The Panorama of the City of New York

I never thought I would say this but Robert Moses really wow’d me… in a good way. About a week ago I went to visit the “Panorama of the City of New York” at the Queens Museum of Art. I had heard rumors that this ongoing exhibit at QMA was a model created in the exact image of the entire city of New York. Impossible, I thought. How could that be true? How could Robert Moses find the time to dedicate 3 years and 100 people to rebuilding a mini- New York City when he was already so busy turning the already existing one into a car culture?

Well believe it. I saw it with my own eyes… and I took pictures! The Panorama of the City of New York DOES exist, and it is wonderful. My friend and I spent over an hour and a half studying the variations in districts, boroughs, architecture and park structure. Here are some interesting facts about the Panorama of the City of New York:

– It was built for the 1964- 65 World’s Fair

– It was intended to help with city planning prior to be exhibited at the fair

– It’s 9335 square feet!

– It includes EVERY SINGLE BUILDING in the entirety of New York City built before 1992 (resulting in a total of 895,000)

– The Panorama took 3 years and 100 people to build

– Raymond Lester Associates were an original hand in the making of the Panorama, and Lester updated it again in 1992 changing over 60,000 structures!

Now for the pictures of the Panorama of the City of New York:

 

This is a view of Manhattan looking South on the "Panorama of the City of New York." Constructed for the 1964 World's Fair by Robert Moses and Raymod Lester. Updated by Lester in 1992

 

View of Midtown Manhattan in the "Panorama of the City of New York." Constructed by Raymond Lester and Robert Moses in 1964. Now on view at the Queens Museum of Art.

 

Prospect Park in the "Panorama of the City of New York." Ongoing exhibition at the Queens Museum of Art constructed by Robert Moses and Raymond Lester for the 1964 World's Fair.

 

A view of beautiful Brooklyn in the "Panorama of the City of New York." Can be seen indefinatley at the Queens Museum of Art

 

Queens and Manhattan in Robert Moses' and Raymond Lester's "Panorama of the City of New York."

 

Brooklyn in the "Panorama of the City of New York." Constructed by Richard Haymond and Robert Moses for the 1964 World's Fair. Now showing at the Queens Museum of Art

The Queens Museum of Art will have the Panorama of the City of New York as a constant exhibit. 

QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART INFO:

Museum Summer Hours
Wednesday – Sunday: noon – 6 pm
Friday: noon – 8 pm

Location
New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens NY 11368
TEL: 718 592 9700

Admission
Admission is by suggested donation. Adults: $5 
Senior and Children: $2.50 
Members and Children
under five: Free

WWW.QUEENSMUSEUM.ORG

C.A.

Pool Parties at the Williambsburg Waterfront. Dirty Projectors do the 1st of Many.

Sunday I went to the Dirty Projector’s show at the Williamsburg waterfront’s “Pool Parties.” The name “Pool Party” may be minorly deceiving to those of us who came equipped wearing bathing suits and swimmies, but the party was defanatley on. There are so many great things about this thing. First- off it’s FREE! Secondly, they have an awesome lineup that includes Girl- Talk and Grizzly Bear (who’s playing on my birthday). After you get over the great free concerts, you also can factor in the fact that the bands play with a background of the Manhattan Skyline. It’s not only beautiful, but from a Brooklyn-er’s perspective it’s a wonderful slap in the face saying Manhattan could never touch this!

There’s also great places to relax and tan on the grass if you’re into that sort of thing, designated dogeball and baskctball courts that hold endless tournaments during the event and beer tents (pricey, but affordable given the fact that you didn’t have to pay for the show). Check out some photos from Sunday’s Concert of the Dirty Projectors:

 

The Dirty Projectors performing their opening song at the Pool Parties on the Williamsburg waterfront.

This was the first band that went on at the Williamsburg waterfront Pool Parties last weekend.

Glorious view of the Manhattan skyline. Perfect backdrop for awesome band performances.

Along with a view of the Manhattan skyline we got a view of some good ol' Williamsburg gentrification.

Pool Parties in Williamsburg is also a great place to enjoy the sun.

Me being silly and enjoying the sun in my bathing suit.

 

Dirty Projectors performing their hit song, Stillness is the Move at Pool Parties last weekend.

 

Converse stuck an interactive corporate hand in the Williamsburg waterfront Pool Parties. I wonder if all of the shoes ended up being colored in.

 

The official schedule for this summer's Pool Parties in Williamsburg.

Coney Island’s Siren Festival; How it hit me.

So Saturday was Coney Island’s Siren Festival. The Village Voice has been promoting the shit out of this thing. I think it’s their little baby every summer. And why wouldn’t you want to let it be known to New York that you were responsible for an all day free festival featuring hip bands like the Raveonettes and Built to Spill in Coney Island? Reason to brag, right?

I suppose so. I did have fun at Siren Festival. Believe me. And how couldn’t I? I got to watch Grand Duchy play on a beautiful day with the background of the Cyclone… all for free. But I found as time ran on I got tired of running back and forth, zig- zagging in and out of the masses of people who didn’t care about the festival at all from stage 1 to stage to to catch the band I wanted to see. By 6 p.m. I was exhausted, and I had only been there a couple of hours. I said adios to my friends pretending like I was going home and indulged in the Coney Island Freak show.

 

View of stage 2 at the Village Voice's 2009 Siren Festival in Coney Island

This scene and the knowledge that I was at a free festival made me think I was at a Grateful Dead show.

 

View of Stage 1 in front of the Cyclone, and the grand Grand Duchy's performance.

 

I left the Raveonettes to go see the MC for the freakshow bargin with the crowd. He lowered admission prices to $3.

Yes, I actually did pay 50 cents to see the Giant Rat, which in reality... is a gofer.

 

After the gofer- incident I knew better then to pay to see the Giant Snake.

 

I must admit I was tempted to see the Headless Woman, but I stayed strong and saved my 50 cents for a much- needed Capri Sun.

New York’s Summer of Weird Clouds

 

Bushwick does dramatic clouds.

 

And earlier that same day...

Has anyone else noticed that along with the weather being so weird in New York this summer… so have the clouds? Take a look at these two pictures I took in Bushwick in the same area on the same day. I have been absolutely fascinated with this summer’s weather. Especially the clouds, so if anyone has any pictures please share!

 

C.A.

2009 Bastille Festival; Who Knew the French Partied in Brooklyn?

I had no idea what a Bastille Festival was, or that French people ever came to party in Brooklyn… but it’s New York and everything is not only possible, but probable. Here are some photos from Smith Street’s 2009 Bastille Festival which included:

– The World’s 2nd largest Pentanque Tournamen

– Fine wine

– Skateboarding exhbitionanists sponsored by Homage (Skate Shop on Smith Street)

– The Bar Tabac hosting a classic- rock coverband after the festival. The bar was packed with drunk people dancing to Free- bird and Lay- Down Sally! It was awesome. 

– and really loud Spanish Music emulating from Mexican Restaraunt Coco Rocco. (Don’t you love it when the Latin American’s and teen-age skateboarders take over the French Party)?

 

Never knew what Petanque was or that people in Brooklyn played it, but they cleared out a whole block on Smith Street for it so it must be important.

 

I wasn't there to see the band, but the aftermath seemed pretty sweet.

 

Some people conjuring up some fun and mischief outside the Bar Tabac.

 

This ended up just serving as a drink stand.

 

I hope they got the sand for Smith Street's Pentanque Tournament from Coney Island

 

Homage set up their skateboarding section right in front of the store I work at, We the Free... and we were happy to have an all day show!

 

A bunch of people crowded around a guy breakdancing wearin a V- for- Vendetta mask (who I think usually performs at the Union Square stop on the L).

 

Brooklyn Skaters enjoying the Bastille Festival. Not very french, but very Brooklyn!

 

Who said the G train never lead to nothin’! Supposed to be more festivities on Bastille’s actual celebration day, this Tuesday.

 

C.A.

Brooklyn Cats

Brooklyn, we run hard.

This Little Kitty is always hanging outside "The Vault" on Bogart Street, Bushwick

 

I found this poor guy on a factory road near Greenwood Cemetary... how appropriate. It was hard to tell if he got run over or if he was lying down due to the heat and then got run over. I feel as if cats are rarely the victim of straight up roadkill.

2009 Coney Island Mermaid Parade

Ahhhh, yes, the Mermaid Parade. While this was my first year of the Mermaid Parade, I still only made it to the tail (or flipper) end. This didn’t stop me from witnessing some amazingly constructed costumes and wonderfully creative people!

 

 

Little Mermaid Girl 

 

I saw this (man?) on the subway before going to the parade. Amazing! 

 

Gotta love Brooklyn’s bold and daring. 

 

Stealin’ the show. 

 

Goes to show the MTA really does have their hand in everything. 

 

Straight from the NYC sewers. 

 

Awesome Man 

 

I actually do believe this woman is, in fact, a Mermaid. 

 

Although it was less shocking than many other costumes, I loved what this woman did with the back of her gown. 

All photos by Cat Agonis.

 

C.A.