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Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Stone Street, Lower Manhattan

Stone Street, a narrow, cobblestone alley first developed by Dutch colonists in the 1600's is said to be the first paved street in the city of New York.  It originally ran from Broadway to Hanover Square, in the Financial section of lower Manhattan, but was divided into two sections by the construction of the Goldmans Sachs building at 85 Broad Street in the 1980's. Surrounded by modern high rise office buildings it is a quaint little street that invokes scenes of old New York.
 
Once close to the thriving East River seaport, it was filled with maritime businesses and warehouses during the 1700's and 1800's. In the 1900's commercial maritime business shifted to the Hudson River and Stone Street slowly went into decline. 
 
Community activism revitalized the area by having the eastern portion of the street and the surrounding buildings protected in 1996 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and named as the "Stone Street Historic District."


With additional financing secured from New York City, and the Alliance for Downtown New York, Stone Street received a well-earned makeover, including a new street bed that duplicated the street's original cobblestone paving, and new bluestone sidewalks lined with quaint, traditional looking lighting fixtures.



The historic street was reinvented, attracting restaurants, pubs and shops, and has outdoor dining when the weather permits. 
It has became a popular destination for tourists and New York natives alike. 



I meet my husband for lunch at The Dubliner Pub on Stone Street, a little bit of Ireland in New York.  Where is the snow?  All gone!  Luckily we've had lots of sun since Friday and what snow that wasn't shoveled away has melted.

The Dubliners outside menu board. The grilled salmon was delicious!

This is what happens when there is a snowstorm in New York City and the regular garbage pickup is delayed because NYC Sanitation has been bust plowing the streets.  It looks like this is all paper recycle.  I'm glad local businesses are doing their part to save the environment!



I'm linking this post to Susan at A Southern Daydreamer blog's  Wednesday "Outdoor Wednesday" event!  Please visit Susan today to  see her outdoor post,  and also a list of other participating blogs.  Thanks Susan!




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42 comments:

  1. Interesting! Love the cobblestone street. Great photos!

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  2. Pat, what a lovely tour! Love the stone path, and great photography!

    Just curious, where did the people go? We have the same style, click when there is less people.

    Thanks for showing us your side of the globe!

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  3. What a lovely street. It reminded me of some of the ones in Liverpool where there was a lot of regeneration going on around them.

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  4. That is so cool. I always marvel how Europe lives their history...old is always in and here we're tearing down everything and building new. Well done to the efforts to hold on to some of the past...it does look quaint.

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  5. Ebie, I took these photos before lunch hour, and the business people were still in their offices. It is too cold now for many locals or tourists to be strolling around. In a few months this street will be very crowed! I'll try to take some more photos then. :-)

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  6. Can I come live with you? You are always having such a wonderful time. After reading the menu sign I now want that butternut and sweet potato soup and the goat cheese salad!

    Hugs,
    Joanne

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  7. What a gorgeous street. It is terrific when councils revitalize run down areas and bring them back to life. I bet you are glad to see the end of the snow.

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  8. We have bluestone streets in the Old City in San Juan, Puerto Rico, too. Recently, I noticed that they were replacing a section of road with repaired bricks. I'm glad they make the effort to save the bricks,I appreciate the feel of history that they create. Love the photos here, Pat.

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  9. Yes, that could have been an old street in Holland. The stones on the streets we still have in many places. And Irish pubs we do have here too.:))) Great post.

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  10. Pat, I remember Stone Street well from when I worked in Manhattan. My Dad used to tell me stories of what it was like when he was young playing stickball on cobblestone streets- not easy! I LOVE your posts and I'm dying to know about your Calabrese husband's Strangaloprete!
    xoxo Pattie

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  11. Great post and photos! I like how the street was reinvented. It looks like it would be a popular place.

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  12. Oh Wow!

    I love it when communities get together to save a historic part of big cities. I'm so glad that Stone Street has been saved and revitalised. It looks absolutely stunning now and dare I say quaint? It just looks so dwarfed amidst the taller newer buildings - but I love that the red brick stands out though - showing more character and more history!

    Oh the Dubliners pub! Coupled with the cobblestones, the barrel, the menu - they all look like one of those beautifully preserved parts here in London that you only discover by really looking!

    Lovely.

    Take care
    x

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  13. WOW--what a scene...love all the cobblestone and brick--such history! That pub looks very inviting... I bet you had a great lunch there. This little section of street reminds me of so many places in London--the very old sitting next to the very new. So glad the snow is gone there--hooray! C'mon springtime! Happy Day, Pat :o) ((HUGS))

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  14. The 1st photo just mesmerized me. The broad difference of the centuries is amazing. This little street looks like a photo shot in old Europe!!
    Loved the post!!
    Love,
    Marilyn
    xxoo

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  15. Love these shots Pat. What a great place, I love the cobblestone street. I bet it's beautiful in the evening with the street lamps glowing. A bit of history preserved for us to enjoy. Reminds me a bit of Elfreth's alley in Philadelphia, although that area is residential. Beautiful tour! Kathy

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  16. I love cobblestone streets! We still have some in Macon and Savannah but I think Atlanta is nothing but a made up rebuilt city.

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  17. It's gorgeous! And charming! And reminiscent of Europe!

    Your photos are fabulous!!!!

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  18. I used to work a stone's throw away from that street and you've reminded me of how charming that area can be. I need to make a trip to lower Manhattan this spring.

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  19. Thanks for the great tour! I love seeing the architecture. Just the past week, I emailed a friend in NY that I wished to be there with her and get a good cup of tea and gluten-free pastry! You gave me a bit of my dream. :)
    xxxooo

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  20. We stopped in the Dubliner it was great! I love nothing more than cobblestone streets...I wish there where more of them, they are just so charming!

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  21. What a beautiful street....definite European atmosphere. I just want to take a vacation to NY so bad. If I do I will print all of your post for my itinerary. You really should be a tour guide........

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  22. Dawg gone it!...I would love to be walking these sidewalks and these cobblestone streets and eating at Dubliner's....
    Walking the streets,"That didn't sound right",hehehe....anyway thanks for these great pictures and sharing "Stone Street, Lower Manhattan,IloveNYC!I always go right to your blog when I see a post from, Mille Fiori Favoriti, on my dashboard.

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  23. Beautiful pictures of such a comfortable looking street.

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  24. Oh Pat! Love the texture and feeling of history on that street! How neat on the recycling. That is indeed heart warming.

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  25. I love it! Just not good in heels...lol I love exploring and I love exploring through your eyes too! Great pictures. Grace xoxo

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  26. What a beautiful street. Very European. I would love to live on that street! And visit that wonderful Pub! :) Delighted it is being preserved. Finally people are realizing the worth of these old buildings. Newer is not always better.

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  27. It is quaint looking! Reminds me of the New York New York casino in Vegas, or vice versa!
    Oh, I could stand to sit and dine al fresco and have a cold pint o' Guinness!

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  28. Pat, I just love streets like this in Manhattan. I remember taking long walks when I lived and worked there. Every now and then I would happen upon a special, historical or quirky street. I used to love to have lunch at the seaport before it was rebuilt..it was all about the character.
    ♥, Susan

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  29. I love that street and now I must make sure it becomes a destination for my family - complete with The Dubliners pub. A touch of Irish on an old Dutch street - so New York.

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  30. I love seeing Stone Street Pat. It seems so European. I'm so glad it's had a makeover so people can still enjoy its charm today. I would have loved to join you for lunch. That salmon sound delicious!

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  31. Once again you've posted about something that I had no idea existed in NYC. I like the way the street curves. I bet not many newer ones do that.

    We have one street in Birmingham which still has its original cobblestones. Many architect firms have refurbished the buildings.

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  32. Wow, gorgeous photos! There is nobody around! It reminds me of London!

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  33. ...so glad a little bit of the old NYC was saved...it looks like parts of a European city...

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  34. Wow..what beautiful photos! It was a wonderful tour..

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  35. Thanks for the history. I think that Daryl posted a photo of the same street this week on her blog. Smart mind think alike:)
    Joyce

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  36. Beautiful pictures. It's does not even look like New York to me.

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  37. Beautiful pictures. It's does not even look like New York to me.

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  38. Thanks for showing another part of the city Pat! I really enjoy my walks there....till I will be a tourist for real!

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  39. Th upper shot is out of the past, looks like a Hollywood studio street from an old movie. I love it.

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  40. This is so interesting and fits with some of what I am reading in the book New York. I love your posts! They would make a great book! ♥

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  41. Thanks for the virtual tour of this area of Lower Manhattan. Hope they've caught up on trash pickup by now.
    Hugs and blessings,
    Small Reflections

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