Manhattanhenge At 42nd Street, May 30 and 31, 2011

Full-sun Manhattanhenge, May 31, 2011

Full-sun Manhattanhenge, May 31, 2011

Full-sun Manhattanhenge, May 31, 2011

Full-sun Manhattanhenge, May 31, 2011

Half-sun Manhattanhenge, May 30, 2011

Half-sun Manhattanhenge, May 30, 2011

Half-sun Manhattanhenge, May 30, 2011

Four times a year, the sun sets in perfect alignment with the east-west streets of the primary sections of New York City's Manhattan street grid. Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the Director of the Hayden Planetarium of the American Museum of Natural History named the urban phenomenon MANHATTANHENGE, Manhattan's version of Stonehenge. These images were taken yeserday at 42nd Street near Broadway. 

From the Hayden Planetarium website:

Tyson, (who also tweets,) explains Manhattanhenge on his website: As you may know, had Manhattan’s grid been perfectly aligned with the geographic north-south line, then the days of Manhattanhenge would be the spring and autumn equinoxes, the only two days on the calendar when the Sun rises due-east and sets due-west. But Manhattan’s street grid is rotated 30 degrees east from geographic north, shifting the days of alignment elsewhere into the calendar.

Note that any city crossed by a rectangular grid can identify days where the setting Sun aligns with their streets. But a closer look at such cities around the world shows them to be less than ideal for this purpose. Beyond the grid you need a clear view to the horizon, as we have over New Jersey. And tall buildings that line the streets create a kind of brick and steel channel to frame the setting Sun, creating a striking photographic opportunity. What will future civilizations think of Manhattan Island when they dig it up and find a carefully laid out network of streets and avenues? Surely the grid would be presumed to have astronomical significance, just as we have found for the pre-historic circle of large vertical rocks known as Stonehenge, in the Salisbury Plain of England. For Stonehenge, the special day is the summer solstice, when the Sun rises in perfect alignment with several of the stones, signaling the change of season.

Travel Channel's "Sand Masters" Honor The US Military With A 60-Ton Sand Sculpture For 2011 Fleet Week

In honor of the Naval Aviation's centennial, professional sand sculptors, Rusty Croft, Kirk Rademaker, Sue McGrew, Andy Gertler, Matt Long, and Morgan Rudluff created a work of art from 60 tons of sand mixed with water in the "military island" section of Times Square. Members of the U.S. military assisted loading the sand into Times Square – or "pound up" as it's called in the industry. The sand is shoveled into wooden boxes and pounded down with hand tampers. When the sand is hard, the boxes are removed and the sculpting begins. The event will be part of the new Travel Channel television series called "Sand Masters". I made these images last Saturday and yesterday. This is one of the many events in the city celebrating Fleet Week and observing Memorial Day.

Reenactment of the Iconic Kiss Between A Nurse And A Sailor In Times Square Celebrating The End Of World War II

Earlier today, the kissing sailor and nurse in the iconic LIFE magazine photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt called "V.J. Day" was portrayed by actors in Times Square. The reenactment of the kiss is part of THE RIDE, the new tourist attraction and a new interactive way to see New York City. More than a tour, more than a ride, visitors board s super-sized, technologically advanced vehicle with stadium-style sideways seating and massive glass windows. The vehicle travels the streets of New York, which become the stage for different performances like this one. 

On Aug. 14, 1945, more than 750,000 people gathered in New York City’s Times Square, to celebrate the Japanese surrender and the end of World War II. Among the excited revelers was Edith Shain, a nursing school student who was kissed by a sailor in Times Square after the Times news ticker read "OFFICIAL-TRUMAN ANNOUNCES JAPANESE SURRENDER." The kiss was immortalized in the photograph taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt and published in LIFE magazine.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, a federal holiday to honor and remember those who have died in service to the nation.

Storefront For Art And Architecture Presents "Painting Urbanism: Learning From Rio"

Storefront For Art & Architecture is currently exhibiting the work of Dutch artists Haas&Hahn in  “Painting Urbanism: Learning from Rio". The exhibition showcases paintings, documentary footage, photographs, sketches and plans of past, present and future projects developed by Haas&Hahn. Featured past projects include the Favelapaintings in Praça Cantão in Santa Marta and “Rio Cruzeiro” on the stairs of Rua Santa Helena all in Rio de Janeiro. Present projects include proposals for two New York interventions and future projects span throughout the world. Visitors to the exhibition are encouraged to sit down and develop new proposals to add to the collection of visionary projects to transform the cities in which we live. All work produced throughout the exhibition will be compiled and catalogued.

Haas&Hahn is the working title of artistic duo Jeroen Koolhaas (audio-visual designer and illustrator) and Dre Urhahn (journalist/copywriter/art director). They started working together in 2005.

Storefront is located at 97 Kenmare Street. The exhibit runs through July 30, 2011.

Nathan Sawaya's LEGO Brick Art: Lions For The New York Public Library

Using more than 60, 000 standard gray LEGO bricks, brick artist Nathan Sawaya created replicas of lions, Patience and Fortitude. The lions are displayed inside the New York Public Library door. These sculptures were commissioned by the New York Public Library in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Stephen A. Schwartzman Building.

Anthony Caro's Heavy Metal Sculptures On The Roof Of The Metropolitan Museum Of Art

After Summer (1968)

Odalisque (1984)

Midday (1960)

Blazon (1987-1990)

End Up (2010)

On exhibit on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are five of knighted British sculptor Anthony Caro's welded steel sculptures. Anthony Caro is considered the most influential and prolific British sculptor of his generation, and a key figure in the development of modernist sculpture. The New York Times described Caro's sculptures as "perfectly composed yet seemingly freely improvised, they gave the impression of color liberated from physical support, like paintings in space or visual jazz." The exhibit runs through October 30, 2011 at the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden.

Burton Morris Post-Pop Paintings for Dylan's Candy Bar

These are some of the paintings by artist Burton Morris that are on display at Dylan's Candy Bar. The paintings are full of color, energy and optimism. Morris aims to "inspire and intrigue his audience by challenging the way they look at everyday ideas."


Morris first gained national attention in the mid-1990s when his work was chosen to be part of the set of the NBC telvision series "Friends." His artowrks have been exhibited internationally.