Day 8. 12/27/21. NYC

Hope all is well.

After a leisurely breakfast at The Beekman we attempted to deal with mailing some packages but the lines were enormous and we decided to try a smaller post office along our route. We strolled to the African Burial Ground which is just a few blocks from here, but alas it was closed today. So, we headed out for the day – to visit some interesting streets and neighborhoods, including Sylvan Terrace in Washington Heights—a charming one block long cobblestone street lined on both sides with a total of 20 restored wooden townhouses built in 1882 for working folks. The street, which leads directly to the Morris-Jumel Mansion, is lined with coach lights. But the houses really have nothing to do with the mansion. Lin-Manuel Miranda says “It’s like a weird step backwards in time; you walk on one block and suddenly you’re two centuries back.” He also notes that the Morris-Jumel Mansion is the oldest mansion in NYC and that Aaron Burr lived there for a year. Miranda apparently wrote some of “Hamilton” in Burr’s bedroom!

We also attempted to visit Pomander Walk; I had seem photos over the years. But it is locked at both ends. We waited a few minutes to see if any resident would emerge and let us in, but no such luck. So we could only peek through the locked gates. Pomander Walk is a set of 27 town house units built in the 1920s in a Tudor style. By the way, some pretty famous people have lived at Pomander Walk including Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, and architecture critic Michael Sorkin.

Along the way uptown, we stopped from time to time to see some interesting structures and streets that we stumbled on, grabbed a slice of pizza for a quick lunch, and found a place to ship our packages. We stopped to photograph the Dorilton on 71st and Amsterdam, an incredibly beautiful beaux art structure from the early 1900s. By the time we finished all of this, it was after 4 and we needed to return the rental car. So we zipped off to the Village to get rid of the car and by then it was raining so we taxied to the hotel to begin to pack and get ready for dinner.

On the way (sort of out of the way) we did the most touristy of tourist things (although I did it yearly as a kid living in NY)—we went to Rockefeller Center to see the “tree.” As always it’s a bit magical, but more magical was the amazing light show emanating from Saks Fifth Avenue across the street.. and there were probably larger crowds watching Saks than at the Tree. Saks’ display was a sophisticated symphony of light and sound showing just how much we have all been influenced by the advent of LEDs and computers and the technology that can orchestrate these kinds of light shows. Still it was fun, and I cannot believe we stood there in the rain to watch the whole thing!

Out-of-towners were taking selfies with NYPD officers (!!) and security guards were helping tourists get photos of themselves in front of the Rockefeller Center tree. It was great to hear people directing security guards to be sure to get the top of the tree into the photo!

More tomorrow.