Right around the corner from the school is one of the most interesting museums NYC has to offer. This museum is dedicated to the “Infinity of Nations” that lived across the Americas, from Alaska all the way to the tip of South America. The students were impressed by the contrast of the decadent architecture of this historic building and the refined artistry of the pottery and dress of the wide array of indigenous cultures represented in the collection.

In the current Taino exhibition, the students learned about the tumultuous effects that the European cross-Atlantic voyages had on the native inhabitants of the lands in the Caribbean Sea. But we also got to see how native traditions have survived into the modern day with conucos (traditional gardens for food), art and other customs. Afterwards, the students braved the wind and walked to Chinatown to try some Taiwanese cuisine.

Group of student and our Level 3 teacher David left NYEA at around noon and arrived within the hour to MOMA in Midtown. Once inside and receiving our tickets, we proceeded towards the second floor, where a group of ballet performers were warming up. Afterwards, we walked up to the 5th floor to check out the permanent exhibitions of art displayed, including viewing the most popular work of art up there: “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh.

Whenever we had a chance to, we took either group photos or individual ones of each other. A floor down from where we were, we checked out antique furniture and modes of transportation. We then split up and parted ways.

Group left NYEA shortly after 12:00 pm and headed right for the 2/3 line at Wall St. to Borough Hall in Brooklyn. Once we arrived, we walked a few blocks away to find the old Court Street subway entrance, which happens to be the site of the New York Transit Museum, located at Schermerhorn Street and Boerum Place.

Inside, we checked out the gift shop, then explored the entire main floor, which exhibits past NYC transit memorabilia, subway advertisements, videos, historical photos and objects, as well as MTA buses. Afterwards, we made our way downstairs to the main attraction, which houses different subway cars of two separate tracks. Each car is unique from a different decade in history, giving one the feel of traveling back in time.

After taking many photos of our surroundings and enjoying everything the museum had to offer, we decided to leave.

Group left the school at financial district shortly after 12 pm and made their way to the green line via uptown. It was cold but the sunshine was bright and beautiful. Upon arrival at Astor Place station, we walked a few blocks via East Village’s “Little Tokyo,” where the museum is located on the second floor of an old, decrepit-looking apartment building which used to have a speakeasy on the bottom level. The neighborhood itself was once frequented by well-known gangsters such as Al Capone, Lucky Luciano and John Gotti.

The primary focus of the museum’s exhibition revolved around the Prohibition Era of the 1920’s. Once inside in the museum, we had the pleasure of viewing old gangster memorabilia, such as a suit once belonging to famed criminal Henry Hill, death masks of gangster John Dillinger, bullets from the Saint Valentine’s Day massacre investigation, as well as a bullet from the shooting of bank robber Pretty Boy Floyd. In addition, many photographs, newspaper clippings, various guns of all shapes and sizes, as well as original documents from the Prohibition Era were to be found.

After walking around for some time and listening in on the tour going on, we decided to leave and say our goodbyes.