Subway Art: Lisa Dinhofer's "Losing My Marbles"

Keanu Reeves sighting on the subway

Lisa Dinhofer created this artwork in glass mosaic on mezzanine walls at the 42nd Street-Port Authority Bus Terminal subway station. The project was finished in 2003 utilizing materials fabricated by Franz Mayer of Munich, Inc. The artwork is one of the many projects of the MTA's "Arts for Transit" which encourages the use of public transit by presenting visual and performing arts projects in subway and commuter rail stations. From the MTA website: Lisa Dinhofer uses representations of toy marbles to challenge our imaginations by playing with illusions that alter physical perceptions. Her work spans a 32-foot-long wall and two adjacent side walls. Created in glass mosaic, the main artwork consists of a gold-colored trompe l'oeil frame surrounding a black and white tiled floor that serves as the backdrop for the marbles, which seem to roll toward the viewer. On the side walls, free-floating marbles seem to breaking free in space. Dinhofer comments, "Every object I paint actually exists; I work from life. The space I create is believable - but not real. Because I design my own space, I call myself an 'illusionist' painter rather than a 'realist'. The space in my work is invented. It's flattened - like the space we see on a television or a computer screen."

At The Stagedoor: Bernadette Peters, Star of "Follies" on Broadway

Bernadette Peters stars in the sold-out Kennedy Center production of James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's masterpiece, "Follies." This photo of the two-time Tony Award winning actress, singer, author and comedienne was taken at the stagedoor of the Marquis Theatre after a Sunday matinee performance. Follies synopsis: At a 1970's reunion of aging Follies chorines, two of the "girls" have a chance to reexamine their lives, and especially their marriages. Did they marry the wrong men? The answers begin to emerge when the ghosts of their former selves lead them back into the Ziegfeld-like Loveland, where everybody "lives to love" and "loves to live." Includes the songs "In Buddy's Eyes," "I'm Still Here," "The Girls Upstairs" and "Losing My Mind." The show runs through January 22, 2012. The Marquis Theatre is located at 1535 Broadway.

Record 50 Million Tourists Have Visited NYC in 2011 and Times Square is America's Top New Year's Eve Destination

Last week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced that approximately 50.2 million visitors have visited New York City in 2011 and have spent $32 billion here. The visitor totals included 10.1 million international visitors, a 4 percent increase over 2010, with the strongest showing coming from the United Kingdom. New York City is the number one city destinationand overseas destination for tourist spending in the United States.

According to Priceline.com and agoda.com, Times Square is the #1 destination for U.S. New Year's revelers. It marks the first time in seven years that New York City has edged Las Vegas for the top spot on priceline.com's list. Meanwhile, in the Asia-Pacific region, Bangkok and Singapore are the first and second-choice destinations for New Year's party-goers. 

Priceline.com's top destinations list is based on thousands of hotel booking requests made by customers of its Name Your Own Price® hotel service for the New Year's weekend. Agoda.com's list is based on hotel reservations made for the upcoming holiday. Hotel room reservations are still available on priceline.com www.priceline.com and agoda.com www.agoda.com for the New Year's weekend, including many at substantial savings. 

New York City neighborhoods took seven of the top 10 spots, and 14 of the 50 spots on the list, followed by Las Vegas, which took six spots. "It appears that New York City will be helped this year by a weather forecast that calls for warmer than usual temperatures over the holiday weekend," said priceline.com's in-house Travel Ekspert, Brian Ek. Florida destinations (Miami and Orlando) took nine spots on the list. Priceline.com's Top 50 New Year's Destinations for U.S. Travelers #1 New York City, Times Square/Theater District #2 Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity South #3 New York City, Midtown West #4 Las Vegas, Strip North #5 New York City, Midtown East #6 New York City, Central Park South #7 New York City, Madison Square Garden/Convention Center Area #8 New Orleans, French Quarter #9 New York City, Empire State Building Area #10 New York City, Chelsea Area #11 New Orleans, Downtown Area #12 New York City, Hell's Kitchen #13 Las Vegas, Strip Vicinity North #14 Chicago, North Michigan Avenue/River North Area #15 New York City, Upper East Side #16 San Francisco, Union Square East #17 Chicago, Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park Area #18 San Francisco, Union Square West/Nob Hill #19 New York City, Upper West Side #20 Orlando, Downtown Disney/Lake Buena Vista #21 Las Vegas, Near Strip West #22 Las Vegas, Near Strip East #23 Miami, South Beach/Collins Avenue Oceanfront #24 Miami, South Beach/Ocean Drive #25 New Orleans, Convention Center and Warehouse/Arts District #26 Las Vegas, Convention Center Area #27 San Francisco, Financial District/Embarcadero #28 New York City, Queensborough Bridge Area #29 Orlando, Sea World/International Drive/Convention Center #30 Miami, South Beach/Central #31 Miami, Downtown #32 San Francisco, Fisherman's Wharf #33 New York City, Soho/Tribeca #34 Philadelphia, Downtown #35 New York City, Downtown/Financial District #36 Atlanta, Downtown #37 Los Angeles, Hollywood #38 Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort Area/Int'l Drive North #39 Orlando, Disney/Maingate/Celebration #40 Nashville, Downtown/Vanderbilt/Metrocenter #41 Minneapolis, Downtown #42 San Francisco, SOMA/Moscone Center #43 Miami, International Airport Area #44 New Orleans, Garden District #45 San Francisco, Fremont St. Vicinity #46 New York City, Lower East Side #47 San Diego, Downtown/Harbor Island #48 Orange County, Disneyland/Anaheim South/Orange/Garden Grove #49 Orange County, Disneyland/Anaheim North #50 Toronto, Downtown South. 

American Flag at the U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station in Times Square

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District has recently completed renovations on the U.S. armed forces recruiting station which sits on a traffic island on 43rd Street between Broadway and 7th Avenue in Time Square. Part of the project is the installation of illuminated energy efficient light emitting diodes American flags on both sides of the station to blend with the rest of Times Square buildings and heighten security and visibility while also increasing the energy efficiency of the facility. These photos were made along 7th Avenue with the American flag and its striking reflections on vehicles.

Gingerbread Extravaganza at Le Parker Meridien

currently on display in the atrium at Le Parker Meridien hotel are gingerbread houses created by pastry chefs from several area restaurants, including Casa Nonna, BLT Steak, and Gramercy Tavern for a fundraiser for City Harvest. City Harvest is a food rescue organization dedicated to feeding the city’s hungry men, women and children. The display is free but visitors are encouraged to donate a dollar to City Harvest. The dollar enters the donor into a raffle for a five night stay at the luxurious Parker Palm Springs, and a ballot to vote for the best house, with the winner announced on January 6th. Le Parker Meridien is located at 119 W. 56th St., between 6th & 7th Avenues. This year, seven New York City bakeries and restaurants have contributed their take on the candy-coated childhood favorite brought to new architectural heights that are on display through January 6.

Christmas Day Random Shots

Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral

Empire State Building tower lights in red/green/green (north/south sides) in celebration of Christmas, and blue/white/blue (east/west sides) in celebration of Chanukah

Upper Eastside home

Macy's

Madison Avenue Baptist Church located at Madison Avenue at 31st Street

New tree planted in front of Madison Avenue Baptist Church on Christmas eve to replace the old tree that was knocked down by a truck last spring.