Photo Credit: Bev Norton (from Flickr.com)
I was able to visit the Grand Central Holiday market earlier today. Located inside Grand Central station by the 42nd street exit and in Vanderbilt Hall , the market was lined with small wooden booths with unique and handmade goods, from jewelry to artisanal candles. The holiday fairs began at this location since 1933 and this year it operates from November 11th up until Christmas eve. Although it was pretty small it was a great discovery overall.
On a leisurely walk downtown, I came across these glass floor panels that are designed to showcase archaeological remains hidden below the surface. What makes them so interesting is how they let people see the history underneath without destroying or disrupting the area around them. These panels offer a glimpse into the past while blending into the modern city landscape.
You can find these panels in Foley Square, located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan. Foley Square is surrounded by important courthouses and historic buildings, but it’s also a spot where history comes alive in unexpected ways. The glass panels allow you to look beneath the ground, where artifacts and structures from centuries ago are preserved. It’s like walking over a window into New York City’s past.
Seeing something like this makes you realize how much history is all around us, even in the busiest parts of the city. It’s a reminder of how New York is a mix of old and new, and how the city works to protect its history while continuing to grow.
On December 14th, I originally meant to go to the Waterfront Museum on the Red Hook Waterfront. Unfortunately, the museum barge was closed, and the website made no indication that it was closed. The area, however, was really pretty and my mom and I got to take some cool pictures of the Statue of Liberty. Due to the proximity, we caught a glimpse of Ikea and their ferry landing from the ledge that the museum is located on. Although this is what most people consider out of the way, I feel like it’s one of those hidden spots in walking distance to Ikea. The ledge that the museum is on is monitored which you will see on the sign next me lol.
Located on Madison between 37th and 36th is the Morgan Library, an independent research library. It began as a personal library for Pierpont Morgan (J.P. Morgan) and is now an open museum filled with collections of manuscripts, rare books, music, drawings, and other works of art. I had a day off of work to wander around the city and I decided to see what they had in here, not much but I had never been.
At Industry City there was a Japanese Holiday Market by Niji that was on the second floor of the Japan Village building. They have a variety of jewelry, apparel, stationery, and food. The vendors have a table with their merchandise displayed out. It pop-up was a two day event December 14 & 15. After the holiday market I explored Industry City as there is various things to do with shops, exhibitions, and pop ups.
The American Museum of Natural History promote scientific and public education but over the decades, the museum has expanded its collections and facilities, establishing iconic exhibits such as the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life, the Hayden Planetarium, and the Rose Center for Earth and Space. The museum’s anthropology collection includes artifacts from ancient and modern cultures around the world, such as Native Americans, Africans, Asian communities etc. It very extensive and diverse I will encourage visitors and tourists to visit if they have the interest in natural world, human cultures and scientific discoveries.
Little Island is a new free public place located in Hudson Park in Manhattan. It opened to the public on May 21, 2021, providing a unique venue for New Yorkers and tourists from all over the world. This place looks like a stage, where anyone can experience a slow-paced life and a clean environment. There are many beautiful vegetation on the island, and you can also look out over New Jersey on the other side. It is a paradise for people here. When I first came here, I felt like I was in a place different from New York. Quiet and comfortable is my experience.
Walking through the city, I noticed this church I had never seen before—the St. Mark’s Church has 350 years of history. It’s one of the oldest sites of religious practice and the 2nd oldest church building in Manhattan. It was built as a family chapel which is why it is skewed from the City Grid. In 1799, Alexander Hamilton helped incorporate the church as the first Episcopal parish independent of the Trinity Church in the U.S. Today is still used as a church and an event space for the community every week. They just had a Thanksgiving dinner in the Welcome Center, a lunch-in, a family advent crafts and Christmas music event, and a St. Nicholas Party. They soon will be having a Christmas pageant, caroling, and cocoa, a St. Mark’s Rocks Christmas Concert and more. The lion represents Mark the Evangelist, the traditional symbol.
Dyker Height have been a famous christmas light that alot of tourism come here to see the christmas light and while walking around in my neighborhood I saw some house decorated it with christmas lights and decoration as one of the house was use Alien decorations mix in with a christmas theme. This event with the christmas light is so popular that me and my familly start to join in this festive event in the first picture.
While walking around Columbus Circle I stumbled upon this sculpture near The Time Warner building. It was done by the late Boaz Vaadia and he named it “Asaf and Yo’ah.” Vaadia was from Israeli descent and lived in Manhattan. Studied at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. I thought this sculpture really stood out in a sea of metal, glass, and copper as it is made out of bluestones and boulders. It has been there since 2000.
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