Page 97 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

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a congress man and decay. However, New Yorkers still
civil-rights leader. flock to the Yankee Stadium,
The Schomburg home of the New York Yankees
Center for Research baseball team since 1923. Games
in Black Culture, on take place between April and
Malcolm X Boulevard September, while tours run all
is the largest center year long, offering visitors access
dedicated to African to the field, press box, dugouts,
culture in the United clubhouse, and Monument Park.
States. Today housed The Bronx Zoo opened in 1899,
in a sleek complex, and is the largest urban zoo in the
the collection US, home to more than 4,000
was assembled animals of 650 species, which live
by the late Arthur in realistic represent ations of their
Exhibition space at the Studio Museum in Harlem Schomburg (1874– natural habitats. The park is a
1938), a black man of leader in the perpetuation of
The Studio Museum was Puerto Rican descent, who was endangered species. Its 265 acres
founded in 1967 in a loft on once told by a teacher that (107 ha) of woods, streams, and
upper Fifth Avenue, with the there was no such thing as parklands include a shuttle train
mission of becoming the world’s “black history.” that takes visitors around the
first center for the collection St. Nicholas Historic District, sprawling park.
and exhibition of African- better known as “Striver’s Row”, Across the road from the Zoo’s
American art and arti facts. The comprises two blocks of beau- main entrance, visitors can experi-
museum has two floors display- tiful houses on either side of ence 250 acres (101 ha) of beauty
ing rotating exhibitions that West 138th and West 139th and hands-on enjoyment at the
address cultural issues facing streets, between Adam Clayton New York Botanical Garden. One
African-Americans. Three galleries Powell Jr. Boule vard and of the oldest and largest botanical
are devoted to the works of Frederick Douglass Boulevard. gardens in the world, it has
major artists, such as Romare A contrast to the surrounding 48 specialty gardens and plant
Bearden and Elizabeth Catlett. streets, the houses on these collections, 50 acres (20 ha)
The Apollo Theater opened in blocks were built in 1891, when of virgin forest, and a vast
1913 as a whites-only opera Harlem was considered a Children’s Adventure Garden.
house. It rose to fame in 1934 neighborhood for New York’s The Enid A. Haupt conservatory,
when Frank Schiffman, a white gentry. Three leading architects with its inter-connected glass
entrepreneur, took over the conspired to blend their galleries, features the exhibit
theater and made it accessible different styles, resulting in the “A World of Plants.”
to all races. He converted it into harmonious whole as seen
one of Harlem’s most well-known today. Each house is still linked O Bronx Zoo
music halls, which hosted to a central service alley, that Fordham Rd /Bronx River Pkwy.
performances by influential can be accessed from the ends Tel (718) 367-1010. Open Apr–Oct:
artists such as Bessie Smith, of the avenues or at different 10am–5pm daily (5:30pm Sat & Sun);
Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, points along the block. Nov–Mar: 10am–4:30pm daily. &
and Dinah Washington. donation. 7 8 0 = Children’s zoo:
Harlem’s best-known soul- R Studio Museum ∑ bronxzoo.com
food restaurant is Sylvia’s, where 144 W 125 St. Tel (212) 864-4500.
spicy ribs, black-eyed peas, q 125th St (2, 3). Open noon–9pm
Southern-fried chicken, sweet Thu & Fri, 10am–6pm Sat, noon–6pm
potato pie, collard greens, Sun. Closed public hols. & donation.
candied yams, and other ^ 7 8 Lectures, children’s
comforting Southern delicacies programs, films. - =
have been served since 1962. ∑ studiomuseum.org
On Sunday’s, brunch is accom-
panied by live Gospel music.
Harlem’s culinary scene has & The Bronx
blossomed over the years, with Map F4. q B, D, 4 to 161st St
interesting newcomers, such as (Yankee Std); 2, 5 to Tremont Ave
Marcus Samuelsson’s Red (Bronx Zoo); 4, B, D to Bedford Park
Rooster, not far from Sylvia’s. Blvd (NY Bot. Garden).
Further north at 138th Street
is the Abyssinian Baptist Church. Once a prosperous suburb with
Founded in 1808, the church a famous Grand Concourse lined
gained fame through its with apartment buildings for the
charis matic pastor, Adam wealthy, parts of the Bronx have The Enid A. Haupt conservatory at New
Clayton Powell, Jr. (1908–72), now become a symbol of urban York Botanical Garden, Bronx

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