Day 4-Time for Adventure!

Sunday, June 6, 2010—Day 4

Waiting for a train.

     It was on this day, that I truly felt comfortable in New York City.  Our Sunday with Matt, Jonathan, and Scott didn’t start until 1:15 pm.  So before the afternoon at the Met, Lindsay and I took a trip northward to Harlem from Brooklyn Heights.  Our destination was Grant’s Tomb, just blocks from Harlem.  This was quite the journey for me, especially with such a long ride on the subway.  During the ride and transferring trains, we befriended a 70 years old woman who shared much about her life with us.  Sometimes, I wonder how much of what New Yorkers share with tourists is really true.  After all, they are human and I’m sure that messing with a tourist would be kind of fun for some.  (Then again, Jonathan cannot be right about New Yorkers!)  Nevertheless, the woman was harmless and entertaining during the long ride northward.                                                                                                                                                                    

. . . while walking in Harlem. . .

. . . at the Apollo . . .

. . . stars of Harlem

     Upon arriving in Harlem, we saw the Apollo Theater and Hotel St. Theresa and were able to take better pictures than the previous day on the bus.  After a long walk up a steep inclined sidewalk, we arrived at Riverside Park and Grant’s Tomb. Located within the park was Grant’s Tomb.  This national memorial was noteworthy. 

President's Grant's Tomb

     Inside the memorial building were the caskets of both President Grant and his wife, Julia Grant.  The domed building also contained Federalist Civil War flags which were flown under Grant’s command and a Colorado 1876 flag.                               

President and Mrs. Grant

This flag was included in the collection because Colorado was admitted as the Centennial State while Grant was president.  When we left, we saw Riverside Church across the street.  An enormous brownstone building with steeples and gothic architectural features that I wished I had time to explore, but we were pushing time to reach the Metropolitan Museum on time, so we left.               

Riverside Church

1st state flag of Colorado

     The Met was fabulous!  There were so many exhibits that it overwhelmed me!  I wanted to see everything!  The tour of the Americana Collection at the Metropolitan Museum evoked memories within me of past curriculum that I greatly enjoyed teaching; colonial American History.  The chair that folded into a table was especially inventive and demonstrated true American ingenuity.  Also of interest to me was the resourcefulness of colonials who used the hull of the ship for a roof of a meetinghouse. 

ship's hull/ meetinghouse ceiling

     Quite the innovative mind at work!  Portraits from colonial America were equally intriguing.  A much later architectural exhibit, the Frank Lloyd “Prairie House” was a surprise.  Wright is a favorite architect of mine.  Just like the magazine pictures, it was fabulous with its clean lines, symmetry, and monochromatic color scheme. 

Prairie House

  

      

    After exploring the Met, more exploration of New York City occurred.  Rockefeller Center and the Carnegie Mansion were a must to visit.  Radio City Music Hall, a walk down Park Avenue,and another visit to Times Square were also part of the late afternoon. 

inside Rockefeller Center

 

Radio City Music Hall

     Grimaldi’s Pizza and The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory finished the evening.  Waiting in line for 40 minutes and watching the line grow longer behind me, I knew this pizza had to be among the best in the city.  What was surprising was that all takeout orders were placed from the same long line!  While standing in line for 40 minutes, minutes, Lindsay and I chatted with a couple from Santa Fe, New Mexico.  They were very friendly and reassured us that the wait for dinner was worth it.  Inside, the walls were lined with framed photos of famous people who had patronized Grimaldi’s.  The pizza was definitely New York style and it did not disappoint.  Seeing the Brooklyn Bridge at night from Old Fulton Street (DUMBO area) of Brooklyn Heights was enchanting.  What a great way to finish the day.

     The pre-Civil War history came alive for me in a particular portrait.  The portrait that I greatly enjoyed analyzing was the John Brown painting of his arrest.  This would be an excellent primary source teaching tool for students.  This painting could be used to teach in-depth content of the John Brown events, as a review of previously taught info, and could also be used to gain a more balanced perspective of Brown.  Using this portrait and another primary source illustration of Brown to show 2 perspectives of him would be a great comparison/contrast assignment in which students look and analyze two glimpses of the man with a Venn diagram (circle chart).  The diagram results could be used to write a compare/contrast essay.  This activity would definitely make a great closing activity for students and would satisfy some CSAP writing skills that we should be using and reviewing with students in our classes.