New York Adventure Club

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985067104145

Two years into the Great Depression, which brought the roaring American economy and its boundless optimism from the previous decade to a screeching halt, a monumental building in the epicenter of the financial crisis broke ground. After only 1 year and 45 days, the skyscraper officially became the tallest building in the world — a title it would hold for over 40 years. This is the incredible story of New York City's Empire State Building, and how a structure of steel and concrete became a beacon of American hope and resilience in the darkest of times.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the riveting history of the Empire State Building, from its record-breaking construction time of only 410 days to solidifying its place as New York's most famous and beloved skyscraper.

Led by NYC Tour Guide Ginny Poleman, our digital showcase of one of the world's most famous buildings will include:

-An overview of the prominent Gilded Age mansions and hotels that were replaced by the Empire State Building at Fifth Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets

• The story behind the origins of the Empire State Building and the personal rivalry that motivated the developers to make it the world's tallest building
• The innovative engineering and fearless builders that constructed the soaring skyscraper in record time while in the midst of the Great Depression
• Debunking long-perpetuated myths about the Empire State Building
• The Empire State Building in popular culture and the news from its iconic role in King Kong (1933) to a B-25 Mitchell bomber collision with the building in 1945 due to heavy fog
  -A close look at the building's architecture and innovative features , as well as renovations and modernizations made over the past several decades

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Ginny — any and all questions about the Empire State Building during this period 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 Ginny
Ginny Poleman is a graduate of Cornell University, a licensed NYC tour guide, docent for the Municipal Art Society, as well as an educational and costume collection guide for New York’s largest art museum. Additionally, she offers private tours for her own company, NYC Encounters, covering New York City Art, Architecture, and History. You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @Art_Encounters and @NYC.Encounters.

Testimonials
"The second half dealing with the actual building." -Eve

"I love the timeline of building and trivia about building." -Charles

"Remote access; pictures; stories and information provided - great!" -Esther

"Well organized, excellent photos to accompany presentation." -Virginia
"Organized, thorough with interesting facts." -Stan

"Lots of facts and great photos." -Susan

"Interesting information and photos." -Lily

"Great use of visual tools." -Rob

"I liked the inclusion of the history of the land on which the Empire State Building was built. Loved the photos of the detail on the building and the history of its being built." -Nancy

"The variety of topics covered ranging from the history, construction, businesses, movies, Penny theory debunked, and especially enjoyed the interior photos from both the past and present. Wonderful webinar!" -Karen

"Well researched and with lots of interesting facts." -Jeffrey

"It was comprehensive and informative, without extraneous details." -Carolyn

"Very informative with great pictures! I'm born and raised in NY/ Manhattan and I gained great new Insights." -Alex

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

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985057524492

Washingtonians often draw a distinction between “Washington” and “DC.” “Washington” is the monumental federal city of grand architecture, memorials, and national symbolism. “DC,” however, is where the city’s everyday character unfolds — across more than 100 neighborhoods shaped by people, planning decisions, and profound change. Get ready to step beyond the National Mall to discover the layered stories hidden within the District’s streets like never before.

Join New York Adventure Club as we venture beyond Washington’s monumental core to explore the District’s diverse residential neighborhoods, where over 200 years of architecture, preservation, migration, and redevelopment have shaped the city’s evolving identity.

Led by Carolyn Muraskin, architectural historian and founder of DC Design Tours, our unique virtual experience will include:

• Georgetown — Cobblestone streets, canals, and colonial-era architecture that reveal some of the District’s earliest urban history
• LeDroit Park — A planned Victorian neighborhood originally built as a white-only suburb near Howard University that later became a center of Black intellectual life and community leadership
• Dupont Circle — Gilded Age mansions turned embassies reflecting extravagant wealth, ambition, and the dramatic shifts brought by economic upheaval
• Mount Pleasant — A layered neighborhood shaped by streetcar expansion, waves of immigration, and community activism
• Southwest Waterfront — Once a dense working-class enclave, later dramatically transformed by urban renewal and today reshaped again through redevelopment

Stick around afterward for a Q&A with Carolyn — 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 Carolyn
Carolyn Muraskin is the founder of DC Design Tours, which offers specialized historical tours of Washington DC that focus on architecture, urban planning, and design. Carolyn and her team guide visitors through neighborhoods like Embassy Row, Capitol Hill, Georgetown, the National Mall, U Street, Adams Morgan, and Historic Anacostia.
Carolyn holds a degree from the University of Maryland’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. Before founding her company in 2015, she worked as an architectural designer on projects ranging from historic restoration to mixed-use development. Her passion for storytelling, design, and the built environment led her to create DC Design Tours where she now shares her love of architecture full-time.
Carolyn has partnered with institutions such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Rhodes Scholars, the National Academy of Sciences, and the Brookings Institution. She also appeared on the Discovery Channel, and is a lecturer for the Smithsonian Institution. She lives in Northwest D.C. and has an abiding love for all things brick and mortar.
http://www.dcdesigntours.com

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

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1985067405045

What happens when one of the darkest chapters in human history is retold in a modern-style graphic novel? Art Spiegelman's MAUS shattered boundaries by proving that comix could confront the Holocaust with depth, nuance, and unflinching honesty. Through self-reflection, raw storytelling, and bold visuals, Spiegelman turned his father's oral account into a universal reckoning. This is the story of how Spiegelman redefined what graphic novels could be.

Join New York Adventure Club as we dive into Art Spiegelman’s MAUS, a powerful melding of moving paternal testimony and graphic novel artistry that reshaped our understanding of memory, trauma, and history surrounding the Holocaust.

Led by art historian and educator Sylvia Laudien-Meo, this unique experience will include:

• A look at Spiegelman’s early career, from underground adult comix to his pivotal role in publications like RAW and Breakdowns
• A discussion around his autobiographical prelude, particularly Prisoner on the Hell Planet, which set the stage for MAUS
• A summary of Vladek Spiegelman's journey and experiences during the Holocaust
• An overview of MAUS’s structural brilliance, from layered narration and shifting perspectives to unique drawing styles and visual framing
• A look at father‑son dynamics, reflecting generational trauma and the emotional complexity of growing up with a Holocaust survivor
• A discussion of human choice and survival, examining how characters in MAUS embody resilience, trust, courage, and compassion

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 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 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/1986095429895

New York City wasn’t just built on ambition — it was built on trash. While the city is famous for its race to the skies, its growth has always depended on what was buried or swept up below. From survival to scandal to unexpected innovation, it’s time to explore the city’s overlooked ecosystem of garbage and vermin — one that shares a story just as compelling as the skyline above.

Join New York Adventure Club as we hit the streets of Lower Manhattan to uncover how garbage, rats, and sanitation crises left their mark — not just on the city's physical landscape, but also its public health systems and political history.

Led by Suzanne Reisman — a NYC licensed tour guide, author of Off the Beaten Subway Track, and graduate of both the NYC Department of Health’s Rat Academy and Department of Sanitation’s Trash Academy — our unique experience will include:

• A walk along Wall Street to examine its origins as a colonial garbage dump and its troubling role in early New York history
• A stroll through the South Street Seaport area exploring landfill expansion, the former Fulton Fish Market, and notorious rat lore
• A visit to DeLury Square and surrounding alleys to unpack the 1968 sanitation strike, union power, and NYC’s garbage politics
• An exploration of Ann Street and Theatre Alley highlighting real rat incidents, rat reproduction, and why we can't kill our way out of the rat problem
• An overview of how modern sanitation systems evolved in response to garbage overload, vermin outbreaks, and civic pressure

If we're lucky, we'll see some rats in action...from a distance!
See you there!

*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking!
**This experience concludes at City Hall Park

About Suzanne
Suzanne Reisman specializes in unique, unusual tours of New York City. If you want to delve into the New York City that's off the beaten (subway) track, she literally wrote the book about it — Off the Beaten Subway Track: New York City's Best Unusual Attractions. A proudly foul-mouthed flâneuse who loves exploring the city, Suzanne brings humor, curiosity, and 30+ years of lived experience in her adopted hometown to every tour.
She is a NYC licensed tour guide, a graduate of the NYC Department of Health’s Rat Academy and the Sanitation Foundation’s Trash Academy, and a member of the NYC Rat Pack (New York’s elite squad of dedicated anti-rat activists). She holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from The New School, a Masters in Public Administration from Columbia University, and a BA from NYU. Suzanne currently lives in Manhattan with her husband, her teddy bear, and the ghost of her 13 lb. pet rabbit — and still insists on calling soda “pop” and sneakers “gym shoes.”

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