We Never Stop Talking About the Middle Ages

My neighborhood is home to the city's Medieval Festival (see yesterday's post for pictures from this year's festivities), the Cloisters and the Tudor-influenced Hudson View Gardens.  At the top of Manhattan, as I claim in this video, we never stop talking about the Middle Ages.

The Obscene Elephant at the United Nations

The United Nations is back in session and hosting world leaders as they do every September.  We thought we would post our byte on one of the U.N.'s largest (and best concealed) pieces of art. 

For more on the history and architecture of the site, scroll down to the last four videos on our tour:  Crossing Manhattan at 46th Street.

Macy's and a Second Unclaimed Corner

You might remember this byte and the story about the corner Macy's refused to buy:

A fun story, isn't story?  Last month, however, while walking on Seventh Avenue, I was reminded that there are actually TWO corners on that block that don't belong to Macy's--the one on 35th Street.

This building was built in the 1800's.  Why didn't Macy's buy it when it was purchasing the rest of the block?  I'm sad to say I don't know, but will keep researching and update you when I do.  Or if anyone of you knows or is the mood to solve a mystery.....

Clutter in front of the Met

In January of 2007, when we first started shooting the Little Bytes, the Guggenheim was still under scaffolding and there were only two hot dog carts in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The rent paid to the Parks Department for those two carts exceeded $600,000 per year.  A reminder:

Today there's a small fleet of those carts.  Last year I wrote about the veteran who started selling from a third cart at the steps.  He paid no rent, charged less and ignored a stack of police summonses.  Others have followed his example.  Taking advantage of the same nineteenth-century state law that permitted veterans to sell in areas without paying rent, more carts have rolled up to the steps.  There are even claims that certain vendors are actually hiring veterans (rent-a-vets) to sit and sell their products so they can avoid paying the city rent.

Read the Adam Lisberg piece in The Daily News (about the eviction of the vendor who is $310,000 behind in his rent) or the Simon Akam article in the Times (about those who have moved in).

Update on Central Park Storm Damage

More than 200 trees were felled in that brief Tuesday storm. 

The Central Park Conservancy, already operating on a reduced budget, needs your help.

Storm Damage Update

 

"The staggering cost of clean-up is estimated at several hundred thousand dollars, but it is impossible to attach a monetary figure to some of the losses. "We had a wonderful chestnut tree at 100th Street and Central Park West," said Neil Calvanese, VP of Operations for the Central Park Conservancy. "Records indicate the tree was planted by the Park's designer, Frederick Law Olmsted, more than 150 years ago." The tree was devastated by the storm and will be removed."

To remind yourself how terrific the park is:

Teeny tidbyte from stormin' Cayce

Monday is a great day for a Saint(-Gaudens)!

In honor of the magnificent exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, we bring you a little history and some inspiration. Here's a lovely video from PBS to give a taste of Augustus Saint Gaudens:

For more info:

A New Yorker review of the Met Show

Thanks Justin Ferate (http://www.justinsnewyork.com) for these links!

Hold on,there's more:  to see the FIRST Saint-Gaudens in New York (and it's NOT in a museum) watch this:

A Sculptural tidbyte from statuesque Cayce, Bon Appetit!!

Its Philo's Birthday!

Philo T. Farnsworth

Born 19 Aug 1906; died 11 Mar 1971

American pioneer in the development of electronic television, taking all of the moving parts out of television inventions. Farnsworth was a 15-year-old high school student when he designed his first television system. Six years later he obtained his first patent. In 1935 he demonstrated his complete television system. Farnsworth's basic television patents covered scanning, focusing, synchronizing, contrast, controls, and power. He also invented the first cold cathode ray tubes and the first simple electronic microscope. The Philco TV manufacturing was named after him.Thanks http://www.todayinsci.com/8/8_19.htm

And where is New York's largest televison?  Yes, Yankee Stadium now, but where was it when we shot these videos?

Another tantalizing tidbyte from Cayce.
Don't watch too much TV!

Video Tour of Washington Square Park

After a recent stroll through the renovated Washington Square Park (pictures posted yesterday), we thought we would feature our two-part video tour of the park we shot in August of 2007.

 

These are from our tour of public spaces along Broadway from Bowling Green to Columbus Circle.

Hudson Heights, Part Ten: The Cloisters, Part Two...Stealing the Soul of France

A momentous day!  Today we post our 74th video, concluding the fifth video tour of the Big Apple.  This video series was conceived in November of 2006, written and shot throughout 2007, and edited and posted until today.  Cayce and I will be celebrating tonight and would like to thank all of the directors, actors, friends and viewers who helped make this project so enjoyable. 

This video was directed by Nona Lloyd and featured Nate Vaughn as George Grey Barnard; Berda Gilmore as his accomplice; Marc Wolf as the French Authority; and Luis Villabon as the Overzealous Gendarme. 

Berda Gilmore recently moved to Los Angeles from New York City where she worked and studied as an actress. Berda is having such a good time on the West Coast that she has been chronicling her adventures on her hugely popular website www.berdagilmore.com.

Nona Lloyd is now the General Manager of the new hot lounge, WATERMARK, located on the Jersey Shore in Asbury Park.  While it may seem that she's left the theater world, she's still using all of her producing and directing skills, every ounce of her creativity, and is sure to jump into "show biz" again.

Marc Wolf recently performed the world premiere of his new solo-show The Road Home: Re-Membering America at Huntington Theatre and Geva Theatre, directed by David Schweizer.  He received an OBIE and was nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his brilliant Off-Broadway performance of Another American: Asking and Telling at The New Group, directed by Joe Mantello.  www.marcwolf.com

Nate Vaughn

Luis Villabon is an NYC actor/singer/dancer/director.  He has appeared on Broadway in Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan as well as many Broadway National Tours, including A Chorus Line (Paul).  He is also Robert's Pilates instructor, so if you want that Westfield body, you know who to call!

 

Hudson Heights, Part Nine: The Cloisters

Every other Monday, we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  The last Little Byte of the series will be posted on Monday, August 3rd. 

This byte was directed by Nona Lloyd.  Nona directed several of the Little Bytes up Broadway--between Madison Square and Columbus Circle.

Nona Lloyd is now the General Manager of the new hot lounge, WATERMARK, located on the Jersey Shore in Asbury Park.  While it may seem that she's left the theater world, she's still using all of her producing and directing skills, every ounce of her creativity, and is sure to jump into "show biz" again.

 

Hudson Heights, Part Eight: Fort Tryon Park

Every other Monday, we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  This is the eighth installment, which features one of the city's most scenic parks.

  This byte was directed by Nona Lloyd and featured Luis Villabon giving us the correct pronunciation.  Nona directed several of the Little Bytes up Broadway--between Madison Square and Columbus Circle.

Nona Lloyd is now the General Manager of the new hot lounge, WATERMARK, located on the Jersey Shore in Asbury Park.  While it may seem that she's left the theater world, she's still using all of her producing and directing skills, every ounce of her creativity, and is sure to jump into "show biz" again.

Luis Villabon is an NYC actor/singer/dancer/director.  He has appeared on Broadway in Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan as well as many Broadway National Tours, including A Chorus Line (Paul).  He is also Robert's Pilates instructor, so if you want that Westfield body, you know who to call!

COMING SOON:

The Cloisters--July 20

The Sculptor--August 3

Hudson Heights, Part Seven: Margaret Corbin (The Cabrini Code)

Every other Monday we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  This is the seventh installment, the second of two bytes which deal with the famous women of the Heights--an American saint and America's first female soldier.

This byte was directed by Marc Wolf (who has appeared in several of the Little Byte videos).  Nicole Stefonek played Sister Agnes.

Nicole Stefonek is a singer/actor/bartender currently "living the dream" in NYC.  She enjoys singing, comic improv, and good tippers.  Keep an eye out for her next off-off Broadway or cabaret presentation.

Marc Wolf recently performed the world premiere of his new solo-show The Road Home: Re-Membering America at Huntington Theatre and Geva Theatre, directed by David Schweizer.  He received an OBIE and was nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his brilliant Off-Broadway performance of Another American: Asking and Telling at The New Group, directed by Joe Mantello.  www.marcwolf.com

HUDSON HEIGHTS CALENDAR

The Bridge (now playing)

The People (now playing)

The Revolution (now playing)

The Apartments (now playing)

The Barista (now playing)

The Saint (now playing)

The Soldier (now playing)

7/6--The Park

7/20--The Cloisters

8/3--The Sculptor

 

 

G.M. Declares Bankruptcy at the Old Customs House

Last week, General Motors filed papers at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in lower Manhattan.

This court is located in the old Customs House, the lavish building replete with colored marble and covered in elaborate statuary. 

This court is also situated directly behind the rear end of the city's most famous bull.

Appropriate.

For all the symbolism, watch our Bowling Green, Part 2.

 

NYC Decade by Decade--1710-1719

By the start of this decade, the African slave trade was flourishing in New York.  In 1711, the city opened a municipal slave market in a shed at the eastern end of Wall Street.  (For more details, see our video, Slaves and a Haircut, from our Wall Street tour.)

The city's first slave revolt broke out in 1712 (the same year that Trinity Church, at the other end of Wall Street, banned black burials in their cemetery).  On April 7th, a fire was started at the home of Peter Van Tilburgh (as a signal for a larger rebellion?) and nine white men rushing to extinguish the fire were killed by slaves.  This uprising was quickly put down.  Several fled but many were captured and executed.  Thirteen were hanged, one was broken at the wheel, one was chained and left to starve, and four were burned to death, including one who was roasted over a fire for almost ten hours.

By the end of this decade, one in five New Yorkers was owned by another New Yorker.  Two thousand residents (out of a population of 10,000) were slaves.  This was the highest proportion of slaves in any colony north of Virginia.

ALSO DURING THIS DECADE:

1713:  The first Staten Island ferry makes its way across the harbor.

1714:  The first Presbyterian church is erected on the north side of Wall Street between Broadway and Nassau.

1716:  Androboros: A Biographical Farce in Three Acts, by one of the city's many Scotsmen, becomes the first play written and printed in America.

1716:  Four years after the slave revolt, the right of freed black men to own land is repealed.

1718:  The threat of piracy diminishes with the capture of Blackbeard (Edward Teach) in the Caribbean.

Sources:  Gotham by Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallace; Manhattan in Maps by Robert T. Augustyn and Paul E. Cohen; The Historical Atlas of New York City by Eric Homberger; New York:  An Illustrated History by Ric Burns and James Sanders, with Lisa Ades.

Hudson Heights, Part Six: Mother Cabrini and a Little Piece of Rome

Every other Monday we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  This is the sixth installment, the first of two bytes which deal with the famous women of the Heights--an American saint and America's first female soldier. 

This byte was directed by Marc Wolf (who has appeared in several of the Little Byte videos).  Nicole Stefonek played Sister Agnes.

Nicole Stefonek is a singer/actor/bartender currently "living the dream" in NYC.  She enjoys singing, comic improv, and good tippers.  Keep an eye out for her next off-off Broadway or cabaret presentation.

Marc Wolf recently performed the world premiere of his new solo-show The Road Home: Re-Membering America at Huntington Theatre and Geva Theatre, directed by David Schweizer.  He received an OBIE and was nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his brilliant Off-Broadway performance of Another American: Asking and Telling at The New Group, directed by Joe Mantello.  www.marcwolf.com

HUDSON HEIGHTS CALENDAR

The Bridge (now playing)

The People (now playing)

The Revolution (now playing)

The Apartments (now playing)

The Barista (now playing)

6/8--The Saint (now playing)

6/22 (now playing)

7/6--The Park

7/20--The Cloisters

8/3--The Sculptor

Leo, the Amazing Abyssinian, Still Holds the Record

Last week ABC News reported on a cat named Lucky that survived a fall from the 26th floor of an apartment building in lower Manhattan.  Lucky landed on a grill cover on the sixth floor--a fall of 20 stories--but lived to meow about it, breaking only a toe and his lower jaw.

As I've often said before, the farther a cat falls, the less likely it will suffer a fatal injury.  Remember Leo who fell/jumped from the 46th floor of Manhattan Plaza and broke no bones at all?  Little Bytes is happy to report that Leo is still the champ.  (But we also congratulate Lucky and his owners.)

Hudson Heights, Part Five: Mr. Robert's Neighborhood

Every other Monday we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  This is the fifth installment, a more personal byte, which deals with my dry cleaner and the baristas in my apartment.  Enjoy!

This byte was directed by Marc Wolf (who has appeared in several of the Little Byte videos).  Berda Gilmore played the barista, Susan Burns played the pub crawler, and Jessica, my dry cleaner, appeared as herself.

Susan Burns is a comic and a founding member of the Seaside Shakespeare Festival in Nantucket. 

Berda Gilmore recently moved to Los Angeles from New York City where she worked and studied as an actress. Berda is having such a good time on the West Coast that she has been chronicling her adventures on her hugely popular website www.berdagilmore.com.

Marc Wolf recently performed the world premiere of his new solo-show The Road Home: Re-Membering America at Huntington Theatre and Geva Theatre, directed by David Schweizer.  He received an OBIE and was nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his brilliant Off-Broadway performance of Another American: Asking and Telling at The New Group, directed by Joe Mantello.  www.marcwolf.com

HUDSON HEIGHTS CALENDAR

The Bridge (now playing)

The People (now playing)

The Revolution (now playing)

The Apartments (now playing)

The Barista (now playing)

6/8--The Saint

6/22--The Soldier

7/6--The Park

7/20--The Cloisters

8/3--The Sculptor

Hudson Heights, Part Four: From a Castle to a Pumpkin

Every other Monday we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  This is the fourth installment, which deals with the area's transformation into a neighborhood in the 1920's and 30's.  Enjoy!



This byte was directed by Marc Wolf (who has appeared in several of the Little Byte videos). 

Marc Wolf recently performed the world premiere of his new solo-show The Road Home: Re-Membering America at Huntington Theatre and Geva Theatre, directed by David Schweizer.  He received an OBIE and was nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his brilliant Off-Broadway performance of Another American: Asking and Telling at The New Group, directed by Joe Mantello.  www.marcwolf.com

HUDSON HEIGHTS CALENDAR

The Bridge (now playing)

The People (now playing)

The Revolution (now playing)

The Apartments (now playing)

5/25--The Barista

6/8--The Saint

6/22--The Soldier

7/6--The Park

7/20--The Cloisters

8/3--The Sculptor

Hudson Heights, Part Three: The Alamo of the American Revolution

Every other Monday we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  This is the third installment, which deals with the neighborhood's role in America's War for Independence.  Enjoy!

This byte was directed by Marc Wolf (who has appeared in several of the Little Byte videos) and featured Dana Hart Lubeck as the tourist-consumerist. 

Dana Hart Lubeck is currently living in Colorado where she is working towards her MFA in acting. She misses Manhattan greatly and wants everyone there to take a little byte out of it in her honor.

Marc Wolf recently performed the world premiere of his new solo-show The Road Home: Re-Membering America at Huntington Theatre and Geva Theatre, directed by David Schweizer.  He received an OBIE and was nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his brilliant Off-Broadway performance of Another American: Asking and Telling at The New Group, directed by Joe Mantello.  www.marcwolf.com

HUDSON HEIGHTS CALENDAR

The Bridge (now playing)

The People (now playing)

The Revolution (now playing)

5/11--The Apartments

5/25--The Barista

6/8--The Saint

6/22--The Soldier

7/6--The Park

7/20--The Cloisters

8/3--The Sculptor

 

Hudson Heights, Part Two: The Colombian Dominican

Every other Monday we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  This is the second installment, which deals with the people of Washington Heights.  Enjoy!

This byte was directed by Nona Lloyd and featured Luis Villabon as the capricious translator from Colombia.  Nona directed several of the Little Bytes up Broadway--between Madison Square and Columbus Circle.

Nona Lloyd is now the General Manager of the new hot lounge, WATERMARK, located on the Jersey Shore in Asbury Park.  While it may seem that she's left the theater world, she's still using all of her producing and directing skills, every ounce of her creativity, and is sure to jump into "show biz" again.

Luis Villabon is a NYC actor/singer/dancer/director.  He has appeared on Broadway in Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan as well as many Broadway National Tours, including A Chorus Line (Paul).  He is also Robert's Pilates instructor, so if you want that Westfield body, you know who to call!

HUDSON HEIGHTS CALENDAR

The Bridge (now playing)

The People (now playing)

4/27--The Revolution

5/11--The Apartments

5/25--The Barista

6/8--The Saint

6/22--The Soldier

7/6--The Park

7/20--The Cloisters

8/3--The Sculptor

An Interim Video

Our newest video will be up next Monday. Please enjoy this earnest substitute in the meantime:

Hudson Heights, Part One--The George Washington Bridge (The Bridge and the Broker)

Our fifth video tour is finally here.  Every other Monday we'll be posting the newest byte in our walk through Hudson Heights, my neighborhood in Upstate Manhattan, the stretch on the western ridge between the GW Bridge and the Cloisters.  Enjoy!

HUDSON HEIGHTS CALENDAR

3/23--The Bridge

4/6--The People

4/20--The Revolution

5/4--The Apartments

5/18--The Barista

6/1--The Saint

6/15--The Soldier

6/29--The Park

7/13--The Cloisters

7/27--The Sculptor

Channeling Pasiphae on Lower Broadway

At the end of this video, you'll see that Cayce, Peter and I kept the camera running and recorded tourists from around the world posing with the bronze testicles of the The Charging Bull. 

 

It's simply what's the tourists do.  And as original as people think they are, most take the exact same shot.  So imagine my surprise this winter when I saw one of my eighth-grade tourists--a California skater--crawl behind his friends and do something that only those of us across Broadway could see.  I didn't take a picture, sorry to say, because I didn't think I would feel comfortable posting it, but if you know your Greek mythology, the image is in the blog's title.

Hot Dog Real Estate

To wrap up the Westminster week of New York City canines, here's a reprise of our hottest dogs...the ones you find in a car outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

20 Million Visitors, How Many Crimes?

The annual stats for reported crimes broken down by precinct are in for 2008.  When we shot this video, the number of crimes committed in Central Park for the previous year (2006) was 101.  In 2007, the total rose to 103.  And 2008?  Drumroll please..........97!!!  For details on the kind of crimes committed, see the Central Park pdf.