

It was a visionary bent, a way, as the English Romantic poet William Wordsworth once described his mission, “of seeing into the life of things,” and it permeated the best of American thought and art throughout much of the 19th century. Rather, it was a faith shared by such diverse minds in such diverse places as those of Walt Whitman in Brooklyn, Emily Dickinson in Amherst, and the Hudson River School of painters in New York. But Transcendentalism was far broader than a geographical phenomenon or a select club (though Ripley and Emerson founded the Transcendental Club in 1836). Transcendentalism was concentrated in Boston and in Concord, Massachusetts, which was the home of many of its literary members, such as Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Margaret Fuller, the Alcotts, Theodore Parker, Jones Very, George Ripley, the Peabody Sisters, and the Channings. The Transcendentalists stood at the heart of the American Renaissance–the flowering of our nation’s thought in literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, architecture, and music in the period roughly from 1835 to 1880. Before long, Emerson and his circle of writers, reformers, and artists would christen those ideals which governed the spirit “Transcendentalism.” Emerson argued not only for a new American culture, freed from European bondage, but also for a rebirth of an intellectual and artistic life that was inextricably bound up with the life of the spirit. With this fiery challenge Ralph Waldo Emerson concluded his 1837 Harvard Phi Beta Kappa Address “The American Scholar,” which was received with great enthusiasm. “We will walk on our own feet we will work with our own hands we will speak our own minds….A nation of men will for the first time exist, because each believes himself inspired by the Divine Soul which also inspires all men.” Though a small island, just 23.7 square miles in size, Manhattan is exceptionally urbanized, offering visitors a diverse array of restaurants, entertainment options, museums, parks, sports venues, shopping choices, and sightseeing opportunities.Engraving: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Digital ID pga 01425 Just 59 miles from Stony Brook is Manhattan, part of the most famous, most-visited city on the planet. Though less than 35 years old, the Long Island wine industry has grown from a single vineyard to more than 30 wineries offering world-class wines, along with enjoyable tours and tastings. Thousands of miles from Napa, France, and Italy, some of the world’s most promising wineries have emerged on the shores of Long Island.
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A series of towns, the Hamptons feature fine restaurants, small town squares, exceptional art galleries, trendy boutiques, and plenty of great people-watching.įrom the art galleries and boutiques of Soho and Tribeca, to the fascinating streets of Chinatown and Little Italy, to the upscale shops of Madison Avenue, to the quiet family neighborhoods of the upper West and East sides, to the historic beauty of Harlem, Manhattan is a fascinating microcosm filled with people and places representing virtually every country in the world. Known for magnificent homes, soft white sand beaches, Life on Long Island and celebrity sightings, the Hamptons are a tourist attraction as well as a weekend destination for city dwellers. You can catch well-known rock bands at Jones Beach, enjoy classical music performances by the Long Island Philharmonic, and find venues for everything from pop to jazz to alternative to ska. Music lovers can indulge in virtually every genre throughout the Island.
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Located in the northern center of the island, Stony Brook is also close to the excitement of Manhattan where an easy commute places you at the doorsteps of world-famous museums, professional and college, sporting and concert events, and restaurants of every cuisine. From fabulous art galleries and museums to exceptional fishing spots, golf courses to great restaurants, beautiful bike trails to spectacular white sandy beaches, there’s virtually something for everyone.

Though a well-known summer destination for celebrities as well as singles, couples, and families, Long Island is also home to several million residents who enjoy the island’s unique beauty and a myriad of recreational opportunities. The longest and largest island in the contiguous United States, Long Island stretches over 100 miles from New York City to Montauk Point, offering pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches on its famous South Shore and quaint towns on its North Shore. Long Island is considered a haven for residents and visitors alike.
