Not exactly sure how long this has been here but noticed it in Google maps the other day and made a…read morepoint to check it out. Interesting and sad history. Having had family from behind the wall hits a little harder.

I went to see the Empire State building and then meandered back to my hotel. I always like to take…read morephotos of interesting buildings and this was surely one of them. I like the fact that they had a remembrance photograph from 9/11. This is what I found out about the building. This is the historic Beaux-Arts style firehouse for FDNY Engine Company 65 located at 33 West 43rd Street in Midtown Manhattan. The building was erected between 1897 and 1898 to provide fire protection to the area. It was designed by architects Hoppin and Koen and features terra cotta details, including representations of salamanders, which were historically believed to withstand fire. The firehouse was officially designated a New York City Landmark on October 2, 1990. It was originally built to house four horses needed to pull the company's steam engine and wagon.

Every Memorial Day I think about all service members who served and gave their lives to protect the…read moreUSA and other countries. They gave all laying down their lives in defense of freedom. I knew of SPC Greg Tull. He bunked next to SGT Schuh and I supported their team during Operation Iraqi Freedom. I mailed miniature Christmas trees, battery powered Christmas lights, and wrapped gifts to put under the trees. SGT Schuh said the trees were all put up and gifts placed under each tree by November 22. The tree skirt was a swimsuit calendar compliments of Southland Precision. I wrapped packs of cigarettes, dip, snuff, lighters, M&M's and gum. The guys all traded amongst themselves. SGT Schuh told me that November day started out normal. Eat, discuss the mission, and out on patrol. The guys were in good spirits. SPC Tull was a gunner. An IED blew up next to the humvee he was riding in and he was killed. A few others were injured. SPC Tull volunteered to go to Iraq. He gave his life November 25, 2005. SGT Schuh called me to give me the devastating news. I was numb. I felt bad for Tull's family. He was 20 years old. RIP SPC Tull. You are loved and missed!!! I am grateful and thank all of the 1% of our nation's population that currently serve. I am grateful and thankful for the 6% who are veterans. We have a large country and a very small number of Americans willing to lay down their lives to defend us and freedom. Special thanks to Yelp friend Ashley S and her husband for their service to our great country. They are a few of the elite citizens willing to defend and protect us. Thank you both for your service!!!

Memorial Day is the last Monday in May. It is a day to remember and honor all the members of the…read moreUnited States armed services that have died defending our freedom. No matter what you think of the government, our soldiers, both living and dead, deserve your support and respect. Whenever I see a man or woman in uniform I always thank them for their service. Most of my family have served in the military. I came of age between wars and was turned down because of a weak heart. If we had been at war they probably would have taken me. I don't regret this too much because I don't wish for war.

Since I retired I enjoy walking all the way down to the Bowery to spend the day. The Bowery is a…read morestreet and neighborhood in the southern portion of the New York City Borough of Manhattan. The street runs from Chatham Square at Park Row, Worth Street, and Mott Street in the south to Cooper Square at 4th Street in the North. The historic 1.5 mile Bowery is the oldest thoroughfare on Manhattan Island. Long before Broadway became Manhattan's Famous gathering place. Also known as Skid Row I'm very familiar with the neighborhood due to my years working in Human Services. My job took me there many days. When I was growing up my Mother told me stories of visiting the city as a young girl. Once she was very frightened when she came to the city and it became a rainy day. She was lost at night in the Bowery trying to find the train to return home. She and my father warned me that people there would kill you for a quarter. I never forgot these things. I don't go alone at night. Even on a Sunny day I remain vigilant. That's really a given anywhere you go in any city in this current age in America. My Opinion. Right now I'm looking forward to returning. Weather permitting I won't have to wait long. My days in this lifetime are precious. I'm having trouble being everywhere and seeing everything my city has to offer. For now here's a few photos I've taken in Bowery Neighborhood. Don't be any more afraid to visit The Bowery than you would Times Square. There's a lot to do and see in and around this neighborhood.

The Bowery has a fascinating history in NYC. My experience in the Bowery initially was as a…read morevolunteer at the Bowery Mission. I also shop at the Whole Foods in the area. Or I go with my husband as he shops. Now there are many restaurants and clubs that once housed the homeless. At forgotten NY the Bowery's history is documented. http://www.forgotten-ny.com/STREET%20SCENES/bowery/bowery.html In the 1940s through the 1970s, the Bowery was New York City's "Skid Row," notable for a large concentration of the city's homeless. The Bowery is home to the famous Bowery Mission. http://www.yelp.com/biz/bowery-mission-new-york The Bowery has been expeirencing a gentrification along with the entire lower East Side of Manhattan and specifically the Bowery starting 2005. http://cooperator.com/articles/1697/1/Skid-Row-to-Luxury-Gold/Page1.html The area in my opinion has had the most amazing transformation of any NYC neighborhood in my life time! http://nymag.com/nymetro/realestate/neighborhoods/maps/10117/ It is hardly recognizable as the same place any more. This area needed it even though there are always protests against the gentrification. Some believe the goal is really ethnic cleansing. I hope that is not the case. But I have to say it does seem to be the case in Red Hook Brookyn. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/gentrification-as-benign-ethnic-cleansing/ I personally think this area needed it. However I am also hoping with the gentrification the Bowery Mission is not pushed out of the neighborhood. As some have suffered with the gentrification. http://cooperator.com/articles/1697/1/Skid-Row-to-Luxury-Gold/Page1.html The Bowery from Houston to Delancey Streets serves as New York's principal market for restaurant equipment, and from Delancey to Grand for lamps. The Bowery is home to the Bowery poetry club.http://bowerypoetry.com/ The Bowery has been noted in many movies and TV shows such as__________ Mentioned in the film The Basketball Diaries by Leonardo DiCaprio In the 2002 film Gangs of New York, the Bowery is a mentioned territory of the Bowery Boys, a street gang of the late 19th century, The Bowery, a 1933 film about Brodie A popular B-movie series made between 1946-1958 featured "The Bowery Boys. In the 1949 Looney Tunes short "Bowery Bugs", Bugs Bunny tells an old man an imaginative story about a gambler named Steve Brody who jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge in 1886. The sailors are headed across the Brooklyn Bridge and to the Bowery to get tattooed. On the Bowery, Lionel Rogosin's 1956 film, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary. Mentioned many times in the original TV series Kojak (1973). The Bowery is home to the famous CBGB's.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBGB The club closed in October 2006. The Bowery was home to the famous Amato opera until it closed in 2009.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amato_Opera The Bowery is home to the Bowery Ballroom which reopened in 1997 it was built in 1929. http://www.boweryballroom.com/ And of course the famous Bowery Boys. http://theboweryboys.blogspot.com/ Even though I am 48 The Bowery Boys came on TV on a regular basis when I was a child. http://theageofcomedy.com/bowboys01.html I had no idea at the time there was an actual Bowery Boys. I thought it was just entertainment. http://www.amazon.com/Abbott-Costello-Show-Anniversary-Collection/dp/B000GNOGCE Then there is the adventurous Bowery hotel. It opened in 2007 and was an adventurous undertaking at the time. http://www.nysun.com/arts/blossoming-in-the-bowery/47578 It is a fascinating area with a fascinating history.

Manhattan, the heart and soul of New York City, is a bustling island that has captured the…read moreimaginations of people from all over the world. With its iconic skyline, rich history, diverse neighborhoods, and world-famous attractions, Manhattan stands as a symbol of the American dream and serves as a global cultural and financial hub. Manhattan's history is an intriguing saga that begins long before the arrival of European explorers. The Lenape people originally inhabited the island, which they called "Manahatta," meaning "hilly island." Manhattan's history dates back to the early 17th century when it was inhabited by the Lenape Native Americans. In 1609, Henry Hudson, an English explorer sailing for the Dutch, journeyed to the island, paving the way for Dutch colonization. The Dutch soon established the colony of New Amsterdam, which was later seized by the English and renamed New York in 1664. The 19th century saw significant development in Manhattan. The grid system of streets and avenues was introduced, Central Park was created, and the borough became a major hub for immigration. In the 20th century, Manhattan solidified its status as a global power player with the creation of iconic structures such as the Empire State Building, the United Nations Headquarters, and later the World Trade Center. Manhattan is divided into 7 different areas. soho, Harlem, Financial District, Greenwich village, Upper East side, Midtown and Chelsea. Definitely a place to come and enjoy yourself, that is if you are open to some fast pace fun!!

Manhattan is the envy of cities worldwide. Ambition, culture, and contradictions collide. But while…read moreits dazzle looms large, it's no longer the old classic it once was. Its edge is very polished. Tourists capture Manhattan in a couple of days, racing from Times Square to Central Park to the Statue of Liberty. They go where everyone has already been. Yawn. But to truly experience it, you need more time. A week, at minimum. Enough to watch the city wake up, ride the subway without a plan, and let the neighborhoods reveal themselves at their own pace.

New York delivers on ambiance, fun and surely provokes all the senses. 5th Avenue is just that…read more Posh shops, historical buildings. 5th avenue when in New York is a must.

Arguably, the most famous street/avenue in New York. And while you will find the high-end stuff…read morelike Saks, you will find many other shops and places that won't require a 2nd mortgage. 5th avenue is also an easy way to situate yourself if you're visiting New York. Its hard to say about a street, but you can honestly have a good time just walking up and down and taking in the sights.

So much can be said and written about the beloved gem that is Harlem. It is my favorite borough in…read moreNYC (it's a part of Manhattan, i know). I truly love all of nyc, but Harlem is special. The history, the sites, the food, the energy/vibe...it reminds me very much of where I was born and bred. The best part is its location right across the bridge from NJ. It has been interesting to see the "rebirth" and ever-changing landscape. The love is still there, though. And always will be!

Oh Harlem, who can touch your incredible culture and your iconic history? The history of my people…read more Black people. Amazing people. The birth of our culture, our music, our dance, our literature. But also, once a story of struggle, poverty, and crime. Every person and every place has a past and a story. The story of Harlem encompasses the great history of black culture. From the Harlem globetrotters, to the Apollo Theatre, to the Harlem Renaissance; this district is a one of a kind. I only wished that I could have spent more time here. Harlem still seems to get a bad rap, but I have to admit that it's not that bad at all. It kind of reminds me of how outsiders think of Oakland. You have to experience it for yourself to see its' true beauty. And, that there Harlem is pretty damn beautiful. The architecture, the restaurants, the wonderful parks, its' lively character, and its' people. All of it is worthy of a visit. Yes, there are some rough parts like there are in many other cities around the world. But, don't let that detour you from experiencing the Harlem culture. There's just so much history in this town, and it has truly evolved over the years. I'm grateful to have experienced the charm of lil' ol' Harlem.

Even though I live on the East Side I occasionally wander over to the Upper West Side to hang with…read morefriends at a bar or restaurant. Love the main stretch of Broadway where you'll find all types of shopping, stores, bars, movie theaters, and places to eat. There are famous museums in the neighborhood such as the Museum of Natural History, also Lincoln Center for Arts, and Riverside Park where I've done some races at. Plus, at many of the cross streets on Broadway they have seating areas with benches which I think is pretty cool. We've sat and chatted on these as traffic drives by in each direction. I do like that this part of town has kept much of it's old school architecture especially with its brownstones which are such an iconic NYC thing. As such, apartment rentals usually average on the higher side here as compared to the East Side/Yorkville area. The main MTA subway 1,2,3 Red lines serve this neighborhood, along with the A, B, C, D Blue/Orange lines.

Upper West Side is still one of my favorites places to spend the day. I can spend many days in many…read moreUpper West Side neighborhoods. It's historic in my opinion. I don't see as many old buildings being torn down to make way for high rise buildings. I think the West Side residents are into historic preservation more than my modern community on the Upper East Side. I find I love being here UWS for the day but I have to admit I like shiny new buildings with lots of amenities!! Come visit Upper Manhattan!