Zuccotti Park After Dark

Zuccotti Park, formerly known as Liberty Plaza Park, is a 33,000-square-foot public park in Lower Manhattan near the World Trade Center site. It is a privately-owned-public-space controlled by Brookfield Properties. It is located between Broadway, Trinity Place, Liberty Street and Cedar Street. The park's northwest corner is across the street from Four World Trade Center. The park was heavily damaged in the September 11 attacks and subsequent recovery efforts of 2001. Restoration of the park included the installation of "nearly 500 thin, rectangular, in-ground fluorescent lights, specially designed to be water- and air-tight, as well as easily replaceable." Last year, the plaza became the site of the Occupy Wall Street protest camp. During the demonstration, activists occupied the plaza and used it as a staging ground for their protests.  

"Laughter In The Park" - Free Outdoor Comedy Shows Presented by NY Laughs

NY Laughs is a not-for-profit organization that produces free comedy performances set within New York City's public venues to provide laughter to everyday New Yorkers and promote the comic arts. Laughter in the Park 2012 is a free comedy series held in Central Park, Tompkins Square Park, Washington Square Park and Greeley Square. The photos above were captured in Central Park's Mineral Springs (accessed through Central Park West at West 67th or 69th Street) on June 16. For more information and schedule, click on NY Laughs.

The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City

The Noguchi Museum in Long Island City is the first in America established by a living artist of his own work, containing the world’s richest holdings of Isamu Noguchi’s art. The Museum's goal is to honor and preserve the unique setting designed by Noguchi and to exhibit a core group of works for permanent viewing. The museum also features changing exhibitions and educational programs. It is located at 33rd Road, Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City.

Little Lady Liberty

One of the most widely recognized American symbol is the 151-foot Statue of Liberty by French sculptor Auguste Bertholdi. The statue has inspired numerous small scale replicas intended to echo the ideals of freedom, tolerance and opportunity, including this replica (c. 1900) by an unknown artist from Akron, Ohio. Made of galvanized sheet steel and zinc over iron frame, the figure is installed outside the Brooklyn Museum together with the museum's outdoor collection of architectural fragments. The Statue of Liberty is one of the most common symbol of Independence Day marking the anniversary of the publication of the declaration of independence from Great Britain in 1776.

"Renoir's Dancers" by Dorit Levinstein on Display at the New York Palace

Dorit Levinstein's interpretation of Pierre-Auguste Renoir's "Danse a la campagne" is a beautiful hand-painted enameled bronze sculpture called "Renoir's Dancers." The sculpture is on display at the entrance to an iconic Manhattan luxury hotel, the New York Palace at 455 Madison Avenue. 

5POINTZ Revisited

video from ROCKETBOOM

5Pointz,  considered to be "the world's graffiti mecca," is an outdoor graffiti art exhibit space in Long Island City where local and international aerosol artists create colorful pieces on the walls of a 200,000-suare-foot factory building after securing permit from the curator. The name 5Pointz signifies the five boroughs of New York City coming together as one. With the recent reports that this unique haven for graffiti artists may actually be demolished soon, I revisited this cultural icon yesterday. Here are some of the photos of the artwork showing a diversity of styles, themes and color schemes. More information from the 5Pointz website.