Above the upper level rotunda, Saya Woolfalk’s creatures engage the mind to a land far beyond delayed trains and angry commuters. Here, as part of her science fiction project, “The Empathics,” is a fictional race of women fused with plants. The collage is almost 30 feet across. Photo: Ralph Spielman The Art of Penn Station When you pass through the main areas of the Upper Level at Penn Station, and look up, you will notice a change for the better.... City Arts 23 Jun 2022 | 04:50
Mina Kim, conductor of the Purchase Symphony Orchestra, was one of two pianists for the starting event of the day at Battery Park. Photo: Ralph Spielman Make Music America, New York Style June 21 dawned as an average day in Manhattan, but, by sunset, a lot of tired musicians and listeners had the rare experience... City Arts 22 Jun 2022 | 12:19
Governor Kathy Hochul announces on Tuesday, May 31 that the East Side Access project from Long Island to Grand Central would open before the end of the year. With Rep. Carolyn Maloney (left), who was instrumental in obtaining federal funding for the project. Photo: Ralph Spielman Introducing Grand Central Madison In a press conference on Tuesday morning, held in the almost-completed 700,000-square-foot Long Island Rail Road terminal... News 02 Jun 2022 | 10:19
A brand new entrance at Times Square will benefit many subway riders. From here, accessible direct access is available to the Times Square Shuttle via a brand-new state of the art elevator. Photo: Ralph Spielman A New Entrance to the City’s Busiest Subway Station With a fully accessible ADA-compliant MTA Times Square Shuttle, a much-needed link in the revitalized facility opened on... Home 18 May 2022 | 11:30
Don’t miss the train! From a Gustavo-tiled reproduction station to a Ric Burns documentary film about NYC’s transformation into a cultural and financial hub, it’s difficult to tell what is real and what is not in this picture. Photo: Ralph Spielman Rise NY is Worth the Visit Open as of March 2, RiseNY snaps the most jaded of Manhattanites out of a pandemic malaise with a transformation for everyone... News 04 Mar 2022 | 10:36
At Newark Airport Terminal C, mask-wearers were about 99%; while US Federal Law mandates masking in all transportation facilities, some individuals weren’t wearing them. There were no reprimands. Photo: Ralph Spielman International Travel in COVID Times: Stay Home or Good to Go? The last 20 months have wreaked physical, mental and emotional havoc on our entire population. We aren’t completely through... News 28 Nov 2021 | 12:34
The Market’s Food Hall is filled with space and light; dining tables and chairs are to the right. Tapas bar Oliva, towards the rear, the newest addition to the space, opened at the end of September. Photo: Ralph Spielman Destination Dining at Manhattanville Market Take Manhattanville, a tiny former industrial chunk of Manhattan; add a chef who knows what he’s doing, mix new dining choices... News 29 Oct 2021 | 11:34
The main gallery, Air, makes for interesting perceptions, between all the mirrored surfaces, and four of the five New York City boroughs at your feet. Designed by Kenzo Digital. Photo: Ralph Spielman Manhattan Reaches a New Plateau When developer SL Green opened the 77-story One Vanderbilt skyscraper last year, they saved the best for last. The 1401-foot-tall... News 14 Oct 2021 | 02:13
Under the tulips: Mayor Bill de Blasio tours the new Little Island with Barry Diller on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office ( Michael Appleton) Little Island Opens Just in Time for Summer New York’s newest free public park, the $260 million Little Island, largely funded by The Diller – von Furstenberg Family... News 21 May 2021 | 02:44
With fears of COVID, the precautions taken by the Graceland Museum in Memphis are quick to answer pandemic questions for every visitor. Photo: Ralph Spielman Beyond the Northeast: A Pandemic Car Trip to Tennessee For New Yorkers, the pandemic had made traveling outside the Northeast virtually impossible. Different comfort levels have... News 14 Apr 2021 | 09:20
I took the #1 local train from the West 110th Street station to the World Trade Center station, and at no time were there more than six people in my car. After Houston Street (seen here), I was the only passenger in the car for about four local stops. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) A First Trip Back to FiDi Since returning home from a train trip across Canada in mid-March, I have followed Governor Cuomo’s suggestion to stay close... News 04 Jun 2020 | 03:22
