Name: Turtle Bay, Midtown East & the Emergence of Modern Architecture: Walking Tour
Start: 2025-05-02T18:00:00.000Z
Location: Grand Central Oyster Bar

**Cost**: This tour is free with a voluntary donation to your guide/organizer at the end via cash, Venmo or Zelle.

**Overview**
This tour we will indulge in the East 80's between 5th Avenue and Park Avenue and the residential architecture of the gilded age which consists of mansions and elegant townhouses. We'll cover the history of this area and how and why it developed as an enclave for NYC's wealthy elite.

Starting out at the garden of the Cooper Hewitt museum, which was originally the mansion home of Andrew and Louise Carnegie, we'll visit several local art galleries (TBD) during our journey, along with several other indoor locations with spectacular architecture.

**Restrooms before the tour: Tarulucci e Vino Cafe at the Cooper Hewitt Museum.** You can enter the cafe via the garden without having to pay admission to the museum. There is a quick bag inspection by a security guard. There are also public restrooms at the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest across the street from the garden at 90th Street & 5th Avenue. Once inside the church veer immediately to your right (one stall).
**Other nearby options: Met Museum pay what you wish for NY residents. There is also an education entrance near 81st Street where you can go to the rest room withour visiting the museum. And of course any of the other local museums - Guggenheim, Neue Gallery (admission charge).**

We'll have a break and restrooms in Central Park or depending on time at the Met Museum's education entrance.

**Tour ends at 76th Street & Madison Avenue** or thereabouts.

Your organizer and guide,

Hank Orenstein
hankorenstein@gmail.com
646-596-3005

(photo: James B. Duke House, 1 East 78th Street, now NYU's Institute for the Fine Arts). Courtesy of bigoldhouses.blogspot.com

Exploring NYC History and Neighborhoods

Hank Orenstein

Karen Van

Rise 

Lisa Ornest

Mary

Arleen

Eileen B

Peter Buxbaum

Cindy

Sunny

Susanne

Betty

CLAUDIA GILL

Cathy

Barbara Goldstein

Yuling Wu

Armelle 

Maite CG

Abbe Harris

Beth W

Upper East Side History, Architecture and Art Tour: The Gilded Age Revisted 

Cooper Hewitt Arthur Ross Terrace & Gardens

RSVP's begin Wednesday, April 16th at 9:00pm. Space is set aside for new members of the group, 1st and 2nd timers who land on the waiting list. Email me at hankorenstein@gmail.com to request your spot.

**Cost**: This tour is "pay what you wish" at the end via cash, Venmo or zelle.

**Meeting Location:** Down below Grand Central Terminal in front of the Oyster Bar Restaurant (which is as old as Grand Central itself, opening in 1913. There are public restrooms in the adjacent food hall.

**OVERVIEW/TOUR DESCRIPTION**
Turtle Bay and the Midtown East section of Manhattan is unique in its varied architecture which spans the art deco Chrysler Building, the modern and international styles of the United Nations Complex, the medieval Tudor City and a large number of distinctive buildings such as the Ford Foundation and Lever House, NYC's first all glass tower (1952).

We'll stroll by Turtle Bay Gardens, once home to Stephen Sondheim, Bob Dylan, Kurt Vonnegut and Katherine Hepburn (for nearly 50 years). The United Nations area also features some interesting features including the Isiaah Wall and outdoor sculpture such as St. George fighting the "dragon of nuclear war" (pictured above). There's also some American Revolutionary History and we'll uncover the many layers and textures of this overlooked area that includes the Beekman Place enclave, a secret garden and an awesome rooftop cocktail lounge.

**Ending point:** This tour is close to a circular route, so we'll end back in the Grand Central area.

Cheers from Hank
646-596-3005
hankorenstein@gmail.com

Mary Sivak

Bill

Andy Levy

Carlos

Eileen

Ronnie

Marion Chalat

CathyH

Paul

Janice

Rebecca

Liza

Kimberly Madison

Carole

Ilin 

Adriana Estrada

Lisa Bu

Turtle Bay, Midtown East & the Emergence of Modern Architecture: Walking Tour

Grand Central Oyster Bar

Hank Orenstein's Exploring NYC History and Neighborhood

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