Revson Fountain at Lincoln Center

The windows of our Brown Harris Stevens office, located directly across the street from Lincoln Center, offer a front row seat to the Josie Robertson Plaza. The Plaza, which is surrounded by the Metropolitan Opera House, David Geffen Hall (formerly known as Avery Fisher Hall) and the David Koch Theater (formerly the New York State Theater), is often referred to as the gateway to Lincoln Center. In the center of it all is the crown jewel, the Revson Fountain, completed and dedicated on April 6, 1964.

The view of Revson Fountain from Brown Harris Stevens West Side office

Lincoln Center, constructed in the 1960’s, was part of the “Lincoln Square Renewal Project” during Robert Moses’ program of urban renewal. The construction of the original Revson Fountain, designed by Philip Johnson, was made possible by a gift from the Revson Foundation in honor of Revlon’s founder, Charles H. Revson. When first built, it was the most technologically advanced fountain in New York. Over the years, the fountain has been immortalized in the scenes of countless films and television productions, including: The Producers (1968), Godspell (1973), Manhattan (1979), Ghostbusters (1984),  Moonstruck (1987),  Sweet Home Alabama (2002) and Black Swan (2010).

In 2006, Diller Scofidio + Renfro took on the role of lead designers of a $1.3-billion Lincoln Center redevelopment project. The plan was to include improvements to the arts complex, the addition of two new restaurants, a roof garden, two groves, as well as work to several of the plaza’s entrances. The Charles H. Revson Foundation contributed to the project by awarding a $4 million multi-year grant in support of the redesign of the Fountain.

Dubai Fountain

Completed in 2009, Diller Scofidio’s design replaced Johnson’s bulkier granite base with a thin Cambrian black granite ring that rests on slender steel supports, opening up the view across the Plaza in all directions.  The water level of the fountain’s basin, lowered to match the pavement level, contributes to the illusion that spectators are standing on top of the water. WET Design (Water Entertainment Technologies), a Los Angeles based water features firm best known for designing some of the most famous modern fountains in the world including, the Dubai Fountain and the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, was brought on to completely redo the fountain’s innards. WET, led by co-founder Mark Fuller, designed water features controlled by 353 nozzles encompassing 36 mIcroshooters, 149 smooth bore analog nozzles and 168 aerating analog nozzles, all working together to create a show of choreographed alternating, pulsing and continuously flowing streams of water that can shoot more than 40 feet high. The water shows are on a set schedule that vary from season to season. Visit: http://www.lincolncenter.org/visit for a current schedule.

Bellagio Fountain

For more information about the renovation and the fountain’s architect, read the article “Water Music” by John Seabrook in the January 11, 2010 issue of the New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/01/11/water-music-2

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Pamela Ajhar

Cleopatra's Needle in Central Park

The oldest outdoor monument in New York City is hidden in plain sight, just behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the eastern side of Central Park. Standing 70 feet tall and weighing 220 tons, the Obelisk, also known as Cleopatra’s Needle, was placed there in 1881. But it dates back to over 3,500 years ago, when Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III commissioned the construction of a pair of obelisks in 1460 B.C. in celebration of 30 years of reign. Both monuments were placed on the banks of the Nile River in the ancient city of Heliopolis where they stood for over 1,500 years. In 18 A.D. the Roman conquerors moved them both to a new location at the entrance of the Ceasarium; a temple built to honor Julius Caesar, in the city of Alexandria, Egypt.

The entrance to the Caesarium

The set of obelisks remained together in Alexandria until 1869, when the Khedive of Egypt gave one as a gift to the United States to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal. The feat of transporting and erecting it at its new location in Central Park would take another 12 years. On January 22, 1881, thousands came to the park to witness as the monument was turned upright. A time capsule containing an 1870 U.S. Census, the Bible, a Webster’s Dictionary, the complete works of Shakespeare, a guidebook to Egypt, a copy of the Declaration of Independence and a small box with a secret content were all buried beneath it. The other Obelisk was moved to London in 1878 where it still stands on the banks of the Thames River.

Alexandrian, Egypt - Photo: Metropolitan Museum

Once the fanfare faded, trees began to grow tall around it and the hieroglyphics that lined all four sides began to decay. So much so that in 2011, the Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Zahi Hawass, sent a letter to Mayor Bloomberg and the Central Park Conservancy threatening to remove it unless steps were taken to clean and conserve it. From 2013 through 2014, a restoration project was undertaken, to clean the monument with lasers, repair the cracks and place a protective coating to help with future preservation.

Notice the claws at the base

On one of my recent walks through the Park, I went to visit this amazing piece of history for the very first time. I have probably walked past it a thousand times, but now that I know more about it, I will be sure to stop by whenever I am in the area. It is really quite a marvelous spectacle.

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Dante Park

The crisscross of Columbus Avenue and Broadway in the Lincoln Square area forms two triangular parcels of land. Dante Park, also referred to as one half of the bowtie (the other half is Richard Tucker Square), occupies one of those triangles. It sits directly across from Lincoln Center between 63rd and 64th Street and is one of 77 public parks located in Manhattan. Both parks were once known as Empire Park until they were split into Empire Park North and Empire Park South.

In 1921, the southern portion was renamed Dante Park in memory of the great Florentine writer, Dante Alighieri. A nine-and-one-half foot bronze monument of Dante, by Artist Ettore Ximenes (1855-1926) perched on top of a large granite pedestal sits at the base of the park. Dante, best known for his epic poem, The Divine Comedy, had an interesting life story, but I would rather tell you more about how this statue came to reside her.

Dante Park in 1921, Courtesy of the New York Public Library

Carlo Barsotti was the founder of the Il Progresso Italo-Americano newspaper, the first Italian daily newspaper in the United States, published in New York City from 1880 to 1988. He was known for having grandiose ideas.  Having already raised funds, (mostly through donations from his newspaper’s readers), to have statues of four other renowned Italians placed in prominent locations throughout the city, he was determined to find an equally important place for a statue of Dante. Statues he already successfully had erected included, General Giuseppe Garibaldi (1888) in Washington Square Park, Christopher Columbus (1892) in Columbus Circle, composer, Giuseppe Verdi (1906) in Verdi Square and Giovanni da Verrazano (1909) in Battery Park. In 1912, he began working on his plan to have a massive monument of Dante placed in Times Square. The first statue, at 50 feet tall, was rejected by the Art Commission and the Times Square location plan also backfired. Finally, after 9 years and a  much smaller version ,Empire Park was finally chosen as the new location and the park was renamed for Dante.

TimeSculpture by Philip Johnson

In 1999, “TimeSculpture” by architect Philip Johnson was installed in the northern point of the park. The four clock faces have recently been removed for restoration. As part of the city’s goal of improving the traffic flow in the area and adding more pedestrian and seating areas, the triangle was recently expanded and more tables and chairs were added. The Lincoln Square BID does a great job helping to keep the park clean and green and this week it hosted the 17th annual Winter’s Eve Festival, a huge holiday celebration that included a grand ceremonial tree lighting of a 25’ Balsam Fir Christmas tree in Dante Park. The decorated tree is lit each evening throughout the holidays.

Christmas Tree with Lincoln Center across the street

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Central Park Lake Boat Landings

In my opinion, the best time to visit Central Park is in the Fall. The air is cool and crisp, the foliage display is breathtaking and the summer crowd has somewhat dispersed. And this year, there is another good reason. The Central Park Conservancy has just completed a two-year reconstruction project of five boat landings that sit along the 18-acre shoreline of Central Park Lake. The restorations included Wagner Cove, rustic in style and Western Shore, Hernshead and Bow Bridge, which are more Victorian inspired. A fifth rustic landing called Chambers, which had once existed on the Ramble shoreline was re-installed as part of the project.

Western Shore Landing

Hernshead Landing with Hernshead Rock in the distance (Named for the Herons that were often found in the Park)

Chambers Landing

Bow Bridge Landing with Bow Bridge in the Background

To give you a little historical background, six boat landings were installed along the lake beginning in the 1860’s, which included a grand boathouse designed by Calvert Vaux, completed in 1872. They were meant to enhance the scenery of the park, but were also functional landings for recreational boats that for the fare of 10 cents would make the circuit around the lake to pick up and dispatch visitors. Boats would also stop at the Bethesda Fountain. Over time, all of these structures deteriorated. The boat house was rebuilt in 1924 with a more rustic wooden structure and then replaced again in 1953, through a donation by Carl and Adeline Loeb, now known as The Loeb Boathouse. The five boat landings were also removed and four were rebuilt in the 1970’s by the Friends of Central Park and the Parks Department, but much of the original details were lost. Over time, these four landings fell into disrepair and Bow Bridge and Wagner Landings were also vandalized.

The Grand Boathouse deigned by Calvert Vaux and built in 1872

The electric boats

The new landings are more faithful recreations of the originals. Earlier this month, 2 electric boats, similar to those found on the lake in the early 1900’s, were brought back to celebrate the completion of the project and to take city officials on a tour of the new landings. My father, Julian Korn, happened to be in the park that day and took some great photos. He also assisted me on this post by serving as my consultant and expert photographer. You can visit the park and access all, using the footpath that circles the lake or better yet, by rowboat. A fleet of 100 rowboats are available for rent at the Loeb Boathouse or if you would prefer someone to do the work for you, a Venetian gondola complete with gondolier can be hired.

To learn more, visit the Central Park Conservancy web page.
http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/lake-boat-landings.html

I just had to post this video of a bunch of Central Park pirates: https://improveverywhere.com/2014/11/05/pirates-of-central-park/

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Pamela Ajhar

Firemen's Monument 9/11

Firemen's Monument - September 11th Tribute

1,170 New York City Firefighters have died in the line of duty since 1865 when the City officially took control of the volunteer department. Of those deaths, 343 perished between 9:59 and 10:28am on September 11th, 2001, during the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. This Sunday, September 11, 2016, marks the 15th anniversary of that tragic day. As the sister and niece of 2 retired members of the FDNY, I would like to dedicate this post to all the brave firefighters who risk their lives every day to keep us safe.

Each Fall, a ceremony is held to honor the fallen at the site of the Firemen’s Memorial at 100th Street and Riverside Drive. This grand monument, designed by H. Van Buren Magonigle and the accompanying sculptures depicting heroism, duty and sacrifice, created by Alttilio Piccirlli was dedicated in 1913. In 1927, a bronze tablet was added to remember the horses, which in earlier years, pulled the fire department’s engines. Carved on the wall facing East reads: 

To the men of the fire department
of the city of New York
who died at the call of duty
soldiers in a war that never ends
this memorial is dedicated
by the people of a grateful city
Erected MCMXIII

Tribute may also be paid at the 9/11 Memorial located at the former site of the Trade Center as well as the 9/11 Memorial Room located in the New York City Fire Museum at 278 Spring Street. Visitors to the Trade Center can view the names of all 2,977 victims inscribed on the two memorials that surround the pools where the buildings stood. The names of all the first responders are grouped together on the wall of the South pool.  At the NYC Fire Museum, the names and pictures of all 343 firefighters are displayed on a black marble and tile memorial.

For more on The Firemen’s Memorial:
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/21/realestate/streetscapes-100th-street-riverside-drive-1913-memorial-new-york-city-s-fallen.html

For more on the 9/11 Memorial at Ground Zero:
http://www.911memorial.org/

For more on the NYC Fire Museum: http://www.nycfiremuseum.org/gallery_page.cfm?alias=permanent-ex-911

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Pamela Ajhar