25/5/2010(Tuesday) New York - Midtown Manhattan(14th to 59th ST)
Mr Oon kindly took us to Flushing(2nd Chinatown in New York), to book a guided tour to Boston. The tour company office was at the 3rd floor of 40th Road. The tour only available for Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. We have no choice but to book the nearest, that is Wednesday tour.
After that we took a subway train to Time Square, at Midtown Manhattan.
Midtown Manhattan - Time Square, Empire Building, Train Station - Grand Central Terminal, St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral, 5th Avenue at 34th street, Rockefeller Plaza, United State.
Midtown Manhattan
Map of Midtown Manhattan
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Midtown Manhattan is areas between 14th Street and 59th Street, from the Hudson River to the East River, about five square miles or 12 km2. Times Square and Fifth Avenue, have massive clusters of retail establishments.
1. Time Square & Theatre District
Map of Theatre District
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Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. The extended Times Square area, also called the Theatre District, consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eighth Avenues from east to west, and West 40th and West 53rd Streets from south to north, making up the western part of the commercial area of Midtown Manhattan.
Map of Time Square
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Formerly named Longacre Square, Times Square was renamed in April 1904 after the New York Times moved its headquarters to the newly built Times Building, which is now called One Times Square and is the site of the annual ball drop on New Years Eve. Times Square, nicknamed "The Crossroads of the World" and "The Great White Way", has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and is a symbol of New York City and the United States.
Times Square is a busy intersection of art and commerce, where scores of advertisements – electric, neon and illuminated signs and "zipper" news crawls – vie for viewers' attention. The theaters of Broadway and the huge number of animated neon and LED signs have long made them one of New York's iconic images, and a symbol of the intensely urban aspects of Manhattan. Times Square is the only neighborhood with zoning ordinances requiring building owners to display illuminated signs. The density of illuminated signs in Times Square now rivals that of Las Vegas. Officially, signs in Times Square are called "spectaculars", and the largest of them are called "jumbotrons.". ForbesTraveler.com declared that New York City’s famed Times Square the nation’s most visited tourist destination in 2010 based on survey in 2008.
In Feb 2010, Mayor Bloomberg declares Broadway pedestrian plazas in Times and Herald Squares will be made permanent. Indeed it is a joy to walk in Time Square.
Father Duffy Square, TKTS Booth & The statute
The square is located at the northern tip of Time Square, between West 46 St and West 47st St., Broadway and 7th Avenue. On May 2, 2006, 69 years to the day after Mayor LaGuardia dedicated Father Duffy Square in 1937, the Groundbreaking ceremony was held for a new, revitalized central meeting place at the Crossroads of the World. This tiny but totemic island stands not only at the intersection of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, but also the intersection of theatre, history, commerce and the church.
The statute of Father Francis Patrick Duffy (1862-1932)
The statute of Father Francis Patrick Duffy is a fifty-foot, eight-ton, plaster statue entitled Purity (Defeat of Slander) by Leo Lentelli in 1909. It is located at the north end of the square, just in front of the bleacher seats. The square is also named after him.
Father Francis Patrick Duffy (1862-1932), the namesake of Father Duffy Square, left his parish in the Bronx to serve in Europe during World War I as the regimental chaplain of the 69th New York Infantry, famously known as the "Fighting 69th." The poet Joyce Kilmer, writing about the division's voyage across the Atlantic, observed that soldiers, standing in a line "as long as the mess-line," waited their turn each day to have Duffy hear their confessions. Lt. Colonel Duffy displayed legendary heroism on the fron lines, exposing himself to constant danger while ministering to soldiers during extremely intense fighting. After the war, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and returned to New York City to continue his community work, this time as a pastor of the Holy Cross Church on 42nd Street. Father Duffy died on June 26. 1932, after serving the theater district community for over a decade. On May 2, 1937 - Father Duffy's birthday - Myaor Fiorello LaGuardia unveiled Father Duffy's statue and dedicated the Square(ref: http://timessquarenyc.org/facts/duffy3.html)
Statute of George M Cohan
At the south end of Duffy Square stands a bronze statue depicting George M. Cohan (1878-1942), the great American composer, playwright, actor and producer. Cohan's parents were in show business, and at an early age he performed in vaudeville as well as on the "legitimate stage." Besides acting, singing and dancing, Cohan began to write plays and songs in his youth. Several of his songs, such as "Give my regards to Broadway," "Over There," and "You're a Grand Old Flag," have become timeless standards. Cohan was the quintessential showman, often combining patriotic fervor with Broadway razzle-dazzle. In 1942, James Cagney won an Academy Award as Best Actor for his portrayal of Cohan in the film Yankee Doodle Dandy. On September 11, 1959, the Cohan statue was formally unveiled and accepted on behalf of the city by Mayor Robert F. Wagner(ref: http://timessquarenyc.org/facts/duffy4.html).
TKTS Booth - The icon of the icon
TKTS , pronounced as pronounced "Tee-Kay Tee-Ess", not "tickets", is ticket booths in New York selling Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, music and dance events theatre tickets at discounts of 25–50% off the face value. Opening on June 25, 1973, the TKTS booth was an immediate success. New Yorkers and tourists began to flock to this new destination in Times Square. Since then, TKTS has become integral to the health of Broadway and Off-Broadway theatre in New York City. On average, between 12 and 15 percent of the Broadway audience buys its ticket at the booth each year.
TKTS ticket booth located at Duffy Square (at 47th Street and Broadway, the north end of Times Square) is one of the three TKTS in New York City. The other being at South Street Seaport in Lower Manhattan (replacing the office formerly located in the lobby of the World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks); and a third in Downtown Brooklyn (Jay St. and Myrtle St. Promenade). The Times Square booth sells day-of-performance tickets only, while the South Street Seaport booth sells tickets to evening performances on the day of the performance and matinee tickets the day before.
A new TKTS booth for the Times Square location began construction in May 2006 and was completed in October 2008. During this time, the TKTS booth was temporarily relocated to the nearby Marriott Marquis hotel. After many delays, the new TKTS booth opened for business on October 16, 2008 on a renovated Duffy Square, with a ceremony featuring Mayor Michael Bloomberg and various Broadway performers. The booth is wedge-shaped, with wide stairs covering the roof, allowing pedestrians to sit down or climb the steps for a panoramic, unobstructed view of Times Square. According to the Theater Development Fund, the final cost of the new booth is $19 million.
The TKTS will be visually dramatic and architecturally speactacular, a landmark of incisive visual clarity. The design integrates the plaza, amphitheatre-like steps, and booth to provide a much-needed refuge from the visual cacophony that surrounds it. The amphitheatre is built entirely from glass, placing it at the forefront of glass technology; red glass steps supported on glass stringers and spanning between glass load-bearing walls are illuminated from within by red LEDs. The overall effect is dramatic - a shimmering, floating carpet of color and light. The TKTS booth itself is a free-standing, custom-fabricated fiberglass shell that sits beneath the steps, visible through the glass side walls of the structure. The new plaza design enables visitors to experience the entire bowtie on a grand scale.
The Square has been swept clean of street furniture and clutter, consisting of a clean and undulating plane of granite pavers - approximately 3,800 of them - that rise and fall subtly as one moves along the plaza toward Father Duffy. Eighty-eight in-ground light fixtures arranged in groups of two throughout the plaza create a dramatic environment for the Square and for the Father Duffy monument. These pools of light will ignite the Square, providing theatrical up-lighting on this urban stage in a manner befitting the Crossroads of the World.(ref:ref: http://timessquarenyc.org/facts/duffy5.html)
http://www.timessquarenyc.org/
Street Performers
The "Naked Cowboy" — New York City street performer and prominent fixture of Times Square, who is not actually naked — is a fixture in Times Square
Super Bowl XLVIII 2014 celebration at Time Square
When we go to Time Square, there were many people waiting there waiting for the announcement for New York's bidding to host Super Bowl XLVIII 2014. On May 25, 2010, it was announced that the New Meadowlands Stadium would host Super Bowl XLVIII in February 2014. The NFL requires that a Super Bowl hosting stadium must have a 50-degree climate or be held in an indoor climate-controlled facility. However, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would waive this requirement. The stadium was allowed on the ballot because of a "unique, once-only circumstance based on the opportunity to celebrate the new stadium and the great heritage and history of the NFL in the New York region. Super Bowl XLVIII, the 48th edition of the Super Bowl and the 44th modern era National Football League championship game, is scheduled to be played in 2014 at New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Note: New Meadowlands Stadium is also a qualifying venue to host the 2018/2022 FIFA Football World Cup, as USA is bidding for the event to be held in the U.S.
New York city is represented in the National Football League by the New York Jets and New York Giants (officially the New York Football Giants), although both teams play their home games at Meadowlands Stadium in nearby East Rutherford, New Jersey. So the team is New Yorker, but the venue or stadium is at New Jersey. Super Bowl XLVIII is to be held at New York/New Jersey.
Three stadiums had placed bids to host the game. They are:
1.New Meadowlands Stadium - East Rutherford, New Jersey
2.Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, Florida
3.Sun Life Stadium - Miami Gardens, Florida
South Florida / Miami was eliminated in the second round of voting. New York / New Jersey beat Tampa in the fourth round of voting which requires only a simple majority to win. Since Meadowlands Stadium does not have a roof, it will be the first cold-weather Super Bowl game played in an open stadium, and the first Super Bowl to be played in the New York metropolitan area.
I was there on 25-5-2010 at Time Square, New York city, celebrate the joy with the New Yorkers, that Super Bowl XLVIII is to be held at New York/New Jersey. The Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg was there, Justin Tuck(an American football defensive end for the National Football League's New York Giants), Darrelle Shavar Revis(an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League) were there. And I was there in Time Square, celebrating with New yorkers at that moment of announcement. To be there at the moment is fun....
Ref: Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey, not in New York, http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jun/1/super-bowl-xlviii-in-new-jersey-not-in-new-york/
On May 1, 2010, Times Square was evacuated from 43rd to 46th Street following the discovery of a car bomb. A dark-colored Nissan Pathfinder with smoke coming out from it was parked at 45th and Seventh Avenue. Bomb squads were shown, but Homeland Security did not consider it a terrorist threat. A flash was seen coming from the car, and between 6 and 6:30pm, a small explosion went off. It was found to have explosive materials including three propane tanks, consumer grade fireworks, and containers full of gasoline, burnt wires, two clocks with batteries, and other materials. Bomb squads extinguished a small fire. No one was killed or injured in the incident. It was found to be a failed bombing.[18] Several days later, on May 7, streets in the area were closed briefly while police examined an abandoned cooler found near the Marriott Marquis Hotel
Security was high following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, with more than 7,000 New York City police on duty in the Square, twice the number for an ordinary year.
Denzel Washington
While walking to Rockefeller Center, we saw crowd gathering in front of a Theater. One of the fans told us one of the star is coming out from the theater. The security guard was controlling the crowd, so not to go near the limousine park at the side door. The fans are pushing toward the limousine. When Denzel Washington come out, he was shaking hand with the fans on the front line. I took the advantage of time when he entered the limousine, when the attention of the security guard and fan were not on the fans, go forward toward the car, Denzel Washington was waving to the fan. I go close to the window, without notice of the guard, and manage a handshake with the star.
Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor, screenwriter, director and film producer. He has garnered much critical acclaim for his work in film since the 1990s, including for his portrayals of real-life figures, such as Steve Biko, Malcolm X, Rubin Carter, Melvin B. Tolson, Frank Lucas, and Herman Boone.
Washington has been awarded three Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award and two Academy Awards for his work. He has also been nominated for two Emmy Awards and a Grammy Award. He is notable as the second African American man (after Sidney Poitier) to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, which he received for his role in the 2001 film "Training Day"(Watch the youtube, Denzel Washington winning an Oscar® for "Training Day", http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLKDfyFjQtc&feature=related). Coincidentally Sidney Poitier is also my favorable actor.
Denzel Washington was born in Mount Vernon, near New York City, in 1954. His mother, Lennis "Lynne", was a beauty parlor-owner and operator born in Georgia and partly raised in Harlem. His father, Reverend Denzel Washington, Sr., was an ordained Pentecostal minister and also worked for the Water Department and at a local department store, S. Klein.
Washington was last seen onstage in the summer of 1990 in the title role of the Public Theater's production of Shakespeare's Richard III) and in 2005 after a 15-year hiatus he appeared onstage again in another Shakespeare play as Marcus Brutus in Julius Caesar on Broadway. The production's limited run was a consistent sell-out averaging over 100% attendance capacity nightly despite receiving mixed reviews.
On May 4, 2010, Washington was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his role in the play Fences. Washington won the Tony Award on Sunday, June 13, 2010.
Washington is a devout Christian, and has even considered becoming a preacher. "A part of me still says, ‘Maybe, Denzel, you’re supposed to preach. Maybe you’re still compromising.’ I’ve had an opportunity to play great men and, through their words, to preach. I take what talent I’ve been given seriously, and I want to use it for good.” In 1995 he donated 2.5 million dollars to help build the new West Angeles COGIC facility in Los Angeles at the city's West Angeles Church of God in Christ.
(extracted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denzel_Washington#cite_note-16)
At least I have seen an Oscar Academy Award actor face to face in New York.....
2. Rockefeller Center
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Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres (89,000 m2) between 48th and 51st streets in New York City. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning the area between Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987
Radio City Music Hall
The Radio City Music Hall was completed in December, 1932. At the time it was promoted as the largest and most opulent theater in the world. Its original intended name was the "International Music Hall" but this was changed to reflect the name of its neighbor, "Radio City," as the new NBC Studios in the RCA Building were known. RCA was one of the complex's first and most important tenants and the entire Center itself was sometimes referred to as "Radio City."
After decades as a premiere showcase for motion pictures and elaborate stage shows, the theater converted to presenting touring performers and special events in 1979. Each holiday season features the annual musical stage show, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, a tradition for more than 70 years. The enormous stage, with its elevators and turntables, has also offered Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, the Grammy and Tony Awards, and countless other events. One of New York's most popular tourist attractions, the Music Hall has been attended by more than 300 million people.
GE Buildidng
GE Building - The centerpiece of Rockefeller Center is the 70-floor, 872-foot (266 m) GE Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza ("30 Rock")—formerly known as the RCA Building—centered behind the sunken plaza. The skyscraper is the headquarters of NBC and houses most of the network's New York studios, including 6A, former home of Late Night with David Letterman and Late Night with Conan O'Brien and current home of The Dr. Oz Show; 6B, home of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon; 8H, home of Saturday Night Live; plus the operations of NBC News, MSNBC and local station WNBC. NBC currently owns the space it occupies in the building as a condominium arrangement.
GE Building was constructed as a slab with a flat roof, where the Center's newly renovated observation deck, the Top of the Rock is located, which was first built in 1933. The $75 million makeover of the observation area was carried out by the Center's owner, Tishman Speyer Properties and was finally completed in 2005. It spans from the 67-70th floors and includes a multimedia exhibition exploring the history of the Center. On the 70th floor, reached by both stairs and elevator, there is a 20-foot (6.1 m) wide viewing area, allowing visitors a unique 360-degree panoramic view of New York City.
Top of the World
The observation deck atop the skyscraper, dubbed "Top of the Rock", reopened to the public on November 1, 2005, after undergoing a $75 million renovation. It had been closed since 1986 to accommodate the renovation of the Rainbow Room. The deck, which is built to resemble the deck of an ocean liner, offers sightseers a bird's eye view of the city, competing with the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building. It is often considered the best panoramic city view, if only because it offers a view of the aforementioned Empire State Building, which cannot be seen from its own observation deck.
http://www.topoftherocknyc.com/noflash.html
The Underground Concourse
A series of underground pedestrian passages stretches from 47th Street to 51st Street, and from Fifth Avenue to Seventh Avenue. Numerous business operate in the Concourse offering shoppers a range of products and services. There are also eating establishments and a post office. Access to the Concourse is available in several ways. There are stairways leading down from the lobbies in the cluster of six landmark buildings. Access can also be gained through the restaurants at the skating rink, via the elevators to the north and south of the rink. The rink itself is on the concourse level. Additionally, there is access to the western entrance of the Concourse through the 47–50th Streets subway station below Sixth Avenue (B D F M trains).
2. Rockefeller Plaza
http://www.rockefellercenter.com/
3. Empire Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark Art Deco skyscraper in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. Address at 350 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10118. Its name is derived from the nickname for the state of New York, The Empire State. It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972. Following the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building once again became the tallest building in New York City and New York State.The Empire State Building is the third tallest skyscraper in the Americas (after the Willis Tower and Trump International Hotel and Tower both in Chicago), and the 15th tallest in the world.
http://www.esbnyc.com/index2.cfm?CFID=38874661&CFTOKEN=45440791
4. Train Station - Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal (GCT) — sometimes called Grand Central Station or simply Grand Central — is a terminal station at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. Built by and named for the New York Central Railroad in the heyday of American long-distance passenger trains, it is the largest train station in the world by number of platforms:44, with 67 tracks along them. They are on two levels, both below ground, with 41 tracks on the upper level and 26 on the lower, though the total number of tracks along platforms and in rail yards exceeds 100. When the Long Island Rail Road's new station, below the existing levels, opens (see East Side Access), Grand Central will offer a total of 75 tracks and 48 platforms. The terminal covers an area of 48 acres (19 ha).
5. St Patrick's Roman Catholic Cathedral
When we arrived at the church, one of the high school is having graduation ceremony. We are not able to enter the hall, but my wife was allowed to enter the hall later on. May be she looked like the parent of the student.
7. Pennsylvania Station, NYC
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Pennsylvania Station, commonly known as Penn Station, is the major intercity rail station and a major commuter rail hub in New York City. It is one of the busiest rail stations in the world, and a hub for inboard and outboard railroad traffic in New York City. The New York City Subway system also has multiple lines that connect to the station. The station is located in the underground levels of Pennsylvania Plaza, an urban complex located between Seventh Avenue and Eighth Avenue and between 31st Street and 33rd Street in Midtown Manhattan, and is owned by Amtrak
8.Madison Square Garden or MSG
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located at 8th Avenue between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station. The Seventh Avenue is the entrance to Madison Square Garden. Opening on February 11, 1968, it is the longest active major sporting facility in the New York Metropolitan area, and is the fourth incarnation of the arena in the city. One Penn Plaza stands at its side.
The official address is NO 4 Pennsylvania Plaza (8th Avenue & 33rd Street), Manhattan, New York City, NY 10001
http://www.thegarden.com/
9. Madison Avenue, NYC
Madison Avenue is a north-south avenue in the borough of Manhattan in New York City that carries northbound one-way traffic. It runs from Madison Square (at 23rd Street) to the Madison Avenue Bridge at 138th Street. In doing so, it passes through Midtown, the Upper East Side (including Carnegie Hill), Spanish Harlem, and Harlem. It is named after and arises from Madison Square, which is itself named after James Madison, the fourth President of the United States. Since the 1920s, the street's name has been synonymous with the American advertising industry.
Between 57th Street and 85th Street, Madison Avenue is identified as "the fashionable road". In this area is where most of the very well known fashion designers, jewelers and upper class hair salons are located.
A New York State appeals court building on Madison Avenue adjacent to Madison Square
Madison Avenue is served by the M1, M2, M3, and M4 NYCT Buses, and the BxM1, BxM2, BxM3, BxM4, and BxM5 express buses.
10. Fifth Avenue, NYC
Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the center of the borough of Manhattan in New York City, USA. The section of Fifth Avenue between 34th Street and 59th Street is one of the premier shopping streets in the world. Fifth Avenue serves as a symbol of wealthy New York and is consistently ranked as one of the most expensive streets in the world. The "most expensive street in the world" moniker changes depending on currency fluctuations and local economic conditions from year to year. For several years starting in the mid-1990s, the shopping district between 49th and 57th Streets was ranked as having the world's most expensive retail spaces on a cost per square foot basis. In 2008, Forbes magazine ranked Fifth Avenue as being the most expensive street in the world.
Fifth Avenue to tourists normally refers to the shopping district between 49th and 57th Streets
Fifth Avenue originates at Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village and runs northwards through the heart of Midtown, along the eastern side of Central Park, where it forms the boundary of the Upper East Side and through Harlem, where it terminates at the Harlem River at 142nd Street. Traffic crosses the river on the Madison Avenue Bridge. Fifth Avenue serves as the dividing line for house numbering in Manhattan. It separates, for example, East Fifty-ninth Street from West Fifty-ninth Street. From this zero point for street addresses, numbers increase in both directions as one moves away from Fifth Avenue, with 1 West Fifty-ninth Street on the corner at Fifth Avenue, and 300 West Fifty-ninth Street located three blocks to the west of it.
10. Broadway, NYC
Broadway, as the name implies, is a wide avenue in New York City, which runs the full length of Manhattan and continues into the Bronx. It is the oldest north–south main thoroughfare in the city, dating to the first New Amsterdam settlement. The name Broadway is the English literal translation of the Dutch name, Breede weg. A stretch of Broadway is famous as the pinnacle of the American theater industry.
One famous stretch near Times Square, where Broadway crosses Seventh Avenue in midtown Manhattan, is the home of many Broadway theatres, housing an ever-changing array of commercial, large-scale plays, particularly musicals. That is why Broadway is commonly refers to Broadway theatre, theatrical productions produced in one of forty professional New York theatres located on or near Broadway in NYC. This area of Manhattan is often called the Theater District or the Great White Way, a nickname originating in the headline "Found on the Great White Way" in the February 3, 1902 edition of the New York Evening Telegram. The journalistic sobriquet was inspired by the millions of lights on theater marquees and billboard advertisements that illuminate the area.
(extract from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadway_(New_York_City))
There is a lot of walking in Manhattan Midtown, we may not able to cover all the tourist destinations. The visit to United Nation is reserved for the next day. As everyone is tired from a lot of walking. We called it a day and take subway back to Queen. Walking and touring in New York, can easily forget about time, and we overstay in the Manhattan. There is so much to see and experience in New York. Our plan not to stretch over 10p.m cannot be complied. Moreover, the wrong subway that take us to Jamaica, wasted a lot of time. Anyhow it is still good experience by travel in the subway to neighborhoods, which we will normally never visit, as it is either non-tourist area or dangerous neighborhood. We can has the view of the neighborhood from the window of elevated subway train travel.
Still a good day in New York.... I met a star, an academy award actor; and I was in the Time Square when New York/New Jersey won the bidding for Super Bowl XLVIII 2014.
What an exciting day..... Should I wash my hand?.......
Monday, June 21, 2010
New York - Manhattan(Downtown )
24/5/2010(Monday) New York- Manhattan Downtown(South of 14th ST) - Elmhurst
We arrived very early in New York after a night of bus drive. The bus from MEGABUS.COM arrived at the MTA bus shelter on the west side of 7th Avenue, just south of 28th Street, New York. The morning in New York is still chilly and cold. Still not summer as expected, it is the time for changing of the season from Spring to Summer. As it is still early, there are few shops open for business, some early New Yorkers are going for work. Some street vendors are opening their stalls, especially fruits and food sellers. We just hang around the doughnut chain outlet for a light breakfast, before planning our city tour in New York.
Manhattan (New York County)
The first feel and visit of New York must be Manhattan, which is divided into:
1. Downtown Manhattan(below 14th Street),
2. Midtown Manhattan(14th to 59th St), and
3. Upper Manhattan(north of 59th street).
The famous island between the Hudson and East Rivers, with many diverse and unique neighborhoods. Manhattan is home to the Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square, Wall Street, Harlem, and the trendy neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and SoHo.
Manhattan is one of New York's five boroughs and is what people most often think of when they talk about New York. Manhattan is actually an elongated island and includes most of the best known and most popularly visited neighborhoods.
Manhattan is loosely divided into downtown, midtown, and uptown, with Fifth Avenue dividing Manhattan's east and west sides. Manhattan Island is bounded by the Hudson River to the west and the East River to the east. To the north, the Harlem River divides Manhattan from The Bronx and the mainland United States. Several small islands are also part of the borough of Manhattan, including Randall's Island, Ward's Island, and Roosevelt Island in the East River, and Governors Island and Liberty Island to the south in New York Harbor.[54] Manhattan Island is 22.7 square miles (58.8 km²) in area, 13.4 miles (21.6 km) long and 2.3 miles (3.7 km) wide, at its widest (near 14th Street).[55] New York County as a whole covers a total area of 33.77 square miles (87.46 km²), of which 22.96 square miles (59.47 km²) are land and 10.81 square miles (28.00 km²) are water.
Manhattan, it name can means Manhattan borough or Manhattan financial district, which is part of Manhattan Borough.
Fifth Avenue roughly bisects Manhattan Island and acts as the demarcation line for east/west designations (e.g., East 27th Street, West 42nd Street); street addresses start at Fifth Avenue and increase heading away from Fifth Avenue, at a rate of 100 per block in most places.[80] South of Waverly Place in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue terminates and Broadway becomes the east/west demarcation line. Though the grid does start with 1st Street, just north of Houston Street (pronounced HOW-stin), the grid does not fully take hold until north of 14th Street, where nearly all east-west streets are numerically identified, which increase from south to north to 220th Street, the highest numbered street on the island. Streets in Midtown are usually one way with a few exceptions (14th, 34th and 42nd to name a few). The rule of thumb is odd numbered streets run west while evens run east.
Downtown Manhattan(below 14th Street)
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The districts located south of 14th Street are considered as "Downtown". It is also called South Manhattan or Lower Manhattan. If you said go to Downtown, in Manhattan, it means going to the south. Downtown consist of Manhattan(financial district), TriBeCa, Soho, Chinatown, Lower East Side, Greenwich village, East Village. Downtown or Lower Manhattan is home to some of New York's most famous and evocative landmarks: Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and Ellis Island in the harbor, both accessed by ferry boat from the financial district.
Manhattan or Lower Manhattan, the financial district(from Chambers Street to New York Harbor)
Manhattan is the home of the financial district of Manhattan, located at the southern tip of the island with the Hudson River on the west, the East River on the east, New York Harbor to the south, and Chambers Street on the north. It is one of the two largest business districts in New York City - the other being Midtown Manhattan - and is the historical core of the modern city; a fact reflected in the convoluted street pattern compared to the regular streets and avenues found uptown.
(ii) TriBeCa is short for "Triangle Below Canal Street". TriBeCa is the area south of SoHo in Manhattan bounded by Canal St on the north, Broadway on the east, Barclay St on the south and the Hudson River on the west.
(iii) SoHo is a diverse neighborhood in Manhattan in New York bounded roughly by Houston Street to the north, Lafayette St. to the east, Canal Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. The name for the area derives from its supposed similarities to the London Soho and the fact that it is "South of Houston". SoHo used to be a bohemian quarter of artists subsisting in lofts which weren't at first recognized as legal housing, and teeming art galleries. By now, the neighborhood has become so expensive that the art galleries have been generally priced out and have moved to the far west of Chelsea, while the struggling artists have had to move further and further into the "Outer Boroughs" to find affordable places to rent. Now, this is a neighborhood of expensive boutiques, but its narrow cobblestoned side streets retain their charm, and even if the crowding on Broadway between Houston and Spring Sts. can be draining, this is still a good neighborhood to walk through.
(iv) Chinatown is a lively neighborhood, full of good values in restaurants and food shopping. Also on sale are cheap knockoffs of designer labels made in China, and all sorts of trinkets and toys. Chinatown is a much larger neighborhood in population and area than it used to be a few decades ago, and for all practical purposes encompasses most of "Little Italy" and a large portion of the Lower East Side, north of Canal Street and on the north side of the Manhattan Bridge overpass. Indeed, in a real sense, it can be said that the center of Chinatown is no longer on Mott St. between Canal St. and Chatham Square (though that stretch is well worth visiting), but has moved further north and east to East Broadway between Chatham Square and Pike Street and Grand St. between the Bowery and Chrystie St., where locals shop for foodstuffs - and you can, too, for good values. Chinatown has also been growing more diverse, becoming a bit less of a Chinatown and more of a China and Southeast Asia town, with a growing presence of immigrants from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.
(v) The Lower East Side of Manhattan is bounded by Houston Street, the Bowery, the Manhattan Bridge, and the East River, with the neighborhood's center being Orchard Street. Once a Jewish wholesale enclave, this street is a true multicultural blend, with trendy boutiques, French cafés, and velvet-roped nightspots sprinkled among dry-goods discounters, Spanish bodegas, and mom-and-pop shops selling everything from T-shirts to designer fashions to menorahs. The East Village was also traditionally considered part of the Lower East Side, but that neighborhood has developed its own identity.
It was here that the New York garment industry began. The area has been known as one of New York's favorite bargain beats, where serious shoppers find fantastic bargains (especially along Orchard Street on a Sunday afternoon), but this is increasingly becoming a thing of the past as rents skyrocket and cutting-edge new designers and boutiques formerly seen in SoHo flock to the area. But in its mix of old and new, bohemian and upscale, you can find trendy bars and music venues, a venerable old no-nonsense place that just might serve up the best pastrami sandwich in the world, a restaurant called WD-50 which serves up new-style "molecular gastronomy," Gus's Pickles out of a barrel, and great bialys. South of Delancey Street, much of this neighborhood is now part of Chinatown.
(vi) Greenwich Village (often simply referred to as "the Village") is a well-known, largely residential district in Manhattan, one of the boroughs of New York. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by Broadway on the east, the Hudson River on the west, Houston Street on the south, and 14th Street on the north. The neighborhoods surrounding it are the East Village to the east, SoHo to the south, and Chelsea to the north.
Note that the "East Village" was not historically part of Greenwich Village and is still considered by many New Yorkers to be part of the Lower East Side, but the term "West Village" is synonymous with Greenwich Village, or at least that part of the neighborhood that is west of 6th Av. or so. In the 19th century, the Greenwich Village district was better known as Washington Square. Washington Square Park remains a neighborhood landmark, but the terms "The Village," "Greenwich Village," and "West Village" are practically interchangeable.
(v) The East Village, east of the Village on Manhattan, was traditionally considered part of the Lower East Side, and constitutes the portion north of Houston St., south of 14th St., and east of Broadway. Although increasingly gentrified, with former crack dens that are now modern apartments so hip you can't afford them, it remains an ethnically diverse area of students, young professionals, and older longtime residents. This colorful neighborhood is full of good values in food as diverse as its population, and there's always something happening on St. Marks Place.
East of 1st Av., encompassing the area from Av. A to the East River, is a sub-neighborhood often called Alphabet City or Loisaida (Spanglish for "Lower East Side"); Av. C's alternate name is "Loisaida Avenue." Parts of Alphabet City still have a Hispano-Caribbean feel, especially on Avs. D and C, but since most of Alphabet City is similar to the rest of the East Village now (diverse, somewhat gentrified, stylish), the separate designations are less used than was the case a 2-3 decades ago. The area between Broadway and 3rd Av./Bowery, on the other hand, is sometimes called NoHo, for "North of Houston St." by analogy to SoHo to its south.
1. World Trade Centre
Our first visit is to the World Trade Center. This is the Ground Zero site of 911 attack. On September 11, 2001, planes were hijacked and flown into the two towers of the World Trade Center, killing nearly 3,000 people. The two towers were destroyed, along with World Trade Center 7, which was evacuated before it collapsed, due to fire damage. There have been plans of reconstructing the towers with WTC1 ⅓ finished on the 10th anniversary of 9/11
(i) World Trade Center Site - Ground Zero
For a moment of introspection, travel downtown to Ground Zero, site of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. The site of the September 11th terrorist attacks has become popular with visitors (and it was popular with visitors even before the attacks, as a couple of landmark buildings stood there)
The World Trade Center site when it was completed in 1987 had more office space than the entire city of San Francisco with its own zip code, the two tallest buildings in the world at the time. It was the victim of terrorist attacks in 2001, but it is on its way to becoming a new memorial, museum, and office center that will open starting in 2011. Please note that, at this time, there is no official memorial for Sept 11, 2001. The actual site is currently under construction.
One World Trade Center, also known by its nickname and former name Freedom Tower, is the main building of the new World Trade Center under construction, expected to be completed in 2013, in Lower Manhattan in New York City, USA. The tower will be located in the northwest corner of the 16-acre (65,000 m²) World Trade Center site bounded by Vesey, West, Washington and Fulton streets.
Construction on below-ground utility relocations, footings, and foundations for the 1,776 feet (541.32 m)building began on April 27, 2006. On December 19, 2006, the first steel columns were installed in the building's foundation. On March 30, 2009, the Port Authority said that the building will be known as 'One World Trade Center,' replacing its former name 'Freedom Tower.' When completed, One World Trade Center will be among the tallest buildings in the world and the tallest in the United States.
Three other high-rise office buildings are planned for the site along Greenwich Street, and they will surround the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which is under construction. The area will also be home to a museum of the site's history.
The latest progress is that the steel has now raised above 26th floor, which is 276 ft above street level( ref: World Trade Center Progress, May 2010)
When we visited the site, there were many police petrol cars around the area, the security of the site was very tight.
(ii) The Tribute Center on Liberty Street for tours
The Tribute Center offers 6,000 square feet of exhibit and educational meeting space for visitors in one of downtown’s historic buildings at 120 Liberty Street. The Tribute WTC Center is located next to FDNY firehouse 10/10 and across from the World Trade Center site. Visitors learn factual information about the events on September 11th, the identity of 2,973 people killed in the attacks, the unprecedented rescue and recovery operations and the tremendous spirit of support and generosity that arose after the attacks.
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers "Person to Person History," linking visitors who want to understand and appreciate these historic events with those who experienced them.
There are 5 Galleries:
Gallery 1 - World Trade Center: Community Remembered
The majesty of the Towers and their prominence in Lower Manhattan is illustrated by a floor map and surrounding panoramic images. A lively film composed of shared memories, personal photos and authentic sounds illuminates a model.
Gallery 2 - Passage Through Time: September 11th
Travel through moments in time during February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001. Experience the events as they unfolded. Hear the voices and see the artifacts and images that reveal how a bright blue morning sky transformed into an evening veiled in the dust of destruction
Gallery 3 - Aftermath: Rescue and Recovery
Meet the individuals who rushed to the site and worked tirelessly for months. Sweeping panoramic images, artifacts and a poignant film portray the heart-wrenching recovery period and the heroic efforts of thousands who responded with courage and determination to face an unprecedented catastrophe.
Gallery 4 - Tribute
Visitors view over 1,200 photographs and memorabilia lovingly shared by family members. A perpetual scrolling of names pays constant tribute to those loved and lost during the attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001.
Gallery 5 - Voices of Promise
Discover the inspiring stories of people who turned grief into action and committed themselves to volunteer, teach and reach out at home and around the globe. A selection of audio stories and changing exhibits support our tribute to those that helped others. Visitors are invited to add their own thoughts and to read each others' reflections in this international dialogue.
This is the place where you see the exhibits and personal experience of people who are connected with 911. You try to hold your tears and emotion feeling for the event and the people. Why must this happen....an ugly chapter of human history worst than wars and disasters that human race have ever faced. This is the intentional malice to kill a fellow human being. No religion and man of right mind will allow this to happen. This event has provide a provocative lesson for mankind to relook at politic and religion. On the day, I was shocked, but I also hear the cheering voices from some people, I feel so sad and uncertain, have human race come to the state where human senses no more prevail, and human life have not been respected by a fellow human.
http://www.tributewtc.org/index.php
(iii)St. Paul's Chapel for memorials and history of the events
St Paul's Chapel, 209 Broadway (between Fulton and Vesey Streets). Built in 1776, the chapel is an active part of the Parish of Trinity Church and is Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use. It is the only remaining colonial church in New York City and was George Washington's place of worship after he was inaugurated as president, but more recently the chapel became known for surviving the events of 9/11 without even a broken window - despite being located across the street from the World Trade Center - and its role as a place of refuge for the WTC recovery workers in the days that followed
http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/congregation/spc/
Standing on the site of the World Trade Center and looking at the exhibition, hearing the voices of the people connected with the sad event. I have to take the greater strength of my life to hold my emotion. I wonder the person who was responsible, if he or they are still alive today, have they no repentant of the act they have done. Whatever the reason, it is senseless, and the person will be regret for whole life..... it is my prayer that no more incident like this nature happen again.
Subway: A, C, E to Chambers Street-World Trade Center, 2 or 3 to Park Place, or R, or W (northbound only) to Cortlandt Street.
The Future World Trade Center
2. The Financial District - Wall Street
Wall Street
The second visit is to the financial district, including the Wall Street and NYSE. Wall Street is actually a narrow street running downhill from Broadway to the East River, Wall Street was named for the wall that was built here in 1652 to keep Manhattan's indigenous peoples out of the growing Dutch settlement. The wall was demolished by the British in 1699. By the late 18th century, traders and speculators would gather under a buttonwood tree at the foot of Wall Street to trade informally - this was the origin of the New York Stock Exchange that was established in 1817.
Wall Street and downtown New York is the center of American history, and it is here that you can find the statue of liberty, Ellis Island, Wall Street, and Federal Hall, where George Washington was sworn in and the bill of rights was written.
No 1, Wall Street - Home to The Bank of New York, the oldest banking institution in the New York city
No 14, Wall Street - once JP Morgan's apartment
No 20, Wall Street - Was built to house City Bank Farmers Trust Company
No 40, Wall Street - once world tallest building, but lost out by the height of a flagpole to the Chrysler Building
No 48, Wall Street - The only building in Wall Street that incorporate elements of Colonial architecture in focade and tower.
No 55, Wall Street - Originally the Merchant Exchange, one of the Wall Street's oldest buildings.
Wall Street Experience Tour
The Wall Street Experience offers an insider's perspective on Wall Street on its walking tours. http://www.thewallstreetexperience.com/. Explore world-famous financial landmarks such as the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Reserve, and Wall Street guided by real Wall Street insiders. While meandering the narrow, winding streets of Lower Manhattan, you will hear exclusive stories from “inside the trenches” that will entertain, inform and shock you.
Tours have appeared in news and on television globally including CNN, BBC, Reuters, and FoxNews. In addition, these tours was filmed for Oliver Stone's Wall Street 2 movie DVD Feature. The Wall Street Experience aims to demystify and personify Wall Street through personal interaction and storytelling of firsthand experiences. Bring your camera and your questions!
Subway: 4, 5 to Wall Street; J, M, Z to Broad Street (weekdays only) Internet: http://www.nyse.com New York Stock Exchange Address: 11 Wall Street New York , NY
www.thewallstreetexperience.com
New York Stock Exchange
NYSE or New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10005 (at 18, Broad Street, corner of Broad and Wall Street). The most important stock exchange in the world, the NYSE is the most watched indicator of economic performance in the global economy. The activity on the trading floor is astonishing. Visitors should beware, however, that security is tight, and sudden closures are a possibility. Visitor admittance to the interior has been suspended indefinitely.
Federal Hall
Federal Hall, built in 1700 as New York's City Hall, later served as the first capitol building of the United States of America, and was the site of George Washington's 1789 inauguration as the first President of the United States. It was also where the United States Bill of Rights was ratified. The building was demolished in 1812. Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street was built in 1842 as the New York Customs House, on the site of the old Federal Hall. Located at 26 Wall Street.
The building was designated as Federal Hall Memorial National Historic Site on May 26, 1939, and redesignated a national memorial on August 11, 1955. It is operated by the National Park Service as a museum commemorating the historic events that happened there. As with all historic areas administered by the National Park Service, the memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Federal Hall was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission on 01965-12-21 December 21, 1965.
The National Park Services operates Federal Hall as a museum. The museum closed on December 3, 2004 for extensive renovations and reopened in the fall of 2006. Normally its exhibit galleries are open free to the public daily, except national holidays, and guided tours of the site are offered throughout the day. Exhibits include:
This Bible on which Washington took his inaugural oath in 1789 is preserved at Federal Hall.George Washington’s Inauguration Gallery - Including the Bible used to swear his oath of office.
Freedom of the Press - The imprisonment and trial of John Peter Zenger.
Journey to Federal Hall - An 8-minute video about the history of Federal Hall.
New York: An American Capital - Preview exhibit created by the National Archives and Records Administration.
The current building is well-known for the 1882 J.Q.A. Ward's bronze statue of George Washington on its front steps, marking the site where he was inaugurated as US President in the former structure.
Trinity Church
Trinity Church(79, Broadway),located at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway in downtown Manhattan. An Episcopalian (Anglican) church and parish was first established on this site in 1697 under charter by King William III. The present Neo-Gothic Revival church building (the third incarnation) dates from 1846 and remains a significant landmark within Downtown. The original burial ground at Trinity Church includes the graves and memorials of many historic figures, including Alexander Hamilton, William Bradford, Robert Fulton, and Albert Gallatin.
On September 11, 2001, as the 1st Tower collapsed people took refuge from the massive debris cloud, inside the church. Debris from the tower collapsing knocked over a giant sycamore tree that had stood for nearly a century in the churchyard of St. Paul's Chapel, which is part of Trinity Church's parish and is located several blocks north of Trinity Church. Sculptor Steve Tobin used its roots as the base for a bronze sculpture that stands next to the Trinity Church.
Our lunch is at Mac Donald outlet at Broadway nearby.
3. Bowling Green, (at Broadway and Morris)- the site of Charging Bull.
Bowling Green Park is a small park located at a triangular land between Whitehall, Broadway and Battery Place. A small park at the foot of Broadway which is the oldest public park in the city and is the site of the 7,000 pound bronze Charging Bull sculpture created after the 1987 stock market crash. The Charging Bull sculpture is one of the most iconic representations of the market prosperity, it was done by Arturo Di Modica. Representing the bull market economy, the sculpture was originally placed in front of the New York Stock Exchange, and subsequently moved to its current location in Bowling Green.
Bowling Green is New York's oldest park, it is the place where Dutch settler Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island from the native Americans with variety of goods with value of only $24. The fence around the park is the original one, erected in 1771.
Bowling Green is also the origin point for the Broadway ticker-tape parades; if you walk up Broadway, you can view plaques in the sidewalk honoring the people or events celebrated in these parades
4. Battery Park
At the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park is a waterfront green space, named for the artillery batteries which were installed here to protect the settlement of New York when it was under Dutch, then British rule. In the lead-up to the War of 1812, Castle Clinton was constructed as a fort to protect the city, and is now operated as a small museum. There are several memorials in the park, including The Sphere, a public art piece originally housed on the World Trade Center site which survived the events of September 11 and was moved to Battery Park. Ferries departing to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island depart from here
Castle Clinton National Monument(Battery Park)
Irish Hunger Memorial
5. Ferry Trip to Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Terminal Manhattan (also known as South Ferry) to St. George Terminal Staten Island, Note: 6.40 am to 8.45 am is rush hour, avoid it. The best time is 5.30 am or 6am; Travel time is 25 min, the service is free.
Staten Island Ferry , running from the tip of Manhattan at Battery Park to Staten Island. The ferry carries passengers and bicycles only, runs every 15 minutes during rush hours, and is free.
As it gives a really good view of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor on its way, this is a very popular trip for visitors. Ride on the starboard (right facing forward) side of the ferry from Manhattan and the port side from Staten Island for the best views (to the west). If you want to take good photographs, try to get on the ferry as soon as the gates open and walk briskly to an open window (few windows are open to the air and will populate quickly), and also note that the Manhattan to Staten Island route passes slightly closer to the monument than on the return route.
Bus Service M1, M9,M6, & M15
Subway Service N* R, W Whitehall Street 1,9 South Ferry 4,5 Bowling Green J,M,Z Broad Street http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/siferrysched07.pdf. http://www.siferry.com/
Chinatown
Manhattan's Chinatown (纽约华埠/紐約華埠) — a neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City — is an ethnic Chinese enclave with a large population of Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans as well as a long-standing Chinese cultural influence. Manhattan's Chinatown is one of the largest ethnic Chinese communities outside of Asia.
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The borders of Chinatown Manhattan, is traditionally recognized as between Canal Street to the North (bordering Little Italy), The Bowery to the East (bordering the Lower East Side), Worth Street to the South and Baxter Street to the West.
5. South Street Seaport
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The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District. The Seaport itself now operates primarily as a mall and tourism center, built on Pier 17 on the East River. Visitors may choose from among many shops and a food court. Decks outside allow views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Heights.
It features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan seafront, and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city. This includes renovated original mercantile buildings, renovated sailing ships, the former Fulton Fish Market, and modern tourist malls featuring food, shopping and nightlife, with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. At the entrance to the Seaport is the Titanic Memorial lighthouse.
Transportation
(i) By bus
To go to South Street Seaport,which is currently served by the M9 and M15 New York City Bus routes. Take a bus to Pearl Street, just in front of Titanic Memorial Park, at the junction of Pearl Street and Fulton Street. After getting down from the bus, walk along Fulton Street, you will see row of shops selling tourist items and flowers. South Street Seaport Museum(NO 12, Fulton St) is on the left before crossing Front Street. After Front Street, there are food outlets. Crossing South Street is the Pier 17 and South Street Seaport.
The Downtown Connection bus route connects South Street Seaport with Battery Park City.
(ii)By Subway
2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, or M to Fulton Street
A or C trains to Broadway-Nassau;
or E train towards Fulton Street.
Walk East on Fulton Street to Water Street.
It more look like Navy Pier of Chicago.
http://www.southstreetseaport.com/
We arrived very early in New York after a night of bus drive. The bus from MEGABUS.COM arrived at the MTA bus shelter on the west side of 7th Avenue, just south of 28th Street, New York. The morning in New York is still chilly and cold. Still not summer as expected, it is the time for changing of the season from Spring to Summer. As it is still early, there are few shops open for business, some early New Yorkers are going for work. Some street vendors are opening their stalls, especially fruits and food sellers. We just hang around the doughnut chain outlet for a light breakfast, before planning our city tour in New York.
Manhattan (New York County)
The first feel and visit of New York must be Manhattan, which is divided into:
1. Downtown Manhattan(below 14th Street),
2. Midtown Manhattan(14th to 59th St), and
3. Upper Manhattan(north of 59th street).
The famous island between the Hudson and East Rivers, with many diverse and unique neighborhoods. Manhattan is home to the Empire State Building, Central Park, Times Square, Wall Street, Harlem, and the trendy neighborhoods of Greenwich Village and SoHo.
Manhattan is one of New York's five boroughs and is what people most often think of when they talk about New York. Manhattan is actually an elongated island and includes most of the best known and most popularly visited neighborhoods.
Manhattan is loosely divided into downtown, midtown, and uptown, with Fifth Avenue dividing Manhattan's east and west sides. Manhattan Island is bounded by the Hudson River to the west and the East River to the east. To the north, the Harlem River divides Manhattan from The Bronx and the mainland United States. Several small islands are also part of the borough of Manhattan, including Randall's Island, Ward's Island, and Roosevelt Island in the East River, and Governors Island and Liberty Island to the south in New York Harbor.[54] Manhattan Island is 22.7 square miles (58.8 km²) in area, 13.4 miles (21.6 km) long and 2.3 miles (3.7 km) wide, at its widest (near 14th Street).[55] New York County as a whole covers a total area of 33.77 square miles (87.46 km²), of which 22.96 square miles (59.47 km²) are land and 10.81 square miles (28.00 km²) are water.
Manhattan, it name can means Manhattan borough or Manhattan financial district, which is part of Manhattan Borough.
Fifth Avenue roughly bisects Manhattan Island and acts as the demarcation line for east/west designations (e.g., East 27th Street, West 42nd Street); street addresses start at Fifth Avenue and increase heading away from Fifth Avenue, at a rate of 100 per block in most places.[80] South of Waverly Place in Manhattan, Fifth Avenue terminates and Broadway becomes the east/west demarcation line. Though the grid does start with 1st Street, just north of Houston Street (pronounced HOW-stin), the grid does not fully take hold until north of 14th Street, where nearly all east-west streets are numerically identified, which increase from south to north to 220th Street, the highest numbered street on the island. Streets in Midtown are usually one way with a few exceptions (14th, 34th and 42nd to name a few). The rule of thumb is odd numbered streets run west while evens run east.
Downtown Manhattan(below 14th Street)
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The districts located south of 14th Street are considered as "Downtown". It is also called South Manhattan or Lower Manhattan. If you said go to Downtown, in Manhattan, it means going to the south. Downtown consist of Manhattan(financial district), TriBeCa, Soho, Chinatown, Lower East Side, Greenwich village, East Village. Downtown or Lower Manhattan is home to some of New York's most famous and evocative landmarks: Wall Street, the Brooklyn Bridge, as well as the Statue of Liberty on Liberty Island and Ellis Island in the harbor, both accessed by ferry boat from the financial district.
Manhattan or Lower Manhattan, the financial district(from Chambers Street to New York Harbor)
Manhattan is the home of the financial district of Manhattan, located at the southern tip of the island with the Hudson River on the west, the East River on the east, New York Harbor to the south, and Chambers Street on the north. It is one of the two largest business districts in New York City - the other being Midtown Manhattan - and is the historical core of the modern city; a fact reflected in the convoluted street pattern compared to the regular streets and avenues found uptown.
(ii) TriBeCa is short for "Triangle Below Canal Street". TriBeCa is the area south of SoHo in Manhattan bounded by Canal St on the north, Broadway on the east, Barclay St on the south and the Hudson River on the west.
(iii) SoHo is a diverse neighborhood in Manhattan in New York bounded roughly by Houston Street to the north, Lafayette St. to the east, Canal Street to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. The name for the area derives from its supposed similarities to the London Soho and the fact that it is "South of Houston". SoHo used to be a bohemian quarter of artists subsisting in lofts which weren't at first recognized as legal housing, and teeming art galleries. By now, the neighborhood has become so expensive that the art galleries have been generally priced out and have moved to the far west of Chelsea, while the struggling artists have had to move further and further into the "Outer Boroughs" to find affordable places to rent. Now, this is a neighborhood of expensive boutiques, but its narrow cobblestoned side streets retain their charm, and even if the crowding on Broadway between Houston and Spring Sts. can be draining, this is still a good neighborhood to walk through.
(iv) Chinatown is a lively neighborhood, full of good values in restaurants and food shopping. Also on sale are cheap knockoffs of designer labels made in China, and all sorts of trinkets and toys. Chinatown is a much larger neighborhood in population and area than it used to be a few decades ago, and for all practical purposes encompasses most of "Little Italy" and a large portion of the Lower East Side, north of Canal Street and on the north side of the Manhattan Bridge overpass. Indeed, in a real sense, it can be said that the center of Chinatown is no longer on Mott St. between Canal St. and Chatham Square (though that stretch is well worth visiting), but has moved further north and east to East Broadway between Chatham Square and Pike Street and Grand St. between the Bowery and Chrystie St., where locals shop for foodstuffs - and you can, too, for good values. Chinatown has also been growing more diverse, becoming a bit less of a Chinatown and more of a China and Southeast Asia town, with a growing presence of immigrants from Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, etc.
(v) The Lower East Side of Manhattan is bounded by Houston Street, the Bowery, the Manhattan Bridge, and the East River, with the neighborhood's center being Orchard Street. Once a Jewish wholesale enclave, this street is a true multicultural blend, with trendy boutiques, French cafés, and velvet-roped nightspots sprinkled among dry-goods discounters, Spanish bodegas, and mom-and-pop shops selling everything from T-shirts to designer fashions to menorahs. The East Village was also traditionally considered part of the Lower East Side, but that neighborhood has developed its own identity.
It was here that the New York garment industry began. The area has been known as one of New York's favorite bargain beats, where serious shoppers find fantastic bargains (especially along Orchard Street on a Sunday afternoon), but this is increasingly becoming a thing of the past as rents skyrocket and cutting-edge new designers and boutiques formerly seen in SoHo flock to the area. But in its mix of old and new, bohemian and upscale, you can find trendy bars and music venues, a venerable old no-nonsense place that just might serve up the best pastrami sandwich in the world, a restaurant called WD-50 which serves up new-style "molecular gastronomy," Gus's Pickles out of a barrel, and great bialys. South of Delancey Street, much of this neighborhood is now part of Chinatown.
(vi) Greenwich Village (often simply referred to as "the Village") is a well-known, largely residential district in Manhattan, one of the boroughs of New York. The neighborhood is roughly bounded by Broadway on the east, the Hudson River on the west, Houston Street on the south, and 14th Street on the north. The neighborhoods surrounding it are the East Village to the east, SoHo to the south, and Chelsea to the north.
Note that the "East Village" was not historically part of Greenwich Village and is still considered by many New Yorkers to be part of the Lower East Side, but the term "West Village" is synonymous with Greenwich Village, or at least that part of the neighborhood that is west of 6th Av. or so. In the 19th century, the Greenwich Village district was better known as Washington Square. Washington Square Park remains a neighborhood landmark, but the terms "The Village," "Greenwich Village," and "West Village" are practically interchangeable.
(v) The East Village, east of the Village on Manhattan, was traditionally considered part of the Lower East Side, and constitutes the portion north of Houston St., south of 14th St., and east of Broadway. Although increasingly gentrified, with former crack dens that are now modern apartments so hip you can't afford them, it remains an ethnically diverse area of students, young professionals, and older longtime residents. This colorful neighborhood is full of good values in food as diverse as its population, and there's always something happening on St. Marks Place.
East of 1st Av., encompassing the area from Av. A to the East River, is a sub-neighborhood often called Alphabet City or Loisaida (Spanglish for "Lower East Side"); Av. C's alternate name is "Loisaida Avenue." Parts of Alphabet City still have a Hispano-Caribbean feel, especially on Avs. D and C, but since most of Alphabet City is similar to the rest of the East Village now (diverse, somewhat gentrified, stylish), the separate designations are less used than was the case a 2-3 decades ago. The area between Broadway and 3rd Av./Bowery, on the other hand, is sometimes called NoHo, for "North of Houston St." by analogy to SoHo to its south.
1. World Trade Centre
Our first visit is to the World Trade Center. This is the Ground Zero site of 911 attack. On September 11, 2001, planes were hijacked and flown into the two towers of the World Trade Center, killing nearly 3,000 people. The two towers were destroyed, along with World Trade Center 7, which was evacuated before it collapsed, due to fire damage. There have been plans of reconstructing the towers with WTC1 ⅓ finished on the 10th anniversary of 9/11
(i) World Trade Center Site - Ground Zero
For a moment of introspection, travel downtown to Ground Zero, site of the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001. The site of the September 11th terrorist attacks has become popular with visitors (and it was popular with visitors even before the attacks, as a couple of landmark buildings stood there)
The World Trade Center site when it was completed in 1987 had more office space than the entire city of San Francisco with its own zip code, the two tallest buildings in the world at the time. It was the victim of terrorist attacks in 2001, but it is on its way to becoming a new memorial, museum, and office center that will open starting in 2011. Please note that, at this time, there is no official memorial for Sept 11, 2001. The actual site is currently under construction.
One World Trade Center, also known by its nickname and former name Freedom Tower, is the main building of the new World Trade Center under construction, expected to be completed in 2013, in Lower Manhattan in New York City, USA. The tower will be located in the northwest corner of the 16-acre (65,000 m²) World Trade Center site bounded by Vesey, West, Washington and Fulton streets.
Construction on below-ground utility relocations, footings, and foundations for the 1,776 feet (541.32 m)building began on April 27, 2006. On December 19, 2006, the first steel columns were installed in the building's foundation. On March 30, 2009, the Port Authority said that the building will be known as 'One World Trade Center,' replacing its former name 'Freedom Tower.' When completed, One World Trade Center will be among the tallest buildings in the world and the tallest in the United States.
Three other high-rise office buildings are planned for the site along Greenwich Street, and they will surround the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, which is under construction. The area will also be home to a museum of the site's history.
The latest progress is that the steel has now raised above 26th floor, which is 276 ft above street level( ref: World Trade Center Progress, May 2010)
When we visited the site, there were many police petrol cars around the area, the security of the site was very tight.
(ii) The Tribute Center on Liberty Street for tours
The Tribute Center offers 6,000 square feet of exhibit and educational meeting space for visitors in one of downtown’s historic buildings at 120 Liberty Street. The Tribute WTC Center is located next to FDNY firehouse 10/10 and across from the World Trade Center site. Visitors learn factual information about the events on September 11th, the identity of 2,973 people killed in the attacks, the unprecedented rescue and recovery operations and the tremendous spirit of support and generosity that arose after the attacks.
The Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers "Person to Person History," linking visitors who want to understand and appreciate these historic events with those who experienced them.
There are 5 Galleries:
Gallery 1 - World Trade Center: Community Remembered
The majesty of the Towers and their prominence in Lower Manhattan is illustrated by a floor map and surrounding panoramic images. A lively film composed of shared memories, personal photos and authentic sounds illuminates a model.
Gallery 2 - Passage Through Time: September 11th
Travel through moments in time during February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001. Experience the events as they unfolded. Hear the voices and see the artifacts and images that reveal how a bright blue morning sky transformed into an evening veiled in the dust of destruction
Gallery 3 - Aftermath: Rescue and Recovery
Meet the individuals who rushed to the site and worked tirelessly for months. Sweeping panoramic images, artifacts and a poignant film portray the heart-wrenching recovery period and the heroic efforts of thousands who responded with courage and determination to face an unprecedented catastrophe.
Gallery 4 - Tribute
Visitors view over 1,200 photographs and memorabilia lovingly shared by family members. A perpetual scrolling of names pays constant tribute to those loved and lost during the attacks of February 26, 1993 and September 11, 2001.
Gallery 5 - Voices of Promise
Discover the inspiring stories of people who turned grief into action and committed themselves to volunteer, teach and reach out at home and around the globe. A selection of audio stories and changing exhibits support our tribute to those that helped others. Visitors are invited to add their own thoughts and to read each others' reflections in this international dialogue.
This is the place where you see the exhibits and personal experience of people who are connected with 911. You try to hold your tears and emotion feeling for the event and the people. Why must this happen....an ugly chapter of human history worst than wars and disasters that human race have ever faced. This is the intentional malice to kill a fellow human being. No religion and man of right mind will allow this to happen. This event has provide a provocative lesson for mankind to relook at politic and religion. On the day, I was shocked, but I also hear the cheering voices from some people, I feel so sad and uncertain, have human race come to the state where human senses no more prevail, and human life have not been respected by a fellow human.
http://www.tributewtc.org/index.php
(iii)St. Paul's Chapel for memorials and history of the events
St Paul's Chapel, 209 Broadway (between Fulton and Vesey Streets). Built in 1776, the chapel is an active part of the Parish of Trinity Church and is Manhattan's oldest public building in continuous use. It is the only remaining colonial church in New York City and was George Washington's place of worship after he was inaugurated as president, but more recently the chapel became known for surviving the events of 9/11 without even a broken window - despite being located across the street from the World Trade Center - and its role as a place of refuge for the WTC recovery workers in the days that followed
http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/congregation/spc/
Standing on the site of the World Trade Center and looking at the exhibition, hearing the voices of the people connected with the sad event. I have to take the greater strength of my life to hold my emotion. I wonder the person who was responsible, if he or they are still alive today, have they no repentant of the act they have done. Whatever the reason, it is senseless, and the person will be regret for whole life..... it is my prayer that no more incident like this nature happen again.
Subway: A, C, E to Chambers Street-World Trade Center, 2 or 3 to Park Place, or R, or W (northbound only) to Cortlandt Street.
The Future World Trade Center
2. The Financial District - Wall Street
Wall Street
The second visit is to the financial district, including the Wall Street and NYSE. Wall Street is actually a narrow street running downhill from Broadway to the East River, Wall Street was named for the wall that was built here in 1652 to keep Manhattan's indigenous peoples out of the growing Dutch settlement. The wall was demolished by the British in 1699. By the late 18th century, traders and speculators would gather under a buttonwood tree at the foot of Wall Street to trade informally - this was the origin of the New York Stock Exchange that was established in 1817.
Wall Street and downtown New York is the center of American history, and it is here that you can find the statue of liberty, Ellis Island, Wall Street, and Federal Hall, where George Washington was sworn in and the bill of rights was written.
No 1, Wall Street - Home to The Bank of New York, the oldest banking institution in the New York city
No 14, Wall Street - once JP Morgan's apartment
No 20, Wall Street - Was built to house City Bank Farmers Trust Company
No 40, Wall Street - once world tallest building, but lost out by the height of a flagpole to the Chrysler Building
No 48, Wall Street - The only building in Wall Street that incorporate elements of Colonial architecture in focade and tower.
No 55, Wall Street - Originally the Merchant Exchange, one of the Wall Street's oldest buildings.
Wall Street Experience Tour
The Wall Street Experience offers an insider's perspective on Wall Street on its walking tours. http://www.thewallstreetexperience.com/. Explore world-famous financial landmarks such as the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Reserve, and Wall Street guided by real Wall Street insiders. While meandering the narrow, winding streets of Lower Manhattan, you will hear exclusive stories from “inside the trenches” that will entertain, inform and shock you.
Tours have appeared in news and on television globally including CNN, BBC, Reuters, and FoxNews. In addition, these tours was filmed for Oliver Stone's Wall Street 2 movie DVD Feature. The Wall Street Experience aims to demystify and personify Wall Street through personal interaction and storytelling of firsthand experiences. Bring your camera and your questions!
Subway: 4, 5 to Wall Street; J, M, Z to Broad Street (weekdays only) Internet: http://www.nyse.com New York Stock Exchange Address: 11 Wall Street New York , NY
www.thewallstreetexperience.com
New York Stock Exchange
NYSE or New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10005 (at 18, Broad Street, corner of Broad and Wall Street). The most important stock exchange in the world, the NYSE is the most watched indicator of economic performance in the global economy. The activity on the trading floor is astonishing. Visitors should beware, however, that security is tight, and sudden closures are a possibility. Visitor admittance to the interior has been suspended indefinitely.
Federal Hall
Federal Hall, built in 1700 as New York's City Hall, later served as the first capitol building of the United States of America, and was the site of George Washington's 1789 inauguration as the first President of the United States. It was also where the United States Bill of Rights was ratified. The building was demolished in 1812. Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street was built in 1842 as the New York Customs House, on the site of the old Federal Hall. Located at 26 Wall Street.
The building was designated as Federal Hall Memorial National Historic Site on May 26, 1939, and redesignated a national memorial on August 11, 1955. It is operated by the National Park Service as a museum commemorating the historic events that happened there. As with all historic areas administered by the National Park Service, the memorial was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966. Federal Hall was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission on 01965-12-21 December 21, 1965.
The National Park Services operates Federal Hall as a museum. The museum closed on December 3, 2004 for extensive renovations and reopened in the fall of 2006. Normally its exhibit galleries are open free to the public daily, except national holidays, and guided tours of the site are offered throughout the day. Exhibits include:
This Bible on which Washington took his inaugural oath in 1789 is preserved at Federal Hall.George Washington’s Inauguration Gallery - Including the Bible used to swear his oath of office.
Freedom of the Press - The imprisonment and trial of John Peter Zenger.
Journey to Federal Hall - An 8-minute video about the history of Federal Hall.
New York: An American Capital - Preview exhibit created by the National Archives and Records Administration.
The current building is well-known for the 1882 J.Q.A. Ward's bronze statue of George Washington on its front steps, marking the site where he was inaugurated as US President in the former structure.
Trinity Church
Trinity Church(79, Broadway),located at the intersection of Wall Street and Broadway in downtown Manhattan. An Episcopalian (Anglican) church and parish was first established on this site in 1697 under charter by King William III. The present Neo-Gothic Revival church building (the third incarnation) dates from 1846 and remains a significant landmark within Downtown. The original burial ground at Trinity Church includes the graves and memorials of many historic figures, including Alexander Hamilton, William Bradford, Robert Fulton, and Albert Gallatin.
On September 11, 2001, as the 1st Tower collapsed people took refuge from the massive debris cloud, inside the church. Debris from the tower collapsing knocked over a giant sycamore tree that had stood for nearly a century in the churchyard of St. Paul's Chapel, which is part of Trinity Church's parish and is located several blocks north of Trinity Church. Sculptor Steve Tobin used its roots as the base for a bronze sculpture that stands next to the Trinity Church.
Our lunch is at Mac Donald outlet at Broadway nearby.
3. Bowling Green, (at Broadway and Morris)- the site of Charging Bull.
Bowling Green Park is a small park located at a triangular land between Whitehall, Broadway and Battery Place. A small park at the foot of Broadway which is the oldest public park in the city and is the site of the 7,000 pound bronze Charging Bull sculpture created after the 1987 stock market crash. The Charging Bull sculpture is one of the most iconic representations of the market prosperity, it was done by Arturo Di Modica. Representing the bull market economy, the sculpture was originally placed in front of the New York Stock Exchange, and subsequently moved to its current location in Bowling Green.
Bowling Green is New York's oldest park, it is the place where Dutch settler Peter Minuit purchased Manhattan Island from the native Americans with variety of goods with value of only $24. The fence around the park is the original one, erected in 1771.
Bowling Green is also the origin point for the Broadway ticker-tape parades; if you walk up Broadway, you can view plaques in the sidewalk honoring the people or events celebrated in these parades
4. Battery Park
At the southern tip of Manhattan, Battery Park is a waterfront green space, named for the artillery batteries which were installed here to protect the settlement of New York when it was under Dutch, then British rule. In the lead-up to the War of 1812, Castle Clinton was constructed as a fort to protect the city, and is now operated as a small museum. There are several memorials in the park, including The Sphere, a public art piece originally housed on the World Trade Center site which survived the events of September 11 and was moved to Battery Park. Ferries departing to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island depart from here
Castle Clinton National Monument(Battery Park)
Irish Hunger Memorial
5. Ferry Trip to Staten Island Ferry
Staten Island Ferry from Whitehall Terminal Manhattan (also known as South Ferry) to St. George Terminal Staten Island, Note: 6.40 am to 8.45 am is rush hour, avoid it. The best time is 5.30 am or 6am; Travel time is 25 min, the service is free.
Staten Island Ferry , running from the tip of Manhattan at Battery Park to Staten Island. The ferry carries passengers and bicycles only, runs every 15 minutes during rush hours, and is free.
As it gives a really good view of the Statue of Liberty and New York Harbor on its way, this is a very popular trip for visitors. Ride on the starboard (right facing forward) side of the ferry from Manhattan and the port side from Staten Island for the best views (to the west). If you want to take good photographs, try to get on the ferry as soon as the gates open and walk briskly to an open window (few windows are open to the air and will populate quickly), and also note that the Manhattan to Staten Island route passes slightly closer to the monument than on the return route.
Bus Service M1, M9,M6, & M15
Subway Service N* R, W Whitehall Street 1,9 South Ferry 4,5 Bowling Green J,M,Z Broad Street http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/siferrysched07.pdf. http://www.siferry.com/
Chinatown
Manhattan's Chinatown (纽约华埠/紐約華埠) — a neighborhood of the borough of Manhattan in New York City — is an ethnic Chinese enclave with a large population of Chinese immigrants and Chinese Americans as well as a long-standing Chinese cultural influence. Manhattan's Chinatown is one of the largest ethnic Chinese communities outside of Asia.
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The borders of Chinatown Manhattan, is traditionally recognized as between Canal Street to the North (bordering Little Italy), The Bowery to the East (bordering the Lower East Side), Worth Street to the South and Baxter Street to the West.
5. South Street Seaport
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The South Street Seaport is a historic area in the New York City borough of Manhattan, located where Fulton Street meets the East River, and adjacent to the Financial District. The Seaport is a designated historic district, distinct from the neighboring Financial District. The Seaport itself now operates primarily as a mall and tourism center, built on Pier 17 on the East River. Visitors may choose from among many shops and a food court. Decks outside allow views of the East River, Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn Heights.
It features some of the oldest architecture in downtown Manhattan seafront, and includes the largest concentration of restored early 19th-century commercial buildings in the city. This includes renovated original mercantile buildings, renovated sailing ships, the former Fulton Fish Market, and modern tourist malls featuring food, shopping and nightlife, with a view of the Brooklyn Bridge. At the entrance to the Seaport is the Titanic Memorial lighthouse.
Transportation
(i) By bus
To go to South Street Seaport,which is currently served by the M9 and M15 New York City Bus routes. Take a bus to Pearl Street, just in front of Titanic Memorial Park, at the junction of Pearl Street and Fulton Street. After getting down from the bus, walk along Fulton Street, you will see row of shops selling tourist items and flowers. South Street Seaport Museum(NO 12, Fulton St) is on the left before crossing Front Street. After Front Street, there are food outlets. Crossing South Street is the Pier 17 and South Street Seaport.
The Downtown Connection bus route connects South Street Seaport with Battery Park City.
(ii)By Subway
2, 3, 4, 5, J, Z, or M to Fulton Street
A or C trains to Broadway-Nassau;
or E train towards Fulton Street.
Walk East on Fulton Street to Water Street.
It more look like Navy Pier of Chicago.
http://www.southstreetseaport.com/
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo(300 miles or 483 km from New York)
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, behind New York City. Located in Western New York State, Buffalo is the principal city of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area and the seat of Erie County. Buffalo is located on the eastern end of Lake Erie, opposite Fort Erie, Ontario in Canada, and at the beginning of the Niagara River, which flows northward over Niagara Falls and into Lake Ontario.
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Buffalo is New York state's second-largest city, with a metropolitan area population of nearly 1,200,000. Buffalo is the cultural and economic center of the Western New York region. Once a bustling industrial center, Buffalo now serves as home to renowned art galleries, diverse entertainment, world-famous architecture and internationally recognized universities.
The city is increasingly becoming known as one of America's most hospitable cities after being awarded the titles of third cleanest city, USA Today's "City with a Heart", and winning the "All-America City Award" twice. Recently Buffalo was named one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2009 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, along with being honored as one of the 44 Places to Visit in 2009 by the New York Times.
Situated at the confluence of Lake Erie and the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers, Buffalo is a waterfront city. The river bank is to be developed into a tourist destination.
By car, Buffalo is about two hours from Toronto, one and a half hours from Rochester, two and a half hours from Syracuse, and 7 hours from New York City.
Bus go to Niagara Fall, stop at different bus stops, which give us the opportunity to look at Buffalo city. I know of Buffalo is because of the University of Buffalo, where there are many Malaysian students from a local college in Kuala Lumpur(either Help or Inti) having link program with the university. Buffalo to me, is like Chicago, a beautiful city located near the Great Lake region. But the city is smaller than Chicago.
### Warning: Avoid walking in the street
Buffalo's East Side has a reputation as being a fairly rough place. This is the city's poorest residential district, and the blighted houses and emerging urban prairie does little to dispel the notion that this is a bad part of town. For the most part, this is a working-class part of town, full of lower- to lower-middle-class working families. It's good advice not to walk the streets alone at night around Bailey Ave. or Fillmore Ave. east of Main St.
23/5/2010(Sun) – Niagara Fall -Buffalo- New York
Mexican dinner at W Chippewa St, Downtown
Immediately arrived at the bus station at Ellicott St, we took a bus to Delaware Avenue, and stopped near Hampton Inn bus stop. We walk to the junction of W Chippewa St. West Chippewa St is the most visible nightlife district of Buffalo city, located between Main Street and South Elmwood Avenue. The area is home to high-energy dance clubs, crowded bars, trendy coffeehouses, and restaurants. We have our dinner at Mexican food outlet,located at the corner between Delaware Ave and W Chippewa St. Opposite across the street is Spot Coffee Delaware Cafe. Starbucks is across the W Chippewa St. After the Mexican meal, we walk along the Delaware Ave to the Niagara Square.
Walking in downtown, Buffalo city
Around Niagara Square, Buffalo
Niagara Square is a public square located at the intersections of Delaware Avenue, Court Street, Genesee Street, and Niagara Street in Buffalo, New York. It is the central hub of Joseph Ellicott's original radial street pattern that he designed in 1804 for the then village of New Amsterdam. It continues to be the nexus of downtown Buffalo. Within the center of the modern square is a large monument commemorating the assassination of President McKinley, who was assassinated in Buffalo during the Pan-American Exposition of 1901. This square is also home the Statler Towers building, Buffalo City Court Building, and several other office and buildings
Statler Towers is Statler Hotel
Buffalo City Hall is the seat for municipal government in the City of Buffalo, New York State. It is located at 65 Niagara Square, just opposite Niagara Square. The 32 story Art Deco building was completed in 1931 by Dietel, Wade & Jones. At 378 ft (115.2 m)height or 398 feet (121.3 m)from the street to the tip of the tower, it is one of the largest and tallest municipal buildings in the United States of America and is also one of the tallest buildings in Western New York. The design was by George Dietel, architect, with the assistance of John J. Wade. The friezes were sculpted by Albert Stewart and the sculpture executed by Rene Paul Chambellan.
Niagara Square is the place where I met a homeless old man. We talk and walk along the street until near Lafayette Square. The old man who is friendly and telling me about the difficulty time he went through. He is now survive by collecting cans and bottles.
The loss of traditional jobs in manufacturing, rapid suburbanization and high costs of labor have led to economic decline, making Buffalo one of the poorest amongst U.S. cities with populations of more than 250,000 people. An estimated 28.7% of Buffalo residents live below the poverty line; only Detroit and Cleveland have higher rates. Buffalo faces issues with vacant and abandoned houses, as the city ranks second only to St. Louis on the list of American cities with the most vacant properties per capita. Buffalo is now trying to transform into tourist destination. Buffalo is beautiful, can be the Chicago of NY state. The river, the lake, the historical buildings, sport, food, and she is close to Niagara Fall and Canada border.
Along Main Street, Buffalo
The Liberty Building is located at 424 Main St., Buffalo,just across the Buffalo Metro Rail from Lafayette Square. Built in 1925, the 23 story building is an office tower owned by the Main Liberty Group. It is 101 meters or 333 feet. An addition designed by Lyman & Associates was completed in 1961. The building is peaked with two replicas of the Statue of Liberty sculpted by Leo Lentelli. It is 5th tallest building in Buffalo.
Around Lafayette Square, Buffalo
Lafayette Square (formerly Court House Park or Courthouse Square) is a park in the center of downtown Buffalo, Erie County, New York, United States that hosts a Civil War monument. The block, which was once square, is lined by many of the city's tallest buildings. The square was named for General Lafayette, who visited Buffalo in 1825. Today, the square offers a clear view of Buffalo City Hall, an Art Deco building three blocks to the west. A granite Civil War monument, titled Soldiers and Sailors, gives a strong vertical and ceremonial definition to the space. Conceived by Mrs. Horatio Seymour, the monument's dedication ceremony was attended by Grover Cleveland and other prominent figures.
Court Street joined Niagara Square with Lafayette Square.
The square was part of the original urban plan for the city as laid out by Joseph Ellicott in 1804. Its eastern edge has long been defined by important civic structures; first, the Erie County Courthouse, followed by the original Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Electric Tower, or General Electric Tower is located at 535 Washington St. Presidential history was made in Lafayette Square when former United States President Martin Van Buren received the Free Soil Party nomination for the 1848 election. President-elect Abraham Lincoln also spoke at the square
Today, Lafayette Square hosts the annual Thursday at the Square summer concert series and is occasionally the site of rallies and demonstrations.
The Rand Building is a skyscraper and the third tallest building in Buffalo, New York. It is located at 14 Lafayette Square. The building is named after George Rand, a prominent Buffalo financier in the 1920s. At the time it was built in 1929, it was the tallest in the city at a height of 391 feet (119 m). Built on the site of the 1903 Olympic Theatre, it has been suggested that the Rand Building was the inspiration for the Empire State Building, NY city.
The Ellicott Square Building is an office complex in Buffalo, New York, USA. It was designed by Charles Atwood of D. H. Burnham & Company, and completed in May, 1896. It is within the square surround by Main St, S Division St, Washington St, and Swan St. In 1984 it was used for hotel scenes in the movie The Natural, starring Robert Redford.
The tallest building in Buffalo, the One HSBC Center, which stands 529 feet (161 m) tall. It is at 200-230 Washington Street, just near Coca-cola Field.
Coca-Cola Field, Buffalo
Not far from the Greyhound bus station is Cocacola Field. Coca-Cola Field (formerly Dunn Tire Park, North AmeriCare Park, Downtown Ballpark and Pilot Field) is a 18,025-seat baseball park in Buffalo, New York. It is located at 275 Washington Street, Buffalo.
I really enjoyed the walk around the downtown in Buffalo city, even this is Sunday night the local crowd is not there. The beautiful historical buildings seems waiting to tell me the story of the city's glory past. It is a joy to walk in historical downtown, and I love it.......
Buffalo to New York
The return trip is also by Megabus, Buffalo to New York (7 hr 45 min)by Megabus @$38 per person. Departs 9:45 PM Buffalo, Downtown Terminal. Arrives 5:30 AM New York, 7th Ave & 28th St. Buses arrive and depart at gate 13 in the Metropolitan Transportation Center, located at the corner of Ellicott St and N Division St in downtown Buffalo.
Buffalo Bus station is at Metropolitan Transportation Center, located at the corner of Ellicott St and N Division St in downtown Buffalo, actually within the block bordered by Ellicott St, N Division St, Oak Street & E Eagle Street. Not far from Lafayette Square(between Clinton St, Broadway St & Washington St). Buffalo depart station for Megabus is similar to Greyhound Buses,at 181 Ellicott St, Buffalo.
NY Bus station - MEGABUS.COM arrivals are located at the MTA bus shelter on the west side of 7th Avenue, just south of 28th Street, NY
Buffalo city is a beautiful place, its historical buildings; make me remember Chicago city. Chicago has more modern skyscrapers, Buffalo has more historical buildings. Chicago is more vibrant, Buffalo is more quite. Both are beautiful cities at the shore line of the Great Lake, Chicago at Michigan Lake, Buffalo at Lake Erie, both are magnificent cities. Pray that the transformation will be a success story and benefit Buffalo city and its people.
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, behind New York City. Located in Western New York State, Buffalo is the principal city of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area and the seat of Erie County. Buffalo is located on the eastern end of Lake Erie, opposite Fort Erie, Ontario in Canada, and at the beginning of the Niagara River, which flows northward over Niagara Falls and into Lake Ontario.
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Buffalo is New York state's second-largest city, with a metropolitan area population of nearly 1,200,000. Buffalo is the cultural and economic center of the Western New York region. Once a bustling industrial center, Buffalo now serves as home to renowned art galleries, diverse entertainment, world-famous architecture and internationally recognized universities.
The city is increasingly becoming known as one of America's most hospitable cities after being awarded the titles of third cleanest city, USA Today's "City with a Heart", and winning the "All-America City Award" twice. Recently Buffalo was named one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2009 by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, along with being honored as one of the 44 Places to Visit in 2009 by the New York Times.
Situated at the confluence of Lake Erie and the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers, Buffalo is a waterfront city. The river bank is to be developed into a tourist destination.
By car, Buffalo is about two hours from Toronto, one and a half hours from Rochester, two and a half hours from Syracuse, and 7 hours from New York City.
Bus go to Niagara Fall, stop at different bus stops, which give us the opportunity to look at Buffalo city. I know of Buffalo is because of the University of Buffalo, where there are many Malaysian students from a local college in Kuala Lumpur(either Help or Inti) having link program with the university. Buffalo to me, is like Chicago, a beautiful city located near the Great Lake region. But the city is smaller than Chicago.
### Warning: Avoid walking in the street
Buffalo's East Side has a reputation as being a fairly rough place. This is the city's poorest residential district, and the blighted houses and emerging urban prairie does little to dispel the notion that this is a bad part of town. For the most part, this is a working-class part of town, full of lower- to lower-middle-class working families. It's good advice not to walk the streets alone at night around Bailey Ave. or Fillmore Ave. east of Main St.
23/5/2010(Sun) – Niagara Fall -Buffalo- New York
Mexican dinner at W Chippewa St, Downtown
Immediately arrived at the bus station at Ellicott St, we took a bus to Delaware Avenue, and stopped near Hampton Inn bus stop. We walk to the junction of W Chippewa St. West Chippewa St is the most visible nightlife district of Buffalo city, located between Main Street and South Elmwood Avenue. The area is home to high-energy dance clubs, crowded bars, trendy coffeehouses, and restaurants. We have our dinner at Mexican food outlet,located at the corner between Delaware Ave and W Chippewa St. Opposite across the street is Spot Coffee Delaware Cafe. Starbucks is across the W Chippewa St. After the Mexican meal, we walk along the Delaware Ave to the Niagara Square.
Walking in downtown, Buffalo city
Around Niagara Square, Buffalo
Niagara Square is a public square located at the intersections of Delaware Avenue, Court Street, Genesee Street, and Niagara Street in Buffalo, New York. It is the central hub of Joseph Ellicott's original radial street pattern that he designed in 1804 for the then village of New Amsterdam. It continues to be the nexus of downtown Buffalo. Within the center of the modern square is a large monument commemorating the assassination of President McKinley, who was assassinated in Buffalo during the Pan-American Exposition of 1901. This square is also home the Statler Towers building, Buffalo City Court Building, and several other office and buildings
Statler Towers is Statler Hotel
Buffalo City Hall is the seat for municipal government in the City of Buffalo, New York State. It is located at 65 Niagara Square, just opposite Niagara Square. The 32 story Art Deco building was completed in 1931 by Dietel, Wade & Jones. At 378 ft (115.2 m)height or 398 feet (121.3 m)from the street to the tip of the tower, it is one of the largest and tallest municipal buildings in the United States of America and is also one of the tallest buildings in Western New York. The design was by George Dietel, architect, with the assistance of John J. Wade. The friezes were sculpted by Albert Stewart and the sculpture executed by Rene Paul Chambellan.
Niagara Square is the place where I met a homeless old man. We talk and walk along the street until near Lafayette Square. The old man who is friendly and telling me about the difficulty time he went through. He is now survive by collecting cans and bottles.
The loss of traditional jobs in manufacturing, rapid suburbanization and high costs of labor have led to economic decline, making Buffalo one of the poorest amongst U.S. cities with populations of more than 250,000 people. An estimated 28.7% of Buffalo residents live below the poverty line; only Detroit and Cleveland have higher rates. Buffalo faces issues with vacant and abandoned houses, as the city ranks second only to St. Louis on the list of American cities with the most vacant properties per capita. Buffalo is now trying to transform into tourist destination. Buffalo is beautiful, can be the Chicago of NY state. The river, the lake, the historical buildings, sport, food, and she is close to Niagara Fall and Canada border.
Along Main Street, Buffalo
The Liberty Building is located at 424 Main St., Buffalo,just across the Buffalo Metro Rail from Lafayette Square. Built in 1925, the 23 story building is an office tower owned by the Main Liberty Group. It is 101 meters or 333 feet. An addition designed by Lyman & Associates was completed in 1961. The building is peaked with two replicas of the Statue of Liberty sculpted by Leo Lentelli. It is 5th tallest building in Buffalo.
Around Lafayette Square, Buffalo
Lafayette Square (formerly Court House Park or Courthouse Square) is a park in the center of downtown Buffalo, Erie County, New York, United States that hosts a Civil War monument. The block, which was once square, is lined by many of the city's tallest buildings. The square was named for General Lafayette, who visited Buffalo in 1825. Today, the square offers a clear view of Buffalo City Hall, an Art Deco building three blocks to the west. A granite Civil War monument, titled Soldiers and Sailors, gives a strong vertical and ceremonial definition to the space. Conceived by Mrs. Horatio Seymour, the monument's dedication ceremony was attended by Grover Cleveland and other prominent figures.
Court Street joined Niagara Square with Lafayette Square.
The square was part of the original urban plan for the city as laid out by Joseph Ellicott in 1804. Its eastern edge has long been defined by important civic structures; first, the Erie County Courthouse, followed by the original Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. Electric Tower, or General Electric Tower is located at 535 Washington St. Presidential history was made in Lafayette Square when former United States President Martin Van Buren received the Free Soil Party nomination for the 1848 election. President-elect Abraham Lincoln also spoke at the square
Today, Lafayette Square hosts the annual Thursday at the Square summer concert series and is occasionally the site of rallies and demonstrations.
The Rand Building is a skyscraper and the third tallest building in Buffalo, New York. It is located at 14 Lafayette Square. The building is named after George Rand, a prominent Buffalo financier in the 1920s. At the time it was built in 1929, it was the tallest in the city at a height of 391 feet (119 m). Built on the site of the 1903 Olympic Theatre, it has been suggested that the Rand Building was the inspiration for the Empire State Building, NY city.
The Ellicott Square Building is an office complex in Buffalo, New York, USA. It was designed by Charles Atwood of D. H. Burnham & Company, and completed in May, 1896. It is within the square surround by Main St, S Division St, Washington St, and Swan St. In 1984 it was used for hotel scenes in the movie The Natural, starring Robert Redford.
The tallest building in Buffalo, the One HSBC Center, which stands 529 feet (161 m) tall. It is at 200-230 Washington Street, just near Coca-cola Field.
Coca-Cola Field, Buffalo
Not far from the Greyhound bus station is Cocacola Field. Coca-Cola Field (formerly Dunn Tire Park, North AmeriCare Park, Downtown Ballpark and Pilot Field) is a 18,025-seat baseball park in Buffalo, New York. It is located at 275 Washington Street, Buffalo.
I really enjoyed the walk around the downtown in Buffalo city, even this is Sunday night the local crowd is not there. The beautiful historical buildings seems waiting to tell me the story of the city's glory past. It is a joy to walk in historical downtown, and I love it.......
Buffalo to New York
The return trip is also by Megabus, Buffalo to New York (7 hr 45 min)by Megabus @$38 per person. Departs 9:45 PM Buffalo, Downtown Terminal. Arrives 5:30 AM New York, 7th Ave & 28th St. Buses arrive and depart at gate 13 in the Metropolitan Transportation Center, located at the corner of Ellicott St and N Division St in downtown Buffalo.
Buffalo Bus station is at Metropolitan Transportation Center, located at the corner of Ellicott St and N Division St in downtown Buffalo, actually within the block bordered by Ellicott St, N Division St, Oak Street & E Eagle Street. Not far from Lafayette Square(between Clinton St, Broadway St & Washington St). Buffalo depart station for Megabus is similar to Greyhound Buses,at 181 Ellicott St, Buffalo.
NY Bus station - MEGABUS.COM arrivals are located at the MTA bus shelter on the west side of 7th Avenue, just south of 28th Street, NY
Buffalo city is a beautiful place, its historical buildings; make me remember Chicago city. Chicago has more modern skyscrapers, Buffalo has more historical buildings. Chicago is more vibrant, Buffalo is more quite. Both are beautiful cities at the shore line of the Great Lake, Chicago at Michigan Lake, Buffalo at Lake Erie, both are magnificent cities. Pray that the transformation will be a success story and benefit Buffalo city and its people.
Niagara Falls - American side
23/5/2010(Sunday) Rochester-Buffalo- Niagara Fall
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A early morning stroll in the city of Rochester, walking along East Avenue, the night crowd have left. It is so quite and few cars are around. You can even walk in the street without worrying about the traffic. We visited High Fall neighborhood and Kodak Tower.
Took early bus to Buffalo, by Greyhound. The security is tight and the border guard check the passengers prior to departure. This is in view that Buffalo is close to the border of Canada. Rochester to Buffalo by Greyhound Bus at 8,00a.m. Greyhound Bus Lines, was at 186 Cumberland Street, Rochester, NY 14605.
Stop at Buffalo for a while at the bus station. The bus station is located at 181 Ellicott St, Buffalo. We met an Indian lady who have been in USA for some time, working as nurse. She provide us the information to take bus to Niagara Fall.
Buffalo(300 miles or 483 km from New York)
Buffalo is New York state's second-largest city, with a metropolitan area population of nearly 1,200,000. Buffalo is the cultural and economic center of the Western New York region. Once a bustling industrial center, Buffalo now serves as home to renowned art galleries, diverse entertainment, world-famous architecture and internationally recognized universities.
Situated at the confluence of Lake Erie and the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers, Buffalo is a waterfront city.
By car, Buffalo is about two hours from Toronto, one and a half hours from Rochester, two and a half hours from Syracuse, and 7 hours from New York City.
Bus go to Niagara Fall, stop at different bus stops, which give us the opportunity to look at Buffalo city. I know of Buffalo is because of the University of Buffalo, where there are many Malaysian students from a local college in Kuala Lumpur(either Help or Inti) having link program with the university. Buffalo to me, is like Chicago, a beautiful city located near the Great Lake region. But the city is smaller than Chicago.
Buffalo – Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls from Buffalo is half hour by car, there is a direct Bus route between the two cities.
Route 40 - Grand Island serves this link between the two cities. You can catch the 40 from the Downtown Buffalo Transportation Center at the intersection of Elm and North Division Streets. This is just two blocks east of the Church Street Rail Station. The Bus will drive straight to Downtown Niagara Falls and then continue on to the Niagara Falls Transportation Center. The cost of this 26-mile trip is $4.50 round trip, or $2.25 each way.
We stopped at the 3rd Street bus stop, just in front of Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel(their official address is at 4th Street), just opposite Conference Centre Niagara Falls. Then we walk along Old Falls Street, Starbucks was located at the junction of the street, between Old Falls Street and 3rd Street. Walk straight, cross 1st Street and Rainbow Blvd, until arrive at Prospect Street, the entrance of Niagara Falls State Park is at the street.
Niagara Fall City, New York State
New York City is 406 miles (653 km) from Niagara Falls. The name Niagara Falls can means the falls, either American or Canadian. It may also means the name of the cities, on both side of USA and Canada.
The City of Niagara Falls was incorporated on March 17, 1892. The city is built along the Niagara Falls waterfalls and the Niagara Gorge which is located on next to the Niagara River which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. A small city rich with history. The economy for the city was originally based around the Falls itself, or at least the power generated by the massive waterfall. This cheap and abundant source of power was the driving force behind the rapid rise of area industry. Around the turn of the 20th century, thousands of immigrants from predominantly European nations such as Italy and Poland came to the area to work the chemical, steel, and manufacturing plants owned by present-day companies such as Occidental.
Goods which had previously been cheap to produce in Niagara Falls could now be produced far cheaper elsewhere. Another major toll was suburban migration, a national trend. The city, which once boasted well over 100,000 people at its peak, has seen its population decline by some 50%, as industries shut down and people left for the employment opportunities of the South and West. The unemployment rate in the City of Niagara Falls was around 12 percent as of May 2009.
While its Canadian twin, Niagara Falls, Ontario, began massively building up its tourism industry in the 1990s, allowing for casinos and tall tower hotels, essentially becoming the "Las Vegas of Canada", Niagara Falls, NY did not grow in the same way.
In 2004, the Seneca Nation of Indians opened the Seneca Niagara Casino in the former Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center, thereby establishing sovereign Native American territory in the midst of the city. Currently the Seneca Nation of Indians owns and operates two casinos: one in Niagara Falls, New York called Seneca Niagara and the other in Salamanca called Seneca Allegany. Note: The Seneca Nation of New York, also known as the Seneca Nation of Indians (Salamanca) is a federally recognized tribe of Seneca people in New York. The tribe is headquartered in Irving, New York. The Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI) is one of the six tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy who occupy aboriginal lands in New York State set aside by the Treaty of Canandaigua of 1794. The Seneca Nation of Indians has a total population of over 7200 enrolled members and holds title to three territories in New York, one of which includes the City of Salamanca.
Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel is a casino located in Niagara Falls, New York and was built to compete with Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It is located at 310 Fourth Street, Niagara Falls, New York 14303. It was built on the site of the former Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center. The casino floor has an area of 147,000 sq ft (13,700 m2) with 99 gaming tables and 4,200 slot machines. It is the largest hotel in New York outside of Manhattan.
The other development included the opening of the new Conference Center Niagara Falls at 101, Old Falls Street in 2005;the restoration of Old Falls Street, once the primary tourist thoroughfare downtown, which is now a promenade; the redevelopment of the former Holiday Inn Select as a new Crown Plaza Resort with several restaurants including the city's first Starbucks Coffee.
The main entrance to The Conference Center Niagara Falls is on Old Falls Street (cobblestone walkway off of 3rd street on the left side) directly across from Seneca Niagara Casino. The Administrative office entrance to The Conference Center is located on Third Street (Silver Building next door to the Crowne Plaza Hotel).
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Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States. In 1885, it was declared as Niagara Reservation.
Niagara Falls - The waterfall at US side
The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.
Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island:
(i) Canadian Fall or Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which--two-thirds according to the US Geological Survey--lies on the Canadian side of the border, this is known as Horseshoe Falls due to its distinctive curved shape and
(ii) American Falls on the American side. The American Fall and Canadian Fall are separated by Goat Island from the American Falls. The American Falls is one of three waterfalls that together are known as Niagara Falls on the Niagara River along the Canada-U.S. border. Unlike the much larger Horseshoe Falls, which lies almost completely in Canada, the American Falls is completely within the U.S. state of New York. The height of the American Falls ranges between 70 to 110 feet (21–34 m). This measurement is taken from the top of the Falls to top of the rock pile (talus). The height of the Falls from the top of the Falls to the river is 188 feet (57 m).
One can view the falls from the bank of the river, as well as on Goat Island and Luna Island, which are accessible by a pedestrian bridge that crosses the rapids of the Niagara river upstream from the falls. The falls are viewable head-on from the Canadian side in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
(iii)The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the main American falls by Luna Island. The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. It is located on the U.S. side (in New York State); Luna Island separates it from the American Falls and Goat Island separates it from the Horseshoe Falls. The Bridal Veil Falls faces to the northwest and has a crest 56 feet (17 m) wide. Luna Island being very small, the Bridal Veil is similar in appearance to the American Falls, starting with a vertical fall of 78 feet (24 m), followed by the water violently descending the talus boulders to the Maid of the Mist Pool 103 feet (31 m) below. The total vertical drop is 181 feet (55 m). The crest elevation of the Falls is 508 feet (155 m).
The Cave of the Winds attraction allows visitors to walk up to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. A pedestrian bridge crosses from Goat Island to Luna Island several yards (meters) upstream from the crest of the falls.
On the US side you can walk from the visitors center to Prospect Point and catch the Maid of the Mist and then walk to Goat Island for the Cave of the Winds, Terrapin Point and the Three Sisters Island.
From the U.S. side, the American Falls can be viewed from walkways along Prospect Point Park, which also features the Prospect Point Park observation tower and a boat dock for the Maid of the Mist. Goat Island offers more views of the falls and is accessible by foot and automobile traffic by bridge above the American Falls. From Goat Island, the Cave of the Winds is accessible by elevator and leads hikers to a point beneath Bridal Veil Falls. Also on Goat Island are the Three Sisters Islands, the Power Portal where a huge statue of Nikola Tesla can be seen, and a walking path which enables views of the rapids, the Niagara River, the gorge, and all of the Falls. Most of these attractions lie within the Niagara Falls State Park.
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Niagara Falls is in the Niagara Frontier region of New York state. The Niagara Falls consist of three sections. The large Canadian falls – with their distinctive curved shape – are also known as the Horseshoe Falls. They are separated by Goat Island from the American Falls, which are separated by a small island at their south end, from the narrow Bridal Veil falls. Each side of the falls offers a different perspective, and it is always best to visit both sides to maximize your experience. The American side gives a side-on view of the American Falls, and an observation point only 20yds from the top of the falls. It has a more distant and partially obscured view of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, as the closest side of the Horseshoe is obscured by the curve of the falls. There are also views of the hotel skyline on the Canadian side. The Canadian side directly faces the American Falls and offers full views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls. The Canadian side also has a greater number of attractions and hotels. You can travel to the Canadian side for a closer view of Horseshoe Falls and to visit the other attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara on the Lake, although you will need a passport or another acceptable document. If you are not a United States citizen and are planning to re-enter the U.S., do not surrender your I-94 arrival record to the border authorities, otherwise you will need to apply for a new visa.
Goat Island – Goat Island is a popular destination for tourists visiting the falls on the U.S. side, offering some of the most spectacular views available there, in particular at Terrapin Point. It is connected to the U.S. mainland by two bridges carrying foot, car, and trackless train traffic. The island is largely wooded and is interlaced with foot trails. An elevator provides access down to the foot of the falls and to the Cave of the Winds tour. A scroll around the island and find the series of bridges that lead to the Three Sisters Islands. Said to be Frederick Law Olmsted's favorite place in the park, a walk across the footbridges will take you into the middle of the onrushing waters, at once serene and terrifying.
The Cave of the Winds takes you to the base of the American Falls for a breathtaking tour along a catwalk that is constructed every spring after the ice melts. Don your poncho and dare to brave the furious blast of the Hurricane Deck and the full force of the accumulated water of four Great Lakes. (Be forewarned, despite the poncho and other precautions, you will get wet. Be sure to bring a change of clothes.) It is an elevator ride followed by a guided walkway down to the bottom of the American Falls. You will get wet. Wet weather gear is provided. US$11 per adult, Open 9:00 am - 7:30 pm seven days a week. http://www.niagarafallslive.com/cave_of_the_winds.htm
North Indian Restaurant
While you are in Niagara Fall, if an Indian man approached you for cheap food at North Indian Restaurant for US$10 per person, please take caution. He will promise you with free transport to the restaurant, and buffet with choices of Indian, Chinese, and Western food. Please do not believe him, as the restaurant only provide with cheap Indian food, nearly vegetarian food with only chicken curry. It is a cheat....the man is very persuasive. Visitors, especially Indian food lovers to the Niagara Falls need to be alert on their tactic and avoid falling into their trap. There are other Indian restaurant in the downtown, you can scout around.
draft, to be continue
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A early morning stroll in the city of Rochester, walking along East Avenue, the night crowd have left. It is so quite and few cars are around. You can even walk in the street without worrying about the traffic. We visited High Fall neighborhood and Kodak Tower.
Took early bus to Buffalo, by Greyhound. The security is tight and the border guard check the passengers prior to departure. This is in view that Buffalo is close to the border of Canada. Rochester to Buffalo by Greyhound Bus at 8,00a.m. Greyhound Bus Lines, was at 186 Cumberland Street, Rochester, NY 14605.
Stop at Buffalo for a while at the bus station. The bus station is located at 181 Ellicott St, Buffalo. We met an Indian lady who have been in USA for some time, working as nurse. She provide us the information to take bus to Niagara Fall.
Buffalo(300 miles or 483 km from New York)
Buffalo is New York state's second-largest city, with a metropolitan area population of nearly 1,200,000. Buffalo is the cultural and economic center of the Western New York region. Once a bustling industrial center, Buffalo now serves as home to renowned art galleries, diverse entertainment, world-famous architecture and internationally recognized universities.
Situated at the confluence of Lake Erie and the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers, Buffalo is a waterfront city.
By car, Buffalo is about two hours from Toronto, one and a half hours from Rochester, two and a half hours from Syracuse, and 7 hours from New York City.
Bus go to Niagara Fall, stop at different bus stops, which give us the opportunity to look at Buffalo city. I know of Buffalo is because of the University of Buffalo, where there are many Malaysian students from a local college in Kuala Lumpur(either Help or Inti) having link program with the university. Buffalo to me, is like Chicago, a beautiful city located near the Great Lake region. But the city is smaller than Chicago.
Buffalo – Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls from Buffalo is half hour by car, there is a direct Bus route between the two cities.
Route 40 - Grand Island serves this link between the two cities. You can catch the 40 from the Downtown Buffalo Transportation Center at the intersection of Elm and North Division Streets. This is just two blocks east of the Church Street Rail Station. The Bus will drive straight to Downtown Niagara Falls and then continue on to the Niagara Falls Transportation Center. The cost of this 26-mile trip is $4.50 round trip, or $2.25 each way.
We stopped at the 3rd Street bus stop, just in front of Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel(their official address is at 4th Street), just opposite Conference Centre Niagara Falls. Then we walk along Old Falls Street, Starbucks was located at the junction of the street, between Old Falls Street and 3rd Street. Walk straight, cross 1st Street and Rainbow Blvd, until arrive at Prospect Street, the entrance of Niagara Falls State Park is at the street.
Niagara Fall City, New York State
New York City is 406 miles (653 km) from Niagara Falls. The name Niagara Falls can means the falls, either American or Canadian. It may also means the name of the cities, on both side of USA and Canada.
The City of Niagara Falls was incorporated on March 17, 1892. The city is built along the Niagara Falls waterfalls and the Niagara Gorge which is located on next to the Niagara River which flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. A small city rich with history. The economy for the city was originally based around the Falls itself, or at least the power generated by the massive waterfall. This cheap and abundant source of power was the driving force behind the rapid rise of area industry. Around the turn of the 20th century, thousands of immigrants from predominantly European nations such as Italy and Poland came to the area to work the chemical, steel, and manufacturing plants owned by present-day companies such as Occidental.
Goods which had previously been cheap to produce in Niagara Falls could now be produced far cheaper elsewhere. Another major toll was suburban migration, a national trend. The city, which once boasted well over 100,000 people at its peak, has seen its population decline by some 50%, as industries shut down and people left for the employment opportunities of the South and West. The unemployment rate in the City of Niagara Falls was around 12 percent as of May 2009.
While its Canadian twin, Niagara Falls, Ontario, began massively building up its tourism industry in the 1990s, allowing for casinos and tall tower hotels, essentially becoming the "Las Vegas of Canada", Niagara Falls, NY did not grow in the same way.
In 2004, the Seneca Nation of Indians opened the Seneca Niagara Casino in the former Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center, thereby establishing sovereign Native American territory in the midst of the city. Currently the Seneca Nation of Indians owns and operates two casinos: one in Niagara Falls, New York called Seneca Niagara and the other in Salamanca called Seneca Allegany. Note: The Seneca Nation of New York, also known as the Seneca Nation of Indians (Salamanca) is a federally recognized tribe of Seneca people in New York. The tribe is headquartered in Irving, New York. The Seneca Nation of Indians (SNI) is one of the six tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy who occupy aboriginal lands in New York State set aside by the Treaty of Canandaigua of 1794. The Seneca Nation of Indians has a total population of over 7200 enrolled members and holds title to three territories in New York, one of which includes the City of Salamanca.
Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel is a casino located in Niagara Falls, New York and was built to compete with Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It is located at 310 Fourth Street, Niagara Falls, New York 14303. It was built on the site of the former Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center. The casino floor has an area of 147,000 sq ft (13,700 m2) with 99 gaming tables and 4,200 slot machines. It is the largest hotel in New York outside of Manhattan.
The other development included the opening of the new Conference Center Niagara Falls at 101, Old Falls Street in 2005;the restoration of Old Falls Street, once the primary tourist thoroughfare downtown, which is now a promenade; the redevelopment of the former Holiday Inn Select as a new Crown Plaza Resort with several restaurants including the city's first Starbucks Coffee.
The main entrance to The Conference Center Niagara Falls is on Old Falls Street (cobblestone walkway off of 3rd street on the left side) directly across from Seneca Niagara Casino. The Administrative office entrance to The Conference Center is located on Third Street (Silver Building next door to the Crowne Plaza Hotel).
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Niagara Falls State Park
Niagara Falls State Park is the oldest state park in the United States. In 1885, it was declared as Niagara Reservation.
Niagara Falls - The waterfall at US side
The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York.
Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island:
(i) Canadian Fall or Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which--two-thirds according to the US Geological Survey--lies on the Canadian side of the border, this is known as Horseshoe Falls due to its distinctive curved shape and
(ii) American Falls on the American side. The American Fall and Canadian Fall are separated by Goat Island from the American Falls. The American Falls is one of three waterfalls that together are known as Niagara Falls on the Niagara River along the Canada-U.S. border. Unlike the much larger Horseshoe Falls, which lies almost completely in Canada, the American Falls is completely within the U.S. state of New York. The height of the American Falls ranges between 70 to 110 feet (21–34 m). This measurement is taken from the top of the Falls to top of the rock pile (talus). The height of the Falls from the top of the Falls to the river is 188 feet (57 m).
One can view the falls from the bank of the river, as well as on Goat Island and Luna Island, which are accessible by a pedestrian bridge that crosses the rapids of the Niagara river upstream from the falls. The falls are viewable head-on from the Canadian side in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
(iii)The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the main American falls by Luna Island. The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. It is located on the U.S. side (in New York State); Luna Island separates it from the American Falls and Goat Island separates it from the Horseshoe Falls. The Bridal Veil Falls faces to the northwest and has a crest 56 feet (17 m) wide. Luna Island being very small, the Bridal Veil is similar in appearance to the American Falls, starting with a vertical fall of 78 feet (24 m), followed by the water violently descending the talus boulders to the Maid of the Mist Pool 103 feet (31 m) below. The total vertical drop is 181 feet (55 m). The crest elevation of the Falls is 508 feet (155 m).
The Cave of the Winds attraction allows visitors to walk up to the base of Bridal Veil Falls. A pedestrian bridge crosses from Goat Island to Luna Island several yards (meters) upstream from the crest of the falls.
On the US side you can walk from the visitors center to Prospect Point and catch the Maid of the Mist and then walk to Goat Island for the Cave of the Winds, Terrapin Point and the Three Sisters Island.
From the U.S. side, the American Falls can be viewed from walkways along Prospect Point Park, which also features the Prospect Point Park observation tower and a boat dock for the Maid of the Mist. Goat Island offers more views of the falls and is accessible by foot and automobile traffic by bridge above the American Falls. From Goat Island, the Cave of the Winds is accessible by elevator and leads hikers to a point beneath Bridal Veil Falls. Also on Goat Island are the Three Sisters Islands, the Power Portal where a huge statue of Nikola Tesla can be seen, and a walking path which enables views of the rapids, the Niagara River, the gorge, and all of the Falls. Most of these attractions lie within the Niagara Falls State Park.
View Larger Map
Niagara Falls is in the Niagara Frontier region of New York state. The Niagara Falls consist of three sections. The large Canadian falls – with their distinctive curved shape – are also known as the Horseshoe Falls. They are separated by Goat Island from the American Falls, which are separated by a small island at their south end, from the narrow Bridal Veil falls. Each side of the falls offers a different perspective, and it is always best to visit both sides to maximize your experience. The American side gives a side-on view of the American Falls, and an observation point only 20yds from the top of the falls. It has a more distant and partially obscured view of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, as the closest side of the Horseshoe is obscured by the curve of the falls. There are also views of the hotel skyline on the Canadian side. The Canadian side directly faces the American Falls and offers full views of both the American and Horseshoe Falls. The Canadian side also has a greater number of attractions and hotels. You can travel to the Canadian side for a closer view of Horseshoe Falls and to visit the other attractions in Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara on the Lake, although you will need a passport or another acceptable document. If you are not a United States citizen and are planning to re-enter the U.S., do not surrender your I-94 arrival record to the border authorities, otherwise you will need to apply for a new visa.
Goat Island – Goat Island is a popular destination for tourists visiting the falls on the U.S. side, offering some of the most spectacular views available there, in particular at Terrapin Point. It is connected to the U.S. mainland by two bridges carrying foot, car, and trackless train traffic. The island is largely wooded and is interlaced with foot trails. An elevator provides access down to the foot of the falls and to the Cave of the Winds tour. A scroll around the island and find the series of bridges that lead to the Three Sisters Islands. Said to be Frederick Law Olmsted's favorite place in the park, a walk across the footbridges will take you into the middle of the onrushing waters, at once serene and terrifying.
The Cave of the Winds takes you to the base of the American Falls for a breathtaking tour along a catwalk that is constructed every spring after the ice melts. Don your poncho and dare to brave the furious blast of the Hurricane Deck and the full force of the accumulated water of four Great Lakes. (Be forewarned, despite the poncho and other precautions, you will get wet. Be sure to bring a change of clothes.) It is an elevator ride followed by a guided walkway down to the bottom of the American Falls. You will get wet. Wet weather gear is provided. US$11 per adult, Open 9:00 am - 7:30 pm seven days a week. http://www.niagarafallslive.com/cave_of_the_winds.htm
North Indian Restaurant
While you are in Niagara Fall, if an Indian man approached you for cheap food at North Indian Restaurant for US$10 per person, please take caution. He will promise you with free transport to the restaurant, and buffet with choices of Indian, Chinese, and Western food. Please do not believe him, as the restaurant only provide with cheap Indian food, nearly vegetarian food with only chicken curry. It is a cheat....the man is very persuasive. Visitors, especially Indian food lovers to the Niagara Falls need to be alert on their tactic and avoid falling into their trap. There are other Indian restaurant in the downtown, you can scout around.
draft, to be continue
Rochester, NY - Kodak City
Rochester, NY
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Rochester, a city in New York State. I first know about Rochester was when my classmate come here as a student of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT),in the early 70s. Our aim to Rochester is to attend Lilac Festival Concert which begin at 7.00p.m., at Highland Park, Rochester, on our journey to Niagara Fall. Another reason is, being hearing impaired, I am interested to have a look at the city, friendly to the deaf people. The other reason is that Rochester is the capital of Eastman Kodak.
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. The Rochester metropolitan area is the second largest economy in New York State, behind the New York City metropolitan area. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City. It is the county seat for Monroe County. Because of the high prevalence of imaging and optical science among the industry and the universities, Rochester is known as the world capital of imaging, and also known as Kodak town. It is home to Eastman Kodak, and Xerox was founded in Rochester in 1906 as The Haloid Company. The Institute of Optics of the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology in nearby Henrietta both have optics programs. In 2006, the University of Rochester became the largest employer in the Rochester area, surpassing Kodak. Rochester is the gateway to the scenic and culinary delights of New York's Finger Lakes region.
Rochester's population is approximately 219,773, making it New York's third most populous city after New York City and Buffalo. The tallest building in the city is the Xerox Tower(443 ft), located in downtown at 199, Clinton Avenue South, is 443 feet (135 m)tall. It was completed in 1968. Bausch & Lomb Place (center), and Chase Tower (left). Kodak Tower, located at 391, State Street, built in 1914, is today only the 4th tallest in Rochester.
Rochester has one of the highest populations of deaf people (per capita) in the United States, and as such sign language is not an uncommon sight around the city. It's not a given that you'll see ASL being used if you visit Rochester—unless you drop by the Rochester School for the Deaf, or the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology—but you never know.
For deaf people, few cities in the world are as accommodating as Rochester. Most businesses, especially in Henrietta and Brighton, are accustomed to working with deaf customers and often have teletype machines and dedicated TTY phone numbers. Open-captioned films are regularly shown at the local multiplexes (in particular, at Regal Henrietta), and many major events will be interpreted. At RIT, nearly all events have both captioning and interpreters. Wherever the event is held, a quick phone call is often all that is needed to ensure the presence of an interpreter.
Rochester and Niagara Fall are within the Niagara Frontier Region. The Niagara Frontier region of New York State consists of 5 counties situated near the Great Lakes of Erie and Ontario, just across the Niagara River from the Canadian province of Ontario and its Niagara Peninsula region. Buffalo, the state's second-largest city, and Niagara Falls, the "honeymoon capital of the world".
Rochester subway
From 1927 to 1957, Rochester had a light rail underground transit system called the Rochester Subway. It was the smallest city in the world to have one. There are proposals to put in a new system, possibly using some of the old tunnels. One includes converting the Broad Street bridge tunnel—the former canal aqueduct—into an underground pedestrian walkway, which would also include a Rochester Transportation Museum, and a tram system. The Broad Street Aqueduct was used as a subway tunnel
The former canal and subway tunnels have become a source of controversy. Many city homeless use the tunnels for shelter, and a few areas near tunnel entrances have gained the reputation as being dangerous. The city has considered multiple solutions for the space including recreating a canal way, putting the subway system back in or filling the tunnels entirely. The plan to fill the tunnels in has generated criticism as the cost of filling would be comparable to restoring the subway
Note there is another Rochester in Minnesota.
22/5/2010(Saturday) - New York - Syracuse- Rochester
Depart New York, Penn Station, at 12p.m. by Megabus, to arrive 6:30 PM at Rochester, Eastview Mall. MEGABUS.COM departures are located adjacent to Penn Station, on the north side of West 31st Street at the northeast corner of 31st Street and 8th Avenue.
Syracuse, NY
We stopped for an hour at Syracuse. Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, central of New York State, United States, and the fifth most populous city in the NY state. The city is named after the original Syracuse, (Siracusa in Italian) a city on the eastern coast of the Italian island of Sicily. Syracuse is not popular place for sightseeing. It is formerly an industrial town, but most have relocated to other places. The economy now is basically depend on education and the service industry.
Rochester, NY
Rochester Arrival: Arrivals and departures are located at entrance #4 on the north side of the Eastview Shopping Center. Eastview Shopping Cente is a regional shopping mall. Visitors can enjoy shopping at more than 180 specialty stores, dining at six sit-down restaurants and catching a movie at the Regal Cinema. Eastview is also home to 5 major department stores: Lord & Taylor, Macy's, JC Penney, Sears and The Bon-Ton. The Mall is open from Monday - Saturday - 10:00am - 9:30pm
We arrived at Eastview Shopping Cente, Rochester rather late, and the bus service to the downtown has stopped for the day. The shopping mall is also far from downtown of Rochester. We have no other choice, but to take a taxi to downtown. The taxi driver is a Ceylonese, friendly and take us straight to the hotel. The hotel is an old hotel, but the location at downtown is its attraction. As we arrive late at downtown, we are too late for Lilac Festival Concert which begin at 7.00p.m., at Highland Park, Rochester. We missed the festival.
Rochester is not tourist area. It is the birthplace of amateur photography, Rochester has long been known as Kodak Town. Lilac Festival, Highland Park (Sa Su: Park at MCC, 1000 E Henrietta Rd, Brighton), (info@lilacfestival.com), which was held between 14-23 May 2010. For ten days every May, Rochester's flagship festival celebrates the community—and its flowers—in beautiful Highland Park, designed by renowned landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted.
Our hotel is East Avenue Inn Downtown, located at No. 384 East Avenue, Historic District, Rochester, NY 14607 (Formerly Days Inn). Located just steps from the busy nightlife district of the East End at East Avenue and Alexander Street, its location is the hotel's biggest selling point. Across Alexander Street is the Murphy's Law, opposite is Anchor Bar Rochester NY.
Rochester's East End, within downtown, is well known throughout the area for being a center of late-night activity. It gets its name for being the stopping point for East Avenue, and both East and the surrounding streets are crowded with bars, nightclubs, coffee shops and high-end restaurants. The Eastman School of Music, one of the top musical institutes in the nation, is also located within the neighborhood along with its auditorium. The Eastman Theatre now plays host to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and other musical/drama events. Scattered around the city are also pockets of restaurants, bars and nightclub.
We have a night walk around the East End. A police patrol was stationed at the corner of one of the street, the police inform us or may be comfort us that if we faced any problem in the city, just make a call, they will be around in the short time. It is indeed comforting words from police. Not many tourists are around in the Rochester downtown, especially Asian.
The Little Theatre, located at No. 240 East Avenue, run by a not-for-profit corporation, the historic Little Theatre, shows a wide variety of foreign, independent and classic films in five theatres. There is also a cafe bakery (serves a full dinner menu along with wine and beer), sometimes with live music. $7 ($5 weekend matinées). It is heartening to know that theatre or cinema showing films is still operating today in Rochester. Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, 108 East Ave, one of George Eastman's greatest legacies, is having their performance at Eastman Theatre, their main performance place. It is located at 60, Gibbs St (at East Main). The newly renovated Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre is the best place to catch the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best mid-sized city orchestras in the country.
We have coffee in Java's Cafe, 16 Gibbs St (next door to Eastman Theater/Kilbourn Hall). Another downtown coffee shop, more popular with the art house crowd. Java's prices and products are similar to Spot. They also sell a variety of large homemade cookies in a variety of styles for about a dollar.
After coffee, we went to the Chinese restaurant, Golden Port Dim Sum, just opposite the cafe. The restaurant was owned by Vietnamese Chinese, seems popular with the locals. The performance by Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at Eastman Theatre just over, there are many musician having their dinner here.
The night in Rochester is equally exciting, as the hotel is located at the East Avenue, where the night life just begin. Moreover this is Saturday night. We did not joined the Saturday crowd at East Avenue. As we need a good rest after traveling from NY.
23/5/2010(Sunday) - Rochester- Buffalo
Downtown
We wake up early and have a walking tour around the downtown. Walk along East Ave until we reached Main Street East. The downtown is having many historical old buildings, with the Kodak Tower standing tall in the area.
High Falls - The majestic High Falls of the Genesee are what attracted settlers to the area. A 96-foot (29 m) waterfall in the center of downtown is certainly a unique sight; viewing is best from the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge. But also take a walk around the old warehouses on the west bank between the bridge and the falls; this is the area known as "High Falls" and home to a very nice museum/visitor's center and some very old milling equipment. We walk along the bridge, until the other end where the bridge connect to Plant Street, which lead to St Paul Street. We then walk into Ward Street which lead to N Clinton Street. The area is residential area. We walk along N Clinton Street until Central Avenue. The railway track is crossing the street above. Finally we reached the Cumberland Street, where Greyhound bus station is located.
As it is still early and is Sunday, there were no people walking around downtown.
Greyhound bus station
The bus station is located at 186 Cumberland Street, Rochester, NY. A small bus station. It is located at the land land border by Joseph Avenue, Cumberland Street, Central Ave and N Clinton Ave. The security at the bus station was tight, border guard board the bus for security check prior to departure to Buffalo. This is because the Rochester is near to border of Canada.
Rochester is only about 90 minutes away from one of the world's greatest natural attractions, the spectacular Niagara Falls. You could also go to Buffalo, the state's second-largest city and home to historic architecture, major league sports, and plenty of Buffalo wings. To the east, Syracuse is also 90 minutes away.
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Rochester, a city in New York State. I first know about Rochester was when my classmate come here as a student of Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT),in the early 70s. Our aim to Rochester is to attend Lilac Festival Concert which begin at 7.00p.m., at Highland Park, Rochester, on our journey to Niagara Fall. Another reason is, being hearing impaired, I am interested to have a look at the city, friendly to the deaf people. The other reason is that Rochester is the capital of Eastman Kodak.
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. The Rochester metropolitan area is the second largest economy in New York State, behind the New York City metropolitan area. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City. It is the county seat for Monroe County. Because of the high prevalence of imaging and optical science among the industry and the universities, Rochester is known as the world capital of imaging, and also known as Kodak town. It is home to Eastman Kodak, and Xerox was founded in Rochester in 1906 as The Haloid Company. The Institute of Optics of the University of Rochester and the Rochester Institute of Technology in nearby Henrietta both have optics programs. In 2006, the University of Rochester became the largest employer in the Rochester area, surpassing Kodak. Rochester is the gateway to the scenic and culinary delights of New York's Finger Lakes region.
Rochester's population is approximately 219,773, making it New York's third most populous city after New York City and Buffalo. The tallest building in the city is the Xerox Tower(443 ft), located in downtown at 199, Clinton Avenue South, is 443 feet (135 m)tall. It was completed in 1968. Bausch & Lomb Place (center), and Chase Tower (left). Kodak Tower, located at 391, State Street, built in 1914, is today only the 4th tallest in Rochester.
Rochester has one of the highest populations of deaf people (per capita) in the United States, and as such sign language is not an uncommon sight around the city. It's not a given that you'll see ASL being used if you visit Rochester—unless you drop by the Rochester School for the Deaf, or the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology—but you never know.
For deaf people, few cities in the world are as accommodating as Rochester. Most businesses, especially in Henrietta and Brighton, are accustomed to working with deaf customers and often have teletype machines and dedicated TTY phone numbers. Open-captioned films are regularly shown at the local multiplexes (in particular, at Regal Henrietta), and many major events will be interpreted. At RIT, nearly all events have both captioning and interpreters. Wherever the event is held, a quick phone call is often all that is needed to ensure the presence of an interpreter.
Rochester and Niagara Fall are within the Niagara Frontier Region. The Niagara Frontier region of New York State consists of 5 counties situated near the Great Lakes of Erie and Ontario, just across the Niagara River from the Canadian province of Ontario and its Niagara Peninsula region. Buffalo, the state's second-largest city, and Niagara Falls, the "honeymoon capital of the world".
Rochester subway
From 1927 to 1957, Rochester had a light rail underground transit system called the Rochester Subway. It was the smallest city in the world to have one. There are proposals to put in a new system, possibly using some of the old tunnels. One includes converting the Broad Street bridge tunnel—the former canal aqueduct—into an underground pedestrian walkway, which would also include a Rochester Transportation Museum, and a tram system. The Broad Street Aqueduct was used as a subway tunnel
The former canal and subway tunnels have become a source of controversy. Many city homeless use the tunnels for shelter, and a few areas near tunnel entrances have gained the reputation as being dangerous. The city has considered multiple solutions for the space including recreating a canal way, putting the subway system back in or filling the tunnels entirely. The plan to fill the tunnels in has generated criticism as the cost of filling would be comparable to restoring the subway
Note there is another Rochester in Minnesota.
22/5/2010(Saturday) - New York - Syracuse- Rochester
Depart New York, Penn Station, at 12p.m. by Megabus, to arrive 6:30 PM at Rochester, Eastview Mall. MEGABUS.COM departures are located adjacent to Penn Station, on the north side of West 31st Street at the northeast corner of 31st Street and 8th Avenue.
Syracuse, NY
We stopped for an hour at Syracuse. Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, central of New York State, United States, and the fifth most populous city in the NY state. The city is named after the original Syracuse, (Siracusa in Italian) a city on the eastern coast of the Italian island of Sicily. Syracuse is not popular place for sightseeing. It is formerly an industrial town, but most have relocated to other places. The economy now is basically depend on education and the service industry.
Rochester, NY
Rochester Arrival: Arrivals and departures are located at entrance #4 on the north side of the Eastview Shopping Center. Eastview Shopping Cente is a regional shopping mall. Visitors can enjoy shopping at more than 180 specialty stores, dining at six sit-down restaurants and catching a movie at the Regal Cinema. Eastview is also home to 5 major department stores: Lord & Taylor, Macy's, JC Penney, Sears and The Bon-Ton. The Mall is open from Monday - Saturday - 10:00am - 9:30pm
We arrived at Eastview Shopping Cente, Rochester rather late, and the bus service to the downtown has stopped for the day. The shopping mall is also far from downtown of Rochester. We have no other choice, but to take a taxi to downtown. The taxi driver is a Ceylonese, friendly and take us straight to the hotel. The hotel is an old hotel, but the location at downtown is its attraction. As we arrive late at downtown, we are too late for Lilac Festival Concert which begin at 7.00p.m., at Highland Park, Rochester. We missed the festival.
Rochester is not tourist area. It is the birthplace of amateur photography, Rochester has long been known as Kodak Town. Lilac Festival, Highland Park (Sa Su: Park at MCC, 1000 E Henrietta Rd, Brighton), (info@lilacfestival.com), which was held between 14-23 May 2010. For ten days every May, Rochester's flagship festival celebrates the community—and its flowers—in beautiful Highland Park, designed by renowned landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted.
Our hotel is East Avenue Inn Downtown, located at No. 384 East Avenue, Historic District, Rochester, NY 14607 (Formerly Days Inn). Located just steps from the busy nightlife district of the East End at East Avenue and Alexander Street, its location is the hotel's biggest selling point. Across Alexander Street is the Murphy's Law, opposite is Anchor Bar Rochester NY.
Rochester's East End, within downtown, is well known throughout the area for being a center of late-night activity. It gets its name for being the stopping point for East Avenue, and both East and the surrounding streets are crowded with bars, nightclubs, coffee shops and high-end restaurants. The Eastman School of Music, one of the top musical institutes in the nation, is also located within the neighborhood along with its auditorium. The Eastman Theatre now plays host to the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and other musical/drama events. Scattered around the city are also pockets of restaurants, bars and nightclub.
We have a night walk around the East End. A police patrol was stationed at the corner of one of the street, the police inform us or may be comfort us that if we faced any problem in the city, just make a call, they will be around in the short time. It is indeed comforting words from police. Not many tourists are around in the Rochester downtown, especially Asian.
The Little Theatre, located at No. 240 East Avenue, run by a not-for-profit corporation, the historic Little Theatre, shows a wide variety of foreign, independent and classic films in five theatres. There is also a cafe bakery (serves a full dinner menu along with wine and beer), sometimes with live music. $7 ($5 weekend matinées). It is heartening to know that theatre or cinema showing films is still operating today in Rochester. Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, 108 East Ave, one of George Eastman's greatest legacies, is having their performance at Eastman Theatre, their main performance place. It is located at 60, Gibbs St (at East Main). The newly renovated Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre is the best place to catch the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, one of the best mid-sized city orchestras in the country.
We have coffee in Java's Cafe, 16 Gibbs St (next door to Eastman Theater/Kilbourn Hall). Another downtown coffee shop, more popular with the art house crowd. Java's prices and products are similar to Spot. They also sell a variety of large homemade cookies in a variety of styles for about a dollar.
After coffee, we went to the Chinese restaurant, Golden Port Dim Sum, just opposite the cafe. The restaurant was owned by Vietnamese Chinese, seems popular with the locals. The performance by Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra at Eastman Theatre just over, there are many musician having their dinner here.
The night in Rochester is equally exciting, as the hotel is located at the East Avenue, where the night life just begin. Moreover this is Saturday night. We did not joined the Saturday crowd at East Avenue. As we need a good rest after traveling from NY.
23/5/2010(Sunday) - Rochester- Buffalo
Downtown
We wake up early and have a walking tour around the downtown. Walk along East Ave until we reached Main Street East. The downtown is having many historical old buildings, with the Kodak Tower standing tall in the area.
High Falls - The majestic High Falls of the Genesee are what attracted settlers to the area. A 96-foot (29 m) waterfall in the center of downtown is certainly a unique sight; viewing is best from the Pont de Rennes pedestrian bridge. But also take a walk around the old warehouses on the west bank between the bridge and the falls; this is the area known as "High Falls" and home to a very nice museum/visitor's center and some very old milling equipment. We walk along the bridge, until the other end where the bridge connect to Plant Street, which lead to St Paul Street. We then walk into Ward Street which lead to N Clinton Street. The area is residential area. We walk along N Clinton Street until Central Avenue. The railway track is crossing the street above. Finally we reached the Cumberland Street, where Greyhound bus station is located.
As it is still early and is Sunday, there were no people walking around downtown.
Greyhound bus station
The bus station is located at 186 Cumberland Street, Rochester, NY. A small bus station. It is located at the land land border by Joseph Avenue, Cumberland Street, Central Ave and N Clinton Ave. The security at the bus station was tight, border guard board the bus for security check prior to departure to Buffalo. This is because the Rochester is near to border of Canada.
Rochester is only about 90 minutes away from one of the world's greatest natural attractions, the spectacular Niagara Falls. You could also go to Buffalo, the state's second-largest city and home to historic architecture, major league sports, and plenty of Buffalo wings. To the east, Syracuse is also 90 minutes away.
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