Project Vine’s second trip to New York City, May 1st-3rd, was an awesome example of the experiences that we as a community endeavor to provide in the lives of our students. We are so proud of the 12 students who went on this epic tour and conducted themselves (for the most part!) politely and respectfully.
Our epic adventures in New York started with a narrated sightseeing tour around the Island of Manhattan, including a stop in front of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
On Thursday morning, we headed up 103 floors to the new observatory at One World Trade Center (sometimes called the Freedom Tower, though we learned that is not the building’s official title) for breathtaking views of the city and surrounding areas. At the base of the building, we stood by the colossal footprints of the former World Trade Center towers at the 9/11 Memorial and students learned a bit about the events of 9/11, which took place before most of them were even born.
After World Trade, we headed to Grand Central Station to have lunch and take in the views, then on from there on a walking tour through midtown including Bryant Park, the New York City Public Library, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall & the CBS Blackrock Building (where Dani worked as an on-air editor back in 2003.) Then we headed into the MoMA to see some of the most famed and strange works of Modern Art on view, including Van Gogh’s famous “Starry Night.”
After a quick trip back to our hotel to get theater-ready, we had dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square, browsed through some of their extensive collection of Rock history, then explored Times Square shops, characters and shows.
Our evening ended with the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen, which one student applauded by saying “I thought I would hate this, but I actually don’t.” After the show, thanks to some seriously great connections from Project Vine parent Dawn Warner, (Henry’s mum) students were welcomed back stage and given a chance to explore the set and look out onto the theater from the rare perspective of Broadway performers.
Project Vine is dedicated to providing students with both a rigorous academic program and plenty of opportunities to learn about our world and each other in non-academic contexts, and we believe this trip was part of that mission. Our thanks to all who made this trip possible by supporting things like our annual CornHole Tournament Fundraiser, the Island Lore Storytelling Open-Mic or the Parent-Teacher Coffee Sale.