New York 2016...II

Day 3 started out in Queens at Flushing Meadows - Corona Park. Highlights in the park included The New York State Pavilion, The Unisphere, which was conceived and constructed as the theme symbol of the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair, Donald DeLue's "Rocket Thrower" sculpture, also a leftover from the World's Fair and the Queens Museum. The other side of the park took me to the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center and Arthur Ashe Stadium, home of the U.S. Open. There was lots of construction going on at the site, but I was told that they're building multiple tennis courts within the complex. From there, I walked past the Subway 7 train yard on my way to Citi Field, home of the New York Mets baseball team. After spending time there, I drove to Harlem for lunch at Sylvia's Soul Food Restaurant on Lenox Avenue/Malcolm X Boulevard. After lunch, I walked on West 126th Street to photograph some colorful Harlem Brownstones. Next up was 125th Street...The Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. State Office Building and the famed Apollo Theater. The "walk of fame" had many more names than the last time I was here. I photographed them all, but only have a few posted here. I heard that Prince will be added later this month. After I left 125th Street, I drove over to 58 W. 120th Street to visit another Brownstone. This Brownstone was special because it was the former home of the late poet, Maya Angelou. While there, I did something crazy that I always do when I visit someone's home who is deceased. I walked up and down the stairs, because I knew she had done it many, many times. Still in Harlem, I went over to the Black Ink Tattoo Studio, setting of the VH-1 reality show Black Ink Crew. I didn't go inside, but Teddy walked out and walked past me. Next up was Muhammad Mosque #7, which is the place where both Malcolm X and Minister Louis Farrakhan taught. Back in Manhattan, I went to visit the Cathedral Church of St. John The Devine, or as some has nicknamed it..."St. John The Unfinished". That's because it remains unfinished with construction and restoration a continuing process. There is a dispute about whether this Cathedral or Liverpool Cathedral in England is the world's largest Anglican Cathedral and church. Not only is this building huge, but the inside is awesome! Another must see in New York. Columbia University was my next stop. I wanted to photograph Daniel Chester French's "Alma Mater" sculpture of the Goddess Athena outside the Library Of Columbia University. Other sculptures nearby were Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker" sculpture which sits outside Philosophy Hall, Jacques Lipschitz's "Bellerophon Taming Pegasus" sculpture sits outside Jerome L. Greene Hall and David Bakalar's "Life Force" sculpture sits in Charles H. Revson Plaza.

My last day in New York is winding down as I make my way over to Central Park to close things out. Driving towards Fifth Avenue, I find my way on Duke Ellington Circle. At a stop sign, I just happen to look up and see a statue. I park, get out and walk over to the tall statue. It is Robert Graham's Duke Ellington Memorial...a 25 feet tall statue depicting nine nude caryatids(sculpted female figures serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar) supporting a grand piano and Duke Ellington on their heads. This is yet another must see statue in New York. After leaving Duke Ellington Circle, I find a rare parking spot further up on Fifth Avenue. After parking, I walked back a couple blocks to photograph Frank Lloyd Wright's Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Walking up Fifth Avenue, I stop by the Metropolitan Art Museum and photograph the massive building and fountain. I finally make my way into Central Park. There's so much going on already...bikers, joggers, walkers...you name it. I take a long trek up to Belvedere Castle and get nice views of Fifth Avenue and the small lake below. Walking through Central Park gave me many photo opportunities of various scenes. I caught 432 Park Avenue, the third tallest building in the United States and the tallest residential building in the world. It is the second tallest building in New York City, behind One World Trade Center and ahead of the Empire State Building. It is also the tallest building in the world known only by its street address, replacing Chicago's 311 S. Wacker Drive. I also photographed One57 (nicknamed "The Billionaire Building"). As of January 2015, it is home to the most expensive residence ever sold in New York City. In May 2012, it was announced a buyer had agreed to pay a record price in New York of more than $90 million for the 10,923-square-foot duplex penthouse on the 89th and 90th floors. But just two months later, the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, broke that record by agreeing to purchase a penthouse unit for $100 million, breaking the earlier record. Whew! Central Park also gave me great sunset views of Central Park West. After pretty much walking the entire length of the park, I walk through the lower passage of Bethesda Terrace working my way out of the park. The landmarked Plaza Hotel is what greeted me next. Across the street is the 24/7, 365 days a year Apple Store. New York is known as the city that never sleeps. And now Apple is the store that never closes. After taking my final photos of the Apple Store, I pack up my gear and get ready for the looooong walk back down Fifth Avenue to the car.