A Cheap July 4th in NYC

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A July 2007 trip to New York by ripplefan2

The Target Photo - The Cloisters Museum and Gardens, New York, New York

Quote: My girlfriend and I decided to spend as little as possible on July 4th and still have a great time...and we did.

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A Cheap July 4th in NYC

Overview

Quote:

The Cloisters is a Metropolitan Museum of Art branch that is devoted to the art of medieval Europe. Situated right next to the Heather Gardens in Fort Tryon Park, this is must do and must see for all. I can guarantee that most New Yorkers have never even been here or even heard about it, making this spot virtually untouched by the mayhem of New York. So go have some fun, it's worth it.Quick Tips: The Cloisters itself is a suggested admission fee, so don't bring a lot of money with you, but I would suggest bringing picnic foods, chairs, blankets, Frisbees, music, etc., because there are never ending parks overlooking the Hudson River and it is spectacular.Best Way To Get Around: The b...Read More

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The Cloisters Museum and Gardens

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Attraction | "Cloisters"

Quote:

So what is a Cloister?, you might ask. Well, "in a monastery, the cloister is a square or rectangular open-air courtyard surrounded by covered passageways. It is always situated next to the monastic church, and its use is limited to the monks. The surrounding covered passageways lead to rooms essential to the secluded and regimented monastic life...[and] a garden with a water source was often located in the center of the cloister." This sign outside the first cloister in the museum gives the full detailed description of this garden area, but not the true ambience.

When we first entered the museum, we had no idea what to expect, and were immediately given an odd feeling. Neither myself nor my girlfriend are huge fans or over done religious icons plastered on every wall and the gospels displayed everywhere, and here it all was, right in front of us. The first room we entered was a old reconstruction of the inside of a church, without any pews set up. In here, we were informed that the walls on the left side were originally from some church in Europe that existed in the medieval times, while the rest was built to replicate it and make it whole. I actually found out that most of the Cloisters Museum was like this since most of the old medieval churches had been destroyed over time by war, weathering, and poor upkeep.

Now, each one of these religiously influenced rooms lead its way outside into the first of three bigger cloisters the museum has to offer; The Cuxa Cloister Garth Garden. Here there were four crab apple trees set up in each corner, apparently a staple in medieval times for the creations of cider and medieval verjuice. The next garden was the Trie Cloister Garden, which overlooks the entrance way that most use when coming in. It was here, while observing the different plants and the amazing view that a bird, after eating away some blueberry plants, decided to fly over head and take a crap on me. He hit me dead center on the side of the side and it is so hard to get that out, digested blueberry juice. The last big cloister was the Bonnefont Cloister Herb Garden which is full of different fruit and herb plants that were typically used in medieval times.

After an exhausting day of religious artifacts and tombs and cloisters, we decided that it was time to head back to Queens and prepare for the Macy’s Fourth of July Fireworks celebration and some much needed July 4th cocktails. Read Less

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 12, 2007

The Cloisters Museum and Gardens
Fort Tyron Park
New York, New York 10040
(212) 923-3700

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Fort Tryon Park

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Attraction | "Heather Gardens"

The Pathways Photo - Fort Tryon Park, New York, New York

Quote:

When my girlfriend and I entered Fort Tryon Park, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that the first area is a wonderment of horticultural ingenuity put forth by the son of the co-designers, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, of both Central and Prospect Parks.Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr in the early 1900s was commissioned by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to help build a unique park in the area of Fort Tryon Park. Olmstead Jr then put forth an awe-inspiring arena of botanical greatness, perfectly etched into the rocky mountain side of upper Manhattan. How this was done is beyond my comprehension because the gardens are amazing and almost never ending. The twists and turns that the park has ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 12, 2007

Fort Tryon Park
Northern Manhattan
New York, New York

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Fort Tryon Park

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Attraction

The Entrance Photo - Fort Tryon Park, New York, New York

Quote:

After walking through the Heather Gardens, my girlfriend and I came across the outpost of Fort Washington perched high on the mountain top overlooking the water. We first were intrigued by the adjacent park that was covered by high trees and comfortable benches where readers were parked, enjoying the worlds put forth by their magical pages. The area was comfortable and relaxing and seemed like a place that we could definitely enjoy at a future date for some reading and just basic relaxation. However, while we were here, a small pathway extended out to a highly positioned flagpole that intrigued our curiosity. Upon reaching the flagpole, we immediately realized that the area surrounding it was ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 12, 2007

Fort Tryon Park
Northern Manhattan
New York, New York

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Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks

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Attraction | "Macy's 4th of July Celebration"

Fireworks Show 1 Photo - Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks, New York, New York

Quote:

After a day exploring around the city, we were exhausted; however, we just really wanted to see the fireworks celebration. This year, Macy's was expected to use hundreds of pieces of pyrotechnic wonder and awe over the East River of Manhattan. Being as exhausted as we were, we decided to head home to Queens and watch the spectacle from the other side of the river. We sat in our apartment and watched as tons of gun powder exploded into a beautiful array of colors and shapes above the Gotham skyline. Now, these fireworks can be seen from anywhere, but some of the best viewing spots are from The Brooklyn Bridge, The Seaport, The Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn Heights, Williamsburg, an...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on July 16, 2007

Macy's Fourth of July Fireworks
East River
New York, New York 10016
(212) 494-4495

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About the Writer

ripplefan2
Queens, New York

"I try to travel to at least twice a year to foreign countries or to destinations that I have never b..."
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