A Summer Hideaway on the Upper East Side

Walk Through Manhattan History at the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden

For the Upper East Siders who complain about the mess that the Second Avenue subway has brought to the neighborhood, consider this: In the early 19th century, well before subterranean travel was even a glimmer, the entire area was rolling farms and only reachable by stagecoach or steamboat. It was at that time that the Mount Vernon Hotel on East 61st Street served as a summer refuge for Manhattanites, who were concentrated below 14th street (OK, some things never change).

True story From 1826 to 1833, the bucolic retreat was advertised as “free from the noise and dust of the public roads, and fitted up and intended for only the most genteel and respectable” clientele, who could while away the hours in the ladies’ lounge or gentlemen’s tavern, or go for a dip in the refreshing waters of the East River (yes, really).

See it today The historic propertyis still an escape, to a simpler time of New York City’s past. The building and its gardens have been restored to their Victorian glory, with knowledgeable docents to walk you back in time. 

Like hidden treasures? Get an inside look at another hidden Manhattan museum on this SideTour: Encounter the Spellbinding Collection of NYC’s Smallest Museum.

Photo: All rights reserved by Harris Graber

A Chicago Landmark That Inspired Frank Lloyd Wright

The Unique Glessner House in the Prairie Avenue Historic District

Where to see it 

Find the Glessner House on Prairie Ave and 18^th St. It’s one of several grand homes on Prairie Ave built in the Gilded Age with the new money from the Industrial Revolution.

Why it’s important

Completed in 1887, the house was co-designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson and homeowners John and Frances Glessner—an unprecedented collaboration for the time. The Romanesque, fortress-like stone exterior is quite a departure from the fussy Victorian style, and considered among the first examples of American architecture and an influence to Frank Lloyd Wright.

Insider facts

The house was wired for electricity when it was built, but the neighborhood wasn’t, so the rooms were gas-lit until the 1893 World’s Fair.

Its massive size makes the most of a lot that’s just 74 feet wide. In fact, the building is joined to the house next-door, rowhouse-style, to maximize its width.

While the house contains 17,000 square feet of living space, the rooms aren’t cavernous, per the Glessners’ request that it feel cozy.

More than half of the space was designed for service staff, with just three bedrooms for the family, two for guests and eight for servants’ quarters.

Check it out for yourself  Guided tours are available Wednesday through Sunday at 1pm and 3pm.

Want more? Relive the lives of the Glessner’s contemporaries with SideTour on a tour of the Gold Coast of Lake Shore Drive, or see the mansions of the present-day elite on walk through the Kenwood neighborhood, including the Obama home.

Historic photo: Cornell University Library

Present-day photo: All rights reserved by Brule Laker

Easy Recipe for Stuffed Grape Leaves

Private chef Richard Vanderplas uses the world as his teacher, picking up cooking techniques from such far-flung locales as Maui and Vienna. His recipe for traditional Greek rice dolmas (a.k.a. stuffed grape leaves) came from his time spent in Crete. It’s just a part of one of the four courses he serves on SideTour’s Mediterranean feast hosted at his TriBeCa home.

Greek Rice Dolmas

 Ingredients:

1/2 jar grape leaves

2 Tbsp. olive oil

1 cup jasmine rice

2 bay leaves

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 cup water

2 tablespoons butter

10 leaves mint chopped

1 Tbsp. tomato paste

Chicken stock, vegetable stock or salted water

Plain Greek yogurt

Directions:

1. Unroll, separate and rinse the grape leaves, then let soak in water.

2. Heat olive oil in pan and toast rice with bay leaves until crispy.

3. Add garlic, balsamic vinegar and salt and cover with water, then bring to a boil and cook covered until all the water is absorbed and the rice is al dente.

4. After rice is cooked, add butter, mint and tomato paste, remove bay leaves and mix until combined.

5. After mixing, cook for an additional five minutes.

6. Take your grape leaf and cut off the bottom, getting rid of the stem and a little of the leaf, so that the proportion of leaf to rice is correct.

7. Place a ball of rice in the middle of the leaf near the bottom, in between the two side flaps.

8. Fold over one side of the grape leaf.

9. Fold over the other side.

10. Slowly roll the leaf up like a burrito, making it as tight as possible without breaking it.

11. The finished product. 

12. Layer the grape leaves in a cooking pot, packed tightly in.

13. Cover leaves with chicken stock, vegetable stock or salted water until fully submerged. Heat over low heat until the liquid simmers (but doesn’t boil) for 15-20 minutes.

14. Strain from stock. Serve hot with a dip of cold Greek yogurt—preferably wicked of extra moisture by leaving it in the fridge overnight with paper towels touching its top surface—garnished with cayenne, and enjoy!

If you’d rather have Richard make this for you himself, be sure to check out his Mediterranean meal. If Mediterranean cuisine isn’t your bag, Richard also hosts a four-course Indian fusion dinner with SideTour.

Top 5 NYC Parks with Free Wi-Fi

Bryant Park may have the most famous free Wi-Fi, but it’s not the only green space with a technological bonus. Find free web access at these other NYC outdoor hotspots.

Thomas Jefferson Park

New York City and AT&T began offering free wireless in city parks in 2011. One of the first beneficiaries was Thomas Jefferson Park, from East 111th to 114th Streets between First Ave and the FDR.

Tip To take advantage of the connection, you’ll need to stick close to the recreation center building.

Photo by Daniel Avila, nycgovparks.org

Brooklyn Bridge Park

Catch a breeze off the water and bask in the shadow of the two bridges (Brooklyn and Manhattan) while surfing the web. The connection on the Brooklyn side of the East River is sponsored by the DUMBO Business Improvement District (BID), Two Trees Management Company and NYCwireless.

Tip You can also wander south to Piers 1 and 6 for the city-sponsored Wi-Fi connection.

Photo by Julienne Schaer from Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Facebook page

Joyce Kilmer Park

This beautiful Bronx oasis, situated between Grand Concourse and Walton Ave and East 161st and 164th Steets, was also wired for wireless by the city’s project.

Tip Snag a bench near the north playground for the strongest signal.

Photo: All rights reserved by Bronx170

14th Street Park

This little patch of green between 14th and 15th Streets west of 10th Ave in Chelsea is a favorite neighborhood sunbathing spot. It’s also within the bounds of Google and the Chelsea Improvement Company’s joint initiative to offer free Wi-Fi to a sizeable swath of the neighborhood surrounding the Goog’s NYC headquarters.

Photo: chelseaimprovement.com

 Astoria Park

Located a short walk west of the last stops on the N train, this green space has many highlights, including the largest public swimming pool in New York City—and city-powered Wi-Fi. Just look up from your screen long enough to take in the awesome view of the Manhattan skyline.

Tip Hang close to the track and playing fields for the best connection.

Photo: All rights reserved by acelynn927 

Sick of surfing?

Turn off your devices and Discover the Hidden Secrets of Central Park on a Sunset Walk with SideTour.

Nathan Manske: 12 Hours in Williamsburg with the founder of I’m from Driftwood

Nathan Manske runs the nonprofit website I’m From Driftwood, which publishes personal stories by LGBTQ people from all over the world. It began with Nathan’s own moving story about being gay in Driftwood, a very small Texas town. Now living in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Nathan shares with SideTour his fave spots in the neighborhood.

As told to SideTour:

11AM Sweet beginnings A good day starts with a Turkish pastry, coffee and a friendly chat at Bedford Baking Studio. When you go, say hi to the owner, Tolga. He seems to know all his customers by name and is as sweet and warm as whatever delicious pastry he’s pulling out of the oven when you walk in.

Photo by Arancia Project

12:00PM Lawn lounging Bring your latte to the East River State Park for one of the best views of Manhattan. Take some pictures, lay out on a towel, throw a Frisbee—and make snarky comments about the surrounding condos.

Photo by mugsniffer

2PM Afternoon tippling It’s now well past noon—a totally acceptable time to start drinking. In this case, heavily. The brunch at Le Comptoir has an unlimited mimosa special, and the attractive and friendly waiters are usually quick on the refill. 

4PM Sipping and sunning The weather is getting nicer so spending some more time outside is mandatory. Having a beer at a picnic table at Spritzenhaus is fun, and decent for people watching. Another outdoor spot to keep the brunch buzz going: the back gardens at Nita Nita.

Photo by CMPTR Collective

7PM Dinner and a movie Next up, Nitehawk. Watch a movie while ordering food and drinks from your seat. As an Austin-area native and regular visitor to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, I was skeptical that Nitehawk would get this right. I was so happy to be wrong. They show great films, there are good options for food and drinks, and the servers do a great job at staying out of the way.

Photo by jmoranmoya

10PM Neighborhood sightseeing I spend many an evening on my balcony hanging out with my friends. If you don’t live in the ‘hood, wind down your night at Lucky Dog and try to get a seat out front on Bedford so you can ogle the hipsters as they pass by. If you’ve got a doggie, you can take your furry friend to the bar.

Want more interesting ideas?

See what else there is to do this weekend on SideTour.

The Perfect Mother’s Day Gift Idea

If Mom lives in the New York, D.C. or Chicago areas (or has plans to be in town), consider your Mother’s Day gift shopping done.

SideTour has partnered with H. Bloom to put together the perfect Mother’s Day gift package. Mom will receive a stunning Signature Selection Bouquet from H.Bloom, plus a $40 credit toward any SideTour experience. That means in NYC she can enjoy a ladies’ afternoon high tea, in DC she could learn the secrets of homemade Italian desserts, or in Chicago she might whip up some all-natural skincare remedies for spring.

The whole package is $100 and includes delivery on the Saturday before Mother’s day.

Order now at SideTour.com.

The Most Beautiful Gate Hidden in Philadelphia

Philadelphia blacksmith Louise Pezzi, whose ironwork adorns several National Historic Landmark churches, points to this as the most exquisite exterior gate in town.

Where to find it The gate protects and adorns the front door of the Marion Locks Gallery at 600 S. Washington Square. When it was installed in 1923, the building housed Lea and Febiger, the nation’s oldest publishing company.

Why it’s awesome The ironwork is so delicate that from the front view it disappears, yet it serves its purpose to boost security.

To see more of the best area examples of this age-old art form, Discover the City’s Stunning Ironwork with a Local Blacksmith on Louise’s SideTour.

A Cocktail with Roots in the Harlem Renaissance

Mixologist and entrepreneur Karl Franz owns Harlem cocktail bar 67 Orange Street, named after the address of the first African American-owned bar in New York City. The menu includes this refreshing cocktail, Emancipation Again, which itself is steeped in some history.

The original Emancipation cocktail was designed by one of the early bartenders at 67 Orange. Today, Karl has recreated it, adding some ingredients and changing some proportions to bring us the Emancipation Again. The name is a double entendre, referring to 67 Orange’s connection to African-American history, and also to the cocktail’s light taste and the way you feel when you drink it.

Emancipation Again

(serves 1) 

Ingredients:

2 oz. Crop Organic Cucumber Vodka

1 oz. Patron Citronage

¾ oz. agave nectar

½ oz. fresh squeezed lime juice

1 barspoon-full of apple cider vinegar

3 cucumber slices

4 small cubes of ginger

A few sprigs of cilantro

2 lime wedges

Directions:

Muddle two slices of cucumber, ginger, cilantro and lime in the agave and lime juice. Combine with the rest of the ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled. Strain and serve up in a coupe or martini glass garnished with the remaining slice of cucumber.

For more libation history:

Get a real insider’s look at 67 Orange Street and the history it commemorates by signing up for Karl’s SideTour: Experience the Cocktails and Chronicles of Harlem’s Revival.

Yellow Wood Sorrel: Foods You Can Forage For in NYC

To most New Yorkers, foraging for food means digging out leftovers from the depths of the fridge. But “Wildman” Steve Brill, an expert ecologist, insists you can forage for food in NYC’s parks (and not just come out with a stale jumbo pretzel). There are tons of edible plants and mushrooms ripe for noshing if you know how to find them. Yellow wood sorrel kicks off Steve’s list of top 10 things to forage for in NYC.

Yellow wood sorrel

How to find it Yellow wood sorrel grows in lawns, along the sides of trails and roads and in partially sunny spots in the woods. It has small, three-parted leaves and heart-shaped leaflets, and in the spring it blooms with small yellow flowers. People confuse it with clover, which actually has oval leaflets. The delicate sorrel leaves fold shut to protect themselves from direct sunlight, heavy dew and rainfall (in fact, if you see them closed, you may expect a shower).

How to eat it You can use the lemony-tasting leaves, flowers and fruit capsules raw in salads, or cook them in soups or stews. They also make a fine tea: Pour boiling water over them and let sit, covered, for 20 minutes. Strain out the plants, sweeten as desired and enjoy, or chill it and serve as ice tea. Sorrel is loaded with vitamin C.

Hungry for more? Check back as we continue to count down Steve’s top 10 wild edibles. And be sure to check out Steve’s SideTour experience as well as his definitive smartphone app for foraging: Wild Edibles (for iOS and Android). 

Jeff Newelt: 12 Hours in NYC with a Man of Many Hats

Jeff Newelt, a.k.a. JahFurry, is a PR/social media consultant to artists, authors, musicians, non-profits and brands. He’s also a comics editor for SMITH, Heeb and Royal Flush magazines, and edited Harvey Pekar’s webcomic series and his final graphic novel, Cleveland. And he’s a dancehall reggae singer who regularly jams with musicians from the Skatalites & Steel Pulse. It’s no surprise that this busy man’s ideal Saturday includes noshin’, comics shoppin’ and ditty boppin’.

As told to SideTour

10:30 AM: A Sweet Start-Me-Up I recently moved to Harlem and am uberjazzed about the neighborhood nosheries. A stellar Saturday starts at Lee Lee’s Baked Goods to procure a dozen “Rugelach by a Brother.” Alvin Lee Smalls’ marzipan-tinged chocolate ruggies are a mouth-watering miracle… the miracle being if there are any left by the time you get there.

11:00 AM: Leisurely-Yet-Lively Brunch After a pastry procurement, it’s time to head over to ll Caffe Latte. This bustling frills-free joint gets jammed with folks kibbitzin’ over coffee; one can eat, chat and relax. My order: a glass of blood-orange juice, eggs and cheddar on a croissant with crispy sweet potato fries—oh my’s!

12:30 PM: Comics Culture From Harlem, schlep down to east Midtown to peep the latest exhibits at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art at the Society of Illustrators. I’m jonesin’ to check out the current showing on Harvey Kurtzman, creator of MAD Magazine and pioneer of pop-culture satire, and on Bill Griffith, creator of the brilliantly absurd long-running Zippy The Pinhead strip.

2:00 PM: A Nice Sandwich After soaking in the Yiddishisms of Kurtzman’s kooky comics, a Kosher deli is the only way to go. Fine & Schapiro, on the Upper West Side has decidedly not-fancy décor—simulated wood paneling and big diner booths—and a blasé wait staff that nicely complements the near-perfect pastrami. Listen for the elderly deli-men behind the counter loudly confirming delivery orders on the phone to even elderly-er UWS residents.

4:00 PM: The ‘Strip Club On one family-fun excursion when I was 10, we stumbled into Forbidden Planet, a comic-book and sci-fi heaven, and my already super-hero-soaked brain blew into itsy-bitzies. On a recent present-day visit to its East Village location, I picked up a few groovy graphic novels, including Jerusalem, a riveting true tale of the forming of Israel, based on writer Boaz Yakin’s family story and explosively illustrated by Nick Bertozzi, and Maximum Minimum Wage, a highlariousy written and raunchily illustrated semi-autobiographical tome by Bob Fingerman.

6:30 PM: Pizza Party Every savvy New Yorker’s got his or her own preferred pie. Mine is Luzzo’s. Coal oven. Thin crisp crust. Sweet and tangy tomato sauce. Melt-in-mouth mozzarella di bufala. Perfection. 

8:00 PM Karaoke Break Remember the Seinfeld episode that took place in a Chinese restaurant waiting area, and finally the maitre d’ mysteriously calls “Cartright!” instead of “Costanza!” so George misses their table? Well, good thing I do, because I just knew that when the karaoke guy at Planet Rose shouted, “Jerk! Jerk!” he was really calling for me. With funky leopard-skin couches, a goofy fun crowd and relatively cheap drinks, this spot on Avenue A is a hit.

10:00 PM Jazz, Blues and Booze 55 Bar is an intimate unpretentious, affordable jazz club with consistently excellent music, both accessible and experimental. My favorite acts to see there are blues guitarist/singer Bill Sims Jr., who brings a soulful vibe; keyboardist/accordionist/singer Brian Mitchell, with his New Orleans gumbo-funk ensemble; and saxophonist/singer Jay Collins & His Kings County Band who mixes rootsy Americana into the jazz stew.

12:00 AM to LATE. Underground Sounds NuBlu, a hip-without-being-hipster club for music-lovers. The act to catch here is Clark Gayton and Explorations in Dub, a jazz-meets-reggae all-star ensemble let by Gayton on Sousaphone, dropping deep-dub bass lines.

Want even more ideas of cool stuff to do around town?

Check out what’s on tap this weekend on SideTour.