New York City: Lady Liberty Still Lights The Way

Standing 22 storey’s tall and weighing in at just over 200,000kg, the Statue of Liberty stands as proud and poignant as ever at the entrance of the New York City harbor, welcoming those from both the farthest distances and the shortest travels. Since 1886 she’s looked on as millions of immigrants left troubled shores in […]

Standing 22 storey’s tall and weighing in at just over 200,000kg, the Statue of Liberty stands as proud and poignant as ever at the entrance of the New York City harbor, welcoming those from both the farthest distances and the shortest travels. Since 1886 she’s looked on as millions of immigrants left troubled shores in search of a land of opportunity.

And while a colossal crown and a gold-plated torch certainly help to distinguish her as the matron of Manhattan, she intimately commands the same mysterious majesty associated with the world’s most formidable females.

She’s been a symbol of freedom, democracy and the tenacity of the human spirit since her inception, and though tighter immigration legislation has limited the “huddled masses” she ushers into the nation these days, she nonetheless remains an enduring reminder of Manhattan’s international allure.

Even in the face of recession, Lady Liberty watched over 49 million tourists pour into New York City in 2010, an all-time record that instated the metropolis as the most visited city in the United States for the second year in a row; and in truth, vacationers have become somewhat of a permanent fixture here, competing for sidewalk space against the pigeons, hot dog vendors and guys who sell watches out of briefcases.

The locals don’t seem to mind, though. New Yorkers are generally regarded as rude and aggressive by internationals, and even domestically they’re credited with a caustic intellectualism that doesn’t always go down well, but still, they rarely refuse an opportunity to share a part of their city with a visitor.

Assertive but approachable, Manhattanites are usually transplants themselves, and as long as you walk single file during rush hour and avoid shoulder charging the suited businessmen, New Yorkers can be one of the destination’s most overlooked charms. Don’t be afraid to ask for directions or recommendations, it’s often the quickest way to find the best answer.

And with one of the world’s most renowned multicultural landscapes, the Big Apple is a prime people watching platform – the absurd, the restrained, the savvy, the sordid – all trying to get from Point A to Point B in a “New York minute”.

Such constant and frenetic movement is an attraction in itself, and one that’s perhaps most easily absorbed in a city where it’s outright impossible to see everything.

Manhattan certainly carries the potential to be overwhelming, especially upon first impression. Some of the world’s most celebrated architecture stretches and spirals skyward, an intimidating collection of cultures and cultural activities jockey to assert themselves and an entertainment industry exploding with options almost assaults you at every intersection. That said, NYC is manageable for the very same reasons that make it unimaginably difficult to master in a short amount of time. Opportunities abound ¬for everyone, from anywhere, with everything or nothing to spend. Visitors need only put their priorities in place; with a little planning conquering the concrete jungle can be as easy as a walk in the park.

Every tourist has a certain duty to experience the obligatory New York postcard mainstays, and while it may be a bit ambitious to tick all the boxes during the course of a single trip, picking and choosing a few key must¬sees is worthwhile.

As cliche as it may sound, the Statue of Liberty is a fantastic starting point, especially for first-time vacationers. Ferries depart from Battery Park for Liberty Island, the lady’s homeland, every 25 minutes, though you’ll need advance reservations if you want to access any level of the actual monument. Still, strolling along the exterior is a great way to avoid the lengthy queues while orienting yourself in respect to the city.

For those who’d rather avoid the August heat, and it does tend to get hot and humid in the city during summer’s peak, spend a day visiting anyone of  Manhattan’s magnificent museums.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (the MET), is the most famous, and rightly so. Its collection includes more than two million works from the time of prehistory to the present, from every corner of the world. Weekends do get crowded, and it follows that early morning visits are advised.

Alternatively, the Guggenheim Museum, a showpiece in itself, was designed by the legendary Frank Lloyd Wright and remains an architectural icon to this day. The museum houses the works of Monet, Picasso, Van Gogh, Renoir and more. For a glimpse into something more contemporary make your way to the Museum of Modern Art (the MaMA), the innovative and inspiring collections will likely leave you with a newfound respect for modern creativity.

Similarly enriching, but not as intellectually taxing, is a day spent in Central Park, the great green lung of the city. The 341 ha of parkland is where locals and tourists alike can come to comfortably exhale. Though completely landscaped, the park still carries an authentic natural element that complements its countless man-made attractions: a zoo, two public ice rinks, a reservoir, kilometres of paths and hectares of grassland perfect for picnics or the quintessential carriage ride.

Theatre buffs are encouraged to check scheduling for “Shakespeare in the Park”, the outdoor summer productions are as charming as Broadway’s on-stage musicals are extravagant.

Wash a day down with a glass of champagne and an accompanying oyster in the illustrious Grand Central Terminal, or watch the sun sink below the city skyline from the observation deck of the Empire State Building.

Each and everyone of these activities is either a page torn from the living history of New York or an indication of an era gone by. They remain the backbone of the city, and provide an intimate look into its evolution.

And just as integral to the make¬up of Manhattan is the continuous rise and fall of its breath – the constant of change; affording even those who’ve made the metropolis their home the potential for endless exploration.

One of NYC’s most admirable qualities is its uncanny ability to surprise even the most accomplished visitor.

And in that vein, it’s worth devoting at least a day to stumbling across a likely, yet unanticipated oddity; if you’re lucky, you’ll even catch a random street item completely enshrouded in colourful cross-stitch, a global movement referred to as guerilla knitting.

The best way to discover the most endearing eccentricities is on foot, and below 14th street. The smaller, quainter bends and ways associated with the areas under Union Square make up the more distinct neighbourhoods and enclaves that the city is famous for.

The West Village and its somewhat grittier sister, the East Village, are the historic centres of much of Manhattan’s avant-garde, counterculture of the past. Though largely gentrified, both areas still cling proudly to some vestige of progressivism; casting themselves as home to gays, Goths, artists, anarchists, hipsters, hippies and anyone that fancies themselves open-minded and slightly left-leaning.

Pop into Magnolia Bakery on the corner of Bleecker Street and West 11th Street for a taste of an unadulterated, vintage American dessert. The cupcakes are nearly criminal, and worth waiting in line for, if it comes to that.

Otherwise, take a load off in any one of the time-worn watering holes, boutiques, tree-lined parks or coffee bars that have come to exist as a part of the ambience.

Alternatively, the ethnic clusters of Chinatown and Little Italy are nearby, and provide a colourful contrast to what can feel like, by comparison, the insipid row houses and cobblestone streets of the Village.

Admittedly, Parmesan and red sauce reach far less of an area than they did during Manhattan’s Mafia heyday, but nonetheless, Mulberry Street and the immediate surrounds remain an Italian stronghold.

Chinatown, on the other hand, is 40 blocks of mushrooming mayhem. From faux Louis Vuitton to authentic dim sum, this tangle of a neighbourhood is teeming with sights, sounds and strangenesses manufactured by the world’s largest Chinese community outside Asia.

And for those who prefer to cut the tourist trimming entirely, take a visit to Little Ukraine, a shrinking, whimsical slice of what used to be a sizeable Slavic New York population. The Old World ambience of the area still prevails, and anyone of the seemingly anachronistic general stores offers ample opportunity to pick up a somewhat unusual gift: embroidered ritual cloths, intricately designed lacquered boxes or handcrafted icons and ceramics. Don’t hesitate to refuel with a homemade pierogi or a hearty kielbasa – the vodka is optional.

Whatever your vision of New York

it’s likely it’s alive and well; and even if it’s been bulldozed beneath the city’s quickly changing tides, chances are it’s not too far from being re-created in one of the Big Apple’s impassioned “revivals”.

Simply set aside some time to see and do a choice few of your favourite things, and otherwise, let the push and pull of the New York spirit wash over you.

Culled from Sawubona Magazine