• Adam and Eve

    In the lobby of the Time Warner center at Columbus Circle is a pair of statues by artist Fernando Botero, one of world’s most popular and sought after contemporary artists. The figures in the photo are represented as rotund forms and exaggerated proportions, a style for which Botero is known. Each statue stands about 20 feet tall, is nude, and is cast in bronze – the male is titled Adam and female Eve (click here for a side view of the pieces).

    Born in Colombia in 1932, Botero became interested in painting at a very young age and has produced thousands of paintings; in the 1970s, he began producing sculpture. Here is a good set of links on Botero and his work. With such a puritanical thread running through American society, I am a little surprised at the choice of nude, anatomically correct figures so prominently placed in a public space, as well as the lack of controversy…


  • Time Warner Center

    This recently completed development, with its 750-foot towers, resides at Columbus Circle, an area which has posed design difficulties. It is an intersection for Central Park West and South, Eighth Avenue, and Broadway. It is the site of the former New York Coliseum building, a very unattractive structure built in 1954 and finally demolished in 2000. Click here for a photo history of the area.

    The battle amongst the many proposals was won by SOM (Skidmore, Owings & Merrill). The new glass and steel center consists of offices for Time Warner on the lower floors, a retail complex on the ground floor, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on floors 34-54, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and One Central Park luxury condominiums, located on the upper floors. Click here for a New York Times article on the development.


  • Twelve Tribes Arrive

    A friend called me at work to let me know that three Twelve Tribes buses were parked in Washington Square Park, so I made a quick journey to see and record the event. Vehicles of this size are rarely allowed IN the park – apparently their permit for assembly was confused with another group, and they were ushered in and allowed to remain.

    Twelve Tribes is an unusual religious group – kind of a fusion of the unrealized dreams of hippies with fundamentalist Christianity. They live communally in various locales in nine countries. The journey to NYC was part of their Merrymakers Caravan Tour. The bus in the photo, Garden (another photo here), was modeled after the Furthur bus of the Merry Pranksters of the 1960s. Click here for some photos I took of the interior of their Peacemaker bus, which sleeps 17. I did as much reading as possible on their sites and others before this posting. There has been some controversy regarding aspects of their practices, but I have chosen to be as neutral as possible and leave it to you, if you are interested, to investigate on your own and draw your own conclusions…


  • McSorley’s

    McSorley’s Old Ale House has been in operation at the same location on E. 7th St. since 1854, when it was founded by Irish immigrant John McSorley. It serves only two types of its own ale – dark and light. It is quite well-known as one of the last pubs to admit women – and only after a Supreme Court case. The walls are adorned with articles and other memorabilia going back one hundred years. More photos here. If you go to their website, you can take a virtual tour, read their history, etc.

    Many of the patrons are tourists or college students, and apparently it is popular for bachelor and bachelorette parties. In the photo, we have “Team Blair,” a group of women with customized pink T-shirts meeting for a bachelorette party. In the back room, I was approached by a member of a bachelor party (sporting an inflated plastic lamb) who wanted me to take photos. If you visit, be prepared for a raucous atmosphere…


  • Asaf and Yo’ah

    Public art is a great way to beautify our world and at the same time expose people to art who may not otherwise make an effort to see any. And when a work is somewhat unusual or provocative, it can draw people into the world of art/sculpture/architecture by stimulating discussions (e.g. the I.M. Pei pyramid at the Louvre in Paris).

    The sculpture in the photo, Asaf and Yo’ah, is at the Time Warner center (click here for a side view of the work). The artist, Boaz Vaadia, is Israeli-born, and his works can be seen in art museums, galleries, and public spaces around the world. Much of the his work is done in bluestone trucked in from quarries in upstate New York. Check out his website, which also features tours of his studio in Brooklyn, NY


  • Pommes Frites

    In the East Village at 132 2nd Avenue is the NYC mecca for authentic Belgian Frites: Pommes Frites. Most people find these French fries truly AMAZING. Apparently, credit for the “French fry” goes to Belgium, where the frietkot (fry shack) still exists. The secret is that they are fried TWICE. Here is a recipe to make them yourself at the Original Belgian Fries Website.

    The other feature of the frites is that they are typically offered with many unique sauces (Pommes Frites offers 25 different ones), unlike the American fry, typically eaten with ketchup only. If you go to the Pommes Frites website, you can get a video tour of their operation, where I have heard that they go through as many as 1000 pounds of potatoes per day…


  • Cranes

    I went out shooting yesterday with my brand new DSLR and a photography enthusiast – we shot up a storm. Our first stop was this enormous, beautifully painted crane. I think the construction workers on site probably thought we were crazy – two guys with “fancy” photo equipment taking pictures of a crane. Click here for a few more photos, including a closeup of the massive counterweights they use.

    I didn’t plan on including any links, but I was intrigued with these monster machines. Some searching brought up links, including this company, Cranes, Inc., but no web site links for this particular operation. A little further digging and voila – they have a great web site. I am really impressed for a local industrial company – make sure to check out their very cool site with a Flash intro and photo gallery here (they have been around since 1940 and have done many big jobs, including the World Financial Center.) I see many artsy attempts at sites which are not nearly as nice as this small site – nice job, Cranes, Inc!


  • Park Avenue

    Park Avenue is one of the most well-known NYC streets in the world. This wide boulevard runs two-way through the Upper East Side, what is considered to be one of the most affluent neighborhoods, with many large magnificent prewar apartment buildings. The legendary Waldorf-Astoria Hotel is located here. Park Avenue’s wide center median with trees and plantings is unique in the city. For those who believe that it is a product of favoritism by the public sector, it is not – it is maintained by a private organization: the Fund for Park Avenue. Begonias are a popular flower owing to its ability to withstand sun without constant watering.

    Park Avenue actually runs through several different neighborhoods (including Grand Central), starting at 4th Avenue (its original name) in the Village. This photo was taken at 70th Street, prime territory in the neighborhood, with Woody Allen’s new home just down the block. But that’s the subject of another future post…


  • The Dakota

    At 72nd Street and Central Park West stands one New York’s most well known residences: The Dakota. For the few that did not know it, becoming John Lennon’s home and site of his murder in 1980 catapulted it to international status. Even a book has been written about it.

    Completed in 1884, folklore has it that it was named because, at the time, the area was as remote from NYC’s urban core as the Dakota Territory and thus known as Clark’s Folly (it was built for Edwin Clark, head of Singer Sewing Machine company, by architect Hardenbergh, who also designed the Plaza Hotel). It’s a spectacularly distinctive nine-story building with high gables, terracota spandrels and panels, balustrades, balconies, and a steeply pitched decorative slate and copper roof. It is built around a central courtyard with a large guarded entrance, originally designed to accommodate horse-drawn carriages. Based on Parisian models, the Dakota was a new concept in urban dwelling, with many affluent renters in one property with shared amenities. It was an immediate success and remains one of the most sought-after properties in NYC, with many celebrities in its roster. More photos here…


  • Singing Bowls

    Perhaps you have rubbed your finger around a wine glass and created a tone? There is an entire world and ancient history of “glass music” with a class of instruments called idiophones. These include musical glasses (Verrillon/Seraphine), glass harp, glass armonica, verrophone, etc. (if you are unfamiliar with these, I highly recommend reading some of the links – the entire world is just fascinating). Included are various types of singing bowls – Tibetan singing bowls are typically made of metal, but glass/crystal ones are also used.

    An entire renovation of Washington Square arch was recently completed, including the installation of some huge, high intensity ground lights. These create a unique environment for performers at night. I recently saw Wendy and Aaron performing there (using the name Dievolve). The illuminated crystal singing bowls created a beautiful effect.
    I have included a video; the first part is of Wendy on the crystal bowls and Aaron on a metal one, and the second part features Aaron playing guitar with an aggressive, angry style with Wendy producing her haunting tones. I thought the combo was quite nice in person – I hope it translates in the video clips I have provided…


  • Newlyweds

    While in Central Park, I experienced a unique occurrence. I was watching a musician (thatguitarman.com) who plays weekly at the same spot (photo left). In the middle of the performance, a bride and groom strolled by (Central Park is an extremely popular venue for wedding photography.) The musician confirmed their just married status and asked if they would be willing to have their first dance right there while he played. The couple agreed, and the audience was quite enthusiastic, including a group of boaters nearby in the Lake (with Manhattan buildings as backdrop – Citicorp Building, Plaza Hotel, etc.). Here is a video of that special first dance of the newlyweds:


  • The Puck Building

    The Puck Building is a landmarked Romanesque Revival structure which occupies a city block in SoHo. It was built in 1885 for the J. Ottman Lithographic Company and was home of the satirical Puck magazine from 1887 to 1916. At the time, it housed lithographic presses and its own electrical generators (still housed in the basement).

    There are two gilded figures of Shakespeare’s Puck, one shown above and one above the entrance. It is a magnificent and spectacular building with double rows of arched windows and vast interior sunlit spaces (see more photos here). The building has both office space and ballrooms used for public events – there is a Skylight Ballroom on the top floor and the Grand Ballroom on the ground floor (10,000 square feet with 20 foot ceilings.) The building has housed numerous tenants, including Spy Magazine, Pratt Institute, and NYU’s Wagner Center, currently its largest occupant. Click here for an excellent history and other info…


  • Bethesda Fountain and Terrace

    Posted on by Brian Dubé

    Here we have one of the most photographed fountains in the world: Bethesda Fountain, which stands at the epicenter of Central Park. Officially known as the Angel of the Waters, it was dedicated in 1873. The artist’s brochure makes a reference to Bethesda (from a biblical verse from St. John), after which the fountain became popularly known. The winged figure symbolizes the bringing in of pure water to NYC after the Croton Aqueduct opened in 1842. The lily in her right hand represents purity; her other outreached hand blesses the water below. Click here for a closeup of the fountain with four cherubs below the angel, representing Peace, Health, Purity, and Temperance. Complete details about the fountain here.

    The fountain and terrace area stands at one end of the mall. In this photo, we are facing the Lake, with the wooded area known as the Ramble behind it. Click here for more on the Terrace itself, with photos and info…

    Posted on by Brian Dubé

  • New York Nymph

    Posted on by Brian Dubé

    The Washington Square Park Council has been scheduling summer events in Washington Square Park. Saturday’s event was called Groove on the Green, with SubSwara, JP001, and the FreekFactory dancers. The woman in the photo was apparently one of the FreekFactory, but I found her to be more sprite or nymphlike than freaky. She and a handful of others could be found undulating and writhing to the very amplified “indo-inflected breaks, scratching, and live tabla.” Another photo here.

    The afternoon was very hot and humid, so here we have our New York Nymph with glistening skin taking a breather, amidst the trees, just where we would expect to find her…

    Posted on by Brian Dubé

  • The Tram

    Posted on by Brian Dubé

    The Roosevelt Island Tramway provides aerial transportation between Manhattan and Roosevelt Island, with two cable cars crossing simultaneously (see here), running adjacent to the Queensboro Bridge. It is the only commuter cable service in North America. It was put into operation in 1976 to accommodate newly built housing on Roosevelt Island; new subway service was finally inaugurated to the island in 1989. However, the Tram is still extremely popular, providing great views of both islands and the river. I highly recommend it.

    This photo was taken April 15, 2006, just three days before the trams were put out of service – the trams were stuck over the East River for seven hours. Read about the Tramway and the incident here. Service was to be resumed, but so far…(update: Service was resumed in September 2006.)

    Posted on by Brian Dubé


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