From Longshoremen to Art Connoisseurs - Chelsea, NY

City Walks

Nov 29

The Empire Diner, with Eduardo Kobra’s Mount Rushmore of Art mural with the likenesses of contemporary artists Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat, is located on Tenth Avenue.

C h e l s e a

Chelsea takes its name from the estate and of retired British Major Thomas Clarke, who obtained the farm of Jacob Somerindyck on August 16, 1750. Clarke chose the name ‘Chelsea’ after the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London. Clarke passed the estate on to his daughter, Charity and her husband and eventually their son, Clement Clarke Moore, author of ‘A Visit From St. Nicholas’. Clement Clarke Moore Moore began the development of the estate by dividing it up into lots along Ninth Avenue and selling them.

Chelsea has gone through many changes since Moore’s time including a gentrification process the last couple of decades, just like many other areas of New York City. The waterfront here was dominated by freight-unloading areas at one time, and there was very little to see in this industrial area. Fast forward to today, where so much of the area has been taken over by art galleries, upscale stores and restaurants. Some of the newcomers have retrofitted historic buildings to suit their needs, while others chose to build new like the new Whitney Museum.

Here is what caught my eye. I hope you enjoy!

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Peace sign wreath on 22nd Street

Brownstones

Chalk art on the Fashion Institute of Technology

Art Deco elements

The logo enticed me to go in, but the black and white cookies keep calling me back to Big Booty Bread Company.

The Chelsea Hotel, completed in 1885 on 23rd Street, was the home to many notable people including Arthur Miller, Stanley Kubrick, Elliott Gould, Jane Fonda, Tennessee Williams, Quentin Crisp, Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. Bette Midler, Jimi Hendrix, Alice Cooper, Patti Smith, Jim Morrison, Iggy Pop and Chick Corea also resided there.

Marshalls, Bed Bath & Beyond and TJ Maxx have taken over the building that once was the home of the the world’s largest department store, built in 1895 for the Siegel-Cooper Dry Goods Store.

Handsome homes and Citibikes

The “We Love NY” Einstein mural by Eduardo Kobra at W 21st and Eighth

Mural

David Hammon’s “Day’s End”, forms a subtle silhouette of the old Pier 52.

Gas station mural

View of New Jersey across the Hudson

Graffiti art

Old neon - Joe’s Tavern

The Parisian-style courtyard of the Highline Hotel was the General Theological Seminary prior to becoming a hotel, and is built on the original Apple orchard of Clement Clarke Moore’s estate.

Newer architecture

Storefronts and walk ups

The three-story mural tribute to Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra

Super heros

Chelsea Christmas tree

Restaurant sidewalk dining

The Old Homestead operating in the same place since 1868

City snowman

Elegant apartment building

Ralph Thomas Walker was hailed as the architect of the century when Walker Tower was completed in 1929, and has been transformed into luxury condominiums.

Did someone say they were thirsty?

Some notable residents include Cameron Diaz, Ariana Grande, Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban and Kate Winslet.

What you should know:

It is very walkable or grab a Citibike.
There are great views from the Highline.
Sunsets by the water can be awesome.
There are many restaurant choices.
You could spend a couple of hours to an entire day.
Be aware of bicycles, motor bikes, and other motorized means of transportation that do not adhere to traffic signals.

Locations:

Chelsea goes from Sixth Avenue to the Hudson River from 34th to 14th Streets.