Historian Thomas Fleming has written a very interesting book about the early American Republic and the men that helped to create and nurture our new nation. Fleming has made his reputation re-evaluating significant figures in our past and this book is no exception. He takes on the administrations of Washington, Adams and Jefferson but focusses … More The Great Divide – Thomas Fleming
The other day I was in 60 Centre Street standing in the beautiful restored rotunda when a group of people walked past a bust of Thomas Addis Emmett and said “Who is that?” They read the plaque and said to one another – “Never heard of him.” That is a sad statement because he was … More Thomas Addis Emmett – Who is that man?
I have decided to keep a running review/commentary about the books I am reading which are primarily non-fiction about a wide ranging number of topics that interest me. It is also a good way for me to keep track of what I have read since recently I picked up a book by Joseph Ellis and … More Books – Not Just About NYC
Today marks the anniversary of the beginning of the Draft Riots of New York City. Like today’s weather, it was a hot, muggy day with a very unhappy lower class roaming the streets. New York had been deeply divided at the beginning of the Civil War and the ensuing two years since the first shot … More July 13, 1863
I have often wondered what was Elizabeth (Eliza) Hamilton thinking when she walked into the house on Jane Street on July 11 to hear that her husband had been shot in a duel and was dying. They had both been through the horrific death of their son Philip the year before from a duel – … More July 12, 1804 – Eliza
Many New Yorkers walk by the Frick everyday on their way to Central Park. They admire the facade, the garden but not many go inside. The Frick is one of those places that New Yorkers feel they can wait to see. Well, they shouldn’t. This summer there is even more reason to enter the rarified … More The Frick Collection
On this 239th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence, it is a good time to pause and think of the “Founding Generation,” who fought so hard for the idea of liberty and equality. We forget what a radical idea the American Revolution was and how it truly shook the world of the 18th century. Critics … More Happy Birthday America!
One of my favorite walks is Madison Avenue. The street encompasses the history of New York in the latter half of the 19th and 20th centuries in miniature. From the beautiful restored Madison Square Park with its lively outdoor scene to Murray Hill where there is still a faint hum of Gilded Age New York. … More The Church of the Incarnation
Bowery & Canal 