Sightsology
VII gallery puts photojournalist focus on Georgian War
Top-shelf photo agency VII opened their own gallery in Dumbo almost a year ago, but the current work is the first time they’re showing an exhibition designed specifically for this space with their own team’s pictures.
It also unusual as it has a very ripped-from-the headlines feel as the topic is the maybe-it’s-over-maybe-it’s-not war in Georgia.
“Georgia: The August War” showcases of the work of three VII photographers sent to cover the fighting for three different purposes. Ron Haviv was on assignment for Dispatches magazine, Marcus Bleasdale shot for Human Rights Watch, and Donald Weber was working for Newsweek.
In case there’s any doubt which Georgia, one of the portraits is of a giant Stalin mural still displayed in one of the schools damaged in this past summer’s attacks. The powerful images capture not just the brutality but the deep worry on everyone’s faces, even the children. Mixed among the destruction is a darkly comic moment on video as the photo team realizes the unexploded cluster bombs a few feet away will explode if any one of the chickens milling about merely steps on one.
The Georgia exhibition will be on display through January 5 when it comes down to make way for a series of exhibitions on war crimes in Bosnia and Iraq that will ultimately coincide with the New York Photo Festival from May 14 through 24.
The VII gallery and bookshop is located at 28 Jay Street in Brooklyn, map. Admission is free.
Picture credit: Georgian families flee their homes from around the town of Gori as Russian soldiers move deeper inside Georgian territory. © 2008 Ron Haviv.
Provided to NewYorkology by VII.
Earlier: ‘Children of Darfur’ photographs at United Nations
November 20, 2008 3:11 PM Comments (0)
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Oak Room, Oak Bar finally reopen at The Plaza hotel
 Since the storied Plaza reopened its doors in March after a controversial 3-year renovation that made the legendary hotel part condo, its luxury services have been opening its doors one by one.
The Palm Court and Champagne Bar opened in mid-March, posh shops have been opening including Vertu (which makes diamond-encrusted cell phones,) the Caudalie Spa opened at The Plaza in October.
And now its the Oak Bar and Oak Room’s turn.
A hotel official told NewYorkology that both venues opened for business last week.
Fox even has a report that the bar’s already hosted the celebrity-filled after-party for an early screening of Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman upcoming turns in stage to-screen flick “Doubt.”
See Zagat.com for pictures inside the renovated Oak Room and the full menu at Eater.
Image source: The Plaza’s official website, operated by Fairmont.
November 20, 2008 9:43 AM Comments (0)
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On the 8-minute $99 helicopter from JFK to Manhattan
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.
From vans to taxis to trains to limos, there are tons of ways to get from the airport to the city. But the fastest way to Manhattan has got to be via US Helicopter; the ride from JFK to Manhattan averages eight minutes.
And, thanks to US Helicopter’s deal with Delta, if you have the right kind of Delta ticket your flight only costs $45. It’s the same cost as a taxi, but you get to soar above the Van Wyck rather than sitting motionless atop it. (The Delta deal lasts through Dec. 31, and US Helicopter has a similar deal with Continental from Newark. Both the Delta and Continental deals give you the one-way helicopter flight for free if you’re flying in first or business classes.)
Booking the flight was a bit trickier than I’d expected, though: the Delta website priced my flight for more than I’d expected. I called up Delta reservations to find out why, and after the agent and her supervisor did a bit of digging, it turned out that only flights booked with the fare codes B, M, or H apply — which didn’t include my bare-bones nonrefundable economy fare for the rest of my trip. But, the regular US Helicopter fare of $159 has been slashed to $99 through December 31, and I thought that this was as good a chance as any to go.
 After my plane landed at JFK transferring was easy — since US Helicopter operates out of a regular gate in Delta’s terminal so I didn’t have to clear security again. (I wasn’t checking luggage, but if I had, the luggage would have transferred just like any other connection.) I made my way to gate 11, checked in, and waited about ten minutes until my flight was called. They loaded my two fellow passengers, (who were British tourists,) and me into a van for the short drive over to the helipad. When we got to the helicopter, we waited inside the van for our two pilots to start the engines, and were given a short safety briefing. After that, we boarded the helicopter, which had a comfortably plush interior (goldtone seatbelt fittings!) that would fit up to eight passengers. We taxied briefly and then the ground sank away, and we were off.
The ride was very smooth, and the cabin was well-insulated; the engine noise was louder than an airplane’s, but not so loud that you couldn’t talk or be heard over it. The views, of course, were spectacular as we made our beeline to East 34th Street.
We took a dramatic curve as we approached the heliport, and we were set down gently. We had to wait for a few seconds before we could get out, as they don’t want people on the helipads when other helicopters are landing or taking off.
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November 20, 2008 7:51 AM Comments (0)
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Abandoned Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tour set for Dec. 7
The Brooklyn Historic Railway Association has announced December 7 as the date for its next tour of the abandoned railway tunnel under Atlantic Avenue.
Be warned that you not only need to wear sturdy shoes and bring your own flashlight, but you have to enter the tunnel through a manhole at the intersection of Court Street and Atlantic Avenue.
Tours are led by Bob Diamond, who rediscovered the long-forgotten tunnel in 1980.
The tunnel was built in 1844 and stretches half a mile down toward the East River.
See NewYorkology’s pictures from one of the tunnel tours in 2007.
Picture credit: Amy Langfield/NewYorkology
Earlier: Waldorf’s lost train off-limits, other tunnels offer tours
Waldorf-Astoria’s private rail platform forever closed
November 19, 2008 2:39 PM Comments (0)
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Rock Center tree arrives Friday; lighting set for Dec. 3
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree — a 72-foot-tall Norway Spruce — will arrive in New York City on Friday, in anticipation of the lighting ceremony set for December 3.
That’s the official word from the PR team at Rockefeller Center who won’t reveal the tree’s location until midnight tonight. However, they did say this year’s tree is 40-feet in diameter, weighs 8 tons and is currently growing at a location about 90-minutes away from New York City.
The spruce will be cut down Thursday morning at 10 a.m. and hoisted onto a 115-foot trailer. You can see the Friday arrival on the Rockefeller Center treecam. And check out webcam screenshots of the tree’s arrival in 2007.
The big lighting ceremony is set for a Wednesday night, December 3. The Tree Lighting Ceremony will be broadcast live from 7 to 9 p.m. with the actual lighting set for 8:55 p.m.
After that, the tree’s lights will stay on daily from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., switching to a 24-hour schedule on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve.
The tree will remain on display above the Rock Center ice rink until January 9.
For details, call (212) 632-3975.
Update: The tree is coming from the home of the Varanyak family in Trenton/Hamilton, New Jersey.
Picture credit: The 2006 Rockefeller Center tree under scaffolding. Amy Langfield/NewYorkology
November 12, 2008 12:39 PM Comments (0)
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New tours of old Yankee Stadium added until Nov. 23
 It’s not over until the last out and everybody goes home.
Well, in this case, the last out was in September and everyone’s gone home, except the deconstruction crews — and the tour guides.
Despite yesterday’s warning that today’s tours of Yankees Stadium could be the very last ever, new dates have been added.
Tours of pre-demolition Yankee Stadium will continue through November 23, according to this morning’s update on the Yankees website.
Tickets are priced at $20 for adults, $15 for children and seniors. Use Ticketmaster or call (212) 307-1212.
November 12, 2008 10:08 AM Comments (0)
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USS New York to be christened on Veterans Day 2009
While the Intrepid was re-christened today for Veterans Day, next year’s featured guest will be the USS New York, which will be christened here on the holiday, solemnizing its construction which includes 7.5 tons of steels salvaged from the World Trade Center, NY Governor David Paterson announced.
During today’s ceremony, Bush, who was awarded the Intrepid Freedom Award, was joined on deck by Sen. Hillary Clinton, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, USS New York’s Prospective Commanding Officer F. Curtis Jones, as well as a number of bonafide war heroes from several decades.
Earlier: Veterans Day: Bush to land on Intrepid aircraft carrier
November 11, 2008 11:21 PM Comments (0)
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Veterans Day: Bush to land on Intrepid aircraft carrier
President Bush is expected to fly into JFK Airport this morning and transfer to a helicopter that will land him on the deck of the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum around 11 a.m. for Veterans Day ceremonies onboard the retired aircraft carrier.
Before retirement, the U.S.S. Intrepid survived seven bomb attacks, one torpedo hit and five kamikaze strikes during World War II. In the 1960s it was NASA’s primary recovery vehicle during the Mercury and Gemini space missions and it later served in the Vietnam War before it was decommissioned in 1974.
In 1982, it came to Manhattan to serve as a floating museum, mainly of military history. In 2006, it was infamously towed out of the mud and into drydock for repairs. The ship returned last month and reopened to the public just last weekend.
The Intrepid museum will be open to the public today from 2 to 6 p.m. only.
The Veterans Day Parade — which will stretch up Fifth Avenue from 24th to 56 streets from 11:30 a.m. — this year will also make a diversion at 42nd Street to meet the Intrepid docked in the Hudson.
The public is also invited to the Veterans Day Street Fair on 56th Street between Madison and Sixth avenues from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.
Related exhibitions include the In “Our Own Words: Portraits of Brooklyn Vietnam Veterans” at the Brooklyn Historical Society and Grant and Lee in War and Peace” at the New-York Historical Society.
Picture credit: Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.
Earlier: Growler submarine to cruise East, Hudson rivers today
Pictures of Concorde’s return to Intrepid on the Hudson
Book excerpt: epic story of legendary warship Intrepid
USS Intrepid passing Statue of Liberty on return trip
USS Intrepid prepares for Oct. 2 return to Manhattan
November 11, 2008 9:34 AM Comments (0)
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Wednesday's Yankee Stadium tours could be last ever
 The Wednesday tours of Yankee Stadium might be the last.
That’s the official word from Frank Milanesi, the tour coordinator for the New York Yankees.
The November 12 tours at noon and 1 p.m. are the final ones scheduled for the ballpark, which is already being taken apart. In fact, Monday was the first days tours permanently started skipping Monument Park, which is heading over to the new stadium next door.
Post-season Yankee Stadium tours resumed October 1, with the news that they could continue through the end of the year.
In an e-mail to NewYorkology this morning, Milanesi confirmed that Wednesday’s tours are the last ones on the schedule, “however in the event that last minute dates get added (possible) they will be posted on the web site immediately.”
Tickets are priced at $20 for adults, $15 for children and seniors. Use Ticketmaster or call (212) 307-1212.
The Yankees 2009 home opener in the new stadium is scheduled for April 16.
November 11, 2008 8:57 AM Comments (0)
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What's open Thanksgiving Day in New York City 2008
 The Macy’s 82nd Thanksgiving Day Parade is the main event in New York City on turkey day, but there are a number of other places open for business on the holiday.
In addition to the always-there, always-free attractions in New York City — such as the Brooklyn Bridge, Staten Island Ferry, Central Park and Times Square — here are some of the places you can expect to find open on November 27, 2008:
Restaurants open Thanksgiving Day
Radio City Christmas Spectacular - performances at 2, 4:30 and 8:30 p.m.
Cirque du Soleil’s “Wintuk” at Madison Square Garden - performances at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Big Apple Circus - 2 p.m. performance
Liberty and Ellis island - 9 a.m. - 5:15 p.m. (although ferry tickets are on sale for as early as 8 a.m.)
Empire State Building open from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. (Last elevator goes up at 1:15 a.m.)
Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock open from 8 a.m. to midnight (Last elevator goes up at 11 p.m.)
Rock N Roll Hall of Fame Annex tickets sold from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Broadway Thanksgiving Week schedule includes Thanksgiving Day performances at “Avenue Q,” “Chicago,” “Spring Awakening,” “Phantom of the Opera” and White Christmas” — all are 8 p.m. shows
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November 10, 2008 1:45 PM Comments (0)
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