Out and About: Los Angeles Edition

Favorite moments from my week-long trip to LA!


Tornado shelter in Denver (stopover) - you'll never see that in NYC!


Clear crossing instructions in Santa Monica (would be nice to have in NYC):

Sunset at the beach:

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf Cookies and Cream Iced-Blended! Yummmmm... (They don't have it in NY yet!)

Cool fountain at the Grove:

Credit: www.pecuniarities.com

Third Street Promenade (with cool fountains):

Taking the Big Blue Bus (kinda felt like I was in NY):

Credit: www.getsolar.com

And finally, on my way home from the airport in NY, I spotted a man wearing a sombrero:

A nice welcome home. It's good to be back.

A Fountain's Acrobatics.. and an Awesome Surprise!

Last night, I babysat at a family in Lincoln Center (the same family who has the amazing view from their window).

On my walk over to their apartment, I passed the Revson Fountain, a very beautiful and creative fountain in the center of Lincoln Center. It was designed as a traditional fountain, and at set times to be a fountain show. Whenever I am in the neighborhood and I pass by the fountain, it is always in its "relaxed" form.

But as I passed the fountain last night, it was far from relaxed. The fountain was doing some serious acrobatics. I finally saw the fountain show!

A very impressive fountain :-).

Later that night, as I sat and studiously worked on a final paper for one of my classes, I was suddenly interrupted by some strange noises... 

"Boom!" 

"Crack!" 

"Crackle!"

"Bang!"

I honestly thought there was a massive gun fight going on in Lincoln Center down below.

I looked out the window, and realized immediately that it was FAR from a gun fight...

There were FIREWORKS over the Hudson River! 

(Remember how I said the apartment has an amazing view? Shout out the E family for allowing me to feature your apartment's amazing view in my blog).

I haven't confirmed this, but I believe the fireworks were in celebration of Fleet Week which is going on right now.

Check out this video I captured of the awesome fireworks show:

The entire night sky literally lit up. It was so beautiful. What a nice treat! How often do you get to see fireworks when it isn't July 4th?

Costello's Planters

Some readers ask me if I will ever run out of things to write.

Honestly, I don't think I will. Every day is filled with brand new exciting discoveries (I have a whole list of things waiting to be written about!!).

Like today, when I saw this video on the Eyewitness News website:




about a man named Costello who beautifies his neighborhood on West 102nd Street by planting exquisite flowers boxes around the trees, as well as elaborately decorating the front doorways of his building and others.

(if you can't see the video, go to the original article).

And I absolutely had to check it out.

So I trekked all the way uptown to 102nd street...

Wow!!! The planters were even more beautiful than the video!

(Maybe because it was sunny when I went, and the video was taken on a cloudy, rainy day).

I so wish I could live on this block!!

Whoever you are, Costello, I think your work is wonderful.

I love how you add beauty to the normally mundane city streets.

I'm all for that, you know.

Adding beauty where you least expect it, that is.

And can it get any better than this?!

I mean, you even put fountains outside your building's front entrance!

Lucky neighbors.

Keep up the awesome work, Costello!

Maybe you'll make your way down to my block someday.
That would be amazing.

P.S. Check out this great album filled with pictures from 102nd street. But I strongly suggest checking it out in person... it's so much better in real life.

A Tale of Survival

The National September 11th Memorial opened on the 10th anniversary of 9/11/2001. I've been meaning to go for a while, and I finally made my way down there two weeks ago.

It was... how do I put it... rather eerie. There I was, standing in the spot where 3,000 innocent people were killed.

I took the no. 1 train downtown to the Rector Street station. The Cortlandt Street/West Broadway station is still closed after 10 years. The attacks completely destroyed the station on September 11th, 2001. Without a tunnel, the 1 train now travels "above ground while still underground" at the same time.

I made my reservation to enter the Memorial for the 7pm slot. I wanted to be there during sunset and watch the lights turn on in the surrounding buildings.

After an international design competition, the chosen design includes two huge reflecting pools (essentially waterfalls) in the footprints of the former twin towers.

Credit: www.911memorial.org

Also on the site is the National September 11th Memorial Museum, which was closed when I visited the Memorial.

Engraved along the outer rim of each pool are the names of those who perished in the 1993 and 2001 attacks.

I was struck by the contrast between old and new:

If you think about it, those old buildings behind the Memorial somehow managed to survive the attack. They bear witness to the atrocities that happened on that day.

I walked around the perimeter of each reflecting pool, thinking about how two gigantic buildings once stood in these spots.

On my way out, I passed through the beautiful plaza, filled with dozens of swamp white oak trees.

One tree stood out from the others:

This tree is the only tree to survive the attack. Upon discovery, the tree was moved to a nursery where it has been re-growing for the past 10 years.

As I left the Memorial, I turned around and saw the new Freedom Tower rising above the scene. The lights had turned on by then.

It felt so serene at the Memorial. Rather quiet, with a light breeze and beautiful weather. What a difference from the turmoil I remember in 2001.

I see the Memorial as a tale of hope and survival. The old buildings, the surviving tree... those who escaped alive and those who didn't... and now the rebuilding.

I think the Memorial is very well done. Drop by to check it out, but be sure to make reservations first. It's free.

Secret Water Tunnel!

I decided to take a little detour on my way home from school today. Instead of transferring from the F train to the D and then to the 1 train, I decided to walk from the F train stop to the 1 train stop. (If you didn't understand that, that's ok. You need to be a seasoned New Yorker to understand Subway lingo).

As I walked down 50th street towards Seventh Avenue, I noticed a really cute little seating area in between two buildings!

Wait, what's that thing straight ahead? (Look closely at the picture, and you'll see what I'm talking about).


It looks like a tunnel... let's check it out a little closer:

It is a tunnel!

But a very unique, amazing, secret, WATER TUNNEL!!!


Located between 6th and 7th Avenues, this water tunnel is slim passageway through 48th to 49th streets.

As the water cascades down the slate wall over the tunnel, it splashes around the glass, creating a breathtaking and serene space.

It takes just a few seconds to pass through, but the tunnel has an unbelievably captivating effect. As I stood in the tunnel, I did not hear the cars honking, garbage trucks roaring or construction workers drilling... all I heard was water. It is an enchanting experience which lasts only for a second as you pass through.

All that's missing is fish swimming about in the water :-).

I love watching people pass through the tunnel and gasp in amazement at the effect. One guy was minding his own business, and as he passed through the tunnel he looked up in surprise. His eyes lit up, let out a laugh, and said with excitement, "this is so cool!"

Just another awesome secret in the middle of the fabulous New York City!

The Water Tunnel at 48th Street
48th to 49th Streets, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

Revson Fountain

Check out this awesome video of the Revson Fountain (as I now know it's called) at Lincoln Center!



I'll post non-fountain things soon, don't worry :-).

More fountains!

As promised, here are more of my favorite fountains. The hot weather has sure put me in the water mood!

Lincoln Center

Credit: 80laf.wordpress.com

Located in front of Avery Fisher Hall by Lincoln Center, this fountain gushes with water! I love how it changes its form every few minutes, and on some nights even has a light show!  Check out this great article about the Revson Fountain for more information.

55th St. and 6th Ave.

Credit: Flickr user JakeRichter

A few blocks north of "My Fountain" is this unbelievable surprise! I'm not quite sure what it is called (a fountain like this must have a name!), but it looks like a snowflake suspended in the air, spurting out water with an ethereal mist around it. *EDIT - this is in front of the Alliance Bernstein building on 6th Avenue, and there is a twin fountain on the other side of the plaza!

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

Credit: vietnamveteransplaza.com

Located at 55 Water Street (the same building that hosts the Elevated Acre), the Vietnam War Veteran's Memorial is a beautiful commemoration of our fallen soldiers. The Reflecting Fountain is a soothing center for the plaza, where water gently flows over light stones set in polished black granite. This is one of the most calming fountains I have ever encountered.

In my experience, the best time to visit these fountains is at night, when they are lit up beautifully and fewer people are around. The fountains seem to come alive under their spotlights!



But wait! That's not all...

I found this fabulous picture of "My Fountain!" Enjoy! (And be sure to check it out - 50th St. and 6th Ave. It's much nicer in real life. Especially at night.)

Credit: www.wikimedia.org

Awesome Fountains!

As many of you know, I am slightly obsessed with fountains.

And NYC is filled with them! There are fountains in front of buildings, on sidewalks, by memorials... and many other places you would least expect!

I guess it's the flow of water that makes me love fountains so much. It's such a peaceful feeling to sit by soothing water in the middle of a bustling intersection.  I often sit by my favorite fountain (#4) to read or write in my journal, or just observe the cacophony of the city around me.

Check out some of my favorite fountains (in no particular order):

Columbus Circle:

Credit: theweblicist.com

Located at Columbus Circle (59th St. and Broadway), this fountain is best experienced sitting at the base of the Christopher Columbus monument, and watching the water spurting from the fountain in a line-like appearance. You become entirely unaware of the traffic circling around you!

Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street

Credit: Flickr user Viridia

This amazing fountain greets you as you emerge from the Lexington Avenue and 53rd street subway station. Or perhaps I should call it a Waterfall. I love how it just cascades over the side, from street level down to the Subway level.

Central Park - Bethesda Fountain

Credit: NewYorkDailyPhoto.blogspot.com

Bethesda Fountain, located just passed the East 72nd Street entrance to the park, is one of the largest and most photographed fountains in the world. It is a huge tourist attraction and a popular filming location, so you will always find something interesting going on over here!

My Fountain

credit: nysonglines.com

I call this fountain "My Fountain" because it is the most wonderful fountain in all of New York City (in my humble opinion), and I also don't know its name. The beauty of this fountain is in its simplicity. The few spurts of water that sprout from the center of the large, rectangular surface, and the water that gently glides over the top, creating a clear, glass-like appearance. I love sitting by this fountain at night, watching the water and feeling so tiny surrounded by the enormous buildings towering above me. The fountain is located at 6th Ave and 50th St., across from the Radio City Music Hall.

To be continued... there's more to come!