Sauce: Well, the Financial District was still the same even though we moved a little more North. This time we brought a new attitude and we were determined to bring some energy to Wall Street. We didn't see as many interesting things, but we sure did learn a lot more about the history of Manhattan. This time we didn't have to read any signs, we got to learn from a third generation New Yorker and let me tell you, I much prefer it.
Stem: Since we approached our second day with a new attitude, the streets seemed a little less confusing and the people a little warmer. Let's be real though, the people still weren't too great. I felt more warmth from the fresh asphalt being laid on Greenwich Street than I did anywhere else. We, apparently, didn't learn our lesson about the temperature the first time because I decided to wear cuffed jeans and Morgan ended up having to purchase a pair of gloves from a street vendor. There weren't too many things to see along this course. We saw interesting architecture, but not too much other than that. The one street we were not able to walk on was New Street, which runs on the west side of the New York Stock Exchange Building. This street is only warranted to employees and security. They block the street in order to reduce the chance of terrorism. We spoke with a few security guards/NYPD and explained our situation. They really wanted to let us through, but they didn't want to risk being terminated. We did get the name of the person in charge and we are going to contact him toward the end of the walk to see if we can be escorted down the street. *Fingers Crossed* We kept up our energy for the most part, until we hit a major sugar low. Morgan and I always seem to bottom out at the same time and we sure are a pleasure to be around when we’re like this. After standing on a corner trying to figure out where to grab lunch, we ultimately decided to grab some trail mix and continue on until a suitable place was found. Unfortunately, the historic and/or cute places were sparse. In the end there was no choice but to go back to Stone Street. Even though it was a little chilly we wanted to sit outside. Morgan wanted pizza at Adriennes and I wanted Shepherd's pie from Stone Street Tavern. We sat at different tables and enjoyed our huge meals by ourselves, but only a stones throw away (get it? Stone street! ha) It was a little awkward, but hilarious. Then we finished our night out with some drinks at the India House.
Seed: What started as a normal, blah day quickly turned into one of the best days I have ever had in NYC. This was all due to a man named Eddie Dunne. We walked into The Blue Bar at Bayards in the India House and were welcomed by a man who quickly became a friend. He immediately got us seated, ordered a round of mojitos and began telling us about the history of the building and Financial District. I kid you not, I probably learned more from him than any history book I have ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. He taught us about pirates, Indians, the mob, real New Yorkers and everything in between. There is nothing like sitting at a high-top table looking out a window in a building built in the 1800s and seeing a street that was once a river running through the town. We learned Pearl Street got its name from all the oysters in the area when it was once underwater. Eddie showed us the new menu he was working on. Fittingly so, it was filled with different quotes. One of the only appropriate quotes (haha) said "The energy & vibe of the area always attracts those not afraid of taking risks and always will". I couldn't have felt more at home. They say it takes at least 10 years of living in Manhattan to become a New Yorker, but after exchanging stories with Eddie he said that rule doesn't apply these days. He is third generation, so if he says it then I will say it, too. I AM A NEW YORKER!!!!
Juice: There wasn't too much juice other than all of the hilarious things Eddie told us. Actually, there was a lot of juice. It wasn't apple juice. This time it was juice from a grape, lots and lots of grapes. This is why I am not specifying all the things we learned. I am afraid I will slur the details. Eddie told us A LOT of information and I couldn't write fast enough then the part Morgan wrote was illegible. I will say that our amazing night ended with a drunken ghost hunt on the third floor. Morgan was terrified. I had enough liquid courage to not be spooked, but I am sure I will be scared out of my mind to return. This is exactly why I wanted to start this walk. It isn’t every day that you get to meet someone as interesting as Eddie while sitting in a building that was built in the century when NYC was officially dubbed the “The Empire State”.
Wanting to honor the area, we plan to take our time through the World Trade Center Memorial and Trinity Church during Course #3.
Seed: What started as a normal, blah day quickly turned into one of the best days I have ever had in NYC. This was all due to a man named Eddie Dunne. We walked into The Blue Bar at Bayards in the India House and were welcomed by a man who quickly became a friend. He immediately got us seated, ordered a round of mojitos and began telling us about the history of the building and Financial District. I kid you not, I probably learned more from him than any history book I have ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. He taught us about pirates, Indians, the mob, real New Yorkers and everything in between. There is nothing like sitting at a high-top table looking out a window in a building built in the 1800s and seeing a street that was once a river running through the town. We learned Pearl Street got its name from all the oysters in the area when it was once underwater. Eddie showed us the new menu he was working on. Fittingly so, it was filled with different quotes. One of the only appropriate quotes (haha) said "The energy & vibe of the area always attracts those not afraid of taking risks and always will". I couldn't have felt more at home. They say it takes at least 10 years of living in Manhattan to become a New Yorker, but after exchanging stories with Eddie he said that rule doesn't apply these days. He is third generation, so if he says it then I will say it, too. I AM A NEW YORKER!!!!
Juice: There wasn't too much juice other than all of the hilarious things Eddie told us. Actually, there was a lot of juice. It wasn't apple juice. This time it was juice from a grape, lots and lots of grapes. This is why I am not specifying all the things we learned. I am afraid I will slur the details. Eddie told us A LOT of information and I couldn't write fast enough then the part Morgan wrote was illegible. I will say that our amazing night ended with a drunken ghost hunt on the third floor. Morgan was terrified. I had enough liquid courage to not be spooked, but I am sure I will be scared out of my mind to return. This is exactly why I wanted to start this walk. It isn’t every day that you get to meet someone as interesting as Eddie while sitting in a building that was built in the century when NYC was officially dubbed the “The Empire State”.
Love Always, Jenna
Our new best friend, Eddie
Motivated by our first course and anxious to see what our next walk had in store, I woke up this past Wednesday ready to spice up the blah-ness of Wall St. With Jenna from the Upper West Side and me from the Upper East, we met in the middle–right in front of the New York Stock Exchange. We began the day’s journey jumping (literally) for joy among the sea of tourists. The gloomy forecast and the robots of Wall Street weren’t going to put a damper on our day. And what a fantastic day it turned out to be!
Stem: Still off the grid, we did our best to pick up from where we left off. I remembered the pedometer this time, so we very accurately began Course #2 on the east side at Pier 11. Surprised at the lack of security throughout, we took advantage of the open gates and braved the rocking pier. Our freedom didn’t last long however, as in the middle of snapping a prize photo of Jenna simulating sinking on the Titanic, we were graced by the presence of an unhappy female ferry attendant who demanded to see our “invitation.”
“Our what?”
“Your invitation!”
“Umm, well, the gates were open...”
“I can’t wear roller skates at work. Otherwise they’d be closed.”
I really wanted to give her a sticker and tell her it’s ok to smile, but Jenna thought it best we flee before she threw us into the river! (Probably a wise decision.)
Moving west, we passed many areas of disinterest. We noticed slightly more detail in the modern architecture, but still felt the streets lacked any real character. The skyline opened up as we moved into the residential area of Battery Park City. We instantly appreciated the cleanliness of the area, however, it felt like we were transported to suburbia. This cookie-cutter neighborhood encompasses everything two NY transplants are trying to avoid.
With nothing else catching our eye along the way, our tired feet and hungry bellies took us back to Stone Street. The variety was perfect for our differing taste-buds. Unfortunately, our waitresses did not share our contentment, as they were clearly inconvenienced by us enjoying our meals from each restaurant's respective picnic table.
“Our what?”
“Your invitation!”
“Umm, well, the gates were open...”
“I can’t wear roller skates at work. Otherwise they’d be closed.”
I really wanted to give her a sticker and tell her it’s ok to smile, but Jenna thought it best we flee before she threw us into the river! (Probably a wise decision.)
Moving west, we passed many areas of disinterest. We noticed slightly more detail in the modern architecture, but still felt the streets lacked any real character. The skyline opened up as we moved into the residential area of Battery Park City. We instantly appreciated the cleanliness of the area, however, it felt like we were transported to suburbia. This cookie-cutter neighborhood encompasses everything two NY transplants are trying to avoid.
With nothing else catching our eye along the way, our tired feet and hungry bellies took us back to Stone Street. The variety was perfect for our differing taste-buds. Unfortunately, our waitresses did not share our contentment, as they were clearly inconvenienced by us enjoying our meals from each restaurant's respective picnic table.
Seed: Satisfied and satiated, we decided to work our way over to the India House, a beautiful historic building that now houses a private dining club and the not-so-secret Blue Bar. It was here that we met our prize seed: The fabulous Eddie Dunne. Manager of the Blue Bar, he welcomed Jenna and I with open arms and entertained us throughout the evening. A third generation, born and raised in Brooklyn, Eddie is everything a New Yorker should be. With each story he shared, a new bar was set for what we are hoping to encounter along this journey. From the Brooklyn Alphabet-- "Fuckin A, Fuckin B, Fuckin C"-- to the real gangs of New York, we learned everything there is to know about the history of the only three places in the United States: “Brooklyn, New York, and America.”
Juice: Initially unimpressed with the lackluster of Wall Street, we left wishing we could travel back in time to when pirates and gangsters ran the city. Eddie agreed we would have fit in more with that crowd than with the “suits” that run the area now. It comes at no surprise to us that the “Cutie Count” is still at 0.
SAUCED: It took 10,427 steps and a prize meeting with a native, but we have a new appreciation for the history bores-ville contains. We will be returning to this area at some point, as the NY Stock Exchange is apparently on high security 24/7 and no matter how many NYPD officers we smiled at, no one would let us in the gates to walk down New Street! Don't worry, Eddie knows a guy. We'll be back.
Wanting to honor the area, we plan to take our time through the World Trade Center Memorial and Trinity Church during Course #3.
xoxo, Morgan
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