Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Paying Your Respects at 9/11 Memorial Plaza
Ten years and a day after the two hijacked planes brought down the twin towers of the World Trade Center, and close
to 3,000 people were killed, a memorial to that fateful day finally opened to the public. Since its opening, it has become
the most-visited attraction in New York City, with over 4.5 million visiting the memorial since it opened. The centerpiece
within the 8-acre Memorial Plaza is the two reflecting pools and waterfalls, located in the 1-acre footprints of the individu-
al towers. Each reflecting pool is surrounded by a brass parapet where the names of the victims of both the 9/11 and
February 1993 bombings are engraved and arranged in an order as to where they worked, close to their coworkers or
friends, or wherever their families thought they could best be located. Despite the cacophony of incessant drilling and
construction work that surrounds the Memorial (the Freedom Tower; the skyscraper to replace the Twin Towers, is still
under construction, as are other adjacent buildings), the experience is a moving one and a reminder of not only the horror
of that tragic day, but of the valor of those who gave their lives to save others. Admission is free, but to visit, you must
make a (free) online reservation at
www.911memorial.org/visitor-passes
.
Same-day visits are available at the Memori-
al's Preview Site: 20 Vesey St. (at Church St.) beginning at 9:00am, the NYC & Co. kiosk at City Hall, and the NY Water
Taxi booth at the South Street Seaport (limited to four passes per person on a first-come, first-served basis). Security, as
you can imagine, is tight. You and your bags will be scanned/searched. For more information visit the Memorial's website:
11
Castle Clinton
Continuing down to New York Harbor, you'll reach
Castle Clinton
(
212/344-7220;
www.nps.gov/cacl
), a
Napoleonic-era fort. Although this battery has undergone several renovations, from theater hall to aquarium, the
original 1811 walls are still intact. Castle Clinton once served as New York's immigration station, and one out
of every six Americans can trace their ancestry through here. The New York Classical Theatre employs the fort
during summer Shakespeare performances (p. 260). The battery's day job is mostly as the ticket station for the
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island ferries. You can save $17 and get out into New York Harbor for free by following
Battery Park around to the south and east to the Whitehall Terminal.
12
Staten Island Ferry
The poor man's Circle Line, the
Staten Island Ferry
(
718/815-BOAT
[2628]) is one of my all-time favorite NYC
freebies. From Manhattan to St. George and back again takes a little more than an hour, with inspiring views
all the way. The ferry's new terminal rises exuberantly over the water at the end of Whitehall and State streets.
Find a seat on the right-hand side of the boat as you enter. You'll have great vantages of the downtown sky-
line. About halfway through the ride, you'll spot Lady Liberty from the same western windows. On the Staten
Island side, there's isn't all that much to do without a further bus or train ride. The
Staten Island Museum
(
718/727-1135;
www.statenislandmuseum.org
) is not quite worth the walk, let alone the $3 suggested admis-
sion. You'll find a four-legged chicken in a jar, a hairball from a cow's stomach, an intriguing Native American
carved head, and not much else. More compelling are the neighborhood's Sri Lankan restaurants.
SanRasa
(
718/420-0027;
www.sanrasa.com
) is just a few blocks from the terminal at 226 Bay St., and well worth a pilgrim-
age. Come on a Sunday and you can enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet table ($11), laden with mutton curry, buttery
papadum
flatbread, and a spicy eggplant dish that's the best use of the vegetable I've ever found. Inexpensive
minor league baseball games (p. 302) are also just a few steps from the terminal.
13
Meal Break II
Food carts are a classic part of the New York scene, and a big part of the downtown worker diet. You'll see
sidewalks lined with them all through the Financial District, although many are just variations on a falafel-and-
mystery-meat theme. If you're up for some Caribbean home cooking, check out
Trinidad and Tobago Cart
(
646/436-9974
), on the south side of Whitehall Street between Pearl and Bridge streets. There's usually a line and
