It has been one busy summer. In between walking the neighborhoods of Manhattan, I have been revisiting neighborhoods, attending events that I had in the past like the Coney Island Sand Castle Building contest and the Dutchess and Ulster County Fairs. I wanted to spend more time at them and I needed new pictures at all of these events (see my full blog, MywalkinManhattan.com for all these interesting blogs). That and I have been exploring the Jersey Shore towns like Point Pleasant and Seaside Park and Heights to really see what is beyond their Boardwalks. It has been a productive summer since graduation running back and forth between the Hudson River Valley and the Jersey Shore.

As I get ready for the school year to begin in a week and a half, I have more places to see and experience. Still in between all this I want to volunteer time at the Soup Kitchen and planning trips outside the City too experience more of New Jersey. Each day of the Month of August is like planning “D Day”.

Gramercy Park is such an interesting neighborhood. From the vibrant commercial areas to the historical parks, Gramercy Park has a lot of hidden treasures tucked here and there throughout the neighborhood. It seems though, along the neighborhoods Avenues, I would have been expected to see more classic architecture and beautiful stonework, I experienced experienced a more commercial environment with modern buildings. Still tucked here and there along the Avenues were many gems of the past and some beautiful little parks.

The Gramercy Park Historic District plaque

I started my walk along the Avenues of the neighborhood with a walk up the Irving Place Street and walked around the park to Lexington Avenue on the other side of the park. Irving Place and Lexington Avenue are separated by Gramercy Park’s north and South borders.

Gramercy Park in full bloom in the Summer of 2024

The section of the neighborhood is shared with the Union Square neighborhood as the lines are blurred from street to street between Gramercy Park, Union Square and the Flatiron District. This neighborhood has distinct architecture, beautiful parks including Gramercy Park, part of the old Rose Hill Farm estate and Stuyvesant Square, part of the former estate of Dutch Governor Peter Stuyvesant.

I started my walk on the southern part of Gramercy Park along the historical Irving Place with its historic homes and restaurants. I passed 4 Irving Place which the first couple of floors were under scaffolding. I admired the clocktower on the top of the building, the beautiful embellishments and just the elegance of the building. The building is home to Consolidated Edison (ConEd).

The was designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh and architectural firm of Warren and Wetmore in the Neo-Classical design. The first phase of the building was started in 1911 and both phases were finished by 1929. The original section of the building is in the picture with the wings of the building to both sides (Wiki).

I passed 4 Irving Place, the Con Ed Building, just as twilight hit the building and you could see the beauty in its shadows.

Its clock told the time of the early evening.

The next morning when I walked past it again, you could see the true beauty of its design.

I also noticed that the roof top held a more intricate design than I noticed the night before. Look up at its intricate details to admire its beauty. This is part of the originally designed building.

Once I turned onto Irving Place, the old core of its industrial past gave way to the bohemian village it would become and stay in the future. This was once ‘THE’ neighborhood to live in and has stayed that way since even through the rough times of Union Square.

The most impressive object you will see in the neighborhood is this bust of Washington Irving that sits outside the Washing Irving Campus on Irving Place.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Irving_Campus

This bust of Washington Irving was created by artist Friedrich Beer

Artist Friedrich Beer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Beer

https://www.artprice.com/artist/112959/friedrich-beer

Artist Friedrich Beer was a German born artist known for his works on busts of famous individuals.

The neighborhood goes from commercial to more residential as you get further up Irving Place and closer to Gramercy Park. The borders of Union Square overlap with Gramercy Park and the Flatiron District between East 18th and East 20th streets so I revisited buildings that J had seen before. If people went in a Time Machine to Manhattan from 100 years ago they would still see the same buildings but with totally different uses.

The Washington Irving house at 122 East 17th Street and Irving Place (Washington Irving never lived here)

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-irving-house-new-york-new-york

The “Irving House” was built by Peter Voorhis between 1843 and 1844, along with the adjacent two houses at 45 and 47 Irving Place. The original tenants of 49 Irving Place (at that time referred to as 122 East 17th Street) were Charles Jackson Martin, an insurance executive, and his wife, who would reside there from 1844 until 1852. Henry and Ann E. Coggill would live in it in 1853, and in 1854 it would become the home of banker Thomas Phelps and his wife Elizabeth, who would remain until 1863 (Atlasobsucra.com).

The front of the house facing Irving Place

The first mention in print of Irving having lived in the house came in the Sunday Magazine Supplement of the New York Times on April 4, 1897. The article is a human interest story about Elsie de Wolfe and the means and methods she used to decorate “Irving’s house.” In 1905, de Wolfe would become known as the first professional interior decorator and it appears this article is an early attempt at publicity for her. As for the information about Irving, the article takes enormous liberties (actually, it flat-out makes things up), claiming that Irving had conceived of the house himself and was very particular about the architecture and design (Atlasobsucra.com).

The entrance to the house at 122 East 17th street

The plaque on the house dedicated to the writer created by artist Alexander Finta

In 1930, a restaurant called the Washington Irving Tea Room was operating in the basement of the building and in 1934 a plaque sculpted by Rodin-student Alexander Finta was put up on the north facade that would cement the story in the public consciousness. Today, the surrounding area remains covered in references to Irving, from the large art installations in the nearby W Hotel to the Headless Horseman pub on 15th Street(Atlasobsucra.com).

Artist Alexander Finta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Finta

https://www.askart.com/artist/Alexander_Finta/108330/Alexander_Finta.aspx

Artist Alexander Finta was a Hungarian born artist who moved to the United States in 1923. He had studied mechanical engineering in his own country and had studied with Auguste Rodin. His is known for his elaborate busts. He spent the remainder of his career at 20th Century Fox Studios (Wiki)

All along the Irving Place corridor, the street is lined with interesting and historical buildings many of them turned into restaurants or inns. There are many historic plaques in this neighborhood and some creative architecture. The first building that caught my eye was 53 Irving Place, which is the home of Pierre Loti Wine Bar.

Review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d2136974-Reviews-Pierre_Loti_Wine_Bar-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

The home of Pierre Lotte Mediterranean Restaurant at 53-55 Irving Place was the home of O Henry

When I looked at the side of the building near the entrance, I was this historic plaque that said that this was the home of author William Sidney Porter (O. Henry). The author lived here from 1903-1907 and wrote the “Gift of the Magi” while living here and eating at Pete’s Tavern across the street (Wiki).

The historic plaque for author O Henry at 53-55 Irving Place

Author William Henry Porter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Henry

Down the road at is Pete’s Tavern, one of the most famous and the oldest literary restaurants in the City. The restaurant was founded in 1864 as the Portman Hotel and then in 1899 when changed to Healy’s Cafe when it was run by John and Tom Healy. Then in 1899, it was bought by Peter D’ Belles and renamed Pete’s Tavern. The restaurant was a ‘Speakeasy’ during prohibition and the dining rooms have not changed much over the last over hundred years (Pete’s Tavern website).

Pete’s Tavern was busy on the night of my first part of the walk.

Pete’s Tavern at 129 East 18th Street

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete%27s_Tavern

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d527869-Reviews-Pete_s_Tavern-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

The entrance of Pete’s Tavern

The entrance to Pete’s Tavern on Irving Place

The painting outside of Pete’s Tavern of the Speakeasy years

Pete’s Tavern was busy both nights that I passed it. I had not eaten there in over a decade when I had a holiday dinner there with friends by I remember the food and service being excellent. The restaurant is really special during the Christmas holiday season from what I can remember.

My friends Barbara, Lillian and I after dinner at Pete’s Tavern in the early 2000’s

Another restaurant I went to before my friend, Barbara, moved to Florida was a Friend of the a Farmer at 77 Irving Place, a farm to table concept before it became very popular. I remember the food being wonderful but the place being a bit noisy. She lived on the fringe of Gramercy Park and had passed this restaurant many times and had wanted to try it that evening.

Another great restaurant is Friend of a Farmer at 77 Irving Place

https://www.friendofafarmer.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d496790-Reviews-Friend_of_a_Farmer-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

Across the street, I passed this apartment building at 76 Irving Place. I loved the outside embellishments on the building and the friendly looks you get from the statuary. The building was built in 1897 by architect Lyndon P. Smith (Corcoran Group).

You have to look up to admire the details of 76 Irving Place

https://www.corcoran.com/listing/for-sale/76-irving-place-manhattan-ny-10003/23012133/regionId/1

https://streeteasy.com/building/76-irving-place-new_york

The entrance to 76 Irving Place with its tiny angels

This woman greets you at 76 Irving Place

The classic architecture of the block especially as you get closer to Gramercy Park changes from smaller apartment buildings to brownstones lining the parks southern border. Gramercy Park offers some of the most interesting architecture. This ivy covered building that impressed me so much as the sun was going down is at 80 Irving Place.

80 Irving Place is currently under renovation

https://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-1854-house-at-no-80-irving-place.html

https://www.trulia.com/home/80-irving-pl-new-york-ny-10003-31506439

Click to access 80-Irving-Place.pdf

The house was built as a single family mansion between 1853 and 1854 and had been the home of the prominent Wood family and then to actress Agnes Ethel Tracy. Since 1987, it has been a single family home again. What I thought was interesting was that the house was used in the movie “Working Girl” as Sigourney  Weavers character’s home (DaytoninManhattan.com).

81 Irving Place in all its glory

https://www.elliman.com/newyorkcity/buildings-communities/detail/527-c-725-2766/81-irving-pl-gramercy-park-new-york-ny

https://streeteasy.com/building/81-irving-place-new_york

https://www.apartments.com/81-irving-pl-new-york-ny-unit-8a/5q6z3mp/

81 Irving Place is one of the most beautiful apartment complexes in the city that I have come across. The embellishments along the building are some of most detailed and elegant I have seen. This prewar Co-Op was built in 1929.

The embellishments of the building

The embellishments of the building

The embellishments of the building

The embellishments of the building

The building has a whimsical almost storybook imagine of creatures protecting their home.

Where I want my future home to be when I retire to the City and can afford it is 19 Gramercy Park South. I have always loved this building since I fell in love with the neighborhood over thirty years ago. I always wanted a home with a key to Gramercy Park. The building has that classic turn of the last century look about it and it has always been my dream to live here when I retire. I need to hurry and win the lottery.

My dream home would be at 19 Gramercy Park South with a key to the park

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/19_Gramercy_Park_South

I had thought this was a apartment building but it is actually a single family mansion with 37 rooms. It was built in 1845 and when the mansion was extended by Stamford White in 1887 was the home of socially prominent Stuyvesant-Fish family. It is currently back to being a single family mansion (Wiki).

I did the walk around the Park and continued along Lexington Avenue from East 20th to East 23rd Street. There is more magnificent architecture along the way. Small details that will surprise you and things that will stare you along the walk.

I walked along Lexington Avenue where the campus of Baruch College, which is part of the CUNY system, starts. One of its stand out buildings is The Lawrence and Eris Field Building, also known as the 23rd Street Building by the college. This building opened in 1929 and the ornamented Italian Renaissance revival style façade on 23rd Street  is constructed of limestone and brick and engraved with “The College of the City Of New York.” (CUNY Website)

17 Lexington Avenue-The Lawrence and Eris Field Building, also known as the 23rd Street Building on the Baruch College Campus.

https://17lexupdate.baruch.cuny.edu/history/

The beautiful details of the building

The Baruch College campus is located on the border of Gramercy Park and Kips Bay showcasing the unique architecture of the campus. Many of the buildings on this side of campus are going through a renovation so watch the scaffolding.

The coat of arms on the side of the building

The middle coat of arms on the side of the building

Coat of arms on the side of the building

The building on the Baruch Campus that I admired was the was the Baruch College Administration Center whose entrance is at 135 East 22nd Street. I loved the Art Deco details on the building. These seemed to represent all aspects of business.

The side of the Baruch College with its Art Deco details

Details on the CUNY building-The Baruch College Administration Center Building in its glory

The front of the Baruch College Administration Center at 135 East 22nd Street

https://plexuss.com/u/cuny-bernard-m-baruch-college/history

The elaborate details on the building give it its Art Deco appearance. The Art Deco Administrative Center at 135 East 22nd Street was built in 1937–1939 as the Domestic Relations Court Building, and was connected to the Children’s Court next door (Baruch College Website).

Across the street from CUNY campus, the Sage House at Four Lexington Avenue. Sage House was built in 1913 for the Russell Sage Foundation, a social welfare nonprofit that was an early advocate of social work and urban planning (Streeteasy.com).

The historic Sage House at Four Lexington Avenue

https://www.corcoran.com/building/gramercy-park/3917

https://streeteasy.com/building/the-sage-house

The building is a pre-war office building designed by Grosvenor Atterbury in the Italian Renaissance palazzo style. It has a rusticated red sandstone façade, vaulted ceilings, and carved decorative shields (Wiki). The building was converted to Coop apartments in 1986. The building next to it was the Hotel Gramercy Park which is currently closed and under renovation. Even though the hotel is closed, you can still peek through the scaffolding and see its elegance.

I myself have some wonderful memories of this hotel. I had stayed at the hotel back in 1993 while working at Macy’s Herald Square, when it was a European style old hotel with the large rooms with a view of the park. It had the most amazing bathtubs to sink into the night before I left to assist in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Years later, when Danny Meyers opened the Italian restaurant, Maialino, in the lobby in the early 2000’s, I remember taking my father there for Father’s Day and having the most delicious Roast Pork with potatoes that were cooked in the roast’s juices. It was a fantastic meal and the most perfect Father’s Day. Funny how I still remember that meal almost twenty years later.

The Hotel Gramercy Park at Two Lexington Avenue

The Hotel Gramercy Park was designed by architect Robert T. Lyons and was built by brothers Bing & Bing in 1924 and the hotel opened in 1925. The extension of the hotel along East 21st Street was designed by architects from Thompson & Churchill and built between 1929-1930. The hotel is designed in the Renaissance Revival style (Wiki). Across the street from the hotel is the historic One Lexington Avenue.

One Lexington Avenue facing Gramercy Park

https://streeteasy.com/building/1-lexington-avenue-new_york/9-d

https://www.corcoran.com/building/gramercy/3916

Built in 1910 by noted architect Herbert Lucas. This twelve-story intimate cooperative features extraordinary design details including a stately limestone and brick façade, timeless-elegant marble lobby and wood-paneled elevator still attended full-time by the elevator operator (Streeteasy.com).

The Cyrus West Field plaque on One Lexington Avenue where his home once stood

Cyrus West Field

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_W._Field

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/cable-cyrus-field-1819-1892/

One Lexington Avenue was once the home of Cyrus West Field, who was considered the ‘Father of the American Cable” and helped lay the first trans Atlantic cable in 1858. When it broke, it was laid again in 1866 (American Experience).

The original house on the same corner in 1866 (NY Public Library)

Looking back up Lexington Avenue in the Summer of 2024, you can see how this neighborhood just keeps changing and still getting better. The old buildings are finding new uses and this part of the neighborhood is still very exclusive.

Looking up Lexington Avenue from Gramercy Park

The views uptown are so beautiful and will look even better when all the scaffolding comes down on all of these buildings. Still this part of the neighborhood is very impressive.

I walked down East 23rd Street to Third Avenue and it is not as impressive. This part of the neighborhood is more commercial the further you go from the park and most of the architecture here and on Second and First Avenue is mostly businesses housed in new buildings. Here and there though, tucked in the corners there is still a glimpse of the neighborhood’s past. You just have to look up to appreciate it.

Walking down Third Avenue from East 23rd Street

It may be all new construction but it is still impressive. Just a different feel and character. Third Avenue is more of a commercial district of larger stores and small restaurants.

Interesting street art on a Third Avenue mailbox. At least someone has some optimism

Tucked in between the modern architecture and some older brick buildings was this elaborate white building that stood out amongst its more plain neighbors and was one of the few older buildings left on Third Avenue.

The beauty of 190 Third Avenue known as Scheffel Hall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scheffel_Hall

Scheffel Hall was designed by architects Henry Adams Weber and Hubert Drosser and was built between 1894 to 1895. This part of Gramercy Park was known as ‘Kleindeutschland’, ‘Little Germany”, when it had a large German immigrant population. The building served as a beer hall and restaurant at that time and was modeled after an early 17th Century building in Heidelberg Castle, the “Friedrichsbau” (Wiki). The building stands out for its beauty and elegant details that make this building special. There is nothing like it in the neighborhood and it a testament to its German past.

I finished my walk down Third Avenue and turned the corner at Second Avenue. As I walked down Second Avenue past Church of the Epiphany at 375 Second Avenue, I came across the historical plaque for the marker of the original “Rose Hill Farm” that was once part of this neighborhood and whose borders now make up the ‘Rose Hill’ neighborhood in Midtown Manhattan. All that remains of the farm today is the current Gramercy Park, which is a corner of the old farm.

The site of ‘Rose Hill Farm’, the home of General Horatio Gates and his second wife, Mary Valens

Rose Hill was originally a farm owned by James DeLancey and it was sold to Honorable John Watts, a member of the Colonial Assembly in 1747. The farm was 130 acres between East 30th to East 21st Street from what is now Irving Place to the East River. John Watts later married Ann DeLancey and they raised their family here. At the start of the Revolutionary War, as Loyalists they returned to England and left the estate to their son, John, who inherited it in 1789 (Wiki).

My blogs on Visiting the Rose Hill section of Manhattan:

Walking the Borders of Rose Hill:

https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/16580

Walking the Streets and Avenues of Rose Hill:

https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/16776

General Horatio Gates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horatio_Gates

Revolutionary War General Horatio Gates and his second wife, Mary Valens, bought the farm in 1790 and built a new mansion on the corner of what is now Second and East 22nd Street. They lived here for the next twenty years with him a member of the assembly in 1800 and active in New York Society at that time. He died on the farm in 1806 and the estate was parceled out later on when the new grid pattern for Manhattan was created (Wiki/Horatio Gates website).

Rose Hill Farm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_Hill,_Manhattan

Home

The beautiful windows of the church of the Church of the Epiphany at 373 Second Avenue

https://epiphanychurch.nyc/

As I looked up from the plaque, I admired the front windows of the Church of the Epiphany at 373 Second Avenue and all the beautiful plantings in front of the church. The original church that had been built in 1870 burned down in 1963. The current church was designed by the architectural firm of Belfatto & Pavarini and was finished in 1967. The stained glass windows of the Madonna and Child were from the original church (Wiki/Church of the Epiphany website).

Walking down at East 23rd Street, it was a short walk down the Avenue where I passed 303 Second Avenue and the beautiful details of this famous piece of the neighborhood history. This is the one really standout building on the block with interesting embellishments all along the windows and doorways.

303 Second Avenue-The Rutherford Place Medical Building

https://streeteasy.com/building/rutherford-place/a

https://www.compass.com/building/the-rutherford-manhattan-ny/319539373204573973/

The Rutherford Medical Building was designed by architect Robert H. Richardson and was finished in 1902. This was a very active hospital delivering sixty percent of the infants in Manhattan at that time before a full part of the hospital. It was converted to luxury condos in recent years (Wiki/Streeteasy.com).

The historic plaques

The historic plaques

The elegant details of the The Rutherford Building

You have to look at the top of this building to really appreciate it

As you cross over from East 17th Street on both sides of Second Avenue, you are greeted by the greenery of Stuyvesant Square, what is left of the former estate of ‘Peg Leg’ Peter Stuyvesant, the Governor of the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. The park was in full bloom and on a hot day, the shade trees are a pleasure to be under.

As I walked down Second Avenue, I passed the beauty of Stuyvesant Square Park

The sign welcoming sign to Stuyvesant Square Park

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/stuyvesant-square

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuyvesant_Square

I walked through the park, admiring the paths of flowers and flowering trees. People were outside reading books and listening to the makeshift concert that a resident was putting on. There is a dirty little secret to Stuyvesant Square Park is on the edges of the park there is a lot of loitering by delivery guys and homeless in the corners of the park. The park could also use a little pruning and sprucing here and there.

Looking up Second Avenue from Stuyvesant Square

Stuyvesant Square in full bloom

The Stuyvesant family was the influence of this wonderful park. In 1836, Peter Gerard Stuyvesant, the great great grandson of Peter Stuyvesant and his wife, Helen Rutherfurd sold four acres of the original Stuyvesant Farm to the City for $5.00 as a public park under the stipulation that the City build a fence around it. It took an almost lawsuit from the city to finally build the fence in 1847, which is the fence that surrounds the park today (NYCParks.org).

The colorful flowers surrounding the fountains

In the middle of the park on the right side as you are walking down Second Avenue is the statue of Governor Peter Stuyvesant in all of his glory.

The statue of ‘Peg Leg’ Peter Stuyvesant, the Governor of the Dutch Colony

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/stuyvesant-square/monuments/1516

This famous public statue of Governor Peter Stuyvesant was designed by artist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney in

Artist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gertrude_Vanderbilt_Whitney

Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney was an American born New York artist who had studied at the Arts Student League of New York and apprenticed under several well known artists.

The Stuyvesant Square Park in the Summer of 2024

Around the corner from the park as I walked its perimeter was the beautiful testament to God in the form of St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church at 143 East 17th Street

St. John The Baptist Greek Orthodox Church at 143 East 17th Street

https://www.stjohn.ny.goarch.org/

https://www.facebook.com/StJohnBaptistNYC/

Built in 1885, designed by Schwartzmann & Buchman, with a baroque facade that was altered in 1957 by Kyriacos A. Kalfas (Wiki).

The detailed windows of St. John’s Church at East 143 17th Street

As I reached East 14th Streets, I could see that the neighborhood along Second and Third Avenue did not have the same historic appearance as the side streets of the neighborhood. Here and there tucked in between modern buildings, there were a few gems,

This building was at 231 Second Avenue

https://streeteasy.com/building/231-2-avenue-new_york

https://www.elliman.com/newyorkcity/buildings-communities/detail/527-c-725-135503/231-second-ave-gramercy-park-new-york-ny

This prewar apartment building was built in 1910. You have to really look up to see the elegant details of the building and its decorative embellishments.

The beautiful entrance to the apartment building

The classic embellishments of the building

Walking through the other side of Stuyvesant Square I got better views of 303-305 Second Avenue

This city squirrel just ignored me as it chopped away at some nuts

The beauty of Stuyvesant Square in the Summer of 2024

The historic plaque at Stuyvesant Square

Lunch was a slice of Sicilian pizza at Lunetta Pizza at 245 Third Avenue. I had passed Lunetta Pizza many times while walking through the neighborhood and noticed that it was one of the few restaurants in the neighborhood that did not change their prices after COVID. They are still one of the most reasonable pizzerias in Manhattan (See my review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com).

The slice was amazing. Their red sauce is spiced perfectly and that is what makes the structure of the pizza. The Sicilian pizza here is crisp and pillowy, the way it should be.

Lunetta Pizza at 245 Third Avenue

https://www.lunettapizzaandrestaurant.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d23657421-Reviews-Lunetta_Pizza_Restaurant-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/diningonashoestringinnyc.wordpress.com/6060

The prices are extremely fair and are still pre-COVID. They do not rip you off.

The selection of pizzas is extensive

The Sicilian slices were pillowy and crisp with a deep, rich flavor because of their amazing red sauce.

I finished walking the Avenues of Gramercy Park with enough time to take the trip out to Brooklyn for the pre-West Indian Parade event at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

My blog on the special event at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden:

https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/53496

The fountain in the Cherry Blossom Esplanade

The private members night

The Carnival like atmosphere right before the West Indian Parade

After the event was over, I headed back to Manhattan for dinner. I had been so impressed by Lunetta Pizza’s food the afternoon, that I bypassed my favorite restaurants in Brooklyn and went back to dinner there.

I had a very impressive Linguini with a Meat Sauce and I then made a better judgement call on the food and it is truly excellent. The meat sauce was so flavorful and the pasta perfectly cooked and a very generous portion size that it made the perfect dinner.

My dinner at Lunetta Pizza, the Linguini with Meat Sauce

Yum!

As I left the neighborhood that night I passed a plaque in the sidewalk from the Mayor Abe Beame Administration (now these were some bad years in the City) dedicating a tree for the beautification of the neighborhood. It just shows has the City just keeps morphing with the cycles the City goes through over the years. Manhattan just keeps changing.

The plaque from the neighborhood beatification program in the 1970’s. This plaque is near East 23rd and Third Avenue. It is also coming out of the ground.

Mayor Abe Beame

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Beame

As I passed Bryant Park that evening, twilight had come and the lights of the City were coming on. New York City may have its problems, but there still is a beauty to it.

Passing Bryant Park that evening

The next part of the walk will be visiting the Streets of Gramercy Park.

Places to Visit:

Stuyvesant Square Park

9 Rutherford Place

New York, NY 10003

(212) 639-9675

Open: Sunday-Saturday 7:00am-11:00pm

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/stuyvesant-square

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuyvesant_Square

My TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60763-d218637-Reviews-Stuyvesant_Square-New_York_City_New_York.html

Places to Eat:

Lunetta Pizzeria

245 Third Avenue

New York, NY 10010

(212) 432-5200

https://www.lunettapizzaandrestaurant.com/

Open: Sunday-Saturday 10:00am-4:00am

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d23657421-Reviews-Lunetta_Pizza_Restaurant-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

https://wordpress.com/post/diningonashoestringinnyc.wordpress.com/6060

Please read my other blogs on Gramercy Park:

Day Three Hundred and Twenty Walking the Borders of Gramercy Park:

https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/51647

Day Three Hundred and Twenty One Walking the Avenues of Gramercy Park:

https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/53432

Day Three Hundred and Twenty Four Walking the Streets of Gramercy Park:

https://wordpress.com/post/mywalkinmanhattan.com/53788