Streetsblog New York City

I always trip there. Always. It looks cool, though.

We called these “The Bubbles” when I was a young skateboarding lad.

Yes, I believe it’s Third and 48th. It’s a great little imaginative use of public space. It sure beats the conventional concrete and steel benches. This has a much warmer feeling. And it really helps that it is shaded by a canopy. I once ate my lunch under that when it was lightly raining.

One of the few places in NYC where it feels a little like Portland, OR.

Glenn, you must have misread my comment… I don’t like this little plaza… it’s just too wierd. But, if these kinds of places were all the same, I guess it’d be too monotonous.

What I feel NYC needs more of are public spaces that are grand and elegant. Like the esplanade in Battery Park City, Bryant Park, the steps of the Met, and Grand Central.

Before they started stopping people from resting on the steps, the old post office and the court house worked in this way.

Of course when modern architect say “plaza” they often mean… “empty wind-swept place of vacancy” and this little spot, at least avoids that error. But I have to say it is pretty junky, especially for midtown.

Futurebird: what post office are you talking about? 8th Ave and 33rd? Is there still construction going on on that side of the building? If not, then it’s a real shame if people are not allowed to sit there. I’d like to find out who is enforcing that rule and ask them to relent.

I’m in Philadelphia this weekend, and from the admittedly very little I’ve seen so far, NY friends, they’re well ahead of us in terms of “liveable streets.” And like my impression of Philly in 1993 (last time I was here), the drivers are SANE.

I’ve passed this spot a few times and I’ve always liked it – it gives me a positive feeling and pleases my eye. But it is pretty subjective, huh…