What to Do if You’re Staying in NYC for Thanksgiving
So you’ve already broken your mother’s heart and decided that it’s not worth the $500 flight to eat turkey with Aunt Geraldine. Now what?
A collection of NYC’s greatest street art captured by our SideTour host, Rhiannon Platt. See more of NYC’s disappearing graffiti street scene and stay tuned for tips on tagging in The Big Apple.
Tribeca: Home of The Underground Railroad
As one of the most expensive zip codes in the country, Tribeca is known more for its trendy bars and restaurants than as a hotbed for conflict and rioting.
But in 1838, escaped slave Frederick Douglass stepped off of a steam boat at Chambers Street, a street known as one of the epicenters of The Underground Railroad.
Even though the neighborhood has gone through a dramatic evolution, spots still exist that offer a view into Tribeca’s very different past.
For example, 36 Lispenard at Church Street was the headquarters for The New York Vigilance Committee and the boarding house of David Ruggles, an activist who wrote and sold anti-slavery pamphlets.
What Do New Yorkers Complain Most About?
“TURN THE RADIO DOWN!” pleas are unsurprisingly most common in Manhattan while litter and graffiti complaints dominate most of the other boroughs.
We want to know what’s going on over in that little concentration of noise out by Little Neck Bay near Bayside though. If it’s house boat parties you can count us in.
Watch a Lion Climb the Wall Street Subway Steps
Gothamist ran a post today that included a selection of videos from New York City in the 1960s. See familiar landmarks, a candid clip of Marilyn Monroe, and a montage of the Village where the narrator announces:
The Village is an island of color and calm. Self-reliant and not easily influenced. Age doesn’t matter here. Because most who live here wander and search. But in the Village, everybody’s young inside.
Our favorite video is an old Dreyfus Fund commercial that features a lion sauntering out of the Wall Street subway station:
Paris and New York: A Creative Comparison
An awesomely creative video comparing Paris and New York, side-by-side.
San Gennaro Festival in Little Italy
Feast of San Gennaro in NYC’s Little Italy runs from September 13 - 23!
How to Make the Most Out of New York City
We asked a few people what’s on the top of their New York bucket list? How do they hope to make the most of their time living or visiting the Big Apple?
Brooklyn Also a “Best City on the Rise”
Following up on yesterday’s post about how Brooklyn is now the second most expensive city in the U.S. to live in, is this article listing Brooklyn as one of the best cities on the rise.
It makes sense that because housing costs are skyrocketing and wealthier people are moving to the borough, that bigger and better hotels and attractions (like Barclay’s Center) would also start to migrate.
That said, we can’t help wondering if Brooklyn is really “on-the-rise,” especially compared to places like Eunice, Louisiana, or if it has already risen. What do you think?
Meet the SideTour Team: Brian
Brian Cotlove just joined the SideTour team in the quest for finding the most interesting people in the city and beyond. He recently moved to New York from a 6-year -stint in France, and while you’d think he would have brought his new co-workers some delicious wine and cheeses, he didn’t. That said, we’ve still decided to let him be our friend.
Where’d you grow up?
I grew up in Seattle, although anyone from Seattle would be offended if I said that because I actually grew up in Burien, a suburb just outside of Seattle. Most Seattleites describe Burien simply as, “that place next to the airport, right?” I loved growing up in the Seattle: you’re surrounded by nature, the people are laid back, and people take an odd sort of pride in our constantly-failing professional sports teams.
I’d also like to take this opportunity to dispel the myth about the weather in Seattle. 40 days straight without rain in 2012!
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?
I had a short stint in high school at this calling center. We weren’t selling anything, but instead calling people asking them to attend a local county meeting to support a new water project or something like that. The worst part was that it was quite evident that everybody in the county was adamantly against this project. So I was 16 years old just getting an ear-full from each and every unhappy citizen assuming that I was the one who was going to dirty their water. To top it all off, the “call center” was in the living room of this woman’s home who kept far too many cats and didn’t change the litter box enough. The pay was $12.50 an hour which was over double the minimum wage at that time so being young and naïve I thought it was worth the constant verbal abuse and ever-present cat-pee aroma. It wasn’t.
Describe your perfect NYC day:
I’m pretty much addicted to backgammon so I love hanging out in Washington Square Park and playing for hours. It’s a great atmosphere because you’re also surrounded by the regular chess players who are constantly trying to get tourists to sit down for a game. Their “sales pitches” to the passersby is a constant supply of entertainment. Combined with the beautiful setting of Washington Square Park, there’s no better place to enjoy a sunny afternoon.
What’s your favorite part of working at SideTour?
What’s your favorite part of working at SideTour?
Discovering New York City through its people. Talking to all of these incredible hosts and learning about their passions and expertises really brings the city alive in a new and unique way.
Favorite NYC hang-out?
Favorite NYC hang-out?
I’ve only been in New York for about two months so I’m still making my way around, but I tend to gravitate towards Spuyten Duyvil out in Williamsburg. They’ve got a big back garden and a great selection of beers. The fact that it’s a block from my house makes the taxi ride home affordable as well.
