Tour Greenwich Village’s Disappearing Neon Signs – Thursday, July 7th
Join Thomas Rinaldi, author of the book New York Neon at dusk on Thursday as he takes us past more than a dozen neon signs in Greenwich Village dating from the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Some have been beautifully restored; all are in perpetual danger of disappearing. But Greenwich Village is still blessed with a dense concentration.
Tour the Fifth Avenue Gilded Age Mansion Home to the American Irish Historical Society – Saturday, July 9th at 3pm
The American Irish Historical Society makes its home in one of the last surviving Gilded Age mansions on this stretch of Fifth Avenue, built as a private home in 1901. On this special insider tour, led by Historical Society staff, you’ll step inside this beautifully preserved mansion and learn about the building’s secrets and history, and the story of the founding of the Society and those of Irish immigrants to the United States. The tour concludes with the Society’s current exhibit about the Easter Rising and its American dimension. With a library that holds over 10,000 volumes, it is home to one of the largest private collections of Irish and American Irish history and literature in the United States.
Tour and Wine Tasting at Rooftop Reds: Saturdays, July 16th and July 30th
Did you know the world’s first commercially viable rooftop vineyard is hidden within the Brooklyn Navy Yard? Untapped Cities will be bringing readers on a special wine tasting and tour at Rooftop Reds, led by one of its founders who will share their knowledge of winemaking. Within the 14,800 square foot rooftop, you will see a unique urban planter system that is the first of its kind, developed with Cornell University and Finger Lakes industry leadersAs an added bonus: all guests will get 20% off purchases of Rooftop Reds wines. Get in on this experience early, as the first harvest will be taking place this October 2016. Take in an amazing view, lounge in a hammock, and sip on Rooftop Red wines in our tours which start in May, to continue through the year.
Tour the Remnants of Dutch New Amsterdam – Saturday, July 23rd at 2pm
You might think that nothing remains of Dutch New Amsterdam, but the Dutch influence is felt in many hidden relics south of Wall Street. This includes the massive one hidden in plain sight: the original street grid embedded in lower Manhattan grid today.
Join author, playwright, and Untapped Cities guide, Justin Rivers, complete with Manhattan’s first map in hand as you trace the streets of Manhattan in 1667. You’ll hear about New York’s founding myths and facts while standing in the very spots they all happened. Tour highlights include, a look at the remains of Manhattan’s first city hall, a walk of the city’s original coast line, discovering the original Dutch fort, wind mill, and the original battery. Physically touch history as we also spend time finding out why Bowling Green has its name and why it’s been so important in our city’s history.
VIP Tour of the Woolworth Building – Saturday, July 30th
This Untapped Cities-exclusive tour of the normally off-limits Woolworth Building is led by building architect Cass Gilbert’s great granddaughter, Helen Post Curry, who runs the Woolworth Building tours. In addition to a guided visit through the spectacular lobby, we will also visit the cellar level where the bank vault is located and where the former entrances to the subway are, and provide special access to the gorgeous mezzanine level.
Cass Gilbert was Curry’s paternal great grandfather and she began running tours in the Woolworth Building on the 100th anniversary of the landmark. As Curry says herself, “there are so many behind-the-scenes “secrets” about the Woolworth Building” and we’re excited to share them with you on this special, insiders tour.
