New York Fashion Week

Fashion Week is here.  No harm in some creative advertising to the hoards of hungry fashionistas.  

Scraping the Sky

As we come upon the 11th anniversary of September 11, 2001, it would be hard to miss what's growing up to the sky downtown.  This will be known as One World Trade Center (not Freedom Tower, as it was previously referred to).

As Wikipedia tells me, at the time of its completion in 2013, One World Trade Center will be the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the third-tallest building in the world by pinnacle height, with its spire reaching a symbolic 1,776 feet (541.3 m) in reference to the year of American independence.

Already, it's the tallest building in New York City, since April 30, 2012. 

So much has been said and written about 9/11 that it's just not possible for me to add more.  So I will remain silent, alone in my still vivid memories of that day and in thought of the tragedy's victims and the people close to them.

My favorite New York app

...is The Scoop, from The New York Times. 

It's like having an in-the-know friend in the city, and it's free.  As the easy-to-use home screen (example above) shows, there are specific categories that are updated regularly containing short reviews from Times reporters and often a link to the longer review that appeared earlier in the newspaper itself.

I love the great GPS locator in it, so that if I'm somewhere and looking for (more often than not) a coffee bar, it will tell me where to go - you'll find something new and never get lost. 

And speaking of coffee bars, this app is a wonder if you're anywhere below 34th Street, but the Upper West Side?  Oh, I wish.  Where are you, great coffee places, in my neighborhood?  Besides Joe, of course.

It's super for finding out what's happening in art, music, theater, dance and all things cultural in New York.  And I love the ideas for day trips out of NY, most of which can be reached by train or bus, if a car isn't in the cards.  The "Only in New York" section is perfect with its suggestions for out-of-town visitors (and for the weekend "tourist" that I so enjoy being even though I've lived here for so long).

Check it out and go somewhere new!  As you do, you can even feed your competitive soul, if you have one like I do, by check marking the spots you've been to.  Email, Facebook, web links, etc., are also easy to access from each of the posted items.  It's full of great ideas.  Even if you're a jaded New Yorker, you'll find something you never knew or thought about before.

Get out this weekend and do something new!

Wifi in the NYC Subway...and Phone Booths

Wifi on the subway platform of New York City!  And for free!  What a fabulous new thing to come home to find.  It's not everyone's ideal; take two New Yorkers - give them a new idea to ponder, and you'll get at least one negative perspective on it.  Maybe two.

As for me?  Fantastic.  I tried it out last week and, of course, was simply amazed that it even worked.  I know that's ridiculous; there's wifi in so many places, both in New York and all over, including Paris public parks, and so why not?  

More information and subway stations currently with Wifi are here.

And speaking of which, why not have Wifi offered at unused telephone booths?  Someone thought of that, too, and it's starting in New York as well.  I just found one in Soho at the corner of West Broadway and Spring Street.

And it worked, too!  Ah, yes, we live in the future...

The list of current phone booth locations with free Wifi is here.  Go use it; the City is counting, and if it's well-used, it may spread to all of the over 12,000 phone booths that now exist in New York City!