Banksy popped into my radar one day and I bookmarked it. I forgot all about visiting this public…read moreart until today when it showed up nearby in my search. It's unusual so I felt lucky I saw it as I passed by. It's been covered in plexiglass for protection against the weather. It appears people and businesses are rallying to keep it from removal. It fun to photograph public art or as some call his work Graffiti. I'm glad I have the photos in my collection. It's my first Banksy.

Banksy made this public art in 2013 and it's still intact. It's covered by an acrylic shield…read more Pretty hard to find unless you're using a map app or Yelp. Check it out on the UWS and get some cool pictures in front of here. The art doesn't look like it's complex, more of like a commentary that's the more complex thing about this. It somehow has become a thing to check out, because it's one of the few surviving pieces of Banksy public art. Officially it's titled Better Out Than In #20, and was part of a series. These appeared on the UWS in October 2013 and most disappeared soon after that. An acrylic panel protects it from graffiti artists...such as Banksy. So ironic. Zabar's put up the protection and has made the public aware of this. Cool that a great place like that takes an interest in art. They have some of the best bagels so be sure to go get some. As Banksy has gone onto bigger things it's cool that one of his older projects is around. It's at Broadway and 79th on the side of a building. This is a few blocks from Zabar's.

While visiting NYC this Fall I was able to experience this amazing art exhibition…read more Located across from SOHO house, where I stay while in the city, there were herds of elephants all through the streets of the meatpacking district. Grateful to have seen this! Great story behind the beautiful artwork. I've added the link to the business for all that care to donate or purchase an elephant. Super Cool!

The Great Elephant Migration is a traveling art installation consisting of a herd of 100 elephants…read morein the Meatpacking District. This installation is not to be missed and runs through October 20th. It has the backing of celebrity supporters such as Cher, Kristin Davis and Susan Sarandon and was a visual delight. A head turning installation that captures audiences of all ages. The elephants are dispersed throughout the MP area and are made of an "invasive weed known as lantana camara, which is threatening native species and their habitats across India by overtaking forests and driving animals out of their homes. The plant has spread across an estimated 115,000 square miles of India's protected forests and preserves". This installation doesn't just depict the beauty of elephants but is made to raise awareness as a fundraiser effort sharing a message about human-wildlife coexistence and conservation. I absolutely love elephants and enjoyed it very much. Catch it before it moves on to the next city.

Amazing spot. 1) If…read moreyou love American history and history in general, this is a must visit spot. 2) When I did visit, the entrance was closed. But, you can still observe the bust and memorial.

When we arrived, it was locked up - there is an iron gate surrounding the bust of Alexander…read moreHamilton. There is signage that talks about it being the dueling grounds.

Before today, my review would've likely been glowing. The artwork in that's been associated with…read morethem in NYC is almost always spectacular and a welcome addition to the city-scape. Unfortunately I found out recently that they're actually quite shady and manipulative. They don't actually create or curate the art in Little Italy - they pretend to support it, plaster it on their social media, and try to profit from it. At the expense of the actual artists that create the art they're showcasing. They've gotten into legal action with artists over marketing rights for the art that they claim to "support", but essentially want to mooch off of and shake down for $$$. A lot of the gorgeous art, such as the Audrey Hepburn picture on Mulberry St, are examples that they claim to be big endorsers of - but have actually fought the artists over, to win sole rights to commercializing posters etc. They've tried to destroy murals & privately commissioned public art without consent or notification to the artists themselves. Again, mostly for the chance to bring in new art and profit from online sales of merchandise / picture rights. And they're more than happy to block/ban/remove you from any of their social media if you even think of leaving a vaguely negative comment (even a politely-worded one). A word to the wise: good, wholesome, community-minded organizations NEVER block or throttle people into silence because they might disagree with them. And they NEVER treat artists like they're disposable sources of income. This organization does not represent Little Italy in the slightest. Be very, very careful if you're ever asked to work with them. Better yet, stay clear of them altogether.

The L. I. S. A. Project NYC…read more I'm not sure about the politics of what's behind this organization. There appears to be some controversy in the Yelp Reviews. I'm just a huge fan of graffiti. I love the color it adds to the city. I love the smile it puts on my face. I like the happy feeling I get inside when I see it. I also like the legal authorization of the activity. For many years it was an offense to express yourself and your artistic talent in this manner. I'm glad Little Italy has embraced this organization and the art they promote. Please Visit Little Italy and keep your eyes open for the murals. They are here, there, and everywhere! I'm posting photos I've taken in the past couple years. I hope you enjoy. I can't wait to return!

I liked the view from the top of the stairs and I managed to get some good photos from there…read more FYI- the very top is closed due to some incidents The staff were mostly amazing and very kind The only complaint I have is the elevator operator constantly promising you they would load your group next and then proceeding to skip you Normally I wouldn't mind but since we were exhausted going up and down multiple times and the fact that the elevator took 4 minitues to get back up made us want to get on it early

Definitely an okay experience. It's probably something I'd pass on if I ever stop by New York…read moreagain. The structure itself is impressive, and the views are incredible. However, the nets do take away from the overall atmosphere a bit, although it's completely understandable why they're there. Also, I do want to note that the top is also closed off, which is unfortunate but understandable. I almost didn't go because of the long lines, especially with the extreme winds on the day I visited. Overall, I'm glad I checked it out, but I don't think it's something I'd go out of my way to visit again.

As you first enter the Newport section of the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, you will be shushed…read moreby Water's Soul, an 80-foot sculpture by Jaume Plensa. The lady has her index finger to her lips informing the general public to listen to the soothing sounds of the waves. This is a really magnificent, breathtaking sculpture to view.

I will never, ever get tired of the stunning views of the NYC skyline from where I live. That view…read moreis one of the main reasons I love taking walks along the Hudson River Waterfront. While I was in the Newport neighborhood of Jersey City, I spotted an enormous sculpture of a head overlooking the water. As I walked closer, I learned the sculpture is called Water's Soul! It was created by world-renowned Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, and is one of the largest public sculptures in the New York metropolitan area. Standing at 80 feet tall, it's impossible to miss as you walk along the waterfront. The closer I got, the more I realized how massive it was. It was actually built in Barcelona before being shipped to Jersey City in 2021, and it's even his tallest public sculpture to date--knowing that made seeing it in person even more impressive! It's also Newport's first public artwork by an international artist, and it's easy to understand why it's become one of JC's most recognizable landmarks. The sculpture depicts the face of a young woman with her eyes closed and her index finger pressed to her lips. It has a very minimalistic look with a smooth white finish, but the intricate details on her face and hands make it feel so human. It faces Lower Manhattan with a gorgeous backdrop of the One World Trade Center. The whole scene feels serene and peaceful... and that's exactly the point! Water's Soul is meant to invite people to pause, slow down, be silent, reflect, and listen to the sound of the water--in this case, the Hudson River. Plensa believed that water is something that connects people and communities rather than divides them. It is the ultimate public space, origin of life, and universal connector. As he said: "Water is a marvelous metaphor; one drop of water is quite alone, like a single person, but many drops can create a tidal wave or immense rivers and oceans, much like individual people come together to create community, exchange ideas and build something incredibly powerful." - Jaume Plensa There are plenty of benches and lounge chairs near the sculpture where you can sit, relax, and take in the views. I honestly think it's a beautiful work of art from every angle. I visited at night, and there was something incredibly calming about listening to the sound of the water with the NYC skyline glowing in the background. But I'm sure it's just as majestic during the day too. The area is open from dawn to dusk. Getting there is pretty easy. If you're taking public transportation, both the PATH train and light rail stop at Newport Station, which is about an 8 minute walk from the sculpture. Hoboken Terminal is also within walking distance if you don't mind a 15-20 minute stroll along the waterfront. If you're driving, there are metered spots and a parking garage nearby, but... good luck finding parking in JC :'( As a gal who loves all things water--oceans, rivers, lakes--as well as art and quiet moments of reflection, I'm so glad I got to experience this sculpture. Living and working in one of the busiest, most fast-paced areas in the country, I deeply resonated with the artist's message: SLOW DOWN, PAUSE, REFLECT. BE STILL. CONNECT WITH NATURE. JUST BE. WE ARE ALL ONE.

ArtBridge is a public art non-profit organization founded in 2009. They work primarily in New York…read moreCity with the mission to support local, emerging artists and their communities through large-scale public installations. I recently took photos of one installation I pass frequently on my walk on Third Avenue and East 77th Street. Originally ArtBridge was founded by artist Rodney Durso as a mechanism to transform New York City's construction fencing into large-scale, outdoor art exhibitions. New York City has nearly 300 miles of construction fencing, which provides for an ideal canvas to promote the city's local, emerging artists. ArtBridge has produced exhibitions in every borough of New York City, as well ongoing projects in L'Aquila, Italy in the years of construction following the city's devastating 2009 earthquake. I'm very happy the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs funds this nonprofit. They create a bright atmosphere in my Borough of Manhattan. Please take photos of their projects in your borough and post them here.

My 1 1/2 yo son come multiple times a month, and I am very impressed by the library offering an…read moreentire floor for children. My son really enjoys the kids' room where there are misc. toys, and he can play there for a solid 30mins. The books offered are also wonderful, better selection than some of the other local libraries I've been to. I like that they have the flap books for little kids where the kids can open up a flap and something is revealed underneath. The books are taken very good care of. The library also boasts a really full event calendar, from story time to crafts to live music. I was thoroughly impressed that the live music performer goes an entire hour singing kids' songs, I'd have expected just 30mins! I took off one star because I've only used the outdoor book return dropoff box once when the library was closed, and 2 of 6 books I returned were never scanned in. I only found out when the library sent me a reminder email of the books I had to return still. I called the library, the librarian looked at the shelves and found the 2 books. She apologized and said I'm all set. I'm glad they found the books on the shelves because I'm not sure how long it would've taken to dispute that I in fact returned the books, but I was put off by the fact that the library wasn't careful with scanning all the books in. I recommend returning all books with a librarian so they scan the books in right away, rather than the outside book returns bin.

I really love the Hoboken Public Library. The librarians are kind and helpful. I always appreciate…read morethe expansive collection and online offerings as well.

LOVED spyscape! Amazing for family or group event. Clean facility and well coordinated from staff…read more It was a nice break from the hustle! The staff was beyond helpful finding a lost piece of jewelry! Forever grateful for their professionalism and diligence with recovery!!

This was such a fun and unique experience! I surprised my boyfriend with this for his birthday, and…read morehe absolutely loved it. The challenges, puzzles, and games really make you think--you definitely have to process the clues carefully! There are multiple levels to complete, and throughout the experience you're asked questions that determine what type of agent you are, which was a really cool touch. It was challenging, but in the best way. Now that I understand how everything works, I definitely want to go back and do it again to see if I can do even better! If you're looking for something interactive, different, and a lot of fun, I highly recommend checking this place out. We'll definitely be back!

This studio was bright lit, well organized and fun. They supplied lots of ice for our drinks…read more Instructions were easy and everyone has a good time.

I've been here twice and this place is great! The owners are awesome! Came here with a friend…read morebefore covid (January 2020) and during (October 2020). You have to follow covid safety precautions: wear a mask, they check your temp when you get there, and the aprons are disposable. All things considering, it's just as much fun as it was pre-covid. I feel like the painting selections for this place are different and there's a lot of variety, compared to other wine and sip places (other chains). Also, they have a chunky blanket workshop where you hand knit a blanket! Giving this a try in the future! The only con: cause this is real life...is parking, but that's Weehawken for ya. :)