Hidden New York Worth Exploring

Residents of New York who grew up here probably think there is nowhere of interest that they have not visited, or at least heard of. Well, at the risk of being wrong, but I have a feeling I wont be, I would like to list some of New York’s best kept secrets. I believe even the most seasoned New Yorkers will find this list, if not exciting, at least noteworthy.

• There is a hidden subway station below City Hall: Our of service for the last 65 years, the station will induce awe in fans of pre-World War II architecture, with tall arched ceilings, antique tile, and glass skylights filling the space with warm, natural light. How to get there? Take the number 6 train to the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall Station. It’s the last stop heading south. But do not disembark. The train then turns around the City Hall station loop. This little excursion will give you an extraordinary view of a location that can’t be reached in any other way.

Be careful what you say in the whispering gallery

• Grand Central Terminal’s Whispering Gallery: An unmarked archway in the GCT, found in front of the Oyster Bar & Restaurant, has a magical, mysterious, even mystical quality: When two people stand in the diagonal arches and whisper they hear each other’s voices “telegraphed” from across the way.

• Of course you have been to the Frick Collection: But did you know there is a beautiful, vintage bowling alley in the basement? Henry Clay Frick had the alleyway built in 1914 as a wonderful addition to his already luxurious mansion. With mahogany-paneled walls and pine-maple lanes, and custom made balls, which are still usable, a visit is bound to bring smiles. The museum restored the alley in 1997, but it is kept under strict lock and key. But you’re a New Yorker, see if there’s a way to get a glimpse of this rare treasure.

She Loves You- Here, Here, Here!

Wow! The Beatles in New York!

Have you ever wondered if there was some way to combine your love for the Beatles and love for the Big Apple in one, inclusive experience? Well, you need wonder no more. For only $3,500 per person, between 1 and 2 people can visit every corner of New York which holds some Beatles-relevant meaning, in about 2 hours.
Tour leader Frank E promises to guide his guests through the streets of New York, looking at the city through the eyes of the Fab Four, while learning “a ton along the way!” The promised itinerary includes:

• The Ed Sullivan Theater: the place where the Beatles first strutted their stuff in the US of A.
• Carnegie Hall: The place where the Beatles played their first New York City concert , in 1964.
• The Plaza Hotel: Yup, they stayed here during that first frenetic tour.
• Strawberry Fields in Central Park: This grassy knoll is a memorial to the late John Lennon.
• The Dakota Apartments: Former residence of John Lennon and Yoko Ono, as well as the site of the tragic murder of Lennon.

For more information about this very different and very intriguing tour, check it out here.

New York Pizza with a Difference: You Make it Yourself!

Already been to the Statue of Liberty? Seen it all at the Met? Hot dogs at Nathan’s is not your style? How about New York pizza your way? Sounds enticing, yes? Combining the delicious wonder of a New York pizza with a touch of individuality, the Pizza a Casa Pizza School teaches its students how to make artisanal pizzas minus the fancy ingredients or the high tech equipment.

Rather, the school takes its students on a journey into the world of pizza using its brilliant recipe which can be reproduced easily in the comfort of your own kitchen. The school is located in the historic district of the Lower East Side at 371 Grand Street near Essex, just down the street from the entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge.

Regina Schrambling of Entrepreneur Magazine said of Pizza a Casa that:

"Mark Bello perfected the pizza, then built Pizza a Casa Pizza School, teaching pizza-crazed New Yorkers how to do it themselves.  Last year The Village Voice declared Mark's pizza one of the three best in New York City.  And it is sensational: a thin, crisp crust paved with the ideal balance of cheese and sauce, finished with fresh basil and a drizzle of top-grade olive oil.  But you can't buy it.  You have to make it.  And this in a city with more than 1,800 pizzerias."

If you crave pizza, and believe New York has the best pizza in the world, then come learn how to make the best of the best and have it whenever you want to, in your own backyard (or kitchen or dining room, or wherever.)

The Rockettes Turn The Seasons Upside Down

It’s snowing in Radio City Music Hall even in August, as the Rockettes kick-off the Christmas holiday season on the 13th of this month. Hoping to relieve a bit of the sweltering New York summer weather, Santa Claus is due to arrive from the North Pole at 11am, along with famed ice sculptors from Okamoto Studios.

The sculptors will carve a unique, large, work of art under the marquee at the iconic music showhouse. The Rockettes will be there, and so will the animals from the Living Nativity. John Foxx from WPLJ will participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony as the sculpture is unveiled to the public.

To make the day even cooler the Rockettes, in collaboration with the popular New York City-based ice cream company People’s Pops, will distribute the specially created “Rox Pop” around town. The Rox Pop is a cranberry-apple flavored ice pop, totally inspired by the Christmas Spectacular and the Rockettes. The pops are all natural, and will be given away for free from a Christmas Spectacular-themed food truck as well as from a red double decker Grey Line New York bus. To track the location of the truck New Yorkers can go to Facebook for the times and places the bus and truck will be, including Bryant Park, Madison Square Park, the Beacon Theatre, Union Square and Park Slope.

If you miss the bus and truck, you will be able to get some cool Rox Pops at the People’s Pops shop in Park Slope, Brooklyn, from August 14 until October.

The Best of Opera this Summer

Opera fans- take note of some upcoming performances that should not be missed:

• Glimmerglass: It might be a four hour drive to Cooperstown to the Glimmerglass Opera festival, but it is worth every minute. The 900 seat opera house, surrounded by the countryside makes idyllic location for this very special musical event.  In a recent article in the New York Times Steve Smith wrote about the festival that it “rises to new levels of innovation, curiosity and, yes, chutzpah.” Now through August 24; 7300 State Highway 80, eight miles north of Cooperstown, (607) 547-2255; $26 to $132; $10 to $25 for youth (18 and younger.)

• The Summer Recital Series at the Metropolitan Opera: Outdoor opera is presented by the Met Opera at two locations. On Tuesday at the Jackie Robinson Park in Hamilton Heights, and on Thursday at Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City. For more information call (212) 362-6000.

• ‘Oresteia’: The only opera created by Russian composer Sergei Taneyev, “Oresteia” is an ambitious piece based on the tragic trilogy written by Aeschylus. Performances will be this Friday July 19 and next Friday July 26 at 7pm; Sunday July 28, Wednesday July 31, and Sunday, August 4 at 3pm. Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y, (845) 758-7900; $30 to $90.

The Earth Room by Walter De Maria

The Earth Room, a long-term installation which first appeared at its home at 141 Wooster Street in New York was created by artist Walter De Maria in 1977. The sculpture is made of 250 cubic yards of earth, taking up 3,600 square feet of floor space. The earth is 22 inches deep, and the total weight of the sculpture, entirely of earth, is 280,000 pounds.

New York’s Earth Room is the world’s third. The first was installed in Munich in 1968, and the second in Hessisches Landesmuseum in Darmstadt, also in Germany, in 1974. Today New York’s Earth Room is the only one of the three still extant.

Those who have visited the Earth Room, usually out of curiosity, come away with an experience not easily found in the middle of a city like New York- the overpowering scent of wet earth, as if you just entered a forest. According to some the sight is so unusual and even beautiful, it can bring tears to your eyes.

Earth Room

No photography is permitted in the Earth Room. Open from September 11, 2013 until June 15, 2014, Wednesday to Sunday, 12-6pm and closed from 3 to 3:30pm.

July Fourth: Remembering Our Soldiers

The Fourth of July is a great time to enjoy and to relax. In New York alone, there are so many activities to enjoy today from the Macy’s firework show to The Empire State Building (yes, it’s open!) and the Air & Space Museum.

While we grill out, relax and enjoy awesome fireworks displays, we should also take a few minutes to reflect on those who made it possible for us to enjoy today. The 4^th of July is only possible, of course, because of our soldiers and the battles that they endured. One such battle, the Civil War, is carefully detailed and preserved through the Shapell Manuscript Foundation. On July 2, 1863 at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Private Ellis Strouss survived the heated and gruesome battle that took 50,000 casualties.

Having survived, Private Strouss penned a letter to his mother. In the letter he wrote,

"The Battle of Gettysburg is fought and thank God The Army of the Potomac has been victorious. I took part in the battle with my Regt on the 2nd inst and it has been my good fortune to escape unharmed. I am well and so are the rest of the boys in the Co. I cannot tell yet what the loss of our Regt is. We have many missing who may be either killed, wounded or taken prisoners…. The Loss in the Regt is (as far as I know) Killed 10 Wounded 53 Missing 68… Our Corps (the 3rd) has not started yet but we are expecting to go every minute. The Boys are all confident that we will whip Lee's Army so that he will not be fit to do anything more for some time to come."

Ellis C. Strouss enlisted in the Federal Army in 1861 as a private and was wounded twice in the course of the battle. He served until the Civil War ended and finished as a captain.

Let’s raise our cap today to soldiers like Capital Strouss and remember those who have given us the freedom to enjoy today’s fireworks.

Discover Discovery Times Square

Finally an official exhibition space which can hold fascinating large-scale shows right here in the Big Discovery Times Square, which celebrated its fourth anniversary on June 24, hosts traveling exhibitions in their 60,000 square feet of space which explore the world’s culture, art, history and events. The time-sensitive exhibits are designed to be educational, immersive and interactive.

Apple.

Sponsored by Discovery Communications, the people that bring us the Discovery Channel on cable television, together with Running Subway Productions, a New York based entertainment production company, the stated goal of the museum is "to create a home for traveling exhibitions that local museums might find either too large, too expensive, too non-disciplinary or too commercial for their nonprofit attention."

Discovery Times Square sees itself as much more than just a museum. It is the go-to place for exploration and discovery through “unique and immersive” exhibits in New York.

The following are a sampling of what DTS has already offered:

•    Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit
•    Leonardo Da Vinci’s Workshop
•    King Tut
•    Pompeii: The Exhibit
•    Dead Sea Scrolls

And what is going on at DTS now?

•    The Art of the Brick- Lego sculptures that will blow your mind: Now through January 5, 2014.
•    Body World- The science and splendor of the human body: Now through April 27, 2014
•    Shipwreck! Pirates and Treasure- an incredible journey through thousands of years of maritime history: Now through January 5, 2014

Located at 226 West 44th Street between 7th and 8th Avenues. Hours are Sunday - Thursday: 10:00AM - 8:00PM; Friday - Saturday: 10:00AM - 9:00PM until June 30. Beginning on July 1st extended summer hours will go into effect: Everyday: 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM. (*please note that on Thursday, July 4, we will close at 8:00 PM.)

NYC Third Annual Street Fair

Next month, Adorama will be hosting its third annual street fair. On Sunday 22^nd, this prominent photography, video and electronics retailer, will welcome tens of thousands of guests to its fair to enjoy rides, games, food and technology.  It is anticipated that there will be even more attendees than last year’s 20,000 mark.  There will be quite a few major technology companies to be present this year including: Adobe, Bogen, Canon, Dell, Foscom, Intel, Nikon, Pentax, Sony and more.  In addition, Adorama itself will be hosting booths in: Adorama PIX, Rentals, Used and the Learning Center.

On the day, there will also be interactive activities; free photography clinics; carnival games and petting zoo; tons of food options; prizes and raffles; vendor exhibits (to check out digital imaging technology); celebrity appearances; workshops and technology makeovers.

Ultimately, for those living in the New York City area, or just find themselves in the region for a visit, the Street Fair is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fun-filled activities for the whole family.  

Recent Central Park Donations

The Central Park Conservancy has been raising money in order to enhance all of New York Central Park’s 21 playgrounds. Central Play, its fundraising project, is seeking to raise $40m from private donations to use in construction enterprises over the next five years.

While the Central Park Conservancy itself raises 80 percent of the $45.8m annual budget, there is still 20 percent to be gleaned from private donors, oftentimes large corporations.  For example, for Central Play, a donation of $3m has been received by JPMorgan Chase.  As well, a year ago, a pledge to the Central Park Conservancy of $100m was received from John Paulson of Paulson & Co.

According to officials from the Conservancy, the project is going to require a capital injection of $31m.   Renovations will have an impact on park users over the next few years while the projects are being undertaken, but as Dena Liner of the Central Park Conservancy explained, once the playgrounds that are temporarily closed re-open, it will be “almost like a big surprise for the neighborhoods that have loved them, with brand new equipment including new water sprinklers, water features, climbing structures, brand new swings, sandboxes, everything, so it's going to be a big surprise for the five million kids who love their park.”  Since the majority of the playgrounds were built in the 1930s and have, for the most part, not been modified in decades, it will definitely be a “big surprise.”

A Fresh Look at the Spring Show NYC

In a recent article in the New York Times, Ken Johnson covers the Spring Show NYC from a new angle. He discussed how the Spring Show NYC, that just took place at the Park Avenue Armory, offered visitors a glimpse at works of art like those many have never seen before.

He pointed out that, of course, there are many works in more familiar genres offered by portraitist Ammi Phillips, Phoenix Ancient Art and others. Unusual finds, however, included, for example, satirical portraits from Carlton Hobbs.

He continued, “A rather different set of objects is at Yew Tree House: more than 200 thin, flat pieces of birch wood in a wide variety of curvy shapes. They belonged to an early-19th-century Swedish woodworker who used them as templates to make parts for ships. Displayed altogether on one wall, they have an elegant, proto-Modernist simplicity.”

More than 60 exhibitors were part of the dramatic show including Anavian Gallery, Arthur Guy Kaplan, Botier, Inc., Clinton Howell Antiques, Phoenix Ancient Art, Crawford and many others.

Great Art on Exhibit Now in New York

There is no shortage of great art to see in one of the greatest cultural capitals of the world, New York City. Here is a short selection of a few worthy exhibitions we think are worth a visit.

• Sara Vanderbeek at Metro Pictures: Exploring the connection between memory, experience and

cultural expression, Vanderbeek created sheets of colored Plexiglas over a series of large-scale, black-and-white phototgraphs. Each photograph is of a colossal Roman marble or bronze sculpture of a female. Opposite the photos is a “colonnade” of abstract rectilinear modules of a similar size to the photos, perhaps suggesting a chicken-or-egg metaphor of classicism in art history. Until June 8 at 519 West 24th Street.

• Mark Greenwold: Murdering the World, Paintings and Drawings 2007-2013 at Sperone Westwater: Distorted bodily proportions and detailed portrayals of interactions between subjects which are subtly unnerving, make these surreal paintings fascinating. May 10-June 28 at 257 Bowery Lower East Side.

• Los Carpinteros, “Irreversible” at Sean Kelly Gallery: Los Carpinteros is a Cuban art collective which

deals mostly with the images from socialist ruling powers of the past and present. The new exhibit features sculptures and their first video. Make sure to see the Lego models of Cold War monuments from the former Soviet Union and Yugoslavia. May 11-June 22 at 475 Tenth Avenue.

Making New York a Greener, Greater City

With so many concerned citizens thinking about saving energy, New Yorkers should feel lucky and proud that their city is one of only a handful in the United States to take the lead in saving resources in the building industry.

Not only have the efforts of government agencies like PlaNYC taken major steps to making the city a “greener and greater New York,” but companies such as IDT Energy are also doing their part to bring the ‘green’ back to town.

The plan proposes ten far-reaching goals that address a different part of New York’s environment. The end result being a 5% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which is just the first step to reaching the goal of a 30% reduction by the year 2030. This initiative will create about 18,000 jobs over the next 10 years, and save New York about $7 billion.

Customers with IDT Energy can choose the ‘green’ option when they sign up, or at any time after. When they do, they can feel happy knowing that their electricity is coming completely from hydropower, which is a renewable resource.

New Yorkers, together with New York City, are setting the “Greatest City on Earth” onto the path of the future: of conserving resources and using renewable sources of energy whenever possible.

Take a Break in Bryant Park

Oasis in Manhattan

Bryant Park is like an oasis in the desert of New York concrete. Situated in midtown on Sixth Avenue between West 40^th and 42^nd Streets, right behind the New York Public Library, Bryant Park is offering a startling list of entertainment events this coming summer, all free.

Here is a sample list of some of the wide variety of offerings to keep you busy in the park on a daily or weekly basis:

• ·        Birding Tours
• ·        Fencing lessons for beginners, for free
• ·        Free juggling lessons
• ·        Le Carrousel

In addition, specially scheduled events will keep the place lively. Check out some or all of the following:

• ·        Poem in Your Pocket Day- Thursday, April 18, 11am to 2pm
• ·        Word for Word Poetry- Tuesday, May 14, 2013, 7:00pm to 8:30pm
• ·        Word for Word Kids- Saturday, June 15, 2013, 12:00pm to 1:00pm

Take a walk on the beautiful grounds and see the monuments, gardens, architecture of the surrounding historic buildings. Take a seat and play chess or backgammon; stand up and play a game or two of ping pong; or try your hand at the French game of Pétanque. No matter what your interests, there is something for you to love at Bryant Park.

Who’s to be Mayor in the Big Apple?

Twitter co-founder and CEO of Square, Jack Dorsey, has a new job in mind.  He wants to become New York City’s Mayor…one day.  In a recent interview shown on CBS’s ’60 Minutes,’ Lara Logan said that Dorsey is serious about moving to New York City at some point, and thereafter running for the position of Mayor.

Jack Dorsey was reported to have said that whenever he finds himself in New York City, he feels “electricity.”  He compares the feeling to “being caught in a car during a thunderstorm.”  Maybe the guy who does not even have a desk (he just uses his iPad), and had a speech impediment in his youth could lead the city to great things one day.

In the meantime, just a few days ago, Republican Tom Allon pulled out of the current mayoral race. The reasons cited were lack of campaign funding.   Given this, it seems as if the Liberal Party is now back in with a chance as it had previously supported Allon.

Barnes & Noble Partnering with Read Across America Day

If you’re in the New York area, you just might want to get to a Barnes & Noble soon to enjoy their offerings for the National Education Association’s Read Across America Day. Designated on March 1 every year (and coinciding with Dr. Seuss’ birthday for some extra fun) the Read Across America Day serves to encourage reading and education across the country.

Today, some 45 million people participate in Read Across America Day, something that would certainly have made some of our presidents, like Harry Truman, happy. As the Shapell Manuscript Foundation recently explained on their Between the Lines program, Truman loved to read. A letter that Shapell has in its possession from President Truman states,

 “I had to study whether I wanted to or not.  Read the Old & New Testaments King James translation three times before I was fifteen, and all the histories of world leaders and heroes I could find.  Our public library in Independence had about three or four thousand volumes, including the encyclopedias! Believe it or not I read ‘em all – including the enclo’s. Maybe I was a damphool [damn fool] but it served me well when my terrible trial came.”

Surely, he would be thrilled to see the many programs that take place for Read Across America Day. And as part of this event, Barnes & Noble is offering customers to one $25 gift card when they purchase the NOOK HD at the retail stores between March 2, 2013 and March 31, 2013. This is part of their effort to honor Read Across America Day and to encourage children to foster a love for learning.

NYC Photographer Snaps Away

There are many buildings, skyscrapers, etc. regularly photographed in the city of New York.  That is common.  But what is more newsworthy is what Brandon Stanton has been aiming to do – capture 10,000 New Yorkers from his camera lens.  To date, he has reached around half of his goal, having shot nearly 5,000 photos throughout the various boroughs of New York.   Some of the more interesting photos Stanton has gotten so far include: a Michael Jackson lookalike, a nun, fake tiger-skin coat and more.  His self-description is that he is “really passionate about things.”

What makes the project even more interesting is Stanton’s background – which doesn’t include photography.  Having lost his job trading bonds on the Chicago Board of Trade, he moved to New York to begin snapping photos.  Now two years down the line, he has developed a Facebook following of 560,000 fans.  He walks around – sometimes for hours – to get the perfect picture. He requests permission first and then asks more about the individual’s life, enquiring “what was the happiest moment of your life?”

As well as snapping photos in New York, Stanton went to Iran to do the same thing, establishing 20,000 followers along the way.  His plan is ultimately “to go everywhere.”  Now, imitation projects exist such as: Humans of Paris, Humans of Beirut and more.

Welcome to Zarsha Leo, Bar Restaurant and Sports In One

New Yorkers are well-known for their good taste and fun demeanor.  Now the bar/restaurant that best embodies those qualities, Zarsha Leo, is expanding to the outer reaches of New York, and the rest of the world.

“Expanding globally has always been a goal of mine,” explained Evan Burschkopf , CEO of the upscale, trendy restaurant bar. “There is no question that New York is my one and only home, but why should the rest of the world suffer without the fun and great food offered at Zarsha Leo?”

Always a favorite of denizens of the Big Apple, the great food, large beer and wine menu, and sports broadcasts on huge plasma screens is soon going to be available in some of the world’s major destinations. After branching out to Brooklyn, Burschkopf has plans to build a franchise in Buenos Aires, Oman, and some other locale in MENA. “It’s all good,” added Burschkopf.

Eye on Gloves: From the Roman Empire to NY Fashion Week

Gloves have been a fashion accessory for hundreds of years.  They were possibly first worn by cavemen as a protective layer when undertaking challenging tasks.  By the Roman era, gloves were made of linen and silk and were used to eat meat so that hands would remain grease-free and clean.  Thereafter, when archery gained popularity, leather gloves were used as essential clothing accessories.  Today, they  are not all that different especially given the amount of time that has transpired since that time.  Once the aristocracy and gentry began wearing them, they became a fashion statement.  And as Kings, Queens, Bishops and Popes put them on, they became a statement of wealth and power.

Gloves were also a feature of the movie ‘Lincoln,’ in which Abraham Lincoln complained of having to wear them, but, to please the convention (and his wife), he conceded.  While he did wear the gloves the night he died, at the end of the movie he actually made a point of not wearing them, leaving them at home since he did not like them.  The Shapell Manuscript Foundation has two letters in its possession, written by Lincoln, in which he used the phrase “in our hands” a few dozen times, twice vis-à-vis the Civil War. The fact that the movie showed how initially Lincoln did not wear the gloves when he went to Ford’s theater (where he met his death), seems to indicate that both in victory and his demise, he was finally able to be true to himself.

Gloves do not just have historical significance.  They still remain a notable fashion accessory today.  Indeed, just last week at the New York Fashion Week, Joseph Altuzarra’s Fall/Winter 2013 collection featured oversized fur gloves amongst other items.  Leather gloves also found a place in The Top Trends From New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 as being “the biggest accessory for fall.”  Padded gloves also had a place in Alexander Wang’s collection, with fur mittens/boxing gloves extending above the elbow.

Whether one loves them or hates them (as clearly Abraham Lincoln did), gloves have featured largely in the world of fashion over the years.

Free and Easy in New York City

See Movies for Free at MoMA

Want to avoid an expensive night at the movies with the kids? Try some family-friendly free entertainment in some of New York’s most exciting venues.

•    At the Museum of Modern Art kids are treated right. Come on Friday between 4 and 8pm for a free screening of some off-the-beaten track entertainment for kids under 16. Check the schedule to pick a movie that’s right for you and your family.

•    The Sony Wonder Technology Lab will please film lovers of all ages. The youngest can choose from such popular favorites as Dora the Explorer, Sesame Street and Elmo’s World while the crowd a bit older can enjoy a large selection of G and PG films with a proven track record. Tickets must be reserved two weeks in advance and any tickets not reserved will be available 30 minutes before show time.

•    The New York City Library has a whole host of free offerings for kids, from films to author talks and concerts. The Brooklyn Public Library often screens top-notch films completely free of charge.

Cupid’s Undie Run Fast Approaching for New Yorkers of the Not-Shy Variety

Cupid's Undie Run Not for the Squeamish

Combining a good cause, a bit of exercise and a Valentine’s Day theme, the appeal of Cupid’s Undie Run is irresistible. Just pull of your duds, dudes, and start running! That’s right, take of your clothes and go the mile to benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation on February 9.

Not just a run, there will also be pre and post-race festivities at the Brass Monkey on Little West 12th Street. Those that earn the most money for the cause will get some great prizes like custom-made underwear, embroidered bathrobes, engraved iPod Nanos and some romantic retreats.

Brass Monkey from Noon to 4:00pm.
   * Check in and pre-party begins at noon at Brass Monkey.
   * Run takes place February 9. Pre-party at 12pm, run at 2pm, and dance some more 'til 4pm.
   * Register early and get the jump on fundraising and a cool team name.

Daniel E. Straus and Seniors Post-Hurricane Sandy

A few months ago, prior to Hurricane Sandy, the NY City Council decided to leave patients in hospitals and nursing homes.  At the last minute this decision had to be overturned.  Thus last week, the council was called upon to defend their original decision.  According to Tom Farley, the Health Commissioner, while it’s always easy to say better safe than sorry, in this situation there was no certain safe option.  It was therefore decided they should remain (initially) as moving vulnerable patients is problematic too. No-one knew what to do for the best. Nursing home administrators, owners, medical directors, etc., all had different ideas as to the best action.  There was no unifying decision amongst the organizations and thus what transpired was quite chaotic.  Hence the groups are being called to justify their actions at this time.

Ultimately Farley made the decision before Hurricane Sandy not to move patients as, having weighed the options, officials felt it safer to stay.  However, later on the decision was overturned and what resulted was a rushed, panicked evacuation in New York of 6,300 patients form 37 facilities.  These individuals needed to be moved out following flooding or loss of power.

Another problem of this impromptu evacuation, was the patients’ loved ones.  For days they had no idea of the whereabouts of the patients due to the loss of power.  And thus according to Councilman David Greenfield, the situation was described as “chaotic.”  Thus the reason for the current investigation as to what should have been done, and to what steps are to be taken should there be a reoccurrence of a similar situation.

Chelsea Welcomes WiFi to Its Outdoor Spaces

The largest outdoor WiFi network in Manhattan has arrived in Chelsea, due to the combined efforts of Google, which has its offices in the neighborhood, and the Chelsea Improvement Company.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg commented:

“This neighborhood can now claim to be the first in Manhattan with totally free outdoor WiFi."

Ben Fried, the Chief Information Officer at Google explained the network’s appeal:

 “All you need is a laptop, or a smartphone, or other wireless-enabled device and a web browser to get online.” 

Google and the CIC were especially excited about the proletarian nature of the undertaking, emphasizing that the network was built to first serve the courtyards and streets surrounding the Fulton Houses, home to about 2,000.

“The service will not be initially at 15 Central Park West, or somewhere that you might expect WiFi to be provided," 

Chelsea Improvement Company President Dan Biederman said. "Instead it’ll be in courtyards like these for New York City Housing Authority tenants.”

The WiFi network can be accessed between 15th and 19th Street, from Eighth to Tenth Avenue. About two blocks of High-Line will also be included. There are a number of other public spaces in the area where the WiFi reaches.

Representatives said that the cost of creating and installing the network to Google and the CIC amounted to about $115,000. In at least one case the WiFi can be entered in an indoor space, the Fulton Senior Center, where it was already being enjoyed.

“It’s something everybody uses, something everybody wants. And the fact that it’s free is a terrific bonus," said Mark Milder, a volunteer at the Fulton Senior Center. 

Next stop for free outdoor WiFi? The outdoor areas around 34th Street.