Strolling through the steamy streets of the East Village – it’s been a scorching couple of weeks here in New York – we occasionally stumble across a lush sanctuary, a luxuriant community garden offering refuge from the heat. These are New York’s secret gardens. Sometimes the community gardens come as a wonderful surprise – we … Read more
“How many East Villagers does it take to screw in a light bulb?” Rob Hollander, an East Village resident of some 31 years, asks us as we settle onto a bench in Tompkins Square Park. “Two,” he tells us. “One to screw it in, and one to tell you how it used to be better!” … Read more
Connecting with locals in New York City hasn’t been hard at all this trip. We’ve used the same strategies we apply in every place we visit and we’ve found New Yorkers to be really responsive. They’ve been friendly, accessible and easygoing, so why did we find it trickier to find a Local Knowledge candidate for … Read more
Learning about the Lower East Side immigrant stories at the Tenement Museum in New York City is a must if you’re staying in this multicultural neighbourhood with a long rich history of immigration – or if you’re just strolling past tenement buildings each day on your ambles around Manhattan and are curious as to how … Read more
The best New York City take-homes didn’t find me as they have in other cities on our global grand tour. Because I have to confess that like New York City itself, I find shopping in Manhattan overwhelming and the sheer choice somewhat maddening that I often can’t be bothered even browsing. I prefer moving at … Read more