Over the weekend we were perusing old NY World’s Fair photos and we got to wondering… would you like to see another World’s Fair in NYC? And if so, where? Flushing Meadows Park again? Somewhere else? It’s a fun thing to think about. The next one will be Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy. Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments or via twitter at @queensnycity!
We stumbled across this film footage taken during the 1964-65 NY World’s Fair in Flushing Meadows Park. The kids, Danny and Bobby, are adorable, and make an appearance throughout the film, waving at the camera or petting what looks like a big hairy bison. Their grandfather, Gus Martens, was behind the 8mm camera for the daytime shots, and spliced in the night footage at the end from a souvenir newsreel.
Here’s a day in Sunnyside for you
If you’ve ever been curious about Sunnyside, or are just looking for a reminder as to what this lovely neighborhood has to offer, we’ve got the details for you. Joanna Eng has put together an overview of the area and some great places to visit and spend your time at. From coffee to restaurants, shops to hidden walkways, Sunnyside has it all.
Flash mob in Jackson Heights – Gangnam style/Lungi style
You’ll se the lungi (essentially a sarong, worn in Bangladesh) towards the end. This flash mob is a lot of fun to watch and there was quite the crowd!
Queens has the best value of all the boroughs
Yesterday the the 2012 MAS Survey on Livability was released, and Queens has a lot to be proud of. Arranged by the Municipal Art Society (MAS), conducted by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion, funded by The Rockefeller Foundation, it brings us some interesting tidbits about how New Yorkers feel about where they live. A couple of highlights:
More World’s Fair in the news – this time it’s The Underground Home
Gothamist tipped us off to this fascinating article about The Underground Home, a “subterranean mystery” that was originally part of the 1964-65 NY World’s Fair. narratively has a long article about it. Dr. Lori Walters - a professor at University of Central Florida, teaching post-war US history – is in the middle of a project regarding the site of the World’s Fair, and The Underground Home from that event is one of her keen interests.
Walters wants to know if it’s still there - “It’s a mystery. Is it there? What does it look like?” This “sub-urban” home was built with the fear of a nuclear strike in mind, despite the theme of the Fair of “peace through understanding.” When the Fair was over, the furnishings were removed but some suspect the shell of the home remains. This is a fascinating article, and worth a read.
Greenway bike lanes get underway in Astoria Park
Have you see the new bike lanes being built and installed in Astoria Park? They will run along Shore Blvd and eventually end up at 20th Avenue. These bike lanes are part of the Queens East River & North Shore Greenway, and will be a boon to cyclists. Here’s the most finished section, just down the hill from the track.
And on beautiful days, you’ll get to see this sight if you are heading north.
Ah, the Hell Gate Bridge. Gorgeous.
Image source: Shoberpants on Wikimedia Commons
This year is the 30th anniversary of They Might Be Giants, a band that has been described as alternative, experimental, independent, and all number of adjectives and genre names that try to pin down its zany style. Amazingly enough for an 80s band, John Flansburgh and John Linnell of TMBG are still together, recording and performing.
Brooklyn-based TMBG filmed one of their most popular videos – for the 1986 song “Don’t Let’s Start” – in Queens, inside the New York State Pavilion in Flushing Meadows Park. (more…)
Image source: AlamedaInfo
Over the weekend we came across this extremely engaging site full of images – from postcards, booklets and brochures – of the 1964/1965 Worlds Fair in Flushing Meadows Park. The site is AlamedaInfo.com. There are a lot of images, and we’ve included some of our favorites. Click on the images to view them larger – it’s well worth it. (more…)
