The Oculus is a beautiful representation of the New York spirit. It is a shopping center, an…read morearchitectural landmark, a transport hub, and a historic piece honoring NYC. It's a part of New York as much as Grand Terminal or Penn Station is. Oculus gets busy on a daily basis because of all the things I mentioned above. The shops in the Oculus are nice and tend to be on the higher end of a price range. You have a variety of selections from Apple Store to luxury brands. The service at any store is pretty representative of what the Oculus aspires to be; excellence. It's beautiful and bright and at its core, a beacon of hope.

I go through the Oculus almost every day and it has really become part of my routine. It is great…read morefor catching so many different trains and it makes getting around the city feel easy. I usually pass through when I am heading to Eataly or taking the Path, and I always end up stopping for something. I love the yogurt place there and the Häagen Dazs is another favorite. Yesterday I went with my niece and we had such a nice time. We walked around, got ice cream, and did a little window shopping. It was simple and fun, the kind of visit that feels relaxed and unplanned. The whole space is bright, open, and clean, and there are so many stores that you can always find something to look at. It is one of those places where you can grab a treat, pick up something you need, or just stroll for a bit. I never get tired of going through here.

This is a beautiful monument given by the Russians. Large teardrop and at the bottom are all of the…read morenames of the victims of 9/11. It was a beautiful day when we visited (summer 2017) and it's near the water, which I love. Lots of benches and places to reflect. There is also a walkway made of bricks that family/friends/etc. were able to purchase and have etched with their loved ones names. Across the water you can see where the twin towers stood and the Statue of Liberty is also visible. Truly an amazing place. It is at the end of a very long, windy roadway, but I didn't think it was too hard to find and I'm not from the area.

A 10 story invaginated monolith, complete with a dripping melted ball of polished steel, was gifted…read moreto the USA by the people of Russia. How many Russians, or for that matter Americans, know of the existence of this poke in the eye from Putin? I had only recently heard of the memorial and was completely unprepared for what I saw. As noted, it is in Bayonne at the end of a pier and one does indeed have to pass through an area full of current and former US Navy warehouses, now used by businesses, U.S. Customs inspection facilities, etc.... It's in a gritty area without food or sanitary facilities except for a parking lot. At least the parking is free. After a long ride, by NYC standards, along a pot hole filled road one comes to the cruise line departure/arrival facility and continues to the end of the road and then to the parking. You only get to really see this memorial from the side from this vantage point so, the best part awaits. After leaving one's car and walking a very short distance, one can really see the eyesore. Getting closer to the memorial just makes it very apparent that the first impression only worsens. The gaping hole, the shiny metallic ball in the black backdrop of the gash, and a copper colored outer skin is just awful. It's akin to a car wreck. They're horrible to see but, you can't stop staring. There is one saving grace. One can simply look down at the ground level pedestal which is a series of black marble slabs carved with the name of each 9/11 victim.

Even though it was closed because it's under construction I was able to go into the entrance and…read morethey still had the palm trees up and I was able to see through the mesh covering to see how beautiful the seating area is and it's still going to be an amazing place to sit and have lunch or dip into away from the rain. It stated they will be reopened by this year in the summer maybe the end of the summer. I can see it will be worth the wait

Nice place to sit and chill over coffee. The breakfast croissant was very good. Very spacious and…read morethe waiters were attentive. Nice ambiance.

We didn't buy tickets as early as we needed to get into the base of the Statue of Liberty. But we…read morewere early enough to get tickets to see the Statue and the islands. Thousands of people landing on the islands, paralleling the story we were hearing re the first immigrants. Very long lines for boat rides to and from. Don't miss the last boats! Very well done audio tours of: 1) Liberty Island 2) even better curated museum and stories for Ellis Island. Stories of disillusionment, hard times, discrimination, greed, courage and triumph. Beautiful views of the city skyline. Highly recommend.

We experience the Statue of Liberty during record heat, and as someone with health issues that…read moreworsen during heat, it was rough. The Park Rangers were so lovely and encouraging, and offered advice on how to get up to the crown while accommodating what I could physically do (I was about to give up and wait for the rest of my party). We made it up to the top, where more Park Rangers talked about the history and what we could see from the crown. While tough, it was an awesome experience, and the Park Rangers are the best!

Continuing south through New Jersey and crossing the Newark Bay, we got to cross on the Vincent R…read more Casciano Memorial Bridge. The bridge carries Interstate 78 and links Newark in Essex County to Bayonne in Hudson County. The bridge was completed on April 4, 1956, following years of advocacy led by Assemblyman Vincent R. Casciano, who championed Hudson County's inclusion in the emerging Turnpike network. It is a three-span continuous through-arch design, with a total length of 9,560 feet. Its main span stretches an impressive 1,270 feet, and it offers a clearance of 135 feet above the water to accommodate marine traffic bound for Port Newark. I do not believe that there is a specific toll to cross the bridge but it is part of the toll-regulated section of the New Jersey Turnpike, so you'll be paying for that. The vertical clearance for vehicles is approximately 15 feet, accommodating most commercial and passenger traffic. My Sprinter van cleared it easily. [Review 1150 of 2025 - 177 in New Jersey - 24703 overall]

Tour bus took us over this bridge on way back home. Bridge seemed well maintained with a smooth…read moresurface. Fast going over, although there was a big accident on the other side. Definitely seen worse bridges.

Over 10 years, I was staying in Manhattan for the International Parade. We visited the Financial…read moreDistrict but ignored this historic sculpture. I wasn't into it nor had any interest in the stock market at the time. The sculpture was created by Arturo Di Modica. The bull symbolizes financial optimism and prosperity following the 1987 stock market crash. The bull was intended to inspire each person who came into contact with it to carry on fighting through the hard times. If I ever visited Manhattan again, I would stop by the Financial District for this masterpiece. I am obsessed with the stock market and so bullish about it. I wish I would have been exposed to it earlier in life.

Partner wanted to see the Charging bull and we made it happen on our short trip, even in the rain…read morelol. We walked from the One World Trade Center while raining, stopped by the convenience store to buy an umbrella, walked about 10-15 mins and queued in the short line. We waited no more than 5-10 mins. The people behind us were kind to take our photos. I took photos at the front of the bull but I ain't taking photos at the back haha. Ps. Be careful as sometimes the line begins to spill out into the street! Warned a few people about incoming cars.

The Koenig Sphere sits in Liberty Park in Lower Manhattan, elevated above the street level and…read moreoverlooking the 9/11 Memorial pools and the broader World Trade Center complex. I walked up to the sphere and learned that it was originally installed as a decorative sculpture in the plaza between the Twin Towers, where it stood for decades as part of the everyday landscape of the complex. It was designed by German sculptor Fritz Koenig and was recovered from the debris after September 11, 2001. The damage it sustained is visible and extensive. The surface is buckled and torn in ways that make the destruction legible without any explanation, and that physical evidence is precisely what gives the object its weight. It is not a pristine monument. It is a thing that was present, that went through what happened, and that was pulled from the wreckage and placed back on display in the form it came out in. The park around it is thoughtfully arranged, with benches positioned to allow me to sit with the sphere and look out over the memorial pools and the site. The quiet of the space relative to the activity below made it easier to spend time with what I was looking at. A plaque provides context for visitors who are not already familiar with the history of the object. For anyone visiting the 9/11 Memorial, making the short walk up to Liberty Park to see the sphere in person adds a dimension to the visit that the memorial pools alone do not provide. It is a quiet, powerful stop that lingers with you after you leave.

KOENIG SPHERE. A Bronze Sculpture which was originally placed with a Fountain between the TWIN…read moreTOWERS in 1971. The badly damaged SPHERE was the only work of art which was salvaged mostly intact from the collapse of the TWIN TOWERS on SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. The SPHERE resided in BATTERY PARK afterwards until it was moved to LIBERTY PARK in 2017. WORTH VISITING.

Joe made my trip! I had an excellent experience…read more My father was born and raised in the Bronx, but this is my first time in NYC. I am very interested in my father's upbringing, and wanted to see his neighborhood, as well as important personal landmarks. Several people- including other local tour guides, told me this neighborhood was too dangerous and I should do something else with my time. Joe met me at my hotel, and we took the subway together to the old neighborhood. Not only did Joe make me feel safe, he was friendly, knowledgeable, and prepared. He brought pictures of special landmarks, like my father's apartment building (which no longer exists) and my father's favorite candy shop, which has been a bodega for decades. He was also able to tell me a great deal about the history of the neighborhood. I strongly recommend Joe to anyone looking for a tour guide.

Joe is awesome! If you are thinking about a tour of Harlem or any tour that Joe offers, do it. We…read morebooked the Harlem tour at 10pm the night before. He met us at our hotel promptly the next afternoon, took us on the subway and chatted with us the whole time. Joe is very personable. We arrived in Harlem in 15 -20 mins later and began our tour the minute we exited the station. We were stopped a few times, because Joe is well-known in Harlem, being a native. Folks love him, and we understand why. He is a genuinely nice guy who loves his city and is proud of his and its culture. Joe's knowledge of the city and it's history made for an informative experience. If we had more time in NYC, we certainly would have booked him again for another tour in a different part of the city. Do yourself a favor and book a tour with Joe!

I've been a part of this community for many years! I was there when this was an abandoned mansion!…read more This mosque has a come a long way over those long years . I'm always welcomed whenever I go there . Anyone and everyone is welcome!

I found this Mosque from Guidance app while stopped at a Hotel in Elizabeth before flying out of…read moreEWR. It's pretty close to Airport. Please be vigilant in the area while attending prayers or events in this mosque. According to the mosque FB page, the Masjid's facility is structured on the first governor's mansion in the State of New Jersey and has been designated as a historical site in the federal and state registry. Once the site of an all girls private school named the Vail Dean, it is now the house of Allah for worshipers from throughout the Islamic world Alhamdulillah. Jumu'ah: 1:00 PM 5 times Jamaat: Yes Wud u Area: Yes Sister's Prayer Lounge: Yes Restroom Cleanliness: Yes Parking: Onsite Sunday Islamic School: Not sure Mosque Store: Not sure

I have been to New York, but never been to the Lowe's Jersey Theater. I am fascinating by the…read morebeauty, because it was built in the 1920's era. But I do know a little history about this theater, I was born in Chicago, Illinois and what I know about this Movie Palace is the designers. This theater was designed by Chicago's Architects Cornelius Rapp and George Rapp, they are known for. Their designs for movie palaces, in the United States. Architects Rapp and Rapp designed the Balaban and Katz Chicago Theater opened up on October 26, 1921. Rapp and Rapp designed the Lowe's Paradise Theater in New Jersey. This movie palace of the 1920's era, undergoing restoration as we speak. I know that it's going to look more beautiful, once The restoration is complete and restored to it's natural glamor look.

A historic theatre smack in the middle of Journal Square, Loew's has a diverse array of events and…read moreprogramming - from classic movies, touring musical acts, and even organ concerts (inside Loew's is a built-in Wurlitzer theatre organ that was played during silent movies). I've gone to Loew's for the Jersey Journal's 150th anniversary celebration during which the movie 'His Girl Friday' was screened and there was an organ mini-concert. I also saw Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile at Loew's back in November. I recommend checking it out for the programming, but also to see some beautiful architecture inside. Plus, for the most part, the events are very affordable. It's a unique experience.