Join us this week as we look at Art Deco architecture from a new perspective, go inside the partially abandoned Lott House, explore the city's surprising collection of art underground, and more!
Wednesday, November 6th - Underground Art Deco Tour
Photo by Untapped New York
When someone thinks of Art Deco architecture they think of looking up. But what if some of the most interesting stories about New York City’s Art Deco structures actually are better told underground? In Underground Art Deco some of the most celebrated Art Deco buildings in Manhattan will be approached and spoken about from the perspective of what’s going on underneath them. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunities to see and admire icons like the Chrysler Building, the Graybar Building, the General Electric Building, and Rockefeller Center in their above-ground glory as well.
Thursday, November 7th - Livestream Tour of the Off-Limits Lott House in Brooklyn
Photo Courtesy of The Lott House
Virtually walk through the historic Lott House, one of the oldest buildings in Brooklyn, temporarily closed to the public for restoration! Peek inside the ‘closet within a closet’ believed to have served as a stop on the Underground Railroad, view objects from the home's collection, and hear expert insights from Alyssa Loorya, President of the Hendrick I. Lott House Preservation Association, and Mary Tsaltas-Ottomanelli, Executive Director of the Hendrick I. Lott House.
This virtual event is free to members at the Fan tier or higher!
Friday, November 8th - Underground Subway Art Tour
Photograph by Robyn Roth-Moise
New York City’s subway system isn’t just the largest in the world (by number of stations), it is also one of the largest public art galleries. Hidden in plain sight below the streets of New York you’ll find works of art by famous names like Roy Lichtenstein, Yayoi Kusama, Nick Cave, Yoko Ono, Mary Miss, and many more. On Untapped New York’s Underground Art Tour, you can discover some of these works and learn the fascinating stories behind their inspiration and installation with the expert guidance of Untapped New York’s Chief Experience Officer Justin Rivers.
Friday, November 8th - Explore the Gilded Age Mansions of Fith Ave
Take a stroll along 5th Avenue and see it as it was during the Gilded Age when grand mansions of millionaires and New York City's high society lined the illustrious street! You will see stunning photographs of opulent homes that have been demolished and examine the facades of homes that still stand.
This tour runs every Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!
Friday, November 9th - Underground Subway Tour
Discover the largest art installation in the subway system, see architectural ghosts of partially abandoned stations, and use the subway as your own time machine as you explore the evolution of the underground system from its opening in 1904 to today! Led by an expert New York City tour guide, you’ll discover hidden art and features of the subway that everyday commuters walk right by.
Saturday, November 9th - Ellis Island’s Abandoned Hospital
Explore buildings usually off-limits to the public on a hard hat tour of the abandoned hospital on the island's south side, in partnership with Save Ellis Island. This tour grants you access to spaces that have been closed off for decades including an autopsy theater, contagious disease wards, and laundry facilities. Learn about the immigrants who passed through and discover other surprising uses for the 29-building complex.
Sunday, November 10th - Greenwich Village Coffe Tasting Tour
Drink your way through the surprising history of coffee in New York City! On this tour, you will uncover the surprising history of coffee in New York City while exploring Greenwich Village, its iconic birthplace. You will learn how New York and coffee go hand-in-hand both in cultural and economic development. By the end of this experience you will have tasted: an espresso, a drip coffee, chocolate-covered coffee beans, and a cappuccino… so you will be caffeinated!
Monday, November 11th - Uncover the Secrets of Grand Central Terminal
Our award-winning Secrets of Grand Central Tour lets you peer into hidden tennis courts, find out what’s hiding beneath the iconic clock at the center of the main concourse, visit an office-turned-speakeasy, locate a forgotten celestial mural, and so much more! Discover hidden gems that daily commuters walk past each day inside the historic train terminal.
Tuesday, November 12th - Landmarking in NYC Since 1965: The Highs and Lows
Presented by Village Preservation, Co-Sponsored by the New York Preservation Archive Project and Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts
Image Courtesy of Village Preservation
Earlier this year, Village Preservation released a first-of-its-kind analysis of all landmark designations in NYC since the law first allowed them in 1965. The results were illuminating, surprising, and in terms of the recent past, extremely concerning. Village Preservation Executive Director Andrew Berman and Director of Research Dena Tasse-Winter will present the report’s meticulously detailed findings, discuss what to make of all of it with leaders from NYPAP and Friends, and open it to the public to answer questions and hear feedback.
These two Village Preservation events are free and open to the public!
Wednesday, November 13th - Yankee Doodle Dandy: George M. Cohan and the Broadway Stage
Presented by Village Preservation
Image Courtesy of Village Preservation
From “You’re a Grand Old Flag” to “Give My Regards to Broadway,” you can’t talk about American theater without referencing the great showman—George M. Cohan. Cohan's beginnings are very much in the Village, at the former Union Square Theatre at Broadway and Fourth Avenue, where he made his debut.
The first book about Cohan in over 50 years, Yankee Doodle Dandy: George M. Cohan and the Broadway Stage by Elizabeth T. Craft explores and analyzes Cohan’s work, but is also the first to critique and reckon with Cohan’s output and legacy. It's also a book about how the American musical became the American musical, how Broadway became Broadway, and how the United States became the United States. Drawing on information previously unexamined and once-inaccessible archives, Yankee Doodle Dandy shows us how Cohan’s life and work offer keen insights into the evolution of American culture.
This post contains affiliate links, which means Untapped New York earns a commission. There is no extra cost to you and the commissions earned help us support our mission of independent journalism!
November 13th - The Bravest Pets of Gotham: Tales of Four-Legged Firefighters of Old New York with Peggy Gavan
Hear about the heroic pooches of New York City's past in a live, virtual talk with author and volunteer firefighter Peggy Gavan! Meet a heroic Dalmatian who saved the lives of humans and cats from burning buildings, uncover the story of a monkey who saved her own firehouse from burning down, discover a miniature fire department at Coney Island's Dreamland Park, and hear more stories from Gavan's latest book, The Bravest Pets of Gotham: Tales of Four-Legged Firefighters of Old New York.
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This virtual event is free to members at the Fan tier or higher!
