The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park

Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park from Cook+Fox Architects on Vimeo.

The Bank of America Tower at One Bryant Park is a 1,200 ft (366 m) skyscraper located on Sixth Avenue, between 42nd and 43rd Street, opposite Bryant Park in midtown Manhattan. The building was designed by Cook+Fox Architects to be one of the most efficient and ecologically friendly buildings in the world. It uses technologies such as floor-to-ceiling insulating glass to contain heat and maximize natural light, and an automatic daylight dimming system. The tower features a graywater system, which captures rainwater and reuses it. The green building is made largely of recycled and recyclable materials such as steel and drywall, and low-VOC products. Air entering the building will be filtered, as is common, but the exhausted air will be cleaned as well. The building includes a five-megawatt cogeneration plant, ice storage plant, green roof areas and waterless urinals. It is the third tallest building in New York City, after One World Trade Center and the Empire State Building, and the fourth tallest building in the United States. Construction was completed in 2009.

Yayoi Kusama Retrospective Exhibition at the Whitney Museum

Video from the Whitney Museum website featuring Kusama’s Fireflies on the Water on view in the Lobby Gallery.

Yayoi Kusama is one of Japan's most prominent contemporary artists. Her best known works of art involve the use of dense patterns of polka dots and nets, as well as her intense, large-scale environments. Kusama works in a  wide variety of media, including sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, film, performance, and immersive installation. A new retrospective of Kusama's artworks is now on exhibit at the Whitney Museum. The exhibition includes the enchanting "Fireflies on the Water", an installation of lights, mirrors, and water. Timed tickets are required to experience this particular exhibit. Born in Japan in 1929, Kusama came to the United States in 1957 and quickly became part of the New York avant-garde. She has returned to her native country where she continues to be a prolific contemporary artist.

"If You See Something, Say Something"

Two years ago, the Department of Homeland Security launched a national "If You See Something, Say Something" public awareness campaign to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism and violent crime, and to emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper state and local law enforcement authorities. The campaign was originally used by New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), which has licensed the use of the slogan to DHS for anti-terrorism and anti-crime efforts. In New York City, the slogan is found in subway cars, as well as in subway station steps as depicted in the iPhone photo above.

Broadway Barks 2012 - A Pet Adoption Event Benefiting NYC Animal Shelters

Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore

The Craze

Bernadette Peters and Angela Lansbury

Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis (Gershwin's Porgy and Bess)

Nina Arianda and Joel Grey

Ben Vereen and Rita Moreno

Jeremy Jordan (Newsies)

Judy McLane (Mamma Mia)

Steve Kazee (Once)

Cristin Millioti (Once)

Michael Cerveris (Evita)

Rory O'Malley (Book of Mormon)

Linda Lavin

Andrew Rannells (Book of Mormon)

Michael Cumpsty

Broadway Barks, the annual star-studded dog and cat adoption event benefiting New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies took place earlier today in Shubert Alley. Hosted by Mary Tyler Moore and Bernadette Peters, the event is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and sponsored by the ASPCA with additional sponsorship by the New York Times. Broadway celebrities presented the pets from animal shelters citywide for adoption. A musical number from "One Man, Two Guvnors" kicked off the presentations. Helping promote pet adoption were celebrity presenters included Nina Arianda, Tracie Bennett, Bill Berloni, Jackie Burns, Michael Cerveris, Adam Chanler-Berat, Michael Cumpsty, John Dossett, Tom Edden, Martyn Ellis, Richard Fleeshman, Montego Glover, Joel Grey, Julie Halston, Jessica Hecht, Megan Hilty, Anjelica Huston, Jeremy Jordan,Carol Kane, Judy Kaye, Steve Kazee, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Claire Lams, Angela Lansbury,Dick Latessa, Linda Lavin, Caissie Levy, Norm Lewis, Kara Lindsay, Audra McDonald, Michael McGrath, Judy McLane, Cristin Milioti, Rita Moreno, Bebe Neuwirth, Rory O’Malley, Nancy Opel, Bryce Pinkham, Da’Vine Joy Randolph,Andrew Rannells, Jemima Rooper, Matt Saldivar,Chandra Lee Schwartz, Natalie Smith, Ripley Sobo, Suzie Toase, Ben Vereen, Syndee Winters and The Craze. Broadway Barks has been promoting pet adoption for 14 years.

M&M's World Store in Times Square

This is the colorful M&M's world store in Times Square located at 48th Street and 7th Avenue. The 25,000 square foot giant store offers M&Ms in more than 20 colors, toys, clothes, and other items featuring the bite-size candies. A 21-foot M&M version of Lady Liberty is on display inside the store. 

Taxi Fare To Increase Soon

The Taxi and Limousine Commission today voted to approve the first NYC taxi fare hike in six years. Starting around September, the average taxi ride is going to be 17 percent more expensive. The base fare for a ride will remain $2.50 but each click of the meter will soon increase from 40 to 50 cents. Meanwhile, the flat rate to JFK to and from Manhattan is going to jump from $45 to $52. The six cents from each trip will go towards driver health care.