Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Meet at the William Seward statue on the corner of Madison Square Park, 23rd St. and Broadway.
212/741-2323.
www.latironbid.org
.
Sun
11am. Subway: N/R to 23rd St.
Grand Central Partnership
Grand Central Terminal (not station—train lines end here) is as inspiring as
public buildings get. A $175-million restoration has this 1913 Beaux Arts masterpiece looking better than ever.
The full story of the building's architecture and history is recounted on a 90-minute tour that leaves from the
atrium of 120 Park Ave., right across 42nd Street.
212/883-2420.
www.grandcentralpartnership.org
. Fri 12:30pm. Subway: 4/5/6/7/S to 42nd St./Grand Central.
Orchard Street Bargain District Tour
The Lower East Side is a bottomless well of history and lore, a
“modern-day Byzantium” in the words of novelist Richard Price. This tour focuses on the local commercial his-
tory. The first NYC district dedicated to discount retail, for decades the Jewish Lower East Side was the only place
where you could shop on Sundays. Fittingly, that's the day this 3-hour tour runs, meeting at 11am in front of
Katz's.
Meet up with the guide in front of Katz's Delicatessen, 205 E. Houston St., at Ludlow St.
866/224-0206
or 212/226-9010.
www.lowereastsideny.com
.
Apr-Nov Sun 11am, rain or shine. Subway: F to Second Ave.
Times Square Exposé
No one familiar with the seedy Times Square of legend would recognize the
lounge chair scene there today. No doubt some character has been sacrificed, but at least we've got the tourists
concentrated in a single location (and one that lets them feel right at home at that). The local BID shows its pride
in its spruced-up streets every Friday at noon, touring past historic theaters and the ultramodern new additions
to this storied nabe. Sign up at the NYC & Co Official Visitor Information Desk.
1560 Broadway, the east side of Seventh Ave., btw. 46th and 47th sts.
212/484-1222.
www.timessquarenyc.org
.
Fri noon, rain or shine. Subway:
N/Q/R to 49th St.; 1/2/3/7/N/Q/R/S to 42nd St./Times Sq.
Union Square: Crossroads of New York Walking Tour
Union Square Park opened in 1831, about the
same time New York's wealthy reached this elevation on their inexorable climb uptown. The elegant neighbor-
hood they created was soon steeped in culture, with an influx of theaters and concert halls. By World War I, the
moneyed set had moved on and the area was in decline, except for Union Square itself, which remained a pop-
ular location for labor rallies and protests. Learn about the neighborhood's history Saturday afternoons at 2pm
with Big Onion Walking Tours. Meet at the Lincoln statue on the north end of the park.
16th St. traverse, Union Sq.
212/517-1826.
www.unionsquarenyc.org
.
Sat 2pm. Subway: L/N/Q/R/4/5/6 to 14th St./Union Sq.
Independent Tours
Battery Park City
Battery Park is justifiably proud of its beautiful landscaped grounds. With the parks
restored to pre-9/11 showroom condition, the area is eager to show itself off. On select Wednesdays you'll find
garden tours at 11am. Select weekend days in the warmer months, you can catch a public art tour that surveys
the mixed bag of installations down here. There are also poetry and twilight nature walks. Check the website for
exact times and hours.
212/267-9700.
www.bpcparks.org
. Subway: R or 1 to Rector St.; 4/5 to Bowling Green.
Big Apple Greeter
These New York boosters roll out the red carpet in an attempt to make their enthusi-
asm for the city infectious. Visitors can pick any neighborhood they like, and the greeters will find a knowledge-
able volunteer to take them around for 2 to 4 hours. It's free, and there's a no-tipping policy.
Reserva-
tions should be made 3 or 4 weeks ahead of time.
212/669-8159.
www.bigapplegreeter.org
.
A Broader View: The African Presence in Early New York
Africans, both free and enslaved, had a big
role in the development of New York City. This Ranger-led tour will tell you all about it, as you walk from Feder-
al Hall to the African Burial Ground National Monument Memorial. Tours run Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10am;
reservations are required. Plan on about 90 minutes (note that tours are suspended during the winter months).
