New York Adventure Club

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1981936626803

Long before the Upper East Side became synonymous with old money and social prestige, it was a frontier for a different kind of New York elite — German-Jewish immigrants who had risen from modest beginnings to become some of the city's most powerful financiers, philanthropists, and cultural patrons. Who were these Jewish titans of the Gilded Age, and how did they balance identity with influence in a world of opulence and exclusion? It’s time to discover the untold story of how they quietly reshaped the city’s power circles — all while navigating the barriers of antisemitism at the heights of New York society.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the remarkable influence of German-Jewish families on the development of Manhattan’s Upper East Side during the Gilded Age — a story of cultural leadership, social navigation, and philanthropic might that helped shape the city we know today.

Led by tour guide and native New Yorker Richard Soden, our virtual exploration through this gilded chapter of Jewish New York will include:

• An overview of German-Jewish migration and upward mobility during the Gilded Age, and how this community carved out space in the city’s social, cultural, and architectural elite
• A profile of powerful German-Jewish families including the Schiffs, Warburgs, Lehmans, and Guggenheims, whose names remain etched into the city's cultural fabric
• A look at iconic Jewish-owned mansions such as the Felix Warburg House, Otto Kahn Mansion, and the long-lost Jacob Schiff residence
• An overview of groundbreaking Jewish philanthropic institutions from the Hebrew Free Loan Society to the Educational Alliance, which supported immigrant communities across New York
• Insight into Jewish women’s leadership in philanthropy and social reform during the Gilded Age, with organizations that uplifted education, healthcare, and housing
• A virtual visit to Jewish cultural landmarks like Temple Emanu-El and The Jewish Museum, which reflect the rising influence and visibility of Jewish New Yorkers during this era

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Richard — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Richard
"I am a native New Yorker who was born and have lived on the lower east side all my life. I love this city and all its beauty and peculiarities, and I love sharing it with native New Yorkers, newcomers, and returning visitors. I enjoy telling stories which I'll share with you. You’ll learn the many secrets about the city I call 'home.'"

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Gilded Age

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1981585920832

What if a single museum could tell the entire story of Western art — not just through its paintings, but through its architecture, gardens, and carefully curated interiors? Inside the Metropolitan Museum of Art lies a treasure trove of masterpieces that trace the evolution of Western creativity, from the sacred stillness of medieval chapels to the bold energy of modern cityscapes. It's time to embark on an epic visual journey through time as we uncover the hidden narratives, artistic breakthroughs, and cultural forces behind one of the world’s most extraordinary museum collections.

Join New York Adventure Club for a five-part series exploring the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s world-class collection of Western Art — each session highlighting a distinct era and theme within this extraordinary institution. In Part Two: Nature & Landscape, we’ll delve into the rise of naturalism during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, when artists began capturing the natural world with unprecedented realism and expressive detail.

Led by Sylvia Laudien-Meo — art historian, museum educator, and NYC tour guide — this art-centric virtual journey will feature:

• Early botanical imagery in religious painting, used as symbolic attributes of gods, goddesses, and saints
• Italian Renaissance landscapes by Mantegna and Carpaccio, setting sacred scenes within rich natural surroundings
• A closer look at Piero di Cosimo’s unique hunting scenes, filled with fantastical creatures and wilderness motifs
• German Renaissance landscapes by Lucas Cranach, framing mythological figures within vibrant forest settings
• A spotlight on Rembrandt’s Saskia as Flora, blending portraiture with classical floral symbolism
• Dramatic compositions by Bruegel, Patinir, and Hobbema, charting the rise of the independent landscape genre
• Watteau’s theatrical garden settings, inspired by music, myth, and leisure
• Still lifes brimming with fruits, flowers, and fauna, showcasing technical mastery and hidden meanings

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Sylvia — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay through one week after the entire series concludes.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

The Met's Western Art Collection Series
Part 1: The Cloisters (Thursday, February 26 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 2: Nature & Landscape (Thursday, March 5 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 3: The Gilded Age (Thursday, March 12 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 4: Impressionism (Thursday, March 19 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 5: NYC in Modern Art (Thursday, March 26 @ 5:30pm ET)

About Sylvia
Sylvia Laudien-Meo is a freelance Art Historian who works in and around the city in various capacities, specializing on Modern and Contemporary art, with a strong focus on Public Art. She teaches art history at Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been working as a museum educator at MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Jewish Museum for over many years, engaging visitors in conversation based, interactive art experiences of permanent collections and changing exhibitions.
For the Municipal Art Society, UFT, Brandeis Univ., and private clients, she has been touring the city for over 20 years, exploring art and architecture, parks, neighborhoods and history. Working in various different capacities gives her a unique opportunity to make intriguing connections and weave together the complex perspectives that make out the tapestry of our fascinating city.
SLM holds a Masters Degree in Art History (with minors in History and American Studies) from the Joh. Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, as well as a Tourism degree from the EST in Paris France.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1982302391816

New York runs on systems most of us never stop to think about — the barges hauling our trash, the tunnels moving wastewater, and the plants keeping it all flowing. With many of these sites clustered along the East River, what kinds of structures are hiding in plain sight along its banks? Step aboard an NYC ferry and get ready to explore the essential infrastructure that keeps the city clean, running, and (mostly) rat-free.

Join New York Adventure Club as we embark on a one-of-a-kind ferry trip along the East River to explore the vital water and waste systems that keep New York City running.

Led by licensed guide and urban planner Rayn Riel — who has worked on real-world infrastructure projects across sanitation, wastewater, and beyond — our unique experience from Lower Manhattan to the Bronx and back will include:

• A look at the journey of your trash and recyclables, spotting the barges that ferry them toward landfills, incinerators, or recycling facilities
• A glimpse of NYC’s 14 wastewater treatment plants and the century‑old sewer and utility tunnels beneath the river — some predating the subway
• A view of the Hell Gate Bridge’s three‑in‑one structure, explained so you’ll see what most miss
• A ride past hidden sites like North Brother Island, once home to NYC’s deadliest disaster
• A float past the Bronx River mouth, NYC’s only true freshwater river
• Unexpected sights along the way, including a decommissioned prison barge, the evolving Fulton Fish Market, and Roosevelt Island’s forgotten elevator (along with the site of its once-infamous sewage fountain)
• An earpiece for each guest to hear the guide over the sounds of the ferry

This experience is limited to only six guests.

See you there!

*This ticket includes roundtrip NYC Ferry service between Wall Street / Pier 11 & Soundview.
**Guests are free to disembark earlier on the return voyage at the East 34th Street or Stuyvesant Cove ferry landing as the tour content will be finished by then.
***Each NYC Ferry has food and snacks available for purchase, as well as a restroom.
****This experience will take place indoors on the trip up to Soundview, and outdoors on the return trip to Manhattan (weather permitting).

Tour Schedule

• 10:20am: Gather at Meeting Location
• 10:50am: Depart Pier 11 on Soundview Ferry
• 11:49am: Turnaround at Throgs Neck / Ferry Point Park
• 12:28pm | 12:35pm | 12:46pm: Disembark at Preferred Ferry Landing - East 34th Street, Stuyvesant Cove, or Pier 11

About Rayn Riel
Rayn is an urban planner and tour guide based in New York City. He’s worked on infrastructure projects across the five boroughs and is passionate about exploring how cities function.

Disclaimer
Event takes place rain or shine.
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: In-Person, Neighborhood Tours

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1980115636171

New York's East Village of the 1970s didn't just have a great collection of rock venues and — it was the center of the rock music universe, period. But what was it like to see legendary performers take the stage at these historic venues, and how has the neighborhood's music scene changed over the following decades? It's time to explore the incredibly rich music history of this bohemian Manhattan neighborhood, from a music expert who experienced its heyday first-hand.

Join New York Adventure Club as we hit the streets of the East Village and explore the sights and stories of the neighborhood's 1970s rock legacy, ranging from its legendary music venues to eclectic rock bands.

Led by licensed New York City Tour Guide and music lover Ann McDermott — who worked in the music industry in the '70s and saw many rock shows alongside her musician friends and fellow fans — this on-the-ground exploration of the East Village's rock legacy will include:

-A stop at some of the former sites of New York's most legendary music venues, including The Fillmore East, CBGB's, and The Bottom Line

• Little-known stories throughout the decades , such as why Pete Townsend was arrested the night The Who premiered Tommy at The Fillmore East, to Bruce Springsteen's legendary performance at The Bottom Line in 1975
• Global rock stars who got their start in the East Village , including Janis Joplin, Blondie, Talking Heads, Patti Smith, and The Ramones
• Ann's personal first-hand stories of the 1970s rock scene , from what it was like to get a gig at CBGB's and Max’s Kansas City to seeing Patti Smith in a packed CBGB in the Summer of 1976
  -The factors that promoted incredible artistic creativity during this era in New York history — and why it all but disappeared by the 1990s

See you there!

*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking!
**This tour concludes on East 4th Street and Mercer Street

About Ann
Ann McDermott, a native born New Yorker has spent her whole life in NYC born in Brooklyn, working in midtown and going to Rock shows where ever they happened. She's spent the bulk of her career in IT in various positions and she's well versed in the technology behind the music as well as the people who "made it happen". Once upon a time she worked for Warner Cable the company that launched MTV as well as ATCO records. In 2019 she became a licensed New York City Tour Guide and looks forward to showing you around!

Disclaimer
Event takes place rain or shine.
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service .
Categories: In-Person, Neighborhood Tours