On 41st Street between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue, leading westward toward the New York Public Library's main building at 41st Street and Fifth Avenue, is a sidewalk, studded with shoe leather buffed bronze plaques bearing illustrated quotes of literary 'celebrities' that allude to New York, its citizens and its offerings.
It's not a destination, just one of those discoveries you should notice, if you keep your eyes open as you walk the streets around Grand Central Station, The Chanin Building, Socony-Mobil Building, the The Main Library and 'Alice and Olivia'.
Most profound to me, particularly for these times in which the President of the United States of America bad mouths, slanders, ridicules, defames and teases almost everyone he fears, is this one by Langston Hughes, an African-American poet, social activist, novelist and playwright:
"There are words like liberty / That almost make me cry. / If you had known what I know / You would know why."
Unless you are Donald Trump.
Ninety-six bronze plaques sculptured by Gregg LeFevre, a Greenwich Village sculptor feature quotations from other famous writers like Albert Camus, Mark Twain, and Dylan Thomas. Artwork illustrates their words.
Like Jenny Holzer's work for the AIDS Memorial in the West Village, such installations are likely to be overlooked by fast-paced New Yorkers, faces buried in smart phones, ears glued to cell phones, twisting and turning like dancers, oozing through otherwise impenetrable crowds.
Find your way with 304 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Their prices are in keeping with the neighborhood: a plate of two eggs, two pancakes, 'home' fried potatoes and your choice of sausages or bacon, is $12.
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There are three houses not far from each other in NYC of three icons: James Dean, James Baldwin, and Dorothy Parker...
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"Heckscher Field" in Central Park, New York, is used for softball. Here you can see games played for the Broadway Show League. Celebrity stars may be seen.
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Among its offerings are a $10 breakfast special and its enormous $15 lunchtime hamburger, a price unobtainable anywhere else within walking distance.
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This sun soaked park bench is a destination neighborhood residents know, spending time there in observation. It’s one of the more fabulous NYC stages.
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"Monumental Women" has erected this monument in Central Park, NYC to especially important figures in the United States women's equality movement...
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"Der Krung" in Hell's Kitchen in New York City is by far my favorite Thai place around. One of the best things about it is the $9.75 lunch special...
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"Apthorp Cleaners" in NYC is different from the dozens of other neighborhood cleaners by its permanent but ever-changing window display of Barbie dolls...
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Taco toppings include cheese (Cotijam, oaxaca and mozzarella), pineapple, jalapeños and pico de gallo. Norteñas & Cubanos sandwiches are not to be missed.
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"Studio Museum in Harlem" in New York focuses on local, national and international artists of African descent and other work inspired by black culture...
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"Dinastia" is a great Cuban-Chinese restaurant in New York City. They definitely make soul food here. Consider the squid and rice: it's always good...
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Its bright neon sign is easy to spot. Stand Up NY feels like a proper theater as it has a street-level entrance and the programming is mad extensive,
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304 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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