Thursday, January 31, 2013

"Bedpan Alley"

Manhattan's Upper Eastside has many hospitals including the New York Presbyterian-Cornell Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center,  Lenox Hill Hospital, Manhattan Eyer, Ear and Throat Hospital, Rockefeller University Hospital, Lauder Breast Center, Rogosin Institute, and Gracie Square Hospital. The section of First Avenue north of the  Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge is also sometimes referred to as "Bedpan Alley" (a play on "Tin Pan Alley") because of the large number of hospitals in the area. The photos above show aerial views of First and York Avenues, and signage at the 68th Street subway station. 

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The Dairy

The Dairy in Central Park is a general visitor information center that provides the public with information on the design of Central Park, events and programs. It also features an interactive touch-screen kiosk providing general information about the park. The Dairy also serves as a gift shop that offers maps, guides, history books, and a line of mugs, key chains, T-shirts, and caps especially designed for the Central Park Conservancy. The Central Park Dairy was originally intended as a source of fresh milk for children in the late 19th century. It was built in 1870 in the Victorian Gothic style, in particular its windows and spires. The building's beams and ceilings, however, are more reminiscent of those found in a barn. The Dairy is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Tuesday through Sunday.

Monday, January 28, 2013

The San Remo

The San Remo is one of the New York City's most beautiful residential skyscrapers. It is one of the masterpieces of architect Emery Roth of Emery Roth & Sons. The twin-towered San Remo is a 27-story building with 136 cooperative apartments and was completed in 1930. It is located at 145 Central Park West. 

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Newly Restored Theodore Roosevelt Memorial at the American Museum of Natural History

On October 27, 2012, the American Museum of Natural History reopened the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, in celebration of Roosevelt’s love of nature and passion for the American conservation movement. Born and bred in the city of New York, Theodore Roosevelt was governor of New York State, Vice President of the United States before becoming the 26th and youngest President of the United States. He was known for his progressive policies and ecological conservationism. 

At the center of the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall is a new bronze sculpture of Theodore Roosevelt, depicted as he looked during a famous 1903 camping trip to Yosemite with naturalist John Muir. The hall has four exhibition areas that highlight artifacts from the Museum’s collections depicting Roosevelt as the Young Naturalist with an early passion for nature; the Firsthand Observerwhose experience as a rancher in the North Dakota Badlands impressed him with the threat of extinction to animals such as the American bison; the Conservation President who took unprecedented action and placed some 230 million acres under federal protection; and the Lifelong Explorer whose post-presidency expeditions took him to an arduous exploration of Brazil’s River of Doubt in 1914.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Winter Jam 2013 in Central Park


The NYC Parks Department and the Olympic Regional Development Authority sponsored today's Winter Jam which transformed Central Park into a manmade snow covered winter sports park for people and their pets. It was a perfect day for the event because of the snowfall the night before. The event featured the Lake Placid Snow Field, Cross-Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, Skiing, Snowboarding, Unreal Ice Lounge and the Red Bull MetroRail. Other activities included Learning to Play Quidditch, Animal Tracking with the Urban Park Rangers, Pride of New York Winter Market, NY State Ski Resorts Info Booths and Live Entertainment. This year, there was a Doggie Snow Zone that featured Doggie Snow Park, ‘Ask the Expert’ Booth, Café Area and Doggie Treat Bar, Adoptable Animals, Vendor Booths and a limited Treat Bag Giveaway. As in past years, there was live music, food and beverage booths.

Friday, January 25, 2013

"Sphere Within A Sphere" by Arnaldo Pomodoro

This sculpture called "Sphere Within a Sphere" (1991-1993) by Italian sculptor, Arnaldo Pomodoro is a gift ftom Italy to the United Nations. The bronze sculpture is permanently on display at the Visitors' Plaza of the United Nations Headquarters. Other editions of the sculpture can be seen in theVatican Museums, Trinity College, Dublin, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, the de Young Museum in San Francisco,Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, American Republic Insurance Company in Des Moines, Iowa, the Columbus Museum of Art in Columbus, Ohio, the University of California, Berkeley and the Tel Aviv University, Israel.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

"Downtown Abbey" Star, Dan Stevens at the Stagedoor

Dan Stevens makes his Broadway debut this season in the revival of "The Heiress", now playing at the Walter Kerr Theatre through February 10. He plays the role of Morris Townsend the charming suitor of a lonely heiress played by Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner, Jessica Chastain. After the matinee performance on January 12, Dan Stevens graciously greeted his fans, signed autographs and posed for photos outside the stagedoor of the Walter Kerr Theatre, which is located at 219 West 48th Street in the theatre district. The actor has appeared in Arcadia, Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, The Vortex, Hay Fever,The Romans in Britain, Much Ado About Nothing(UK tour) and As You Like It (UK and U.S. tour). On television, he stars in Downtown Abbey. He also starred in Sense & Sensibility,Maxwell, Miss Marple, Dracula, The Line of Beauty, Frankenstein. He will be seen in the upcoming film called Vamps, directed by Amy Heckerling. 

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Helmsley Building LED Lighting

The Helmsley Building north facade is lit up in red, white, blue and yellow. It is located at 230 Park Avenue, between East 45th and 46th Street.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Chess Players at Union Square

Union Square has many chess players even during the winter. Pictured above are some regular players absorbed in the game.