Corona-East Elmhurst Walking Tour

Saturday, June 10, 2017

11am-1pm

Corona-East Elmhurst has become one of the largest and most intercultural Latino communities in NYC. Originally part of the colonial village of Newtown, established in the 1600s by Dutch and African settlers, it has been home over the years to sizable Italian, African-American, Caribbean, German, Irish, Jewish and Swedish populations simultaneously. It also has a history as a horse-racing destination, a railroad and baseball town and a haven for New York’s jazz community. On this two-hour tour we will explore these aspects of Corona-East Elmhurst’s heritage, concentrating on the Corona portion of this diverse area. Sights include historic houses of worship, a 19th-century country villa, beloved local parks and eateries and the longtime home of music legend Louis Armstrong, as well as the former residence of his friend and fellow legend Dizzy Gillespie, who along with Charlie Parker ushered the era of bebop into the American jazz tradition. Tour participants will have the option of extending their tour by continuing with the guide to the World’s Fair Marina, a waterfront promenade where the mysterious Candela structures stand.