New York Adventure Club

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1983268151429

What was once a neighborhood of abandoned warehouses, deteriorating elevator railroad tracks, and an unused early 20th century post office — all of which surrounded an active train yard — is now today’s newest neighborhood of Manhattan West. It's time to uncover how this derelict neighborhood completely transformed into New York City’s largest private development project, designed by our generation's most internationally acclaimed architectural teams.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the neighborhood of Manhattan West, from its preserved and adaptively reused historic structures like Moynihan Train Hall and the High Line to a host of new parks, cultural venues, retail, office space, and luxury residential towers as part of Hudson Yards.

Led by NYC tour guide Ginny Poleman, our neighborhood exploration will include:

• The history of the area and role of the Pennsylvania Railroad, including how it connected Manhattan to the mainland United States via a tunnel under the Hudson River in the early 20th century
• How New York City decked over an active train yard to create more real estate for what was originally a location proposed for the 2012 Olympics pitch
• A close look at the Vessel, a controversial art installation and observation attraction by British designer Thomas Heatherwick (who also designed New York’s Little Island)
• A short walk along the newest addition to the High Line, the Moynihan Connector, linking Hudson Yards to the newly developed Manhattan West campus
• Stops at public art installations along the route such as the new colossal pigeon sculpture, Dinosaur (2024) to a ceiling sculpture, The Hive (2020) in Moynihan Train Hall
• A walk through the new Moynihan Train Hall, once New York City's main post office
• A peek inside the newly restored James A. Farley Post office corridor to view the original 1914 ceiling and WPA murals
• Vintage photographs of the neighborhood throughout the experience

See you there!

*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be on our feet for most of the tour
**This tour will conclude at Moynihan Train Hall

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.

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/1983268121339

"If a woman hailed you as you walked down Allen Street, you knew she wasn’t calling you to a minyan” — Judge Jonah Goldstein
From the 1890s through the 1990s, Allen Street in New York's Lower East Side was the center of the neighborhood's vices, from its countless ciderstubes (dive bars/brothels) to cholents (Jewish prostitutes). But out of all the streets in the neighborhood, how did Allen Street become the hub for illicit activity? And what eventually became of it? It's time to turn the page in New York City history and uncover the lewd legacy of one of its most infamous red-light districts.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the rise, fall, and resurgence of the Lower East Side's red-light district, one of the most notorious thoroughfares in New York City history.

Led by licensed NYC tour guide Robert Brenner, our on-the-ground experience surrounding the Lower East Side's scandalous past will include:

• The incredible story of the Jewish detective who went undercover to smash the vice rackets
• A visit to sites related to the highest-profile crimes and criminals in the neighborhood's history, from gangs that controlled the streets, to a serial killer who stalked the working girls of Allen Street, to a mobster whose spectacular murder shook the neighborhood
• A discussion along the route of how societal issues of the day shaped the neighborhood's history, including anti-Semitism, mass transit, sexism, capitalism, urban renewal, and xenophobia
• Tales of the two hardest working Jewish prostitutes in New York City — but never on Shabbat
• A stop at remnants of the neighborhood's former red-light district hiding in plain sight

See you there!

*Please bring a water bottle and comfortable pair of shoes as we’ll be doing a lot of walking!
**Our experience will conclude at the southeast corner of Allen and Houston Streets

About Robert
Robert Brenner is a licensed New York City tour guide, a certified member of the Guides Association of New York City (GANYC), and an almost lifelong New Yorker. He is currently pursuing a MALS in New York Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center. His mother grew up on the Lower East Side in the good/bad old days—she would plotz if she saw this tour.

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/1983680958145

For over 10 years inside his Upper East Side apartment, one celebrated entertainer and author has been hosting one of New York's best kept secrets: an under-the-radar jazz experience complete with a rare blend of soul-stirring performances, rich conversations, and home-cooked hospitality. This is more than a concert — it’s an invitation into the heart of a New York jazz tradition where elegance meets soulful tunes. Get ready for an "only in New York" music experience like no other.

Join New York Adventure Club for a sophisticated and intimate jazz experience in the heart of the Upper East Side that celebrates authentic old school Black American Jazz and Blues, blending world-class live music with the warmth of a home-cooked BBQ dinner that will make you feel right at home.

Hosted by JaRon Eames — acclaimed jazz and blues vocalist, archivist, and author of Historical Jazz Conversations — this unforgettable afternoon in his East 80s home will include:

• Rare access inside JaRon's cozy and eclectic private Upper East Side parlor
• A live jazz performance featuring JaRon Eames alongside suprise special guests such as pianist Les Kurtz
• A home-cooked BBQ dinner (brought right to your lap!) including Creole Shrimp & Rice, Salad, Cornbread, BBQ Chicken, and dessert
• Complimentary wine throughout the event
• An exclusive book signing of JaRon Eames’ acclaimed 600-page jazz history tome, Historical Jazz Conversations (book sold separately)
• Fascinating conversations with about jazz history, culture, and stories

Whether you're a longtime jazz aficionado or a curious newcomer, this special Sunday event will transport you to the golden age of jazz, all while creating new memories with like-minded music lovers.
Don’t miss this unique celebration of community, music, and culture — see you there!

*This experience is located inside a private residence in the East 80s — the exact address will be revealed in the confirmation email.
**Please be respectful of the property and do not share the location with others.
***Please note that the residence is located up one flight of stairs.
****Doors open at 2:00pm, jazz begins around 3:00pm.

Click here for a preview of the experience 📽️

About JaRon Eames
JaRon Eames is a celebrated jazz and blues vocalist, archivist, and author, renowned for his dedication to preserving the legacy of Black American music. With a career spanning around four decades, JaRon has performed alongside legendary musicians such as Doc Cheatham, Harold Mabern, and Dorothy Donegan, gracing iconic stages from the Apollo Theater to Berlin’s vibrant jazz scene. As the host of The JaRon Eames Show, a jazz and blues talk show, he has archived the stories of some of the greatest names in the genre, including Nancy Wilson and Joe Williams.
A Louisiana native, JaRon’s passion for jazz has taken him around the globe, but his mission remains rooted in celebrating the timeless art of "swinging saloon singing." Now based in New York City, he continues to inspire audiences with his unforgettable performances, rich storytelling, and deep love for the jazz tradition.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Must be 21 or older to consume alcohol. ID will be checked at door.
Ticket price is for a book signing with complimentary jazz performances, food, and beverages.
Categories: In-Person, Activities

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1082272017739

How did a 19th-century parcel of land on the westside of Manhattan transform from a sleepy estate owned by famed poet Clement Clarke Moore into one of today's chicest New York City neighborhoods? And how did a group of cowboys play a crucial role in public safety somewhere in between? It's time to hit the streets to discover one of New York's most interesting neighborhoods and its historic gems hiding in plain sight.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the rich history and transformation of New York's neighborhood of Chelsea, from its days as an apple orchard in the 19th century to becoming a center for fine art galleries in the 21st century.

Led by NYC tour guide Ginny Poleman, our curated path through the history of Chelsea will include:

• A then-and-now comparison of the neighborhood using maps, illustrations, and photos, which dates back to the 19th century
• A walk by Chelsea’s oldest house and the landmarked Cushman Row, a collection of townhomes that Clement Clarke Moore helped shape into a fashionable neighborhood
• Why cowboys were employed to wrangle pedestrians on Tenth Avenue (also known as Death Avenue), and their relationship with the repurposed elevated railway now known as the High Line
• The evolution of The Hotel Chelsea, New York’s first cooperative apartment building, along with the homes of bohemians of literature and music like Mark Twain, Allen Ginsberg, and Cher
• A trip through the halls of Chelsea Market, the original home of NBC — not the TV network, but the National Biscuit Company now better known as Nabisco

Our experience will conclude in Chelsea Market, which has tons of food, drinks, and retail options available for purchase from many local vendors!
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 at Chelsea Market on 9th Avenue between 15th and 16th Streets

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
"Loved it!" -Aigul
"Going into places off the beaten track." -Tracy
"The tour guide was excellent!" -Zandra
"The knowledge and extra research done by the guide" -Erick
"Very informative and personable guide" -Stephen

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