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Summer 2013: Public Art in NYC
WRITTEN BY ALINE FADER Pedro Pablo Silva passed away recently, and it seems only fitting that, in honor of the whimsical art that he created in collaboration with local communities, we highlight art in public spaces… New York City has been supporting art in public places since at least 1967. While some of this art…
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New Street Signs!
WRITTEN BY ALINE FADER Some of you may have read in a recent New Yorker about the new font, Clearview, that is going to be replacing the Gothic all-caps font that is predominantly used for street signs in New York City. You may have already noticed (or not) that highway signs have been changing over…
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Mosque: Form and Function
Mosques are an integral part of any Muslim neighborhood or community. Its primary function is to provide a place for prayer which is compulsory for all Muslims who have reached adulthood. Islam does not prescribe to any architectural model or material except that the front of the mosque face Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. Function: A…
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CSO Resources
WRITTEN BY ALINE FADER So far this June has been pretty rainy, so it seems timely to provide some resources on a problem that New York City and many other municipalities are struggling to deal with: Combined Sewer Overflows or CSOs. Why should this be of interest to you? Well, you don’t swim in your…
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Taksim Square: Istanbul Residents vs Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
This is our second post about Taksim Square. For city planners and architects looking in from the outside there are two issues; 1) what are the merits of the development proposals for Taksim Square; and 2) did Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality consult civic groups and organizations representing business owners and residents of the area before commencing construction? The answer to both questions is a…
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The Dutch-Belgian High Speed Rail Debacle
We’ve been talking a lot about high speed rail lately here on PlaNYourCity. That’s not just because we like the subject, it’s also because it’s one of those dynamic topics that often seems to be in the news. Last week brought us headlines about a high speed rail debacle over in The Netherlands and Belgium.…
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Taksim Square: To whom does this public space belong?
Taksim Square is a central public space and transit hub located in the European part of Istanbul, Turkey. It is a major tourist attraction with hotels, shops, restaurants, and cultural landmarks. It is also a place where public events, parades, and New Year celebrations take place. Also, one of the largest and most visited pedestrian commercial corridors…
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Relationship Maintenance: NYC
WRITTEN BY ALINE FADER I read a blog post entitled “What to do if you are falling out of love with New York” recently. It is a pretty solid list and it made me review all those moments when NYC and I were on rough terms. Often those times seem to coincide with lack of…
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New York City Landmarks Reflected in Postage Stamps
Most people living outside of New York City may only know the city through its landmark buildings and sites, and what better way to get to know these iconic landmarks than through US postage stamps. I have pulled together a few of the most well-known New York sites and structures commemorated by the US postal Service.…
Disclaimer: All content, including blog posts and tours, reflects my personal views and experiences. Nothing here should be interpreted as representing the views of any current or former employer.