Wednesday, December 13, 2017

One of New York’s Newest Architectural Wonders: The Oculus


The Oculus. Photo courtesy of Anthony Quintano
The tragic and horrifying day of September 11, 2001 will never be forgotten by anyone old enough to form memories on that day, and especially for New Yorkers and anyone who happened to have been in New York on that fateful, terrible day.

Over 16 years have passed, and unbelievably, there is already a new generation arising that was not born when 9-11 occurred. But there are plenty of ways New York and its inhabitants are commemorating the earth-shattering event, and many of them involve beauty, innovation, and a certain amount of wonder.

If you haven’t seen “The Oculus” it's time to go and be transported, literally and figuratively. Transported literally since The Oculus is the centerpiece of the new World Trade Center Transportation Hub. This site brings together the PATH train from New Jersey with 11 MTA subway lines.

Figuratively because The Oculus looks and feels like a modern-day cathedral, begging visitors to look up and imagine a better world. There are no columns to block the view, which is an enormous expanse reaching two stories below ground. Daylight enters the space unimpeded, and a skylight is opened on certain sunny days throughout the year, including the annual commemoration of September 11.

The Oculus was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and is meant to resemble, from the outside, a dove in flight. Over 12 years in the making, the transit hub opened on May 4, 2016 at a cost of almost $4 billion in public money.

Despite the controversy over some aspects of the aesthetic appeal of The Oculus, it is still worth a visit. There is also ample shopping at the hub: over 100 stores in 365,000-square-feet. Whereas the previous shopping center that occupied the area before September 11, 2001 was primarily for daytime shoppers, the new mall has a busy nightlife as well.

So come for a visit to remember the past, and experience the present and rejoice for the future.

Monday, November 13, 2017

Pop-Up Concerts Bring You and Your Kids Close to the Music

Tuesday is free music night at Columbia University’s Miller Theater. The concerts are absolutely free, last one hour, and give the audience a chance to sit onstage with their complimentary drink and get right up to where the musicians are making beautiful music.
Miller Theater

On November 21st Pop-Up Concerts will be showcasing the Regional de NY, a Brooklyn-based Brazillian choro band. This ensemble strives to keep the tradition of choro alive. The music is virtuosic, and full of joy and beauty.

The group features Hadar Noiberg on flute; Vitor Gonçalves on accordion; Kahil Nayton on cavaquinho; Cesar Garabini on 7-string guitar; and Ranjan Ramchandani on percussion.

If you are available on December 11, come back for another Pop-Up Concert with your ugliest holiday sweater for some fun and great music. The Ugly Holiday Sweater Party features an all-women French horn quartet called Genghis Barbie playing the best the holiday season has to offer, in their own amazing style.

Join Rachel Drehmann (Atilla the Horn): Danielle Kuhlmann (Velvet Barbie); Leelanee Sterrett (Cosmic Barbie); and Alana Vegter (Freedom Barbie) for something new, different, and a lot of fun.

All concerts begin at 6pm with admissions on a first-come, first-served basis, with doors opening at 5:30pm.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

GCT: A Place You’ve Been but Maybe Have Never Seen


I am talking about the glorious Grand Central Terminal, an amazing place that tens of thousands of people pass through each and every day, but don’t really see. And that is a pity, because this place is spectacular.

Located in midtown Manhattan at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, the massive structure takes up two entire city blocks. It is the meeting point for the New York City subway system and the Metro-North Railroad which takes travelers to Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess counties in New York, and beyond. There are 44 platforms at the station, more than any other railway station in the world. All the tracks are below ground, with 30 tracks on the upper level and 26 more on the lower, but only 43 of the total are in use for passengers.

Grand Central terminal in New York, NY. Courtesy Wikipedia
One of the most recognizable of GCT icons is the four-faced brass clock perched atop the information booth. It was designed by Henry Edward Bedford and cast in Waterbury, Connecticut.  The clock faces are made of opalescent glass, also known as opal glass or milk glass. Although it is quite beautiful, it is different than the semi-precious stone known as opal.

The ceiling was conceived in 1912, a year before the terminal opened in 1913, by architect Whitney Warren, with his friend French portrait artist Paul César Helleu, The ceiling is a portrayal of the night sky full of stars and is supposed to be an accurate depiction of the heavens, but is inaccurate, but in a complex way. Although Orion is correctly portrayed, the constellations of Gemini and Taurus are reversed both internally and in their relation to Orion. The mistake was noted almost immediately by a commuter back in 1913, but the mistake has never been corrected throughout the many renovations the ceiling has been subjected to.

There is shopping and a food hall in the station, as well as a model train exhibit at the Terminal’s transit museum. Visitors can have a free self-guided tour or even a docent led tour. Go to the ticket window labeled “GCT Tours on the Main Concourse, and have a great, or even a grand visit to this unique New York destination.

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Chelsea Piers for a Great Day of Sports Fun

Bird's eye view of the Chelsea Piers. Photo courtesy Groovio
Whether you live in New York, or are just visiting, Chelsea Piers has something for you. Known as the city’s playroom, Chelsea Piers offers a vast array of sports programs, daily activities, and great ways to simply have fun.

Not ready to commit to an ongoing sports class or league? Then just experience the Pier’s drop-in activities. The following activities are available regularly:

Adult Gymnastics
Batting Cages
Bowling
Golf
Health Club Day Pass- including pool
Ice Skating
Open Basketball; Hockey; Soccer
Adult and Youth Rock Climbing
Sailing
Spa and Salon
Adult and Teen Parkour
Toddler Gym
Pilates
Tennis
Yoga
Volleyball

Believe it or not, that is not an exhaustive list.

The facility covers over 1.2 million square feet on a series of re-purposed piers along the Hudson River on Manhattan’s West Side at 23rd Street.

Looking to play your day away? Chelsea Piers is the place to do it.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Retirees Rejoin Workforce in NYC, Lend Expertise



Senior wellness, rehabilitation and housing are rising sectors throughout the United States. In NYC alone, the senior population is expected to increase by 400,000 over the next 13 years, reaching 1.93 million. Homes, rehabilitation centers and other facilities for the elderly, such as Dry Harbor Nursing Home, work to provide their seniors with the healthcare, attention and activities they need to ensure continuous quality of life, and now New York City’s Department for the Aging is putting another plan in place to support this goal: employment. 

Hoping to recruit 175 retired New Yorkers, the department’s Civic Engagement Program will match retirees with a number of agencies who will assign participants with six to nine month projects in a wide range of fields. 

Caryn Resnick of the Department for the Aging explained: “This program provides retirees with an opportunity to give back to their city by using the skills and knowledge they have gained through their professional careers.”

Dawn Mastoridis, national marketing director of recruiting firm ReServe Inc., said: “We don’t have any problem finding reservists, particularly in New York City,” referring to qualified retirees like former CEOs, experienced school administrator and HR gurus who will return the workforce.
The reservists will be involved in a wide range of projects, ranging from data, cost and medical record analysis to health and exercise programs for people with arthritis, diabetes and hypertension.  

Friday, July 14, 2017

Channel Gardens is a Magical New York Flowering Island

Most people don’t think of gardens when they think of New York City, but one of the most surprising things about the big Apple is how many hidden gardens there are throughout the city, even in the most densely built up areas.

One of the several promenade fountains at Rockefeller Center created by Rene Chambellan - photo courtesy of the family of Rene Chambellan
One of my favorite places smack dab in midtown are the Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center. What is especially lovely about the gardens is that the flowers and shrubs on display are constantly changing with the seasons. In the early spring you can expect to see gorgeous blankets of tulips blooming, while in the fall there might be a weeping willow forest to greet you.

The gardens are found among the 14 commercial buildings found on the west side of Fifth Avenue, in the middle of the 200-foot plaza promenade. The beautiful gardens surround six granite pools of water, each adorned with a bronze-cast fountainhead sculptures. The sculptures are of mythological creatures, designed by renowned sculptor Rene Paul Chambellan.

The sunken plaza is watched over by the bronze gilded sculpture of Prometheus, by Paul Manship. At the foot of the plaza at Fifth Avenue is Atlas, by Lee Lawrie.

If you can come visit now, be sure to take note of the tropical 8-foot-high custom dragonfly floating above the bromeliads. In winter, around the time of the holidays, you will sparkling bands of red ribbons encircling the green shrubs connecting the lovely holiday angels, which were designed in 1954 by Valerie Clarebout.

Anytime you come is the right time. Don’t miss this extraordinary New York experience.

Sunday, June 11, 2017

Rooftop Cinema is Just the Ticket this Summer


New York is full of surprises. Here’s something new that sounds like a fantastic way to spend a wonderful New York evening: Rooftop Cinema Club.

Just imagine a typical hot, sticky New York summer day. Your work day is over, and you just need to relax, but not more indoor recreation with stuffy artificial air conditioning and more of those burdensome four walls enclosing you. No, you want the great outdoors, the cool breezes off the river, the amazing site of New York’s incredible skyscrapers, and a great movie to relax your mind.

NY Sunset courtesy of
Sounds good, right? Well this is what Rooftop Cinema is all about. At their two great locations in Williamsburg and Midtown Manhattan you climb to the roof, settle down in a deck chair with some popcorn, bubbles and in in the case of the Midtown location, a lovely mixed drink, and watch the sunset and then a great movie. Purchase the “Rooftop Love Seat” ticket and you get a double deck chair, unlimited popcorn and bubbles, so bring someone you like along.

What movies are on the program for this summer? Here’s a partial list:

•    Vertigo
•    Hidden Figures
•    Lion
•    American Psycho
•    Moonlight
•    Raider of the Lost Ark
•    Top Gun
•    The Big Lebowski

And that’s just in June!

The two locations:

•    Midtown Manhattan: YOTEL (570 Tenth Avenue)
•    Brooklyn: East Williamsburg’s OfficeOps (57 Thames Street)

Monday, May 1, 2017

Magnetic New York: A Guide to the Greatest City in the World

In case you have been living on a deserted island for the past, let’s say, 40 years, you know that New York has been getting better in every category that makes a city great, despite many apparent setbacks along the way. More people want to live here than ever before; crime is at historic lows; the art and fashion worlds are booming here; movies and TV shows are being made here again; the foodie culture is rejoicing as restaurants are popping up in parts of town that no sane person would have even visited 25 years ago; and I’m sure we can list much more.

1873 Map of New York
This wondrous transformation is easier to see from the outside. New Yorkers are born with a deeply ingrained cynicism which can often make it hard to see the good that is all around them. Well, here is a book for them. Magnetic City: A Walking Companion to New York, by Justin Davidson, reveals the city’s current state in the greater context of its history and eternal cycles of decay, change, and renewal.

The book takes eight different areas: the Financial District, the Seaport and the Brooklyn waterfront, the World Trade Center, West Chelsea and the High Line, 42nd Street, the Upper West Side, upper Manhattan’s Sugar Hill and the South Bronx; and uses these to show New York’s remarkable ability to be reborn after decades of either crisis, catastrophe or simple irrelevance.

Davidson discusses the shocking comeback New York made after such unprecedented events as the September 11 attacks; Hurricane Sandy; the financial disaster of 2008; and other crazily significant events that did not destroy, but rather made New York better.

For anyone who loves New York City, this is a book that will validate and strengthen that love, and you’ll learn plenty along the way.

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Free New York! Making Culture Available to All


New York has been recognized for decades as one of the world’s great cities. One of the things that makes it great is the easy access there is to amazing cultural, often for free or a minimal cost. Here are a few of our favorite affordable and life enhancing quintessential New York experiences.

Picture by Allie Caulfield

  • The Museum of Modern Art is one of the world’s most visited museums, for good reason. People come to see MoMA’s permanent and rotating collections which include masterpieces by Monet, Matisse and much more. The good news is that on Fridays, from 4pm to 8pm there is no entrance fee, courtesy of the Japanese clothing company UNIQLO. Come early, as you can imagine as the night progresses the crowds grow.
  • The Brooklyn Botanic Garden opens its doors to the public for free on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 12 pm, and a few other special days throughout the year, for absolutely no charge. The garden is located in Prospect Park, and has an amazing Japanese Hill-and-Pond Garden, a wonderful Cherry Esplanade, a Shakespeare Garden, and Cranford Rose Garden, and many others.
  • The Federal Reserve Bank offers a free one hour tour which is mind boggling. Travel down five stories below street level to get a glimpse of the largest stash of gold reserves in the world: 7,000 tons worth. You learn all about how the Federal Reserve System works, and come away feeling enlightened about a topic that can be as confusing as it is important. The tours are popular, so you might need to reserve your place as much as 30 days in advance, but don’t miss this fun New York experience.


Thursday, February 9, 2017

Ice Has Never Been Like This: Check Out the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival

You can still participate in the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival. This great winter celebration is in its 120th year, and features some amazing massive ice sculptures that will blow your mind. Most remarkable, however, is the huge ice palace, built with the efforts of 100 inmates of the nearby prison. This celebration of winter is unique, and its worth the drive from the city. Check it out in this video. The Celebration continues through February 12.

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Way Off the Beaten Path

New York is full of wonders. Here is a short selection of places around town that are worth a visit.

Trinity Church Cemetery (Trinity Church) Photo by Gryffindor
The Strangest Gravestone in Trinity Church: From 1846 when it was built, until 1890, Trinity Church was the tallest building in New York. Reaching to a height of 280 feet, it was finally overtaken after over 40 years by the New York World Building. The church is built adjacent to New York’s oldest graveyard, containing the oldest carved gravestone, that of Richard Churcher. The five-year-old died in 1681. Not far from Churcher is the city’s strangest gravestone, that of James Leeson. He was an innkeeper and mason, and died in 1794. His stone is carved with mysterious symbols across the top. It was many years before anyone could figure out what those weird markings symbolized until someone finally understood that the markings were written in obscure masonic “pigpen” cypher. The mystery was solved and the inscription simply reads, “REMEMBER DEATH.”

Meet the Real Winnie the Pooh: In the Children’s Center of the New York Public Library on Fifth Avenue is something special to anyone who has ever been, or still is, a child. The real Winnie the Pooh, the stuffed bear purchased by A.A. Milne for his son Christopher is on display, along with his companions Eeyore, Piglet, Kanga and Tigger. Pooh Bear was bought in Harrods in London in 1921, and then presented as a gift to the library by Milne’s American publisher E.P. Dutton in 1987, along with the other beloved characters from the Hundred Acre Woods.


The Walk of Fame: Move over Hollywood Boulevard! New York has its very own star-studded street, located at Theater 80, St. Mark’s Place, East Village. Opened in 1971 by ex-actor and movie fan Howard Otway, Theater 80 showed films from the 1930s to the 1950s, Hollywood’s Golden Age. On opening night Otway asked a few film stars to a fancy party and then to leave their hand and footprints in softened cement, along with their signatures on the sidewalk right outside the theater. Go take a look and see the prints of d Dom DeLuise, Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy and Gloria Swanson. Some others, like that of Joan Rivers, came later.