HISTORIC IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR INACCESSIBLE

IT IS ABLEIST TO DENY FRONT DOOR ACCESS 

TO PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

 

I love the 19th century cast iron buildings of New York’s SoHo.

I also reject the absurd argument that replacing their stairs with access ramps would diminish their history.

Their interiors have been 100% gutted for retail and apartments. Ramps do not alter facades.

It is ableist to claim denying front door access to people with disabilities preserves history.

Many Soho buildings have no access 34 years after the ADA.

Others have demeaning back alley access or faulty lifts.

Access for all is a basic civil right.

Those that cling to inaccessible buildings as “a part of history” are as out of bounds as those that would cling to race based deed restrictions or denying women the right to vote.

Let’s celebrate Disability Pride Month and the 34th anniversary of the ADA with inclusive design.

NOBLE DEN HOTEL

CLEAN, EFFICIENT ROOMS PLUS ROOFTOP DECK

IN LOWER MANHATTAN'S CHINATOWN/LITTLE ITALY

I could instantly see why Noble Den Hotel gets high reviews.

The staff is very polite and resourceful.

The property is an oasis in an otherwise slightly gritty area where Chinatown meets Little Italy -- with the Lower East Side and SOHO nearby.

Mulberry Street next door can be noisy, but the hotel is sound proofed.

The units are small, but super well designed. They have thought of everything as far as space, natural light, comfortable bath, tons of outlets (with USB outlets too), a mini fridge, etc.

The super bonus is a rooftop lounge. It has no bar, so there is no noise are hipster crowds to fight. Just some nice furniture and a panoramic view of lower Manhattan.

Just off the lobby is really good free coffee, hot chocolate and a microwave for heating up delicious food from the neighborhood.

The room fridge is not a mini bar, which is a good thing. All of its space is for cooling beverages, berries, breakfast foods and leftovers.

There are two elevators, so no waiting in the smallish family feeling property.

I was checked in just under an hour early -- for free -- and they safely stowed my bags.

You get a cute stuffed animal on arrival and there are toothbrushes, combs and more in the room, if you forgot to pack those.

Major subway stations are nearby for fast, inexpensive transit.

The price point was incredible for a modern, fresh, well-designed and well-located hotel.

There is a great accessible room with roll-in shower. The only drawback is adjacent elevator shaft noises.

 

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

   IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

Chelsea is home to art galleries and a vibrant gay scene. 

Meandering 30ft above is the green-fringed, art-strewn High Line.

– Lonely Planet

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

   IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

It’s hard to believe that the 1½-mile-long High Line – a shining example of brilliant urban renewal – was once a dingy freight line that anchored a rather unsavory district of slaughterhouses. 

Today, this eye-catching attraction is one of New York's best-loved green spaces, drawing visitors who come to stroll, sit and picnic 30ft above the city – while enjoying fabulous views of Manhattan's ever-changing urban landscape.

It loops around Hudson Yards and ends at 34th St.

– Lonely Planet

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

   IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

For many immigrant generations this low-rent landing place was the corner of Manhattan where their American adventure began. 

Today, the Lower East Side and East Village buzz with an unthreatening bohemian energy, offering some of the city's finest bars and indie boutiques – it's an open-air playground for those willing to tolerate (or attracted to) the area's vestigial grime.

– Lonely Planet

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

   IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

The High Line's attractions are numerous, and include stunning vistas of the Hudson River, public art installations commissioned especially for the park, wide lounge chairs for soaking up some sun, willowy stretches of native-inspired landscaping (including a mini sumac forest), food and drink vendors, and a thoroughly unique perspective on the neighborhood streets below – especially at various overlooks, where bleacher-like seating faces huge panes of glass that frame the traffic, buildings and pedestrians below as living works of art.

– Lonely Planet

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

   IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

Designed by William Van Alen and completed in 1930, the 77-floor Chrysler Building is the pinup for New York's purest art deco architecture, guarded by stylized eagles of chromium nickel and topped by a beautiful seven-tiered spire reminiscent of the rising sun.

The building was constructed as the headquarters for Walter P Chrysler and his automobile empire; unable to compete on the production line with bigger rivals Ford and General Motors, Chrysler trumped them on the skyline, and with one of Gotham's most beautiful lobbies.

– Lonely Planet

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

  IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

If the skyscraper is the showy image of high-rise New York.

Then the gritty fire escape must be the urban image of low-rise Manhattan.

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

  IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

New York: Architecture and skyscraper capital on the nation.

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

  IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

One of the world’s most renowned green spaces, Central Park comprises 843 acres of rolling meadows, boulder-studded outcroppings, elm-lined walkways, manicured European-style gardens, a lake and a reservoir — not to mention an outdoor theater.

– Lonely Planet

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

  IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

As the first historic twin-towered building in New York City, the San Remo commands a lofty presence thanks to its distinctive silhouette.

The 27-floor luxury apartment building — designed by acclaimed architect Emery Roth, and located between West 74th Street and West 75th Street — features two towers that jet into the sky, offering an ideal vantage point for captivating views of Central Park.

-Untapped Cities

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

  IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

Epicenter of the arts. 

Architectural darling. 

Dining and shopping capital. 

Trendsetter. 

New York City wears many crowns, and spreads an irresistible feast for all.

– Lonely Planet

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

 IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

Gleaming with architectural icons, peppered with purveyors of fine food and drink, and host to a booming population, Manhattan's southern tip is no longer strictly business. 

The Financial District houses some big-hitting New York sights.

– Lonely Planet

THE LIGHT OF NEW YORK

 IMAGES OF MANHATTAN

Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.

It stretches north from Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village to West 143rd Street in Harlem. 

It is considered one of the most expensive streets in the world.

MUSINGS ON NYC PIZZA

MUSINGS ON NYC PIZZA FROM “ MIAMI GRINGA” HAYDEE


Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitano

Should you find yourself at Coney Island with an appetite whetted by strolling the boardwalk, playing skee ball or riding the world-renown Cyclone roller coaster, head two blocks north of the main strip to Totonno’s Pizzeria Napolitano.

A Brooklyn institution since 1924 and recently resurrected after a fire in March 2009, Totonno’s churns out succulent thin crust pies that are topped with creamy white, hand-sliced mozzarella. Each one is done to perfection in a few short minutes, thanks to the super-heated coal-fired oven. Best of all, the slices are pie shaped, the way God intended. The servers are friendly and eager to please, welcoming you like a paesano. And you never know who you might meet -- word has it that the godfather of punk, Lou Reed, is a big Totonno’s fan.



Lombardi’s Pizza



According to its website, Lombardi’s is the original American pizzeria, first selling its pies in 1905 before pizza became a ubiquitous part of the American cuisine scene after World War II. Whether they were first or not is irrelevant when you make pizza this good.



On my last trip to NYC, I stayed at the Millennium Hilton downtown near the World Trade Center Site, just across the street from high-end label discount shopping at Century 21 (a pair of Manolo’s at 75 percent off retail and a Pucci silk scarf for a song!) Upon check-in and weary from the flight, I dialed up Lombardi’s (advance research pays off) and had a simple pepperoni delivered, which my traveling companion and I devoured at a table near the lobby bar. The tasty, satisfying pie was molto bene and set the tone for a memorable, foodie-focused Manhattan adventure.



John’s Pizzeria



There are many places to get pizza in Greenwich Village , but they all pale in comparison to John’s on Bleecker Street . Bucking the NYC pizza by the slice tradition, John’s only sells pies, small (14 inches, six slices) and large (16 inches, 8 slices) for dine-in or take-out. And deep-dish fans be darned: it’s thin crust, coal-fired only in this delightful, little parlor.



Though the digs are a bit grungy, the garlicky scent wafting throughout tells you that you’ve found the genuine article. Regulars crow about the outstanding pastas and meatballs, but I say you can’t go wrong with a simple pie and a cold beverage of your choice.



Totonno’s 1524 Neptune Avenue, (718) 372-8606, www.totonnos.com

Lombardi's Pizza, 32 Spring Street, (212) 941-7994, www.firstpizza.com

John’s Pizzeria, 278 Bleecker Street, (212) 243-1680, www.johnsbrickovenpizza.com