I love pretty much everything Improv Everywhere does, but their latest project especially resonates with me because they eerily read my mind and made a video of my thoughts. Posing as NYC’s Department of Transportation, they set up a “Tourist Lane” (slow lane) and a “New Yorker Lane” (fast lane) on a sidewalk in Manhattan and directed pedestrians accordingly. As a fast-walking New Yorker, I am thrilled that they did this.
While out for a long walk in Manhattan last week, I came across an incredible art installation entitled “Walking Men Worldwide.” Artist Maya Barkai collected images of 99 walking men from cities around the world and covered the walls surrounding a construction site with their life-size images. I like to imagine all 99 of those figures coming to life and exploring New York with me! The installation will remain at 99 Church Street until January 2010.
CoverSpy is a fascinating blog that makes me miss those beautiful short moments one shares with one’s fellow New Yorkers. Here’s the creators’ description: “A team of publishing nerds hits the subways, streets, parks & bars to find out what New Yorkers are reading now.”
Professor Eduardo Alvarado is the most fascinating performer I’ve ever had the pleasure to see in New York City subway stations. The sight of him playing his keyboard with dolls dancing in front of him never fails to brighten my commute and my entire day. This man is a legend! Read more about the Professor in this article from the Village Voice.
I saw these Make City cut and fold New York postcards in a post by A Cup of Jo last week and made a mental note to repost them here. A few days later, I opened my mailbox only to find this very set of postcards! Thanks, Mom, for sending me these charming and recognizable reminders of my favorite city. New York readers, you can find these in the MoMA store.
I was literally laughing out loud yesterday when I looked around the “Playing with Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photo-Collage” exhibit at the Met. The exhibit features a collection of aristocratic Victorian women’s collages, made by combining detailed watercolor drawings with photographs. The pieces are beautiful, quirky, and absurd. The exhibit runs at the Met until May 9th, 2010, and then moves on to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Don’t miss it! Here is a page dated to the 1870s from the Madame B Album by Marie-Blanche-Hennelle Fournier:
I have never been one to excessively “Ooh!” and “Aah!” over flowers, but when I went to The Orchid Show: Cuba in Flowers at the New York Botanical Gardens this weekend, I was amazed! Imagine a tropical Cuban countryside transported into a greenhouse in the Bronx. Everything was so vibrant. If you happen to be in New York sometime before the show closes on April 11th, consider checking it out. This photo doesn’t do the flowers justice.
Here’s the latest Improv Everywhere video, “Ted’s Birthday.” I love how “Ted” plays along with the joke!
Found via a Tumblr follower, who linked to DesignBoom. I can’t wait to get back to Manhattan later this week and check out the Guggenheim’s new exhibit, Contemplating the Void: Interventions in the Guggenheim Museum. The exhibit, which runs until April 28th, celebrates the museum’s 50th anniversary by featuring various designers’ ideas for addressing the void of the Guggenheim’s rotunda. I love this proposal, “Experiencing the Void,” by JDS Architects. The orange reminds me a bit of another incredible New York installation piece, The Gates.
Found via MUG. Joe’s NYC is the nearly-daily photo blog of photographer Joseph O. Holmes. Holmes’ photographs are stunning, vivid glimpses of New York City moments. I could spend hours clicking through his site, seeing my favorite city through his eyes. How do I choose just one photo to share here? They are all worth posting, but I will pick this photo taken in Times Square and posted on November 4th, 2009, as I love the silhouette:
The New York Transit Museum has a really rad store where you can find pretty much anything sporting your favorite subway line’s logo. I have far too many MTA products already, but I would love to get a few of these awesome wooden subway trains:
I am not ashamed to admit that I just bought Christmas Eve on Sesame Street on DVD. It was one of my favorite Christmas movies when I was little, and unlike so many other things that seem amazing only when you’re seven or under, Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is still as charming, entertaining, and heartwarming as ever. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go wander the snow-covered streets of New York City and sing this song:
Improv Everywhere never fails to make me smile.
(Also, this “Where’s Rob?” video is great.)
Found via French Truckers. These Ray-Ban sunglasses are exquisite. I love the New York City subway map hidden on the interior side of the glasses. Imagine how many comments you’d get if you wore a pair with the pattern on the other side.
A video about my favorite area of Manhattan, the Hudson River Park:
Found via BlinkCast. I have just fallen in love with Sophie Blackall‘s Missed Connections blog, where she posts drawings of New York missed connections from Craigslist and the like. Do also check out this video about the blog.
Husband and wife team London Squared Productions created this fantastic video featuring the voices of New York.
Found via CribCandy. Jamie O’Shea created a vertical bed and tested it out by taking a 40-minute nap at 33rd and Broadway.
Found via Monoscope. Alex Creamer, a University of Central Lancashire student, came up with a neat concept for spaghetti packaging with the help of his friend, Ben Thorpe. I would love to see a series of these, maybe a three-part set featuring the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, and Statue of Liberty.
Jason Polan has rather ambitiously decided to draw every person in New York. “He plans on working on the project until it is finished,” says MUG. Polan’s drawings perfectly capture the fleeting moments and familiarity that make up New York life. Here is Polan’s “People at the Museum of Modern Art.”
