Meet Guide Friend Dana, Wall Street and 9/11 Tours
“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere”—except when it comes to Wall Street and me. Let me introduce you to my friend, Dana, and your guide for Wall Street and 9/11 Tours. We caught up at one of her favorite Wall Street cafés, Conwell Coffee.
Coffee first.
This café roars the 1920s, minus Prohibition. My latte, with a little substitute here and a bit of that, was unquestionably perfection. Without a doubt, highly recommend pairing a Wall Street visit with this spot.
Why Book Dana for Wall Street and 9/11 Tours?
Catching up with Dana basically includes our usual guide talk and mutual nostalgia for the 1980s—technically not a superstar decade for NYC. Financial struggles, the heroin and crack epidemics, and the AIDS crisis defined the time. But turbulent times can fuel creative grit—think Gordon Gekko (Wall Street movie clip), punk rock, community gardens, and Gen Xers like Dana. Important detail about Dana: she hustles in Manhattan but leisures in Brooklyn.
I joined both her Wall Street and 9/11 tours. Her deep ties to the area go back to the “bring daughters to the trading floor” days. In fact, ticker tape parades, the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall were Dana’s formative years— and that’s just a short list (not to be confused with short stocks). Dana will share the story of the fearless Victoria Woodhull while guiding you to the Fearless Girl photo op. Like me, Dana works for herself and collaborates with various tour operators. Depending on her and your availability, consider Dana for both 9/11 and Wall Street tours. Her perspective is one-of-a-kind, with a range that spans from students visiting 9/11 for the first time to experienced traders on Wall Street.
Guide Showdown: NYC Picks by Dana
🥯 Best Bagel in NYC?
- Manhattan: Toss-up between Ess-a-Bagel (olive cream cheese!) and Liberty Bagels (three Manhattan locations, one in Queens).
- Fun fact: If you’re searching for Scott Rossillo’s rainbow bagel, which he created in the 1990s, Liberty Bagels is your pot of gold.
- Brooklyn: LINE Bagels in Carroll Gardens—a neighborhood staple.
🍕 Go-to Pizza Spot?
- Manhattan: L’Industrie (Christopher Street, West Village).
- Brooklyn: L’Industrie (Williamsburg).
- Bonus: Joe’s Pizza (five locations, all solid choices for a classic NYC slice).
🏙️ Favorite Neighborhood?
Though gentrification has reshaped much of NYC, Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn still holds onto its old-school charm. Spotting whispering Italian grandmothers on their stoops is a much-needed throwback to Dana’s past.
💫 Best Guiding Moments?
Thank you’s in different forms. The grandmother thanking Dana for inspiring her grandson’s career path. The mother booking her so that her son could see 9/11 from a different perspective. Dana’s philosophy: As long as guests leave feeling that their time with her made an impact—big or small—that’s pretty awesome.