Meet 88th Street
88th Street started off with a bang. Nestled inside the greenery of Carl Schurz Park is Gracie Mansion. The building has a long, varied history: It began as a private residence, often used as a meeting place for politicians such as Alexander Hamilton, who founded the New York Post while there. It was later bought by the city and used for a variety of purposes, including an ice cream stand and public restrooms. In the twentieth century, it became the mayor’s residence. Together with members of the Manhattan Sideways team, I was given a private tour of the main level of Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Chirlane McCray’s home. Thanks to the dedication of the First Lady, this area – set up like a museum honoring the year 1799 when the house was built – is filled with art that exemplifies the diversity in the city at that time.
Following this fascinating history lesson, I found myself walking past countless residences. It was not hard for me to believe that Gracie Mansion was considered its original owner’s “country house,” since 88th Street felt very peaceful. I whimsically looked for the fictional home of Lyle Lyle Crocodile. Written in 1962 by the well-known author Bernard Waber, The House on East 88th Street, a part of the lovable crocodile series, has delighted children for decades. I met the author soon after opening my children’s bookstore in the mid-1980s and he was a personal friend until his passing a few years ago.
I stepped into Immanuel Lutheran Church, where the pastor shared the story of how the church was built in the middle of the Civil War and how its slate roof had only recently been reconstructed using the original material. The church was balanced on the West Side by B’nai Jeshurun, a synagogue that provides a spiritual and cultural center emphasizing volunteering, accessibility, music, and socially progressive values.
I had passed by the West Side Community Garden in the colder months, but was absolutely thrilled to enter its gates during tulip season. The garden, which stretches between 88th and 89th Streets, erupts with colorful blossoms each spring, prompting an annual Tulip Festival.
The flowers were not limited to the West Side Community Garden; I delighted in them decorating window boxes, lining tree plots, and peeking out from behind stairways throughout the rest of my walk. Spring had definitely sprung in Manhattan.
