Grand Central Terminal and Chrysler Building Crown

This is the view from 43rd Street just west of Grand Central terminal. The windows panes of the terminal were lit up into individual “pixels” of colorful lights. Above the terminal is one of the most recognizable structures in Manhattan, the art deco terraced crown of the Chrysler Building.

Winter Wedding

Central Park and Grand Central Terminal are two of the most popular sites for wedding photography in the city. 

The Grand Central Terminal Centennial Holiday Light Show

The Holiday Light Show makes its return to Grand Central Terminal for its Centennial year. The show runs from November 21 through December 26, everyday from 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM. The show lights up the windows on the west side of the Main Concourse above Michael Jordan's The Steak House N.Y.C. and Cipriani Dolci.

Victoria's Secret Model, Doutzen Kroes Poses for Photo Shoot at Grand Central Terminal

Grand Central Terminal is one of the most popular site for photo shoots in New York. Yesterday, another one took place at the Main Concourse by the ticket counter. Victoria's Secret Angel, Doutzen Kroes posed in black trousers and long-sleeved animal print top for the photo shoot at the iconic New York landmark. These shots were taken from the east balcony which is occupied by the Apple Store.

A Wedding Photoshoot

Grand Central Terminal, one of the nation's historical landmarks and the busiest train station in the country, is also a frequent location for engagement, pre-wedding and wedding photoshoot. These images were captured on March 3rd.

Horsing Around Grand Central Terminal - Nick Cave's "Heard NY"

video by NTDTV

The 100-year-old Grand Central Terminal is the venue for a new performance art called "Heard NY" by Nick Cave. The artist created colorful "horses" that break into choreographed movement twice a day (11:00 AM and 2:00 PM) in Vanderbilt Hall. Each "horse" is operated by two dancers wearing colorful costumes. The multicolored straw horses are some of Cave's signature Soundsuits, wearable sculptures that transform participants into living art pieces. The title, "HEARD NY," is a pun on a "herd" of horses, because these beasts' suits make sounds and there is live music. Cave took inspiration from the opulence of the terminal and the winged horse, Pegasus, painted on Grand Central Terminal's ceiling. The project is presented by MTA Arts for Transit and the public art organization Creative Time. The performance art continues through the end of the month.

Annual Christmas Day "Mama Doe" Candlelight Vigil: A Legacy of Hope and Opportunity for the Homeless Population in New York City

David Williams, Ready, Willing & Able graduate

George McDonald, Founder and President, the Doe Fund

This Christmas morning, the annual candlelight vigil to remember "Mama Doe" was held at Grand Central's main concourse. 

"In the 1980s, George McDonald, Founder and President of The Doe Fund, befriended an elderly woman known only as Mama. One of the hundreds of men and women who called Grand Central Terminal home, Mama spoke little English but was loved by all who knew her. It was during this time that George trekked to Grand Central each night, handing out sandwiches, fruit, and milk to those who needed it most. For more than 700 nights, he brought not only nourishment, but concern, comfort, and care. On Christmas Eve 1985, George visited Mama to give her an early Christmas present — a purple scarf to keep her warm in the harsh winter weather. When he returned on Christmas morning, he found the scarf next to Mama, who lay dead on a bench. Driven from Grand Central by transit police the night before, Mama had slept on a subway grate in an attempt to stay warm. When the Terminal opened in the morning, she crawled back in and eventually succumbed to the elements and the circumstances of her life. Soon after, George founded The Doe Fund in her memory. Mama Doe did not die in vain — she was the spark that lit the first candle of hope for the homeless population in New York City. The Doe Fund launched "Ready, Willing and Able" in 1990 to use paid transitional work and a holistic, individualized service package to catapult individuals into the workforce and out of cycles of homelessness, crime, and addiction. Every year on Christmas Day, The Doe Fund celebrates the legacy of hope and opportunity inspired by Mama Doe with a special candlelight vigil in Grand Central Terminal's Main Hall."

You can help by clicking on the The Doe Fund website from which the information above was taken.

Remembering "Mama" on Christmas Day at Grand Central Terminal

Image on the souvenir program for the event

This morning, Iraq War veterans participating in the Doe Fund Veterans Program joined the “men in blue” of the organization’s "Ready, Willing & Able" initiative, as well as community members and Doe Fund supporters for the Doe Fund's annual "Mama Doe" candlelight vigil. The event was held to honor the memory of an elderly homeless woman – known only as “Mama” – who died on a bench in the station’s waiting room on Christmas Day in 1985. George McDonald, founder and president of the Doe Fund began volunteering in the mid 1980's to feed the homeless people who were living in Grand Central Terminal. Among the homeless was an elderly woman who was loved by all and was known to all as "Mama." On Christmas Eve 1985, McDonald gave Mama a warm purple scarf as a present. Mama was driven out from the terminal by transit police so she slept on a subway grate. When McDonald returned on Christmas morning, he found the scarf crumpled beside Mama who laid dead on a bench. She apparently crawled back into the terminal when it reopened, but later on died. McDonald founded the Doe Fund in her memory. The organization is renowned for the "Ready Willing and Able" program that provides paid work opportunities to thousands of homeless people. 

Grand Central Terminal Facade

Grand Central Terminal's southern facade was modeled on a Roman triumphal arch, symbolizing the triumph of the railroad. It was also envisioned as a gateway to the city, then located primarily to the station's south. Jules Coutan's central sculptural group depicts Mercury (the god of commerce) supported by Minerva and Hercules (representing mental and moral strength). After the original Pennsylvania Station was demolished in 1963, Grand Central Terminal was landmarked. This innovative complex integrates the train system with an intricate web of urban conditions.

Turkish Days in New York 2010

Turkish Days in New York, the biggest Turkish festival to have been organized in New York so far,  started in Grand Central Station last Thursday. Both sides of Vanderbilt Hall were redesigned for the festival (September 16-17). Vanderbilt Hall had a completely different ambiance with two giant two-dimensional photographs of İstanbul’s Yeni Cami mosque. Stands introducing traditional arts and crafts were set up, with ushers in various styles of clothing symbolizing the many civilizations that were established in Anatolia. The festival continues on Sunday, September 19 for the GRAND BAZAAR IN THE CITY (9 AM to 6 PM) at 41st Street, betweem 6th Avenue and Broadway. The TURKISH MOVIE FESTIVAL will take place on September 20-21 (7 PM-11 PM) at the New York Film Academy.

"POST-IT" Billboard Art

Celebrating 'Ideas That Stick,' the world's largest artistic billboard made of more than 100,000 Post-it Super Sticky Notes was displayed last week (August 3- 6) in Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall. The artistic billboard was the winning artwork selected from the national Post-it brand 30th Anniversary Student Design Contest sponsored by Post-It Brand from 3M and Publicolor. The artistic billboard was the centerpiece of a student art exhibition last week.

Disney's "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" Train Tour

Grand Central's Track 37

Exhibit inside the train

Vanderbilt Hall

Vanderbilt Hall

The last stop of the train tour promoting the new Disney movie "A CHRISTMAS CAROL" was in Grand Central Station last weekend. The train tour featured behind-the-scenes of the movie starring Jim Carrey, Charles Dickens Museum artifacts, preview of the film in 3-D, concept art and costumes. Visitors were also take photos of themselves and morph their faces into characters from the classic film. The movie opens on November 6.