From the hub of Olmsted’s & Vaux’s Central Park - Bethesda Terrace - spoke the elm tree lined Mall and the 72nd Street transverse roadway, now closed to traffic.
To its north lies The Ramble (on the other side of The Lake). To its west lies the main body of The Lake and Strawberry Fields. To its east are row boat rentals, the Boathouse Restaurant, and The Boat Pond (officially, Conservatory Water) - the little boat pond - as in E B White’s children’s novel, "Stuart Little". And, around it, the spectacular Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Anderson bronze sculptures. All can be experienced in one fell walking swoop.
At The Terrace itself, breathtaking sculptural balustrades frame magical depictions of wild animals, while framing the staircase (pictured) that leads you from The Mall above to the Bethesda Fountain below, and whose name is "Angel of the Waters". She is atop the fountain featured in the 2003 film Angels in America, as the finale of the camera’s swooping 'one shot' opening credit roll that begins in San Francisco. The sculptor was informed by the Gospel of John, which describes an angel instilling healing powers to the waters of the Pool of Bethesda.
Its maker, Emma Stebbins was, in 1863, the first woman (and first openly gay) ever to receive a public art commission in the City of New York. Its earthly raison d’être is its commemoration of the Croton Reservoir water system which led to the end of a cholera outbreak in the city in the 1840s.
Find your way with 304 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"Silvana" is a large cafe, boutique, shawarma and falafel bar in NYC that also offers live music performances on their downstairs stage. Great acts!
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The menu is simple: hamburgers, French fries & toppings. No over-the-top ingredients, no superfluous adjectives, and high-value food at rock-bottom prices.
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"Elizabeth Street Garden" New York: formerly the site of a large, important school house, it was reclaimed in the '90s and turned into a sculpture garden.
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One block away from a 21st century LinkNYC WiFi tower on Broadway sits one of three West End Avenue working telephone 'booths', the last in NYC...
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After, "Anthony & Son" Panini Shoppe's Italian-style super-sandwiches, no regular New York sandwich will ever taste as good again...
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"Dutch Kills" in New York isn't hiding it's one of the best bars in the city, but it isn't publicizing the fact, either. No password to enter, however!
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The "Conference House" in New York is a perfect place to escape modern life if you're interested in what life was like in the 1600s...
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"Hunter's Point Library" in New York, on Long Island City's waterfront, is definitely for you if you're a fan of books, architecture and skyline views!
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"Bund on Broadway" is one of the most popular restaurants on Astoria's restaurant row in New York. I always go straight fo the famous pork soup dumplings.
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"Jajaja Plantas Mexicana" in New York is a creative joint that has vegan versions of traditional Mexican food. It's delicious, affordable & healthy!
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"Star Polish Bakery" in New York makes the best Polish desserts and cakes, especially the makowiec. Here they make it exactly the way I like it...
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304 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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