My favorite place was the authentic Thai food restaurant, Yum Yum. I also really enjoyed Congee Village. That whole day was awesome though. We toured downtown and experienced Canal Street. It was unbelievable to see the transition the city makes once you reach Chinatown. It's like a totally different country. Chelsea was another spot that I'd love to revisit. It was such a peaceful walk through the high lines. It was a highly industrial area which I found fascinating.
The final place that I really enjoyed was the tour through Town Hall. It was really cool to see George Washington's desk that he sat at in The Governor's Room. So much history in one building.
So, that concludes my New York Experience. I really had a blast and met some really great people. I hope to show my family the sites I learned about during this course one day. The experience was great and I'd recommend any student at Molloy to take this course. It was truly an awesome experience. Therefore, I would just like to thank Mike and Don again for a great month in the city of dreams! Thank you!!!