I've been to NYC a couple of times though not specifically as a vacation trip. We would go to NY to help our son move in or out from his dorm and in between I would try to catch some sights.
I don't think I've actually visited any of the touristy places. I try to walk the streets of NY, explore the various boroughs and try to get the flavor of the city as much as I can without actually being a NewYorker.
Our first visit to the city wasn't a whole lot of exploration of the city since we spent a lot of our time in new student orientation, helping with dorm room stuff and college events. We managed to explore and see the city a bit more on subsequent visits.
One such visit we stayed in Chelsea and decided to do a walking tour in that area. We also visited High line park which is a gorgeous park built on an unused railroad track. You forget that you are in a bustling city when you walk along this tranquil park.
I passed this centuries old structure in East Village- the Middlechurch , built in 1892. This beautiful church with red brick walls and tall spires is one of the oldest of the collegiate churches.
We enjoyed the colorful and vibrant street art in Chelsea that lined the walls as we walked towards High Line Park.
The Empire State building glowing in the foggy night.
The Astor place Cube is another integral part of the East Village streetscape. This sculpture by Bernard Rosenthal was installed in 1967 with the goal of bringing art to the community where people could interact and experience the beauty in their daily commute and walks.
Another favorite of mine is the Flatiron building in, of course, the Flatiron district. Located at the intersection of Fifth and Broadway, this iconic building was designed by Daniel Burnham in 1902. The narrow portion of the building is only 6.5 feet wide!
Cooper Triangle is a small park that pays homage to Peter Cooper, inventor, philanthropist and founder of Cooper Union, a college for the advancement of engineering and science. Th park was also the venue of an important speech by Abraham Lincoln in 1860. The northern end of this triangular park has a large bronze statue of a seated Peter Cooper on a marble pedestal. One of the beauties of NYC are these quaint parks and bits of lush greenery and foliage amongst the steel and concrete structures.
As I was darting from one event to another, I caught sight of this unusual looking facade and took a quick shot of the building. I later learned that this was one of the academic buildings of Cooper Union, a private undergraduate college. The building was designed by Thom Mayne and it's structure represents the innovative aspirations of the school and its advancements in the areas of art, architecture, and engineering. The sinuous, curved exterior and the perforated steel facade opens up the building and allows for interaction between school and community.
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| 41 Cooper Suare - iconic building designed by Thom Mayne |
And what trip is complete without the quintessential NYC skyline shining bright at night. This was a quick shot from a moving car as we were leaving the city to attend a family event in New Jersey.
It was spring and the cherry blossoms were in full bloom during that trip. Springtime is one of the best seasons to visit the East Coast!
Pic Credit: Nithya Ramachandran
