Posts tagged soho nolita

life:

It’s hard to believe that New York City’s comprehensive (and complicated) subway system all started with a single train line called the Interborough Rapid Transit, or IRT, which began operation on October 27, 1904, running from City Hall up to 145th Street.

Pictured: The scaffolding barely stands inside a newly excavated tunnel in 1900.

see more — New York Subway: Early Days

Haunted Manhattan: Manhattan Bistro

In 1799, for a week and a half in December, people were drinking water from a well that was soon to be discovered as the watery grave of Elma Sands (aka The Ghost of Spring Street) - who was rumored to be murdered by her secret fiancée Levi Weeks. The well - which some people say the well looks like something out of the movie “The Ring” - still exists today and is in the basement of the Manhattan Bistro next to the desk of general manager Thomas Ward.

Ward has had more than a few haunted experiences down there. Once, he descended the stairs from the dining area, walked into the damp, cellar-like room that houses the still-existing well and heard, in a sharp whisper, “I’m sorry!” Another time, while in the basement, he heard the footsteps of a woman in heels on the floor above “in a panicked walk, as if she were trying to flee.” Then there was the time he somehow got locked inside the downstairs wine room. (He was freed after three hours.) The incident was particularly suspicious because the door mechanism is not easy to lock. “It takes a while to do, and there was no one else here. I literally [turned away] for 20 seconds, and there was no noise at all.” In his 11 years at the restaurant, Ward has seen mysterious shadows, ashtrays inexplicably broken against walls and a champagne glass that levitated off the top bar shelf, shattered in midair and cut his finger—an injury that sent him to the hospital. (He attributes that last incident to the ghost of an artist who hanged himself in an apartment above the restaurant.) His very first day on the job, Ward was greeted with paranormal activity. When his coworkers warned him that the place was haunted, Ward, not convinced, went to sit down. His chair got pulled out right from under him. So does he believe in ghosts now? “I didn’t until I started working here.” (via NYC GO)

Manhattan Bistro
129 Spring Street, Soho/Nolita

matthewgallaway:

Check out this slide they’re installing in the New Museum. I seriously think that slides like this should be a requirement in every building in the world New York City. I think it would solve many problems related to ppl thinking they’re better than everyone else (“hey buddy — take the slide and then we’ll talk”) and also allow for a new WPA as buildings were retrofitted. I’m exaggerating here, obviously, but only a little. The only bad thing is that you’re going to have to wear a helmet and pads — at least on this one — which :(

via Curbed

Ending Tonight: 85th Annual Feast of San Gennaro

The streets of Little Italy have been taken over by food, parades, music, rides and much more for the past 11 days as part of the world’s largest outdoor religious festival.  Today is your last chance to get your fill of Sausage & Peppers, Cannolis, Zeppoles and all the trinkets you can carry.

For four generations, the Ferrara family has been delighting Little Italy with its outstanding Italian/French desserts. Cannoli, stogliatella, gelati and more have been made right here since 1892.  It’s our favorite place (although a bit touristy) to go for a cannoli and to gawk at the amazing wedding cakes on display.

Ferrara Bakery & Cafe
195 Grand Street, Soho/Nolita (Little Italy)