Take a Hike! Five Fab Walking Tours Around NYC

By Troy Segal

It’s time to go for a walk around New York City. Whether your interest runs to the ecclesiastical institutions or entrepreneurial investors, these upcoming foot tours can teach even lifetime New Yorkers a thing or two about their city.

Dome construction at St. John the Divine in 1909. Courtesy of Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University

Architectural Marvels: Take a tour of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, exploring its unique vaults, domes, and Rafael Guastavino-designed tiles, under the guidance of historian John Simko, July 14.

Midtown Turnaround: Nothing ever stands still in Manhattan, but the area around Columbus Circle has undergone a particularly dramatic transformation in the last decade. Architect John Hill takes you in and out of the various environs in the West 50s and 60s, July 19.

Eat, Drink, Man, Woman: A trip to Chinatown for some authentic Asian eats is a NYC tradition. Learn all about the different sorts of eateries there, and how, From Coffeehouses to Banquet Halls, they reflect the quarter’s metamorphosis from bachelors’ den to family neighborhood, in this guided tour offered by the Museum of Chinese in America, July 26 & Aug. 30.

William S. Burroughs’ photo of Allen Ginsberg in the Village, 1953

We’ve Got the Beat: For decades, Greenwich Village was home to bohemians of all stripes — including the musicians, artists and writers of the 1940s-60s, aka the Beat Generation. Explore the haunts of Burroughs, Kerouac, Ginsberg, and friends in this exploration of the area from Sheridan to Tompkins Squares, August 10.

Follow the Money: Always wanted to know more about the wizards of Wall Street? The Museum of American Finance docents lead a walking tour of the historic Financial District, August 16; the trip includes admission to the museum, too.