Manhattan – RDZ Photography

With a trip for work to New York City I had little time for sightseeing, but my wife didn’t! This is her photo blog of a 4 hour New York Architectural Society (almost) circumnavigation of Manhattan. I say almost, since there was a bridge on the Harlem River in a down position so they had to backtrack back around.

They set sail from a pier in Chelsea.

And headed for the harbor…

Passing by Jersey City…

The trip was actually offered for college credit, so there was an instructor on board whom reportedly spoke ‘constantly’. The trip took them past Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, which I wouldn’t think would need any dialog to explain.

It was time to head up the East River…

This carousel in a park in Brooklyn came from a defunct amusement park in my hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.

Nearby was a jet ski school!

As you make you way up the East River you go past many areas that are undergoing gentrification.

An interesting view of Roosevelt Island, and the 59th Street (Queensboro) Bridge.

The United Nations Building

Roosevelt Island was once home to a Tuberculosis Hospital, but now is home to thousands in new apartment buildings.

A great view of the bridge and the Roosevelt Island Tram.

A series of bridges on the far end of the East River, where they ended up turning around.

If you have plenty of money ($850 one way for a 30 minute plane ride) you can get from Manhattan to the Hamptons in a hurry on a seaplane.

Or a helicopter…

The cruise continued back down the East River

The late afternoon sun made a interesting view of the Staten Island Ferry with the statue in the background.

The World Trade Center from the Hudson River

One of the many New York Waterway ferries.

Finally some interesting new architecture along the Hudson.

I think you will agree her photos were great – I am so jealous I had to work, it looks like it was a great cruise 🙂

Most people in the world know about Stonehenge in England. Less known, but still amazingly cool and very popular is Manhattanhenge.

With most of Manhattan built in a grid street system in a general east-west pattern twice a year the sun sets directly down the east-west streets. Because it is not exactly due west it does not occur on the equinox’s, rather slightly different dates. We were fortunate enough to be there for the May event.

We chose to watch the event from Park Avenue and East 34th Street, as it is a wider street and lined with tall buildings. With sunset scheduled for 8:13 PM we arrived around 7:45 to already find people gathering.

While we waited we noticed there was some light fog around the Empire State Building. The fog made some interesting streaks into the sky (which was even more visible to the eye).

As the sun continued to set the crowds grew. Each time the light would change for Park Avenue people would crowd into the street for the view west on 34th Street.

Literally ever minute the view changed.

Eventually the crowds were blocking the street long enough the taxis and other cars would blast their horns to get through – further adding to the atmosphere.