Author: doktorek

There is a child in all of us just waiting to be let free, and there is no better place to let that child out than the FAO Schwarz Flagship Store. FAO Schwarz is a company that thrives on that child inside us all, and providing wonder and joy to our imaginations.

The History of the Company

Founded in 1862, FAO Schwarz is the oldest toy store in the United States. It has survived for over a hundred and fifty years, a survival it has earned, and one that it definitely deserves. Known for its unique toys, life-sized stuffed animals, and more the FAO Schwarz brand is one that doesn’t go unnoticed. In 1870, just eight years after it was founded under the name ‘Toy Bazaar’, Frederick August Otto Schwarz opened a New York City location. At the time it was known as the ‘Schwarz Toy Bazaar’ and though it moved twice around the city, by 1897 it had reached fame that lead Schwarz to be described as ‘the largest dealer in toys in this city’ by The New York Times.

Since that time, the store has occupied many locations and has been described in many ways, including as the ‘original Santa Claus Headquarters’, and eventually the company settled into the name we know it by now, FAO Schwarz. In 1986 the company opened a flagship store. That store has remained the flagship store for the company since that time, and has continued to inspire children of all ages with its beauty and ingenuity.

The Flagship Store

Since 1986 this Fifth Avenue store has set the bar for toy stores, creating an atmosphere that cannot be duplicated. From the Muppet Whatnot Workshop, to the well-known floor piano, the store itself is an experience that can’t be missed. Add to that the FAO Schweetz store, offering hundreds of different types of candy and the FAO Café, offering a variety of foods from many of New York City’s eateries, and you have a toy store that is for so much more than toys. Here, imagination can thrive, and finding the right toy isn’t about walking hurriedly through aisles. This store is an experience, and it’s one that should not be missed.

As An Icon

Children aren’t the only ones who take notice of the FAO Schwarz flagship store. It has been featured in many popular movies, and has become an icon of New York City. From the 1988 film Big to the 2011 film The Smurfs, many movies set in New York just wouldn’t be the same without their FAO Schwarz scenes. As such the store, and the famous floor piano within it, have become an icon in today’s world.

A toy store shouldn’t just be about toys, and the FAO Schwarz brand has been proving that for over a hundred and fifty years. The flagship location hasn’t been around quite that long, but it began by setting the bar high, and has only raised it over the years. It is truly a magical toy store, full of wonder and imagination.

Located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, the American Museum of Natural History is not only one of the largest museums in the country; it is one of the largest museums in the world. It is made up of 27 interconnected buildings and 45 permanent exhibition halls, as well as a planetarium, and a library. It isn’t difficult to see why it averages almost five million visits annually. While they aren’t all on display at all times, the museum collections contain over 32 million specimens, from plants to human cultural artifacts and everything in between.

The Halls

The main attraction of the museum are its many ‘Halls’ or themed rooms full of artifacts and specimens. Among these are:

• African Mammal Hall. Since its opening in 2936 this Hall has been considered one of the world’s greatest museum displays. The dioramas in this Hall do more than just evoke specific sites. They replicate specific animals in specific locations at specific times, with a detail that had never before been seen, and which has resulted in realistic, vivid reproductions.
• Bernard and Anne Spitzer Hall of Human Origins. The Hall of Human Origins, once known as the Hall of human Biology and Evolution, this hall presents an in-depth investigation of human evolution. When it was first opened, it was the only major exhibition of its kind, and it continues to be one of the best there is.
• Milstein Hall of Ocean Life. The most notable exhibit in this hall is the 94 foot long blue whale model, suspended from the ceiling. There are many other notable exhibits, such as the Andros Coral Reef Diorama, but since it appeared in 1969 the blue whale has captured the attention of anyone who walks into the Hall.
• Fossil Halls. The fossil collection of the museum is incredibly extensive. Just the small fraction that is open to the public covers the entire fourth floor, as well as a separate exhibit in the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall, which is the museum’s main entrance.

Rose Center and the Planetarium

The Hayden Planetarium is one of the most popular exhibits in the Rose Center. The Original Planetarium was founded in 1933, but was demolished and replaced in 2000. The building consists of a six-story high glass cube enclosing an 87 foot illuminated sphere. This sphere is supported by truss work, but it appears to float, and has been referred to as a ‘cosmic cathedral’.

Research Library

The museum isn’t only about exhibits; it also contains an extensive research library, open to staff and public visitors. The library collects a vast amount of materials and contains many retrospective materials, some going back to the 15^th century, that are nearly impossible to find elsewhere.

Renowned not only in New York, but also in the world, it is easy to see why this museum attracts millions of visitors every year. It is a fun and educational place to visit, full of exhibits that entice the mind and tickle the imagination, sparking a desire to learn more about the amazing things seen within the Halls of the museum.

There are some parts of history that are so tragic that we cannot ignore them. We may wish that they never occurred, or dream of a world in which they aren’t a reality, but we cannot ignore or forget the tragedy. The September 11 attack is one of those moments. Those who were old enough to understand will never forget where they were on that day, the first time they heard what was happening. The site of the once proud Twin towers, the World Trade Center, has been known since the attack as Ground Zero.

The World Trade Center

Sitting on 16 acres in Lower Manhattan, the World Trade Center once stood on the site tall and proud. The Twin Towers rose above the surrounding buildings. They were a part of the New York Skyline, and were an iconic site in New York. Until they were destroyed on September 11, 2001. Since then the site has been known as Ground Zero, a fitting term. Used to describe the point of a detonation closest to the Earth, the term can be used to describe both the physical location, and the reactive fires that spread through the people left behind.

The Memorial Museum

The National September 11 Memorial Museum is the country’s principal memorial to commemorate the September 11 attacks. Located on the former location of the Twin Towers, the Memorial is a monument to those who died in the September 11 attacks, as well as to those who died in the World Trade Center bombing of 1993. It was constructed as a reminder of those lives that were lost, and of the scars that have never quite healed. It will remain there, where the Twin Towers fell, a reminder of what once was, and where we must go now that it has changed.

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives when the Twin Towers were attacked, and they should be remembered. The Memorial stands as a reminder not only of the victims who were within the towers, but also those who died attempting to rescue those within. On September 11, 2011, ten years after the original tragedy, the dedication ceremony was held at the memorial. The Memorial official opened the next day, allowing the public to remember. Within three months of the opening, more than 1 million people have visited.

More than twelve years have passed since the fall of the Twin Towers in the September 11 attack. Despite that, there are very few who do not feel the emotions with a fresh tang every time it is mentioned, every time thoughts stray to that 16 acre stretch of land. The scars of that day will never fully heal, and the memories of that day will never truly fade. Those who lost their lives that day should not be forgotten. This tragedy in the past should reflect itself in the way we live, in the way we strive to create a better future. Ground Zero will forever be a reminder, a memory of the things we want to outgrow. The Memorial Museum, and the other new buildings being constructed, will rise up to take the place of those that fell. They will stand as a reminder of what we’ve lost, and of the perspective that we have gained.

Originally known as the ‘Hudson River Vehicular Tunnel Project,’ construction for the Holland Tunnel began over 90 years ago, on March 31, 1922. The tunnel is a marvel of engineering, and was at the time a new design. It took years to complete the tunnel and to make it into the high traffic landmark that it is today. The tunnel itself was almost a bridge, as that would have cost less to build, but with passing ships, the bridge would have needed to rise nearly 200 ft. above the water, which was simply not feasible. Instead, the tunnel was imagined and eventually created. It took years of planning and construction in order to make it what it is today, a National Landmark

Designing the Tunnel

The design of the tunnel was begun by Clifford Milburn Holland, the man who eventually had the tunnel named after him. His vision provided the engineering genius that is the tunnel, a design that was revolutionary for its time. He put years of his life into the tunnel, and into making sure that it was the best of its kind. However, fate was not kind to him, and he died before he could complete his work. After he died, another engineer took on the job, but he too died shortly after. The third and final engineer, Ole Singstad, finished the tunnel and turned it into the National Landmark that it is today.

The Ventilation System

When the tunnel was being constructed, one of the largest obstacles was coming up with an adequate ventilation system. Since the tunnel was being designed to accommodate automobile traffic, the carbon monoxide levels were a concern, since no similar project had ever been constructed. The third engineer for the project, Ole Singstad, was the first to believe that ventilation was even possible, let alone to accomplish the feat. By creating a test tunnel and closely monitoring volunteers within it, he solved the problem along with the help of Yale University. The tunnel is ventilated transversely, an entirely new concept when it was first built. The circular tunnel has an automatic ventilation system with four ventilation buildings, two on each side of the Hudson. 84 fans provide a change of air every 90 seconds, keeping air quality within acceptable limits. Indeed, when it was first constructed many people claimed the air quality was better within the tunnel than it was on many New York streets.

A National Landmark

On its first day of operation 51,694 vehicles passed through the tunnel, and traffic hasn’t stopped since. Though the tunnel has been shut down to accommodate some major storms, it has continued to be used since the day it opened, and has become known as one of the most valuable contributions to tunnel design and construction. Due to this, the Holland Tunnel was designated a National Historic Civil and Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil and Mechanical Engineers as well as being designated a National Historical Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Unlike many public works projects, this bridge isn’t named after a famous or incredibly influential individual. Originally known as the ‘Hudson River Vehicular Tunnel Project,’ the tunnel eventually became known for the name of its first engineer, a man who died before completing his work. The tunnel itself has become more well-known than the man, as it is an engineering marvel and a National Landmark. Far surpassing the designs of its time, this tunnel has set the bar for many tunnels that have been created since, making it the first of many of its kind.

Everywhere you turn, there is a history that can be told; this is especially true for the history behind the great constructions of all time. The History of the Lincoln Tunnel dates back to March, 1934 when construction began for this landmark.

The First Central Tube

Originally donned the Midtown Vehicular Tunnel, the Lincoln Tunnel as we now know it to be, was planned to be and was the first of its kind. This 1.5 mile long tunnel connects Weehawken, New Jersey to Manhattan, New Your City by a pathway that was constructed under the most famous, Hudson River. Designed by Ole Singstad, it was funded by the New Deal’s Public Works Administration. Construction began in March of 2934 and would be opened on December 22, 1937, charging travelers fifty cents per passenger car; the cost of this architectural landmark was $85,000,000.

A Marvel Design of its Time

Designed to be as two tubes, the construction on the second tube has been delayed in 1938 and then resumed in construction in 1941; due to a shortage of materials caused by World War II, it would not be completed until 1945. The construction of this second tube’s cost was $80,000,000. It was on February 1 of 1945 that Michael Catan, also known as Mr. First who was given this nickname after attending 525 opening day events, was asked to lead the way in and through the newly opened tube; over time it would be noted that a third tube could possibly be opened to create a better way of travel through the Lincoln Tunnel. After some negotiation, a third tube was constructed and opened on May 25 of 1957; located south of the two original tubes that sit side by side, the third tube is located a block away on the New York side of the tunnel.

Using the Tunnels Today

The cost of the toll today for cars using the tunnel going eastbound is $12, using cash; with E-Z Pass it costs $9.50 during the peak hours and $7.50 for the off-peak hours. In comparison to the past, there are 110,800 daily tunnel users. The tunnels are 21.5 feet wide, with each tunnel having two lanes, and a vertical clearance that measures 13.5 feet. The tunnels today are maintained by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; 2012 marked the 75th anniversary of the tunnel opening up. The Holland Tunnel is found in nearby New Jersey and is ten years older than the Lincoln Tunnel. Both tunnels are found to be prime terrorist targets, they require extra monitoring on a daily basis.

During rush hours, the center tube has a one traffic lane called XBL used as an exclusive bus lane. It is during the morning rush hour that the central tunnel is used only to go in the direction leading to Manhattan and during the evening rush hour, the central tunnel is used only to go in the direction that leads to New Jersey. Aside from that, outside of these rush hours, traffic is directed to flow in both directions. Each toll is collected on the New Jersey side and does not require any collections on return trips; each morning during rush hour, the tunnels see 1,700 buses and 62,000 commuters.