Meet 94th Street
The first fascinating gentleman that I encountered as I began my walk across 94th Street was George Glazer. He greeted me at the door of George Glazer Gallery, and invited me inside for a tour. After many years as a corporate attorney, George decided to follow his passion for intellectual antiques, opening his gallery on Madison Avenue and 72nd Street in 1993. Today, he resides on 94th with his diverse selection of quirky objects, including his impressive collection of globes. Two doors down is Telesca-Heyman. This Manhattan cabinetry shop repairs, refits, and expands all sorts of furnishings, thanks to the advanced skill of its owner, Mario DiRe, who has been in the business for over fifty years.
I had become accustomed to seeing beautiful residences on the Upper East Side and 94th Street certainly did not disappoint. I appreciated learning that Lou Gehrig was born at 309 East 94th Street in 1903, and Barack Obama lived on that same block in the 1980s, before and after attending Columbia University. East 94th is also notable for the idiosyncratic architecture between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue where Hunter College High School’s playground is flanked on one side by an enormous wall that would look more at home on a Norman castle. Built in 1895, it had been a part of the Squadron A Armory that was dismantled in the 1960s.
Once I crossed Central Park, I encountered Pio Pio, a Peruvian restaurant known for its chicken dishes, on the corner of Amsterdam, but it was Screme, an Israeli-owned seasonal gelato shop that thrilled me on this particularly warm day. This had been a go-to place for me when they were on 69th and Broadway, but sadly closed several years ago. I was absolutely delighted to bump into owner, Zohan Sasson, once again, and to treat the Manhattan Sideways team to what I consider some of the best gelato in the city.
Moving west, I had a wonderful visit with Haim Amit, the owner of Vino Levantino (Lost Gem). He shared his journey with me from Israel to the Upper West Side and then the Manhattan Sideways team enjoyed a smorgasbord of incredible Turkish and Israeli dishes.
My last stop was a serendipitous one, as I had read an article about Pomander Walk – a tiny, gated community that looks like an English Tudor village – but never expected to see first hand. On the day that I strolled past, however, they were having an open house, and I was able to step inside one of the quaint, historic homes and have a look. The name refers to a play that was written by Louis Napoleon Parker, which graced the London stage in 1910. The New York complex was modeled after the stage set for the play, hence the name. What a fabulous way to end my day of walking amongst the brightly painted homes, each with carefully maintained flower boxes, imagining another era.