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History of Union Square Tour

If anyone is interested in learning about Union Square, how it got its name, and how it got to where it is today, there will be a tour this Saturday, March 6th starting at 2pm. The tour goes till 3:30pm. Besides learning about its past, you will also learn about where the legendary Tiffany & Co once stood. You will be shown how to read the clock that is on "The Metronome" sculpture and a lot more.

The tour explores the social and political history of the Union Square neighborhood through discussions of the people, history, architecture, and forces that have shaped this community.

You will meet everyone at the Abraham Lincoln statue by the 16th St. transverse in Union Square Park.
The tour is free. If you need anymore info, the number is 1-212-517-1826.

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14 Comments

JenMac Mar 07, 2010

Man, I do love a tour. But, the way I feel about Union Square is almost the same way I feel about Times Square. It makes me itch. Way too many people, tourists, etc. Everyone wants you to buy something or give money or bother you in some way . . .even if it's just walking really slowly and gawking when you're in a rush and you can't get around them.

DBlack Mar 07, 2010

I once saw a guy holding a sign that said. "Advice. $0.25" Pretty great. The other vendors aren't all that great, though.

msQT Apr 19, 2010

Aw man! This would of been great for me. I'm actually doing a project about mapping out Union Square for a class I'm taking. By any chance would there be any upcoming tours in the next week or so?

ajadedidealist Apr 20, 2010

I much prefer Union Square to Times Square - although now that I'm in NYC less I've grown to appreciate the neon glaring and over the top quality of TS more. I don't mind street vendors - I find great things from them sometimes!

JenMac Apr 20, 2010

Oh sweet lord, yes, Union Square is a million times better than Times Square. I do everything I can to avoid Times Square.

uptowngirl Apr 23, 2010

@JenMac and ajadedidealist I so agree with you .. I actually love Union Square ..I love walking through the green market and perusing the wares of the various artists and other vendors @DBlack I too saw the free advice vendor recently .. was wondering if he gets any customers at all..

BroadwayBK Apr 29, 2010

I am in the Union Square camp on this one. I don't think it compares to the horror that is Times Square.

BroadwayBK Apr 29, 2010

And I am actually quite a fan of Union Square, too. Though it is a bit more commercial than I can usually stand, what with a Starbucks on every perimeter.

uptowngirl Apr 30, 2010

@BroadwayBk I am quite thankful for those Starbucks outlets at Union Square.. all because of my weak bladder.. but then we discussed all this in another thread didn't we?

BroadwayBK Apr 30, 2010

@uptowngirl Ha.. But do they have to have one for every point on the compass! There is even a Barnes and Noble that also has a Starbucks... it is a little excessive.

Uraniumfish May 02, 2010

For some reason Union Square has become a place I frequently end up at at the end of a night, so I've started to get to know the watering holes that are good for that last drink before bed time. One is Old Town Bar (18th Street) and another is Republic, where you can also get great noodles if you have the munchies...

ajadedidealist May 02, 2010

I really like that cheesy sandwich place off Union Square (someone remind me of its name - it's about half a block west of Union Square on either 16 or 17th St...)

uptowngirl May 02, 2010

@Uraniumfish I so love Republic.. but I discovered another good S.E.Asian restaurant in the vicinity- Laut -http://www.lautnyc.com... @ajadedidealist surely you dont mean the outpost of Pret a Manger?? I think there is also a Subway around there and City Bakery and Taralluci e Vino can't think of any other 'cheesy' sandwich place...