Escaping the City’s Hustle and Bustle…
…Without Leaving Manhattan
Teddy Urena, a Big Apple Greeter volunteer for 17 years, recently shared his neighborhood on a walk with a group of fellow Greeters.
Originally from the Dominican Republic, Teddy has lived in New York City on and off since 1998, always making his NYC home in the neighborhoods at the northern tip of Manhattan.
The Greeters met at the 190th Street station of the A subway line, taking the elevator up to Fort Washington Avenue. Across the street from the station is the Mother Cabrini Shrine, dedicated to the patron saint of immigrants. From there, it was a short walk to 192nd Street and the southern end of Fort Tryon Park, 67 acres of greenery spanning the Washington Heights and Inwood neighborhoods. Built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the park offers views across the Hudson River, two playgrounds, and The Cloisters, which houses the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s medieval European art and artifacts, including the famous Unicorn Tapestries.
Teddy says that The Cloisters is one of his favorite places to take visitors because “You feel like you’re in Europe.” Built on land donated by Rockefeller to the Metropolitan in 1931, the museum opened in 1938. Architect Charles Collens’ design evokes medieval monastic life with four cloisters, medieval gardens, and themed galleries displaying pieces from the 12th to 15th centuries. One ticket gives you access to both the Metropolitan Museum and The Cloisters on the same day, and there’s no charge to explore the gardens.
A valley at the northern end of Fort Tryon Park separates it from Inwood Hill Park, another spot for relaxing in nature. Leading the group east of the parks to Broadway and 204th Street, Teddy introduced the Greeters to the Dyckman Farmhouse Museum. A reminder of New York City’s rural history, the structure is the oldest farmhouse in Manhattan and was built by William Dyckman in the 1780s to replace a nearby family home that was destroyed during the American Revolution.
The Church of the Good Shepherd a few blocks north on Broadway at Isham Street was the final stop for the day. Built in 1935, the church has a memorial garden with a cross made of beams from the World Trade Center and honors neighborhood residents killed in the 9/11 attacks.
Whether you’re on the hunt for trees and flowers, art and antiquities, or remnants of New York City history, a trip Uptown to Washington Heights and Inwood has what you’re looking for.