Founded in 1654, Shearith Israel was the first Jewish congregation in North America and the only one in New York City until 1825.
These poor horses were mocked their whole lives because of their hideous forehead tumors. But then they decided to shut everyone up by walking across a river on two legs. Only the white one made it. Nevertheless, they believed in themselves, and now they have two adjacent roll-down gates painted in their honor. Follow your dreams!
Unlike its (obviously accidental, I thought, though this ridiculous article disagrees) Brooklyn impostor, this is the real borough-wide tag.
"If you come to the Russian and Turkish Baths expecting soothing balms, thick towels, and gentle ministrations of flower-scented infusions, head elsewhere. This is a rough-hewn place -- and proud of it."
Built sometime around the 1860s, this stable had been converted into a human residence by the turn of the 20th century. It was once called home by a string of theatrical luminaries, including Edward Albee.
This little mews has quite the literary heritage, counting among its former residents E.E. Cummings, Theodore Dreiser, and Djuna Barnes. It has lately become popular with psychotherapists, who perhaps find its serenity and privacy conducive to their work. It's also worth noting that Patchin Place is home to one of two remaining gas street lamps in NYC (and the only operational one — although it's now electrified), which sits at the very end of the street, visible in this photo.
This was E.E. Cummings's home for the last 38 years of his life. You may be wondering why the two plaques differ in their capitalization of his name: here's why. For further info on the capitalization controversy ("we hope the dismal lowercase custom will disappear from the face of the earth"), read this.
This Bicentennial painting (yes, that's Uncle Sam driving) is in much better shape than this one. That's because, according to the company's website, the city has set aside funds for its upkeep each year.
Excellent opportunity for development of single family
Opened in 1908, this PATH station at Christopher Street was originally constructed by the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad, which linked Manhattan and New Jersey through the first tunnels ever to cross the Hudson River.
This bar, in a previous incarnation, was the site of the 1969 Stonewall riots, the first large-scale rebellion against the government's persecution of homosexuals, and a major turning point in the struggle for gay rights.
The sidewalk outside 101 Park Avenue is lined with brass plaques (the "podcast" on this site is worth listening to) depicting notable buildings in the area. Many of the architects who designed those buildings were once based out of the Architects' Building, which formerly stood on this site. Pictured is the Pan Am (now MetLife) Building, with the sculptures of Grand Central Terminal making an appearance in the foreground. Look familiar?
This is one of the eagles (designed by Adolph Weinman) that sat atop the original Penn Station before it met its untimely demise.
These standpipe/sprinkler connections are not alone (image galleries here and here) in their hatred of the human tuchus.
Formerly home of the original Life magazine, where the Gibson Girl was created
This vault door is a survivor of the Manufacturers Hanover Trust building's controversial conversion to retail space.
St. Patrick's Cathedral, in the background, is the seat of New York's archbishop (whose deceased predecessors are entombed in a crypt beneath its high altar), and it's currently undergoing a much-needed multi-year renovation that — you never know — might shed some light on the mystery of the missing cornerstone. Also visible is the armillary of Atlas, who just recently underwent a good cleaning himself.
The previous incarnation of this church, built in 1870 after the parish moved uptown, burned down in 1905. It's said that while plans were being drawn up for a new structure, the rector became so distressed by the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that he donated the entirety of the church's building fund to the relief effort, but this does not appear to be confirmed by any contemporaneous newspaper accounts. Whatever the case, excavation for the new edifice was underway by 1910, when one particularly violent blast sent stones flying across the neighborhood, onto and into many of the sumptuous mansions surrounding the site on Fifth Avenue.
Restoration of the church's 33 stained glass windows, which contain around 9 million individual pieces of glass, began a few years ago. It's an incredibly painstaking process, involving the extraction and cleaning of each piece of glass, and the total reconstruction of each window, with all findings carefully documented for the benefit of future restorers. Speaking of documentation, check out this video!
Our friend Karl Bitter was the first to propose the creation of Grand Army Plaza, and he also designed this fountain, which occupies the southern half of the plaza. In fact, the sculpture of the Roman goddess Pomona that sits atop the fountain was his final work, or work-in-progress, anyway: before he had a chance to complete it, he was struck by a car and killed after leaving the Metropolitan Opera with his wife one evening in 1915.
Facing the Pulitzer Fountain, this statue stands across 59th Street in the northern section of Grand Army Plaza. These people are watching a small troupe of gentlemen engaged in street dance of the b-boying variety.
Not to be confused with its cousin across the way
Producing somewhere around one-fifth of the city's electricity, this "Death Valley of New York City" is home to the famous million-kilowatt Big Allis, whose rocky childhood is now a thing of the past.
North America's largest public housing development has been a breeding ground for hip-hop talent over the years.
Some tough broad, this one! She's seen more than her share of trouble over the years, getting decapitated in 1989 and dragged onto the BQE in 2001, but now she's back and better than ever. Look at those quads!
Peace Pilgrim would be proud.
(If you don't know who Peace Pilgrim is, it's time to learn!)
