Urban Abstract - Scaffolding With Stairs

Scaffolding with stairs in front of a building on York Avenue in Manhattan's Upper Eastside

Not Just A Terminal: World's Biggest Squash Spectator Event Returns to Grand Central Terminal

North America's premier squash championship, the Tournament of Champions, began today at Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall.  Underneath the glittering chandeliers in Vanderbilt Hall, a ten-ton, 21-by-32-foot four-walled glass cube serves as a squash court where the world's best squash players are competing. There is a 500-seat stadium around the court, as well as free public viewing through the front wall. Individual tickets are on sale and are available at www.tocsquash.com. Patron packages are available by contacting the Box Office at +1.718.569.0594 or tickets@tocsquash.com. The championship debuted as the US Professional Championship in 1930 and was renamed the Tournament of Champions in 1993 when it was presented in the third of its four years at the Winter Garden in the World Financial Center. The tournament then moved to Grand Central Terminal in 1995. The tournament runs through January 24.

The Brooklyn Academy of Music

This is the Peter Jay Sharp Building of the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM), a performing arts venue located in Brooklyn, New York. The BAM boasts an impressive programming in theater, dance, music, opera, film, and it showcases the work of emerging and innovative artists. Today is the beginning of the Winter/Spring programming at the BAM. The Peter Jay Sharp Building is located at 30 Lafayette Avenue in Brooklyn.

Fernando Botero's "Horse"

Colombian sculptor Fernando Botero's "Horse" (edition 2 of 3) was on display briefly outside Christie's at 20 Rockefeller Plaza prior to its auction last fall. This bronze piece with dark brown patina was signed and numbered "Botero 2/3" and stamped with foundry mark on the base.

Chelsea Market

Chelsea Market is a food court, shopping mall, office building and television production facility located in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan. It was built in the former National Biscuit Company factory complex where the Oreo cookie was invented and produced. The complex occupies two entire blocks bounded by Ninth and Eleventh Avenues and 15th and 16th Streets, with a connecting bridge over Tenth Avenue. Stores in the retail facilities include the Chelsea Market Baskets, Manhattan Fruit Exchange, BuonItalia, Anthropologie, and a restaurant called Buddakan. There is also the Fat Witch Bakery, Amy's Bread, Ruth's Bakery, Chelsea Wine Vault, Eleni's Bakery, The Lobster Place, Dickson's Farmstand, The Green Table, Chelsea Thai and Friedman's Lunch, as well as a variety of smaller stores selling cheese, artisanal salt and olive oil, chocolate and flowers. In addition to the retail concourse, the building is home to media and broadcasting companies such as Oxygen Network, Food Network, Mr Youth, MLB.com, EMI Music Publishing, Goggle and the local New York City cable station NY1.

Indecent (and Shameless) Exposure

Many New Yorkers participated in yesterday's annual No Pants Subway Ride, organized by New York City prank collective Improv Everywhere. During the afternoon winter event, pantsless straphangers boarded separate subway stops to "celebrate silliness" and make fellow subway riders laugh and smile. The images were captured at the Union Square subway station.