The New Victorians » new york

UNDERCITY

ethan — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:09:13 +0000

Click here to view the embedded video.

Andrew Wonder and Steve Duncan head to the underground of the city. Its a heart thumping short film, but obviously this is not for the normal city explorer.

For example if you wish to do some of these explorations without getting arrested the Brooklyn Atlantic Avenue tunnel has tours for a look at the oldest subway tunnel in NY. The NY Transit Museum has tours once and a while of the City Hall station (none in the near future). Also check out Open House New York for tons of open NY items like the abandoned hospital on Ellis Island, and subway power stations.

Park Slope YMCA Roof Top

ethan — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 20:01:03 +0000

Last night we were invited to a Park Slope Civic Council event on the roof of the YMCA on 9th St. The view was perfect while the sun was setting and I couldn’t resist taking a panorama shot. Click on the image to see more detail.

Brooklyn House Tour Listing for Spring 2010

ethan — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 15:30:00 +0000

The 2010 Spring Brooklyn House Tour Listing is almost complete. We are excited to attend a few of these great events around Brooklyn this year. Will you be joining us?

30th Annual Fort Greene House Tour
Sunday May 2, 2010 from 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Tickets: $20 or $25 day of event
Website and purchase tickets

26th Annual Brooklyn Heights Association House and Garden Tour
Saturday May 8, 2010 from 1:00pm – 5:00pm
Tickets: $40
Website and purchase tickets

51st Annual Park Slope House Tour
Sunday May 16, 2010 from 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Tickets $20
Website and purchase tickets

Victorian Flatbush House Tour
Sunday June 13th, 2010 from 1:00pm – 6:00pm
Tickets $20 or $25 day of event
Website and purchase tickets

13th Annual Brownstone Brooklyn Garden District Walk
Website
(Has not been listed yet)

40th Annual Prospect Lefferts Gardens House and Garden Tour
Website
(Has not been listed yet)

I LEGO NY BOOK

ethan — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 07:08:39 +0000

Remember these LEGO photographs from February 2009 in the NYT City Blog? Well the Illustrator Christoph Niemann has made a book about his creative LEGO pieces.

Urban Center Books Temporarily Closing | NYC Museum of Complaint

ethan — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 03:44:42 +0000

Credit: Paul Soulellis

The Municipal Arts Society is moving to a new location later this month, and its bookstore Urban Center Books is having a large sale until Jan. 23, 2010. The good news is that much of their stock is down 40% from the cover price. The bad news for New York is that one of our best architecturally-curated bookstores is closing (even if only temporarily). The MAS site states the new store should be open by Fall 2010.

One of the more quirky books we purchased while visiting the sale this weekend was “New York City Museum of Complaint – Municipal Collection 1751-1969″. Here is some of the info on this book from the publisher Steidl Miles:

“The New York City Museum of Complaint is a collection of 132 letters written to the Mayor of New York between 1751 and 1969. Selected from the municipal archives and presented chronologically, the letters address a range of issues from dead animals in the street to swindles, capitalism, and corruption. From civil rights, adventuresses, bad luck, and broken hearts to noise and other people. These are the communiqués of dissatisfaction over the course of a city’s evolution.

The strength of this collection lies in its striking ability to capture the spirit of the city as defined by its critics and crusaders. New York City has long been perceived as a place where personal expression flourishes. These civic documents are historical embodiments of the language, wit and energy that helped forge the City’s reputation. From the passionate defense of street musicians to dedicated battles with drycleaners, police officers, pushcart peddlers and hooligans, a chorus emerges that articulates the challenges and inherent absurdity of metropolitan life.”

by Matthew Bakkom
Steidl Miles
ISBN: 978-3-86521-745-5
Publication date: August 2009

This is an entry from Dec. 9th, 1891 in the book “Museum of Complaint”
“Mayor Grant
Dear Sir,
I write you to ask you if you will kindly send me a medal that will entitle me to protect abuse of my fellow creatures that I come in contact with from day to day – it is not long since I saw an officer dragging a drunken woman by her hair. I got out of a street car to protect her. I spoke kindly to her; and told the officer that she was going into the ‘tremens.’ That he should be kind to her, & see that she was taken to an hospital. Tears came into the poor creatures eyes, and she said “God bless you marm”! I have always been the friend of the oppressed, and I ask this medal in remembrance of the work I have done for the past twenty years in this city & State, without remuneration. Enclosed find synopsis & notices of my work.

With all good wishes, –
I am Very Respectfully Linda Gilbert,
Prisoner’s Friend.

P.S.
Be assured Sir the ‘privilege’ I ask, if granted, never, in any way, be misused.
L.G.”

Here is another written on March 2, 1914 re-linked from the publishers page.