Gothamist: Open House New York Revealed

tracyedw

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:14:52 -0500

I only got to the Coney Island: Past, Present, & Future Walk. It was fascinating, & was my first time there. I hope to be able to get to more next year. Kevin, I love your book & website, & hope to do some of your tours some time!

charshiu

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 09:17:16 -0500

My favorites: 1) Floyd Bennet Field, especially Hangar B where they are restoring old planes. We did get to see the tower and the access tunnel. You didn't miss much in regard to the latter. 2) Backstage tour of BAM, 3) PS 260.

Kevin Walsh

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:29:43 -0500

The problem is, the OHNY booklet gets printed in June. That means the hosts have 4 months to change the schedule -- which inevitably happens. I suppose OHNY is powerless to make property owners stick to the schedule they agreed to. The day was still pretty good and the overall attitude seems to be STFU and take what they give ya... www.forgotten-ny.com

ides_of_march

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:22:54 -0500

Great photos.

ides_of_march

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:21:10 -0500

Last year I wanted to see the underground pumping facilities of Astoria Pool and the old tunnel to the tarmac at Floyd Bennett Field; both were advertised as part of the open house program yet in both cases when I got there it was casually announced they were not going to be open to the public. If they don't plan on opening certain areas to the public, DON'T adverstise it and waste my time.

gaycurmudgeon

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:46:44 -0500

The high point for me was the Broadway Penthouse (at Great Jones Street), which I almost didn't get into because I got there just before they were about to break for lunch. (I lied and said I was with the woman in front of me.) It was featured in The New York Times just two weeks ago. I waited 45 minutes to see The Kushner Residence (79 Barrow Street) after giving up last year when I saw the size of the line. It was cool, but I don't think it was worth waiting 45 minutes. Other disappointments: Edward Hopper's studio (one room in an NYU-owned building) and the Metal Shutter Houses at 524 W 19th St, which was nothing more than the hole for a foundation!

gasoline serpent

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:36:19 -0500

I missed the South Side of Ellis Island tour again? Time to create my own permission, I suppose. Why do they only open it once a year? sympathetic-compass.blogspot.com