Jonathan Prince’s newest sculpture, G2V, at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza

October 16, 2012, 6:20 am

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G2V, by Jonathan Prince, at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. (Photo by Aby Sam Thomas) While its splendid skyscrapers may be the first thing people notice about Manhattan’s Midtown East neighborhood, the locality now has some amazing pieces of artwork that are worth a second look as well. For instance, the glittering sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle that line Park Avenue from 52nd  to 60th streets have been garnering a lot of attention, with the colorful figures representing everything from athletes to musicians to Greek goddesses. Les Trois Graces, by Niki de Saint Phalle, at 52nd Street and Park Avenue. (Photo by Aby Sam Thomas) Gesturing toward the heavens: Les Trois Graces, by Niki de Saint Phalle. (Photo by Aby Sam Thomas) Joining this eclectic group of artwork in the neighborhood is Jonathan Prince’s G2V sculpture at the Dag Hammarskjold Plaza on 47th  Street and Second Avenue. Made of high chromium stainless steel, this eight-foot disc…

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The Secrets of Grand Central, Part 1

March 5, 2013, 6:13 am

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In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Grand Central Terminal, we will be exploring all aspects of the terminal, from its most famous  attributes  to its hidden treasures. Previously, we showed you the Grand Central Terminal That Never Was and the original plans for Terminal City and its Hotels. This article is the first installment of a 3 part series revealing the secrets of Grand Central. 1. The Ceiling The Main Concourse of Grand Central Terminal is massive and cathedral-like in its cavernous grandiosity. It is 275 feet long, 120 feet wide and 125 feet tall, and somewhere inside of it there is a design flaw of epic proportion; a single error that spans its entire volume – the whole room. Conceived of by architect Whitney Warren and designed by French painter Paul Helleu, the October zodiac that illuminates the ceiling is backwards. Though it was based on an astronomically accurate depiction by…

The Secrets of Grand Central, Part 2

March 6, 2013, 6:01 am

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In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Grand Central Terminal, we will be exploring all aspects of the terminal, from its most famous attributes to its hidden treasures. This article is the second installment in a 3 part series on the secrets of Grand Central. Yesterday we showed you Part 1. Check back tomorrow for Part 3. 1. Transportation The statue “Transportation”, alternatively “The Glory of Commerce” adorns the front of Grand Central facing south. On the left sits Hercules, representing physical strength; on the right, Minerva, goddess of wisdom and protectress of cities; featured at the center is Mercury, god of travel and commerce. This sculptural grouping was considered the largest of its kind when it was built in 1914. Made of the same Bedford limestone façade as the Terminal, it is 48 feet high and weighs 1500 tons. Underneath Mercury is the world’s largest example of Tiffany glass, at 14 feet in…

The Secrets of Grand Central, Part 3

March 7, 2013, 6:13 am

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In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Grand Central Terminal, we will be exploring all aspects of the terminal, from its most famous  attributes  to its hidden treasures. Previously, we showed you the Grand Central Terminal That Never Was and the original plans for Terminal City and its Hotels. This article is the third installment of a 3 part series revealing the secrets of Grand Central. Check out Part 1 and Part 2. 1. The Whispering Gallery Nestled next to the Oyster Bar between the Main Concourse and Vanderbilt Hall in a space less than a full story below is an acoustical architectural anomaly: a whispering gallery. Here, sound is thrown clear across the 2,000-foot chamber via a mechanism by which it “telegraphs” across the ellipsoid surface of the vault, thereby appearing audibly in corners into which you did not speak. The beautiful tiling is the work of a Spanish immigrant by the name of…

Daily What?! An Indoor Tropical Oasis in NYC’s Ford Foundation

June 10, 2013, 5:00 am

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The tropical foliage and pond inside the Ford Foundation Building. Source: KRJDA. On a walk west on 42nd Street from the neo-Gothic-infused neighborhood of Tudor City, the Ford Foundation Building introduces a dramatic change of scenery. It stands somewhat fortress-like, its exterior giving few hints about the building’s true architectural brilliance. Of course, from the outside, you’re also blind to the full brilliance of the landscape architecture within.   Inside the building, a lush tropical garden on the ground level forms the focal point of an enormous and sunlit 10-story glass atrium. Amazingly, keeping this garden watered doesn’t deplete city utilities; the building’s roof captures rainwater, and during dry periods, the garden is kept healthy with a stored water supply. Glancing up towards the roof, the greenery continues. Ferns and vines hang down from girders above, and small trees are visible from the top floors. The garden’s serene aura is aided by the…

Daily What?! The Bronze Union Rat in Midtown Manhattan

June 11, 2013, 5:00 am

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Every now and then in New York City, one gets to see “union rats”—they are those large, inflatable, grey rats that are put up by trade unions to call attention to some kind of dispute between them and their employers. Menacing and grotesque, these 12-foot rats make their presence felt no matter when they are placed—but did you know that there’s a bronze version of the union rat located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan?  Located in the plaza of the Lever House at 390 Park Avenue, this bronze replica of the union rat is called “The New Colossus,” and it was a project of The Bruce High Quality Foundation. As a long-standing symbol of the working class protest against exploitation, the presence of this sculpture in this predominantly white-collar neighborhood is particularly ironic, and serves as a conversation starter for all those who unexpectedly discover this artwork. Follow the author of…

Inside the Ruins of the Lutèce Restaurant in NYC, of Mad Men Fame

February 25, 2014, 9:00 am

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Photo Credit: AMC At 249-253 East 50th Street, sits the remains of a restaurant that keeps reappearing in pop culture. The Lutèce was recreated in AMC’s Mad Men and referenced in the film Crossing Delancey. In the 1980s, Zagat named it America’s best restaurant for six years, but since the place closed in 1994 it hasn’t been the same. Though the building that housed this world-renowned restaurant is now empty and decaying along with its sister buildings, home to Kate Kearney’s and The Leopard, the myth of the Lutèce has captured the imaginations of many a writer.  We recently took a visit into The Lutèce to see what remains. With a crumbling fireplace and peeling wall paper, it’s the shell of its former self. Nonetheless, while standing there you can almost hear the sound of silverware clinking, napkins rustling, and laughter filling the darkness; an eerie and empty room infused with jovial sound. Let’s have a then-vs-now look… Read More

History of NYC Streets: The Emergence of Lexington Avenue

June 12, 2014, 7:00 am

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1811 Commisioner’s Plan for NYC Although most New Yorkers know Lexington Avenue, which runs from East 20th Street to East 131st Street, you might be surprised to find that it’s a young avenue in New York City. Lexington Avenue wasn’t included in the Commissioner’s Plan of 1811, but it emerged in the mid 1800s. Laywer Samuel Ruggles wanted to add Lexington Avenue between the already-existing Third and Park Avenues (Fourth Avenue in the grid) to increase the value of his land on Manhattan’s East Side. Mr. Ruggles’ ambition reflects the larger effort of many people to develop and sell the land between 14th Street and Washington Heights. Lexington Avenue’s name originates from the Battle of Lexington, Massachusetts of the Revolutionary War. We can also credit Mr. Ruggles for the existence of Gramercy Park, where Lexington Avenue begins, since he bought the land to eventually enable neighboring residents to buy it. That vision is a current reality,… Read More

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The 10 Most Architecturally Extraordinary Consulates, Embassies and Foreign-Owned Buildings in NYC

April 15, 2016, 6:00 am

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NYC has many consulates, embassies and foreign-owned buildings most of which are lavish Gilded Age mansions. Here are 10 of the most architecturally extraordinary ones.

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12 of NYC’s Newest Landmarked Designated Buildings in Midtown

December 13, 2016, 6:00 am

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After conducting a study of Midtown East, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) recently designated 12 historic buildings in NYC as city landmarks.

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The Secrets of Grand Central, Part 1

March 5, 2013, 6:13 am

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In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Grand Central Terminal, we will be exploring all aspects of the terminal, from its most famous attributes to its hidden treasures. This article is the first installment of a 3 part series revealing the secrets of Grand Central.

Read More

The Secrets of Grand Central, Part 2

March 6, 2013, 6:01 am

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In celebration of Grand Central's centennial, this article is the second installment of a 3 part series revealing the secrets of Grand Central.

Read More

The Secrets of Grand Central, Part 3

March 7, 2013, 6:13 am

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In celebration of Grand Central's centennial, this article is the third installment of a 3 part series revealing the secrets of Grand Central.

Read More

Daily What?! An Indoor Tropical Oasis in NYC’s Ford Foundation

June 10, 2013, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Daily What?! The Bronze Union Rat in Midtown Manhattan

≪ Previous: The Secrets of Grand Central, Part 3

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The tropical foliage and pond inside the Ford Foundation Building. Source: KRJDA.

On a walk west on 42nd Street from the neo-Gothic-infused neighborhood of Tudor City, the Ford Foundation Building introduces a dramatic change of scenery. It stands somewhat fortress-like, its exterior giving few hints about the building’s true architectural brilliance. Of course, from ...

Read More

Daily What?! The Bronze Union Rat in Midtown Manhattan

June 11, 2013, 5:00 am

≫ Next: Inside the Ruins of the Lutèce Restaurant in NYC, of Mad Men Fame

≪ Previous: Daily What?! An Indoor Tropical Oasis in NYC’s Ford Foundation

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Menacing and grotesque, the inflatable union rats make their presence felt no matter when they are placed—but did you know that there’s a bronze version of the same located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan?

Read More

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Inside the Ruins of the Lutèce Restaurant in NYC, of Mad Men Fame

February 25, 2014, 9:00 am

≫ Next: History of NYC Streets: The Emergence of Lexington Avenue

≪ Previous: Daily What?! The Bronze Union Rat in Midtown Manhattan

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We went inside the ruins of the once world-renowned Lutèce Restaurant in NYC, which was featured on Mad Men and other films.

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History of NYC Streets: The Emergence of Lexington Avenue

June 12, 2014, 7:00 am

≫ Next: The 10 Most Architecturally Extraordinary Consulates, Embassies and Foreign-Owned Buildings in NYC

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Learn about the history and emergence of NYC's Lexington Avenue which wasn't originally part of the Commissioner's Plan of 1811 that laid out the city grid.

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The 10 Most Architecturally Extraordinary Consulates, Embassies and Foreign-Owned Buildings in NYC

April 15, 2016, 6:00 am

≫ Next: 12 of NYC’s Newest Landmarked Designated Buildings in Midtown

≪ Previous: History of NYC Streets: The Emergence of Lexington Avenue

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NYC has many consulates, embassies and foreign-owned buildings most of which are lavish Gilded Age mansions. Here are 10 of the most architecturally extraordinary ones.

Read More

12 of NYC’s Newest Landmarked Designated Buildings in Midtown

December 13, 2016, 6:00 am

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After conducting a study of Midtown East, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) recently designated 12 historic buildings in NYC as city landmarks.

Read More

10 of NYC’s Coziest Coffee Shops for the Winter

January 9, 2018, 6:00 am

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If you find yourself venturing out into the tundra that is currently New York City, make sure to find a refuge that offers a warm, cozy place to defrost.

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