In 2005 I was in the lobby of the Chrysler building and met a lady in her 80s with her daughter,…read moreshe told me her father was the chief metal worker and the famous eagle adornments had been made in his workshop, the last time she had been there she was aged 9 at the opening ceremony. Despite that security wouldn't let us inside. I took her around the corner to the Chanin Building and she recognised the grill work which her father had also made in his workshop. His name was O' Brian and if you love art deco you won't see finer metalwork.

Great Art Deco building that does allow you inside. Wonderful bas relief on exterior. Definately…read moreworth a look

Biking around Roosevelt Island was one of the most relaxing and scenic moments of our NYC trip…read more With fewer crowds and wide-open paths, it felt like a world away from the city--even though Manhattan is just across the water. The island is perfect for a leisurely ride: smooth, quiet, and full of stunning views of both the Manhattan and Queens skylines. You can coast past landmarks like the Smallpox Memorial Hospital, Four Freedoms Park, and Southpoint Park, all while soaking in fresh air and river breezes. At the northern tip, we reached the Roosevelt Island Lighthouse--a small but striking structure with over a century of history. Built in 1872, it once guided ships around the treacherous waters near Hell Gate. Now it stands as a peaceful beacon surrounded by water and skyline views. The area around the lighthouse is calm and open, perfect for resting, snapping photos, or just watching the river roll by. Whether you rent bikes or bring your own, biking the island is a beautiful way to slow down and experience a quieter side of New York City--with history, nature, and space to breathe

Roosevelt Island Lighthouse has fascinated me for years. I sit by the East River and take photos of…read moreit. Once when I went to Roosevelt Island I walked to see the lighthouse. It's okay but you can't get close enough to fully enjoy this landmark. I wish they would fix it up and make it a tourist attraction. I want to get close enough to touch and go inside. I'd be glad to pay for the privilege. Maybe the Roosevelt Island residents are tired of us wandering in their neighborhood looking at the many historical places. Personally I can't wait to return to see the changes since my last visit. Sounds like an adventure for a Fall Day. I'd like a travel companion if anyone wants to go!

Ward's Island Bridge…read more What a great hike up to 105th Street from my apartment to see the bridge. It's a great spot to cross over to the East River Esplanade and walk back home after spending time in East Harlem. It's also nice to go over to the island for a long walk and see the sights. I decided to wait for a warmer day. I did get some great photos of the area when I crossed over the FDR. The bridge itself isn't that pretty to look at in my opinion. It definitely serves its purpose and is enjoyable to walk on. If you're in the area and feel like taking a hike, this is a good experience. It's clean and I felt safe with the high fence! No jumping allowed......

I have made running across the Ward's Island Bridge as a part of my race training. Easy to get to…read morerunning uptown along the East River Esplanade with a ramp and overpass connection at 102nd street. It's actually a bridge to get across from Manhattan to Randall's Island park over the East River. Some terrific views from this bridge and it offers a decent incline for run training. No car traffic at all as it's only a footbridge for walkers and those on bicycles. Oh, and there is no Ward's Island, as it was combined to make Randall's Island years ago. The bridge does lift for larger boats to get by but I've never seen it use that function. Makes for a nice walk or run on a sunny day.

Ridgewood Reservoir use to be a freshwater wetland on the border between Brooklyn and Queens. What…read moreis now the upper area of Highland Park. I either go for a walk or run along the trailway all the time. Just recently after doing some research the 3rd basin used to be Ridgewood Reservoir until 1989 when the reservoir was drained out. One of the many fascinating history of this once Reservoir. There use to be a waterfall. At a certain distance while walking on the trail way you get to see portions of the abandoned and once waterfall. At first you would assume it was used as stairs to get to somewhere down, but nothing like it. I could only image the view. Another fascinating history behind the Ridgewood Reservoir, there used to be a keepers house and guest house. Only a small part of that house remains while the other part is long gone. Not sure if people while out running or just taking a stroll notices these tiny historical fragments distance away. Ridgewood Reservoir is very peaceful, quiet, and very well preserved naturally. If you are the walker type it can take you about 20 minutes to walk Ridgewood Reservoir. For those bike or running enthusiasts less.

One of my good friends who lives in East New York recently told me about this magical place just a…read morefew months ago. While visiting my folks the other day in Fresh Meadows, I decided to bike to the Reservoir and see what all the hype was about. I have friends who live nearby and they are always telling me to visit. While visiting my parents the other day, I borrowed my dads old 79s Italian road bike and went for it. It was about about 8 miles but it was worth it. The reservoir is not to be confused with Highland Park though they are right near each other. If you've ever have noticed a bike path on the right hand side of the Jackie Robinson highway going east bound (nearby exit 2 or 3 perhaps), this it where that leads to. If you're biking like I was, there's a pretty decent amount of bike rack space on both sides of the water. The bike racks are also pretty publicly facing so seemed decently safe to me, as long as you have a decent or good lock. With by bike secured, I was able to walk around and take in the spectacular views of the water while enjoying the sounds of hundreds of singing birds, who too decided to spend the day relaxing by the reservoir. I couldn't help but forgot that I was still technically in New York City. Seriously, it felt like I was somewhere here on Long Island. The best part about this park, is that if you're adventurous, it turns out there are some really cool hidden paths all around. I found one that gave took to this unobstructed and extremely private view of the water. I had the entire one half of the park to myself. It was just me, my thoughts and nature. Bring some binoculars if you have any and go bird watching. I spotted some beautiful Red Robin's and blue jays. If you're ever out this way, I HIGHLY suggest you check this place out.

I picked up the GSP from where it meets I-80 in Saddle Brook north to the New York border and…read morebecomes the Garden State Parkway Connector to I-287, the New York State Thruway. Only 11 miles of superhighway and for the privilege of driving on it, I was charged $1.90 for my out of state toll transponder. $0.17 per mile seems like a lot considering it was over in 10 minutes. Traffic was moving swiftly - I was going 70ish and getting passed by others consistently. The roadway is smooth and the toll plaza was easy to negotiate. One thing they seem to do well is take money. There are service areas along the way - I stopped at Montvale - so that you don't have to get off the roadway and search around for food or fuel. I'd choose the GSP again to drive through New Jersey. [Review 15146 overall, 648 of 2021, number 81 in New Jersey.]

The Garden State Parkway for the most part is a decent highway for those who want to travel…read moreconveniently with no trucks along with commercial vehicles. I have not traveled on the entire parkway leaving me with a lot of info to share, but expect most traffic to occur from the Thruway (the northern terminus) until reaching Hockhockson, mainly due to connections with NYC. I have not experienced any problems, but anyone who has limited knowledge of this area, pull up Google Maps and have it in handy when needed. Be prepared for tollage along the stretch, and the costs. Along the whole parkway, there are service areas to stop to eat and rest. Drive safely and carefully on this parkway.

This viaduct is an elevated steel highway built in 1901. It runs between 125 St and 135th Street,…read morealong Twelfth Avenue. It is shouldered by masonry approaches,. The span proper was made of steel. I read that it is made up of 26 spans/bays. The south and north approaches are of rock-faced Mohawk Valley limestone with Maine granite trimmings, the face work being of coursed ashlar. The girders over Manhattan Street (now 125th Street) were the largest ever built at the time. The broad plaza effect of the south approach was made to give grandeur to the natural terminus of Riverside Drive's traffic and to give full advantage to the vista overlooking the Hudson River and New Jersey Palisades to the west. F. Stuart Williamson was the chief engineer for the viaduct, which constituted a feat of engineering technology. Despite the viaduct's important utilitarian role as a highway, the structure was also a strong symbol of civic pride, inspired by America's late 19th-century City Beautiful movement. The viaduct's original roadway, wide pedestrian walks and overall design were sumptuously ornamented, creating a prime example of public works that married form and function. An issue of the Scientific American magazine in 1900 remarked that the Riverside Drive Viaduct's completion afforded New Yorkers "a continuous drive of ten miles along the picturesque banks of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers." The viaduct underwent a two-year-long reconstruction in 1961 and another in 1987.

If you want to feel small as you run, walk, bike through northern Manhattan, this helps you…read moreappreciate just how big the city is. As always, New York is just better at doing things vertically.

The Pulaski Bridge, crossing Newtown Creek, connects Brooklyn to Queens on a surface street. The…read moresignificance of the bridge is not that of a beautiful structure, which it isn't. Its draw instead is in the historical significance of the area it crosses. Having spent much time staying in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, I became fascinated with the early history of the area. Although the area has become massively gentrified in recent years, the longtime residents of LIC who haven't been priced out are proud of their area's history. Much historical information is available, including early use of the creek by the Dutch settlers. The creek & its tributaries weren't always polluted waterways. The Indigenous Peoples that first lived on the land found it a vibrant source of food and transportation before Dutch explorers claimed the land in the early 1600's. Dutch settlers also looked to it for travel, food & water. The tributary now known as Dutch Kills has significance for me because of my love of history. While spending time in the area now known to many as Dutch Kills, I purchased a Dutch Kills shirt. A bodega across from where I stayed posted pages of history near its cash register. A close pub was named for it. Dutch Kills was well known then & historically cherished. The area has changed a lot in recent years with expansion of the gentrification beyond the LIC waterfront. I hope its history isn't lost to time & "progress". The bridge & its surrounding area have a Revolutionary War history. The bridge itself is named for Polish Revolutionary War Commander Pulaski, since early settlers of the adjoining Greenpoint neighborhood in Brooklyn were Polish. The British tributary is called British Kills. The area was the a headquarters for the British troops. The troops were housed in the Dutch Kills section of LIC I know so well. So when you cross the Pulaski Bridge that you've traveled so routinely in the past, don't think of it as a small ordinary bridge. Think instead of the history of the area it crosses. Step back in time with me.

No toll! It's a short bridge that goes between Long Island City in Queens to Greenpoint Brooklyn. I…read morelike walking across the bridge too. I see people running across as well. The path is narrow just fyi There is a separate path for people who are biking across the bridge. A good option if you don't want to take the G train subway from Queens to Brooklyn.

Inscope Arch is one of the many Historic Arches that I consider Landmarks in my travels. I've…read morevisited this arch many times. This beautiful Arch is located near Fifth Avenue close to 62nd Street. If you visit the Central Park Zoo Inscope Arch is nearby. It was built in 1873 of beautiful stone. It was built to protect pedestrians from vehicle traffic. It was restored in the 1970's and again around 2000. Arches are functional and works of art to me. Inscope Arch is one of my favorite arches because of its shape. I find it pleasing to look at and photograph. I collect photos I've taken of arches and bridges. This is something you may enjoy doing as a hobby. If you do, don't miss this cute arch.

One of the many arch passageways you can find throughout Central Park…read more This can be found by the Central Park Zoo, located near 62nd and 5th Ave. Built in the 1870's and restored a few times over the years it was made for pedestrians to walk through the park and avoid street traffic. It's a nice little archway which offers some picture taking spots. Of course, the day I came by some drunk guy was taking a pee inside the tunnel. Typical.