InsideNYCblog

C'mon Mayor Mike...don't break tradition!

New York City is a place full of traditions.  Since 1904, we have celebrated the New Year by lowering a ball down a flag pole at 1 Times Square. The Macy's day parade is a well known tradition along with the running of the NYC Marathon.  However, a popular Theatre District tradition that takes place in the famous Sardis Restauarant just might be broken by his honor, Mike Bloomberg.  As you probably already know Sardi's is the unofficial "Broadway Hall Of Fame". When you enter the famed eatery you are instantly greeted by hundereds of theatre personalities drawn up in colorful sketch carictures.  The carictures depict the "Top-Shelf" of the theatre scence over the last several decades. All the sketchs revolved around theatre personalities; that changed on opening night of "Manhattan Mary" in 1927. It was during the 2nd act when an man dressed in an elegant midnight blue tuxedo with a bright white vest suddenly jumped from his orchestra seat and took to the stage unannounced.  A confused, somewhat bewildered audience soon turned to big smiles as they watched the newcomer banter with the cast and play the straightman for the comedian.  At the end of this impromtu skit, the crowd burst into thunderous applause for the completley unexpected performer was the ever popular Mayor of NYC, James "Jimmy" Walker.  At that exact moment in 1927, another New York first of so many was born. Soon after his debut, Mayor Jimmy was invited to Sardi's for his own caricture presentation an idea was born. Unfortunatly, this "tradition" was not born again until Robert F. Wagner had his caricture presented to him for his tireless efforts to establish strong labor unions in theatres for them to run more fairly and effectivly. Mayor John V. Linsey replaced Ken Howard in the "My City" number for 7 whole minutes. In return, Sardi's invited Linsey which he received his sketch with great appreciation. Mayor Abe Beam is not known for any of his acting on a Broadway stage, but kept the Sardi's caricture tradition alive during his short and tulmotious term. "How am I doin" Mayor Ed Koch made his acting debut on Broadaway in "Murder at City Hall", hmmm...then went on to whoop it up on stage during the 10th anniversary performance of "The Last Laugh". Mayor Koch was honored at Sardi's then went on to Studio 54 to dance the night away. Mayor David Dinkins was also honored with his own caricture during his 4 year term in the early 90's. Finally, Rudolph Guliani was presented with his caricture in 1997 for his on-stage appearances on Broadway and fund raising events.  That was over 11 years ago.  Even though Mircle Mike has shown up to do his cameos in Chicago and Mary Poppins he still has yet to complete his caricture obligations to Sardi's. Insiders at Sardi's tell me the caricture is completed and ready for his signature.  Please Mayor Bloomberg, dont break this unique traditon that has been going on at Sardi's during the last seven administrations. We are counting on you!!

      

The "New" Wall Street

Once you get me on a topic, or street for that matter, I have to pick it apart before I can finally leave it alone.  If you just read my "History repeats Itself" I just wanted to follow up with my final (for now) observations of the famed street. If you take close notice of the street today rising up from the barricades and security posts it is a street in major transition. Its very appropriate that the street that sits behind the NYSE is New St, because "New" is definitely a word for Wall Street these days. For decades Wall Street was front and center of banks, exchanges, and investment firms.  Today, long after 911, Wall Street is emerging into the next new hot retail and residential center. Already on the street is Pink, Tiffany's, Cipriani's, not 1 but 2 high end health clubs, and lets not forget a Starbuck's.  Oh.. and for good measure The Trump Building. Due to the street closing along with heavy security, many financial related industries have since left the street high and dry.  Morgan Guaranteed Trust and Brown Brothers & Harriman just to name a few. Image is big in the banking world and throwing loyalty to the wind, the obvious threat of terrorism along with the strong visual presence of security has caused them to say, "Adios." This is not good for business!  I can only speculate that once the NYSE finally closes its doors, Wall Street will flourish even further into being a hot & hip downtown street. It will then only be a matter of time before it will be renamed into a catchy acronym.      

I can see it now, Wall street will be lined with several boutiques, fancy bistros with outdoor seating, an art gallery or two, a T-Mobile store, and lets not forget.. a Wall-Mart sized Macintosh store. I will walk down that street and reminisce of the banks that were once there. Of course, my kids will roll there eyes bored of listening to Dad when he was young. At that exact moment, I will realize I have actually turned into my father. SCARY                           

History Repeats Itself.. yet Again

A common, but oh.. so true metaphor used by professors around the world is "History Repeats Itself".  As a New York City tour guide for over 18 years now, I have stumbled into speaking situations where using this popular saying works perfectly to make a valid point.  Realize this valid observation happened to me about 5 years ago but I felt it was worthy of sharing today.  So.. venturing into my first official blog (wish me luck) entry I thought I would play it safe (for now) by sharing with readers an insight to one of Americas famous streets - Wall street and how history repeats itself.

If you are not familiar with the name origin to this street its quite simple.. Americas first official financial thoroughfare is named after... you guessed it, a wall. I will expand, without going into a trilogy. In 1626, the business minded Dutch settled a skin and fur trading colony at the southern tip of present day Manhattan island calling it New Amsterdam. Being small and vulnerable to attacks the Dutch decided to erect a wooden wall at the northern edge of the colony that would stretch from one end of the island to the other. The reason for the wall? Protection! The biggest concern the Dutch had outside of animals and unfriendly Indians were the infamous, aggressive English.  The English had continuously threatened and taunted the Dutch that it was only a matter of time before they would invade and forcefully take complete control. The Dutch, with little to no military decided a protective barrier made of thick planks of oak forming a wall would do the trick. Well, the Dutch and their wall were successful in keeping the English out from the North.. but eventually in 1654, the powerful British Navy sailed into the Harbor(from the south) and peacefully took over New Amsterdam. When the English discovered this wooden wall they were quoted in saying "We don't need no stinking wall" Well... not really, but the wall was useless to them so it was disassembled and abandoned.  As the English colony of New York now began to grow northward, a street would simply be named, Wall St. for what originally stood in its place.

Fast forward to 2001, Wall Street over the past 200 years had set a standard in big banking and high finance in which no street on the planet has matched. However, with such power and influence came consequences. On September 11, 2001The World Trade Center is attacked destroying the complex and killing thousands. Lower Manhattan is in a lock down for several months. As lower Manhattan recovered, serious security measures were taken including Wall street where it all began. 

At first sight of the Wall street area it resembles a modern day Alamo. At the head of Wall St. and Broadway there are three, 3ft high bollards lined like soldiers standing permanent guard.  On both sides of the pylons for added protection sit these brass colored geometric shaped boulders made of lead and cement. Believe it or not, these were designed to be artistic but I can not remember ever seeing anyone admiring them for there aesthetics.

Just down from the bollards and the brass boulders a stark black iron fence completely surrounds the New York Stock Exchange. Take note of the cement tree boxes for a little added protection. If you walk down to the intersection of Wall and Nassau Street you find a swat truck parked with policemen outside holding semi automatics in helmets and vests. The area oozes an eerie calm, people are snapping pictures of the Exchange and the Statue of George Washington but it is being done in a quiet, slow moving motion.

If you continue walking east on Wall Street you come to not one but two steel barricades manned by security guards. It is unfortunate (but completely understandable) that Wall Street has been turned into a high security, military outpost that protects the oldest, largest trading exchange in the world which leads me to my point.

THE POINT

The Dutch settlers had built a wooden wall in the 17th century to protect themselves from the threat of an English attack. Through time, the wall served no additional purpose so it was removed and a street was placed in its name. Today in the 21st century, approximately 300 years later, history repeats itself by Americans who have had to build a wall also. A wall not of wood but of bollards, iron fences, security guards, and police with high-end weapon try. This modern day wall is to protect us all from our present day threat ..terrorism.