Dorothy Parker’s Upper West Side


Place: Manhattan
Time: Two Hours
Distance: 20 Blocks
Meeting Point: Riverside Park, West 72nd Street and Riverside Drive (at Eleanor Roosevelt statue).
Ending Point: French Roast, 2340 Broadway (at West 85th Street)

The poet, writer, and wit Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) is one of New York’s most beloved personalities. Known for her dry humor (she penned “Men seldom make pass/At girls who wear glasses”) and sparkling wit, Parker helped start The New Yorker and is a member of the New York Writers Hall of Fame. She was one of the key members of the Algonquin Round Table, which met at the Algonquin Hotel beginning in 1919.

Visit Dorothy Parker’s neighborhood and walk in her footsteps to her former apartments, haunts, school and more. See one of the most beautiful and historic neighborhoods through the eyes of a young Dorothy Parker. Learn about the history of the Upper West Side, its architecture and development, all tied into the life of Mrs. Parker.

Private tours are available when no public tours are scheduled. Contact Kevin Fitzpatrick to arrange a charter tour for two to thirty people.

Dorothy Parker’s Upper West Side begins at Riverside Drive and West 72nd Street, at the statue of Eleanor Roosevelt. The Parker walking tour (20 blocks) takes in Riverside Park, Broadway, literary landmarks and architectural highlights.

Tour Highlights:

See more than a dozen locations tied to Mrs. Parker, as well as see scores of local landmarks, architectural gems and historic sites. On this 2 hour tour, you will see:

* Her childhood homes & beautiful apartments, still standing;
* Visit Riverside Park, where Parker walked her beloved dogs;
* See where her famous neighbors Babe Ruth & Flo Ziegfeld lived;
* Walk the same streets as seen in scores of movies and TV series;
* See numerous historic buildings that are national and city landmarks;
* Take photos of stunning architecture.

Not only will you get a taste of New York history, but you’ll also be on a wonderful sightseeing tour and stroll the streets of exciting neighborhoods in Manhattan. It’s a great way to learn about the past and also see how little has changed in more than two hundred years. This tour is designed for tourists, locals, families, and groups of friends. You’ll visit more than thirty locations and come away with a new appreciation for the area.

Note: Wear comfortable shoes. Dress is smart casual. Dogs, strollers, and children are welcome. However, dogs are not allowed inside buildings unless they are service dogs.

Your Guide

The guide is Kevin C. Fitzpatrick. He is the author of The Algonquin Round Table New York: A Historical Guide (Lyons Press), A Journey into Dorothy Parker’s New York (Roaring Forties Press), Under the Table: A Dorothy Parker Cocktail Guide (Lyons Press), editor of The Lost Algonquin Round Table, editor of Dorothy Parker Complete Broadway, 1918-1922. He’s president of the Dorothy Parker Society.

Meeting Point: Riverside Drive and West 72nd Street, at the statue of Eleanor Roosevelt. The Parker walking tour (20 blocks) takes in Riverside Park, Broadway, literary landmarks and architectural highlights.