The slits, the slats, the iron spiked posts. The fog of the shrubs that cushion the vertical wrought iron blinds keep the passers-by just moving along. Curious moments can be peculiar yet often found through the black metal gates that protect this ‘hard to get,’ treasure.

Gramercy Park stashes away two acres of pathways, gardens and grass - sunken amongst the adjacent carriage houses, brownstones and buildings between East 20th and East 21st Streets. Mystical and magical is the fanciest backyard of all. ‘See,’ the fields of green? Settle for a glimpse?

Should ‘no,’ motivate you – perhaps you’ll find solace in sixty minutes of caroling every December 24th.

From Swamp...

Real estate developer Samuel B. Ruggles bought the land that would become the Gramercy neighborhood from descendants of James Duane, a Revolutionary War Patriot and the 1st mayor of New York. Originally called "Gramercy Farm," – Duane was beyond his years, employing contemporary real estate marketing in the big apple as the property was indubitably a swampland. Nevertheless Ruggles drained the grounds in 1831 and set into motion what would become the last, private park in Manhattan.

The first planting took place in 1844. Since then the park has been immaculately maintained and sometimes even fought over. In the 1890s there were several attempts to bisect the park with a cable car, connecting Irving Place to Lexington Avenue. These attempts failed,... Read the full article