Nostalgia Train Ride For The Holidays: 1930's Vintage Subway Trains In Service On Sundays

NYC Transit has started this year's "Nostalgia Shoppers' Special Train" service last Sunday. These photos of the 1930s vintage train were taken along the M line last Sunday. The nostalgia trains run every Sunday through December 26. Retired New York City subway cars get plucked out of the NYC Transit Museum and return to service just for the holidays, decked with wreaths and red bows, mixing in with the regular cars for the same price as a routine ride. See the MTA’s vintage fleet schedule for more details. From the MTA: "You can catch a ride on these classic R1/9 subway cars at stations along the weekday M line between Queens Plaza and 2 Avenue."

Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark First Preview

Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, the most expensive and technically ambitious production in Broadway history completed its first preview performance last night at the Foxwoods Theatre on 42nd Street. It was reported that the show started 26 minutes late, and lasted  for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Broadwayworld.com reports that Message boards and Twitter were abuzz throughout the show, noting that there were 4 technical stops in Act 1, and 1 in Act 2 as well as an elongated intermission (and one nasty heckler). The images above were made an hour before curtain time.

Lionel Model Train Holiday Pop-Up Store

Lionel model trains opened a holiday pop-up shop at 1095 Avenue of the Americas at 41st Street across from Bryant Park. These are some of the fully operational train layouts on display at the store. The store carries sets such as the New York Central, Pennsylvania Flyer, the Nutcracker Route, Polar Express, Hogwart’s Express, Thomas the Tank Engine and Amtrak trains. Lionel is the most enduring brand name assciated with model trains and model railroads in the United States.

Bieber Fever on Fifth Avenue

This was the scene yesterday across from Barnes and Noble on Fifth Avenue where the young pop singer Justin Bieber promoted his new book "First Stop 2 Forever: My Story." The singer signed 2,000 copies of his new book for fans, some of whom had been camping outside the Barnes and Noble bookstore for days. 

Making Waves: Hollister's Second Manhattan Store Opens on Fifth Avenue

video from walkingapple

Hollister opened its second Manhattan store on Fifth Avenue recently. In keeping with the SoCal lifestyle theme, the store's facade features a live video projection of the waves in Huntington Beach, California. The new space has 15,000 square feet, with two floors, a double-height glass storefront, 28-foot ceilings, and of course, shirtless "surfer dudes" and "Betty" store greeters. Hollister Co (HCO or Hollister) is an American lifestyle brand by Abercrombie and Fitch Co. The concept was originally designed to attract consumers aged 14-18 through its Southern California-inspired image and casual wear. The new store is located at 668 Fifth Avenue near 53rd Street.

Giant Balloons At The 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

Kung Fu Panda (Dreamworks Animation)

"Super Cute" Hello Kitty (Sanrio)

Takashi Murakami's "Kaikai" and "Kiki"

Takashi Murakami's "Kiki"

Ronald McDonald (McDonald's)

Sailor Mickey (Disney Cruise Line)

Kermit The Frog (Disney)

Shrek (Dreamworks Animation)

Spiderman (Marvel Entertainment)

Spongebob Squarepants (Nickelodeon)

Pikachu with Pokeball (The Pokemon Company International)

While much of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade's roster of giant balloons is dedicated to readily identifiable figures, the parade organizers try to make room for what they call "high art." This year's giant balloon lineup for the Macy's Thanksgiving parade included new characters like Kaikai and Kiki (Kaikaikiki Co. Ltd.). These characters were designed by Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami who in the global art scene is known for his inflatable sculptures of psychedelic anime-style cartoon characters as well as his Louis Vuitton handbag and Casio watch designs. The parade is a "snapshot of the American culture," according to the executive producer of the parade, Robin Hall. Aside from giant balloons, the parade featured marching bands, floats, cheering clowns and a host of celebrities like Jessica Simpson, Kanye West and Gladys Knight. The images of the balloons were made earlier this morning at the intersection of 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.

30-Foot Rose Sculpture Adorns The NEW MUSEUM Facade

The Lower Eastside's New Museum of Contemporary Art unveiled last week a new exterior sculpture called "Rose II" by German artist Isa Genzken. The 30-foot piece is a solitary rose standing upright and is installed in the contemporary art museum's second-floor ledge. The rose sculpture replaced the "Hell Yes!" sculpture that has adorned the facade since the museum opened three years ago.

Fifth Avenue Christmas Holiday Window Displays: FENDI

FENDI is located at 677 Fifth Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets. This boutique carries Swarkovski-encrusted handbags, sumptuous furs, and seriously high heels favored by the high-rolling elite. These images were made on November 21, 2010.

ONE YEAR By George Maciunas

ONE YEAR (1973-1974) is a art installation by Lithuania-born American artist George Maciunas (1931-1978) consisting of the empty containers of various food and household products that he consumed over the course of one year. The work reflects the American consumer landscape of the early 1970s and the monotony of Maciunas' daily regimen. The artist created this work while living in SoHo in downtown Manhattan. The installation is part of a new show "Contemporary Art From The Collection" at the Museum of Modern Art. (information from the gallery caption).

The Swarovski Star At Rockefeller Center Plaza

The Swarovski Star and the kiosk at Rockefeller Center Plaza

The Swarovski Star and the Christmas Tree (left) still surrounded by scaffolding 

One of the Swarovski ornaments being sold at the holiday kiosk near the Star replica 

Swarovski unveiled the 9.5-foot crystal star that will adorn the 2010 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree last Thursday, November 18. The star has been hoisted on top of the Christmas Tree which will be lit on November 30. Pictured above is an exact replica of the the star that is on display at Rockefeller Center Plaza near the Christmas Tree. According to the Epoch Times, the star's 12 rays are outfitted with 720 LED bulbs on 3,000 feet of wire to create a dazzling, twinkling effect through customized light sequencing programmed by a complex computer system. The star weighs a total of 550 pounds, 300 of which are comprised of the 25,000 crystals that provide the star with great luminosity.

Alexander Calder's RED CURLICUE

Recently presented for auction at Chrisitie's was the work of Alexander Calder (1898-1976) called "Red Curlicue." The piece is made of stabile-painted sheet metal, 192 x 126 x 96 inches. It was executed in 1973.

From the New York Times:

“Red Curlicue” signed with Alexander Calder’s initials “CA” is made of sheet metal painted a bright red. The monumental stabile, as the Paris-based American artist called those of his works that were set on the ground and did not sway in the wind, is 192 inches, or about 488 centimeters, high. Executed in 1973, “Red Curlicue” brought $6.35 million. It too has a tongue-in-cheek touch, conveyed by the curling movement of a tapering metallic sheet, which calls to mind cutouts made by children amusing themselves with paper and scissors.