Eliasson's NYC Waterfalls officially on through Oct. 13
For 110 days, artist Olafur Eliasson’s New York City Waterfalls will pump 35,000 gallons of water per minute up and over four man-made towers – including one taller than the Statue of Liberty – inviting the public to the waterfront to not only explore the installation, but to have a good think.
“I don’t want the quantifiable elements of this project to be out in front of the unquantifiable,” Eliasson said Thursday during the Circle Line Downtown’s inaugural waterfalls cruise. While water can evoke dreams, it also has a very tangible side: “You get wet if you get into it,” he said.
And while you can’t swim under Eliasson’s waterfalls, you can approach them by boat, bike, on foot, or ponder them from the bridges or new bars and cafes set up just for the waterfalls. Two-years in the making, the Public Art Fund raised $13.5 million from private donors plus $2 million from the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation, acquired more than 20 permits and arranged for 270 tons of scaffolding (which was erected by the same guys who normally erect scaffolding around new York City buildings.) Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city’s Economic Development Corp. estimates the tourism boost will contribute $55 million to the city’s economy. (And yes, the international media were going bonkers at Thursday’s launch events.)
The exhibition consists of four waterfalls:
Under the Brooklyn Bridge at the Brooklyn-side anchorage (80 feet wide, 90 feet high)
Piers 4 and 5 in below the Brooklyn Heights Promenade (30 feet wide, 120 feet high)
(For reference, if they were buildings, they’d be nine to 12 stories each. The Statue of Liberty is 111 feet tall from her heel to her top.)
The waterfalls, here through October 13, will be turned on daily at 7 a.m. (but not until 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays) and remain on until 10 p.m. nightly. They’ll be lit up after sunset. However, they may have to be turned off during extreme winds, storms or a heat wave.
Eliasson, a Danish-Icelandic artist, has been coming to New York since the 1980s. He’s well known for his large scale, often environmental works. He’s written an artist statement for NYC Waterfalls; two excerpts:
“When water flows down the East River, we tend to see it as a simple surface, framed by a neutral urban waterfront. By elevating it into waterfalls, I wish to amplify its physical and tangible presence while exposing the dynamics of natural forces such as gravity, wind, and daylight. My idea is to encourage people to identify more with the waterfront of New York City; this is a call for the revitalization of areas that until recently have been under-utilized as creative and recreational spaces because people have focused primarily on the interior grid of the City. There is a huge unrealized potential waiting to be explored and this is located right at our feet.”
“The Waterfalls appear in the midst of the dense social, environmental, and political tissue that makes up the heart of the City. They will give people the opportunity to reconsider their relationships to the spectacular surroundings. I hope to evoke experiences that are both individual and enhance a sense of collectivity: the Waterfalls will invite people to explore them on their own, but due to their size and locations, they will also generate expectations, opinions, and actions that can be shared. This relationship between individual experiences and the social contest is crucial for me. I believe that by seeing a work of art – a waterfall for instance – we become co-producers of the work and its social context. Taking part in this type of collaboration requires that we take responsibility within the city that we live.”
Eliasson’s waterfalls philosophy echoes some things he said in April at the Museum of Modern Art at the opening of his “Take Your Time” exhibition (which closes June 30.) His press conference there was held in a room dominated by an electrical fan on a rope arcing erratically around the room. He wondered aloud what affected the direction of the fan’s swings – does the temperature, the number of people in the room and their body heat, possibly change the artwork? “Maybe that turbulence constitutes the space,” he said. “It’s a dialogue between you and the space.”
At MoMA, the title of the exhibition itself asks the viewers to slow down, take your time, and think about your surroundings. “If you step out of commoditized time, you step into yourself.”
Likewise at the waterfalls on Thursday, Eliasson said “this is not about consuming a space. It’s about using a space. To evaluate your relationship to it.”
And like the swinging fan, the waterfalls change – with the wind, the tide, the clouds, the sun and moon, the temperature and even the passing boats. “This is something you want to see several times,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg said Thursday. “It’s going to expand minds and give us a lot to think about.”
In this video clip, Eliasson explains how the waterfalls work and riffs on their sustainable aspects:
Yes, everyone's drowning in NYC Waterfalls coverage today, so here are some quick bits you may not already know. ...
The waterside decks of the South Street Seaport afford views of all four waterfalls.
But if you want to eat and drink while contemplating their meaning, head to the Seaport's new outdoor Waterfall Cafe that boasts views of all four falls. An offshoot of nearby Sequoia, they open at noon daily, seven days a week. Closing time depends on the weather and business -- sometimes 10:30 p.m., or earlier. Burgers, ($10,) salads, ($7 to $18,) mussels, ($9,) desserts ($6.50,) beer ($6 or $7,) wine ($8 by the glass/$26 by the bottle,) and margaritas ($9) are all on offer.
Directly across the East River, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy today opened Pier 1 as a park that will be open daily 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. through Labor Day. The pop-up park juts 315 feet into the river just south of the Brooklyn Bridge. It's home to a café operated by Rice, (which told NewYorkology they have a beer and wine permit for the site,) and is outfitted with picnic tables, benches, bike racks, trees, grass and a sandy area. Pier 1 park will get its own free shuttle bus from June 27 through Labor Day, with stops at Borough Hall and High Street at Cadman Plaza West. Shuttle hours: Fridays 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; and Saturdays and Sundays noon to 10:30 p.m.
Bike and Roll will be offering a twice-daily bicycle tour of the waterfalls. They depart from the South Street Seaport at 3 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. for a two and a half hour ride that goes over the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges, making eight to 10 stops. Normally $40, those tours are free this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Call (212) 260-0400 to reserve a spot.
Starting Friday, you can call the city's 311 information line and listen to artist Olafur Eliasson talk about his waterfalls, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said during this morning's news conference.
The waterfalls will be turned on daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. except Tuesdays and Thursdays when they will run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Central Park tonight (weather permitting) will host two free concerts.
The New York Philharmonic will kick off its free concerts in the park series at 8 p.m. with selections from Shostakovich,Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky and Sousa. Fireworks follow.
On the weather permitting matter, you can sign up for a concert advisory from NY Phil and they'll send a message to your phone later today.
(Update: At 7:15 this message went out: "It's almost time! Tonight's NY Philharmonic concert on Central Park's Great Lawn is still scheduled to begin at 8 pm.")
Free NYC Waterfalls cruises on Circle Line Downtown
Circle Line Downtown, which will be operating the "official" cruises of the artist Olafur Eliasson's NYC Waterfalls once they officially start running Thursday, will be offering a limted number of free tickets on most of its 30-minute cruises this summer.
"In the spirit of public art, Circle Line Downtown and the Public Art Fund are making these tickets available so that everyone has an opportunity to experience the Waterfalls," a Circle Line spoksewoman told NewYorkology via e-mail today.
The free tickets will be available on all of the 30-minute cruises on board Circle Line's Zephyr and Patriot boats through the duration of the exhibition (October 13.) The regular price for the 30-minute waterfalls cruises are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $5 for children. The free offer's not good on the company's Shark speedboat, or waterfalls cruises of longer durations.
Free tickets are first come, first serve and you can only get the tickets by calling (866) 925-4631. One order per household. They're accepting orders now.
Also note the freebie offer is only for Circle Line downtown, which is not the same company as Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises (or Circle Line/Circle Line Uptown/Circle Line 42nd Street, as they are sometimes called.) Circle Line Sightesing, however, is among the other companies offering waterfalls cruises, along with the NY Water Taxi and on the yacht Manhattan.
See the Tropolism blog for the latest renderings of the pop-up park that will open near the Brooklyn Bridge to allow for great waterfalls views.
And here's two more NYC Waterfalls hotel packages:
The Carlyle waterfall package inlcudes buffet breakfast, a one-hour cruise and cover charge and signature cocktails at Bemelmans Bar.
All W hotels in NYC are offering a waterfalls package that comes with NY Water Taxi vouchers, Bliss Sunscreen and a pair of cocktails.
Fierstein's 'Catered Affair' to end Broadway run July 27
Cast aside by the Tony Awards, the musical "A Catered Affair" will play its last performance July 27.
The Bronx-based drama revolving on the expenses of a wedding (or whether to invest the money in dad's taxi business,) is based on Gore Vidal's 1956 film of the same name, which had a teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky. This Broadway version has music and lyrics by John Bucchino, and a book by Harvey Fierstein, who also performs in the show.
The show was nominated for three Tonys: Tom Wopat, (Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical;) Faith Prince (Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical;) and Jonathan Tunick (Best Orchestrations.) Many Broadway fans were surprised it wasn't nominated for best musical.
"I am a little ashamed of the treatment we got, but I also know people weren’t being malicious. I knew you were either going to get this piece or not," Fierstein told the New York Times.
When it closes, it will have played 27 previews and 116 regular performances, according to Broadway.com.
"A Catered Affair plays at the Walter Kerr Theater. Most weekday tickets are priced from $29.50 for balcony seats to $109.50 for orchestra; but it's $10 more on Fridays and weekends. Premium seats are usually $179.50m but climb to $199.50 Fridays through Sundays.
NYC Waterfalls pictures: Brooklyn Bridge makes four
The NYC Waterfalls don't officially debut until June 26, but all four of artist Olafur Eliasson's creations have been in test mode this week.
Today is apparently the first day the water's been turned on at the waterfall situated directly under the Brooklyn Bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge picture was sent to NewYorkology by Travis Noyes, the vice president of sales and marketing for the NY Water Taxi, which this week launched free shuttle service to Brooklyn's Ikea from Manhattan's Pier 14 at Wall Street.
Passengers on those boats have this week been treated to tests of the other three waterfalls: at Governors Island, below Brooklyn Heights and Manhattan's Pier 35.
The four man-made waterfalls, which range in height from 90- to 120-feet tall, will be turned on daily through October 13. They'll run from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and will be illuminated at night.
Picture credits: All Travis Noyes/NY Water Taxi, except Manhattan waterfall (center, large) Amy Langfield/NewYorkology, which was taken onboard a Water taxi on Thursday evening.
Riders on the NY Water Taxi's new free shuttle to Ikea in Brooklyn are getting more than they bargained for -- free waterfall previews.
The guys over at NY Water Taxi just sent NewYorkology a few pictures taken this morning of the Governors Island waterfall - now with water. It looks like artist Olafur Eliasson's team is running more tests in advance of the official June 26 debut of his NYC Waterfalls.
Free Friday opera paired with Opera Shop discounts
Prospect Park is sure to be packed Friday night for the Met Opera's free concert, but that's not the only opera deal of offer this month.
The online branch of the Met Opera Shop is preparing to shutter for an overhaul and has extended through June 30 its deep discounts on all CDs and DVDs. Discounts range from 33 percent to 67 percent.
The Friday concert, "Met Summer Concert: Live in Prospect Park," will feature married-in-real-life soprano Angela Gheorghiu and tenor Roberto Alagna singing Verdi, Puccini, Donizetti, Massenet. Ion Marin will conduct the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus. The 8 p.m. concert will also be broadcast live on WQXR (96.3 FM) and streamed live on www.metopera.org.
High in the Sky at Peninsula hotel's new Salon de Ning
NewYorkology contributor Vidiot commits journalism by night, edits Cocktailians and explores NYC by day. He's especially interested in the infrastructure, transit, architectural wonders, drinking establishments, and hidden corners of the greatest city in the world.
Not long ago, I decided that my air conditioner wasn't quite up to the task of coping with the New York heat, so declared defeat and headed outside. To Salon de Ning, the new bar atop the Peninsula Hotel, to be specific. Occupying the former Pen-Top space, Salon de Ning opened last month and seems to be doing quite well, attracting a stream of the well-to-do (and wannabes, like me) to its boozy aerie. I settled on a barstool to peruse both the drink menu and the clientele.
The "Ninglet", comprised of Hendrick's gin, St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and fresh-squeezed lime juice, was tart and bracing, but the cucumber note from the gin and the floral taste from the St. Germain manage to sneak through. Could you want more in a summer cocktail? My friend had a "Ning Sling" of Absolut Mandrin, Soho lychee liqueur, fresh mint leaves, and lychee and passion fruit juices. She pronounced it "sweet and silly" -- this was a positive -- and I cadged a taste and found it to be very good; I'd feared that with an ingredient list like that, the cocktail would be too sweet, but it was a surprisingly well-balanced drink.
Firmly in the "too-sweet-and-proud-of-it" category was the Tiramisu Martini, which bartender Alan let us sample. Absolut Vanilia, Kahlua, Amaretto, white Godiva chocolate liqueur, and whipped cream, all topped with chocolate shavings: it was dessert in a cocktail glass, and an unapologetic one.
Salon de Ning's terrace boasts fantastic views up and down Fifth Avenue, not to mention the upper Midtown skyline. Drinks are in the $22 to $24 range, and the menu includes other spirits and Champagnes. If all the fab-ness has made you peckish, there's also a selection of small plates for $35-45.
Salon de Ning is on the rooftop terrace (23rd floor) of The Peninsula New York, 700 Fifth Avenue at 55th Street, map. The bar has a direct elevator from the hotel lobby.
Picture credits: Vidiot (full photoset on flickr.) View of Fifth Avenue, (top,) cooling cocktail glasses (right,) the Ning Sling (left) and the terrace at Salon de Ning.
The Bryant Park lawn opens at 5 p.m. for picnicking. You can bring blankets, but not plastic tarps. The show begins at dusk -- sometime between 8 and 9 p.m. 'wichcraft in the park also allows you to order online for picnic pickups on Summer Film Festival nights.
The full film lineup:
June 16 - "Dr. No"
June 23 - "Bride of Frankenstein"
June 30 - "Hud"
July 7 - "The Man Who Came to Dinner"
July 14 - "Fail-Safe"
July 21 - "Arsenic and Old Lace"
July 28 - "The Apartment"
August 4 - "Lifeboat"
August 11 - "The Candidate"
August 18 - "Superman"
