Filter by our Side Picks88th 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 … read more
Many New Yorkers recognize Gracie Mansion as the mayor’s residence, but few know that the first floor functions as a museum, open to the public on Tuesdays. On a beautiful spring day in 2016, I was invited to walk through Gracie Mansion with Paul Gunther, the Director of the House, and Liz Doyle, the … read more
The Church of the Holy Trinity began its life as a memorial. In 1798, William Rhinelander, one of the wealthiest men in New York, purchased a large parcel of land between Third Avenue and the East River. After his death, his granddaughter, Serena, selected a piece of that land on which to build a church … read more
Gregory Fryer, the pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, is thankful for his church for many reasons. First of all, it was formed in the winter of 1863, right in the middle of the Civil War. Gettysburg was only a few months away, but Gregory sees the founding of Immanuel as proof that it was still “a holy … read more
B’nai Jeshurun is the second oldest congregation in New York City, after Shearith Israel. I spoke to the current rabbi, Jose Rolando “Roly” Matalon, who shared his knowledge of the origin … read more
