The city of Paris has some of the world's most beautiful fountains. One of the prettiest fountains can be found near the Obelisque at the Place de la Concorde.
The two fountains in the Place de la Concorde have been the most famous of the fountains built during the time of Louis-Philippe, and came to symbolize the fountains in Paris. They were designed by Jacques-Ignace Hittorff, a student of the Neoclassical designer Charles Percier at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. The German-born Hittorff had served as the official Architect of Festivals and Ceremonies for the deposed King, and had spent two years studying the architecture and fountains of Italy.
Hittorff's two fountains were on the theme of rivers and seas, in part because of their proximity to the Ministry of Navy on the Place de la Concorde, and to the Seine. Their arrangement, on a north-south axis aligned with the obelisk of Luxor, and the Rue Royale, and the form of the fountains themselves, were influenced by the fountains of Rome, particularly Piazza Navona and the Piazza San Pietro, both of which had obelisks aligned with fountains.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
NYC - Only, Only ... Flatiron Building
The Flatiron Building, or Fuller Building as it was originally called, is located at 175 Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, and is considered to be one of the first skyscrapers ever built. Upon completion in 1902 it was one of the tallest buildings in New York City. The building sits on a triangular island block at 23rd Street, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway, anchoring the south (downtown) end of Madison Square.
The neighborhood around the building is called the Flatiron District after its signature building, which has become an icon of New York.
Today, the Flatiron Building is frequently seen on television commercials and documentaries as an easily recognizable symbol of the city, shown, for instance, in the opening credits of The Late Show With David Letterman or in scenes of New York City that are shown during scene transitions in the show "Friends".
The neighborhood around the building is called the Flatiron District after its signature building, which has become an icon of New York.
Today, the Flatiron Building is frequently seen on television commercials and documentaries as an easily recognizable symbol of the city, shown, for instance, in the opening credits of The Late Show With David Letterman or in scenes of New York City that are shown during scene transitions in the show "Friends".
Monday, September 20, 2010
NYC - Times Square @night
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. The extended Times Square area, also called the Theatre District, consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eighth Avenues from east to west, and West 40th and West 53rd Streets from south to north, making up the western part of the commercial area of Midtown Manhattan.
Formerly named Longacre Square, Times Square was renamed in April 1904 after the New York Times moved its headquarters to the newly erected Times Building, which is now called One Times Square and is the site of the annual ball drop on New Years Eve. Times Square, nicknamed "The Crossroads of the World" and "The Great White Way," has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and is a symbol of New York City and the United States.
Formerly named Longacre Square, Times Square was renamed in April 1904 after the New York Times moved its headquarters to the newly erected Times Building, which is now called One Times Square and is the site of the annual ball drop on New Years Eve. Times Square, nicknamed "The Crossroads of the World" and "The Great White Way," has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and is a symbol of New York City and the United States.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
NYC - Brooklyn & Manhattan Bridges
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River. With a main span of 1,595.5 feet (486.3 m), it was the longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903, and the first steel-wire suspension bridge.
The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan (at Canal Street) with Brooklyn. It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges.
The River Café, located on a barge beside the Brooklyn Bridge, is an elegant restaurant where old-money New Yorkers and people who want to impress their dates gather for special occasions. It is incredibly romantic, with a spectacular view of lower Manhattan right outside the window and beautiful flowers blanketing the room.
The Manhattan Bridge is a suspension bridge that crosses the East River in New York City, connecting Lower Manhattan (at Canal Street) with Brooklyn. It was the last of the three suspension bridges built across the lower East River, following the Brooklyn and the Williamsburg bridges.
The River Café, located on a barge beside the Brooklyn Bridge, is an elegant restaurant where old-money New Yorkers and people who want to impress their dates gather for special occasions. It is incredibly romantic, with a spectacular view of lower Manhattan right outside the window and beautiful flowers blanketing the room.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
NYC - Manhattan skyline & Manhattan Bridge @sunset
A great "new yorky" thing to do is to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge and get an amazing view of the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn.
Indeed most visitors choose to walk over the Brooklyn bridge to find the perfect view of Manhattan's iconic skyline.
Indeed most visitors choose to walk over the Brooklyn bridge to find the perfect view of Manhattan's iconic skyline.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
NYC - Chrysler Building
The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Standing at 319 metres, it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931. After the destruction of the World Trade Center, it was again the second-tallest building in New York City until December 2007, when the spire was raised on the 365.8-metre Bank of America Tower, pushing the Chrysler Building into third position. In addition, The New York Times Building which opened in 2007, is exactly level with the Chrysler Building in height.
The Chrysler Building is a classic example of Art Deco architecture and considered by many contemporary architects to be one of the finest buildings in New York City. In 2007, it was ranked ninth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects. It was the headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation from 1930 until the mid 1950's, but although the building was built and designed specifically for the car manufacturer, the corporation didn't pay for the construction of it and never owned it, as Walter P. Chrysler decided to pay for it himself, in order for his children to inherit it.
The Chrysler Building is a classic example of Art Deco architecture and considered by many contemporary architects to be one of the finest buildings in New York City. In 2007, it was ranked ninth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects. It was the headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation from 1930 until the mid 1950's, but although the building was built and designed specifically for the car manufacturer, the corporation didn't pay for the construction of it and never owned it, as Walter P. Chrysler decided to pay for it himself, in order for his children to inherit it.
NYC - Chrysler Building
The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Standing at 319 metres, it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State Building in 1931. After the destruction of the World Trade Center, it was again the second-tallest building in New York City until December 2007, when the spire was raised on the 365.8-metre Bank of America Tower, pushing the Chrysler Building into third position. In addition, The New York Times Building which opened in 2007, is exactly level with the Chrysler Building in height.
The Chrysler Building is a classic example of Art Deco architecture and considered by many contemporary architects to be one of the finest buildings in New York City. In 2007, it was ranked ninth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects. It was the headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation from 1930 until the mid 1950's, but although the building was built and designed specifically for the car manufacturer, the corporation didn't pay for the construction of it and never owned it, as Walter P. Chrysler decided to pay for it himself, in order for his children to inherit it.
The Chrysler Building is a classic example of Art Deco architecture and considered by many contemporary architects to be one of the finest buildings in New York City. In 2007, it was ranked ninth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects. It was the headquarters of the Chrysler Corporation from 1930 until the mid 1950's, but although the building was built and designed specifically for the car manufacturer, the corporation didn't pay for the construction of it and never owned it, as Walter P. Chrysler decided to pay for it himself, in order for his children to inherit it.
Monday, September 13, 2010
NYC - Fast & Furious Yellow Cabs
The taxicabs of New York City, with their distinctive yellow paint, are a widely recognized icon of the city. Taxicabs are operated by private companies and licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. The Commission is a New York City government agency that is best known for its responsibility for the more than 13,237 taxis operating in the city. It also oversees over 40,000 other for-hire vehicles, including "black cars", commuter vans and ambulettes. "Medallion taxis," the familiar yellow cabs, are the only vehicles in the city permitted to pick up passengers in response to a street hail.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
NYC - Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886. The statue, a gift to the United States from the people of France, is of a robed female figure representing Libertas, the Roman goddess of freedom, who bears a torch and a tabula ansata (a tablet evoking the law) upon which is inscribed the date of American independence. A broken chain lies at her feet. The statue has become an iconic symbol of freedom and of the United States.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
September 11, 2010 Marks Nine-Year Anniversary of World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks
September 11, 2010 Marks Nine-Year Anniversary of World Trade Center Terrorist Attacks
Originally uploaded by GlobeTrotter 2000
A photograph of the NYC skyline without the World Trade Center as viewed from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade.
The Promenade, actually an esplanade, cantilevered over the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (BQE) is a favorite spot among locals, offering magnificent vistas of the Statue of Liberty, the Manhattan skyline across the East River, as well as views of the Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan Bridge. It is a popular tourist destination for the Macy's July 4 fireworks, and for the unobstructed views of the skyline.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
NYC - Brooklyn Bridge Panorama
Walk Across the Brooklyn Bridge. One of the most famous bridges in the nation, the Brooklyn Bridge is located in New York City. It is one of the oldest and largest suspension bridges in the nation and spans more than a mile across the East River. For a time, it was even the longest suspension bridge in the world.
The bridge connects the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. In 1964, the bridge became a National Historic Landmark, a National Historic Engineering Landmark in 1983, and it is one of the most iconic pieces of New York.
One of the most popular things to do while in New York City is to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Not everyone knows that this is possible, but close to 5,000 pedestrians and more than 2,500 cyclists cross the bridge in this manner everyday. The walk takes at least half an hour, but most people spend far more time on the bridge, taking pictures and reading the plaques that detail the history of the bridge and the city, as well as point out some interesting sights.
The bridge connects the boroughs of Brooklyn and Manhattan. In 1964, the bridge became a National Historic Landmark, a National Historic Engineering Landmark in 1983, and it is one of the most iconic pieces of New York.
One of the most popular things to do while in New York City is to walk the Brooklyn Bridge. Not everyone knows that this is possible, but close to 5,000 pedestrians and more than 2,500 cyclists cross the bridge in this manner everyday. The walk takes at least half an hour, but most people spend far more time on the bridge, taking pictures and reading the plaques that detail the history of the bridge and the city, as well as point out some interesting sights.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
NYC - Times Square reflections
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets. The extended Times Square area, also called the Theatre District, consists of the blocks between Sixth and Eighth Avenues from east to west, and West 40th and West 53rd Streets from south to north, making up the western part of the commercial area of Midtown Manhattan.
Formerly named Longacre Square, Times Square was renamed in April 1904 after the New York Times moved its headquarters to the newly built Times Building, which is now called One Times Square and is the site of the annual ball drop on New Years Eve. Times Square, nicknamed "The Crossroads of the World" and "The Great White Way", has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and is a symbol of New York City and the United States.
Formerly named Longacre Square, Times Square was renamed in April 1904 after the New York Times moved its headquarters to the newly built Times Building, which is now called One Times Square and is the site of the annual ball drop on New Years Eve. Times Square, nicknamed "The Crossroads of the World" and "The Great White Way", has achieved the status of an iconic world landmark and is a symbol of New York City and the United States.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
NYC Yellow Cab
The taxicabs of New York City, with their distinctive yellow paint, are a widely recognized icon of the city. Taxicabs are operated by private companies and licensed by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. The Commission is a New York City government agency that is best known for its responsibility for the more than 13,237 taxis operating in the city. It also oversees over 40,000 other for-hire vehicles, including "black cars", commuter vans and ambulettes. "Medallion taxis," the familiar yellow cabs, are the only vehicles in the city permitted to pick up passengers in response to a street hail.
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