Dig into TriBeca’s Historical Bedrock
Greenwich Street on a Friday afternoon makes for a pleasant walk. Photo Credit: Ilana Kolomiyets
By ILANA KOLOMIYETS
Born in NYC But Forever a Tourist.
My first thought when I got out of the Cortlandt Street Station was Wow! I’ve been in this area of Manhattan millions of times, yet I’m just as amazed as I was the first time.
The very first thing I saw going up the 1 train subway stairs was the Oculus, a mall with a peculiar look. The white spikes on the building reflect the extravagant and unique designs in Manhattan’s modern architecture. It was crowded with tourists from inside out who came to see this amazing landmark. When I walked inside the mall, I noticed that the stores were expensive and mostly designer. I didn’t spend much time there because I wanted to walk through TriBeCa before the early sunset.
Stepping out of the crowded mall was a relief because I was finally able to get a breath of cold and crisp air, the typical city weather in December. I walked around the World Trade Center, where the Freedom Tower and 9/11 Memorial were.
The memorial consists of two square-shaped below-ground reflecting pools that have water constantly flowing along their walls. The pools are at the exact location where the twin towers once stood. The site is also near the newly constructed Freedom Tower, which rises 1,776 feet into the air. The two fountains had rims with the names of everyone who passed away during the 2001 terrorist attack, some of which had roses placed inside them. The peace by the pools is bittersweet, reflecting New York’s most terrifying day, as well as our ongoing remembrance of the event.
A Walk Into New York’s History
Walking away from the World Trade Center area, I encountered the old New York Evening Post Building (20 Vesey St), a city landmark. Its name was engraved into the building, which was built in 1907 in a simplistic yet stylish manner. It was the printing site of the New York Evening Post newspaper until 1926.
Strolling along Church Street, one cannot help but notice a Roman-style building with six columns. The building is Saint Peter Roman Catholic Church (22 Barclay St), which happens to be the oldest Roman Catholic parish in New York State, built in 1834. The church contains a pipe organ and is still active.
Going towards Broadway, TriBeCa is home to the beautiful Woolworth Building (233 Broadway), a well-known landmark of New York. The building is one of the earliest skyscrapers ever built, being 629 feet tall and having the title of the tallest building in the world from 1913 until 1930, when Midtown’s Chrysler Building took its title. The Woolworth Building was built in a Neo-gothic style and was nicknamed the “The Cathedral of Commerce” due to its resemblance to gothic churches. The inside of the building is even more stunning than the outside. Reflecting the architecture of the European Renaissance, the symmetrical and classy staircase was surrounded by golden-painted columns on both sides. I loved the pattern on the mosaic ceiling.
The Artsy Side of Broadway
The Philip Williams Poster Museum has one of the largest private vintage poster collections in the world. Photo Credit: Ilana Kolomiyets
I continued to walk down Chambers Street and came across a place called Philip Williams Posters (122 Chambers St). The place was an art gallery packed with old posters and magazines from the past 100 years. Going in was like going through a time machine, as I could see how different products were advertised throughout the 20th century. The posters ranged from $200-$700. My personal favorite was the “South-Atlantic Navigation Company - Laennec steamer,” a $400 French poster from 1955 showing three girls on a ship waving to people on another, distant ship. I would recommend anyone visiting TriBeCa to stop by this vintage poster gallery because the artwork and photography is absolutely stunning, and it’s an unusual experience in modern New York.
Just behind the corner, The Mysterious Bookshop (58 Warren St) caught my attention the second I saw its old-fashioned exterior. The place was unlike any store I’ve seen, with a floor-to-ceiling stock of crime and suspense titles and ladders along the walls. The store is one of the oldest mystery book stores in the country. I was amazed that such book stores exist because the only ones I’ve ever seen are in movies. It was like a step into fantasy...I loved it! It was the perfect place to visit for any novel enthusiast.
How to Get There
Traveling to Tribeca isn’t a challenge because there are numerous train stations surrounding the neighborhood. The 6, J, N, Q, W, J, M, and Z trains all stop at the Canal Street Station in north Tribeca. The 1 train stops at the Chambers Street Station in the middle of Tribeca, the R stops at the City Hall Station on Broadway, and the E stops at the World Trade Center Station. With a bit of a walk from Fulton Street, the 4 and 5 will also get you close enough. A visit is definitely worth it!