A recent timelapse video captures how the Manhattan Bridge sways up and down with each passing subway train. Thankfully though, the motion of the East River crossing isn’t nearly as drastic as the original Tacoma Narrows Bridge, which spectacularly collapsed months after its 1940 opening over the Puget Sound. See the Manhattan Bridge move, after the jump. Read more »
PETA is planning a rally tomorrow against Ringling Bros. in Coney Island, where the legendary circus is holding a string of shows throughout the summer. The animals rights group whipped up a whole lot of attention earlier in the week after releasing damning video of animal handlers beating the elephants, sparking a federal investigation. They’ll be meeting up at 9:30AM on the corner of 21st and Surf Avenue.
Park Slope Councilmember Bill DeBlasio is off the ballot for the city’s public advocate race because his campaign miscounted his volumes of petition signatures, claiming there were 131 instead of 132. This technical glitch was enough to make the politician’s 125,000 signatures, 17 times more than necessary, worthless, at least until his lawyers resolve the typo. |Brooklyn Paper|
A Virgin Mary sculpture mixing religion and pop culture has sparked some controversy outside Syracause. “Bebe Coca,” a paper-mache sculpture of the Virgin of Guadalupe by artist Geri Keil, uses a glass Coca-Cola bottle for the body, the artist’s allusion to the “mishmash of cultures” in Mexico. But a local church group is so insulted they’re demanding the Marcellus Free Library take it off display. In a petition signed by a whole 78 people, the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God Church claims the artwork “is a grave dishonor to the image of our Lady because it depicts her as being devoured by a Coke bottle.” Read more »
Queens drivers are baffled by newly painted parking spots, which simply require them to pull past and reverse their car into the space. Instead, they’re attempting far more complicated parking maneuvers and still failing to get their cars between the lines. |1010 Wins|
After 20 years selling streetwear and skateboards on Spring Street, Union NYC is done. Founded by James Jebbia, who also owns cult skateboard brand Supreme, he plans on turning the 176 Spring Street location into another store he’s familiar with owning: Stussy.
If you’ve always wanted to buy a Banksy and hopefully sell it at a higher price down the road, now is your chance, kind of. Picture On Walls is offering this ‘Donuts’ print by the millionaire street artist in either “chocolate” or “strawberry” (pictured) by a lottery system. Prospective buyers can enter their name between now and July 28th at noon—London time—to win the opportunity to purchase the $764.00 the print. Only 299 of each flavor will be made available and the 598 winners will be contacted by email shortly after. Good luck!
In the United States, cocaine is pretty much illegal, but if used for approved research purposes like turning rodents into addicts, totally cool. Professor Barry Setlow at Texas A&M University is doing a five-year study on rats to examine the effects it has on the brain. He was able to secure a $1.4 million grant, which he used in part to cop the drugs: “Setlow buys his cocaine from the federal government, which, he said, buys it from a company that produces controlled substances for research.” And unlike the mostly impure crap humans are forced to snort, these rats are likely getting the raw. |Eagle|
Millions of dollars have been spent on the newly renovated Washington Square Park, but the very public restrooms still remain: “They took the stalls out before the renovations. There were too many gays together in there…. You’d look and see four legs when there should be two in a stall! Crazy! Now there’s none of that. Can’t do that out in the open.” |Curbed|
McCaig-Welles Gallery has announced that it is shutting its doors for good. Since its Williamsburg opening in late 2000, the gallery has stayed on the forefront of contemporary art, exhibiting both established as well as up and coming artists from the neighborhood and far beyond. In recent months the gallery has featured surrealist public painters, graffiti writers, renowned female urban artists, and a very sexy group show. Impacted by the depressed art market and economy, owner Melissa McCaig-Welles announced her decision in this email: Read more »
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