On September 9, 2011, Greeter Sami Steigmann, who is also a federal tour guide for the National Parks Service on Governors Island, led a group of 17 Greeters and two visitors on an extensive tour of the former military base. They we were blessed with a warm sunny day and Sami made sure they covered the entire island to learn about its colorful history.

Governors Island’s original inhabitants, Native Americans of the Manhattan region, referred to the island as Pagganck (“Nut Island”) and used it as a fishing camp for local tribes. In June 1637, a Dutchman named Wouter Van Twiller purchased the island from the Mannahattas for his private use. The island, thereafter known as Noen Eylant or Nutten Island, was confiscated a year later by the Dutch government.  In 1664, the English captured New York and took control of the island for the benefit of “His Majesty’s Governors”.  Its strategic location resulted in its use as a military facility by British and American forces for over 200 years.

The island showcases two forts, Fort Jay and Castle Williams. In 1794, with the country in need of a system of coastal defenses, construction began on Fort Jay on high ground in the center of the island. In 1800, New York transferred the island to the U.S. government for military use.  Between 1806 and 1809, the U.S. Army reconstructed Fort Jay and built Castle William. During the War of 1812, artillery and infantry troops were concentrated on Governors Island.

The island continued to serve an important military function until the 1960s.  During the American Civil War, it was used for recruitment and as a prison for captured Confederate soldiers. Throughout World War I and II, the island served as an important supply base for Army ground and air forces.

In 1966, the island was transferred to the Coast Guard who were there until 1996. It was the largest station of its kind and housed 3,500 members of the Coast Guard and their families and was a self-contained community. In 1988, Ronald Reagan hosted a US & USSR summit with Mikhail Gorbachev.

Many of the buildings have been restored or are in the process of being renovated. The lawns are well kept and many events take place on the island. The day of the Greeter Outing, there was a large art exhibit featuring the work of artist Michael Davis who is the step son of former Board Member Anne Davis.

As a final treat, the Greeters were given a tour of the Artists in Residence building by Greeter Karen Bell who was awarded a position in photography.

Governors Island is open to the public between May and December.  For further information, please visit their website at http://www.govisland.com

New York’s Coolest New Park: The High Line

The weather was cool, sunny and invigorating on Wednesday, November 3 as a group of 16 Big Apple Greeter volunteers met in the Meat Packing District to begin their tour of the High Line.  Led by Connie Milner, a docent for Friends of the Highline, the group was treated to a detailed introduction to one of New York City’s newest and most unique public parks.

The High Line, the former site of an elevated railroad built in the early 1930s to lift freight trains off the busy streets, was vacant and deteriorating since trains stopped running along its tracks in 1980.  Many sections of the railroad were eventually demolished, with the remaining portion – beginning at Gansevoort Street – preserved by the Friends of the High Line who in 2001 won their lawsuit to keep it from being demolished and then began to plan for its new use.

Built on the remaining rail line, where train tracks are still visible among the plantings, the Section 1 of the High Line opened as an elevated park in June 2009. It runs from Gansevoort to West 20th Street and is beautifully and abundantly  landscaped with various trees, bushes, grasses and flowers.  Purple asters were ample throughout, creating a very rich and vibrant landscape.  Connie explained that the High Line contains more than 200 different plant species, of which 161 are native to North America. There are also 24 varieties of grasses and eight different species of bees.

The High Line is rich with many unexpected experiences.  Among them:

• Three art shows, including Steven Vitiello’s “A Bell for Every Minute,” comprised of audio recordings of bells ringing in New York City and surrounding areas

• Lounge chairs with wheels situated on the remaining train tracks

• An outdoor amphitheater at the northern end of the High Line, which is handicapped accessible and is the site of various lectures and other forms of entertainment

The High Line also offers some amazing views and close-ups, a bit of history, and some interesting architecture.  Connie introduced the Greeters to:

• The High Line’s historical role in transporting meat, produce and other foods to factories and warehouses along Manhattan’s West Side

• The Standard Hotel, built in 2007 and the only building that straddles the High Line.  The public bar on the top floor offers outstanding views of the City, Hudson River, and New Jersey.

• The arch that opens to Pier 54 and is the last remaining structure from the old Cunard Line.  It is at Pier 54 that the Carpathia docked in 1912, bringing survivors from the Titanic, and from where the Lusitania set sail in 1915.

• The original home of the National Biscuit Company, where the Oreo cookie was invented.

• The modern architecture of Frank Ghery’s “glass schooner” building at 18th Street, and Nouvel Chelsea condominium, designed by Jean Nouvel and visible from a vantage point above West 19th Street.  The latter building boasts 1,700 differently-shaped panels of glass.

Section 2 of the High Line, running from 20th to 30th Streets, will open in Spring 2011 and will include a lawn suitable for picnics.  It will also have a flyover (ramp) that goes to the treetops eight feet high, between 25th and 27th Streets.

Connie explained that the High Line “is designed to be an adult park, a passive park…the only thing exercised here is your senses.”  To learn more about this new and vibrant green space, visit www.thehighline.org.

The outing to the High Line is one of many created to familiarize greeters with New York City’s many neighborhoods and attractions.  Other outings completed last fall include Gracie Mansion and unique, midtown hotel lobbies.

Greeters Get to Know the Dazzling Diamond District

Photo by Ruth Nordenbrook

The holiday season transforms New York’s streets into their sparkling best, but there is one street that sparkles year round—West 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, better known as the Diamond District of Manhattan.  On November 30, 45 Big Apple Greeters went behind the scenes to learn more about this thriving Business Improvement District (BID), the only one among the city’s 64 BIDs that is a single street. There is no way to miss the district:  two giant “diamond” street lights flank both ends of West 47th Street.  The very informative visit, including a brief tour, was organized by Greeter Bobbi Gold.

After a bountiful buffet breakfast at the Diamond Dealers Club, Michael Grumet, Executive Director of the 47th Street BID, gave the Greeters an overview of the Diamond District and some history of this distinctive neighborhood. West 47th Street is the trading and communications center for the diamond and jewelry industry in New York City, which employs 26,000 New Yorkers. Grumet acknowledged that buying gold and diamond jewelry was a mysterious business to many visitors. He recommended the BID’s website, www.diamonddistrict.org, for consumer information, including shopping tips, the Jewelry Buyer’s Bill of Rights, and a safeguard for smart buying--the list of BID members.

Over 90 percent of all diamonds sold in the US go through New York, and most go through the current Diamond District. It evolved from earlier districts established in the 1920s near Canal Street and the Bowery. During World War II, thousands of Jewish émigrés fled from diamond centers of Antwerp and Amsterdam  and settled in New York.  Soon the trade became dominated by Orthodox Jews, who are still active in the business; the hats of several Hasidic sects can be seen on some businessmen along 47th Street. Grumet observed that the various businesses here, such as cutters, importers, and retailers, still provide opportunities for immigrant newcomers.

BID Board Member and jeweler Avery Weinschneider of Weisz Jewelry and Precious Stones described his jewelry-making techniques and his business. Greeter Roselyn Hirsch said, “The jewelry demonstration was fascinating. It was interesting learning more about the process of diamond-setting.” Weinschneider offered Greeters and their visitors additional insight at his store, where he will do demonstrations on Thursday afternoons (call him for details:  212/575-5817; 73 West 47 St.). He is a second-generation jeweler, and much of his business is focused on estate jewelry.

Grumet took the Greeters on a short walking tour, stopping at some of the jewelry exchanges: large rooms full of counters representing individual diamond and jewelry retailers.  A front window booth in a prime exchange can rent for $20,000 monthly. Grumet advised not to buy through hawkers on the street, but to look for the logos of the  BID’s Jewelry Buyer’s Bill of Rights and the Gemologists Institute of America (GIA) displayed by BID-member retailers, symbols he identified during the walk. The BID visit helped the Greeters become more savvy about the district and its stunning array of diamonds and fine jewelry. “We enjoyed learning more about the district and we will be taking visitors there armed with the impact and history of the industry,” said Greeter Jack Victor.  Even if visitors are on a budget, window shopping on West 47th Street with a Greeter can be a great deal.

By Laurie Norris

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Greeters Visit Coney Island: the Old and the New

Photo by Elizabeth Holmes

On Sunday, June 13, a group of intrepid greeters met with Brooklynite Marianne Gennari for a sight-seeing expedition into the wilds of Coney Island. In addition to a history lesson on both the genteel and the colorful sides of the area, the group viewed the local architecture, learned about the rise and fall of the great amusement parks of Coney Island's heyday, and examined the evolution of the hot dog and its impact on the national consciousness.

The outing included two city landmarks: Deno's Wonder Wheel, which has thrilled crowds since 1920, and the Cyclone, the last of the great Coney Island roller coasters. After visiting Grandma, the mechanical fortune teller who has been reading the future since 1900, there was plenty of time to drop by the New York Aquarium and to feast on local fare.

Other highlights included:

• A visit to the new Luna Park, the first major amusement area to be built in Coney Island since 1962. Featuring 19 new rides, Luna Park is considered to be the first step in revitalizing the entire area.

• Learning about Coney Island's contribution to the rebirth of professional baseball in Brooklyn. While visiting beautiful MCU Park, the stadium home of the Brooklyn Cyclones, Marianne explained how to get discount tickets to the games and where to find the best seats in the stadium. The Brooklyn Cyclones are the minor league team associated with Major League Baseball team, the New York Mets.

• Enjoying a good, old-fashioned hot dog at the original Nathan's, home of the Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest. Greeter Tip: Go to Nathansfamous.com to join Nathan’s Coupon Club and have discount coupons emailed to you.

The expedition ended with a visit to the Williams Candy Company, purveyor of sweet treats for over 75 years; a drop-in at Gargiulo's, serving fine Italian cuisine since 1907, and a final stop at the Stillwell Avenue subway station, the most energy-efficient transportation terminal in the United States.

To learn more about Coney Island and its many wonders, click Coney Island Neighborhood Profile for Big Apple Greeter’s website.

Written by Marianne Gennari with Lee Frankel

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Greeter Outing to Fort Greene

Photo by Bobbie Gold 

On Tuesday, June 1, 2010, Greeters met in Fort Greene, a neighborhood located in the northwest section of Brooklyn above Prospect Park, to explore this New York City designated historic district. The outing, organized by Jennifer Stokes from the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, included guided tours of Myrtle Avenue, Clinton Hill, and the Fort Greene Conservancy.

Sarah Farwell, also from the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership, conducted the first part of the tour.  She accompanied the Greeters for a walk along Myrtle Avenue, which runs from the Flatbush Avenue extension through Brooklyn to Richmond Hill in Queens. Myrtle Avenue features many locally owned businesses and has been a major roadway since at least the early 1800’s. Between Myrtle Avenue and the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the group explored the historic Wallabout neighborhood, an area noted for having the largest concentration of pre-Civil War frame houses in the City, some dating back to the 1830’s, and what is thought to be the only surviving home of poet Walt Whitman located at No. 99 Ryerson Street.

During the next leg of the journey, Dave Haberer, former Big Apple Greeter Volunteer and President of the Society for Clinton Hill, in the Historic Clinton Hill District, joined the volunteers.  Mr. Haberer pointed out magnificent wooden, brick and brownstone homes found along Washington, Waverly, Clinton and Dekalb Avenues.  Wealthy magnates such as Charles Pratt built these freestanding mansions at the turn of the century.  In 1877, Mr. Pratt opened Pratt Institute, located at 200 Willoughby Avenue. Mr. Haberer and the Greeters walked through part of the Pratt Sculpture Park that is found throughout the 25-acre university campus.  It is largest park of its type in New York City and features the work of such artists as Richard Serra, Donald Lipski, and Mark di Suvero.

Leaving the campus, the group passed St. Joseph University and continued on to Fulton Street, where they were met by Phillip Kellogg, Manager of the FAB Alliance, who directed their attention to the Churches of St. Luke and St. Matthew with their many Tiffany windows and Atlantic Terrace, a low rise apartment building that is one of the Brooklyn’s first buildings to receive LEED Gold Certification for its environmentally sustainable features.  Then Joan Reutershan, from the Fort Green Association, walked with the Greeters past many ethnic shops and outdoor cafes to South Portland Avenue, where they saw a tree lined expanse of Romanesque Revival Italianate brownstones all with cast iron grillwork.

Charles Jarden, Chairman of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, concluded the day’s outing at Fort Greene Park, originally the site where forts were built for the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. In 1864, Fort Greene Park was redesigned by renowned landscape designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux.  Mr. Jarden lead the group to the park’s highest point to view the Prison Ship Martyr’s Monument.  This monument is a memorial to the 11,500 individuals who died in British prison ships from 1776-83.  Greg Rupiano, from the Walt Whitman Project, spoke of the memorial’s history, and Nicole Mitchell sang an ode written by Walt Whitman to the tune of the “Star Spangled Banner” and read Whitman’s poem My Captain.

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Greeter Outing to the Greater Astoria Historical Society

Photo by Lynn Brooks

On April 30, 2010, a group of 16 Big Apple Greeters met at the Greater Astoria Historical Society located in the Quinn Building at 35-20 Broadway, 4th Floor, Long Island City. They were welcomed by the President of the Society, Richard Melnick, and former President Bob Singleton and given a brief history and slide show of the area.

The Greater Astoria Historical Society, chartered in 1985, is a non-profit organization supported by the Long Island City community. They are dedicated to preserving the community’s past and promoting its future. The Society hosts field trips, walking tours, slide presentations, and guest lectures to schools and the public.  They also have many archival photos and house a collection of antique cooking, household appliances and tools.

After the slide show, the Greeters were escorted to the roof of the four story building and were able to see for many miles in each direction.  As it is one of the higher edifices in the neighborhood, most of the New York City bridges were visible from this grand viewpoint.

The Greeters were then taken on a long walk in the area, passing the American Museum of the Moving Image, the Kauffman Studios (where movies and TV shows are produced), and the Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts. The Steinway Piano Factory is also nearby.

They then strolled through the interesting residential streets with a wide variety of architecture. Many of the homes are single and two family structures.  The avenues in the surrounding area are filled with interesting shops and just about every ethnic restaurant that New York could offer.

For further information about the Society, please visit their website at http://www.astorialic.org.

 

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Volunteer Greeters Visit Washington Heights-Inwood

Photo by Karen Bell

"There is life after 155th St.," joked our host Dennis Reeder, executive director of the Washington Heights & Inwood Development Corporation, who then went on to show greeters how true this is.

    The Washington Heights and Inwood neighborhoods combined stretch along the Hudson, from 155th Street to the northern border of Manhattan, featuring the highest elevation in Manhattan, and including the George Washington Bridge crossing and Fort Tryon Park.

    This hilly neighborhood has traditionally been home to a diverse ethnic mix, and today has a population of approximately 250,000 mostly Hispanic residents, two-thirds of them from the Dominican Republic. The area also uniquely combines "homey" residential streets and shopping, historical locations, institutions of culture and higher education, and a renowned medical complex.

    With so much to see, the group began at the The Hispanic Society of America, now under renovation, followed by its neighbor the American Academy of Arts and Letters, famed for its architecture. Moving on, and reflective of the neighborhood's diverse attractions, the group stopped at Manhattan's oldest house, the Morris-Jumel Mansion, built in 1756; the Dyckman Farmhouse, originally from the 1600's; Inwood Hill Park, where Peter Minuit bargained with the with the Native Americans and "bought" Manhattan Island; and The Malcolm X Museum.

    Other trip highlights included the renowned Columbia University Medical Center and New York-Presbyterian Hospitals; Bennett Park; the Cloisters Museum; and Ft. Tryon Park, where 60,000 visitors are welcomed to its annual fall Medieval Festival.

    We extend a big "thank you" to Dennis Reeder and the Washington Heights & Inwood Development Corporation for the interesting and informative visit, which we enjoyed very much.

-Written by Sally Rose

    Please visit the links below to learn more about some of the attractions in this dynamic Manhattan neighborhood.

Washington Heights & Inwood Development Corporation

The Hispanic Society of America

American Academy of Arts and Letters

Morris Jumel Mansion

Dyckman Farmhouse Museum

Malcolm X Museum

The Cloisters

Other volunteer greeter group visits in the five boroughs, during November and December, 2009, were:

St. George Historic District and Civic Center, Staten Island

Dyker Heights Christmas Lights, Brooklyn

Concourse Village, the Bronx (hosted by the 161st Street Business Improvement District)

The Diamond District, Manhattan (hosted by the 47th Street Business Improvement District, http://www.diamonddistrict.org/home.html)

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Greeter Outing to the King Manor Museum

December 15, 2009

Photo Left to Right:  Volunteers Mike Brown, Sami Steigmann, Bobbie Gold, Marianne Gennari, Brad Smith, Caretaker Roy Fox.  Photo by Elizabeth Holmes

On December 15, 2009, six volunteer Greeters visited the King Manor Museum, an important historic landmark located on an 11-acre New York City park in Jamaica, Queens. The museum was once the stately manor home and farm of Rufus King, a Founding Father of the United States.

King was a framer of the U.S. Constitution, as well as one of New York's first United States Senators, Ambassador to Great Britain and an early, and outspoken, opponent of slavery.  He resided in the manor from 1805 to 1827.

Later it became the estate of King's son, John Alsop King, who served as New York's Governor. King Manor has been a museum since 1900.

Museum caretaker Roy Fox presented a fascinating lecture on Rufus King’s role in shaping the nation. He also made life at King Manor in the 19th century come alive for the greeters in attendance.  The lecture was followed by a tour of the manor and a walk along historic Jamaica Avenue.

Asked about current research that may someday vault Rufus King into the national spotlight, Fox said, “I get the feeling we’re just getting started. There’s a gem in history to be polished and brought out.”

Big Apple Greeter takes pride in its ability to provide New Yorkers with opportunities to enhance their leadership skills. Greeter Outings expand a Greeter’s knowledge by introducing neighborhoods and cultural sites in all five boroughs with which the Greeter may be unfamiliar. Afterwards, many Greeters do additional research, bring visitors and recommend the sites to friends, family, and neighbors.

-Elizabeth Holmes

Location: 150-03 Jamaica Avenue
Jamaica, New York
www.kingmanor.org

Subway: E, J or Z to Jamaica Center
Train:  Long Island Railroad to Jamaica Station

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Greeter Outing to the Museum of Chinese in America

October 21, 2009

Photo by Elizabeth Holmes

On October 21, 2009, thirty volunteer Greeters visited the Museum of Chinese in America, a non-profit institution that preserves and presents the history, heritage, culture, and diverse experiences of people of Chinese descent in the United States.  Founded in 1980 as the NY Chinatown History project by historian John Kuo Wei Tchen and community resident/activist Charles Lai, it was created to develop a better understanding of Chinese American history and community.

After a tour of the museum’s broad array of exhibits, lead by Assistant Curator of Education Daria Ng, docent Alice Fung gave the volunteer Greeters a guided walking tour through Chinatown, tracing the evolution of Chinese American eateries, food ways and local history.

“A jewel of a museum with a rich collection” says Big Apple Greeter volunteer Marianne Gennarie.

Big Apple Greeter takes pride in its ability to provide New Yorkers with opportunities to enhance their leadership skills. Greeter Outings expand a Greeter’s knowledge base by introducing neighborhoods and cultural sites in all five boroughs, with which the Greeter may be unfamiliar. Afterwards, many Greeters do additional research, bring visitors and recommend the sites to friends, family, and neighbors.

Written by Elizabeth Holmes

  

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Greeters Visit Important Historic Site in Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Eight volunteer Greeters accompanied by Isiah Hall, a representative from New York City Council Member Darlene Mealy’s office, visited the Weeksville Heritage Center, one of the earliest, historically documented owned and occupied communities of free African-Americans in the country. Established in 1838 in what is now Crown Heights, Brooklyn, Weeksville served as a refuge for slaves escaping the South and northern blacks in need of safe haven during the Civil War draft riots in lower Manhattan.

The landmark site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and features The Hunterfly Road Houses, three restored homes from the 1860s, 1900s, and 1930s.

“What made it so fascinating is that it was a racially and socially integrated place,” says Big Apple Greeter volunteer Kate Sheahan.

“The tour of Weeksville introduced me to a sacred part of Brooklyn history that I was not aware of,” says Mr. Hall.

Greeter outings are a critical component of Big Apple Greeter’s programming as they help boost tourism throughout the city’s five boroughs. Afterwards, many Greeters do additional research, bring visitors and recommend the sites to friends, family, and neighbors.

—Janet Alicea

 

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