On May 23, 1911, the New York Public Library opened its doors on Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets, providing intellectual nourishment on a site formerly occupied by the city's first fresh water reservoir. Very appropriate.
Peruse some articles celebrating the building's 100th birthday:
Salon.com: Why Libraries Still Matter
Flavorwire: History's Most Distinguished Literary Hair
TOMORROW: LITTLE BYTES OF...THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
Two major NYC birthdays in a row!
Yesterday was the 105th anniversary of the opening of the first real subway line in the city and today is the 123rd anniversary of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty.
She still looks great, though she has had some work done--most notably the overhaul for her centennial and the repairs needed after she was wounded by a 1916 explosion that forever closed the arm and torch to the public.
"What explosion?" you might be wondering.
Tune into tomorrow for NYC Decade by Decade--1910-1919.
In the meantime, here are some more pics taken on a recent, beautiful autumn afternoon.
In April of 1959, one of America's greatest architects passed away. Six months later, on October twenty-first, one of his most significant structures opened on Fifth Avenue.
Visit THE DAILY NEWS for fifty beautiful photographs of the landmark building, which include wonderful shots of the site during construction as well as pictures of the Gehry Guggenheim which Wright's imaginative freedom inspired.
Tonight the Empire State Building will be lit red in homage to its fellow icon--original plans for the Guggenheim featured a red exterior.
The interior of the Guggenheim in 1998 when the spiral was sheathed in chrome for its Art of the Motorcycle exhibit.
September 11th, 1609--Henry Hudson sails into New York Harbor...400 years ago.
September 11th, 1776--Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Edward Rutledge meet with General Howe on Staten Island for a British-American peace conference two weeks after the Battle of Long Island. The conference takes about three hours. Howe does most of the talking, but the American delegates make it known that the colonies will not retract their recently signed Declaration of Independence. Since there is no room for negotiation, the conference ends and the war resumes.
September 11th, 1786--The Annapolis Convention begins in Maryland. New York is one of only five colonies to send delegates (Egbert Benson and Alexander Hamilton). The aim of the meeting is to address defects of the federal government as defined by the Articles of Confederation. Its report will lead to the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 and the Constitution.
September 11th, 1789--Alexander Hamilton is appointed first Secretary of the Treasury
September 11th, 1850--Jenny Lind, known as the Swedish Nightingale, gives her first American concert at Castle Garden at the Battery. Promoted by P.T. Barnum, Lind is perhaps the country's first marketed celebrity.
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?
Today is Tuesday, Aug. 18, the 230th day of 2009. There are 135 days left in the year.
On Aug. 18, 1969, the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, N.Y., which had fallen behind schedule, finally wound to a close after three nights with a midmorning set performed by Jimi Hendrix.
Mr. Kern died at the young age of 60 collapsing in front of 450 Park Avenue, in his birthplace of New York City. His best known theater success is the musical "Showboat". Some of his great songs are: "Ol' Man River", "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "A Fine Romance", "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes", "All the Things You Are", "The Way You Look Tonight", and one song particularly suited for today's economic times, "Pick Yourself Up."
Our other birthday boy is
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Download Marriage of Figaro, K. 492, Overture
Mozart dies at the incredibly young age of 35. There isn't room to go into all of his fabulous music, however his NYC connection is that a wonderful play depicting his life (more or less) was produced on Broadway. The play, entitled Amadeus, premiered on Broadway in 1980 with Ian McKellen as Salieri and Tim Curry as Mozart. It ran for 1,181 performances and was nominated for seven Tony Awards (best actor for both McKellen and Curry, best director for Peter Hall, best play, best costume design, lighting, and set design for John Bury), of which it won five (including a best actor Tony for McKellen).
The lights on Broadway burn a little brighter thanks to these talented gentlemen.
A little "Tid-byte" from Cayce:
On January 1st, we love to celebrate the new year. So, while we revel in the optimism of a fresh start, let's remember some great people who love or loved New York and who happened to celebrate their birthday on this date.
Alfred Stieglitz
Frank Langella
Betsy Ross
J.D. Salinger
Finally, we celebrate his birthday January 25th, but we think of him more now because he wrote the lyrics to "Auld Lang Syne"--the lovely Robert Burns. To learn a little more about him, watch this: