2008 Woodie Awards
City Life: Battery Park
Caryn Connolly
Issue date: 9/14/06 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Searching for a pleasant diversion to fill a Sunday afternoon? Look no further than Battery Park at the lower tip of Manhattan. Take the PATH to the World Trade Center station, turn right on Church Street and follow it to the end. An oasis of trees and flowers awaits.
From this point, there are several options. A left turn leads to the Museum of the American Indian. This museum offers free admission. The impressive architecture of the building and especially the paintings of ships on the ceiling of the main gallery make it worth the trip. A small side gallery contained a pottery exhibit with both current and prehistoric examples. They also display traveling exhibits.
Making a right turn will lead past the Amish Market. Don't be fooled. There are no Amish people here. This appears to be an upscale corner grocery store with a restaurant in the back. The restaurant was somewhat deserted in the early afternoon. This might be a good place to purchase a drink. Beverages are not always easy to find in this area.
Across the street lies the park. It is a nice place for a stroll or to catch a ferry to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island. The one-hour Circle Line sightseeing cruise departs from the pier and costs only $12, a miniscule amount for a boat lover to pay for an excursion. The Promenade also begins here. This is a photo opportunity not to be missed. In the same way that tourists come to Hoboken to take pictures of themselves in front of the Empire State Building, New Jerseyans can go to Battery Park and take a picture in front of the Statue of Liberty if they have the appropriate zoom lens.
On the trek north, stop at Gigimo Trattoria. They offer take out and dining room service. The calamari is excellent and costs $2 less if it is ordered to go. There is nothing better than a picnic in the park on a sunny afternoon.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage has $5 admission for students. Everyone should visit this testament to the millions of lives that were lost in World War Two. The harrowing stories are told through videos of actual survivors of the Holocaust.
Somewhat further down the Promenade, an Irish Famine Memorial resides. In the springtime, during the Swedish Midsummer Festival, this monument resembled a strange stone fortress. It was necessary to walk inside through a tunnel to the other side. This was meant to feel like an Irish cottage on the countryside. After emerging from the tunnel, a winding path leading up the "hill" through tall waving grass and wildflowers, ended in a platform with marvelous views of the Hudson River. This is the perfect spot to view the sunset. Down below, there is a small Japanese garden and carp pond.
The Promenade ends about five blocks north of the World Trade Center, but a parks department employee says it meets up with another path and continues up to midtown. Take a trip. Take a chance. Enjoy all the city has to offer.
From this point, there are several options. A left turn leads to the Museum of the American Indian. This museum offers free admission. The impressive architecture of the building and especially the paintings of ships on the ceiling of the main gallery make it worth the trip. A small side gallery contained a pottery exhibit with both current and prehistoric examples. They also display traveling exhibits.
Making a right turn will lead past the Amish Market. Don't be fooled. There are no Amish people here. This appears to be an upscale corner grocery store with a restaurant in the back. The restaurant was somewhat deserted in the early afternoon. This might be a good place to purchase a drink. Beverages are not always easy to find in this area.
Across the street lies the park. It is a nice place for a stroll or to catch a ferry to the Statue of Liberty or Ellis Island. The one-hour Circle Line sightseeing cruise departs from the pier and costs only $12, a miniscule amount for a boat lover to pay for an excursion. The Promenade also begins here. This is a photo opportunity not to be missed. In the same way that tourists come to Hoboken to take pictures of themselves in front of the Empire State Building, New Jerseyans can go to Battery Park and take a picture in front of the Statue of Liberty if they have the appropriate zoom lens.
On the trek north, stop at Gigimo Trattoria. They offer take out and dining room service. The calamari is excellent and costs $2 less if it is ordered to go. There is nothing better than a picnic in the park on a sunny afternoon.
The Museum of Jewish Heritage has $5 admission for students. Everyone should visit this testament to the millions of lives that were lost in World War Two. The harrowing stories are told through videos of actual survivors of the Holocaust.
Somewhat further down the Promenade, an Irish Famine Memorial resides. In the springtime, during the Swedish Midsummer Festival, this monument resembled a strange stone fortress. It was necessary to walk inside through a tunnel to the other side. This was meant to feel like an Irish cottage on the countryside. After emerging from the tunnel, a winding path leading up the "hill" through tall waving grass and wildflowers, ended in a platform with marvelous views of the Hudson River. This is the perfect spot to view the sunset. Down below, there is a small Japanese garden and carp pond.
The Promenade ends about five blocks north of the World Trade Center, but a parks department employee says it meets up with another path and continues up to midtown. Take a trip. Take a chance. Enjoy all the city has to offer.
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