Blog - Big Apple Greeter

Tom Keating Tells All About New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission

January 22, 2019 By Bobbie Kaplan

On January 8th in the Big Apple Greeter conference room, our Greeter Tom Keating gave an engrossing slide show about the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

Keating always finds subjects that thrill anyone who is obsessive about New York. He does intensive research and then brings it to life with the perfect picture: either from his own camera or from another photographer’s work.

He started by giving a brief history of the first Penn Station, built in 1910 in the Beaux Arts style and designed by McKin, Meade and White. In 1963, the city planning commission demolished the grand railroad station. Because it was so huge, its upkeep was too expensive.

The original Penn Station
Photo credit: wikipedia.org

This was the catalyst that led to the creation of the Landmarks Commission in 1965. The station was considered an architectural masterpiece, so widespread outrage followed – among architects as well as the general public.

Since 1965, there are 23,000 Landmarks in New York City. They can be anything from entire buildings to interiors of buildings, from historic districts to row houses. In order to get Landmarked, they must have the following requirements:

Historic Interest
Aesthetic interest
Some sort of special character
Must be at least 30 years old

Tom presented examples of Landmarked places. The main Post Office at 8th Avenue and 33rd Street, built in 1912 In the Beaux Arts style and designed by the same architects who created Penn Station. Another example was Fraunces Tavern on Pearl Street, built in 1719 in the Colonial Revival style.

Tom shared a delicious tidbit, not about Landmarks, but about buildings. It came from the book, Tenements, Towers and Trash by Julia Wertz. It seems the owners of P.J. Clarke’s restaurant located in a small mid-19th century building at 55th Street and 3rd Avenue, didn’t want to sell to developers. So the developers, not used to taking “no” for answer, built a 47-story office building looming over the holdout!

In our Big Apple Greeter family, Tom Keating has earned a Landmark status of his own.

Saving Radio City Music Hall: A Dancer’s True Story

December 18, 2018 By Bobbie Kaplan

Rosemary Novellino-Mearns (otherwise known as “Rosie”) took us on a journey: a slide presentation of the story of her life, and her gargantuan effort to save Radio City Music Hall from demolition in 1978.

At age 18, Rosie became a member of Radio City’s Ballet Company. Few people know there was a Ballet Company since they were overshadowed by the Rockettes.

By 1978, the Music Hall was hemorrhaging money, so it was decided by owner Rockefeller Center to demolish it. Ludicrous suggestions were made to replace it: an amusement park or perhaps a shopping mall!

Rosie told us the history of the Music Hall. It opened in 1932. The opulence and splendor of the Art Deco style was everywhere: even the Ladies Room seemed straight out of a Fred Astaire movie. It was the showplace of the nation.

Entertainment was dazzling through the years. There were movies such as An American in Paris. And of course, there were the Rockettes, the Ballet Company and musical entertainment of all kinds.

The One and Only Radio City Music Hall
Courtesy: messymessychic.com

When the announcement was made to demolish the Music Hall, Rosemary tore into action. She organized the performers and backstage workers, who would all lose their jobs. She gathered countless celebrities and supporters. She wrote to politicians and newspapers, spoke on radio and TV shows, telling her heartfelt story: “The Music Hall is an institution; the Rockettes are an art form; it would be nothing less than criminal to lose them!”

6200 unobstructed views
Courtesy: MSG.com

Even more important, she met with The New York City Landmark Commission. On the morning of that meeting, the Rockettes danced on the steps of City Hall. When they were finished, an audience of 6000 people jumped up, threw flowers, and shouted, “Don’t close, don’t close!”

Meanwhile, Rosie presented the Landmark Commission with a petition of 150,000 signatures from all over the world. Only two weeks later, the Music Hall attorney called: “We’re in business, we’ve been saved. We will soon be a National Historic Landmark!”

You can read more about Rosie’s story in her book, SAVING RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL: A Dancer’s True Story. Do not miss this tribute to the power of intention, to the power of one person who can literally change the world.

There’s Nothing Bleak About Bleecker Street!

November 25, 2018 By Bobbie Kaplan

On our way to meet our guides from the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) at 359 Bleecker Street in Manhattan, a tantalizing display of icing-heavy cupcakes lured us into a tiny shop, Arianna. Turns out, they weren’t cupcakes, but beautifully carved soaps. This unexpected creativity defines Bleecker Street, as does history, architecture, and even a bit of scandal.

Our guides loved telling us Bleecker Street stories. Sarah Bean Apmann, Director of Research and Historic Preservation, could hardly contain herself each time she shared new knowledge. Equally enthusiastic was her colleague, Samuel Moskowitz, Director of Operations. Both seemed smitten to be working for GVSHP.

Since 1969, the street has been a designated historic district. Its low row houses were some of New York’s first buildings, constructed in the 1700s in the Federal style, later in the 1830s in Greek revival style.

Early residents were English, German, and Dutch, but by the late 19th century came a wave of Italian immigrants. Father Demo Square was named after a priest, who for 30 years, looked after his Italian settlers.

Father Demo Square
Photo credit: NYC Parks

Bleecker Street also claims more famous heroes: Thomas Paine who wrote “Common Sense” in 1776, arguing for independence from England and the creation of a democratic republic; and Jacob Riis who denounced the dreadful tenement slums and helped enact the 1901 Tenement Law, even though he didn’t live on Bleecker Street.

In 1961, the New York Times wrote, “A certain section of Bleecker Street is one of the food treasures of New York City.” That hasn’t changed. Side by side, we saw Indian, Italian, Ethiopian, and Jewish restaurants reflecting the diversity of the city.

At 183 Bleecker, as early as the 1890s, one of the first LGBTQ sex clubs offered scandalous live sex shows. Down the block at #157 was an early gay bar, The Slide Club, called “the wickedest place in New York” by the New York Press.

The Bayard-Condict Building
Photo credit: GVSHP

After walking the entire street, the last thing Sarah showed us was her favorite city building. The Bayard-Condict was built in 1899 by famous architect, Louis Sullivan. It rises 13 stories in ornate splendor among its much shorter neighbors.

To learn more and to visit Greenwich Village, go to gvshp.org

Tony the Tiger’s Outdone Himself. Kellogg’s NYC Café is G-G-R-R-R-E-A-T!

October 19, 2018 By Bobbie Kaplan

You’ve probably never thought of cereal as exuberant. But that’s exactly what it is at KELLOGG’S NYC CAFE, located in Manhattan at 31 East 17th Street, open one year this December.

Everything is exuberant at this spacious, airy 5,000 square-foot wonderland. There are giant cereal icons such as Tony the Tiger, and Snap, Crackle and Pop – painted on walls in gorgeous primary colors. There are huge floating cereal boxes hanging from the ceiling – and couches with coffee tables for when you are ready to eat.

Our cheerful guide Kristin gave us the scoop as we walked through the space. The designers were intent on bringing fun and food to a whole new level.

We started out at sundrenched windows where you can sit on comfy swings. Above is a glittering disco ball, stuffed with oversized fabric Fruit Loops.

From there, Kristin took us to the Cereal Wall – tall cylindrical glass containers filled with Frosted Flakes, Fruit Loops, Rice Krispies and Raisin Bran – known as the “Core Four” and other cereals too. You can build your own cereal or choose one pre-assembled.

And the toppings, oh the toppings! Candied cashews, graham cracker crumble, chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, rum-roasted bananas, toasted pumpkins seeds, just to name a few.

As we continued walking, Kristin showed us four arcade machines, recipe books and an actual ping pong table. The space can be rented for kids’ birthday parties, adult poker parties, charity events, whatever.

Besides being the perfect place to snack, relax, and feel like a kid again, KELLOGG’S NYC offers a meaningful contribution to New Yorkers and their visitors: MAKING CEREAL GREAT AGAIN!

Go to kelloggsnyc.com and see what’s waiting for you.

Catherine Welch And Anita Krause of Big Apple Greeter Win President’s Volunteer Service Award

October 15, 2018 By Bobbie Kaplan

On Thursday, September 27th , two of our own made us so proud. Catherine (whom we know as “Kay”) and Anita, two of our revered office workers, were honored for their extraordinary dedication and service as volunteers.

The Awards were sponsored by RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) of the Community Service Society of New York). The Volunteer Recognition Breakfast was held at Con Edison at 2 Irving Place in Manhattan. Con Ed generously donated the food and venue for the event.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes, celebrates and holds up as role models those individuals who are deeply committed volunteers. The Award helps community organizations increase their gratitude by joining with the President of the United States to thank their most dedicated volunteers.

A Free Welcome-Visitor Service from NYC Volunteers

Tom Keating Tells All About New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission

Saving Radio City Music Hall: A Dancer’s True Story

There’s Nothing Bleak About Bleecker Street!

Tony the Tiger’s Outdone Himself. Kellogg’s NYC Café is G-G-R-R-R-E-A-T!

Catherine Welch And Anita Krause of Big Apple Greeter Win President’s Volunteer Service Award

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