Remembering the Blizzard of 2016 July 11, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Madison Square Park, nature, NYC, NYC Blizzard, photography
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It has been a hot, humid, very rainy summer in NYC. For me – it is always a bad hair day. Since summer is a time of reruns I thought remembering other weather events might be fun and in this case…cooling. It was on January 24-26 of 2016 when 27.5 inches of snow buried NYC. The NYC blizzard kept most of us close to home (little did we know that four years later we would all be staying close to home due to the pandemic). Here are a few wintry photos from my neighborhood outing at the time. A citywide travel ban was in effect. It was eerily quiet out there except for an occasional snowplow. Our NYC zoos were closed for two days. Hope you all are ‘weathering’ this crazy summer and staying safe.
Maya Lin’s Ghost Forest June 27, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Madison Square Park, maya lin, nature, NYC, photography, public art
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I am a big fan of public art. Public art is visually and physically accessible to the public; it is installed or staged in public space or the public realm, usually outside. Public art seeks to embody public or universal concepts rather than commercial, partisan or personal concepts or interests. It is not commercial and is usually temporary. Madison Square Park is my neighborhood park and has been exhibiting public art since 2004. I have adored most of the previous exhibits and was usually sad when they left but I knew another project would be coming our way and looked forward to that. Architect Maya Lin’s Ghost Forest is a grand success. She explains it much better than I can in this four minute video and shows us how she conceived and built this new work. It is on thru November 13. 2021 and I encourage a visit. You can also have a Shake Shack meal in the original Shake Shack in the park. Eataly is directly across the street and the new Harry Potter shop is one block away for you non-Muggles. Another public art project is happening the city in August. Yes, the Cow Parade is coming back to NYC from August 18 to September 30. 
Happy Father’s Day 2021 June 20, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, baby animals, Central Park Zoo, Happy Father's Day, nature, NYC, photography, wildlife, zoo babies, Zoos
6 comments
While most caregivers in the animal kingdom are mothers, there are some fathers who join in the role as caregiver. I salute some of those fathers out there in today’s photo montage. Coincidentally – tomorrow is also National Martini Day. Why not celebrate that special day today? The photo above today’s montage is of my father, sister and me (circa – the beginning of time).
Little Island June 6, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Little Island, Manhattan, NYC, photography, public space
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I have been a fan of this idea since inception and was not disappointed when I visited the opening this week. There’s a lot of info here about the design, concept and people behind this new NYC space that is close to High Line and Whitney Museum. “In 2013, Barry Diller, in partnership with Hudson River Park Trust leadership, embarked on the unique opportunity to envision a solution for the repair and reactivation of Pier 54, damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Diller chose to reimagine an entirely new type of public space for New York, one that would create an immersive experience with nature and art”. It is easy to find and is entered via West 14th Street. From my perspective, NYC is coming back better than ever. Here is a sample of one of the glowing reviews about this new public free space. Please go visit and enjoy. 
Kusama – Cosmic Nature at NYBG May 30, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, botanicals, flowers, KUSAMA, nature, NYBG, NYC, photography, sculpture
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Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama at age 92 is still going strong. This fun, colorful exhibit at the New York Botanical Garden is on through Halloween – which makes sense since she has a great admiration for pumpkins..as do I. ‘Kusama reveals her lifelong fascination with the natural world, beginning with her childhood spent in the greenhouses and fields of her family’s seed nursery. Her artistic concepts of obliteration, infinity, and eternity are inspired by her intimate engagement with the colors, patterns, and life cycles of plants and flowers’. Along with the fun installations in the Conservatory, there are several walk through immersive installations throughout the garden. We had a great time and the beautiful weather day was like icing on the cake. I highly recommend this to all.
Tip Toe thru the Tulips April 18, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: nature, NYC, photography, Tulips
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Spring has definitely sprung in NYC. Walking around the city you cannot help but notice the tulips that are everywhere. There are over 150 different species in the Tulipa genus, with over 3,000 different varieties registered to date and more to come as plant breeders continue creating new hybrids. Lots of information about tulips here. If you haven’t heard of tulip mania in the 17th century here is more fascinating stuff. There was even a movie made about the tulip wars. 
Sunrise from the Empire State Building April 11, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Empire State Building, king kong, NYC, photography, sunrise, Views
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Now that we are all venturing out as we get vaccinated it is time to make up for the lost COVID year. Fresh from my adventure to the Edge a few weeks ago we decided to go to the 86th floor and watch the sun rise from atop the Empire State Building. it is amazing that this iconic building was completed in just 13 months. I hadn’t been to the ESB since I was a kid and my buddy, Amy had never been – so off we went. I was not expecting the most fabulous sunrise (as long as we did not have fog I would be happy). The city is quiet on a Saturday morning and it was great watching the hints of light and color on the horizon. If was a wonderful experience (if you don’t count that fact that I forgot to put the battery in my SLR camera). All of today’s photos were taken with my iPhone. If you can get up early you might consider trying this unique, fun adventure. Before departing the venue you should visit the second floor which is filled with history, interactive exhibits and of course – King Kong.
Spring at the Queens Zoo April 4, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, nature, NYC, photography, Queens Zoo, wildlife, Zoos
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I haven’t visited the Queens Zoo since the summer of 2019. Luckily, a work assignment brought me back this past week and it was definitely worth the trip. The Queens Zoo is an 18-acre zoo located in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. The zoo features animals from the Americas, ranging from the American bison to the South American Andean bear. I had a fun visit and will not let so much time pass before my return.
Splash into Spring March 28, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: animals, Central Park Zoo, nature, NYC, photography, Red Panda, sea lion, snow leopard, wildlife, Zoos
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Spring arrived in NYC to the delight of millions this week. Friday was a record breaking 75 degrees. It felt really good. I captured some of our beautiful animals as I walked about my home base, the Central Park Zoo. I hesitated to buy some plants for my patio as the warning about frosts happening in the next few weeks is still out there. Keep washing those hands and I hope when it is your turn you will get vaccinated. A Zissen Pesach (Happy Passover) to one and all. Enjoy! 
The Edge March 21, 2021
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: NYC, photography, The Edge
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I have been taking baby steps out into the city these past few weeks since being fully vaccinated. Went to a movie, a museum and also to the Edge. ‘The Edge is the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere located at 30 Hudson Yards, with a one-of-a-kind design. It’s suspended in mid-air, giving you the feeling of floating in the sky with 360-degree views you can’t get anywhere else. Look 100 stories down from the thrilling glass floor, lean out over the city on angled glass walls and even sip champagne in the sky’. Truth be told I am not a big fan of ledges, edges and heights but I find myself in these high places despite feeling dizzy and somewhat nauseated. Oh what we do for a photo op. This attraction opened just a few days prior to the shutdown in March of 2020. Glad it is now open and encourage you to visit. Speaking of heights…five years ago we went to One World Observatory And two years ago we had a delicious BBQ in the sky. 
