Many New York City residents, especially those of us who are from New York City, think we know everything about our beloved hometown. But the fact is, we do not.
I joined the Victorian Flatbush Tour, which includes parts of Ditmas Park, Prospect Park South, and the historic Albemarle-Kenmore Terraces, on a Sunday afternoon. The tour wound around a small radius of a few blocks in Ditmas Park where I lived for about five years. I was blown away by how much I learned on the tour.
We met our guide, Jeremy Wilcox, just outside the Church Avenue station on the Q. There were about ten of us in all. Most people were NYC area residents.
To remain socially distant, Jeremy talked to us via Bluetooth headset devices. We all wore masks.
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“Follow me,” he said, walking briskly, waving his hand, inviting us to follow.
“You know you’re in a landmark district when the signs are in terracotta (brown),” said Jeremy, pointing to a sign that read Albemarle Kenmore Terrace. “The other signs are green.”
We then wended our way to my old block on 18th Street and Beverley. When I had lived there a few years ago, I often walked north on 18th Street to get to the Church Avenue station, instead of walking directly to the Beverley station, if the local wasn’t running. The Church Avenue Station is an express stop on the Q/B lines.
Approaching the street named Tennis Court, Jeremey described its history.
“Most people don’t know, but just to the left here, beyond this parking lot, is The Knickerbocker Field Club. The original building, built in the Colonial Revival style, was burned down in the eighties and although they haven’t restored the original Victorian style building, they’ve built a small structure where people can watch tennis games, lounge and talk.”
A narrow path threaded through the parking lot, then opened to the Knickerbocker Field Club grounds. To the east were apartment buildings that lined Flatbush; to the west was the sunken train tracks where the Q train runs.
Then we met Ray, president of The Knickerbocker Field Club.
“The club opened in 1889. It has five courts, a comfortable clubhouse, men’s and women’s lockers, and has hundreds of members,” he said, sounding like a native New Yorker.
The clubhouse was bounded by a spacious deck, a green lawn and a perennial garden.
I couldn’t believe that I walked past the clubhouse nearly every day for a number of years and had no idea it existed. Then again, it’s not like the clubhouse overly advertised itself to the neighborhood.
A good tour guide is a fount of knowledge. And I learned from talking to other guides that what makes a good tour guide is possessing a native curiosity and a passion to learn more about a neighborhood, area or subject matter.
I talked to Maggie Brown, who grew up in the Bronx, and specializes in its neighborhoods.
“People really love the off the beaten path tours. And when I discovered the Guide Association of NYC, I learned from other guides. How to create rates, make contracts, and develop tours. They also have a job board.”
Maggie developed a brunch cruise up the Hudson.
“They were going to expand the brunch cruise, but then the pandemic happened,” sighed Maggie.
“What are your most asked for tours?”
“I do tours of Little Ireland in the Bronx (Katona Avenue). There is a cluster of Irish pubs, shops and bakeries that make delicious Irish soda bread.”
“I do a lot of college neighborhood tours, like Fordham University,” added Maggie. “I want to show people areas that we can walk to and from. If you come to see the neighborhood around Fordham, I’ll show you Arthur Ave, the Botanic Garden and The Bronx Zoo. Not only are people interested in the neighborhood, parents and their kids want to learn about services: restaurants, cafés, etc. It’s a good way to get to know your way around.”
Then I spoke to Michael Morgenthal, Vice President of the Guides Association of New York City and an active tour guide.
“Nobody grows up wanting to be a tour guide,” said Michael.
I laughed. It like being a writer, I mused. You do it because you must.
“They have varied backgrounds. Some are actors, artists, or lawyers.”
“How did you become a tour guide?” I asked.
“By mistake, actually.” He described how he was asked to show a group of kids from Canada around New York City. I found out I really liked doing it.”
GANYC, founded in 1974, is an association of independent, professional tour guides based in New York City. Each member is licensed by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs.
“We are one of the oldest and most active tour guides associations in America. We provide a number of services for the visiting public as well as for our members including tour guide education, familiarization tours (FAM Tours), professional advice and workshops,” said Michael.
“Can you tell me about some of your tours?”
“I do food tasting tours in Williamsburg and Dumbo. The tours really showcase the neighborhoods as opposed to the food. Other tours include The Hip Hispanic and Hasidic in Williamsburg, showing the different neighborhoods, and how they intertwine and coexist. We also have many other food tours. I’ve done tours of Ellis Island, showing the immigrant experience. And I’ve also done tours of the old elevated trains in New York City.”
“What does it take to be a great tour guide?” I asked.
“You have to love the subject matter and always be willing to learn more.”
“With COVID, I imagine tours are down?”
“Maybe tourism is down, but many New Yorkers take our tours. In fact, we’re hoping that New Yorkers, now with less options to go elsewhere, will rediscover their city.”
To help New Yorkers learn more about their own city, GANYC has created the Tour Your Own City project (https://touryourowncity.com). On the website you will find tours covering a wide variety of subjects and neighborhoods. You can search by neighborhood, by topic, by date, by language – or you can search by specific tour guide if you’re looking for a guide whose personality fits your own.
And I can tell you from my experience that even New Yorkers who’ve lived in the City most, if not all, of their lives, will learn something from a good tour. You can be sure there are little bits of history tucked away behind places you visit every day. These tours will remind you that New York City has endured many eras and many waves of different people. Take a New York City tour; you just might discover its history hiding right in front of you.
Guide Association of New York City: https://www.ganyc.org/
Tour Your Own City: https://touryourowncity.com
Mike Fiorito
