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.

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.

Long Island City used to be a beautiful wasteland. Then the buildings started to come. The first…read moretall building came in 89. Then the city lights came. Then eventually the area just became more crowded with tons of people. Back then the mom and pop shops were amazing. Its sad there are a few left. There's a lot of activities to do in the area now. Acardes, bars, tea shops, bowling, museums and other things. Its a great area if you have a dog because there's spots for them to poop all over the place. There's also tons of restaurants in the area, there's even a food hall. If you feel like living in a tiny apartment that cost over 3k then come live here. If you like noise then come live here. It used to be a wonderful spot where people minded their business, now everyone is in your business. Don't forget to pick up your dog poop or else someone will get you on camera. Be simple get a cat so that strangers don't have to randomly touch your dog without asking. Cats are better anyway. All jokes aside the parks by the water are really beautiful. Its a wonderful place to have a great picnic. Go check out the pepsi cola sign its an Instagram worthy spot. This area had the original 5 pointz building that was beautiful art all over the building but was torn down for a stupid building. Check out court square diner while your here open 24 hours! Culture lab is a must if you come to LIC! I appreciate all the flowers that are painted in the area.

What a beautiful place , they are by the water and have nice restaurants around with water view …read more They did an amazing job expanding the park with pathways on the water , plenty of benches to rest . Clean bathrooms , dog park , kids playground or if you just wanna go for a jog or a nice walk . You can also conveniently take the ferry to/from pier 11 Simply beautiful

I think this poem explains how the LES gets under your skin once you've rendezvoused with the 6th…read moreBorough! By Miguel Piñero co founder of the Nuyorican Poet Society LOWER EAST SIDE POEM Just once before I die I want to climb up on a tenement sky to dream my lungs out till I cry then scatter my ashes thru the Lower East Side. So let me sing my song tonight let me feel out of sight and let all eyes be dry when they scatter my ashes thru the Lower East Side. From Houston to 14th Street from Second Avenue to the mighty D here the hustlers & suckers meet the ****s & freaks will all get high on the ashes that have been scattered thru the Lower East Side. There's no other place for me to be there's no other place that I can see there's no other town around that brings you up or keeps you down no food little heat sweeps by fancy cars & pimps' bars & juke saloons & greasy spoons make my spirits fly with my ashes scattered thru the Lower East Side . . . A thief, a junkie I've been committed every known sin Jews and Gentiles . . . Bums & Men of style . . . run away child police shooting wild . . . mother's futile wails . . . pushers making sales . . . dope wheelers & cocaine dealers . . . smoking pot streets are hot & feed off those who bleed to death . . . all that's true all that's true all that is true but this ain't no lie when I ask that my ashes be scattered thru the Lower East Side. So here I am, look at me I stand proud as you can see pleased to be from the Lower East a street fighting man a problem of this land I am the Philosopher of the Criminal Mind a dweller of prison time a cancer of Rockefeller's ghettocide this concrete tomb is my home to belong to survive you gotta be strong you can't be shy less without request someone will scatter your ashes thru the Lower East Side. I don't wanna be buried in Puerto Rico I don't wanna rest in Long Island Cemetery I wanna be near the stabbing shooting gambling fighting & unnatural dying & new birth crying so please when I die . . . don't take me far away keep me near by take my ashes and scatter them thru out the Lower East Side . . . If you can't feel THAT, or at least appreciate it, then maybe Alphabet City isn't for you.‍

I've spent so much time in the Lower East Side over the years, and it still remains one of my…read morefavorite areas. There is an irreplaceable energy in the mix of old-school tenement history, incredible street art, and some of the best food in the city. Whether you're grabbing a classic pastrami sandwich at Katz's or just wandering down Orchard Street, the neighborhood always feels alive and authentic. It has definitely changed and gotten trendier recently, but that gritty, creative soul is still very much there. It's the kind of place where you can just walk for hours and never get bored.

The July 4th fireworks along the Manhattan skyline. The beautiful sunset toward the Statue of…read moreLiberty and the Astor Pl tower clock glowing in the evening. These are the beautiful images that I took for granted in this unique neighborhood. Where Notorious B.I.G., Li'l Kim, Mos Def, Rosie Perez and Susan Sarandon called home, and the Quincy Ave and Downing block was featured in Dave Chapelle's Block Party movie 2005. Home of Pratt Institute whose founder built brownstone mansions for his family members, and adjacent to Bed Sty, Williamsburg and Fort Greene. Steinway Studios on Washington and Flushing where Spike Lee's Inside Man was filmed. Now with restaurants, cafes and hipsters gallore.

My apologies but I'm never sure if I'm in Fort Greene, Bedstuy, Crown Heights or Clinton Hill so…read moregoogle earth is a handy little app. Like most parts of Brooklyn I love it here. Like most of the stories being told the people are fed up of being "pushed" out. Gentrification. My friend who has lived here for many years says "pretty soon ima have to leave". He's genuinely concerned. He's not a typical worrier. I enjoy walking the streets during all seasons, summer-time peering into restaurants/bistros/cafes coming up with stories of their occupants. I have been known to sit on benches outside these establishments for hours just observing and writing stories......in my head. What is it with the bodegas and their cats? I'll be back to update this review from time to time. Not quite....the end.

Beautiful even if it's not that exciting. Frederick Douglass Circle is located on the northwest…read morecorner of Central Park. It basically is a traffic circle with a statue. A lot of attractions are here. The park is the best of course, but there's also shops and theaters. Even though it's not that big, there's still a lot to see here. It most famously has a large statue of Frederick Douglass located in the middle. This honors an important figure in ending slavery. Other features in the circle include lots of benches. There's a staircase with an important quote. An MTA station is here. This is a pretty busy station because there's several important Lines going through. It's located between the neighborhoods of Central Park West and Harlem. There's of course many African American owned businesses and much culture around it. It of course is congested. It's better going as a pedestrian. There's also the close by subway.

Thanks to me reading Mardory's activity feed I realized I never reviewed this wonderful landmark. I…read moreusually stop and photograph when I'm walking in Harlem. As you can see by my photos I've been to visit the circle a long time ago and many times since I'm sure. This truly is a beautiful educational dedication to a great man. I do agree with Chuck that the traffic is a distraction. I dash across the street trying not to get run over. I'm an air head so I get confused when there's circular streets and traffic. I never know how to cross to get to the perfect spot for my photo opportunity! If you're in the area of Central Park North in Harlem this is definitely a must see. Do some Frederick Douglass research before you go. The Circle is a great tribute to a Great Man. Plus there's lots of food and fun nearby!

Such a vibrant area which culture and so much to do. Def great eats in this area with lots of great…read moreservice providers for hair, nails, makeup and more. So many activities always going on and new businesses opening up regularly. It's hard to find parking here but The Parks here are very beautiful.

Not to be confused with Washington Hypes, which is when I keep telling everybody that Seattle is…read morethe best city in the best state, which honestly it might be. This is an underrated neighbourhood with gorgeous views of the George Washington Bridge. It's hilly and you can get some fresh air coming off the Hudson River, with amazing views across to New Jersey as well. So definitely one of the better areas in the Upper Manhattan part of town. I come here now and again to check out the bubble tea or whatever else is going on, and I think it's pretty nice.

I stayed in the Park Slope Neighborhood of Brooklyn New York while visiting for a local event. The…read morehotel part of my Expedia package deal just happened to be in the neighborhood along with the event itself which was a total win! Park Slope Neighborhood consists of upscale amenities, with diverse activity options within. I absolutely loved my short stay in this neighborhood where I attended a local event, and also adored the brownstone architecture while out on my jog to its beloved Prospect Park; It was a jog that I must say was a workout of its own due to the climb! Lord have mercy, tehehe. There are plentiful sights, activities, and restaurants within the Park Slope Neighborhood. Some that I experienced and noted were Old Stone House, Prospect Park, Barclays Center, Brooklyn Museum, Obama's Former Park Slope Brownstone, Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store, and Gowanus Canal. With its casual but trendy dining scene, hip nightlife, access to public transit, safety, and a creative and art hub, I can see why it was ranked in New York Magazine as one of New York City's most desirable neighborhoods. Due to my experiences, and interests within the Park Slope Neighborhood, I would surely consider staying in again while visiting Brooklyn New York. ~Have courage. Be Kind. ~ Thomas G

If you get a wet, messy stew here, it's Park Slop. And if you say something inappropriate to a…read morelocal and then smack you in the face, it's a Park Slap. And if you go down on someone here, it's Park Slurp. Pork Slope is a hill full of pigs. Perk Slope is an incline on which you redeem your rewards points. Pr**k Slope is an area full of people with bad attitudes. But this is none of those places. What an absolutely spectacular neighbourhood which is very bourgeoisie but very amazing to walk through. One of the safest parts of Brooklyn and also one of the trendiest - but also one of the most family-friendly. So many Brownstones, so many great places to shop and eat and drink, and I just absolutely love this area. One of my favorite spots around here is the Mr. Wish location here in Park Slope which is one of the better locations of this excellent Boba chain. Luigi's Pizza is here too, same street, right on 5th, and may be the best slice of Fresh Mozz you'll have in NYC, but definitely the best in Broke-lyn, so named because it's expensive AF these days. And don't go to nearby Prank Slope. It's just a bunch of people playing pratical jokes on each other.