I continued walking the Harlem neighborhood this afternoon after a very exhausting morning working in the Soup Kitchen. I am beginning to discover that I should not combine the two together as it gets to be too much to do in one day. I was a food runner by myself and we served 660 meals that morning. When you serve mac & cheese to the homeless, you had better wear comfortable shoes.
After I left, I took the Number One subway to 155th Street and ended up back at 168th Street again. I never win. I walked down to 155th Street to start the walk at my starting point at the cemetery. I walked around the local arts campus and around the cemetery again. It is a beautiful to just sit and think with a gorgeous view of the Hudson River. I walked through Audubon Place reminding myself to leave time for their museums in the future.
The Trinity Church cemetery at 770 Riverside Drive
https://trinitywallstreet.org/cemetery-mausoleum
My walk today took me down Broadway and St. Nicolas Avenue and back. Like every other part of Manhattan that I walk, everything is in a state of flux. I have noticed one thing in the area, the closer you get to the CUNY campus, the more gentrified it becomes. It seems that the old students who may have in the past avoided the area that surrounded the college, the new students seem to embrace it and rather enjoy it.
The CUNY Campus
Let’s be fair in that the area is so much safer and cleaner than it was even ten years ago. I remember taking a walking tour with a professor from FIT and the area has changed so much since then. I remember her saying how fast the brownstones were changing hands and how the shell of a building was going for over a million dollars and us smirking at her. That same property is probably worth six times that now.
Most of Broadway is filled with interesting shops and restaurants catering to both students and residents or both. My first part of the walk started at 5 Star Estrella Bakery, on the corner of Broadway and 161st Street at 3861 Broadway. This amazing little bakery is so reasonable and the food is great. To add to the mac & cheese I indulged in at Soup Kitchen, I had the most delicious cinnamon Danish and a ‘papa’ a type of Dominican croquette that is filled with meat tucked into mashed potatoes and then deep-fried. (See my review on TripAdvisor and DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com) Everything I try there is good and fun to munch on while walking.
5 Star Estrella Bakery at 3861 Broadway
5 Star Estrella Bakery Corporation 3861 Broadway New York, NY 10032
You start to see Broadway’s transition from a Dominican neighborhood to college town between 145th Street to about 138th. The commercial area is filled with bike shops, trendy little restaurants and clothing stores. Bars seem to be opening up all over the commercial area. Between 155th and 145th and further down, there are many a hole in the wall and good sit down Spanish restaurants offering reasonable prices on traditional meals.
On the trip back up Broadway, I walked the length back and forth of Hamilton Place, which is lined with some of the most beautiful brownstones and apartment buildings that I have seen in Harlem. So many of the stairs to these homes are lined with flowering potted plants and the whole area looks like ‘Old New York’, with their washed fronts and vine lining the home. This stretch of the neighborhood I predict will be the next ‘hot neighborhood’ with the college being so close by and two very popular subway lines.
The Hamilton Place and Terrace areas are amazing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Heights,_Manhattan
There were some unusual and trendy little shops in the area that seemed out-of-place at this point in a neighborhood in transition. I just don’t think too many students or residents in the area is going to go for a $12.00 pie at Sweet Southern Style Bakery at 122 Hamilton Place but that’s just me. Everything at the shop looks so good from the window. Next door is the trendy Hogshead restaurant with a delicious sounding pulled pork sandwich and sliders. I see more of these restaurants opening up in the small spaces that line the brownstones.
Sweet Chef Southern Style Bakery at 122 Hamilton Place
https://www.facebook.com/SweetChefNyc/
Hamilton Place also has its share of pocket parks. At the top of the street is Johnny Hartman Plaza originally known as Hamilton Park after the founding fathers whose home located here. Hartman was a musician who lived in the neighborhood back in the 1960’s. Johnny Hartman was known for his love ballads and was nominated for a Grammy in 1981 (NYCParks.org).If this park is honoring someone it should be better weeded and taken care of by the community.
Johnny Hartman Plaza at Amsterdam Avenue and 143rd Street
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/johnny-hartman-square/history
Singer Johnny Hartman
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Hartman
Further down the road is a very nice family park in the Alexander Hamilton Playground at West 140th Street, a popular spot for young families trying to cool down in the hot weather. It is funny that some people say that they would never raise a child in the city but these kids looked pretty happy to me.
Alexander Hamilton Playground at West 140th Street
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/alexander-hamilton-playground
This popular park was named after Patriot Alexander Hamilton whose home is in St. Nichols Park right behind the CUNY campus.
Alexander Hamilton
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton
At the end of the block that leads to Broadway is Montefiore Park at West 138th Street, where it seems that the whole neighborhood meets. The park was named after Sir Moses Haim Montefiore, a British banker and philanthropist.
Sir Moses Haim Montefiore
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moses_Montefiore
There are several food vendors here to check out, especially the lady who sells the flavored ices for a dollar. At night there is a vendor that sells Mexican sandwiches, tacos and empanadas. Everything here is very reasonable.
Montefiore Square Park at West 138th Street
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/montefiore-square
By the number of people playing dominoes and cards, it is popular meeting place for the retirees in the neighborhood. There is a lot of yelling and laughing going on most of the day. Walking back up to Amsterdam Avenue, you can walk the side streets to see the beautiful restoration of the brownstones in the area. There is so much care to this area.
At 113th Street, look down the road to see the amazing view of the Hudson River and then up the road to see the CUNY campus and you will now know why I think this is going to be a hot neighborhood. It offers parks, stunning housing close to a college campus, great views of the river and some great restaurants that cater to the whole community.
I was able to walk around the CUNY campus without the campus police bothering me and I have to say that it might be a small campus but it is a pretty one that is an oasis in a busy neighborhood. I was surprised that the neighborhood was not more tailored to the students but I could tell for a long time that the students must have felt very isolated being so far uptown.
St. Nicholas Park behind CUNY
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/st-nicholas-park
To the west of the campus is St. Nicholas Park, a very well used but overgrown park. The paths, basketball courts and bathrooms really need some capital improvement and the park needs a good weeding. The views of the neighborhood and beyond are quite spectacular. I could see why Alexander Hamilton had his home here. The Hamilton Grange as its called was closed for the day but in its day, it must have been an amazing estate. Hamilton was married into the Schuyler family and at that time they were the Gates and Buffets of their day.
The Hamilton Grange, the home of Alexander Hamilton and his family
https://www.nps.gov/hagr/index.htm
After the walk up and own the commercial strip of Broadway, I walked across 155th Street again and walked down St. Nicholas Avenue. This part of the city has some of the most beautiful architecture in Upper Manhattan. This part of the walk took me down St. Nicholas Avenue from 155th to 125th and then back up. All along the way there are beautiful restored mansions, elegant brownstones, small well-landscaped pocket parks and delicious restaurants to try.
Some of the most beautiful restored mansions I saw line 150th Street off the avenue. The breathtaking mansion on the corner of St. Nicholas Avenue and 150th Street was once owned by the Bailey family of Barnum & Bailey fame at 10 St. Nicholas Place. The mansion and the surrounding four mansions have been beautifully restored to their true glory. The owners have taken a lot of pride in the exterior and the landscaping of these homes. There are about four or five mansions to walk around in the area to view their unique beauty.
The Bailey Mansion in the Hamilton Heights section of Harlem at 10 St. Nicholas Place
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bailey_House
This area is known as ‘Sugar Hill’ for the sweet life that it gave its residents. The area is bounded by West 155 Street to the north, West 145th Street to the south and Edgecombe Avenue to the east and Amsterdam Avenue to the west. Sugar Hill got its name in the 1920’s when the neighborhood became a popular place for wealthy African-Americans to live during the Harlem Renaissance and people like Clayton Powell Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway resided here. (Wikipedia)
“Sugar Hill” in Harlem on the western side of Harlem from West 155 to West 145th from Edgecombe to Amsterdam Avenues
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Hill,_Manhattan
The whole area is going through a massive gentrification with scaffolding all over the place. People are snatching up these buildings and revitalizing them. I call it the ‘new windows’ effect. When you see new windows in the building, it means that it has already changed hands. There are three historic districts in the area but view the row houses between 718-730 St. Nicholas Avenue and you will respect the true beauty of the area.
The area also has a series of pocket parks. One gathering place is the Donnellan Square Park named after Timothy Donnellan, Private First Class during WWI. This attractive little park is a place for some serious sports conversation as I found out when some guy asked me about all my Michigan State gear. The way he approached me I thought he was ready to say ‘Hi Officer’. This well landscaped little park is a nice to place to just to sit and relax.
Donnellan Square at 150th Street
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/donnellan-square/history
Further up on 151st Street is the Convent Garden, which is a small pocket park Community Garden off West 151 Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. The park has a unique history.
In 1985, a gas station occupying the site was demolished and the remaining empty lot was an eyesore to the community until local activist Luana Robinson and a small group of female volunteers from the Coalition of Hamilton Heights Tenants Associations established the Convent Garden to Women. In 1989, Convent Garden was the pilot location for the new Greenstreets program, which was launched by the Parks and the Department of Transportation to transform traffic triangles and other paved areas into green spaces.
Convent Garden Park at 150th Street
After the site was heavily disturbed by the removal of underground gas tanks in 1998, Juliette Davis and other local residents began to rebuild the garden. The gazebo, donated by the Marriott Corporation, was installed in November 1998 and in the spring of 1999, the Convent Garden Community Association added three wooden benches and a new lawn. (New York Park System online)
Juliette Davis at the entrance of her pride at Convent Garden in Harlem
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/M284/highlights
While I was walking by this time, the park was open and I was able to walk around. I was introduced to Ms. Davis, who was working in the park with her grandchild. She said she keeps healthy by doing some of the work around the garden with her neighbors and family helping with the hard stuff. “It did not even have grass when we first started. We had to dig the whole thing out,” she said with a lot of pride. When she won a grant from the city for all of her hard work, she put the lawn in.
The park is such a tranquil place with several flower beds, benches to sit, a lush lawn and flowers all over the place. The volunteers do such a nice job keeping the park up and I had just missed on of the local choir groups perform in the park that day. Maybe next time. It was just fun watching Ms. Davis’s grandchildren run around the park ‘trying to help’ as most kids do. Her pride in the park I think is what makes it so special. It’s that care in the community.
On my way back to 155th Street, I stopped at Victorio’s Pizza at 348 West 145th, right across the street from Jackie Robinson Park. OMG. This is some of the best pizza that you can get for a dollar a slice. I was completely blown away by the quality of the fresh mozzarella and the sauce had so much flavor. The service was very friendly and the woman behind the counter seemed surprised when I walked back in and said how much I enjoyed the slice. (See TripAdvisor for the full review).
Victorio’s Pizza at 348 West 145th Street
https://www.victoriospizzaplusharlem.com/
I took the train back down to Times Square from 155th Street and then it would be off and running for another day. I covered the whole area from 155th Street to 125th Street both Broadway and St. Nicholas Avenue’s. It was a long day but there was so much to see.
Please read my other Blogs on walking Harlem/Hamilton Heights/NoHA:
Day Forty-Four-Walking Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue 155th-125th Streets:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/2018
Day Forty-Six-Walking Broadway, Hamilton Place and St. Nicholas Place 155th-145th Streets:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/2273
Day Forty-Nine: Walking Riverside Drive from 155th-86th Streets:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/2272
Day Fifty-One-Walking Harlem East & West from east and west between 155th to 145th Streets between Broadway and Edgecombe Streets:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/2778
Day Fifty-Three: Walking Upper Harlem from 155th to 145th Street between Bradhurst and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard:
https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/2886
Places to Visit:
Trinity Church Cemetery
770 Riverside Drive
New York, NY 10032
(212) 368-1600
Open: Sunday-Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm
Johnny Hartman Plaza
Amsterdam Avenue, 143rd Street and Hamilton Place
New York, NY 10013
(212) 639-9675
Open: 24 Hours
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/johnny-hartman-square
Alexander Hamilton Playground
Hamilton Place and 140th Street
New York, NY 10031
(212) 639-9675
Open: Sunday-Saturday 7:00am-6:00pm
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/alexander-hamilton-playground
Montefiore Park
Hamilton Place and West 138th Street
New York, NY 10031
(212) 639-9675
Open: 24 Hours
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/montefiore-square
St. Nichols Park
St. Nichols Avenue and St. Nicholas Terrace
New York, NY 10030
(212) 639-9675
Open: Sunday-Saturday 6:00am-10:00pm
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/st-nicholas-park
Donnellan Square
397 West 150th Street
New York, NY 10031
Open: 24 Hours
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/donnellan-square/history
Convent Garden Park
Convent and St. Nichols Avenue
New York, NY 10031
(212) 639-9675
Open: Check Website
https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/convent-garden/highlights/7737
The Hamilton Grange National Memorial, a National Park
414 West 141st Street
New York, NY 10031
(646) 548-2310
Hours: Sunday 9:00am-5:00pm/Monday & Tuesday Closed/Wednesday-Saturday 9:00am-5:00pm
Fee: Free for Admission
https://www.nps.gov/hagr/index.htm
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/visitingamuseum.com/20
Places to Eat:
5 Star Estrella Bakery Corporation
3861 Broadway
New York, NY 10032
(212) 795-5000
My review on TripAdvisor:
My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:
https://wordpress.com/post/diningonashoestringinnyc.wordpress.com/407
Victorio’s Pizza Plus
348 West 145th Street
New York, NY 10039
(212) 283-2100
https://www.victoriospizzaplusmenu.com/
Open: Sunday 11:00am-9:00pm/Monday-Friday 11:00am-8:45pm/Saturday 3:00pm-8:45pm
My review on TripAdvisor:
Sweet Chef Southern Style Bakery
122 Hamilton Place
New York, NY 10031
(212) 862-6818
Open: Sunday 12:00pm-7:00pm/Monday-Friday 12:00pm-9:00pm/Saturday 10:00am-9:30pm
https://www.facebook.com/SweetChefNyc/
My review on TripAdvisor:
mywalkinmanhattan 