Lights up on Washington Heights, an immensely vibrant community located on the northern tip of Manhattan. Around each corner, whether it be through architecture styles, colorful mosaics or even playground structures, there are many references to the appreciation of arts. The neighborhood is home to a diverse Latino community, but because of an ever-growing population of those immigrating from the Dominican Republic, the enclave has earned the nickname “Little D.R.” Setting the scene for Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In The Heights,” the Dominican population of Washington Heights prides itself on being a tight-knit, spirited and hard-working community.
Adjacent to the 175th Street Station exit, J. Hood Wright Park features a playground with a kid-sized replica of the George Washington Bridge. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)The colorful dome of the historic United Palace Theatre, a nonprofit cultural and performing arts center, is called the “Miracle Star of Faith.” (ALEXA STEGMULLER)Inspired by the culture of Washington Heights, movie posters for Lin Manuel Miranda’s “In The Heights” can be found throughout the entire neighborhood. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)Street corners fill with locals as produce markets begin to sell on the sidewalk. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)A sidewalk vendor displays a rainbow-array of fresh fruits and vegetables. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)A ceramic tiled fountain, designed by Spanish contemporary artist Ester Partegàs, stands tall in La Plaza de Las Americas at Broadway and 175th Street (ALEXA STEGMULLER)A pedestrian crosses Broadway, heading toward a gourmet grocery store named La Rosa. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)A sign advertising “La Plaza de las Americas,” an outdoor greenmarket that showcases small businesses within the community. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)Many restaurants feature al fresco dining, like the Rainbow Terrace on 177th Street and Broadway. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)The George Washington Bridge Bus Station features an indoor “mercado” for shopping and cafe options. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)Dubbed by many residents of the neighborhood as “the St. Patrick’s Cathedral of Washington Heights,” the Church of the Incarnation is a staple for the large Roman Catholic community. (ALEXA STEGMULLER)
Alexa Stegmuller (she/her), FCLC ’24, is the former creative director at The Observer. She is majoring in communications and double-minoring in fashion studies and marketing. When she’s not being an iPad kid in Adobe Suite, you can find her romanticizing the streets of SoHo while listening to Taylor Swift, specifically, “Red (Taylor’s Version).”
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