All posts by Ken

New York City Sites, New York City Tours, Uncategorized

The Sculptor of Central Park

Among the delights of walking in Central Park are the many animal sculptures that seem to pop up everywhere. Many, including the monkey above, are the work of Frederick Roth, born in Brooklyn and the Sculptor of Central Park from 1934 to 1936. (Detail from the Sophie Loeb Fountain, see below.)

Perhaps Roth’s most visited work is Balto, just east of the Willowdell Arch near 67th Street on the East Side. (See our blog on Balto on this site). There are many other Roth statues.

Honey Bear. (known to many as Dancing Bear), is set in an alcove just east of the northern entrance to the Central Park Zoo, steps away from the Delacorte Clock. 

Don’t miss the frogs at Honey Bear’s feet. In fact, look closely at any Roth statue for wonderful details.

Here are some more!

Mother Goose resides at the entrance to the Rumsey Playground, just west of the East Drive at 72nd Street.

The Sophie Loeb Fountain is at the center of a children’s water play area in the James Michael Levin playground near 77th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Frederick Roth’s works of art are just a few of the many sculptures to see in Central Park. If you’d like to learn more or personalize a tour, contact us!  Brendan@NYCToursthenandnow.us

New York City Sites, New York City Tours

The Statue of Balto

There are more than fifty statues in Central Park, but perhaps the most popular among young and old, is the statue of Balto, a Siberian marmaluke created by the renowned sculptor, Frederick G.R. Roth.

In the winter of 1925, there was a diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska, and the nearest supply of serum was 674 miles away. Because of temperatures well below zero and blizzard conditions, delivery of the medicine by air was not possible. Instead, teams of dog sleds were assembled (twenty in all) to deliver the medicine.  This was an around the clock mission, as the life-saving serum was passed from one team to the next along the route, their progress followed by newspapers around the country..  

Balto was not supposed to be on the final leg of the journey, but his musher missed the roadhouse because of the whiteout conditions and he and his team ccontinued making him the lead dog on the team which delivered the serum to Nome.   (Photo, NYPL Digital Collection).

After this heroic deed, the New York Times advocated that a statue be built in Balto’s honor and a group of dog lovers heard the story and raised the money for a statue.   On December 16, 1925 the statue was unveiled and Balto attended the event, one of the few to ever attend a statue unveiling in his own honor., certainly in Central Park. (Photos above and below, NYPL Digital Collection.)

   

Balto died in 1933 and his body has been preserved and now resides in the Cleveland Museum of Natural History.

To learn more about Balto and other Central Park treasures, send an email to brendan@nyctoursthenandnow.us or message us here.

New York City Tours

The Windows at Bloomingdale’s

Macy’s is not the only New York City department store to go all out on their holiday windows.

Bloomingdale’s is also a yearly must-see. 

This year’s windows were made in collaboration with the new Warner Brothers “Wonka” movie, with sculptures of Willy Wonka, giant candies and chocolates and much more.   

A major highlight is the collection of candies and lollipops made of handblown glass and covered with Swarovski crystals by renowned artist Abby Modell.   

Book a holiday tour and see New York’s department store windows and everything else that makes New York such a magical place during the holiday season.   Email brendan@nyctoursthenandnow.us or message us here for more information 

New York City Tours, Uncategorized

Department Store Windows

New York City department store windows are always a must-see for visitors and locals. 

The first department store to decorate their windows for the holidays was Macy’s. They have  been decorating their windows since 1874!  

This year’s windows have a wonderful interactive element to them as well.  You can sing Christmas carols, take pictures and lots more.   They feature Tiptoe the Reindeer, ( a Macy’s character) .

And her friends Polar Bear and Penguin.

Book a holiday tour and see all of the best holiday displays.   Private tours are available 7 days a week.  

Email brendan@nyctoursthenandnow.us or message us here for more information. 

New York City Sites, New York City Tours

Chanukah!

This year, the Jewish Festival of lights began at sundown on December 8th. Chanukah decorations are everywhere. 

Giant dreidels on the sidewalks…

Menorahs of all sizes…

Even the Empire State building is lit up in blue. 

Book a holiday lights tour, and we will make sure you see a wide selection of the seasonal decorations that New York City has to offer.  Email brendan@nyctoursthenandnow.is or message us here for more information 

Uncategorized

The Tree at Rockefeller Center

The Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is probably the most famous part of Christmas in New York City. It all began in 1931 when construction workers at Rockefeller Center pooled their money and purchased a 20 foot tree.  

Two years later in 1933, the first formal tree lighting occurred with a 50 foot tree and 700 lights.  During World War II, instead of one large tree, they opted for 3 smaller trees decorated with red, white and blue lights as a show of patriotism.  The trees were not lit because of blackout requirements during World War II. 

Today, the trees range in height from 80 to 100 feet.   They are decorated with about 50,000 lights and topped with a star made of Swarovski crystals.  

Book a holiday lights tour and learn more about the many other cherished holiday traditions in New York City.   Email brendan@nycstoursthenandnow.us or message us here for more information.   

New York City Tours, Uncategorized

Christmas Tree Bragging Rights 2023

Everyone has heard of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree.

(For the record, this year’s tree is an 80-foot-tall Norway Spruce from Vestal, NY.)

While it may be the most famous Christmas tree in New York City or anywhere else, the Rockefeller Center tree does not hold the distinction of being the tallest — at least this year. 

That honor goes to the tree in front of the New York Stock Exchange, which is an 81 foot tall Norway spruce from Poughkeepsie, NY.

Book a holiday lights tour and you can see both of these trees along with many other spectacular holiday decorations. Private tours can be booked 7 days a week. Email brendan@nyctoursthenandnow.us or message us here tor more information.

Uncategorized

Brooklyn Bridge Tragedy–May 18, 1883

From the NYPL Digital Collection.

When the Brooklyn Bridge opened to the public on May 24, 1883, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world and already being referred to as one of the seven architectural wonders of the world. Nonetheless, despite being built of 80 percent stone and 20 percent steel, and based on sound engineering principals, some people were still skeptical that the design would hold up. 

From the NYPL Digital Collection.

Skeptical or not, people were drawn to the span in droves for the experience of walking across. Whereas the promenade was made to hold 15,000 persons at a time, 20,000 people were strolling the bridge at numerous points during the first week. On the day after it opened, 140,398 people crossed the bridge. Two days later, on a Sunday, 163,584 made the trip. Then, less than a week after the bridge opened, on Decoration Day, May 30, 1883, tragedy struck. 

Headline from the N.Y. Times.

A woman nearing the New York terminus tripped and fell down a flight of stairs. A policeman went immediately to her aid and helped her out of the way, however, another woman inexplicably screamed. Panic seized the crowds of people and there was a rush for the exit stairs. One eye witness, Kate Ottinger, said that people cried out that the Bridge was sinking. Pickpockets, ready to take advantage of the crowd, may have fanned the flames by shouting similar false warnings. With people already nervous, a virtual stampede resulted in a crush on the stairs that killed twelve people and injured many more. 

A partial list of the victims, including a 13 year old boy, one of the last to be identified. N.Y. Times Archives.

Almost a year later on May 17, 1884, those who still questioned the safety of the bridge, were given further assurances. 

NYPL Digital Collection.

PT Barnum of the Barnum and Bailey Circus had 21 elephants, seven camels, and ten dromedaries march across the bridge. The famous white elephant, Jumbo, brought up the rear. No tolls were collected.

N.Y. Times Digital archives

Since elephants were thought to be able to detect structural problems, the safe and uneventful passage further calmed the populace.  Of course, this escapade also provided excellent publicity for PT Barnum’s circus, which opened a few days later.

NYPL Digital Archives.

If you would like to hear more stories of New York City, then and now, please book one of our tours.

New York City Sites, New York City Tours

The Vanderbilt Gates at the Conservatory Garden

One of the best places to visit in the north end of Central Park is the Conservatory Garden. Its flowers, trees and fountains are beautiful at any time of year.

But, as you enter from Fifth Avenue, don’t miss one of the truly unique features of the Conservatory Garden —the Vanderbilt Gates.

Forged in Paris, these gates are among  the few remnants of the mansion built  by Cornelius Vanderbilt–the fabulously wealthy New York City native who was worth  $100 million when he died (over 2 billion today).

The 58th Street side of the Vanderbilt mansion, showing the gates. (NYPL Digital Collection, Colorized by Kenneth Hicks.)

The mansion, thought by some to be the finest in New York City,  had four floors, 130 rooms, and took up an entire city block between 57th and 58th Streets, where Bergdorf Goodman stands today. In 1926, less than fifty years after it was built, Cornelius Vanderbilt’s wife, Alice Vanderbilt, sold the mansion for 7 million dollars and it was demolished within a week.

The gates were preserved and later donated to the city by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.   The Conservatory Garden opened in 1937 and the gates were installed two years later in 1939. 

Take a tour with us and learn more about the Conservatory Garden, the Vanderbilt Gates, and the north end of Central Park.

New York City Sites, Uncategorized

Bow Bridge

Of the thirty-six iconic bridges in Central Park, the most well-known is the Bow Bridge, so named because of its graceful curves akin to an archer’s bow.

Its popularity is enhanced because, from its curving walkway, it is possible to have views of the skylines of both Fifth Avenue and Central Park West.   Post wedding photo shoots are a regular occurrence.  

Looking east from the Bow Bridge toward Fifth Avenue.
Looking west from Bow Bridge toward Central Park West.

Of course, it is stunning from many vantage points, and has been a backdrop in many movies, including Enchanted, Spiderman 3, and Night at The Museum.   

When the Bow Bridge was first completed in 1862, it had eight cast iron urns, four on each side. At some point during the 1920’s, the urns were stolen, and, for whatever reason, they were forgotten and not replaced.  In 2008, the bridge underwent a major restoration, and historians studied old photographs of the bridge and discovered the urns that were originally on the bridge.  

Replicas were created and returned to the spots they once occupied.  

Replica urn, replacing those stolen years ago.

Let’s fervently hope that the urns remain just where they were intended to rest, and the the views of the Bow Bridge will continue to captivate visitors for a long, long time.

To learn more about Bow Bridge and other parts of Central Park, come take a tour with us!