This guest post comes from Mary Jo Manzanares, Travel & Culture Channel Editor and blogger at Flyaway Cafe.

Although you’ll find C.O. Bigelow products sold in other stores, there’s nothing like visiting the original store in Greenwich Village.

Founded in 1838, C.O.Bigelow’s is the oldest continually operating apothecary-pharmacy in the country.  That’s 170 years!

C.O. Bigelow’s is located at 414 Avenue of the Americas (between 8th & 9th Street) in Greenwich Village.  It’s is accessible by subway (West 4th or Christopher stop) and the PATH (9th Street).

The store still fills prescriptions at the back of the store, but as you work you way back there you’ll pass through goodies galore.  There’s a focus on homeopathic products and remedies, along with hard-to-find and specialty cosmetic lines.  You can find something for your body here, whether that’s inside or out, and they have a great assortment of products perfect to pack for your travels.

Here is a sampling of what you’ll find:  hair and body products, shaving creams and accessories, fragrances, specialized toothpastes, baby care, and all sorts of wonderful accessories and gifts.  Bigelow’s also has their own product line, many made from recipes that are generations old.  Their Rose Salve (pictured above) is one of the store’s best selling items, and it’s touted as a remedy for everything from chapped lips to diaper rash.

You can find a sampling of their specialized products available for purchase online, and while that’s nice – it’s nothing like spending quality time milling about the store.

Photo credit:  C.O. Bigelow

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Post from: The New York City Traveler

I have many favorite places to visit when I’m in New York. There are lots of great places for shopping, eating and drinking, and just wandering around. One of my very favorite places, however, is a quiet oasis in the otherwise frenzied pace that is Manhattan — the New York Public Library.

I’d seen the library in movies long before I saw it in person. It was featured in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Escape From New York, and the library’s basement was the location of a ghost sighting in Ghostbusters. If a movie is set in New York, watch carefully, and you may catch a glimpse of the famous stone lions which guard the library.

The NYPL has both a circulating public library and a huge research (non-lending) library, making it one of the largest libraries in each category. It is a private, non-profit corporation (not a governmental entity), although it does rely on both private and public financing for its continued existence and growth. The NYPL systems consists of 86 libraries in all. This includes the four main lending libraries, four specialized research libraries. a library for the blind, and 77 branch libraries, not only in Manhattan, but also in the Bronx and Staten Island

The NYPL was founded by the 1886 estate of Samuel J. Tilden, who left money to “establish and maintain a free library and reading room in the city of New York.” Although there were two other libraries open in New York at that time, both were experiencing serious financial hardships. The trustee of Tilden’s estate saw the perfect opportunity to fulfill that vision, and the libraries were combined, forming what became the New York Public Library. A number of years later, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated money to construct branch libraries which would be maintained by the City.

You’ll find the central library on Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Street. It has expanded since its inception, primarily in an underground expansion on the Bryant Park side. The library is a Beaux-Arts design, flanked on either side of the main entrance by two stone lions guarding the premises. Although the lions have been through a couple of name changes, since the 1930’s they have been known as “Patience” (on the south side) and “Fortitude” (on the north side). I love the lions!

Keep reading for more information about this great place!

The beautiful main reading room of the Research Library is often seen in photographs (at right), but in person, it is truly spectacular. It is long, with large windows and high ceilings (52 feet), and is lined with thousands of books along both the floor and balcony level. In this room you can read at the study tables, or in the comfortable chairs, from the non-circulating book collections. Or, do what I did. Just go sit in the room and soak up the history and ambience of the magnificent room, its architecture, and history.

You do not need a library card to visit the library, or for onsite use. If you wish to check out material, or use the extensive online resources, you will need a library card. Library cards are free for anyone who lives, works, pays property taxes, or attends school in New York State. If you don’t fall into one of those categories, you are subject to a $100 per year library card fee. The libraries are free to all researchers, even though they may not fit into one of the above residency categories. All that’s needed in an ACCESS Card, which can be obtained from a librarian. The ACCESS Card will allow you to use anything from the library’s collection on-site.

One of the very cool features of the library is its telephone reference system. Staffed with expert researchers, the they are required to answer each telephone inquiry in less than five minutes. That question that you’ve been noodling around for weeks will be answered by a researches in less than five minutes. They’ll get you the specific answer, or refer you to a place to get the answer (website, trade group, specialty library, etc.). That’s impressive! The reference system operates Monday – Saturday, 9 am – 6 pm (Eastern Time), and can be reached at (212) 340-0849. It handles questions from people around the world, but will not answer crossword or contest questions, offer philosophical speculation, or do your homework!

The library is located at 455 Fifth Avenue (at 40th Street). Hours are Monday – Wednesday, 9 am – 9 pm; Thursday – Saturday 10 am – 6 pm; closed Sunday. The library can also be rented out for private events and parties.

It’s worth stopping by, even if the library is closed, just to appreciate the architecture!

Photo credit: wikimedia

Post from: The New York City Traveler

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), often called “The Big Board,” is the largest stock exchange in the world by dollar volume and ranks second in the number of companies listed on its exchange.

The exchange is located in Manhattan at 11 Wall Street (between Broad & New), but actually consists of five building, or “rooms,” that are used for trading. The main building (18 Broad Street, between Wall Street & Exchange Place) is a National Historic Landmark.

The roots of the NYSE reach back to 1792 at the Buttonwood Agreement. From that agreement, named for the buttonwood tree that it was signed beneath, the current concept of trading grew. The exchange’s current location is not far from its original location at 40 Wall Street, but the building, like the system of trading, has grown exponentially since the beginning.

When I first walked by the exchange, a couple of things raced through my mind. First, I thought about our whole capitalistic system, and what part the exchange played in all of that. Then, I thought about the movies that portrayed a frenzy on the trading floor (”Wall Street” and “Trading Places”). Then, I wondered if any of that was true — so I stood outside the door, hoping that when someone went in or out, that I’d be able to see something. No luck!

Unfortunately, and due to heightened security restrictions, the exchange no longer offers public tours. A call to their public office reaches a recording that says that it is closed to tours indefinitely, and that they are not taking appointments. That number is (212) 656-5168.

For now, you’ll have to content yourself with a walk by this historical location, and maybe if you stand around long enough, you’ll get a glimpse at what’s inside.

The exchange can be reached by subway: 2, 3, 4, or 5 to Wall Street, or the N, R, or W to Rector.

Post from: The New York City Traveler

United Nations Day, October 24th, was first declared in 1948, and honors the anniversary of the effective date of the Charter of the United Nations. This day is devoted to promoting and celebrating the aims and achievements of the U.N.

The United Nations Headquarters is located along the East River, at 760 United Nations Plaza, on First Avenue between 42nd & 48th (map it). The complex consists of the Secretariat Building, the domed General Assembly Building, the Conference Building and the Hammarskjold Library, and is considered international territory. Bank Ki-moon of South Korea is the current Secretary General of the U.N., and then are currently 191 Member Nations.

Guided public tours of the complex are offered. Visitors enter the headquarters building at First Avenue & 46th, and start the tour with a brief familiarization of the Organization and its structure. A guide will then take you through a visit to the chambers of the Security Council, the Trusteeship Council, and the Economic and Social Council, providing information about what occurs in each of the rooms. Visitors also get a look at a fabulous art collection, all donated by members of the U.N., that includes paintings, murals, tapestries, mosaics, and sculptures.

The tours ends with a stop in the General Assembly Hall (in photo above), the largest room, and the one we must frequently see in televised events. The impressiveness of what happens here is not lost on me.

Post-tour time can be allocated for shopping at the Postal Counter (commemorative stamps), the Bookshop, and the Gift Shop. While I generally avoid most gift shops, there was plenty of interesting stuff here.

The guided tours are conducted seven days a week, except ion January and February when there are no weekend tours. Tours are offered 9:30 am – 4:45 pm, Monday – Friday, and 10 am – 4:30 pm on Saturday and Sundays. The tours last about an hour. You can check the tour information line at (212)963-TOUR (8687) for up-to-date information, as hours can change.

Tour prices are $13 or adults, $9 for seniors, $8.50 for students (under age 30) with ID, $7 for children ages 5 – 14. For safety reasons, children under age 5 are not admitted on tour.

The UN Headquarters can be reached by subway: 4, 5, 6, or 7 to Grand Central Station, then walk to 42nd & First.

If you can’t make it to New York City, you can take an online tour here.

Does the Headquarters Buildings look familiar? You may have seen it featured in movies: North by Northwest, Live and Let Die, The Peacemaker and The Interpreter, the last of which was filmed in the complex.

Photo credit: United Nations

Post from: The New York City Traveler