Journal 2
Queens, NY
Rediscovering Queens!
We all were on time (like it was expected) to begin the adventures of the day. Feeling a little nervous and excited of the unexpected soon to be encounter. From the starting point at Pennsylvania Station in NY we headed to Flushing Meadow Corona Park (FMCP), Queens via the 7 train. This train is called “The international express” because along its route covers many communities of different cultural background.
It was really hot after we got off the train at Mets-Willets Point station, so it felt necessary to walk through the trees where it was much cooler than walking on the paved streets of the park. After a couple of minutes, we finally saw it. The monumental “Unisphere”, almost as if were waiting for us. The twelve-story high built by the US Steel Co. in 1964, as a symbol of “Man’s Achievements on a Shrinking Globe and an Expanding Universe”. Also said to be a representation of global interdependence. It was not my first time, for many years I have been spending my summers here watching soccer games, and unfortunately I was never aware of the important role played by this park in New York history.
I have become so obsessed over the facts that I would like to find out more about the park’s history and traditions, and at the same time would enjoy to share it with others. Some of the information that I found most interesting would be how this park hosted the World’s Fair of 1939-1940 known as the future oriented “The world of tomorrow”, and similarly in 1964-1965 was called “Peace through understanding”. Which means that millions of visitors from around the globe came to FMCP, NY to see amazing things being exhibit in the fairs. At some point, also was a temporary base of the United Nations, an international organism. Now days, also holds other important structures like the Hall of Science and the Queens Museum.
We visited the Queens Museum of Art, where the tour guide explained about the “13 Most Wanted Men” mural by the famous Andy Warhol in1964. Originally were 13 paintings, some of them got destroyed over time, and now are only eight left in the collection. Nevertheless, another great exhibition is the Panorama of the city of New York, is the “World’s largest scale model”. It was introduced in 1964, built by Lester & Associates and a team of 100 people working over the course of three years. It contains each building, street, park and bridges of NYC in a scale where one inch represent 100 feet. I was blown away of the accuracy and detail of such model, and all was done before the use of computers!
On the panorama, it was pointed the Catskills/Delaware and Croton watersheds. Both places provide New Yorkers with their water supply brought down via aqueduct. Such water is believed to be one of the cleanest and most purified of the nation. How lucky can we all be?
Finally it was lunch time, so we got back to the train station and headed to Jackson Heights. The Jackson Diner (37-47 74th Street, between Roosevelt Ave. and 37th Ave) is an affordable all-you-can-eat buffet that serves Indian food. I had tried this exotic meals before, but the highlight today was the soft, creamy and delicious curry goat. I definitely loved the experience and will make sure to come back soon for more.
One more train trip to the Museum of Moving Image (MMI) in Astoria. We explored on our own pace thought the different exhibitions such as Behind the Screen, where visitors can learn about the creative process of making movies, television and digital media (the only one of its kind in the nation). It holds a collection of different cameras used from the beginning of filming to recent times and some artifacts used famous movies like A Nightmare in Elm
Street (1984) and The Exorcist (1973). I was surprise to find out about the Kaufman Astoria Studios, which produces television shows like Sesame Street, Law and Order and Orange is the New Black, just to mention few of my favorite shows.
On the last train ride of the day to Long Island City (LIC) and strolled around to MoMA PS1 (momaps1.org/), unfortunately was close for today. But previously this building was Public School #1 (1893-1963) and now is the museum of modern Art dedicated to the exhibition of contemporary art.
As we turn around towards East River, here is where you can see how LIC is changing by “gentrification” defined as the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. This waterfront is highly attracting wealthy New Yorkers that desire to live close to Manhattan without paying the high prices. I was really impress with all the fanciness of the area around LICs new and beautiful buildings that is changing the landscape from the industrial zone to the expensive luxury apartment buildings. We also found the Pepsi Cola sign that has become a landmark and symbol of the area. The Gentry Plaza State Park is a huge 19th century wooden structure used to transfer cargo between the trains and the ships. From this point the view was great, despite the horrible storm filled with thunders getting close on us.
Overall, it was a great experience despite the many train trips, long walks and unbearable heat. To have seen all this beautiful places, in my opinion it was all worth it.
We all were on time (like it was expected) to begin the adventures of the day. Feeling a little nervous and excited of the unexpected soon to be encounter. From the starting point at Pennsylvania Station in NY we headed to Flushing Meadow Corona Park (FMCP), Queens via the 7 train. This train is called “The international express” because along its route covers many communities of different cultural background.
It was really hot after we got off the train at Mets-Willets Point station, so it felt necessary to walk through the trees where it was much cooler than walking on the paved streets of the park. After a couple of minutes, we finally saw it. The monumental “Unisphere”, almost as if were waiting for us. The twelve-story high built by the US Steel Co. in 1964, as a symbol of “Man’s Achievements on a Shrinking Globe and an Expanding Universe”. Also said to be a representation of global interdependence. It was not my first time, for many years I have been spending my summers here watching soccer games, and unfortunately I was never aware of the important role played by this park in New York history.
I have become so obsessed over the facts that I would like to find out more about the park’s history and traditions, and at the same time would enjoy to share it with others. Some of the information that I found most interesting would be how this park hosted the World’s Fair of 1939-1940 known as the future oriented “The world of tomorrow”, and similarly in 1964-1965 was called “Peace through understanding”. Which means that millions of visitors from around the globe came to FMCP, NY to see amazing things being exhibit in the fairs. At some point, also was a temporary base of the United Nations, an international organism. Now days, also holds other important structures like the Hall of Science and the Queens Museum.
We visited the Queens Museum of Art, where the tour guide explained about the “13 Most Wanted Men” mural by the famous Andy Warhol in1964. Originally were 13 paintings, some of them got destroyed over time, and now are only eight left in the collection. Nevertheless, another great exhibition is the Panorama of the city of New York, is the “World’s largest scale model”. It was introduced in 1964, built by Lester & Associates and a team of 100 people working over the course of three years. It contains each building, street, park and bridges of NYC in a scale where one inch represent 100 feet. I was blown away of the accuracy and detail of such model, and all was done before the use of computers!
On the panorama, it was pointed the Catskills/Delaware and Croton watersheds. Both places provide New Yorkers with their water supply brought down via aqueduct. Such water is believed to be one of the cleanest and most purified of the nation. How lucky can we all be?
Finally it was lunch time, so we got back to the train station and headed to Jackson Heights. The Jackson Diner (37-47 74th Street, between Roosevelt Ave. and 37th Ave) is an affordable all-you-can-eat buffet that serves Indian food. I had tried this exotic meals before, but the highlight today was the soft, creamy and delicious curry goat. I definitely loved the experience and will make sure to come back soon for more.
One more train trip to the Museum of Moving Image (MMI) in Astoria. We explored on our own pace thought the different exhibitions such as Behind the Screen, where visitors can learn about the creative process of making movies, television and digital media (the only one of its kind in the nation). It holds a collection of different cameras used from the beginning of filming to recent times and some artifacts used famous movies like A Nightmare in Elm
Street (1984) and The Exorcist (1973). I was surprise to find out about the Kaufman Astoria Studios, which produces television shows like Sesame Street, Law and Order and Orange is the New Black, just to mention few of my favorite shows.
On the last train ride of the day to Long Island City (LIC) and strolled around to MoMA PS1 (momaps1.org/), unfortunately was close for today. But previously this building was Public School #1 (1893-1963) and now is the museum of modern Art dedicated to the exhibition of contemporary art.
As we turn around towards East River, here is where you can see how LIC is changing by “gentrification” defined as the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents. This waterfront is highly attracting wealthy New Yorkers that desire to live close to Manhattan without paying the high prices. I was really impress with all the fanciness of the area around LICs new and beautiful buildings that is changing the landscape from the industrial zone to the expensive luxury apartment buildings. We also found the Pepsi Cola sign that has become a landmark and symbol of the area. The Gentry Plaza State Park is a huge 19th century wooden structure used to transfer cargo between the trains and the ships. From this point the view was great, despite the horrible storm filled with thunders getting close on us.
Overall, it was a great experience despite the many train trips, long walks and unbearable heat. To have seen all this beautiful places, in my opinion it was all worth it.