CONVENT AVENUE’S COUNTLESS TREASURES

Today is the start of my third year teaching and third semester at the City College of New York (CCNY). Like they say, the third time’s a charm.

I reflected upon this today as I walked south on Convent Avenue to the CCNY campus, in the village of Harlem in northern Manhattan. CCNY is the crowning jewel in the City University of New York. When you meet the students, you’ll understand why.

This semester, I’m honored to teach more than 100 Media Communication Arts (MCA); two sections of Corporate Communications and the Ad/PR Workshop, which is the capstone course. In a few short months, many of these workshop students will enter the marketing communications profession. They have tons of talent to share!

First, a little about my energizing walk to campus this morning. Convent Avenue is one of those fabulous expanses of regal homes and tree lined blocks. You can easily imagine the avenue back amidst women with parasols in the 1930s, around the time when many of these stately brownstone and limestone town homes were built. The entire area, including the stately turn-of-the century buildings on CCNY’s campus, has some of the finest architecture in Manhattan.

Many of the homes are four to six stories for up to eight bedrooms—definitely built for huge families, coupled with what were once private maid’s entrances. A long narrow corridor would lead from the street to the rear of the first floor of most homes, site of the original kitchens, complete with wood burning fireplaces. Back in the day, servants didn’t have to interrupt goings on in double-parlored floors with 12 foot pocket doors, replete with imported carpets from the “old country,” English country day motif and overstuffed antiques!

What were once single family homes for moneyed robber baron families, have now been transferred to floor upon floor of multi-million dollar condos. Perched high on a a hill in Harlem’s historic Hamilton Heights district, my morning constitution takes me past Hamilton Grange, a national historic site and former home of Alexander Hamilton, the first US Secretary of the Treasury(1789-95). When Hamilton built his country home more than 200 years ago, this part of Manhattan was hours away from the bustling city more than 100 blocks south. Today, train transport can cover that area in about 20 minutes, on a good day.

As I walked passed the corner of 143^rd Street and Convent, right across the street from the grange, I thought back to the Harlem United Show House (HUSH), one of my first accounts after starting Millynneum, my own PR firm. Mounted in 1998, HUSH was the first African American show house. Conceived by Roderick Shade, his interior design firm now has offices nearby.

The HUSH site, a stately town home just off Convent Avenue, was overtaken by dozens of design teams for a six month period. They masterfully transformed a an elegant, yet humble mansion—into a modern day showplace. Rooms won design awards in House Beautiful and other publications; the New York Times House & Home section, countless of other media gave it prime coverage.

Over the past decade, HUSH has literally and figuratively opened many doors, providing exposure to fresh, new interior designers, architects and artisans. In addition to spawning other ethnic show houses throughout the country, HUSH led to the inclusion of ethnic designers in exclusive venues such as the prestigious Kips Bay Decorator Show House, “grandmother” of all design venues and the standard bearer for industry trends and hot design talent.

Once I walk a few more blocks, I’m at 141^st Street, the northern tip of the CCNY campus. You’re awestruck by the massive structures, many built in the 1800’s. Once again, the buildings transport you to another time, another place.

A show place for minds; a home for ideas and thought.

If you pause, you can literally feel the “education of generations” as you traipse the hallways of Shepard Hall where my classes are held. The cavernous walls and classrooms seem to reverberate with wisdom, encouraging others to seek solutions.

Funny how life comes full circle. Like I said, the third time’s a charm. In a few weeks, I’ll begin my third year teaching writing and communications courses at New York University. That path includes many more scenic walks that wind from midtown to Washington Square and lower Manhattan.

Another great home to inquisitive minds minds! Stay tuned.