GANYC Visits LIC & Washington Heights!

We wrote earlier this month about the many great & diverse fam tours that GANYC members have offered this Autumn. We cannot thank our members enough who generously offer their time to take and participate in these events. We had two other great events recently-- one organized by us, and another a private event that we were invited to participate in.

One was another great fam tour. With Amazon's plans to build a new HQ complex in Long Island City, in Queens, creating lots of news and controversy both here and nationally, guide and journalist  Norman Oder gave an excellent tour of the area... focusing on its history and future.

New York magazine declared LIC the country’s fastest-growing neighborhood, and it is not hard to see why when you are there. New construction going up everywhere you look. But, prior to the incorporation of New York City in 1898, the area was its own separate city (hence the name) and covered a huge chunk of western Queens. GANYC members saw historic homes from that era,  signs of the former industrial past, art institutions that defined the  area at the turn of this century, and its growing future.

This is an important neighborhood in New York, and one worth exploring as these changes and debates continue.

The second event this past week was a private event organized by Washington Heights BID, GO^UPTOWN, and many other organizations. They sponsored Taste Uptown 2018, on Wednesday November 28th. GANYC members were invited to attend.

23 restaurants from the neighborhood rolled out a fabulous spread of food and drink. The representatives of Washington Heights are so proud of their beautiful, historic, diverse, and delicious neighborhood and so excited about GANYC and other organizations bringing more visitors uptown. Attractions include the Dyckman Farmhouse and United Palace Theater, both of which were available for touring in advance. Also, Inwood Hill Park, stunning views along the Hudson, the Audubon Mural Project and the Morris-Jumel mansion. Wednesday's program included remarks by sponsors, a slide show of Washington Heights in autumn, and some great music too.

Thanks to member Leigh Hallingby for the summary of that event.

During the winter months, we'll be offering at least one more PDP (professional development program), and we have some site inspections and fam tours in the works too.  Stay tuned for those as we finalize & announce them.