Let's Visit the Alamo

 

Welcome to the Alamo

Yes, there's an Alamo in New York City and you're looking at it. This is the Alamo aka the East Village Cube at Astor Place. This is one of my favorite sculptures, eighteen hundred pounds of steel that revolves. It's the work of Tony Rosenthal and was first installed in 1967 as a temporary installation. Because of community enthusiasm, it became permanent, and is still there almost 60 years later.  

This wasn't my plan for the day, but once I moved to do the errands on my list, I decided it was too nice a day -- no rain and very little humidity -- to be inside doing errands. And with a sudden pivot I found myself at Astor Place. I found the coffee kiosk and a seat under one of the umbrellas, and I settled in to enjoy an iced coffee. 

The cafe at Astor Place and source of my iced coffee today

Thank you all for the birthday wishes. I'm definitely not someone who is sad about getting older. I'm delighted to be getting older. It's a privilege that many won't have and even with the aches and pains, it's the best adventure I can have. 

I promised a birthday post and I'm not quite there yet for a long post. My thoughts on turning 76 are just beginning to emerge. There is one idea that has started to emerge. I need to keep trying new things. I'm not sure what those new things are, but I've started to see how easy it is to get into the same schedule every week. I love having activities to do every week and seeing friends at those places. I love traditions that are part of every season and holiday, but I think it's time to find a new activity (or two) and a new tradition (or two). As I learned decades ago in Girl Scouts, "Make new friends and keep the old. One is silver and the other's gold." 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cool.

  

A Is for Astor Place

We start our A to Z Blogging Challenge,

 

With a stop at Astor Place in the East Village. This is a local stop on the Lexington Avenue subway line and if we continue to the end of this line, we're at the City Hall Station, in Lower Manhattan. Astor Place was named for John Jacob Astor, who at the time of his death in 1848, was the richest man in America. Astor Place, once known as Art Street, is a two block street, but it forms the center  of this Greenwich Village neighborhood.

Just across the street is the Cooper Union. This small university was founded by Peter Cooper in 1859. Peter Cooper was a foremost inventor of the nineteenth century, and his inventions include the first steam rail engine. He had a limited education and wanted to give the opportunity of higher education to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it. Until 2014 the school was free to all who were admitted, but now there is a tuition cost. Abraham Lincoln spoke here in 1860.

Our subway stop tours won't be all history. There will be history, but we'll also enjoy shopping, street art, coffee and snacks. In an effort not to outgrow my summer clothes before the summer starts I'm not going to be able to eat at every stop, but we'll focus on at least one place that looks yummy. Our place of food interest at Astor Place is Astor Plate Cafe. I didn't sample the food -- too chilly the day I visited -- but I hope to get back one day when the weather is nicer and sit outside.

I once again include sweet Sudan, whose statue resides in Astor Place. I came upon The Last Three last Sunday when I was in the area taking photographs for this post.

I hope you've enjoyed our first subway stop and visiting Astor Place. Hint for B: We're moving to a different neighborhood, but the stop is named for another famous person, too.

I hope you've had a wonderful holiday weekend and that spring has finally arrived where you are.
As ever, thanks for visiting and see you tomorrow!