In fact, it has a lot going for it. For instance, its impressive architecture, including tracts of 19th century row houses ranging in style from Greek Revival to Queen Anne, are reminders of the area’s history as a fashionable Manhattan suburb.

These well-preserved brownstones, most of which are three-bay, three-story buildings, date from between 1845 and 1890.

These gems are not difficult to spot in the small neighborhood, which is only about seven blocks long and eight blocks wide. A stroll along Dean Street is a journey back to the 19th century. The row houses that stand there are designed in Italianate style, with large arches, ornate cast-iron railings, and other elaborate architectural details.

But before it had become an elegant and genteel neighborhood in the second half of the 1800s, Boerum Hill looked quite different.

It All started with a Farm…

Today, Boerum Hill’s boundaries are defined as Court Street to the west, Fourth Avenue to the east, Schermerhorn Street to the north, and Warren and Wyckoff Streets to the south.

Lying just south of Downtown Brooklyn, this area is both urban and residential, but back in the Colonial times it was a farm settled, as much of New York was, by the Dutch. The family’s name was Boerum, which explains how the neighborhood got its name.

As Manhattan continued to grow and develop in the aftermath of the Industrial Revolution, Boerum Hill retained its small-town feel, attracting Italian and French immigrants who gave this area a distinctly cosmopolitan feel that stretches to its sister neighborhoods of Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens.

Never a Dull Moment

As mentioned above, Boerum Hill is not boring at all. For outdoor activities, there is the green expanse of waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park, which offers organized activities, including guided tours, kayak polo, and zumba classes.

And Barclays Center at 620 Atlantic Avenue has a multitude of sports events and music concerts. In-home music lessons are also available in Boerum Hill – it’s easy to get started.

As you can see, there are many reasons to love Boerum Hill!

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The post Brooklyn’s Boerum Hill is Teeming with History appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

For one, this almost exclusively residential district doesn’t feel like part of New York at all. It is sleepy, tranquil, and bursting with vibrant colors of its stately 19th century mansions. In fact, when you walk around this neighborhood, you may feel magically transported to another time period.

This may be why Ditmas Park, which is bordered by Dorchester Avenue, Ocean Avenue, Newkirk Avenue and East 16th Street, is referred to as Victorian Flatbush.

Let’s explore this neighborhood, which can rightly be described as charming and quaint.

Notable Architecture

The area now occupied by Ditmas Park was settled in the 17th century by a Dutch immigrant Jan Jansen Van Ditmarsen (for whom the neighborhood was named). According to historical records, upon his arrival he built a “fine Dutch Colonial style farmhouse.”

The land remained in the Ditmarsen family until the beginning of the 20th century, when a real estate broker Lewis H. Pounds purchased it.

As he developed the formerly rural area, Pounds deployed several different architectural styles to bring an eclectic rather than uniform look to the area: there are Colonial Revival and Queen Anne buildings, Arts and Crafts bungalows, wood-frame houses with wide-open porches, and other styles.

Best places to see these architectural gems are along Albemarle, Marlborough, Rugby, Argyle, Westminster, and Beverly Roads. This is “old” Ditmas Park at its best.

Let There Be Music (Lessons)!

But not everything in this neighborhood is a throwback to another era.

For instance, the 40-acre Parade Ground offers more modern amenities, including baseball, soccer, softball and football fields, as well as running and cycling paths.

And even though Ditmas Park is mostly residential, there are some good eateries along Cortelyou Road – the Farm on Adderley and Mimi’s Hummus, among them.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden is nearby, as is Prospect Park and other interesting venues and activities.

It’s true that, because of its homespun character, Ditmas Park may not have a vibrant arts scene. But good news is that there is no shortage of in-home music lessons in this attractive, down-to-earth neighborhood.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The post Many Faces (and Facades) of Ditmas Park appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Bounded by Atlantic Avenue to the north, Court Street to the east, Degraw Street to the south, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to the west, Cobble Hill is one of Brooklyn’s oldest neighborhoods.

It is also one of the most interesting, which, according to the New York City Dept of Parks & Recreation, “Its namesake, the surrounding neighborhood of Cobble Hill, was first settled in the mid-17th century by Dutch farmers.”

In fact, the Cobble Hill Historic District teems with beautifully preserved landmarks. Among them is the Old St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church at 14 Greenville Avenue, which dates back to 1838; and seven brick row houses at 33 and 35 Strong Place, built in the Queen Anne architectural style in 1891.

From Rural to Urban

Up until the middle of the 1800s, Brooklyn was primarily a rural area. The present-day Cobble Hill had only 45 houses and 112 residents. It started expanding (and getting more urbanized) in the latter part of the 19th century, first with the influx of wealthy Manhattanites, followed by immigrants from Ireland and Italy, many of whom settled in neighboring areas of Brooklyn as well.

In that sense, Cobble Hill has a cosmopolitan vibe that is characteristic of many of New York’s “melting pot” neighborhoods. And, like elsewhere in the city, there is no shortage here of excellent restaurants and ethnic food stores.

Lots To Do

Whether you are trendy and hip, or quiet and laid-back, you will find that Cobble Hill is – no pun intended – right up your alley. And if you are looking for arts and culture, you will discover it here as well. For instance, there are a number of quaint, independent bookshops in the neighborhood, which are a fast-dying breed. So venues like BookCourt at 163 Court Street and the nearby Community Book Store (212 Court Street) need the support of every reader. What about the music scene? There are quite a few places along Smith Street that feature live music: Pano e Vino, Bar Tabac, Clover Club, and other venues. And would you like to have live music right in your own house? You can: in-home music lessons are available in Cobble Hill, as well as in other Brooklyn neighborhoods like Dumbo, Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Park Slope, Carroll Gardens, Boerum Hill, and Ditmas Park.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The post History and Charm Abound in Brooklyn’s Cobble Hill appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

There is a good reason why its name is Carroll Gardens: the neighborhood’s main features are deep front yards, often surrounded by decorative wrought iron fences.

This explains the “garden” part. But why Carroll, you may ask?

Until 1964, this 40-block neighborhood, was just part of South Brooklyn. But then a local civic group renamed the area in honor of Charles Carroll, who was a signer of Declaration of Independence, as well as a civil rights activist.

Carroll was the U.S. senator from Maryland, but he did have a strong connection to the NYC borough. In 1776, during the Battle of Brooklyn, Carroll’s regiment helped defend this area; in fact, 400 of his soldiers died in an attack on a British camp.

Fortunately, this was the only bloody episode in the history of this quiet and scenic neighborhood.

A “Revolutionary” Neighborhood

Carroll Gardens is bounded by Degraw and Warren Streets to the north, Hoyt and Smith Streets to the east, Ninth Street to the south, and the Brooklyn-Queens and Gowanus Expressways to the west.

As mentioned above, during the Revolutionary War, this area was a site of a bloody battle. Then, in the early 1800s, many wealthy New Yorkers built summer homes here.

But the 19th century also brought European immigrants to South Brooklyn’s shores – the Irish were the first ones to settle in the area that is today called Carroll Gardens.

Later, Italians arrived, infusing the area with their native foods, customs, and traditions – the ambience that permeates the neighborhood to this day.

But there are traces of other ethnicities in Carroll Gardens as well – for instance, its flourishing French population has earned this section of Brooklyn the nickname “Little France.”

Both Italian and French influence is still present in Carroll Gardens in the form of restaurants, grocery stores, and other venues and events.

Arts and Crafts

So what is there to do in Carroll Gardens, other than admire beautiful gardens in front of quaint brownstones along quiet, tree-lined streets?

As far as arts scene is concerned, the neighborhood boasts the Smith Street Stage, a community theater dedicated to Shakespeare plays.

There are also jazz nights at Clover Club at 210 Smith Street, pottery and glassware workshop at the Painted Pot, 8009 Third Avenue, and many other cool events for children and adults alike.

And let’s not forget in-home music lessons that are available year-round in this cozy part of Brooklyn.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

The post The Verdant Landscape of Brooklyn’s Carroll Gardens appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Brooklyn Heights fits into the latter category. Located away from the borough’s businesses and factories, it is peaceful and charming. With its tree-lined streets, it could very well be a suburban neighborhood. In fact, it was originally referred to as the “Brooklyn Village.” Because of this relaxed and easy-going feel, this area, which stretches from Old Fulton Street south to Atlantic Avenue, and from the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to Court Street, has been called “America’s original suburb.” Architecturally too, Brooklyn Heights has a lot to boast about.

Historic houses

Being a “home” to over 600 historic buildings deserves official recognition and in 1965, New York’s Landmarks Preservation Commission designated this neighborhood as the city’s first historic district. As the Commission noted at the time, Brooklyn Heights’ “stately brick and brownstone houses, on their tree-lined streets with their stone sidewalks, represent most of the principal architectural styles of the 19th century…the houses represent almost unchanged the community as originally built.” Examples of pre-Civil War architecture abound: Built in 1824, a wood-frame house at 24 Middagh Street is Brooklyn Heights’ oldest home. Just a stone throw away, at 64 Poplar Street, stands a clapboard house built in 1834 by poet Walt Whitman and his father. Other sections of the Heights boast architectural gems as well: Row houses on Remsen Street, the Herman Behr Mansion at 82 Pierrepont Street, and St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church, located on the corner of Montague and Clinton Streets. Brooklyn Historical Society is a great resource to explore the Heights’ 400-year history.

Nature and culture

This neighborhood’s architecture and historical sites are certainly worth seeing, but there is more here to entice visitors. The Promenade is the neighborhood’s most popular public space. Besides its beautifully maintained flower beds, trees, benches and playgrounds, it also offers great views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan skyline, and the Statue of Liberty. But just because Brooklyn Heights is a quiet area doesn’t mean it lacks culture. On the contrary! The Heights Players is Brooklyn’s oldest self-sustaining community theater, which has been part of this neighborhood for nearly six decades. And there is also the Brooklyn Heights Music Society, which sponsors concerts in various Brooklyn locations each year. Of course, there is no shortage of in-home music lessons either – it’s easy and convenient to set them up!

The post Brooklyn Heights: A Neighborhood With a View appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

While the Brooklyn area in question had been around longer than the Disney character, which was created in 1941, the neighborhood got its name much later. It stands for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass,” a term coined by artists who moved there in the 1970s, while this former manufacturing district was a mostly deserted neighborhood. Dumbo a great example of old, multi-ethnic New York City neighborhood that has been, over the years, reshaped and redefined by its developers.

Calling all art lovers!

Bounded by Brooklyn Bridge Park to the north, the Brooklyn Bridge to the west, Brooklyn Heights to the south, and Vinegar Hill to the east, Dumbo is a real 21st century neighborhood: it has the highest concentration of technology firms in New York. A quarter of the city’s tech companies are based within a 10-block radius in this relatively small section. But Dumbo is not just about technology – it also boasts a thriving art scene that gives the neighborhood a trendy and edgy vibe. For example, the waterfront Brooklyn Bridge Park offers jazz and classical music concerts, as well as a wide variety of other cultural events. And if you walk around this park, you will encounter funky art in the form of sculptures. But that’s not all: On every first Thursday of the month, art lovers have a chance to visit some of Dumbo’s galleries and artists’ studios, many of which are located on streets paved with century-old cobblestones.

Dumbo is all “ears” – for music!

The arts scene, no matter, how lively, would not be complete without music. In that respect too Dumbo has much to offer. For instance, 68 Jay Street Bar, located in the historic Grand Union Tea Company warehouse, offers not only good food, but also features live bands and other performances. But there is more: moored in Dumbo just under the Brooklyn Bridge is a barge that on most days morphs into a venue for “floating” chamber music concerts. “Bargemusic” holds more than 200 concerts each year, and has been an integral part of the local community for nearly four decades. These and other venues are dedicated to spreading the love of music. Another way to fill your (not Dumbo the elephant’s) ears with beautiful sounds is to sign up for in-home music lessons in this very neighborhood. Now you know: this combination of the arts and music scene makes Dumbo one of Brooklyn’s most buzz-worthy neighborhoods.

The post Under the Bridge: Gem of a Brooklyn Neighborhood! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

It is also, like the rest of Brooklyn (and New York City), ethnically diverse: for instance, it “mixes” the hipster crowd that defines the “new” Brooklyn with Hasidim Jews, and first-generation Italian and Puerto Rican immigrants who have been part of this community for a while. This diversity may explain why Williamsburg boasts so many ethic food stores and restaurants.

A new vibe

Once upon a time, Williamsburg was just a plain neighborhood, with industrial buildings, tenements, and modest attached homes as far as the eye could see. But over the past 15 years or so, it experienced a renaissance of sorts, morphing into one of New York City’s most vibrant enclaves. Today, the once neglected waterfront boasts not just new, sleek high-rises but also parks and other green areas, such as the 7-acre East River State Park and Grand Ferry Park.

A feast for eyes and ears

Why is this eclectic neighborhood, which borders Greenpoint to the north; Bedford-Stuyvesant to the south; Ridgewood, Queens to the east; and East River to the west, worth visiting? First of all, it’s an easy hop from Manhattan – and even the Manhattanites, who are not easily impressed by anything lying outside their borough, would not be disappointed (but please don’t sue us if you are!) A good place to start is with arts and culture, because artists have been essential in bringing creative energy into this neighborhood. Not surprisingly, there are several interesting galleries here, including the Front Room Gallery at 147 Roebling Street; Art 101, 101 Grand Street; Figureworks at 168 North 6th Street; and more. There is also no shortage of live music concerts, for example at Williamsburg’s Music Hall , located at 66 North 6th Street. But there are also less traditional venues like Brooklyn Bowl on 61 Wythe Avenue, which is a bowling alley with “electrifying live music.” Or Rough Trade at 64 N 9th Street – a record store in front and concert venue in the back. These are just a couple examples among many. And speaking of music, if you live in Williamsburg, you can take advantage of in-home music lessons by some of New York’s top teachers. This way, you won’t have any reason to ever leave Williamsburg!

The post The (Not so Hidden) Charms of Williamsburg appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

First things first: no, you can’t do downhill skiing in Brooklyn’s Park Slope. As most of NYC’s urban neighborhoods, Park Slope is predominantly flat. Its name derives from its location on the western slope of Prospect Park, a 585-acre oasis of greenery in the midst of New York’s most populous borough.

Now that we’ve cleared this up and you have put away your skis, let’s explore Park Slope’s nooks and crannies, and discover what this neighborhood has to offer. The answer is: a lot! That is why quite a few accolades have been bestowed on this area. For example, in 2006, Natural Home magazine named Park Slope one of America’s ten best neighborhoods based on criteria including parks, green spaces, farmer’s markets and community gardens. The following year, the American Planning Association praised Park Slope for “its architectural and historical features and its diverse mix of residents and businesses, all of which are supported and preserved by its active and involved citizenry.” But that’s not all: in 2010, the neighborhood was ranked number one in NYC by New York Magazine for its quality public schools, dining, nightlife, shopping, access to public transit, green space, quality housing, safety, and creative capital. So it’s unanimous: Park Slope is one great neighborhood!

It’s history

Bounded by 15th Street to Flatbush Avenue and Prospect Park West to Fourth Avenue, Park Slope is a family-friendly neighborhood with many tree-lined streets, historic brownstones, as well as numerous bars and restaurants. You may not think of Park Slope as exceptional in any way –despite all the aforementioned accolades – but the fact is that in 1974 it was designated as one of New York’s largest landmarked districts. However, it wasn’t always this way. In the first half of the 20th century, Park Slope suffered the same fate as many other inner-city neighborhoods: decay, disrepair, and subsequent decline. However, in the 1960s, some visionary residents who moved into this area spearheaded an effort to preserve Park Slope’s historic charm, and to turn it into a welcoming and livable neighborhood. Today, this area boasts about 1600 architecturally interesting buildings, including the Montauk Club at 25 Eighth Avenue, which was designed in Gothic style popular in the 15th century Venice. There are also a number of Romanesque Revival and neo-Classical row houses, as well as some stately Victorian brick and brownstone mansions that were built at the end of the 19th century. This is how architectural historian and Columbia University professor Andrew Dolkart described Park Slope: “No neighborhood in America has a finer and more intact collection of late 19th-century row houses. Block after block is virtually unaltered, with houses ranging from grand townhouses designed by Brooklyn’s leading architects, to long rows of vernacular speculator-built housing designed by the obscure architects who provided character to so many urban neighborhoods.”

A tree grows in Brooklyn

We can’t talk about Park Slope without mentioning its vast green spaces. First thing that jumps to mind is the Prospect Park, second in size only to Manhattan’s Central Park. Because it is home to the last remaining natural forest in Brooklyn, the park has 30,000 trees, both landscaped and wild. Streams, waterfalls, and a 60-acre lake add to the park’s beauty. And let’s not forget a Farmer’s Market, free concerts, and other events that take place in this vast oasis. And speaking of greenery, Park Slope is also the location of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, which, like Prospect Park, is a wonderful place of rest, relaxation, as well as various nature-related activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Brooklyn roads

Yes, this is the title of Neil Diamond’s autobiographical song about the borough he was born in. No Park Slope roads are off limits to us, which is why our Brooklyn music lessons teachers will be happy to come to your Park Slope home or office and teach you to play any instrument. No skis required!

The post Brooklyn’s Park Slope: It’s Not All Downhill From There! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

We at Hey Joe Guitar love the Upper East Side and are happy to offer a variety of music lessons to its residents. Whatever instrument you want to learn – guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, or mandolin – we’ll be happy to teach you. We also offer – in the privacy of your Upper East Side home or office – composition, songwriting, and voice lessons; as a matter of fact, we can give you any type of music lesson you can think of.

A charm of its own

It may not have the same vibe as the Upper West Side, and lack the diversity of Lower Manhattan and the quaintness of Greenwich Village, but the eastside has a quiet and laid-back charm of its own. This area nestled between 59th and 96th Streets, and bounded by the East River and Fifth Avenue, is a haven of relative calm in the midst of one of the world’s busiest cities. In fact, the difference in the energy and decibel levels between the Upper West and East sides is quite perceptible. If you walk from Broadway toward the East River, you will notice how the hectic ambience slowly morphs into a more tranquil environment. By the time you reach First and York Avenues, you will have left much of the hustle and bustle behind. But this is not to say that this calmer part of Manhattan doesn’t have anything exciting to offer. When it comes to art, culture, interesting architecture, and fascinating people, the Upper East Side boasts a proud history of its own. That may be one of the reasons why many famous people chose to live in this pleasant neighborhood. The long list of the area’s distinguished residents includes the quintessential New Yorker Woody Allen, singer Mariah Carey, directors Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese, and even NYC’s mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Walk a Mile

Very few cities can boast as many cultural institutions as the Upper East Side. The stretch of Fifth Avenue from 82nd to 105th Streets is named the “Museum Mile” for a very good reason: some of the world’s finest museums live here. With its richness and artistic diversity, the vast Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Avenue at 82nd Street) is arguably one of the world’s finest institutions. It trails only behind the Louvre as the most frequented museum, with a staggering 6 million visits in 2011. Just a few blocks farther uptown, at Fifth Avenue and 88th Street, is another cultural landmark. Guggenheim Museum’s claim to fame lies not only in its impressive exhibits of Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary art, but also in its bold architecture. The cylindrical structure designed by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright adds a distinctly modern touch to this neighborhood filled with many traditional buildings and mansions, which once housed industrialists like Andrew Carnegie and John D. Rockefeller. The Metropolitan and Guggenheim are only two of 10 museums and cultural centers that make the Museum Mile a “go-to” destination for art lovers from all over the world.

Let there be music!

If you thought that this laid-back neighborhood was not hip enough to have great live music haunts, think again. Here are our Five Music Secrets of the Upper East Side:

• Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue, between 61st and 62 Streets, is a legendary nightclub where you can catch live performances of jazz, classical music, and cabaret.
• Two nights a week you can listen to a classical quartet at Great Hall Balcony Bar at Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Avenue
near 82nd Street.
• Session 73, a bar at 1359 First Avenue and 73rd Street has good food and live bands on weekends.
• Aza bar, a cozy venue that features live music seven nights a week. 1668 Third Avenue between 93rd and 94th Streets.
• Thursday, Friday and Saturday are jazz nights at Brasserie Julien, a French bistro at 1422 Third Avenue and 81st Street.

Would you like to play and / or sing like the performers at these venues? We can’t promise you that, but we will give you the best music lessons on the Upper East Side!

The post Upper East Side: The River (Almost) Runs Through It appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

When you think about summer, do images of sandy beaches jump to mind? But what if you are spending the summer in the city – do you have to give up the thoughts of warm ocean breezes? Not at all! As New Yorkers, we are lucky to have some great beaches very close within our reach. In fact, NYC has a total of 14 miles of beaches, all of which are open from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Even though one moment you are caught up in the urban hustle and bustle, an hour or so later you could be lying on the sand and soaking up the sun.

As if by careful design – by actually by mere coincidence – these patches of sandy paradise can be found in most NYC boroughs, and even if you live in one that doesn’t boast its own beach (like Manhattan), the commute to one is – no pun intended – a breeze!

Summer in the city

Brooklyn offers lots of options, starting with the iconic Coney Island. It offers three miles of sandy beaches, not to mention the amusement park and boardwalk. It is such a famous part of our city’s landscape that Lou Reed actually sang about it. Then there is Manhattan Beach, which is actually located in Brooklyn’s southern tip, and is part of the larger area known as Brighton Beach. Now populated by Russian and Ukrainian immigrants, this sandy strip is called “Little Odessa.” Moving on to Queens, the Rockaway Beach is not only very large, but it is also the only one in New York City that has two separate stretches reserved just for surfing. And it was made famous by The Ramones’ 1977 hit song : “Chewin’ at a rhythm on my bubble gum The sun is out, I want some It’s not hard, not far to reach We can hitch a ride to Rockaway Beach.” The Orchard Beach in the Bronx offers 1.1- mile of sandy shoreline. When it was first created in the 1930s, it was named “The Riviera of New York!” If you live on Staten Island, you have plenty of choices: the South Beach, Midland Beach, or Wolfe’ Pond Beach. If you want to venture a bit further from the city, there’s Long Island’s Jones Beach. With a 6.5- mile stretch of sand and two swimming pools, it is one of New York state’s largest facilities of this kind.

Keep up the music!

We hope you will take advantage of the beaches that our city has to offer. After all, as the famous song says, in the summertime, the livin’ is (or at least should be) easy. Still, don’t forget to keep up your music training during the summer months – don’t let your guitar, piano, or other instruments get idle! Our teachers continue to give lessons regardless of the season. They will come to your Manhattan, Brooklyn or Riverdale home or office, even if you don’t live by the beach!

Photo by unknown, available under Creative Commons License

The post Life’s a Beach, With New York Guitar School appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

“I believe we have the noblest roaring blasts here I have ever known on land; they sing their hoarse song through the big tree-tops with a splendid energy that thrills me and stirs me and uplifts me and makes me want to live always.”

Those words, written at the beginning of the 20^th century by a quintessential American writer, Mark Twain, described the views of the Hudson, as seen from a chestnut tree on the grounds of his Riverdale, NY home.

From 1901 to 1903 Twain leased Wave Hill, an 1843 estate, which, at that time, was already a desirable piece of real estate, since the young Theodore Roosevelt had lived there previously, during the summers of 1870 and 1871.

Today, Twain’s chestnut tree is gone, but Wave Hill is still there in all its splendor: a 28-acre public botanical garden and cultural center, scenically located along the Hudson River in the Bronx’s Riverdale section.

A Bronx tale

A residential neighborhood in the Bronx, Riverdale doesn’t fit the picture long associated with New York City’s northernmost borough – that of widespread urban decay. (Heads-up to everyone who still believes this stereotype: today’s Bronx is rising from the rubble, with many areas boasting neat suburban-style houses and lush greenery).

Riverdale is the perfect example of the best the Bronx – and, for that matter, New York City – has to offer. Maybe because it borders the suburban Westchester County, Riverdale has the “laid-back” feel of a bedroom community rather than a hectic urban jungle. It is quiet, green, hilly, and generally softer around the edges than the city to the south.

And even though it is a relatively small section of the Bronx, Riverdale contains many small and pretty neighborhoods and estates – Fieldston, Bronx, Spuyten Duyvil , as well as South and North Riverdale.

Making their home in Riverdale

Mark Twain and Teddy Roosevelt were not the only famous Riverdale residents. The neighborhood also boasts other notables, both past and present:

• As a child, John F. Kennedy lived with his family at 5040 Independence Avenue and attended Riverdale Country School from 5th through 7th grade.
• Hungarian composer and pianist Bela Bartok lived at 3242 Cambridge Avenue between 1941 and 1943.
• The Yankees’ baseball star Lou Gehrig lived and died at 5204 Delafield Avenue.
• Fiorello LaGuardia, NYC’s mayor in the 1930s and 40s, called 5020 Goodridge Avenue “home.”
• Baseball great Willie Mays still lives at The Whitehall, 3333 Henry Hudson Pkwy.
• Eliot Spitzer, former Governor and Attorney General of New York, was born in Riverdale and graduated from the Horace Mann School

These are just some of many prominent Riverdale residents; more are listed here

Riverdale music lessons at your service

Do you live in Riverdale but don’t feel like coming to Manhattan for a music lesson? No problem, we understand! Hey Joe Guitar’s excellent teachers, who are “fluent” in all kinds instruments and singing styles will come to your home or office.

Contact us and we’ll be at your Riverdale doorstep very soon!

The post On the Waterfront: Riverdale’s Scenic Location appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

With a wide variety of music lessons we offer in Greenwich Village, Hey Joe Guitar fits right into this artsy and upbeat neighborhood.

The sounds of all the instruments we teach – guitar, piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, or mandolin (in addition to voice lessons) –blend in perfectly with the spirit of this lively and hip part of Lower Manhattan, which was once home to music legends like Bob Dylan, Jimmy Hendrix, Simon and Garfunkel, Joan Baez, and James Taylor.

Let’s take a walk along the streets that were once the stomping ground of Henry James, Edith Wharton, Edgar Allan Poe, Mark Twain, Walt Whitman, Eugene O’Neill, Norman Rockwell, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, and scores of other famous (and infamous) artists.

“Out-of-the-box” neighborhood

If you were asked which part of NYC is most bohemian and funky – from its shops, coffee houses, bars and music haunts to its people – chances are you wouldn’t say “Wall Street!” That’s because this title goes to Greenwich Village, a small area below 14th and north of Houston Street, which has long been an undisputed hub for rebellious musicians, artists, writers, and other creative types. During the 1950s, this neighborhood (made up of East and West Village) had become a haven for members of a sub-culture movement known as the “Beat Generation” – a phrase coined by writer Jack Kerouac to describe young people who eschewed tradition and practiced unconventional lifestyle such as communal living and psychedelic drugs. Sometime Greenwich Village resident himself, Kerouac pioneered not only the Beat Generation, but also the Hippie movement of the 1960s.

Perhaps it is not coincidental that the hippies, at least those who chose the East Coast over Berkeley, California, flocked to the Village, attracted by its free-spirited, non-conformist ambiance.

Kerouac conveniently lived just around the corner from the White Horse Tavern at Hudson and 11th Streets, a bohemian hangout also frequented by fellow writers Norman Mailer and Dylan Thomas.  The bar, first opened in 1880, is still a favorite haunt for local residents and tourists alike.

While it still retains much of its bohemian feel, over the years rental prices in this once inexpensive neighborhood have risen dramatically.

As Norman Mailer (founder of the Village Voice newspaper) put it: “I got to the Village in 1955. One of the ironies of today is that unless you’re pretty high up in the bourgeois world, you can’t afford to live in Greenwich Village.”

(Needless to say, this could be said about almost any area of New York City).

Bring on the music

Maybe because so many artists used to live or perform here (think Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, Dave Brubeck, Sarah Vaughn, Lionel Hampton, and Dizzy Gillespie, among others), Greenwich Village has always had a vibrant and eclectic music scene, with excellent folk, blues, jazz and rock venues easy to find.

Here are some of Hey Joe Guitar’s favorite music haunts:

• The Bitter End rock club, at 147 Bleecker Street, where Stan Getz, Etta James, Carly Simon, Joni Mitchell and thousands of other musicians and comedians used to perform, is still a lively music venue.

• When he first arrived in NYC in 1961, Bob Dylan performed Woody Guthrie songs at Cafe Wha (yes, it’s the right spelling!), 115 MacDougal Street, which still rocks with live music seven days a week.

• Scores of artists recorded their albums in the basement of Village Vanguard Jazz Club (178 Seventh Avenue South), including Sonny Rollins’s “A Night at he Village Vanguard” in 1957. Vanguard’s own jazz orchestra plays there every Monday night, and other performers make guest appearances throughout the week.

• Sara Vaughn, Lionel Hampton and Tito Puente are just some of the well-known performers who played at the Blue Note. This jazz club and restaurant at 131 West Third Street still has excellent live music every evening.

Finding good music is (literally) a walk in the park

Are you in the mood for live music but want to stay outdoors? Stroll along one of Greenwich Village’s open-air spaces, the Washington Square Park.

Known for an arch and New York university campus buildings surrounding it, the park has long been a gathering spot for students, chess players, street musicians, and other performers. Both Joan Baez and Bob Dylan used to sing here.

In the summer, there is a free festival featuring classical and chamber music, opera and jazz.

Clearly, wherever you go in this neighborhood, there is a wide variety of music to be found in clubs, bars, and on the streets.  All those wonderful sounds might inspire you to learn to play an instrument too. All you have to do is call us and we’ll come to your Greenwich Village home or office to teach you.

Sometimes, it really does take a Village!

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Photo Credit : quapan

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Journalist and commentator Alistair Cooke once said that “New York is the biggest collection of villages in the world.”

He wasn’t wrong. Two of those “villages” are Tribeca and Soho in Lower Manhattan, which have a distinct ambiance of their own.

They are also prime examples of once-shoddy Manhattan neighborhoods that underwent a truly spectacular revival in the past 40 years, becoming two of NYC’s most upscale areas.

Tribeca (acronym for “Triangle below Canal Street”) stretches from Canal Street south to Vesey Street, and from Broadway west to the Hudson River.

Soho (for “South of Houston”) lies nearby, bounded by Houston Street on the north, Lafayette and Centre Streets on the east, Canal Street on the south, and West Broadway on the west.

The two neighborhoods share not only the location and a similar history, but also an impressive shabby-to-chic transformation: gritty industrial facilities that once dominated the local landscape have morphed into expensive real estate that ranks as the city’s priciest.

The fabric of NYC’s life

In the 18th century, residential homes were built in this area, but they were later demolished to make place for factories and warehouses.

That’s because in the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries, this area became a bustling center of textile industry. However, when these manufacturers and traders began to leave, the neighborhood had turned into a wasteland. Its main food market at that time was described by the New York Times as a “dirty, degraded little rat hole” – not exactly a magnet for well-heeled New Yorkers.

However, in the 1960s, that barren area started to experience a renaissance of sorts. Artists and musicians looking for cheap digs began to notice the potential of the large, empty spaces in the former warehouses. What also attracted their attention was the cast-iron architecture on many of the abandoned buildings. Due to its low cost, this material was used on the exterior facades primarily during the Industrial Revolution (1750 to 1850), before being replaced by steel as a construction material of choice. To this day, Soho has the most cast-iron buildings in the world, which makes this neighborhood a historic landmark.

A lofty idea

The rents in the unkempt neighborhood were low  – after all, who in their right mind would want to live in a “dirty, degraded little rat hole?” Only poor or alternative artists who didn’t care much about material comforts didn’t mind making their homes here.

And that’s what happened: the bohemians started to move into abandoned lofts, transforming the bleakly industrial factories and warehouses into beautiful living and work spaces.

The neighborhood started to boom. The prices of Tribeca and Soho lofts – and real estate in general – skyrocketed to the point that Forbes Magazine listed these two neighborhoods among the “most expensive zip codes” in the United States.

Aren’t you sorry you didn’t buy a Tribeca or Soho property when these areas were still affordable “diamonds in the rough?”

Living it up in lower Manhattan

You may not be able to afford a multi-million-dollar price tag for Tribeca or Soho digs, and you may never become a neighbor of Robert DeNiro, Beyoncé or Jay-Z (all of whom live in that area), but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t explore these neighborhoods’ lively arts and music scene.

As befitting a neighborhood that was once (and still remains) a heaven for all sorts of artists and other creative types, it is brimming with art galleries, trendy restaurants, bars, and shops.

And what about “hot” music venues?”

There is certainly no shortage of those. For example:

• At SOBs (Sounds of Brazil) located at 204 Varick Street you can listen to all genres of music, not just Brazilian.

• Mercury Lounge at 217 East Houston Street and Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street, host a variety of live concerts.

• Canal Room at 285 West Broadway also rocks with live music, as does Mudd Club at 77 White Street.

We at Hey Joe Guitar love Tribeca and Soho’s artistic vibe, which is why we are happy to come to your home or office – or a loft! -anywhere in those neighborhoods (as well as other parts of Manhattan) and teach you to play an instrument of your choice.

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Photo Credit: jglsongs

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Just because Tudor City is a small NYC neighborhood – just three blocks from north to south and one block east to west – doesn’t mean you can’t find important services there – like music lessons.

Yes, you can! In fact, we at Hey Joe Guitar offer a variety of music lessons in your Tudor City home or office, just as we do in many other Manhattan neighborhoods – big or small.

Why a residential area consisting of Neo-Gothic skyscrapers was named after England’s Tudor dynasty (which had a distinct architectural style of its own) is somewhat of a mystery.

Be it as it may, this East Side residential area, tucked between First and Second Avenues, and 40th and 43rd Streets, has an interesting history.

From beavers to high-rises

When one of the most prominent members of the Tudor dynasty, King Henry VIII was executing his wives over in England in the 1500’s, Manhattan was still a primitive island overran by beavers and other furry creatures.

It may be difficult to believe today, but when explorer Henry Hudson arrived in what is now Manhattan in 1607, he reportedly saw, according to one historic account, “a pleasant shore bordering a strait opening into an illusory ocean beyond…and the presence of fur-bearing animals, whose skins could be bought with trinkets and stuffs of the coarsest kinds.”

Fast forward to the 19th century. By mid-1800s, the farmland that covered much of the East Side, including the present location of Tudor City, had given way to a high-crime neighborhood of shoddy tenements where many poor Irish immigrants lived.

It took a real estate developer named Fred F. French to turn this decrepit area into what he imagined to be an “urban Utopia.” By the early 1930s, his dream was realized with the construction of nine high-rise apartment buildings, as well as a hotel (the current-day Hilton, at 304 E 42nd Street) that accommodated 4,500 residents.

A rich music history

Before we tell you where you can find great music haunts in the vicinity of Tudor City, here is a brief overview of the musical history of the Tudor era, which spans the period between 1485 and 1603.

While it is impossible to sum up nearly 120 years in just a few words, music, song and dance scene thrived during that time in England. In the cities, many musicians were sponsored and supported by the Church and the Royal Court. In the rural areas, where mostly poor farmers lived, folk ballads were performed in the villages and even in the fields.

Quite a few instruments were refined and perfected, including early forms of the violin called the viol, as well as the oboe called the hautboy. Keyboard musical instruments, such as the spinet, harpsichord and the virginal, were also popular.

Henry VIII might not have liked his wives very much, but he was reportedly a music aficionado who not only wrote music to the English folk song  “Greensleeves,” but also owned 10 trombones, 14 trumpets, five bagpipes, 76 recordes, and 78 flutes.  (It’s a good thing his palace walls were thick and, anyway, who would dare complain about the noise, considering his fondness for beheadings).

Party like the Tudors!

Ok, so you may not be able to find many venues nowadays where you can listen to the sounds of the viol, hautboy, spinet, harpsichord and the virginal (though we at Hey Joe Guitar can teach you to play modern-day versions of these instruments).

Still, there are quite a few places just blocks away from Tudor City where you can listen to live music.

For example:

• Live jazz, funk and R & B can be heard seven days a week at SOMETHIN’ Jazz Club, 212 E. 52nd Street, between Second and 3rd Avenue.

• Tuesday and Thursday evenings are jazz nights at McAnn’s,

• 948 First Avenue and 52nd Street.

• Lunchtime is a jazz-at-noon time at Saint Bart’s, 109 50th Street and Park Avenue.

• Something a bit different: Jazz sessions every Wednesday at 1 PM at St. Peter’s Church, 619 Lexington Avenue and 54th Street.

As you can see, Tudor City might be small, but music venues, as well as music lessons, abound.

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Photo Credit: ahisgett

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As neighborhoods go, the Lower East Side (also known as LES) is a bustling, high-energy area that truly symbolizes the “melting pot” concept of people from different countries, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds living together. This kind of diversity defines not only the ambiance of the Lower East Side, but many other NYC neighborhoods as well.

Stretching east from the Bowery to the East River Park, bounded on the north by Houston Street and on the south by Canal Street and East Broadway, this once shabby part of Manhattan has morphed over the years into a trendy enclave.

But it wasn’t always like this.

Give me your tired, your poor…

“Everybody ought to have a Lower East Side in their life,” said famed composer Irving Berlin, who certainly knew what he was talking about because, upon their arrival in America in 1893, his family had lived in a cold-water-only basement apartment on Cherry Street. In fact, lower Manhattan is just a hop skip and jump away from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, where millions of immigrants were processed between 1892 and 1954. A lot of these people settled, like Berlin, on the LES, in what was then a gritty, crime-ridden slum. There is no better place to get a sense of how the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” used to live here than the Lower East Side Tenement Museum at 103 Orchard Street. In addition to being the epicenter of LES’s history, the eight blocks along Orchard Street provide great “retail therapy” – a wide variety of goods that can be bought at rock-bottom prices.

From rags to riches

In a way, the LES’s history is the quintessential story of the “American dream.”

From a poor neighborhood populated by immigrants trying to make a better life for themselves, the Lower East Side has gradually become a vibrant “in” place of entertainment, dining, and art galleries.

This part of Manhattan is also considered to be more relaxed than neighborhoods to the north. Its easy and casual vibe prompted Lady Gaga to leave her family’s Upper West Side apartment and move to the LES. Her digs at 176 Stanton Street were considerably less posh than her former home, but living in a slightly run-down house had allowed the budding artist to, as she put it, “understand a whole different side of the pavement.”

Another advantage of the Lower East Side, especially for the artsy, creative types, is its vicinity to the East Village.

The (relatively) new kid on the block

Geographically the East Village, bounded by Houston Street to 14th Street and East River to Fourth Avenue, is part of the Lower East Side.

However, geography aside, the East Village has forged an identity of its own. The beatniks, musicians, artists and hippies who flocked to Greenwich Village in the 1950s and 60s were also setting up camp in the eastern part of the neighborhood, which, fittingly enough, got the name of East Village. As a 1964 New York Times guide pointed out, “artists, poets and promoters of coffeehouses from Greenwich Village are trying to remelt the neighborhood under the high-sounding name of ‘East Village.’”

Funky and hip

East Village has many claims to fame, one of which is that it boasts the highest concentration of bars in NYC.

It was also a starting point for careers of numerous musicians like Patti Smith.  Bands such as The Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Sly and the Family Stone, and the Allman Brothers also performed in the neighborhood.

What about today’s music scene?

It is just as alive. Here are just some of the places on the Lower East Side and East Village where you can listen to live performances:

• It may be called Arlene’s Grocery (and it used to be), but nowadays this venue at 95 Stanton Street (not far from where Lady Gaga used to live) features up-and-coming bands.

• Every night, Joe’s Pub at 425 Lafayette Street has live performances of various music styles.

• Are you a fan of experimental and avant-garde music? You can hear some every night between 8 and 10 PM at the Stone, located on the corner of Avenue C and Second Street.

Call us, maybe

Okay, so we are making a reference here to Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit song, but, kidding aside, if you live or work on the Lower East Side or in the East Village (or any other part of Manhattan for that matter), we’ll be happy to come to you and give you music lessons.

We teach a variety of instruments, whatever your age and level may be.

So do call us –no ifs, buts, ands, or…maybes!

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Photo Credit: Paul Lowry

The post High Times in Low Manhattan (It Includes East Village Too)! appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

One of the coolest things about New York City is how neighborhoods with very different vibes blend smoothly into each other – a seamless fusion that you’d expect to experience in this “melting pot” of a city.

Take the Financial District and South Street Seaport, for example. The former is a hub of the country’s economic powerhouses such as the New York Stock Exchange and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. On any given day of the week, over quarter of a million people descend upon this part of Lower Manhattan to work in banks and other financial institutions. The latter is a relaxed and laid-back area that looks and feels more like a harbor town than a busy city. And yet both these neighborhoods co-habit side by side on the southern tip of Manhattan, each with a distinct ambiance of its own.

A neighborhood of contrasts The Financial District, also called the FiDi, is located in the southernmost section of Manhattan, between the East River and West Street. With a bird’s eye view, the FiDi looks like a sea of modern mega-skyscrapers. But if you look at the neighborhood from the ground level, you might be surprised to see many old two- and three-story brick buildings. They may be dwarfed by the surrounding high-rises, but they are the important vestiges of New York’s (and America’s) history. The Federal Hall on Wall Street, for example, was the location of George Washington’s inauguration as America’s first president, on April 30, 1789. That was the time when settlers from Europe started to build wooden homes here, giving this part of Manhattan (or New Amsterdam, in those days) the look of a small but growing town, which would eventually morph into the financial nerve center of the United States. History on every corner Just a stone’s throw away from the Financial Center lies a neighborhood that projects a totally different feel – that of an old seafaring town. It is not by accident that this part of the city, wedged into the intersection of Fulton Street and the East River, is called South Street Seaport – it is located in the southern-most section of Manhattan and it does have an atmosphere of a seaport, even though it sits on a river. A fleet of old ships moored by the harbor is a constant reminder that this site was once the busiest port in America and historic (though now renovated) buildings once stood along the cobblestone streets. After the Brooklyn Bridge was built in 1870, however, local merchants and residents moved away and the neighborhood fell into disrepair. It was only in the second half of the 20th century that a group of citizens started to turn this community into an open-air museum. The original Fulton Street fish market is no longer there, but a weekend specialty market occupies the former fish stalls along South Street. Eat, drink (in moderation) and be merry! Yes, the South Street Seaport is a beehive of activity, with music festivals, live performances (including at the historic Pier 17), art exhibits, and plenty of shopping and dining options. What about the FiDi? Once the hustle and bustle of a workday is over, the majority of people leave the business district. However, for over 50,000 people this neighborhood is home sweet home. Fortunately, the Financial District is not just all work and no fun! For instance:

• George Washington might not have slept at Fraunces Tavern on 54 Pearl Street, but he did use the premises of New York City’s oldest building (dating back to 1762) to give a farewell speech to his troops in 1783.

• For live concerts featuring various bands, head to Canal Room at 285 West Broadway.

• John Street Bar and Grill at 17 John Street is a great after-work bar dive, and even the most serious financiers need to relax and let their hair down once in a while!

Let’s play together!

If you live or work in the Financial District or South Street Seaport neighborhoods, you can make your own beautiful music!

How? Hey Joe Guitar will teach you! Our music school is mobile, so we will be happy to come to your home or office and give you music lessons on any instrument that strikes your fancy.

Just call or email us and…make a playdate!

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 Photo Credit: vincent desjardins

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When people talk about the “Manhattan vibe,” they envision a high-energy, hyperactive place that bursts at the seams with people, noise, and chaos. (Don’t get us wrong -we LOVE Manhattan!)

Maybe they’ve never visited Battery Park City, an urban oasis that is  “un-Manhattan-like” in many ways:  on a cold winter day the only noise you will likely hear is the whistling of the wind. In warmer weather, its tree-lined streets, lush greenery, and a 1.2-mile pedestrian esplanade along the Hudson provide a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of midtown and uptown areas – not to mention stunning views of Jersey City’s downtown district on the other side.

Yes, Battery Park City is a great neighborhood, tranquil enough to relax in and…recharge your batteries!

The river runs through it

Well, to be accurate, the Hudson actually runs by the edge of this neighborhood, providing the western boundary to the area bordered to the east by 12th Avenue / West Side Highway.

Long before this area on the tip of Lower Manhattan became a neighborhood it is today, it was just a rocky ledge. When Native Americans and Dutch settlers arrived here in the early 17th century, they built a “battery” of cannons around the rugged shore. That’s how this part of Manhattan later got its name.

In the 19th century, as more and more immigrants sailed to America, the site was used as a welcoming and processing center before Ellis Island opened in 1892. Today, Historic Battery Park marks the location of immigrants’ arrival in New York.

Battery Park City as it is today was built over filled-in land of soil, sand and rocks excavated from other construction sites – including that of the World Trade Center towers. This planned community originally started out as an innovative experiment in urban living: to create an inner-city neighborhood with a small-town / suburban feel.

Mission accomplished!

Rooms with the view

Okay, so it depends on where in this area you happen to live. If you are lucky, you’ll get a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, the glass-and-steel towers of the World Financial Center, the New York Harbor or, as mentioned above, Jersey City’s skyline.

If your apartment doesn’t provide rooms with the view, head to Wagner Park where you can admire not only beautifully landscaped scenery, but also sweeping vistas from the roof deck of the Park Pavilions. And just strolling along the waterfront esplanade gives you some great views as well.

Wagner Park is a very scenic location, but it is not the only haven of serenity and greenery in this neighborhood. Other public spaces, such as South Cove, West Thames Park, and Rector Park, all have a quiet charm of their own.

And let’s not forget Battery Park itself, scenically located on the neighborhood’s southern shore. Its beautiful waterfront and flower gardens are certainly worth repeated visits.

A Sunday In Battery Park

Though this is the title of a song written by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, Sunday – or any day for that matter – is indeed a good time for a leisurely stroll or a more energetic jog through the park’s pathways.

What else is there to do in the neighborhood besides walking running, admiring the views, as well as free summer concerts in the parks? Since Battery Park City is predominantly a residential area, it doesn’t have as many entertainment venues as other parts of Manhattan.

But no need to worry – just a quick jaunt to the nearby Tribeca will give you a vast array of trendy dining, clubbing, and other entertainment options. And there is no shortage of legendary haunts where you can listen to a wide variety of music styles – Mercury Lounge, Canal Room and SOBs, just to mention a few.

What if you don’t feel like leaving the neighborhood but would still like to hear some good music?

We can help you, by bringing “music” right to your doorstep!

At Hey Joe Guitar, we can come to your Battery Park City home or office and teach you to play any instrument or give you voice lessons – any age and any level.

See, it’s as easy as a… walk in the Park!

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Photo Credit: Anthony Quintan

The post Battery Park City: A Quiet Nook in Manhattan appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Say what you will about Harlem’s reputation as dangerous and squalid, but this neighborhood is no longer the symbol of urban decay. If it were, would a former president of the United States open his offices there?

In 2001, when Bill Clinton headquartered his Foundation at 55 West 125th Street, this is how he explained his choice of the location: “Harlem always struck me as a place that was human and alive, where there was a rhythm to life and a song in the heart, where no matter how bad it was, people held up their heads and went on, and where, when things got good, people were grateful and cared about their neighbors.”

That’s the kind of Harlem its residents are proud of: one of the most important historic centers of African American culture and arts. It is home to 12 colleges – including the prestigious Columbia University – 14 museums, and numerous music venues.

To say that Harlem has a very distinct vibe of its own would be an understatement: from a once downtrodden area, it has morphed into one of NYC’s most vibrant neighborhoods.

Harlem globetrotters

In the mid-17th century, Dutch settlers named this part of upper Manhattan, located between 110th and 135th Streets, Nieuw Harlem, after the city of Harlem in the Netherlands.

In those early days, this area was a farming community, which had become, by the beginning of the 18th century, an upper-middle-class suburb of NYC. Eventually, however, the land became barren and the residents started to abandon their properties. Irish immigrants began to squat in the neighborhood, turning the desolate area into a shantytown.

However, like the mythical phoenix bird rising from the ashes, Harlem experienced a remarkable revival, sparked by scores of talented and creative people who settled here at the dawn of the 20th century.

Great expectations

Modern Harlem’s history of transformation from a slum to a vibrant multicultural area it is today began in the early 1900s, with the influx of African Americans from the southern states. Freed from slavery only decades earlier, they started to move north, with many of them settling in Harlem. People of African – Caribbean descent also flocked to this part of Manhattan. Together, these new arrivals laid foundation for a phenomenon that became known as the “Harlem Renaissance.”

During this period in the 1920s and 30s, Harlem saw a veritable explosion of music and other artistic expressions.  Jazz, blues, swing, big band, and spirituals had their heyday, launching the careers of singers and musicians who would become world famous, among them Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and countless others.

Their careers were often launched at venues that have survived to this day and are now considered to be a legendary part of Harlem’s history.

Harlem nights

It’s impossible to talk about the neighborhood’s music scene, past and present, without mentioning the Apollo Theater at 253 West 125th Street, one of the most famous music halls not only in NYC, but also in the whole of the United States.

In addition to the above-mentioned performers, this landmark launched the careers of other vocalists and musicians as well: Diana Ross & The Supremes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, Jackson 5, Marvin Gaye, Patti LaBelle, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, and many others. In 1964, Jimi Hendrix won the first place prize in an Amateur Night, an Apollo tradition that is still thriving today.

And let’s not forget the Cotton Club, another legendary Harlem music venue at 656 West 125th Street. Actually, its early years in the 1920s were not exactly boastful, at least by today’s standards. Reflecting the mores and practices of that era, the club was segregated – only white patrons could come to the establishment, where they were entertained by black artists.

But despite this shameful past, the Cotton Club has become a true Harlem tradition. Through performances by – among other renowned entertainers of the day – Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Josephine Baker, the club has been an important part of our country’s jazz history.

Today, the Cotton Club is still a great live music haunt open to all, where you can listen to jazz, blues, swing and gospel.

Let’s play together!

We at Hey Joe Guitar agree with President Clinton: Harlem definitely has “a rhythm to life and a song in the heart.” That is why we are happy to offer music lessons in this NYC neighborhood, which vibrates with so many different sounds.

Whatever instrument you’d like to learn, we will come to your Harlem home or office – or any other Manhattan neighborhood, for that matter – and teach you.

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 Photo Credit: Simon Whitaker

The post Harlem: NYC Neighborhood That has its Own Rhythm appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Among all of NYC neighborhoods, the section known as Midtown West is one of the busiest and liveliest. Every day (and much of the night as well), it is a beehive of frantic activity and nervous energy – always on the move, never at rest. That may be why New York is known as a city that never sleeps. In a span of just a few minutes, hundreds of taxis whizz by, cars honk, street vendors sell hot dogs and other fare, and throngs of pedestrians elbow their way through the sidewalk. This cacophony of sounds, sights and smells is a quintessential Midtown West, the part of Manhattan that famous architect Le Corbursier referred to as “the vertical city with unimaginable diamonds.”

Bright lights, big city Take our word for it: no one who lives, works, or just visits this lively neighborhood — which stretches from 30th to 59th Street on the west side of Fifth Avenue — will ever be bored. Whether you look straight ahead, behind you, left, right, or even skyward, there is something interesting to see. Some of the most famous NYC landmarks are right there in Midtown West, starting with the ultimate high-rise (and not just for King Kong) — the Empire State Building, located at 350 Fifth Avenue. The junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue, between 42nd and 47th Streets, is the home of Times Square, possibly the most dazzling sight in the whole of New York. And let’s not forget the Rockefeller Center at Fifth Avenue and 49th Street, not exactly small potatoes if you consider that millions of people from all over the world visit this spot each year, especially during the holidays, when a spectacular Christmas tree illuminates the site with thousands of lights. The vicinity of Rockefeller Center is also famous, because that’s where Radio City music Hall is located at 1260 Sixth Avenue. The legendary home of the Rockettes is the largest indoor theater in the world, and certainly among the major music venues in the city, along with Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, both of which “live” in the Midtown West as well. And let’s not forget this neighborhood’s history as a textile-manufacturing hub, with numerous designers’ offices, wholesale and retail shops still in existence along Seventh Avenue, between 34th Street and Times Square – the area known as the Garment or the Fashion District. And, of course, there is no shortage of dining options in this neighborhood – restaurants, diners, and coffee shops abound at practically every turn. A hell of a neighborhood Despite its name, Hell’s Kitchen is not actually a restaurant (if it were, we are guessing that not many people would want to eat there). It is an area located within Midtown West, between 34th and 52nd Streets, and Eight Avenue to the Hudson River. Though nobody knows for sure how the rather unusual name originated, fact is that from the 19th century until the 1980s, this used to be one tough and dangerous neighborhood, where numerous gang wars played out on almost daily basis. In the past 30 years, however, the area has been cleaned up, “reformed,” and given a new identity: Clinton. Today, Hell’s Kitchen / Clinton is a “respectable” area full of theaters and restaurants – a long way from its gritty beginnings. Given this transformation, New Yorkers now venture into the formerly hellish neighborhood with a new “devil-may-care” attitude! Give our regards to Broadway! We can’t talk about Midtown West (or even New York City, for that matter), without giving its due to Broadway. Not just the street, mind you, but everything it represents: the artistic and musical center of our great city. Whether you call it the Theater District or the Great White Way, for more than a century this stretch of Manhattan, as well as the neighboring streets and avenues, have housed dozens of theaters big and small. Broadway musicals are legendary; no wonder so many of us can play, sing (or at least hum or whistle) some of the more famous tunes. We at Hey Joe Guitar love all the music that’s rocking Broadway – and Midtown West as a whole. If you live or work in this neighborhood and would like to learn to play an instrument, call us. We’ll come to your residence or place of business and teach you. Even in Hell’s Kitchen, we’ll make heavenly music together!

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Photo Credit: Paul Lowry

The post Midtown West: It’s not Just the Lullaby of Broadway appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

If we had to describe the Midtown East section of Manhattan succinctly, we’d say it’s a quieter version of the adjacent neighborhood lying to the west. There is less of a hectic activity going on here, on the eastern side of Fifth Avenue, than the high energy emanating from Midtown West. And that’s a great thing about NYC – neighboring areas generate a totally different buzz and yet they are all part of the same city. Talk about diversity! The house Cornelius built (and other landmarks) Midtown East stretches from 42nd to 59th Street, and from Fifth Avenue to the East River. While it is a section of its own, it also comprises several smaller, mostly residential “sub-neighborhoods” like Tudor City, Sutton Place, Murray Hill, Kips Bay, and Turtle Bay. By the sound of their names, you’d imagine quiet, laid-back towns rather than a bustling city that surrounds them.

As we mentioned before, Midtown East in no match for its west-side neighbor in terms of the vibe, but it is home to some of NYC’s best-known architectural landmarks. Along 42nd Street and Park Avenue is one of the most opulent railroad stations in the United States. The Grand Central Terminal is worth mentioning not only because 750,000 people pass through this site every day, but also because of its history. It was built at the end of the 19th century for Cornelius Vanderbilt’s expanding railroad network. Reflecting the fashion of the day, it was constructed in the Beaux Arts style. Exquisite features such as the four-sided brass clock, and the circular marble and brass pagoda make this building an interesting architectural landmark. In the 1960s, there was talk of razing the station but, after much debate and controversy, concerned New Yorkers, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, saved the building from the wrecking ball. Another notable Midtown East landmark is the Chrysler building, at 405 Lexington Avenue. This 77-story skyscraper, constructed in 1930, was for a short time the tallest building in New York, until Empire State Building stole the thunder a year later with its 102 floors. Still, with the Art Deco style and stainless steel exterior, the Chrysler Building remains to this day a prominent part of the NYC’s skyline. And let’s not forget St. Patrick’s Cathedral, located at 460 Madison Avenue. The church opened in 1879 and is still a well-known New York landmark, visited by more than 5.5 million people each year. It is interesting to see how the neo-Gothic church is flanked on both sides by tall, modern buildings – the eclectic blend of the old and new styles that cohabit harmoniously on the same sidewalk. It’s in the pocket! When people think of New York, they conjure up images of gigantic buildings and huge, open spaces, like Central Park. But the Midtown East district is just the opposite. In line with the idea that “less is more,” several parks in this part of Manhattan were created on small pieces of land – the minuscule (by urban standards) size that justifies their name, “vest pocket parks.” Greenacre Park at 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue measures only 60 by 120 feet, but with its well-designed multi-level sitting, a waterfall, shady areas, and an outdoor café, this space provides respite and relaxation. Another green oasis in this neighborhood is the Paley Park, the 4,200 square feet space located nearby, at 3 East 53rd Street. Like Greenacre, it also has a waterfall and seating under the trees. Both these “vest pocket parks” prove that a quiet and relaxing oasis can be found even in the urban jungle! We’ll come to you We at Hey Joe Guitar love all kinds of New York neighborhoods: east, west, uptown or downtown – we feel at home wherever we go. And we do get around! Our music school is mobile, so we go wherever in Manhattan our customers work or live. Is your home or office in Midtown East? That’s not a problem: we will come to you and teach you to play an instrument of your choice.

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Photo Credit: S. Diddy

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“Woke up, it was a Chelsea morning, and the first thing that I heard Was a song outside my window, and the traffic wrote the words. It came a-reeling up like Christmas bells, and rapping up like pipes and drums.”

What better description of a NYC’s neighborhood is there than the words of Joni Mitchell’s 1969 song, “Chelsea Morning.” (Yes, the singer actually did live in Chelsea when she wrote this tune).

The song inspired Bill and Hillary Clinton to name their daughter Chelsea. And Collins performed this song at President Clinton’s 1993 Inaugural ball.

Is this the only example of a song about a Manhattan neighborhood inspiring a person’s name? We are not sure, but let’s just say that there are no people (to our knowledge) named Hell’s Kitchen!

London calling!

Actually, the name of this west side neighborhood, stretching from 14th to 29th Street and from Broadway to Hudson River, is not totally original.

In the mid-18th century, a retired British Major Thomas
Clarke bought 94 acres of land in this part of Manhattan and named it Chelsea, after an English military hospital. His own mansion was built on what is now West 23rd Street, the site of the present-day London Terrace building. (And yes, there is a neighborhood called Chelsea in London as well.)

Over the centuries, Chelsea’s history mirrored that of other NYC neighborhoods – from the influx of immigrants settling in the area, to a gritty district full of lumberyards, breweries, and tenements for low-income people.

Prior to World War I, before Hollywood became the motion picture capital of America, Chelsea was the center of the (silent) film industry; in fact, several of Mary Pickford’s movies were made on the top floor of an armory building at 221 West 26th Street.

“Market” value

In recent decades Chelsea has blossomed into a combination of an artsy, commercial, and residential enclave, which – like other NYC neighborhoods – has maintained its ethnic and social diversity. Some local historic landmarks also remain, including 19th century buildings and sites.

One of them is the Chelsea Market, located in the lower part of his neighborhood, between 15th and 16th Street, and Ninth and Tenth Avenue. Before it became an indoor shopping and food mall, the building housed the National Biscuit Company, maker of the Oreo cookies.

The company eventually left New York City, but the ground floor of the building, was later redesigned into an arcade brimming with food stores and restaurants.

And, if you are looking for live entertainment in the neighborhood, you can have your pick of several high-vibe haunts:

You don’t have to have a defiant streak to enjoy Rebel, Chelsea’s dance, lounge, and live music venue at 251 West 30th Street.

Even if you don’t remember (or had no chance to experience) hot sounds of Havana in the 1950s, you can relive them at Son Cubano at 44 West 27th Street –so “real,” you’d never know you were in Chelsea!

For a multi-disciplinary feel of the artistic input from the media, literature, and performing arts, head to The Kitchen at 12 West 19th Street. No cooking required, just a curious mind!

Let’s strum, drum, blow, or hit the keys together!

As you can see, Chelsea has a lot to offer! If you are looking for Manhattan music lessons, we are here for you!

Hey Joe Guitar teaches all kinds of instruments to people of all levels and ages in this neighborhood, and we’ll be happy to come to your Chelsea home or office as well.

Call us – whether you need us during the Chelsea morning, afternoon or evening – as long as your neighbors won’t mind!

The post Chelsea: A Gem of a Neighborhood on the West Side appeared first on Hey Joe Guitar.

Her website mentions how, as a child, she used to go to fancy restaurants in the neighborhood and dance around, using her breadsticks as batons. Later, she waitressed at an Upper West Side diner and bought herself a Gucci handbag with the money she made at that job. However, the multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning artist is not the only famous musician who lived on Upper West Side or sought Manhattan music lessons. Scores (no pun intended) of music greats also flocked to the neighborhood at one time or another: Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Judy Collins, Billy Joel, Carly Simon, Sting, James Taylor, and Madonna are just some of the celebrated performers who made their home in this part of Manhattan, nestled between Central Park and the Hudson River, and West 59^th and 110^th Streets. As a matter of fact, some neighborhood landmarks had become indelibly linked with the music industry legends who lived or worked here over the years. For example, the iconic Dakota building on West 72nd Street has become known as the home of John Lennon, Leonard Bernstein, and Judy Garland; Igor Stravinsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Gustav Mahler composed at the storied Ansonia at 2109 Broadway, also the stomping ground of Enrico Caruso and Arturo Toscanini. There may be a reason why the Ansonia, originally a hotel, was a favorite haunt for performers. According to a New York Times article, the building’s architect, William Earl Dodge Stokes, “built it for musicians, and that’s why the doors to each apartment were double-width, so grand pianos could easily be moved in and out. It’s also been claimed that the temperature-control system, a great benefit for sinuses, lured singers.” Alive with the sound of music A diverse and vibrant part of NYC, the Upper West Side is a veritable treasure trove of arts and culture. The famous Julliard School of Music, Lincoln Center, the Avery Fisher Hall — home of the New York Philharmonic — as well as Metropolitan Opera are also located here. But classical music is not the only kind that resounds through the neighborhood. Various local venues offer excellent live jazz, blues, rock, and other beats to satisfy all tastes. And since Upper West Side is part of the city that never sleeps, most of these clubs are jamming it up into the wee hours of the morning. For example, The Smoke Club at 2751 Broadway, Cleopatra’s Needle, 2485 Broadway, or Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola (33 W 60th St), are just three the of many great places where you can listen to hot live jazz or jazz and blues. Have instrument will travel Given such a rich and eclectic musical tradition, is it any wonder that we at Hey Joe Guitar music school absolutely LOVE the Upper West Side? We are happy to be a part of this neighborhood and nurture its residents’ love and appreciation of music by teaching them to play a variety of instruments in the comfort and convenience of their Upper West Side home or office. And don’t be misled by our name – we are not just a guitar school and don’t only offer guitar lessons. Like the neighborhood we live in, we are much more versatile than that. With Hey Joe Guitar, you can learn to play practically any instrument: guitar, piano, voice, drums, trumpet, trombone, brass, reeds, saxophone, clarinet flute, violin, viola, cello, strings, accordion, ukulele, banjo, recorder, and mandolin. We also offer composition, songwriting, and voice lessons; in fact, we can give you any type of music lesson you can think of. With such broad and diverse offerings, we are a good fit with Upper West Side, a bustling neighborhood that Lady Gaga and many other prominent artists call “home.”

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