Untapped Contributor Profile: Writer and Photographer Julia Kastner

Welcome back to our Untapped Cities contributor profile, where you can get to know the people behind the website and our experiences. Today, we profile Untapped Cities writer and photographer Julia Kastner, who has written about some of the city’s quietest places, about the history of rock & roll’s instruments on display at The Met and more.

Hometown: London, England

What’s your current gig? History major at Barnard College

What’s your favorite “untapped” spot in the city? The Hallett Nature Sanctuary in Central Park! It feels like you’re in the middle of the woods steps away from Columbus Circle.

What places are on your NYC bucket list? Woody Allen’s set at the Café Carlyle, the Irish Hunger Memorial, walking from one tip of Manhattan to the other!

Last trip taken: London

Where do you want to visit next? A place as busy as New York on an entirely different continent.

Favorite mode of transportation: Subway- no matter how many rats, it always has a subtle charm.

What makes New York City great to you? The amount of wonderful people and places I have yet to discover!

What would you change about New York City? The unending piles of street trash.

Favorite piece you’ve written for Untapped Cities: An article on The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Instruments of Rock and Roll Exhibition – I got to see Jimmy Paige in person!

Book you’re reading: Strategies of Containment by John Gaddis (it’s for school, don’t worry)

Last Movie or Show you watched: Jack Whitehall: Travels with My Father

Tell us one surprising thing about yourself? I do a mean Scottish accent.

If you could go back in time, which time period of New York City would you like to be in? The roaring 20s.

What is the last thing in New York City that stopped you in your tracks? I was on the subway and spied someone I haven’t seen in 6 years on the opposite platform — my train left before I could register fully what a coincidence it was or even say hello.

Favorite fun fact about New York City? The Manhattan Project was developed in the basement of the building I have my history classes in!

What’s the last thing you took a photo of? A beautiful view of Morningside Park that looks like it was taken somewhere upstate.

You can see Julia’s photographer on her website www.juliackastner.com.