The New York Times Building

The New York Times Building is a 52-story tower on the east side of Eighth Avenue between 40th and 41st Street across from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Bus Terminal. skyscraper on the west side of midtown Manhattan. It was completed in 2007. Its chief tenant is The New York Times Company, publisher of The New York Times as well as The Boston Globe, the International Herald Tribune and other newspapers.

"Mother Italy" Sculpture at Hunter College Campus

Mother Italy, (c 1953) is a work created by Italian sculptor Giuseppe Massari located on the Hunter College campus at 68th Street and Lexington Avenue. The bronze sculpture measures 9' wide and 7' high. The plaque at the base reads: "Dedicated to the Italian immigrant....symbolic of mothers of every nationality who sent their children to build a nation of immigrants, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the equality of all those who came, and of those yet to come."

Italia is the central figure "always young and vibrant. " She embraces two female figures who represent the musical and theatrical arts, fields in which Italians have distinguished themselves. To the right is a monk who represents the religious qualities of Italians, and religion's concern for humanity symbolized by a woman and child. To the left is a man carrying a pick, the tool of -the laborer. His features symbolize the indomitable spirit of the Italian workingman in the United States. The child at his side stands for the American-born children of the Italian immigrant, who through education have made innumerable contributions to their native country. At either end of the group is a bust, of Columbus, who personifies the age of the Italian explorer, and a bust of Roma, representing the universality of spirit in the arts and the law to which Italy has contributed so greatly.

At the base of the group has an inscription engraved into it that reads: "The contribution of the Italian labor and thought to the development of American life." Also in base relief are a radio antenna symbolizing the achievements of the inventor, Guilermo Marconi, and subway cars representing the subway systems of the United States built by some of the first Italian immigrants. Also to be seen are symbols of Italy's contribution to such diverse fields as horticulture and sports. The sports symbols are found on the reverse side of the sculpture and depict boxing, cycling, boating and aviation. The description of the culpture is from Italy Culture Month website.

Happy Columbus Day!

50th New York Film Festival: Filipino Movie "Bwakaw" Makes Its U.S. Premiere

Director, playwright, screenwriter and producer, Jun Robles Lana (right) during the Q & A at Alice Tully Hall

The 50th New York Film Festival runs from September 28 through October  14. This evening, a Filipino movie called BWAKAW made its US premiere at Alice Tully Hall. From Lincoln Center's official program: "Bwakaw is the film you hope for at any festival, a work by an unknown director that comes out of nowhere to captivate and enthrall with its emotional truth, high humor and sage assessment of the human condition. Filipino cinema great Eddie Garcia gives a career-capping performance as Rene, a 70-plus single gent in a quiet provincial town who, having alienated almost everyone with his caustic comments, is resigned to seeing out his days alone, save for the company of his loyal canine companion (whose name gives the movie its title). Rene has his secrets but is disinclined to share them until he befriends a brawny tricycle taxi driver. Employing frequent outrageous humor, director Jun Robles Lana elegantly captures the quality of everyday life in this backwater while crafting a superior character study of a man who has allowed most of life to pass him by until an emotional jolt emboldens him to go where he's never dared venture before." BWAKAW will be shown again on Wednesday (October 10 at 6:30 PM) and Friday (October 12 at 3:30 PM).

Urban Abstract - Pigeons and the City

The uncontrolled pigeon population has become a problem in some big cities including New York City. Pigeons flock to urban areas because man-made structures like traffic light posts are similar to their natural habitats except for the lack of natural predators. The birds have easy access to food littering the streets or handed out by feeders so they spend less time foraging and more time breeding. Pigeon control and cleaning of pigeon droppings are common problems in some big cities. The photos were taken on 8th Avenue in midtown Manhattan.

"Spirit of Harlem" Mosaic

This colorful wall mosaic called "Spirit of Harlem" by Louis Del Sarte celebrates the arts scene in Harlem. It is located at the facade of Capital One Bank at the corner of Frederick Douglass Boulevard and 125th Street. 

Polytechnic Institute of New York University

This is part of the Polytechnic Institute of New York University campus in Brooklyn. The institute is one of the 18 schools and colleges that comprise New York University (NYU), and is primarily devoted to the technical arts and applied sciences.