Things to Do in North America

A gracefully gentrified neighborhood in South Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens was originally considered part of more working-class Red Hook, just a few blocks to the south across the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. First settled by Dutch farmers, then Irish, Italian and Norwegian merchants, and now a combination of French immigrants, American yuppies and aging couples, this evolving area retains traces of all its past inhabitants. Most renowned for what it has preserved, Carroll Gardens today is increasingly full of independent-owned cafes, boutiques and antique stores, most set along Smith Street.

Named for Charles Carroll, a Revolutionary War hero and senator from Maryland and the only Roman Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, the neighborhood is centered on tree-lined Carroll Park. Around and near the park is the Carroll Gardens Historic District, comprised of 19th-century brownstones with elaborate gardens out front.

Located at 881 Seventh Avenue in Midtown West, Carnegie Hall is a prestigious concert venue known for being an important cultural institution as well as a space where many notable musicians were able to break out. Opened in 1891, it is the place where Judy Garland made an album that won five Grammys in 1961, Benny Goodman elevated the status of swing music and produced one of history’s greatest-selling jazz albums in 1938, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., gave his last major public address of all time in 1968. Today, Carnegie Hall puts on about 250 high-quality classical and popular music performances each season. The architecture is another draw to the attraction, as it is one of the city’s last large buildings built entirely of masonry without a steel frame. Moreover, its Italian Renaissance design, eclectic international accents, intricate carvings, brick-insulated walls and high-ceilings allow for an elegant space with first-rate acoustics.

Along with seeing the show and touring the building visitors can peruse the Rose Museum, which tells the story of Carnegie Hall’s history and showcases artifacts like photographs, concert programs, manuscripts and more. There is also a gift shop selling souvenirs like apparel, posters, CDs, DVDs and books.

Ticket prices vary by show, although you can tour the building without seeing a performance. To reach Carnegie Hall by subway, take the N, Q, R to 57th Street-Seventh Avenue; F to 57th Street; B, D, E to Seventh Avenue.

Talk to a local about Carrollton and they’ll give you directions to one of New Orleans’s signature neighborhoods in the Garden District. Because while Carrollton is commonly known as a street, it was once its very own town, completely independent of the greater city of New Orleans. Yes, Carrollton was destined to be annexed by New Orleans in the early 20th century, but the Carrollton of yesteryear and the Carrollton of today both boast the picturesque Oak Street as its “Main Street” and offer guests a unique view into one of the beating hearts of New Orleans’s cultural hotbeds.

With a laid-back feel and beautiful architecture throughout, Carrollton is an attraction just walking through – though you needn’t take the sidewalk if you don’t want to: The St. Charles Line Street Car takes you into Carrollton by way of St. Charles Ave. Exploring Carrollton means discovering Queen-Anne and Victorian homes, oak-lined streets, and restaurants catering to all budgets. While you’re here, don’t miss Riverbend, Audubon Park, or the Maple Street Bookshop – these are some New Orleans favorites.