Pooh, Eeyore, Tigger, Piglet and Kanga recently left the children's room in the Donnell Library Center, which will be torn down to make way for a luxury hotel/library.
The stuffed animals, loved up into a shabby, patched-up state, now reside in an elegant glass case in the Edna Barnes Salomon Room of the Humanities & Social Sciences Library.
They're actually easy to find -- head up the main stairs to the third floor as if you were headed to the main reading room. But at the top of the landing, instead of heading west into the reading room, head east toward Pooh.
The animals were given to Robin Milne (the inspiration for Christopher Robin) between 1920 and 1922. Pooh was originally acquired from Harrod's. They were brought to the United States in 1947 and found a home at Milne's U.S. publisher, who then gave them to the library in 1987.
Library entrance is of course free.
Picture credit: Pooh and Friends, taken by Don Hamerman. Image provided to NewYorkology by the NYPL.
Contributor Heesun Wee has been writing for NewYorkology since 2005. By day, she's a video segment producer for Yahoo'sTech Ticker. She’s also writing a screenplay entitled “War Photographer.” Recently she stopped by the Guggenheim, which has just announced it will stay open an extra two hours every day for the final week of Cai Guo Qiang's installation. (That's 10 a.m. to 7:45 p.m. from May 23 through May 28.)
Art in New York lately has been disappointing me. I’ve cruised through the Chelsea gallery ghetto thinking, ‘This is it?’ If I wanted cutesy prints and photographs I’d buy Domino or some other glossy fashion magazine run by cookie-cutter 30-somethings in $300 blue jeans.
But the current car-and-light installation at the Guggenheim in New York is amazing. Part of a larger retrospective, Cai Guo-Qiang: I Want to Believe, is beautiful, violent, spatially stunning, postmodern, reflective of 9/11, and East meets West -- all wrapped into one.
Inopportune: Stage One is Cai’s largest installation to date. It showcases nine real cars that are suspended in a cyclone-like progression in the central atrium of the Frank Lloyd Wright rotunda. Thomas Krens, director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, has said the project "may be the best artistic transformation of the Frank Lloyd Wright space we've ever seen."
Cai, born in southern China and now living in New York City, has said constant media images of car explosions after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks inspired the project.
Whether you’re on the ground floor looking up at the swirl of cars or peering down into the tornado-like shape of metal and flashing lights, it’s as if you’re inside a massive bomb about to go off, with Wright’s cylindrical museum as the bomb’s exterior casing.
I’ve always thought of the beige museum on the trash-less Upper East Side of Manhattan as peaceful. That’s no accident. Wright created the seashell-like building with an interior circular design. You take the elevator to the top and wind down a spiral ramp as you enjoy the art seamlessly.
But by installing his art – cars, stuffed wildlife, sculptures -- in the middle of the museum’s atrium and winding ramp – Cai interrupts the spatial peace. Throughout my visit I felt the push-and-pull of the beautiful building against the violence often depicted in the art. Indeed Cai has said his work explores both the beauty and violence human beings are capable of.
BEAUTY AND VIOLENCE This beauty-violence juxtaposition is a recurring theme for Cai. In his gunpowder drawings, also on view at the Guggenheim, his images are made with gunpowder, fuses and traditional materials such as ink. The explosions left behind on canvases have a blurry, eerie death quality. It was as if Cai was forcing me to imagine my own gunpowder-y body silhouette, in essence my own humanity, and asking, "What are you capable of? Do you know? Do you want to know?"
Cai created many of the gunpowder drawings on multi-part panels meant to resemble Asian paper scrolls. The long, continuous images stretch and fill the museum’s ramp, another clever move by Cai to meld his art with the space it inhabits.
Rockaways, Frying Pan to get Water Taxi on weekends
While the mayor made his big announcement today about new ferry commmuter service between the Rockaways and Manhattan, the more interesting news may lie in the New York Water Taxi's other plans for this summer, including weekend service to Rockaway Beach as well as the Frying Pan on the Hudson.
Service will also start to Red Hook's new Brooklyn Ikea starting June 18, but the Water Taxi has ditched all plans for Governors Island and the Mets Express this summer, a spokeswoman for the company told NewYorkology. (Governors Island will still be served by a free ferry from Lower Manhattan for the season, which starts May 31.)
Water Taxi Beach in Long Island City will officially reopen for the season on the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, with Friday/Saturday/Sunday ferry service from E. 34th Street in Manhattan.
The NY Water Taxi is also ditching its weekday hop-on hop-off service which has been aimed at the tourist crowd. That service will remain on weekends (when ridership was higher and the boats won't be needed for the commuter routes.)
However, it will still run its evening sunset happy-hour cruises on most nights. And new this week, it's adding a TV and Movie cruise every Thursday. And once Olafur Eliasson's NYC Waterfalls art project starts flowing, the Water Taxi (along with Circle Line and NY Waterway) will start special waterfall cruises.
NY Water Taxi weekend service to the Rockaways -- at Riis Landing on National Park Service land -- is aiming to start weekend service in early summer. No pricing details are yet available (although the city-subsidised weekday commuter service on the same route will be $6 each way.)
Service to the Lightship "Frying Pan" would also start mid-summer, as a stop on the hop-on hop-off service. The "Frying Pan," which recently moved to Pier 66 from its longtime Pier 63 home on the Hudson River, hopes to reopen soon as a restaurant and bar -- the same facilities it offered in the old location, a spokeswoman told NewYorkology today.
Farther out on the horizon, the city is sinking $500,000 into a study on more routes, including LaGuardia Airport, Roosevelt Island, Coney Island, Riverdale, Camp St. Edward on Staten Island, W. 125th Street, Orchard Beach, Hunts Point, Sheepshead Bay, Bay Ridge, Astoria, and Manhattan's E. 20th , E. 75th, and E. 90th streets.
Cherry blossoms peaking for Sakura Matsuri weekend
The cherry blossoms are in peak bloom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, perfectly timed for this weekend's Sakura Matsuri festival, which will feature Taiko drumming, samurai sword performances, ninja theater, tea ceremonies and dance parties.
Some of the performers were in the garden this mornng, offering a preview of this weekend's events, inlcuding the the samurai sword fighters:
The Spinnin Ronin Martial Arts Dance Theater created a ninja cosplay just for Sakura Matsuri. Here's a scene from "The Legend of Ninja Kotaro" performed near the cherry walk:
See the BBG's website for the full list of events. Arrive close to the 10 a.m. opening time on Saturday or Sunday to beat the crowds.
Koons' 'Balloon Dog' marks its territory on Met roof
Artist Jeff Koons has installed three of his never-before-on-public-display schulptures in the roof garden of the Met Museum of Art, where they'll stay through the summer.
"Balloon Dog (Yellow,)" is similiar to “Balloon Dog (Magenta,)” which was installed at the
Palazzo Grassi in Venice in 2006.
It shares the rooftop space with "Sacred Heart (Red/Gold,)" and the Piglet-inspired "Coloring Book."
The Met's Roof Garden Cafe will serve new cocktails by the same names as the three art works, along with the usual fare of soft drinks, beer, wine and food. It will also provide a martini bar on Friday and Saturda evenings from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
"I think everything balanced out just perfect. I don't think I've ever been happier with any artwork I've ever done," Koons this morning told media gathered for his press preview in the garden.
In recent years, the garden has hosted the work of artists including Sol LeWitt and Frank Stella. The roof draws up to 800 people an hour on sunny days in the summer, Met president Emily Rafferty said.
"Jeff Koons on the Roof" will be on display in the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden from April 22 through October 26.
2008 hours for the roof garden (weather permitting) are 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesdays through Thursdays, plus Sundays; and 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The Met Museum is closed Mondays except some holiday Mondays (including May 26 and Sept. 1.)
Pope arrives in NYC to visit U.N., Yankee Stadium, WTC
Pope Benedict XVI today starts a three-day trip to New York City with plans to address the United Nations, visit the World Trade Center site and a Jewish synagogue and celebrate mass at several locations including Yankee Stadium and Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
Friday
9:45 a.m. - The pope arrives at JFK Airport and is welcomed by Cardinal Edward M. Egan, archbishop of New York and Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio, bishop of Brooklyn and others.
10 a.m. - The pope will address the United Nations and meet with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Saturday
9 a.m. - The pope celebrates mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral with 3,000 deacons, priests and religious men and women from throughout the United States.
1:15 p.m. The pope departs Saint Patrick's and will travel by popemobile up 5th Avenue to 72nd Street. (This is your best chance to see the pope as its one of the only unticketed events.)
4:30 p.m. - The pope travels to Saint Joseph Seminary in Yonkers to bless youth with disabilities and rally with seminarians and young people.
Sunday
9:30 a.m. - The pope visits Ground Zero, blesses the ground with holy water and greets representatives of the Port Authority, fire and police workers, survivors and family members of those killed in the the Sept. 11 attacks.
2:30 p.m. - The pope celebrates mass at Yankee Stadium
8:30 p.m. - The pope departs JFK's Hangar 19 on Alitalia's "Shepherd One"
NY Philharmonic sets free summer park concert dates
The New York Philharmonic has announced its full free Concerts in the Parks schedule for this summer -- once again promising fireworks, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven and the 1812 Overture in Central Park and elsewhere in all five boroughs.
The schedule:
June 24 - Central Park
July 5 - Governors Island
July 8 - Richmond County Bank Ballpark, Staten Island
July 9 - PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, New Jersey
July 10 - Cunningham Park, Queens
July 11 - Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx
July 12 - Heckscher State Park, East Islip, Long Island
July 14 - Prospect Park, Brooklyn
July 15 - Central Park
The orchestra plays slightly different pieces at each performance. And be warned, the shows are sometimes canceled due to rain. See the NYPhil's website for the phone number to call the day-of-show if rain threatens.
Tribeca Film Fest - April 23 to May 4 - the full overview
NewYorkology contributor Vanessa Geiger covers alternative cinema offerings in New York City. She's a freelance writer and photographer who has just finished production work on the upcoming documentary "Crazy Sexy Cancer" and was most recently published in GO Magazine.
It's time to gear up for the Tribeca Film Festival -- set for April 23 through May 4 -- which features an incredible selection of films for your viewing pleasure.
Among the 200-plus films on 21 screens, Tribeca will roll out 53 world premieres including the cartoon-inspired "Speed Racer," Tina Fey and Amy Poehler's "Baby Mama," and the David Mamet-direced "Redbelt."
Tribeca's free outdoor Drive-in returns this year with three screenings set for the plaza of the World Financial Center. Thriller Night (April 24) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's legendary music video directed by John Landis. Festival organizers promise "the world's largest zombie disco" along with dance lesons, face painting, a Michael Jackson look-alike contest and a Solid Gold Dance Party.
Other Drive-In screenings are the "Meerkat Manor: The Story Begins" on April 25, and April 26 will be a fan-selected sports flick.
Tribeca's festival-within-a-festival, the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival will take place Saturday, May 3 and will feature not only athletic-themed films but also free games and the chance to rub shoulders with Mr. Met and players from the New York Rangers, New York Knicks and New York Liberty.
The Sports Fest overlaps with the free Family Street Fair on the same day and will include performances by the casts of Broadway's "Legally Blonde" and "Xanadu," an interactive Bubble Garden courtesy of Off-Broadway's "Gazillion Bubble Show," appearances by Clifford the Red Dog, WordGirl and wax figures from Madame Tussauds New York.
That will get you breakfast, a one-hour Circle Line waterfall cruise and a harbor-view room with an in-room telescope to see the Governors Island Waterfall -- the most southern of the four man-made waterfalls.
The package will be on offer from July 4 through October 14.
The Plaza Athenee waterfall hotel package might not have a room with the view, but it will get you a NY Water Taxi waterfalls cruise with an optional add on of the "Waterfalls Inspired Lunch or Dinner Menu in Arabelle Restaurant." Package rates are 560 in July and August and $750 in September and October.
Related: Bike and Roll, a new bike rental and tour company for NYC will also be offering NYC waterfalls tours this summer.
Image source: NYCWaterfalls.org rendering of "Governors Island"
Home games: Mets last Shea home opener vs. Phillies
NewYorkology contributor Scott Ross keeps you abreast of upcoming Mets and Yankees home games in New York City. Ross toils in anonymity for a giant online news aggregator. Here's your look at major league baseball in New York City this week:
Like their cross-town counterparts, the Mets will be bidding adieu to their old home following the 2008 season and are hoping to wash the taste of 2007 out of their mouths. In an effort to do so, General Manager Omar Minaya emptied his piggy bank to trade for and sign Johan Santana – arguably the best pitcher in baseball – to lead his staff. The addition of Santana should make the Mets the best team in the National League, even with the popped hamstring Pedro Martinez suffered on April 1. The Mets led the NL East almost all of last season with only a minimal contribution from Martinez and this year should be no different.
They also traded away the once untouchable prospect Lasting Milledge to the Washington Nationals in return for Brian Schneider and Ryan Church. This, coupled with their decision not to re-sign Paul LoDuca suggests that maybe they were trying to get rid of some headaches while causing as little damage as possible to the team. Between Milledges’ rap career and LoDuca’s extramarital shenanigans, the team spent a lot of time talking about things not baseball related. Of course bringing in Church immediately set tongues wagging about his alleged anti-Semitism … so what’re ya gonna do?
The biggest question mark hanging over the team right now is the health of Moises Alou, who had hernia surgery last month and isn’t expected back for at least a few more weeks. Of course, Alou missed 75 games last season and 64 the year before that, so this comes as no great surprise.
In David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and Johan Santana the Mets have four of the 20 best players in the (decidedly weak) National League. That should be enough to hold off the overachieving Phillies and the up-and-coming Braves and secure the NL East. (Now if only they had a couple more youngarms to go along with the talent they already have, they could be a serious powerhouse.)
Game of the week: Fittingly, the Phillies, who came from seven games back in September to overtake the Mets on the last day of the regular season, come to town for the final home opener at Shea Stadium on Tuesday. Unfortunately, the rotations don’t line up to offer anything promising. Instead, on Friday you can catch the Santana – who thus far has been as advertised – square off against newcomer Manny Parra. That’s unless you’d like to see a competitive game, in which case you should check out Oliver Perez going up against Ben Sheets. Which Perez shows up is anybody’s guess. Will it be the guy who went 7-6 with a 3.14 ERA before the All Star break or the one who went 8-4 with a 4.04 afterwards?
