"West Side Story of Spanish Harlem”
As I make my way on the subway to Penn Station I knew that our adventure to Spanish Harlem will be an interesting one. Mike began his same routine calling attendance and telling us the game plan for the day. Out tour guide Megan explained to everyone that El Museo was a creation of 1960’s educational activism from the community, and its devotion to Latino and Caribbean. El Museo is founded by artist and educator Raphael Montatanez Ortiz and a group of parents, educators, artists, and activists who thought that conventional museums ignored the Latino artists. Located at the edge of Spanish Harlem or ‘El Barrio’, El Museo was founded in 1969 by community activists, teachers and artists, mainly Puerto Ricans. (BG, 376) We continued out of the museum grounds and walked along 105th street and viewed the showcase of a spiritual shop. Justo Boteca had relics of religious statues to the community. Manny Vega is an important figure in the spiritual Latin American world and he dedicated his time creating works of art throughout Spanish Harlem.
After the Museo Del Barrio tour we went to have lunch. As everyone went to El Paso I went to a little café called East Harlem Café I ordered a turkey sandwich with a chocolate crumb cake. I felt like I was in a Starbucks it was small and peaceful I enjoyed the people there. We then headed one block down the Museum of the City of New York. Founded in 1923, the Museum of the City of New York offers exhibitions that explore the city's complex history from its early days as a Dutch colony to its present eminence (BG, 376). The museum’s collection includes photographs of New York City, as well as costumes, decorative objects, furniture, rare books, and manuscripts. On the 2nd floor, a floor dedicated to the World Trade Centers, which displays them being built and photographs taken on September 11, 2001 by Camilo Jose Vergara. After walking around the museum we then had to wait for the short film “Timescapes” to begin. Timescapes is a short film which traces the growth of New York City from a settlement of a few hundred Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans to its present status as one of the world’s great cities. I enjoyed it very much.
The Conservatory Garden was the most beautiful place that I have been to. As we hiked and rock climbed through the park it was tiresome. We walked from 105th street through the Park to Columbus Circle. We then crossed the street in to Central Park. Central Park opened in 1857. It is a public park located in the center of Manhattan. Central Park has been a National Historic Landmark since 1963. It was designed by landscape designer and writer Frederick Law Olmstead and the English architect Calvert Vaux. 
Before arriving to Columbus Circle, we stopped at Strawberry Fields. Strawberry field is dedicated to the memory of the late musician John Lennon. It was named after the Beatles song “Strawberry Fields Forever”. We then crossed the street to stop and see the Dakota Hotel where John Lennon lived with his wife Yoko Ono. We all then parted ways from Columbus Circle and headed home. I know by the time I get on the train my feet are going to feel it.
As I make my way on the subway to Penn Station I knew that our adventure to Spanish Harlem will be an interesting one. Mike began his same routine calling attendance and telling us the game plan for the day. Out tour guide Megan explained to everyone that El Museo was a creation of 1960’s educational activism from the community, and its devotion to Latino and Caribbean. El Museo is founded by artist and educator Raphael Montatanez Ortiz and a group of parents, educators, artists, and activists who thought that conventional museums ignored the Latino artists. Located at the edge of Spanish Harlem or ‘El Barrio’, El Museo was founded in 1969 by community activists, teachers and artists, mainly Puerto Ricans. (BG, 376) We continued out of the museum grounds and walked along 105th street and viewed the showcase of a spiritual shop. Justo Boteca had relics of religious statues to the community. Manny Vega is an important figure in the spiritual Latin American world and he dedicated his time creating works of art throughout Spanish Harlem.
After the Museo Del Barrio tour we went to have lunch. As everyone went to El Paso I went to a little café called East Harlem Café I ordered a turkey sandwich with a chocolate crumb cake. I felt like I was in a Starbucks it was small and peaceful I enjoyed the people there. We then headed one block down the Museum of the City of New York. Founded in 1923, the Museum of the City of New York offers exhibitions that explore the city's complex history from its early days as a Dutch colony to its present eminence (BG, 376). The museum’s collection includes photographs of New York City, as well as costumes, decorative objects, furniture, rare books, and manuscripts. On the 2nd floor, a floor dedicated to the World Trade Centers, which displays them being built and photographs taken on September 11, 2001 by Camilo Jose Vergara. After walking around the museum we then had to wait for the short film “Timescapes” to begin. Timescapes is a short film which traces the growth of New York City from a settlement of a few hundred Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans to its present status as one of the world’s great cities. I enjoyed it very much.
The Conservatory Garden was the most beautiful place that I have been to. As we hiked and rock climbed through the park it was tiresome. We walked from 105th street through the Park to Columbus Circle. We then crossed the street in to Central Park. Central Park opened in 1857. It is a public park located in the center of Manhattan. Central Park has been a National Historic Landmark since 1963. It was designed by landscape designer and writer Frederick Law Olmstead and the English architect Calvert Vaux. 
Before arriving to Columbus Circle, we stopped at Strawberry Fields. Strawberry field is dedicated to the memory of the late musician John Lennon. It was named after the Beatles song “Strawberry Fields Forever”. We then crossed the street to stop and see the Dakota Hotel where John Lennon lived with his wife Yoko Ono. We all then parted ways from Columbus Circle and headed home. I know by the time I get on the train my feet are going to feel it. 
23/25
ReplyDeleteYou did a much better job on the last set of posts. They are thorough and nicely documented. Good work!
You now have all of your grades for this class, so you should have a pretty good idea of where you stand. Meritta and I will be chatting about your grades sometime next week and we should have them submitted shortly after that.
Now that you have gone through this course, would you be so kind as to do a review of the class at www.ny-exp2.blogspot.com? It would be a big help to future students as well as a means for the administration to know what you think about the course.
I look forward to seeing you around campus. If there is anything else I can do for you, don’t hesitate to contact me at any time.
Warmest regards,
Mike