An animated version of New York City shows a timeless quality

by Jamie Rhein on

No matter how many ways New York City is depicted in film, there is always another view that offers a surprise. Here is a link to a video by New York artist and filmmaker Jeff Scher. He writes the blog The Animated Life for the New York Times. As he says about this particular 2:06 minutes of visual artistry he created in 1975, there is a timeless quality about New York.

What Scher made more than 30-years-ago looks similar to the essence of New York City today. That’s not true about many places.

A few years ago when I was on a six-hour walking tour of Cleveland, I thought about how that city had changed since the 1960s when the Terminal Tower was the 2nd tallest building in the world. It was the world that Ralphie of A Christmas Story went to on his visit to Santa Claus. Higbees where Ralphie gazed in the window at animated wonder has long closed. Downtown Cleveland on a Saturday morning along Euclid Ave. is not a crackling place. I really love Cleveland. I really do. I’d live there if I didn’t live here. But if you did a video 30-years-ago of Cleveland, it would not look the same as today’s version–at least not if you shot it downtown. Maybe it would, if you squinted and imagined people.

Scher’s vision of New York City is a jazzy rendition of a city that no matter what happens has a constancy that one can count on year after year. Jeremy is capturing much of it in his weekly series “Undiscovered New York.” Plus, Scher’s film is a cool art piece besides.

The photo is from another one of Scher’s blogs, Reasons to Be Glad. The blog has other shots of New York City that are examples of the variety of intersting angles out there.

A few years ago when I was on a six-hour walking tour of Cleveland, I thought about how that city had changed since the 1960s when the Terminal Towers was the 2nd tallest building in the world. It was the world that Ralphie of the movie A Christmas Story went to on his visit to Santa Claus. Higbees where Ralphie gazed in the window at animated wonder has long closed. Downtown Cleveland on a Saturday morning along Euclid Ave. is not a crackling place. I really love Cleveland. I really do. I’d live there if I didn’t live here. But if you did a video 30 years ago of Cleveland, it would not look the same as today’s version–at least not if you shot it downtown.

Scher’s vision of New York City is a jazzy rendition of a city that no matter what happens has a constancy that one can count on year after year. Plus, it’s a cool art piece besides. The photo of a bus and a taxi is another Scher creation and a feature of his blog “Reasons to Be Glad”.

Gadling Take FIVE: Week of May 2–May 8

by Jamie Rhein on

Sometimes a Gadling post grabs one’s attention and you think, “Gaad!”

  • That’s what I thought when I read Scott’s post about the flesh eating bacteria that killed a man while he was on a cruise. I’m heading off on my first cruise in August. Naturally, a flesh-eating bacteria cruise story has impact.
  • There are other posts that make a person ponder about life in general. That’s what happened when I read Tynan’s post on coping with travel disasters. His method is a make lemonade out of lemons version which serves him well.
  • As you may have noticed we’re starting a new series on budget travel. This one involves places to drive to from somewhere else. Here are budget destinations so far: Scott has the scoop on Santa Claus, Indiana (from Chicago); Grant’s a whiz at Ann Arbor, Michigan (from Detroit) and Catherine knows about Puget Sound and San Juan Islands ( from Seattle.) There’s much more coming. Each of us have favorite spots that don’t cost a lot, but offer a wonderful time.
  • If you’re looking for an interesting, blogging way to fund travel, check out Aaron’s post on Roads Scholarship. Think of it as a paid internship.
  • For anyone heading to New York City, Jeremy’s post on fun and games offers a unique way to take in the urban scene through Bocce Ball, chess and more. As he points out, immigrant groups have brought their games with them to the Big Apple adding an international mix to what visitors can enjoy.

Panic after fighter jets escort 747 around Manhattan

by Grant Martin on

Several buildings in Manhattan and New Jersey were evacuated earlier today, after officials spotted a Boeing 747 jumbo jet flying over the city escorted by fighter jets. As it turns out, the jet was one of President Barack Obama’s backup aircraft that was circling for a photo op. The whole operation was supposed to have been coordinated among the FAA and local officials, but apparently the message wasn’t communicated too well. The WSJ has video of the circling jets below. Imagine watching this from your highrise in Manhattan.

During hard economic times, lawyer gets paid to travel

by Brenda Yun on

Forgive me for sounding schizophrenic, but this recent article in The New York Times, which explains how 36-year-old associate, Heather Eisenlord, has opted to accept $80,000, just one-third of her normal yearly income, to take not work for her New York law firm, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and travel the world has gotten me thinking many things ranging from “I’m jealous” to “I picked the wrong profession” to “Couldn’t that money be better spent?”

A few details on Eisenlord’s situation: Over 1,000 Skadden associates were offered a similar one-year “salary” because of the firm’s outlook on hard times to come. There is no catch, no requirements for how the money should be spent during this year off, so Eisenlord plans to pack her bags and travel the world, which is clearly what I would do if given this offer. When she returns to New York next here, Skadden guarantees her job back.

So, am I jealous? Of course! $80,000 will allow a budget traveler like myself more than three years of healthy, worry-free travel! I’m right now dreaming, as I’m sure Eisenlord is right now, of the all the places I could go.

Did I pick the I pick the wrong profession? Maybe. But Eisenlord likely earned this paid leave of absence through considerable hard work at one of the toughest law firms in the nation. At least I wake up every morning in my modest one bedroom apartment thinking, “I love being a travel writer even though I’m getting paid next to nothing.” I’m sure Eisenlord wasn’t waking up every morning before work at Skadden thinking, “I love being a lawyer.”

The real question I can’t seem to find an answer for, though, is this: Couldn’t that money be better spent? If over 1,000 other Skadden associates were offered a paid year off, that is over $80,000,000 (that is not a typo; it’s really 80 million dollars!) that could be going to something like saving the economy, ending the war in Iraq, or feeding the whole continent of Africa for half a year. I’m sorry, but no matter how hard-earned that year-long vacation is, I hope-pray-beg for Eisenlord or others in her situation to do some good with at least some of that money during her travels abroad.

Undiscovered New York: Cooking up a storm

by Jeremy Kressmann on

It’s no big secret that New York is absolutely spoiled for choice when it comes to food. If you need any proof, Undiscovered New York has already reviewed a whole slew of New York City’s more interesting eating neighborhoods and cuisines.

Yet one of the greatest benefits of all this great food is that you don’t even have to go to one of New York’s many restaurants to enjoy it. New York is also a really great place to learn more about the art and science of food, including the practicalities of how to cook it. Whether you’re an avid Top Chef viewer looking to kick off that fledgling culinary career, or just a casual cooking fan looking to pick up a new skill, the city has a diverse range of culinary schools and classes to fit your timing and budget.

The other truth about New Yorkers and food is that they’re not just passionate about great cooking – they’re passionate about great ingredients. Ever wonder why some people swoon over a great Pinot or some smooth French Brie? Or why New Yorkers like to hate on Starbucks coffee so much? Plan to make time for a number of great food classes specializing in the intricacies of palate-pleasing foods like cheese, wine and coffee.

So go grab those chef pants, cleanse that palate and bring along your best whisk, this week Undiscovered New York shows you how to “cook up a storm” on your next visit. Click below to learn where…
Cooking Classes
Not only is taking a cooking class a great way to learn a new skill. It’s also a great way to learn more about what makes New York tick. Each year thousands of students come to the city hoping to catch their big break at one of New York’s world-class restaurants. Many inevitably find their way to one of the city’s several culinary schools. But the best part is that temporary visitors can also take advantage of these school’s programs by taking a day-long class.

In addition to 6 and 11 month-long career programs, The Institute for Culinary Education also offers 4-5 hour “recreational” sessions on a variety of cuisines. For around $100, you can learn how to make your own sushi, cook a great risotto or taste a few craft beers. Why not take a cooking class with you and that special someone? Or get a gift certificate for an interesting birthday present?

Great Coffee
New York coffee chain Joe The Art of Coffee is serious about their brew. It’s only natural then that the chain also offers a variety of java-themed courses to help teach joe-lovers a thing or two about a quality cup. If you’ve ever wanted to know more about espresso, proper milk steaming techniques or how to brew a great cup of coffee at home, stop by one of several locations around the city and check out one of their classes.

Wine and Cheese
Wine is one of those food products that tends to intimidate many drinkers. Between all the different grape varieties, food pairings and vintages, it can be downright confusing to know what’s good and what’s merely a ripoff. Want to look like the hero the next time you order a bottle at dinner? Get in touch with the helpful team at NYC Wine Class, offering a range of courses exploring food and wine pairings, regional specific wine tastings and courses in wine and cheese.

If you’d like to skip the wine altogether and just fill up on some delicious cheese, head to cheese experts at Murray’s for one of their regular classes on everyone’s favorite dairy product.