I’m here in NYC visiting my son for an early Christmas.
While he takes off to work, I go sight seeing. Today I visited the New York Public Library, the Schwarzman Building.
Now, visiting the library might seem boring but for book and architect fans this is the place to put on the itinerary.
First stop is outside the building. Fortitude and Patience are the impressive marble lions who’ve guarded the library since 1911. This month they’ve donned pine wreaths.
Second stop is the foyer.
Take the stairway up to the second floor. The area is a gorgeous example of Beaux Arts style with elegant chandeliers and marble walls.
Third stop: Walk through the arch way and 🤫 shhh
you’re in the reading room. Wall to ceiling books in an area that is almost the length of a football field. I wanted to stretch out on the benches and gaze into the library sky.
I did sit and gaze.
Fourth stop is only for researchers with appointments. They are the lucky ones who get to enter the special rooms which contain valuable manuscripts and Charles Dickens writing desk.
There are also rooms to do genealogy research.
Fifth stop is on the ground floor where you’ll find the gift store. Walk around the corner to the children’s section and check out the two LEGO lion replicas of Patience and Fortitude.
The kids area is small but very cute with a good array of multicultural picture books, tiny kid chairs and larger adult seats.
The highlight in the room is the display of the real Winnie-the-Pooh stuffed animals.
My last stop-which should have been my first-was the free film exploring NYPL’s history and collections. I suggest you watch the film first.
If my stomach wasn’t rumbling with hunger I would have stayed longer than two hours but hunger won out.
I jumped on the subway and headed to Little Italy for pasta carbonara.
alvaradofrazier.com 