citydude

Looking for must see's below 34th Street.

I plan on being all south of Canal Street so I would appreciate some help.

I'm coming to town for a Yankees game at the end of July and have 1 free day to explore, so I'm going to do a couple things I've always wanted to do. First is to walk the Brooklyn Bridge, second is to visit the WTC site.

What I'm looking for is something cool to see in Lower Manhattan.
Not necessarily touristy, but something different.
Someplace a New Yorker would go for lunch or a coffee.
Someplace off the beaten path that a tourist might not be interested in, but a geek like me would
Someplace that might interest the eye of a photographer (architecture, history, pop culture, etc).

Walking Brooklyn Bridge will be my touristy thing to do.
Visting the WTC site and the streets around it is not a touristy thing for me to do, it's a spiritual journey for me. It's something I've felt called to do, even though everyone says "you'll be disappointed, it's just a construction site now". I'm not a morbid person, I'm not an ambulance chaser. But I feel called to walk the streets around the site, remember, and pay my respects.

Beyond that, I'm open to suggestions.

Is there a cool building that you think my camera would appreciate
Is there a cool alley or street that most people wouldn't notice?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Gimme a local taste of the city. Gimme a picture that no one else will have.

Thanks everyone!

lauren

It is touristy but go by the Stock Exchange. Your camera will definitely love the HUGE flag that drapes the building. That corner is really cool too. Federal Hall is great and there are always very heavily armed ESU cops there. I've always thought a picture of them would be a great 'welcome to NY' postcard. Go to Battery Park because there is a sculpture there that used to be outside the Trade Center. It survived with damage and there is an eternal flame. I feel it's more moving than the site itself. There is a police museum on Water Street about halfway between the Seaport and Battery Park that has an excellent 9/11 exhibit. Other cool stuff in there, too. It's in it's own little building designed to look like an old precinct. There are also old police cars parked outside. Could be something to photograph.

The building at 55 Water Street has an outdoor garden. Take the escalator up and you won't believe your eyes. You'll be outside, a few stories up with a really interesting view of the East River, seaport and bridges. Lots of water traffic going by and you're also right at the heliport there so you're also above them while they're hovering/landing. I can't believe how much helicopter traffic there is.

PaullyInNYC

i would go to governors island and check out all the new man made waterfalls