From the financial district to the banks of the East River, change your perspective and walk these streets that define New York, each in their own way.
New York is too often synonymous with wide avenues that stretch as far as the eye can see, starting with the emblematic 5th Avenue. But the Big Apple can also be discovered along its small streets, little frequented by tourists and, for some, no longer than a few blocks. Guided tour of Manhattan in Brooklyn.
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1. Wall Street: the capitalist
Wall Street is home to the headquarters of the New York Stock Exchange. Tagger Yancey IV / NYC & Company
Wall Street is one of the first streets laid out by Dutch settlers when they arrived in the 17th century. The street takes its name from the surrounding wall which then protected New Amsterdam, before falling into British hands in 1664. In 1792, Wall Street became the cradle of the New York Stock Exchange. A name which, today, in itself embodies capitalism! Obligatory selfie with the Fearless Girl, the girl without fear. This sculpture claims a better place for women in the world of finance.
The detail to see: cobblestones sealed in the pavement of Walt Street symbolize the route of the former wall of the Dutch colony.
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2. Bowery Street: the pioneer
The New Museum does not go unnoticed on Bowery. Julienne Schaer / NYC & Company
Bowery is commonly considered by historians to be the oldest street in New York. Traces make it possible to trace the use of this route back to the time of the Amerindians, well before the arrival of the Dutch settlers. The name is derived from the Dutch “Bouwerie Weg”, which designates the street of the farm. The landscape has evolved a lot since then, with Bowery now being one of the busiest streets on the Lower East Side.
The detail to see: the avant-garde silhouette of the New Museum stands at n°235. This contemporary art museum opened in 1977. It is the work of Japanese architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa.
3. Canal Street: the exotic
Canal Street is named after a canal dug in the 1800s. Pacific Coast Highway
Want a change of scenery? Stroll along Canal Street, the artery that separates Chinatown, the Chinese district, and Little Italy, the Italian district. The signs of shops, banks and restaurants are available in ideograms! On the sidewalks, street vendors offer exotic fruits and vegetables, clothing and souvenirs. Push the door of traditional Chinese grocery stores and pharmacies. The Asian community has also made a solid reputation for jewelry and gold work.
The detail to see: on Canal Street, and throughout Chinatown, New York street signs are subtitled in Chinese.
4. Crosby Street: the victim of fashion
Crosby Street is a small cobbled street that stretches for 6 blocks. Shinya Suzuki
A stone’s throw from Broadway and the “flagship stores” of international chains, Crosby Street offers a much more local shopping atmosphere. This street is home to an incredible concentration of small independent shops, mostly designer and vintage shops. Keep your eyes peeled: maybe you’ll come across a star shopping discreetly? Beyond the shop windows, take the time to admire the buildings from the 1900s, with cast iron facades and West Side Story staircases.
The detail to see: the n°97 of Crosby Street was built in 1895 in an astonishing neo-Romanesque style, with windows surmounted by stone eyebrows.
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5. Bleecker Street: the music lover
Bleecker Street has an artistic soul. Eden, Janine and Jim
In the heart of Greenwich Village, Bleecker Street is a quiet little street that changes its face after dark. Bleecker Street lines up a string of jazz clubs, bars and nightclubs. Head to the Bitter End at number 147, a venue founded in 1961 and self-proclaimed “New York’s Oldest Rock Club.” Next door, the Terra Blues, created in 1990, is the only New York club dedicated to the blues. Another up-and-coming address: Le Poisson Rouge, a very eclectic musical club which opened in 2008 at number 158.
The detail to see: melt for a cupcake from the Magnolia Bakery, the favorite address of the Sex and the City series.
6. St. Mark’s Place : la hippie
St. Mark’s Place designates a specific portion of 8th Street. Joe Buglewicz/NYC & Company
A few steps from the very distinguished New York University, St. Mark’s Place stands out! This narrow street which extends over 3 blocks, between 3rd Avenue and Thompkins Square Park, remains the headquarters of the punk and hippie movements. Furiously grunge shops and tattoo and piercing parlors are holding up, despite real estate pressure and the gentrification of the neighborhood. The street also has a number of inexpensive little places to eat on the go.
The detail to see: at n°38, push the door of the Swiss Institute, a space dedicated to contemporary art. Temporary exhibitions follow one another and admission is free.
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7. Houston Street: The Border
The East side of Houston Street is full of giant advertisements for fashion brands. Steven Pisano
Houston Street marks the boundary between historic New York and the city as it developed from the urban plan adopted in 1811. North of Houston Street, most of the streets and avenues no longer feature names but numbers. Another anecdote: at n°46 was the laboratory of Nikola Tesla, at the origin of the electrical distribution networks. Houston Street is also distinguished by its width worthy of an avenue with 3 lanes on either side of a median.
The detail to see: the giant advertisement of a famous New York designer attracts all eyes at n°28. The poster measures over 16 meters high and 23 meters wide!
8. Orchard Street: The Immigrant
Orchard Street stretches from Chinatown to Houston Street. Gryffindor
Perpendicular to Houston Street, Orchard Street was the heart of the Lower East Side’s Jewish neighborhood in the mid-19th century. The buildings have not changed, with many small brick buildings still leaning against each other and their fire escapes blocking the facades. At numbers 97 and 103, two Tenement buildings have been transformed into a museum dedicated to the history of Jewish immigration. The exhibition retraces the life of the district since the 1860s.
The detail to see: every Tuesday evening at 8 p.m., the association of Orchard Street Runners takes to the streets at a short pace. An activity open to all!
9. Central Park South: bucolic
The buildings lining Central Park South at sunrise. Joiseyshowaa
From 5th to 8th Avenue, 59th Street takes the name of Central Park South. The street marks the southern limit of Central Park, offering a wonderful contrast between a green space that stretches as far as the eye can see and a massive alignment of buildings among the tallest in the city. Central Park South is also home to some of New York’s grandest palaces, including the Plaza, Essex House and the Ritz Carlton.
The detail to see: opposite number 106, you will come across the surprising equestrian statue of the Argentine general José de San Martín. It is a replica of a sculpture installed in Buenos Aires and made by the French artist Louis Joseph Daumas.
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10. Washington Street : la star d’Instagram
Washington Street Washington Street toisée par le Manhattan Bridge.
Washington Street captivates photographers! This Brooklyn street offers a unique perspective on the Empire State Building, framed by the pillars of the Manhattan Bridge. A cliché popularized by the poster of the film “Once upon a time in America”. Washington Street also retains traces of the neighborhood’s industrial past. Former warehouses and factories have been converted into high-end housing, attracting trendy boutiques to the ground floor.
The detail to see: at the corner of York Street, you will see the magnificent brick building of the Thomson Water Meters Company, a former company specializing in the manufacture of water meters.
2023-02-19 08:00:00
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