Month: July 2018

BUT WAIT…THERE’S MORE!

Or…Want a free pass to a NYC museum?   Pull out that library card!

You’ve seen those  infomercials that tell you to order some  wonderful miracle  product that you can’t live without and once they’ve almost got  you hooked…they throw in…”But wait…there’s more!”  And then they tell you about some great  thingamajig that goes along with the other thingamajig and there you are…ordering.   Well friends,  that’s what’s going on  with a New York , Queens or  Brooklyn Library card!!!!

Culture Pass

Here’s how it works

Use that library card to  borrow those books, do that  research, watch that  movie, attend that  lecture, use their restrooms  and then..to reserve a free museum pass .  All you have to do is go to the
Culture Pass website enter your library card number and password and select the venue of your choice.    If you don’t have a library card now’s the time to get one.  Anyone who lives, works or studies in New York State can get a NYPL library card and even if you’re just visiting there’s a short term  visitor card available (didn’t know that).

The day the program was announced, July 15th, the NY City Library received over 5000 on-line  applications for library cards usually it’s about 290!   But wait there’s more…over 9,500 free passes to the  Met Museum, Whitney and MoMa  are now  reserved-sold out (well not sold ’cause it’s free).  There are 33 institutions in Culture Pass  and more coming. One caveat – you can only go  once a year to each venue.  Good news is that a pass can be for 2 to 4 people depending on the institution.  This City and Library  initiative is focused on allowing more access to the culture  this City has to offer that  may not otherwise be affordable to many.   The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum  is on the list and  its ticket alone  can be $33 for one person.

Culture Pass is THE  hot ticket

Right now(July 23) all passes are gone, but as of August 1 and the first of every month thereafter  reservations are open again.

My friends from across the country talk to me about the cost of living in NYC and discuss how their  rotisserie chickens are only $4.99  and gasp at my $8.99.  Of course, they’re right, but you can’t beat the quality  and quantity  of  free-bees  this City offers.  (Let’s not talk about apt costs and parking-that’s a whole different story)  BTW the Met Opera’s free  summer HD  outdoor series starts on  August 24th  – more info in my next post.

AS ALWAYS, LOVE THIS CITY!

KAY’S NOTES: (Now that  news of Culture Pass has hit all the papers and social media  many of you are probably well aware of this  program; however,  I thought I would be remiss if I didn’t write this post just in case.)

IMPORTANT TO KNOW: From Culture Pass website: Dozens of organizations participate in Culture Pass, from children’s museums and public gardens to historical societies and heritage centers. View the full list of participating organizations to see what interests you — whether it’s fine art or history, nature or photography.   https://www.culturepass.nyc/

GOOD TO KNOW: (FROM NYPL website) There are   92 locations to get a library card or you can  apply for a library card online.

Disclaimer: I try for correct info  on my posts, but no guarantees people.

A WALK TO REMEMBER

 

Or…Fifth Avenue back in the day….

First time I visited the business library of the NYPL was last week. As I stood looking at the building, I remembered  it was the former B. Altman & Co. department store.

And then it happened … a memory from years ago.  A memory of the walks we (my family) took  up Fifth Avenue starting with B. Altman back in the 50’s and 60’s.  I think some of you, my peers to be exact, probably  remember that stretch of Fifth Avenue from 34th to 59th filled with the most beautiful and iconic  stores.  Some still around and some gone forever.

 

We   would walk from Penn Station  to Fifth  along 34th Street. Sometimes we stopped at Macy’s on the way  and sometimes on the way back.    Our first stop was always officially B. Altman.

Image result for b altman

After Altman’s we went to Lord and Taylor, walked by the Lions  guarding the New York Public Library,  to Rockefeller Center, Saks,  Tiffany’s, Steuben Glass,  St Patrick’s, Bonwit Tellers and FAO Schwarz.   Lastly we visited Bergdorf Goodman.

Of course,  we got dressed up!    We wore a suit or a dress, stockings, high heels and sometimes even a pillbox hat.  (Yes,  our feet hurt…we didn’t care)

Plus, you know what?  We never bought anything!    The only thing we spent money on was food at  the Automat, Schraffts and  Top of the Sixes.

The restaurant, Top of the Sixes, was a very special treat for us.   Reading about it now it was never known for its food, but for its glorious view and design. Truthfully, I  can’t remember a thing we  ate, I can  only remember that spectacular  view from  some forty   floors above Fifth.

Now it’s a Cigar Bar! Bonwit Tellers is now Trump Towers and  Shraffts and the Automats are  all gone.  FAO Schwarz moved a few times and is now gone.     Good thing about Altman’s is that the building has Landmark status, so its beautiful architecture remains.

After the window shopping and  the walking thru stores and  the admiring  of the latest fashions,  and the lunch, we walked back to Penn Station.  As we sat on the LIRR with our shoes off (feet burning) we talked and laughed about our adventures.   We had some really good ones, but that’s for another post!

LOVE THIS CITY…ALWAYS!

KAY’S NOTES:

IMPORTANT TO KNOW:  Some of the buildings have been protected by the Landmark Commission; however, some have been  torn down by developers including Bonwit Tellers which is  now Trump Towers.   FAO Schwarz on the corner of 59th and Fifth was moved to the GE building across the street and now out of business.   Horn and Hardart Automats exist  only at a special exhibit at the Smithsonian in DC.

GOOD TO KNOW:  Lots of websites about historical New York and the ladies mile on Fifth.   Just google – they’ll all come up.

Photographs courtesy of the Department Store Museum

Disclaimer: I try for correct info  on my posts, but no guarantees people.