Why You Should Visit Gramercy

The boundaries of Manhattan neighborhoods aren't always particularly well-defined. The Gramercy neighborhood may or may not be between 14th and 30th, First Avenue and Broadway. And don't try to base your visit to the neighborhood on a tour of the Gramercy Park that named it, because it's private and you probably don't have a key, not with apartment rents the way they are these days. Indeed, the exclusivity of Manhattan's last private park has given the whole neighborhood an aura of forbidding, millionaires-only mystique.

But if you can look past these imposing oddities, and the even more imposing New York skyscrapers that dot the area, the Gramercy neighborhood is a charming and historic area just a wee bit off the traditional Manhattan tourist hot spots. Primarily residential, Gramercy Park lends itself well to quiet urban exploration.

While you may not get into 'the' park itself, you can always drink your sorrows away at nearby Pete's Tavern on 18th St., the longest continuously-operating bar and restaurant in New York City. If it was good enough for celebrated author O. Henry and popular enough to survive Prohibition disguised as a flower shop, chances are you'll find suitable something to wet your whistle at this landmark site.

And if you're still bitter about Julia Roberts having park keys and not you, don't worry, there's plenty of public parkland in Gramercy to while away an afternoon people-watching. Madison Square Park is a safe, clean and friendly patch of sun, with a dog run, playground and an inviting air. Home to such rich history as the first community Christmas tree in the country, the founding of the first modern baseball team and the temporary housing of the incomplete arm and torch of the Statue of Liberty, Madison Square Park is a great oasis to rest from the hustle and bustle of the city. While in the park, you'll want to bask in the architectural glory of the famous Flatiron building, whose odd shape makes it a favorite landmark for many visitors, and the historic Metropolitan Life Tower, at one time the tallest building in the world.

One thing you shouldn't look for in Madison Square is Madison Square Garden. Conspicuous by its very absence, it moved west long ago. It's no surprise, this is a quiet residential neighborhood and not a place to see a boxing match, but there's that ever-shifting structure of Manhattan geography for ya.

If you want a park with a little more life, Gramercy is bordered on its south end by Union Square Park on 14th Street, a popular gathering for everything from vegetable markets to political protests. Union Square itself is home to numerous restaurants, complete with opportunities to dine al fresco in a few spots. Just on the threshold of south Gramercy sit a couple of small performance theatres, too.

For the historically inclined, President Theodore Roosevelt's boyhood home is right on the west side of Gramercy on 20th St. Open Tuesday to Saturday with regular tours, this reconstructed memorial is a look into the early life-birth to age 14-of the man who meant so much to both New York and the nation, and our only President thus far born in the city.

It's not all button-down quaintness and landmarks steeped in folklore; Gramercy is dotted with restaurants, bars and live music clubs to cultivate a classy nightlife.

(And, okay, we lied; apparently these days you can get into Gramercy Park as a 'civilian' if you're a guest at the Gramercy Park Hotel. So go sign up and feel rich for a weekend… Jimmy Cagney liked the place, why not you?)