The Dakota
stands directly opposite to the Womens' Gate entrance to Strawberry
Fields
on West 72nd Street and Central Park West.
This is the route so familiar to John and Yoko
in their frequent journeys into Central Park.
Built in 1880 by the architect who designed
the Plaza Hotel a building with similar features
it was New York's first luxury apartment building.
Oddly enough for all its original prestige it was
surrounded by slums yet its 65 luxurious
apartments with its many celebrity owners
were situated directly opposite the newly
created Central Park some with spectacular
views of the fields so cherished by John and
Yoko and the Lake beyond.
Some of its inhabitants have included Judy
Garland, Leonard Bernstein, Lauren Bacall
and Boris Karloff.
Yoko Ono still maintains a residence
at the Dakota.
