The Rebirth of Manhattan – Gay Star News

Manhattan - pixabay

New York City’s downtown and financial district is changing: As it inevitably would.

No one who witnessed them can forget the events of 9/11. Since that time, the area around the former World Trade Center towers has been scarred. Sixteen years on, that scar has gone some way to healing.

One World Trade Center

I first came to New York in 2002, just six months after 9/11. The WTC site was still a closed-off scene of devastation. I’ve returned every 2-3 years since. The development and rebirth has been dramatic, but moreso in the last couple of years.

New Yorkers know that life has to move on. The downtown financial district now stands in the shadows of another tower – the new One World Trade Center. The highest building in the Western hemisphere, since its opening in 2014 changes to the local area have picked up speed.

The residential population in Lower Manhattan has more than doubled since 9/11. Some big banking groups have moved out since the financial crash of 2008: all those new residents, and visitors, need places to eat, drink and shop.

By David Hudson – Full Story at Gay Star News

Manhattan Gay Travel Resources

Manhattan Day Trip – Dolly Travels

Manhattan Day Trips - Dolly Travels

I love to travel…everyone who knows me, knows that. How has it happened that I had never visited New York City?

Well, yesterday (Thursday, November 9), I got to enjoy a day in the Big City.

Frank and I are staying at a hotel on Long Island, as that is where all the activities around the Cradle of Aviation and the gala on Saturday night are happening.

From the advice of the hotel people and our new friends from the Museum, we took a taxi to the Westbury Station; one of the stations of the Long Island Rail Road. The train trip took about 45 minutes, letting us out at Penn Station in Downtown Manhattan.

When we emerged from the train, I was amazed at how large Penn Station is. All those trains carrying people to all the boroughs of New York. We exited the station right into the thick of things..panhandlers, myriad salespeople for the different bus trips, boat trips, different activities in the city. The tall buildings and moving billboards on the buildings. We walked along 7th Avenue, with me, looking at everything, just like a kid.

Crossing that first intersection, I had a good view of the Empire State Building. We debated about going up to the top of that building, since it was only two blocks away, but decided against that, as we had tickets for a matinee performance at one of the theaters near Broadway.

The weather was a bit nippy, but tolerable. I enjoyed the walk, seeing all the tall buildings, the Macy’s store that took up an entire block.

Who needs a newspaper? Just sit at a table in Times Square and read the news in Large Print.

Finally, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant near the theater. We had planned to have dinner later, after the performance. I just enjoyed “people watching” along the way.

We arrived at the Majestic Theater in plenty of time to find our places.

We had very good seats. This was the only photo I got of the stage. Soon, the cell phone police (the ushers) came along, pointing at cell phone offenders, to ensure that no one would photograph any of the actors or scenes.

The production was amazingly wonderful. The voices of the actors, the stage settings, all were magnificent, where we felt transported to that opera theater in Paris all those years ago.

Now, Frank and I both have the music still running through our heads.

“Just love me, that’s all I ask of you.” Or, “Music of the NIght”. Now you can have the music running through your heads, also.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable day. When we got back to Penn Station, night had fallen, but the city was definitely not dark.

That was my day in Manhattan. It was certainly a day I will remember.

Now we are back on Long Island, and we will be going to the Gala dinner and reception at the “Cradle of Aviation Museum” this evening.

I will tell you about that tomorrow.

Until then,
Ciao for now,
Dolly

Hamilton Heights Showcases Manhattan's Other Side

Hamilton Heights Bordered by the Hudson River on the west and St Nicholas Park in the east, New York City’s Hamilton Heights is said to experience a boost in popularity with buyers and renters. It’s quiet Uptown – so quiet, in fact, you’re sometimes able to forget Hamilton Heights is indeed part of Manhattan. Far away from the hustle and bustle of Downtown, buildings made from concrete, glass and steel are far and few in between, despite a continuous influx of new renters and buyers. Old Brownstones and a fair number of landmark buildings – counting them all seems near impossible – line the streets instead, standing reminiscent of the area’s rich history. Founding father Alexander Hamilton made the leafy-green hills of Uptown Manhattan his family’s home in 1802, moving into a mansion he called the Grange, after a family estate in Scotland.

By Stefanie Gerdes – Full Story at Gay Star News

New York City Gay Travel Resources

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