In a city where space is at a premium, it’s not often you see abandoned buildings that aren’t about to be torn down to build new ones. Most of the ones you can see lie on the outer reaches of the boroughs. The abandoned smallpox clinic, otherwise known as the Renwick Ruin, however, can be found on Roosevelt Island, easily accessible by car, foot, rail, bus, ferry, and air tram. The narrow island itself is beautiful to roam around, but the smallpox clinic at the bottom of the island is my favorite spot.
The clinic is built to look like a castle, though it’s smaller than you would expect for a clinic. Most of the structure remains standing, though it lacks windows, doors, stairs, and a roof. There’s a fence put up around the building because the structure is unstable, but it’s still interesting to walk around the outside and wonder what went on when people still inhabited it.
Find your way with 302 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
Color World sets up on the corner of 116th and 2nd Avenue, rain or shine. There they serve beef, pork, goat, oxtail, and chicken for $10 a plate.
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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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Juilliard dazzles NYC with stunning free recitals, world-class talents, and a legacy that echoes through every note played within its storied halls.
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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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"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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