Journals 1-4
1. Impressions of New York
New York is very unique because diversity, authenticity, fashion, and the celebration of many different cultures come together. New York is a captivating state with breathtaking sceneries and beautiful landmarks. People from all over the world come to visit New York, in particular, New York City. Famous Broadway shows, reputable museums, the gorgeous Central Park, the forever busy Times Square, the historical Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, the Hudson River, and the magnificent structure of the Brooklyn Bridge are just a few significant centers of attractions in NYC that have a meaning and purpose in the life of NYC. People from New York are strong and bold in character, are very opinionated, ambitious and competitive in achieving their goals and dreams, adventurous, down-to-earth, open-minded, and can sometimes be cold and ruthless demonstrating no mannerism for others. Life in New York is very fast pacing and always proactive. NYC as well as the suburban locations in New York are segregated by the economic social class of people as well as their ethnic background. The differences between the rich, the middle class, the lower middle class, and the poor are shown throughout NY. However, NY is unlike any other state across the country. In my eyes, NY is its own country in itself. New York is considered "a melting pot" for its worldwide multi-cultural individuals that it constitutes with. NYC is the capital of the world for its international financial institutions. NYC is also the birth of the fashion industry. There are so many activities and events in NYC on a daily basis that make it difficult to move out of NY. NY is filled with a variety of people with all sorts of personalities. The celebration of differences makes NY, NY. I am proud to reside in NY and call NY my home.
2. Queens
The trip to Queens was adventurous, educational, and lots of fun. Queens is the most culturally diverse location I have ever witnessed so far in my life. I thought Manhattan was the most multi-cultural diverse borough, but I was wrong! On this trip to Queens I got to ride on the "International Express" or as some commuters call it the "7 train." The reason why this train is known as the "International Express" is because "its route takes passengers through some of the most ethnically diverse communities in North America" (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 159). This train is so popular that even the White House has labeled it as a National Millennium Trail due to its reflection and defining aspects of America's history and culture (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 159). This is a major accomplishment that New Yorkers and Long Islanders should feel very proud of since it is one of 16 trials in the United States that provide passengers with this luxury and experience (Russo & Cullinan, 2014). My class got off at the stop where we explored Flushing Meadow Corona Park. In Flushing Meadow Park, I saw how people from all ethnic backgrounds came together to the same park for recreational activities. I got to learn about the phenomenal impact that the World's Fair exhibitions had internationally in the Queens Museum of Art. I had no idea that there were 3 Great Exhibitions of the World's Fair in two different locations. The first exhibition was held in 1851 at the Crystal Palace in London (Russo & Cullinan, 2014). The other two exhibitions took place in New York at The Flushing Meadow Corona Park. New York held these Great Exhibitions of the World's Fair to the public in the years of 1939 and 1965. Surprisingly, an interesting fact of the 1965 World's Fair Exhibition was the fact that Professor Mike Russo attended this historical event. Although Professor Mike Russo was only a fetus in his mother's womb, he was still present! WOW! Could you believe that Mike Russo's mom got to witness and experience in person what a World's Fair exhibition was like? Unbelievable! According to Russo and Cullinan (2014), these World's Fair exhibition showcased the industrial achievements of the nation and the world causing exposure to different cultures and displaying the amazing new technology and products that were in effect at that time (Russo & Cullinan, 2014). The reason behind why these World's Fair exhibitions discontinued was mainly due to the very expensive costs involved in hosting such events. Another reason why the World's Fair exhibitions fell apart after the 1960's was due to amusement parks like Disney World with its Epcot Center that fulfilled many of the functions that World's Fair once did (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 159).
In the Queens Museum of Art, I learned about 2 important figures that made an impact to New York City. They were Robert Moses and Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol was an artist in the middle of the 1950's through 1960's. He started his career as an illustrator and drew shoes for "Lucy's Shoes Stores." Warhol first made individual art work. As his career blossomed, he made art for industrial mass production. Warhol was a leading figure in the visual art movement most commonly known as pop art. The biggest challenge of doing pop art was illustrating "normal objects" into artistic objects. His famous pieces of art work were the illustration of Campbell's Soup Cans, the portrait of "10 Marilyn Monroes", and "the 13 most wanted" that was featured in one of the New York's World's Fair exhibition.
Robert Moses was an important figure to New York City because he built many expressways and parks all across New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, New York. Moses was nicknamed the "master builder" for his expansion of the state park system, house buildings, and parks. He was also involved with running the two exhibitions of the World's Fair in New York.
**Important and Juicy Facts**
1. 1940 - All the buildings from the World's Fair got closed except for The Queens Museum of Art, which use to be the United Nations. United Nations got transferred to Lake Success. Five years later, they closed down the Ice Skating Ring.
2. Texacol paid for gas expenses since Robert Moses wanted people to drive in the expressways to the World's Fair Exhibitions.
3. Cat Skills Mountains is where the water supply is provided for the people of NYC and NY ONLY. Gravity unfiltered water supply for 100 yrs. 100 miles were digged by hands for water ducts.
4. In 1811, BMW was established (B-Brooklyn, M-Manhattan, & W-Williamsburg Bridges).
5. 1848 - The High Bridge was buit; oldest bridge that connects two boroughs, Bronx and Manhattan
6. As of 1992, The Panorama of the city of NY was established before Google map internet existed.
7. The Verazano Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges ever made. WonderWheel of Coney Island invented by Michael Angelo was seen in the World's Fair exhibition.
8. Astoria use to be a predominately Greek population for a very long time. Now Astoria has become more of an Arab community (Russo & Cullinan, 2014).
9. The term of the day is Gentrification. Gentrification is the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families or small businesses (Dictionary.com).
10. Astoria is an example where gentrification is occurring. Long Island City near the Hudson River has a breathtaking view of NYC skyline.
In the Queens Museum of Art, I learned about 2 important figures that made an impact to New York City. They were Robert Moses and Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol was an artist in the middle of the 1950's through 1960's. He started his career as an illustrator and drew shoes for "Lucy's Shoes Stores." Warhol first made individual art work. As his career blossomed, he made art for industrial mass production. Warhol was a leading figure in the visual art movement most commonly known as pop art. The biggest challenge of doing pop art was illustrating "normal objects" into artistic objects. His famous pieces of art work were the illustration of Campbell's Soup Cans, the portrait of "10 Marilyn Monroes", and "the 13 most wanted" that was featured in one of the New York's World's Fair exhibition.
Robert Moses was an important figure to New York City because he built many expressways and parks all across New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, New York. Moses was nicknamed the "master builder" for his expansion of the state park system, house buildings, and parks. He was also involved with running the two exhibitions of the World's Fair in New York.
**Important and Juicy Facts**
1. 1940 - All the buildings from the World's Fair got closed except for The Queens Museum of Art, which use to be the United Nations. United Nations got transferred to Lake Success. Five years later, they closed down the Ice Skating Ring.
2. Texacol paid for gas expenses since Robert Moses wanted people to drive in the expressways to the World's Fair Exhibitions.
3. Cat Skills Mountains is where the water supply is provided for the people of NYC and NY ONLY. Gravity unfiltered water supply for 100 yrs. 100 miles were digged by hands for water ducts.
4. In 1811, BMW was established (B-Brooklyn, M-Manhattan, & W-Williamsburg Bridges).
5. 1848 - The High Bridge was buit; oldest bridge that connects two boroughs, Bronx and Manhattan
6. As of 1992, The Panorama of the city of NY was established before Google map internet existed.
7. The Verazano Bridge is one of the longest suspension bridges ever made. WonderWheel of Coney Island invented by Michael Angelo was seen in the World's Fair exhibition.
8. Astoria use to be a predominately Greek population for a very long time. Now Astoria has become more of an Arab community (Russo & Cullinan, 2014).
9. The term of the day is Gentrification. Gentrification is the buying and renovation of houses and stores in deteriorated urban neighborhoods by upper or middle-income families or individuals, thus improving property values but often displacing low-income families or small businesses (Dictionary.com).
10. Astoria is an example where gentrification is occurring. Long Island City near the Hudson River has a breathtaking view of NYC skyline.
3. Brooklyn
Exploring Brooklyn was truly a delightful yet informative trip. Today I learned that Brooklyn is the second most largest borough and the second most populated place after Manhattan. Brooklyn became a dependent city until 1898. The county that Brooklyn pertains to is Kings county. In 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge was made. As a result of having completed the Brooklyn Bridge, it strengthened the ties between Brooklyn and Manhattan. As a result, Brooklyn joined with Manhattan, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island to become the five boroughs of NYC (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p. 136). A noteworthy fact to know about Brooklyn and Queens is that many people mistaken these two urban locations as part of belonging to the city. However, Brooklyn and Queens are STILL part of Long Island. Although they make up two of the five boroughs, Queens and Brooklyn are neighborhoods that belong and form part of Long Island and not the city. One of
Brooklyn's most distinct features is Coney Island. Coney Island was originally an island, but has now turned in to a peninsula. The name "coney" stands for rabbit in English colloquial term (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.138). Coney Island was most famously known for being a major amusement area with thrilling rides and weird sideshows in the 1900's. Another reason why Coney Island is popular for is the first Nathans Famous hotdog stand built in 1916 (Russo & Cullinan, 2014). The historic wooden rollercoaster, Cyclone is one the major attractions and icons in Coney Island. Coney Island is considered to be a very eccentric area. After spending some time in Coney Island, I noticed that the people are very free spirited, culturally diverse, and are open-minded. The people that I saw in Coney Island were authentic with themselves and were not afraid to be themselves no matter what others believed or felt about them. I noticed this about their character simply by looking at the way they dressed and the demeanor they carried within themselves. People didn't care to know whether you approve or dislike the way they looked. It seems to me that all they really cared about is staying true to themselves, being happy, and enjoying their time. After spending time in Coney Island and riding the crazy and scary Cyclone, I visited the Transit Museum. Often many New Yorkers take the Subway system for granted but they don't know how fortunate and lucky they are to live in a city where transportation is readily available for them no matter if it snows or rains, morning or night time. New York has the most extensive mass of transportation. We don't have to worry about the weather to commute. Unlike New York, other states have to worry about gas and oil prices rising up, New Yorkers don't have to stress about that aspect of their life. New York is the most sustainable place to live in the country and any place in the world due to transportation. "Deep board tunneling" and "Cut and Cover" were the two significant methods that were utilized in constructing the Subway system. The most difficult and dangerous job from all the other jobs of the Subway system staff were the Sandhogs. Sandhogs were paid $1.50 per hour. Sandhogs worked deep in the underground involving tunneling, caisson, road building or some other types of underground construction or mining projects. Hundreds of Sandhogs risked their lives living their days in a dangerous, subterranean universe. Many of these Sandhogs died during work or died from a serious illness that scuba divers suffer from (little air bubbles in the blood causing hazardous effects in the body). Although every single person that participated in the construction of the Subway system were important, I feel that the most valued and appreciated employees should be the Sandhogs. Without these men risking their lives day to day, being underground for many hours, having one of the most unwanted and dangerous jobs out there, and exposing themselves to any hazardous conditions, Sandhogs are truly the people that deserve the most recognition for the making of the Subway system. Without them, the Subway system would not have existed. If so, the Subway system wouldn't have been as successful as it is today. Sandhogs should have been the employees with the most paying salary, not the least. Later in the day, we visited Brooklyn Heights which I totally LOVED and enjoyed! It seriously made me want to move out there. I can't imagine how expensive it is to live in that area. Not even a lifetime worth of savings will I ever afford to live in Brooklyn Heights. Brooklyn Heights is a very classy, refined, moderate pacing, cozy, family style "Manhattan." One of my Professor's, Mike Russo's collegue from Molloy recently sold their house in Brooklyn Heights for $7 million dollars! Isn't that INSANE? I wonder who that collegue was. On a more serious note, why did they sell it? Wouldn't they be happy living there? Furthermore, I wonder how their overall experience and lifestyle in Brooklyn Heights was. Brooklyn Heights reminds me a lot of Manhattan, except better! They say that Upper West Side Manhattan is where the very rich, snotty, and "pretty people live in." Sadly, I have never been in the Upper West Side, so I wouldn't know for sure. What I do know is that Manhattan is a very fast pacing type of lifestyle. I noticed that there are either a lot of Single people living on their own or with a dog. And I have also noticed that if they're not single, they are either married or there in a relationship with a partner. I have observed that very rarely do I see a large family LIVING in Manhattan. Sure, they might have 1 or at most 2 children, but not a family of 3 or 4 children or even 5 for the sake of it. I rarely ever see families in Manhattan. It's not that common when I go to visit. Unlike Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights seems more of a neighborhood that is open and welcoming to families and seems to be children friendly. I saw more children parks in this community. While walking on the streets of Brooklyn Heights, I took into account that people did not seem as if they were rushing to get somewhere. I looked carefully at people's faces and they didn't seem stressed out or concerned about something in particular. Its as if these residents when out and about with their day without the nuisance of having to look at their watches every "5 minutes." I really enjoyed learning and looking at the different colors and styles of houses. There is a major difference between symmetrical row houses, Renaissance Revival town houses, Federal-Style Brownstone houses. Our class actually had the opportunity to stop by and look at houses made from Bedrock. Houses made from bedrock only exist in some areas of Brooklyn Heights and downtown Manhattan in certain skyscrapers. We got to view the outside of a house of a famous American poet. His house was also built with bedrock. Bedrock is no longer used in houses anymore because it is super expensive and it starts cracking over time. Because of this, repair is needed with more bedrock, but bedrock supply is limited and very costly.
**Important Fact of the Day**
1. The Brooklyn Bridge was built by a woman! What a way to celebrate Women Power and the capacity of what women are capable to learn and make in the engineering and architectural world.
Brooklyn's most distinct features is Coney Island. Coney Island was originally an island, but has now turned in to a peninsula. The name "coney" stands for rabbit in English colloquial term (Russo & Cullinan, 2014, p.138). Coney Island was most famously known for being a major amusement area with thrilling rides and weird sideshows in the 1900's. Another reason why Coney Island is popular for is the first Nathans Famous hotdog stand built in 1916 (Russo & Cullinan, 2014). The historic wooden rollercoaster, Cyclone is one the major attractions and icons in Coney Island. Coney Island is considered to be a very eccentric area. After spending some time in Coney Island, I noticed that the people are very free spirited, culturally diverse, and are open-minded. The people that I saw in Coney Island were authentic with themselves and were not afraid to be themselves no matter what others believed or felt about them. I noticed this about their character simply by looking at the way they dressed and the demeanor they carried within themselves. People didn't care to know whether you approve or dislike the way they looked. It seems to me that all they really cared about is staying true to themselves, being happy, and enjoying their time. After spending time in Coney Island and riding the crazy and scary Cyclone, I visited the Transit Museum. Often many New Yorkers take the Subway system for granted but they don't know how fortunate and lucky they are to live in a city where transportation is readily available for them no matter if it snows or rains, morning or night time. New York has the most extensive mass of transportation. We don't have to worry about the weather to commute. Unlike New York, other states have to worry about gas and oil prices rising up, New Yorkers don't have to stress about that aspect of their life. New York is the most sustainable place to live in the country and any place in the world due to transportation. "Deep board tunneling" and "Cut and Cover" were the two significant methods that were utilized in constructing the Subway system. The most difficult and dangerous job from all the other jobs of the Subway system staff were the Sandhogs. Sandhogs were paid $1.50 per hour. Sandhogs worked deep in the underground involving tunneling, caisson, road building or some other types of underground construction or mining projects. Hundreds of Sandhogs risked their lives living their days in a dangerous, subterranean universe. Many of these Sandhogs died during work or died from a serious illness that scuba divers suffer from (little air bubbles in the blood causing hazardous effects in the body). Although every single person that participated in the construction of the Subway system were important, I feel that the most valued and appreciated employees should be the Sandhogs. Without these men risking their lives day to day, being underground for many hours, having one of the most unwanted and dangerous jobs out there, and exposing themselves to any hazardous conditions, Sandhogs are truly the people that deserve the most recognition for the making of the Subway system. Without them, the Subway system would not have existed. If so, the Subway system wouldn't have been as successful as it is today. Sandhogs should have been the employees with the most paying salary, not the least. Later in the day, we visited Brooklyn Heights which I totally LOVED and enjoyed! It seriously made me want to move out there. I can't imagine how expensive it is to live in that area. Not even a lifetime worth of savings will I ever afford to live in Brooklyn Heights. Brooklyn Heights is a very classy, refined, moderate pacing, cozy, family style "Manhattan." One of my Professor's, Mike Russo's collegue from Molloy recently sold their house in Brooklyn Heights for $7 million dollars! Isn't that INSANE? I wonder who that collegue was. On a more serious note, why did they sell it? Wouldn't they be happy living there? Furthermore, I wonder how their overall experience and lifestyle in Brooklyn Heights was. Brooklyn Heights reminds me a lot of Manhattan, except better! They say that Upper West Side Manhattan is where the very rich, snotty, and "pretty people live in." Sadly, I have never been in the Upper West Side, so I wouldn't know for sure. What I do know is that Manhattan is a very fast pacing type of lifestyle. I noticed that there are either a lot of Single people living on their own or with a dog. And I have also noticed that if they're not single, they are either married or there in a relationship with a partner. I have observed that very rarely do I see a large family LIVING in Manhattan. Sure, they might have 1 or at most 2 children, but not a family of 3 or 4 children or even 5 for the sake of it. I rarely ever see families in Manhattan. It's not that common when I go to visit. Unlike Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights seems more of a neighborhood that is open and welcoming to families and seems to be children friendly. I saw more children parks in this community. While walking on the streets of Brooklyn Heights, I took into account that people did not seem as if they were rushing to get somewhere. I looked carefully at people's faces and they didn't seem stressed out or concerned about something in particular. Its as if these residents when out and about with their day without the nuisance of having to look at their watches every "5 minutes." I really enjoyed learning and looking at the different colors and styles of houses. There is a major difference between symmetrical row houses, Renaissance Revival town houses, Federal-Style Brownstone houses. Our class actually had the opportunity to stop by and look at houses made from Bedrock. Houses made from bedrock only exist in some areas of Brooklyn Heights and downtown Manhattan in certain skyscrapers. We got to view the outside of a house of a famous American poet. His house was also built with bedrock. Bedrock is no longer used in houses anymore because it is super expensive and it starts cracking over time. Because of this, repair is needed with more bedrock, but bedrock supply is limited and very costly.
**Important Fact of the Day**
1. The Brooklyn Bridge was built by a woman! What a way to celebrate Women Power and the capacity of what women are capable to learn and make in the engineering and architectural world.
4. The Village
In the early 18th century, the British Mayor, Thomas Clark purchased land along the Hudson River in an area of what is called Chelsea, today (Russo & Cullinan, 2014). The wealthy landowner and Mayor passed down his land to his grandson who was a poet, Clement Clark Moore, famously known for writing "Twas the Night Before Christmas." In the early 19th century, poor Irish immigrants moved to what is known as Chelsea and the village. Irish immigrants moved to this location due to Chelsea transforming into a heavily industrialized area (Russo & Cullinan, 2014)