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Manhattan
I <3 NY and here's my reviews for the island of Manhattan
208 Places
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Bruce’s 3-star review: CLEAR is the fast lane at the airport, if it's available. Some airports have CLEAR lanes and some do not. My home airport, Charlotte, does not. So CLEAR is available to me no more than half of the times I travel. Here and there, it's almost a surprise to find a CLEAR lane. Washington Reagan, Austin, Nashville, Orlando, and a few dozen others. They have a list on their website. CLEAR doesn't bypass security. CLEAR bypasses the security LINE. You still go through the machines but you don't have to wait for an agent to check your identification. With CLEAR and PreCheck, I've never waited more than ten minutes to get through security. Ever. They'll get a fingerprint and an eye scan. When you show up to the airport, bring your boarding pass and your eyes. (They're not doing fingerprints as much any more thanks to COVID and avoiding touching surfaces.) CLEAR is not cheap. Its worth depends on how often you travel and how much time you would be spending in security lines. Currently $149 per year and with my new job with limited flying, it's no longer worth it for me. But when I was flying 40 weeks per year? Yes, worth it. My subscription will lapse this month. I will not renew. CLEAR is A-OK and whether it's worth it is completely dependent on your needs. [Review 19707 overall - 384 in New York - 679 of 2023.] -
Bruce’s 5-star review: The aptly named 11th Street Cafe was my Sunday morning stop and was a great spot for morning coffee and a pastry. This place is adorable and cute and they make a passable cortado. They also have a free wifi so I spent about two hours here writing Yelp reviews and thinking about when I would head back over to New Jersey and catch the train back to the van. [Review 18384 overall - 382 in New York - 1906 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 3-star review: 34th Street / Penn Station is at the intersection of Eighth Avenue. It is served by the A and E trains at all times, and by the C train at all times except late nights. The station is adjacent to Pennsylvania Station. The station opened in 1932. The station actually runs from 33rd Street through 34th Street to 35th Street and there are entrances/exits at all. At 34th Street, there is a single elevator to the northbound platform at the southeastern corner of the intersection, connecting to that platform's fare control. Inside fare control, three elevators from each platform go down to the underpass. Uptown from here, the next station is 42nd Street and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. Downtown on the A train express, the next station is 14th Street toward Far Rockaway-Mott Avenue or Ozone Park-Lefferts Boulevard. On the A / C / E local trains, the next stop is 23rd Street via Canal Street. [Review 18383 overall - 381 in New York - 1905 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: Last beer of the evening, I walked in to the Tailor and found a spot at the bar. Friendly neighborhood watering hole vibe with sports on the television and full plates of food coming out of the kitchen. My bartender was happy to have a conversation with me about local beers and suggested a good one for my second round. [Review 18382 overall - 380 in New York - 1904 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: A slice on the hoof, I saw it at the counter, they popped it in the oven for two minutes and then it was on a plate. Ready to go and I walked and at my way to the next stop. The pizza was a little thin, but well topped. Tasty with a spicy pepperoni on it and just a little bit of grease that dripped onto the streets of Manhattan. [Review 18381 overall - 379 in New York - 1903 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: "Baby, You're The Greatest." - Ralph Kramden to his wife, Alice. My last statue review was the one of Alexander Hamilton https://www.yelp.com/biz/alexander-hamilton-statue-new-york-2?hrid=LsDXKVgaz4u1UpB0Gl8J4g in Central Park https://www.yelp.com/biz/central-park-new-york-8?hrid=iSKYaPWSenPZJpJ_U_vO_w so we're definitely shifting gears here. Funded by TV Land https://www.yelp.com/biz/tv-land-new-york?hrid=LTMO1LJusOGcIS01BrpKUQ and in cooperation with the Port Authority, this statue of Jackie Gleason in one of his great roles stands in front of Manhattan's midtown Port Authority Bus Terminal: Bus driver Ralph Kramden from The Honeymooners. Gleason was actually awarded an honorary membership in the local bus drivers' union during the show's run in the 1950's. At the base, the plaque reads "Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden -- Bus Driver -- Raccoon Lodge Treasurer -- Dreamer -- Presented by the People of TV Land". [Review 18380 overall - 378 in New York - 1902 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: Yelp has a category for "Television Stations". So if we can review MTV https://www.yelp.com/biz/mtv-new-york?hrid=SzVUAy0ZscmknqMXu1YDIw, VH1 https://www.yelp.com/biz/vh1-new-york, CNN https://www.yelp.com/biz/cnn-headline-news-atlanta and Fox News https://www.yelp.com/biz/fox-news-new-york-3, why not this? So here we are with TV Land that exists thanks to cheap royalties and so much old, classic television. If you're yearning for nostalgia, bring your dial (Do TV's still have dials?) over to TV Land. Or just wander your browser to tvland.com. TV Land is owned by Paramount Global and was a spin-off from Nick at Nite's TV Land. You might find it included with your basic cable subscription. You'll find all sorts of old television shows, newer television shows and even some comedy standup. What we grown-ups might call "golden oldies." Oh, and a lot of overnight infomercials. M*A*S*H. Bonanza. The Andy Griffith Show. Everybody Loves Raymond. Hot in Cleveland. Gunsmoke. That sort of stuff. I was looking for TV that isn't people getting voted off islands or chef shows where failure gets yelled at, or even talking heads sitting around a table yammering about the current political football. I find TV Land relaxing and leave it on in the background. [Review 18379 overall - 377 in New York - 1901 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: After entirely too much walking, I decided to take the train a bit downtown. Worth it. The station is at West 72nd Street and Central Park West, servicing the B on weekdays, the C train at all times except nights, and the A train during late nights only. The D train does not stop here. The station opened in 1932. There are street level entrances and exits (weird to see it marked on the light pole) with two levels below. On the B and C local lines, the next station uptown is 81st Street / Museum of Natural History and the next station downtown is 59th Street / Columbus Circle towards Both fare control areas are on the upper level platform and two staircases, one adjacent to each area, go down to the lower level. The station is not handicapped accessible. [Review 18378 overall - 376 in New York - round number 1900 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: Time for another adult beverage after walking 25000 steps so far today and it's in the upper 80s. Yelp brought me to Dive 75 where I enjoyed a draft beer while trying not to get too irritated by the six yuppies who were too loud and too drunk. Whatever. The beer was cold. The air conditioning was cold. I had a nice break from my afternoon before whatever would be next. [Review 18377 overall - 375 in New York - 1899 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 3-star review: This formerly unnamed wooden bridge originally crossed the Ladies' Pond, which has been filled in. In 2000, it was dedicated the "Triplets Bridge", after Benjamin, Rachel and Justin Chasalow. But who they are, the Internet doesn't seem to want to give up that secret. The bridge once overlooked Ladies Pond, but now crosses a small brook after the draining of the pond in the 1930s. The area around the bridge is rather densely wooded, so look out for whatever wildlife remains in the area - racoons and squirrels. [Review 18376 overall - 374 in New York - 1898 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 5-star review: I lucked out today. When I passed through the Greywacke Arch, a cellist was busking. She was amazing and I stopped to listen for a bit. And you know the rule - if you stop, you have to give them money. The arch carries the East Drive over a pedestrian path that connects the Great Lawn area with the landscape behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Greywacke is named for the particular type of sandstone from which it is built. It is found in the Hudson Valley. I wouldn't recommend walking through the arch at night but I was here at 6pm on a summer afternoon when it was still quite light. There were plenty of people walking around and no one standing around. [Review 18375 overall - 373 in New York - 1897 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 5-star review: Well, this is out of place. It's actually a 15th century BC (yes, 3500 years old) obelisk and was installed in Central Park in 1881. The obelisk was a gift to the United States in 1877 as thanks for remaining friendly and neutral while France and Britain tried to control the Egyptian government. The obelisk is nearly 70 feet tall and is made of red granite. It was originally erected in the Egyptian city of Heliopolis on the orders of Thutmose III, in 1475 BC. It's granite, so the thing looks quite new though the hieroglyphs have faded some in the last 150 years. It stands proudly on a small raised mound in Central Park, anchored in bedrock. The spot is named Greywacke Knoll. Only about 30 such obelisks are still in existence worldwide. This is the only one in North America. I've seen the Obelisk of Theodosius in Istanbul https://www.yelp.com/biz/at-meydanı-istanbul?hrid=YBLUJr28LXTdLyf3k6gbfA and the Boboli Obelisk in Florence https://www.yelp.com/biz/giardino-di-boboli-firenze-2?hrid=y57Tkg8IzvrCmpjuM_4htw. If you're in Central Park, stop and check it out. Read the translation of the hieroglyphics. [Review 18374 overall - 372 in New York - 1896 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 5-star review: Well, he doesn't look much like Lin Manuel Miranda so I don't know. Of course, Hamilton is one of the Founding Fathers of the United States serving as one of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia (from New York) and went on to serve as the first secretary of the treasury. It must have worked since they put him on the $10 bill. While not a New York native (he was born in what was then the English colonial island of Nevis in the Caribbean), he was educated at King's College (now Columbia University), served as artillery officer during the Revolutionary War and saw action in the New York and New Jersey campaign. He was also involved in securing victory at the Siege of Yorktown. He eventually returned to focus on business activities here in New York City and ran for Governor of New York State. And in an unfortunate series of events, ended up being challenged to a duel with Aaron Burr. Burr shot Hamilton, who died in 1804. So because of those ties to New York City, there is this statue of Hamilton in Central Park. The statue was donated to the City in 1880 by his son, John C Hamilton. Hamilton is wearing Colonial-era clothing. Note the thirteen stars above the pedestal, representing the original American colonies. [Review 18373 overall - 371 in New York - 1895 of 2022.]
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Bruce’s 5-star review: There are many that try to be like Central Park - Rock Creek Park in Washington and Griffith Park in Los Angeles and even Golden Gate Park - but there are none that have achieved the greatness that is Central Park. The most filmed movie site in the world and the most visited urban park in the United States. Parks of the park opened as early as 1858 and it's been under near constant update and renovation. The park has plenty of roads that go this way and that and many walkways and pathways. Interestingly, the park is not operated by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, instead it is maintained by the Central Park Conservancy. When I grew up on Long Island in the last century, Central Park was rumored for lots of violent crime and I think there is still a small amount of that which happens after dark. If you're here in the day time, and you stay on the main roadways and pathways, you're as safe and secure as you would be in Times Square. So fear not and check it out! [Review 18372 overall - 370 in New York - 1894 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 3-star review: It seems like these pharmacies have better and cheaper drinks than the convenience stores. I popped into this one and found a large bottle of cold water for under $2. That works! The store is in good condition, well stocked and they have all the usual pharmacy stuff including snacks, over-the-counter medications, greeting cards, personal care and such. [Review 18371 overall - 369 in New York - 1893 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: You might not know this, but the section of the East River Greenway where you're walking was named "Jerry Driscoll Walk" by Mayor Giuliani in 1999. And there is a marker here to show it, reading "Jeremiah Timothy Driscoll (1909-1994) was born in the fishing village of Baltimore, County Cork, Ireland. In 1928, at the age of 19, he came to New York to seek his fortune and began his long career on the waterways of New York as a deckhand on a Sheepshead Bay fishing boat." "One of the original partners in the formation of Sightseeing Yachts Circle Line in 1945, for over 60 years he owned and piloted tour boats, fishing boats, commuter boats, tug boats, and fuel delivery boats on the waterways of New York. A man of great integrity, he was dedicated to the fair and open use of New York Harbor's waterfront." After his death in 1994, to honor Jerry Driscoll's commitment to maritime commerce and his never-wavering efforts to preserve the integrity of the Seaport's historic authenticity, the Seaport Community Coalition initiated the effort to name the portion of the proposed East River Bikeway/Walkway from Peck Slip to Dover Street in his honor. [Review 18358 overall - 356 in New York - 1880 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 3-star review: Oh, we're getting uptown now. This is 86th Street and Lex, on the Upper East Side. The station is quite new and therefore it is handicapped accessible. It also seemed to be in decent shape as far as litter and general cleanliness. A visible display indicates the next train and how long but it was out of service today. The station serves the Second Avenue Line which means it has the N, Q and R trains. There are street entrances and exits, a mezzanine level with vending machines and turnstiles and a lower platform level with an island platform. The island platform means that the doors open on the left. This is the penultimate station for the line with the next stop at 96th Street https://www.yelp.com/biz/mta-96th-st-second-avenue-station-q-new-york?hrid=t2uOCqwc6PXEm5Jp-kMbuQ being the end. Heading downtown, the next stop is at 72nd Street https://www.yelp.com/biz/mta-72nd-street-second-avenue-station-new-york-2 on the way towards Coney Island - Stillwell https://www.yelp.com/biz/mta-coney-island-stillwell-station-brooklyn?hrid=MYwvidxbsETboQi35W34tg. [Review 18370 overall - 368 in New York - 1892 of 2022.]
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Bruce’s 2-star review: One of the most confusion stations I've been to in New York City with so many different lines going in different directions and at different times of day. As well, so many different exits but at least there is signage pointing the way. And in one case, leading to a closed and chained exit. Thanks for that. According to sources, this is the 4th most busy station on the entire MTA network and it opened in 1948. It serves the 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R and W trains. There are the usual street level entrance/exits in Union Square, below that is a mezzanine level with an elevator at the northeast corner of 14th Street and Union Square East, then three sets of platforms below. Note that the 4, 5, 6 platform is not handicapped accessible. The only parts of the station that are handicapped accessible are the Broadway (N, Q, R, W) and Canarsie Lines (B). [Review 18369 overall - 367 in New York - 1891 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 3-star review: Another underground station as are nearly all on the New York City subway, there are multiple Canal Street Stations. Today, I'm on the A/C/E line and heading uptown. Slightly newer than others, this station opened in 1932 and has the usual street level entrance with signage, a lower level mezzanine with turnstiles and vending machines, and below, two sets of Island platforms. The island platforms each serve northbound and southbound. The Express trains stop here so be sure you're getting on the right train. There are six open exits at this time with only one on Canal Street. None are step free. [Review 18368 overall - 366 in New York - 1890 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 5-star review: "We came! We saw! We kicked its ass!" - Bill Murray as Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters (1984) Lots of movies take place in New York City and one of the more famous modern films was set here in this firehouse in Manhattan. So if you're at all a fan of the movie, you need to stop by to see the famous spot. I have no idea if there's actually a pole to slide down or if there's storage in the basement for ghosts, but the outside sure looks just like what you'd expect. And yes, this is an active firehouse so be on the lookout for the firetruck to respond. [Review 18367 overall - 365 in New York - 1889 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 5-star review: You can't fight City Hall but you can sure look at it. This gigantic office tower at the end of Chambers Street was renamed in 2015 to honor the former Mayor of New York from 1990 to 1993 who was also the first Member of the New York State Assembly from the 78th District (that's this one) and the Borough President of Manhattan (that's here). Construction started in 1909 and continued until 1914, overcoming a number of obstacles completing as the largest governmental building in the world. Atop the building is a gilded copper statue that is the largest statue in New York (after the Statue of Liberty) at 25 feet tall. When you look at this forty story tower, it doesn't appear to be near that big but this is the city hall for the biggest borough of the largest city in the United States. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. If you need to visit the building for business, well, good luck. [Review 18366 overall - 364 in New York - 1888 of 2022.]
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Bruce’s 5-star review: "Nobody shoplifts from a store that knows 3,214 ways to murder someone." - Sign in the store Mysteries, crime novels, whodunits and the like. The Mysterious Bookshop is wall to wall and floor to ceiling with page turners that will keep you wondering who murdered whom until the very end. New releases, old reprints whether it's famous like Sherlock Holmes or not. There is air conditioning, comfortable seating, dimmed lighting and enough books to keep you entertained for your weekend. Prices are not cheap but competing with Amazon isn't easy either. If you can support a local bookshop with even a small purchase, please do so. Here's your shot! [Review 18365 overall - 363 in New York - 1887 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 3-star review: Better selection of beverages in the coolers than at the 7-Eleven next door. And cheaper, too! Sure, they have all the other pharmacy stuff but I just wanted an inexpensive cold drink and found it here. [Review 18364 overall - 362 in New York - 1886 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 2-star review: Expensive drinks and not very well stocked. $3.29 for a bottle of Poland Spring? No thanks. The condiments at the hot dog station needed cleaning. The floor wasn't that clean either. Thanks, but I'll seek refreshment elsewhere. [Review 18363 overall - 361 in New York - 1885 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: This memorial honors thousands of enslaved Africans and their descendants who died in colonial New York. It is the oldest and largest known burial cemetery for free and enslaved Africans in North America is located beneath many buildings in Lower Manhattan and extends outward in all directions from 290 Broadway. To honor the thousands of Africans and African Americans who lost their lives during the construction of New York City, a museum and memorial have been added to the burial sites. In 1989, human bones were discovered 30 feet below Broadway during preparatory excavations for the construction of a new office building. A six-acre burial ground had previously been located at the busy downtown location, according to further investigation. More than 15,000 Africans, both enslaved and free, and their descendants were laid to rest there between the 1630s and 1795. I did not have an opportunity to tour the visitor center but outside is a memorial designed by artist Rodney Leon. The wall of memory, the ancestral chamber, and other components of the 25-foot (7.6-meter) granite monument were were designed by Leon to symbolize "the soaring African spirit embracing and comforting all those who enter." [Review 18362 overall - 360 in New York - 1884 of 2022.]
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Bruce’s 4-star review: Construction workers discovered something shocking in 1991 while laying the foundation for a federal office complex at 290 Broadway and Reade Street. They discovered the complete bones of more than 400 people who had been buried in the African Burial Ground a long time ago. This granite sculpture stands 50 feet tall in the middle of Foley Square. It is housed in an extended boat-like structure that represents Native American boats and is modeled after the "Chi Wara" carved antelope headdresses worn by the Bamana people of Mali, West Africa. The artist is Lorenzo Pave who was born in Birmingham, Alabama in 1943. The caption at the base reads, "This sculpture is dedicated to all the unknown and unknown enslaved Africans brought to this country including the 427 Africans excavated near this site which is now the rediscovered New York City African Burial Ground." [Review 18361 overall - 359 in New York - 1883 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: Who is this? Located in Kimlau Square, the inscription tells is that it is Lin Ze Xu (1785-1850), "Pioneer in the war against drugs." Yuanfu was a Chinese political philosopher and politician. He forcefully opposed the opium trade and was a primary catalyst for the First Opium War. He arrested more than 1,700 Chinese opium dealers and confiscated over 70,000 opium pipes, attempting to force British trading ships to give up their opium. This eventually led to open hostilities between China and Britain that started in 1839 and eventually let to a British victory due to improved weapons including a steam warship. The statue depicts him standing tall and looking off into the distance (it could be to the East?) in robes and holding his hands behind. It was installed in 1999. [Review 18360 overall - 358 in New York - 1882 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 4-star review: Located on the east side of Manhattan between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, this pocket park is a lovely but small space with a playground, some paved paths and some shade trees. It is named for Catherine Rutgers (1711-1779), wife of Hendrick Rutgers (b. 1712) and mother of Henry Rutgers (1745-1830), for whom Rutgers and Henry Streets in Manhattan and a university in New Jersey are named. There is a sign here that explains Catherine's history and the history of the area. "The title to the land now known as Catherine Mall was first vested in the City between 1686 and 1730. In the late nineteenth century, it served as a public market under the jurisdiction of the Manhattan Borough President. Workers from the Works Progress Administration, a Depression-era program aimed at reinvigorating the economy, planted London planetrees, installed benches, paved the lots, and reconstructed the park as a central mall space in 1939. Parks has maintained this parkland, officially named Catherine Slip Mall though commonly called Catherine Mall, ever since." [Review 18359 overall - 357 in New York - 1881 of 2022.] -
Bruce’s 5-star review: Who hasn't heard of the Titanic? With a half-dozen or more major movies and countless stories, it's worth noting that the survivors of the disaster were brought here to New York City. And what better as a tribute than a formerly working lighthouse. The marker reads, "This lighthouse is a memorial to the passengers, officers and crew who died as heroes when the steamship Titanic sank after collision with an iceberg." L"atitude 41°46' North Longitude 50°14' West April 15, 1912" "This lighthouse was originally erected by public subscription. In 1913 it stood above the East River on the corner of the old Seaman's Church Institute at the corner of South Street and Coenties Slip. From 1913 to 1967 the time ball at the top of the lighthouse would drop down the pole to signal twelve noon to the ships in the harbor. This time ball mechanism was activated by a telegraphic signal from the National Observatory in Washington, D.C." "In July 1968 the Seaman's' Church Institute moved to its present quarters at 15 State Street. That year the Titanic Memorial Lighthouse was donated by the Kaiser-Nelson Steel & Salvage Corporation to the South Street Seaport Museum. It was erected on this corner at the entrance to the museum complex in May 1976 with funds provided by the Exxon Corporation." [Review 18357 overall - 355 in New York - 1879 of 2022.]
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Bruce’s 4-star review: This is an interesting collection of sculptures! They stand in this plaza in front of the Federal Reserve building. And amazingly, they're all by the same artist, the one after whom this plaza was named in 1978: Louise Nevelson (1899-1988). According to the catalog that accompanied a 2007 Nevelson retrospective at the Jewish Museum, at the initial dedication of the plaza, Mayor Abraham Beame praised Nevelson's work as a fitting "antidote to a spate of recent violence in the city." And speaking of recent violence, from 2008 to 2010 the artworks were temporarily removed as they had become covered in some debris from 9/11. According to the artist, the skyline of New York provided an inspiration for her sculptures and yes, I can see it. Nevelson worked with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. And it's all here. Unfortunately, as the trees have grown here they are starting to obscure the artworks. A tough trade. [Review 18356 overall - 354 in New York - 1878 of 2022.]
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