When we visited New York City, we asked each of the kids what was the one thing that they really wanted to do. The teen boy knew right away: He wanted was to see some street art. We’d taken a walking tour in East London a bit before that. It had obviously made an impression.
An illuminating walking tour
A friend recommended Levys’ Unique New York. Levys’ Unique New York is a true New York-style tour guide outfit, run by the Levy family. How New York are they are? They got the accents, they got the New York vocabulary (“Sorry, kids!” our guide Matt Levy kept having to say in the course of his colourful stories) and local knowledge? Fuhgeddaboudit! Matt also sported a moustache with personality, which is practically standard-issue in this area of Brooklyn these days.
We met in Williamsburg and headed out to Bushwick, the place to see street art thanks to the Bushwick Collective, an outdoor gallery initiative created by a local-born businessman. (Find out more about it in this piece from the NYTimes.)
Amazing art
The work is stunning: Long, wall-length pieces. Bright assaults on your eyes. The work is vibrant and beautiful. You round a corner and suddenly you’re confronted with astonishing and surprising work — small stickers on the side of signs, art layered over other art, several storeys of visual stories that inhabits the street just as much as the pedestrians walking down it. If I had any complaint about our tour it was that I wanted more time to stop and admire, but there was a lot of ground to cover and a lot we wanted to see. (Our visit actually took place last year so some of this work may have already been displaced by new stuff. That’s the thing about street art – it’s always evolving.)
Walking around an edgy neighbourhood, strolling down cracked sidewalks glinting with broken glass may not sound like family holiday material, but the kids loved it, and it reminded me of the New York I arrived to back in the early ’90s. Authentic. Plus Matt told us about the different styles of street art and about the different artists. Under his guidance, we stumbled upon an independent film shooting on the street. “There’s The Yok!” he yelled when he spotted the Australian artist who creates works with his partner Sheryo, and chased him down the street. He introduced us to a couple of other artists who were up ladders and working on the day we toured. You can visit Bushwick on your own and just walk ’round, but I recommend a guide to get the most out of it.
It’s gritty New York rubbing up against a creative pulse in one of the coolest ‘hoods in town.
The kids still talk about it and so do we.
The verdict
Bushwick is off the beaten path for most tourists but it’s worth the trip for a really cool and unique view of NYC. Levys’ Unique New York does walking and riding tours all over New York, from Coney Island to Central Park to the World Trade Centre site.
Levys’ Unique New York
+1 877.NYC.LUNY
What stunning artworks. My favourite is the set by the Russian duo. I’ll have to check out this area when I’m in New York next….
It’s definitely work taking a tour like this. They have ones all over town but now that I’ve seen a bit of Bushwick, I go back on every New York trip.
I’m not surprised – I bet it’s an experience that doesn’t become old. Thanks for linking up with #CulturedKids
Love your new #CulturedKids linky!
Wow! I am in awe of this art. I love street art and although no good at it myself I always appreciate it when i see it
There’s some great street art here in the UK as well, with of course Banksy leading the way…
Fascinating! I can see why the kids loved it. Next time we are in New York, I shall take my two. My personal favourite was the mural by Roa. Something surreal about seeing that great tail curled around the fire escape!
Emma, I LOVE Roa’s work. You can see it lots of places, including London.
This holiday experience sounds just fabulous – and clearly an experience your children have loved. The art is just stunning; amazing artists creating some really clever pieces. I’m sure the sheer scale of some of these photos added to their magic. It puts our London street art @ Southbank to shame!
Lovely post and an inspiration to try something different on our family travels
Popping over from #MyBestPostOfTheWeek
The scale is pretty amazing, although I love the London street art scene too!
This sounds like a fascinating tour – my teen would love it. She really liked seeing the street art in Athens when we were there although my son felt a little nervous!
Ha – interesting that it made your son nervous! I love street art and it really is accessible. Now we try to stop and take it in whenever and wherever we come across it.