Garden in Transit: New York City in Full Bloom

by Justin Glow on

New York City, get ready for some color.

Garden in Transit is a city art project organized to paint colorful flowers on weatherproof panels that will be placed on tops of approximately 12,000 taxis in the New York City area.

Non-profit organization Portraits for Hope are organizing this “groundbreaking motivational art, education, and creative therapy project” which will use the artistic talents of kids in the pediatrics department at America’s oldest hospital, Bellevue. “Beginning in September 2007 and until year’s end, New York City will be visually transformed, as the ubiquitous yellow icon becomes a mobile artistic canvas.”

This is all being done in conjunction with Taxi ’07, celebrating 100 years of metered taxi service in New York City, which Gadling covered last month. More photos after the jump.

Travel to NYC With Grand Theft Auto?

by Jonathon Morgan on

The upcoming version of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) — the popular video game known for it’s morally ambiguous stance on violence — will be set in New York City.

Not surprisingly, NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a little upset — particularly because you can earn points in the game by killing police officers.

While the new GTA technically takes place in the fictional “Liberty City,” you’ll recognize plenty of famous landmarks and tourist destinations — including the Statue of Liberty, Coney Island’s Cyclone and the Brooklyn Bridge.

GTA supporters point out that countless violent movies are set in the city, including those that feature the gritty reality of murderers, prostitutes, organized crime — even corrupt police officers. They don’t see the difference between these films, and the game — which they call an art form.

I actually haven’t played GTA since the very first version came out years ago, and didn’t realize the game’s fantasy environments were based on real locations. Who knows — it might be a fun way to get a feel for the city without leaving your house.

That is, if you don’t mind stealing cars and shooting people in the process.

GADLING’S TAKE FIVE: Week of March 25

by Adrienne Wilson on

Because selecting some of this week’s grooviest and most happening posts was so darn difficult I’m tossing in an extra one this week. So I suppose you can call it Gadling’s Take Five Remixed. I think I like the sound of that.

6. Introducing Where on Earth?:
Ready to beef up your geography skills? Well, better if they are already top-notch, but we’ll take your guesses. All you have to do is tell is the destination seen in the shot in this new weekly feature.

5. Roadtrip Time Lapse Video:
Dave does it again! This week he brings us snippets of his road trip across the country in a nice little video with pretty shakin’ music. If you missed out on the fun and excitement before do yourself a favor and check out America in one second flashes of pictures captured every 60 seconds while the car was running. It is a bit of a head trip, but isn’t that traveling all the same?

4. Is It Possible to Overplan a Trip? Mistakes of the Novice Traveler:
To go or not to go? To tour or not to tour? To hike or not to hike? That is the question! Like Willy, who poses the question whether too much planning can place a damper on your vacation, I’m a planner and like Willy I plan on having absolute downtime with no planning involved. To go with the flow or not to go with the flow is totally up to you, but I say deciding how much planning is appropriate and how much is overboard deserves a vacation itself!

3. Hip-Hop Culture Tours of NYC:
Even if you never decide to see NYC by way of a Hip Hop Culture Tour, watching Kurtis Blow rhyme about it over a nice Gilligan’s Island tune on the YouTube vid isn’t a bad deal either. The tour provides a different take on the streets of NY and breaks it down for all the sucker M.C.’s out there. (If you’re not sure about sucker M.C. then you may just want to book a tour like this after all.)

2. Disposable Toothbrushes: No Toothpaste or Water Required:
Cleanliness is next to Godliness so they say. And why not be a “God of Clean Things” like your mouth? If you’ve ever sat very long on a plane you know the nasty feeling that takes over your mouth and sadly few people do some thing about it while the rest torture the guy in the window seat with their stank breath. (Did I just say Stank? Yes!) Neil brings us just one solution to keeping your mouth so fresh and so clean while on board. It is my suggestion everyone checks it out.

1. 7-Elevens to be Converted to Kwik-E-Marts:
Could this really be true? If it is I’m so going to scope it out and no one will stop me. Rumor has it that the upcoming Simpsons movie or the big-wigs at Fox and the world’s largest gas station are looking to temporarily convert 11 7-Elevens to Kwik-E-Marts to help promote the film. Justin tells us just a bit more and all I can add is kawabunga!

You Too Can Be On Broadway!

by Jonathon Morgan on

Earlier this week I wrote about Broadway’s surprising focus on plays for the upcoming season — but there’s one musical that is a must-see for every tourist with stars in their eyes.

For $31.50 you can buy a ticket at the new rock musical, Spring Awakening, that puts you in the middle of the action — on stage with the performers.

According to Jo Piazza of the New York Daily News, who recently experienced the production for himself, “Members of the cast sit in chairs right next to you and during the show, they stomp and sing inches away from your face. It’s enough to make even the most karaoke-impaired person want to reach over, grab a microphone and wail on one of the songs by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater.”

Tempting as it may be, disrupting the show with your own impromptu performance is strongly, strongly discouraged — both before the performance, and again at intermission. In fact, just to further minimize interruptions, the theatre makes you remove all personal belongings (coats, hats, phones, purses) and keep them in a locker for the duration of the show.

That being said, it’s sure to be a memorable experience for anyone drawn to the stage. Make sure to book your tickets well in advance though — as, with only 26 seats available, they can be fairly tough to come by.

What To Do When It’s Cold In New York City

by Jonathon Morgan on

Planning a trip to NYC? Bummed that the city is practically frozen over at the moment? Never fear! By taking the time to explore two the city’s most fantastic museums, you can keep your family occupied — and out of the cold.

You’ll want to get started at the American Museum of Natural History. Especially if you’re with kids, this is a must see. I have a 2 1/2 year-old, and she’d be in love with the dinosaurs, African Mammal Hall, and Ocean Life exhibits. You’ll also find a planetarium and an IMAX theater — something I’ve found to be a great activity for cold and rainy days.

After you’re done at AMNH, take the 79th Street crosstown bus to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We’ve yet to visit NYC with my toddler, but according to the linked article, the trick is to stand up to the surly museum guards. “They’re the city’s most fervent believers that children should be seen and not heard — they’ll level stern, disapproving glares if your child so much as skips for joy or exclaims above a whisper.” But as long as you don’t let your little one wipe greasy hands all over famous works of art, you should be fine.

For a full run down on all the awesome stuff to do in both museums, check out Holly Hughes’ article on Frommers.