Open House New York

"Tag der Offenen Tür" - Open House NY - this weekend and we choose a couple of sights from the list of open sights/attractions/museums, etc., which are partly not open on a regular basis, or, charge for tours. We took the train to get to Times Square (photos below), first, to check out a couple of things there.

On to Greenwich Village to see the new Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center, the first LGBTQIA+ visitor center within the National Park System. It's on Christopher Street, besides the legendary Stonewall Inn, where in 1969 the riots, a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid took place. 

The Mmuseumm (below, left) is a modern natural history museum in Tribeca, is a "hiden gem" and sort of a cabinet of curiosities. Haven't been there before.  

MMMuseummm

New architecture in TriBeCa

Gramercy Park - Theodore Roosevelts Birthplace (above) - open today for free! Well worth the visit, especially, after having visited the Badlands in ND, where Roosevelt lived before he became President.

 On our way from Theodore Roosevelt's Birthplace to Bryant Park, we encountered The National Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Parade (left and below), taking place for the third time this year. It is a celebration of Indigenous culture and organized by Lenape Native Americans (the tribe whose land became New York City), but all Indigenous Peoples of the Americas join in.

Next stop: Union Square, with the best farmers' market you can get. Even chefs of famous restaurants in town buy their provisions here! Busy, crowded on a Saturday (it takes place four days a week, but Saturdays are the busiest days!)

Union Square neighborhood

From Union Square we took the subway to the Navy Yards in Brooklyn, where the Kings County Distillery was open for Open House NYC tours. We were fortunate, and were able to take part at one of their tours - and, enjoyed it thoroughly! It's the oldest (legal) whiskey distillery in NYC (14 years old), but still small and therefore really good! Focused exclusively on whiskeys, Kings County has made a name for its Bourbon, Peated Bourbon, Empire Rye and other creative whiskeys. 

 

 

 

From the Navy Yards we walked back to "Dumbo", passing these colorful murals.

Dumbo/Brooklyn,,, hip, chic, hipster,,, above, on the flea market under The Arches.

Though Dumbo is hip and "the place to go", I have to admit that views towards Manhattan (above and far below) and Brooklyn Bridge (below) are gorgeous.

After sunset we boarded the train again - first back to Manhattan and from there into Bushwick/Brooklyn, where we knew a good brewery: KCBC. Other than in years before, the neighborhood was packed and vivid, bars, food trucks, restaurants, etc., and, lots of young people on the streets.

Bushwick at night

Subway station - on the way back home