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.

Street Vendors

All around the city, vendors set up their wares on the city streets. Some sell very cheap looking goods, but every once in a while I will come across some vendors selling items that I absolutely love (and look quite expensive).

I'll tell you a secret - a lot of my beautiful costume jewelry has been bought at street vendors.

I love hand-made unique items, and usually the artists themselves sell the items. I like to talk to them about their products, how they come up with designs, how they make them, etc.

I picked up these stunning earrings last year, handmade by a local UWS artist:

But some jewelry sold by street vendors are handpicked at trade shows.

These earrings are my absolute favorite:

Sometimes I'll see a very unique table, like this one with adorable handmade sock puppets:

Keep your eyes peeled! You might find some great treasures. Let me know if you come across any cool finds.

Note: make sure that you buy from a licensed street vendor - they have a name-tag, so make sure the photo matches the face.

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.

Two for One

I noticed this today:

The Childrens Center and the Chryler Building in one picture.

So cool.

The Ultimate View!

Start out on 42nd and Lexington Avenue:

Find the beautiful entrance, made of black marble, alluminum and glass:

Credit: www.gonyc.about.com

Walk inside:

credit: www.oobject.com

Marvel at the amazing Art Deco design. Notice how the lighting shines on the colorful marble to create an exquisite effect.

The ceiling is incredible:

credit: flickr user Kimbar

Which building am I talking about...?

Credit: cityforward.wordpress.com

The few times I visited the Chrysler Building in the past, I've only been allowed in the lobby. Beyond the turnstiles to the elevators, no tourist is allowed.

credit: www.iloveoldny.com

Except...

(yes, that is inside the elevator. I'm passing the 60th floor there. Sorry about the blur).

Someone I know has an office in the Chrysler Building, and a few months ago she offered to take me in and show me around.

We finally made it happen last week!!!

The Chrysler Building has been my absolute favorite building in the entire New York City since I learned about it in Art History class two years ago.

I wrote about how much I love views a few weeks ago, so this was really exciting!!

Designed by William Van Alen, and completed in 1930, the Chrysler Building was the world's tallest building for 11 months until the Empire State Building shot up in 1931.

Notice the eagles gracing the corners a few floors beneath the spire?

credit: www.wiredny.com

On which Margaret Bourke was famously pictured taking pictures at death-defying heights?

Check them out from above:

That is 42nd street down below.

How cool is that?!

The view towards lower Manhattan (notice the new Freedom Tower being built - I visited the new 9/11 memorial, which you can read about here):

Upper Manhattan:

The West Side:

The East Side:

The iconic Pepsi-Cola sign in Long Island City, with one of UN buildings in the foreground:

And finally, the sun sets:

The Chrysler Building has a really interesting history.

Credit: www.aviewoncities.com

Which you can read about here.

One fun fact that you may not read about anywhere:
- The Chrysler Building was completed at the start of the Great Depression, so the beautiful lights that grace the ornate crown at the top of the building were never turned on because of the added expense. And then they were forgotten... until the 1980s when they were finally turned on!

Credit: www.wikipedia.org

Can you now understand why it's my most favorite building in the entire city?

Tens of Thousands of Tulips

I went to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park today...


It looks like a fairyland.

Credit: www.centralparknyc.org

I actually believe it is one.

Credit: www.centralparknyc.org

It is probably the best known secret spot in New York City.

Credit: newyorksightseeingtours.wordpress.com

I sat on a quiet bench, book in hand...

...smelling the sweet scent, listening to the birds chirp.
The Ultimate Relaxation.


Just take a walk through its romantic gardens,



so precisely trimmed,

and cared for to the tiniest detail.

Six acres of flowers...

each one more beautiful than the next.

Stroll through the exquisite allées...

of spring-blooming pink and white crabapple trees.

Turn a corner and there you see,



tens of thousands of tulips,

and even more tulips.

When you walk past the Vanderbilt Gate...

credit: www.centralparknyc.org

...you enter into a whole new world.


Check out The Conservatory Garden for location and hours.