from May/June 2005
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Insider's New York
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11. Dive into ocean life at the American Museum of Natural History
"The Milstein Family Hall of Ocean Life was updated two years ago," says Melanie Stiassny, its curator. "We kept the dioramas, but we put in more models, cleaned them carefully, and redid the lighting. We transformed the entire upstairs hall into a metaphor of the sea, selecting eight different marine ecosystems and using the hall's arches to give you a view of each one. I think it's amazing. My favorite display is the 'Deep Sea.' It's a wonderfully twilight world. And then there's the Blue Whale. We did an 'extreme makeover' on her—the whale's definitely a she because she's so large—for the new exhibit. She doesn't have a name however. Maybe we should take suggestions." 79th St. and Central Park West; +1 212 769 5100.
12. Find a heavenly perch
"There's something Quasimodo-esque about climbing up to our bell tower and overlooking the city," says the Riverside Church musical director and
organist Tim Smith. "To begin with, we're near Grant's Tomb [122nd St. and Riverside Dr.; +1 212 666 1640] and at one of the highest points in Manhattan. Add a 400-foot tower on top of that, and you can see down to the financial center as well as all the way into Westchester. The visitor's gallery offers a 360-degree walk-around view of the city. Visit Sunday to hear our 74 bells ring—at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The carrillonneur [bell player] plays a recital at 3 p.m." Riverside Dr. at 120th St.; +1 212 870 6700.
13. Sail the harbor in style
"Manhattan has fallen back in love with the water, and the Shearwater—an 82-foot-long schooner built in 1929—is a romantic vision in Battery Park City," says neighborhood resident Richard Balestrino. "It's a great way to experience New York Harbor and see the sunset. And it's serene; you and your party are left alone—some of the tourist cruises dumb it down and play loud music. I like to sit on the prow—you really feel like you're flying over New York Harbor." North Cove at the World Financial Center; +1 212 619 0885.
14. Fly through the air with great ease
"I'd ride my bike by the Trapeze School on the Westside Highway. I was pregnant at the time and after my baby was born I began taking trapeze classes as a way to work out," says Laura Maby, a Greenwich Village jeweler. "They do a kids class for six-year-olds and up. All body shapes can do it. You don't need to be in amazing shape or a gymnast. There's no reason to be afraid. You're always in a harness. You'll meet all sorts of people. The common thread: Trapeze students are enthusiastic about life. Nothing better than that." West St. below Canal, Hudson River Park (between Piers 34 and 26); +1 917 797 1872.
15. Walk on the wild side
"You'll see great animals in Central Park," says Regina Alvarez, woodland manager for the Central Park Conservancy. "Parrots, parakeets, a coyote. I found an iguana once—also a caiman, a kind of crocodile. Someone released him in the Harlem Meer, a little lake in the northeast corner of the park. Any visitor will see loads of bird species because Central Park is right under the Atlantic Flyway. We see close to 300 species, including a pair of red-tailed hawks. Their nest is on 927 Fifth Avenue; it's been there for 12 years. Enter the park on Fifth Avenue and 72nd; go right to the 'Stuart Little Pond' where kids float their model boats; face east, and you'll see the nest. If you want to see bigger animals, go to Central Park Zoo. I really like the polar bears. They're so playful and so much fun to watch." Central Park Zoo; 64th St. and Fifth Ave.; +1 212 861 6030.
16. Bum around the Bowery
"The Bowery's changed since I moved here in the seventies," says photographer Stephanie Chernikowski. "It's becoming fashionable, with restaurants like Sala [344 Bowery; +1 212 979 6606], but there's still a lot of history. Start at Cooper Union [Astor Pl. and Fourth Ave.] where dignitaries from Lincoln to Bill Clinton have spoken. CBGBs [315 Bowery; +1 212 982 4052] was where punk was born. They still play music there—and make a fortune selling T-shirts. Poets don't get rich—unlike rock stars—so go listen to them at the Bowery Poetry Club [308 Bowery; +1 212 625 0505]. There's always something interesting."
17. Pick up a pizza
"I think John's on Bleecker Street in the Village [278 Bleecker St.; +1 212 243 1680] is the best pizza in New York," says firefighter Mike Maguire of Engine Company 33 and Ladder Company 9. "John's is authentic—thin crust, Italian-American staff, and they've been on Bleecker Street for a long time. Their only competition is Lombardi's [32 Spring St.; +1 212 941 7994], which has a lot of variety but is more expensive."
18. Remember at Ground Zero
"The World Trade Center was gigantic," says photo editor Linda Liang, "and having to walk around its absence is very moving. Soundwalk's memorial audio tour is respectful of the tragedy, but it's really an homage to the building and the people who worked in the area—from the time it was Radio Row to the Mohawk Indians who built it to the events of 9/11. You start at St. Paul's Chapel [209 Broadway] and walk around the footprint of the buildings—you'll realize how large the center was. You can pause the tour, stop, and contemplate. You can hear the heartbeat of the buildings." The Sonic Memorial Soundwalk CD is available at the New York Public Library (Fifth Ave. and 42nd St.; +1 212 930 0641); MOMA Design Store (81 Spring St.; +1 646 613 1367); Rizzoli (31 W. 57th St.; +1 212 759 2424); and in MP3 online; +1 212 674 7407.
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