Today we bring to you a blogger who’s sole purpose is to photograph the lost and forgotten food on the streets of New York. No, we’re not talking about street food…we’re talking about food on the streets. A personal fave is the solitary meatball, pictured above. Without further ado: Street Tucker.
Today is World Environment Day and this year’s theme is “Does It Include You?” In honor of that, we’re digging into a hotly contested topic in NYC: the city’s drinking water. Some people refuse to drink it, while others claim it’s the best of the best. Let’s investigate.
Where does NYC water come from?
How much does it cost?
How does it get here?
Soo…what’s the final verdict?
Source: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
With summer (hopefully!) just around the corner, we rounded up a few of our favorite spots to escape the tourists in our concrete jungle:
Elevated Acre – 55 Water Street, Financial District
Hidden between two buildings, the entrance to this sunny patch of Downtown Manhattan paradise looks as though it’s just a staircase leading to nowhere. Climb the three flights, however, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. A full acre of green space, surrounded by a seven-tiered amphitheater, overlooks the East River from the Brooklyn Bridge to Governor’s Island.
Insider Tip: A pair of peregrine falcons has nested on the 15th floor for years. Visit in the spring and you may catch one of the baby’s first flights.
Greenacre Park – 217 E. 51st Street, Midtown East
Featured on our walking tour of Midtown East, this hideaway is one of the few in the city that’s home to a café, a two-story waterfall and a babbling brook. A quiet urban oasis on off-times, this small slice of green space gets crowded with office workers during lunch, so plan accordingly.
Insider Tip: Leave Fido and your camera at home when you visit - dogs and photography aren’t allowed.
Ravine, Brooklyn – In Prospect Park, between Long Meadow and Nethermead
The same architect-landscaper team that masterminded Central Park also designed the only remaining forest in Brooklyn: the Ravine. Follow the path down a narrow gorge to Prospect Park’s most rugged terrain (read: not stroller friendly!) and a stream of flowing water.
Insider Tip: Guided discovery walks begin at the Audubon Center on Saturdays and Sundays at 3PM.
Wave Hill – West 249th Street, Bronx (free van service is provided off the #1 train at W. 242nd Street)
Think bullfrogs and hummingbirds only grace places outside of the Big Apple? Think again. This 28-acre park along the Hudson in the Bronx is home to a number of different plant and animal species as well as a flower garden, conservatory, woodland forest and aquatic pool.
Insider Tip: The park is $8 for adults but is free on Saturdays from 9AM to noon (year-round) and on Tuesdays (all day from Nov – April, July, August; 9AM to noon May, June, September, October)
Harlem Meer, Central Park – Fifth Avenue from 106th to 110th Street
If you’re looking to drown out the sounds of the city in Central Park, forget about Sheep Meadow and head over to Harlem Meer instead. Situated around a lake, this area is home to some of the oldest trees in Manhattan. While it gets crowded with families on weekends, it’s the perfect place to unwind during early mornings and weekdays.
Insider Tip: Bring your inner Huck Finn and fishing pole – the pond is known for it’s catch-and-release policy.
Did you know that the lions standing watch outside the NY Public Library are named Fortitude and Patience? Also, that those same lions are the inspiration for the MGM logo? Louis B. Mayer had the idea for the logo while he sat staring at the lions from his office across the street.
New York, then and now. Such a great thing to be in a city that has so much documented history.
Thanks to a massive online database from the Department of Records, now you can peruse photos from 160 years of New York City history. Our Bryan Bedder set out to see how much has changed since the mid-1800s.
Suri stumbled on this old NY Times article today about lost (and preserved) languages in New York. It’s amazing to know that NYC, which is home to over 800 languages, is the capital of language density in the world.
