A Day in Inwood
Inwood Hill Park
The start of your day begins somewhere very special… at Inwood Hill Park. It almost seems like you are not in New York City. The rugged terrain, high hills and glacially scoured topography will give you an experience like no other in the city. You could hike for hours in this largest remaining forestland in Manhattan.
The Cloisters
There’s a museum tucked away in the upper edges of the city that transports you to a different era. The Cloisters, an off-shoot of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is situated in a medieval castle and former monastery. The museum retains most of the original castle structure, with stone pillars that adorn the several courtyards in the building, called the Cuxa. The museum curates many pieces of artwork that center around the European medieval architecture, sculptors, and decorative arts. Another great exterior attraction of the Cloisters is the Bonnefont courtyard, a composite from a number of monasteries from the region in France. There’s also the Fountain at the Trie, which was originally part of a convent in southwest France.
Henry Hudson Bridge
As you walk around the northern part of the neighborhood, you will discover a beautiful piece of engineering. The Henry Hudson Bridge was constructed in 1936 and travels over the Spuyten Duyvil Creek into the Henry Hudson Parkway in the Bronx. The steel arch bridge is a marvel of architecture with its perfectly placed steel beams that majestically curve over the creek to form a half moon. The shape was inspired by the desire to commemorate Henry Hudson’s voyage on his boat, “Half Moon.” When it opened in 1936, the bridge was the longest plate girder arch and fixed bridge in the world.
Seaman-Drake Arch
Now that you are back to the urban life, the next stop in your Inwood adventure is the Seaman-Drake Arch at 5065 Broadway at West 216th Street. The arch is the remnant of a former hilltop estate that was built in 1855. The biggest reason to see this piece of architecture is that the archway was modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Today, it features obscured views from the surrounding low-rise residential buildings and has been tagged by many graffiti artists, affording it a charming city appeal. Made of Inwood marble, the arch exudes a distinctly European flair.
Darling Coffee
There’s a little coffee shop in Inwood that’s becoming a big deal. Darling Coffee has become the place to be in the mornings. It has been featured on the Cooking Channel for its unique service and sweets. The shop pairs your morning coffee with a handcrafted morning sweet. The New York Times pointed out that this very coffee shop is one of the main reasons to come to the neighborhood. The shop specializes in the rare coffee pour-over. This is a painstaking brewing process that includes hot water being poured into the coffee grains and filter over a coffee cup, making the brew extremely flavorful and intense.
Broadyke Meat Market
Endless delis dot New York City. But there’s nothing like finding that diamond in the rough. That’s the case when you have lunch at Broadyke Meat Market. The house-made roast beef and roast pork make for a party for your taste buds. The deli’s roast pork and asiago cheese sandwich is their most popular. The pork is served warm and the natural juices add enough flavor to turn the sandwich into a masterpiece.
Spuyten Duyvil Creek
As you travel down from walking the Henry Hudson Bridge, you will need to make a detour to explore the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, accessible from Inwood Hill Park. The beauty of the small body of water is unmatched in the city as it features a vast collection of trees, shrubbery and sprawling landscapes that are not usually seen in the city. The walking paths give visitors a calming view of the Bronx at the top of Manhattan Island. And just in case you are curious, the meaning of the Dutch Spuyten Duyvil is purported to be “to spite the devil,” nowadays also a neighborhood in the Bronx.
A Night in Inwood
Dyckman House
Inwood is a pretty unique historical kaleidoscope of urban life. Another example of its remarkable history is the Dyckman House at 4881 Broadway. The Dutch Colonial-style farmhouse was originally part of 250 acres of farmland and was built in 1785 by William Dyckman. The landmark house maintains much of its original elements, such as the front and back porches as well as the red brick walls and granite foundation. It is the oldest Dutch Colonial home in the city.
Inwood Local
The nightlife in Inwood has a sense of ease compared to the other neighborhoods in New York City, which is faithfully reflected in the very laid back Inwood Local. The quaint little bar features a long list of craft brews to complement the domestic favorites. There’s plenty of typical spirits, from whiskey to vodkas. But the casual vibe is why this place is a favorite amongst locals.
La Marina
A dinner on the water in the city could be a challenge, with all the crowds and the wait. But dinner at La Marina, located in Dyckman Marina, is a quiet and calming experience with a sense of the tropics. There’s even a manmade beach that is only footsteps from your table and plenty of yachts in view. The place itself is gigantic with a 500-seat capacity with a lounge, swanky indoor bar and plenty of bar grub. The restaurant also offers access to fishing, sailing and kayaking nearby.
