The Spanishy Harlems & Morningside Stairs

Our wonderful exploring days continue in Manhattan! We hoped on the 6 train and headed to East Harlem, the area east of Park Avenue and north of 96th St, with a large Latino population, is known as El Barrio or Spanish Harlem (BG, p437). Harlem is also the most famous center of African- American life and culture in the US (BG, p437). Our first stop of the day was The Museum of the City of New York. The first exhibition we saw at this museum was tittled New York Interiors (1690-1906). It had exact replicas of what the anterior of a home would look like during the specific time period. The decorative detail and the architectural styles were  so precise that they made me feel as if I had just stepped into somebody's home! As we continued our exploration of the museum we learned about the East River Waterfront. The waterfront has been crucial in the development of New York City as an industrious city. The waterfront exhibition also included a portion tittled Reimaging the Waterfront: Manhattan's East River Esplanade. The exhibition shows eight winning proposal designs from architects and city planners all over the world. Each having their own idea as to how the waterfront should exist. We watched a short film at the museum called Timescapes: A multimedia Portrait of New York. The film was my favorite part of our visit at the museum. It was attention grabbing, and I was very intrigued at the creativity of the three screens used through out the film. Each screen contained something different, such as maps, quotes, and pictures. The film did an excellent job in telling the history and the important turning point of New York City. It spoke about the different influxes of immigrants, the important transportation changes, and many more informative topics! After the film, we explored an exhibition titled Activist New York. This informative exhibit highlighted all of the social activism that occurred in New York City since the 17th century. I really enjoyed looking at the history behind the Visiting Nurse Service of New York It all began with two young nurses Wald and Brewst, who moved into the lower east side to provide care for poor immigrants living in nearby tenements. Wald's hard work and dedication helped paved the way for the field of public health nurses. It was quite interesting to see the outfit the nurses used to wear back in the day, and the little supplies they had to work with.

 

   After our lovely visit at the museum, we continued our exploration of East Harlem on foot. The fertile soil and the strategic advantages of the Harlem plain attracted Dutch farmers, who in 1658 founded Niew Harlem, ten miles north of New Amsterdam at the tip of Manhattan (BG, p437).  We spoke about the large influx of Puerto Rican's after World War I, which consequently led to Harlem having the highest crime and unemployment rate. Mike informed us that gentrification is occurring in Harlem, but not as quickly as in other locations in New York City. This actually surprised me, and it goes to show that gentrification can happen anywhere at basically anytime. We arrived into a famous little store called Justo Botanica.This store sells just about anything you can think of! Candles, jewelery, rabbits feet, incense, special bathing oils, witch spray, and much more! We spoke to the owner of the store, Jorge Vargas, and he informed us that he sells much more than material objects, he sells hope. He sells hope to the locals in Harlem when things begin to look bad, or when they begin to loose faith. He gives spiritual consultations, and can cure just about any pain or disease out there! I enjoyed visiting this store, it gave me insight as to what other people are open to believing in when it comes to their health, luck, and faith. I couldn't help it, I just had to buy a skull bracelet that represents a god that gives strength and power.

   

   After purchasing a bit of hope at the botanica, we continued our walking adventure in Harlem to witness the large amount of public art it contains! We encountered beautiful paintings and powerful poems. The first painting we saw was by an artist well known in the area, James De La Vega. The painting was of Pedro Pietri, a Puerto Rican poet and the founder of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. We were lucky enough to have a poem read to us by Pietri, called Puerto Rican Obituary. It was such a intense and powerful poem that spoke about the true struggles the Puerto Rican immigrants encountered in New York City. The poem mainly spoke about them working hard, and being uderpayed. We spoke about another work of art right across from the Pietri painting tittled The Spirit of East Harlem by a famous Harlem painter Manny Vega. The mural had locals doing everyday things in the community, and most importantly they were enjoying themselves. This mural shows to us the power of a community, and how close knit they actually were. As we began to indulge ourselves in the beautiful public art, we visited a beautiful garden called the Modesto Flores Community Garden. I really enjoyed being in this little nature filled garden. As we walked in further to the garden we viewed a beautiful painting tittled Soldaderas. This painting portrays two women from completly diffrent countries. The artist, Yasmin Hernandez actually came up with the idea of this paiting to counteract the steroetype the Mexican and Puerto Rican residents are constantly at battle with each other in East Harlem. I really ejoyed this painting, and the fact that it tries to break social barriers with art. After our visit at the garden, we continued our public art adventure, and landed on a mosiac peice that was curretly being worked on. As we bega to take pictures, the artist came back, and it was Manny Vega! It was quite exciting to meet a well known artist. He spoke to us, and told us that he loves doing art for the public. He informed us that once he puts it on a wall it becomes whatever we make of it, and whatever we want it to represent. The mosaic was tittled Espiritu, meaning spirit and too me it represents the live and exciting culture of East Harlem.

    After viewing the beautiful public art in East Harlem, it was time for lunch!. We decided to eat at El Caribeno Restaurant, and it was an excellent decision! The food was on the money! It was actually cheap and delicious Caribbean food. My favorite was the rice and beans! There is nothing like a good plate of rice and beans to fill you up when you are hungry. After our bellies were full, we continued our walking adventure and headed towards the northern part of Central Park, a part that few people have actually visited. We entered through the Conservatory Garden, a beautiful garden with lovely flowers, water fountains, and grass designs. I really enjoyed walking through this garden, it was like the perfect scene for an outdoor wedding! We continued our hike, and climbed a hill, and searched for a nice rock to sit on by the lake. As we passed by the lake we saw plenty of ducks living their usual relaxing life. It was extremely relaxing to be able to sit and enjoy the view at Central Park, which we know was designed by Olmstead to provide New York City with green open spaces to enjoy. We remeniseed on our adventures for a few minutes, and continued on to our next stop of the day.                                                                                      

                                                                                                                     After the breathtaking views at the Conservatory Garden and the relaxing time at Central park, we headed towards 125st, where we met up with our tour guide Jim, who gave us quite an informative walking tour of East Harlem. Jim informed us that in 1837 the New York and Harlem Railroad  transformed the population and the history of Harlem. In 1837 the New York and Harlem Railroad reached out along Park Avenue from City Hall to the Harlem River, opening the area for development, but simultaneosly raising a barrier between the east and west sides of Harlem creating a strip of blight where factories, squatters, shacks, and tenements quickly sprang up (BG, p437). The railroad allowed tons of immigrants to travel to East Harlem, in search of better lives and futures. In successive years Harlem became home to immigrants from Russia, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Scandinavia, England, and Spain (BG, p437). Jim began pointing out historical locations, such as the St. Cecilia Parish, one of the first churches built for the Irish community. He informed us that the Irish were seen as dirty people who were basically ruining the community, and for them to have a church made for especially them was basically a stepping stone to their history. We spoke about the Harlem Renaissance, and how the talented individuals who took part in it made Harlem famous. The different types of poems, art, and music that came out during this period proved to New York City that African Americans were not the barbaric animals they were proceeded to be. The Harlem Renaissance, usually considered the brief period from 1924 to until the stock market crash of 1929, saw the flowering of black literature, art, music, and political thinking (BG, p.438).  Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, and Duke Ellington are only a few of the many people who greatly contributed with their talents and creativity to the Harlem Renaissance. We passed by many brownstone houses, and discussed the fact that New York City is unlike any other city because it has the privilege of having stoops and fire escapes. He informed us that back in the day everything would take place on a stoop, from a persons first kiss to first breakup. Jim informed us about an important figure, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. a Harlem representative in congress who fought for African American rights and equality. He was quite influential, and currently has a bronze statue in his honor on 7th avenue. The statue portrays him moving foward, which makes a statement to his power and influential ways. We visited Marcus Garvey Park, named in honor of Marcus Garvey who was one of the founders of the united Negro Improvement Association. He also founded the Black Star Line, a shipping line that shipped goods and African American's back to their homeland. We ended our walking tour with a beautiful statue of Harriet Tubman, a historic figuere that risked her life to rescue African Americans from slavery. The statue was huge, larger than any other statue I have ever seen. Mike informed us that she is made bigger than the average human to show to us how powerful her efforts were. She is shown moving with 70 faces on her dress, to symbolize the 70 people she rescued from slavery.

We went for one more stop on our Harlem adventure, and headed towards Morningside Park. Morningside Park occupies about 30 acres, including a rocky cliff of Manhattan schist, which plunges down to the Harlem Plain (BG, p426). After being unsuccessful in racing Mike up the billion stairs this park contains, I had to sit down and catch my breath! We arrived at Morningside Heights ,and we were informed that Fredrick Olmsted also designed Morningside Park, which is not a surprise. The park had a reputation for danger as early as the 1930s, but in 1981 some Columbia undergraduates founded the Friends of Morningside park, which advocated returning the then overgrown and neglected park to its original design, and reclaiming its wilderness (BG, p426).  What a lovely time spent in the wonderful NYC!