One of my hobbies is snapping photos as I take long walks around New York City. These are my favorites from 2018. All are copyright © 2018 Dianne L. Durante.…
Every year my husband and I do an excursion to watch sunrise from the east end of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. Since that means arriving at least half an…
These photos were taken in late November and December 2018, while I was walking south and west in Central Park. They don't need much commentary except: AWESOME! You think it…
This site is usually dedicated to art that’s inspiring, thought-provoking, skillfully executed, and/or breathtakingly beautiful ... and once a year, I stretch that to include the fabulous decorations, clothing, and jewelry…
The Art Renewal Center's annual competition for contemporary realistic art attracts some of the best artists from around the world. The paintings and sculptures are stunning for their technique and/or…
The rustic Dene Shelter, sitting high on a rocky outcrop, is a great place to enjoy a splendid view and think about how many, many things could go wrong in…
If you’re in the Ramble, you’re probably wandering aimlessly – and Frederick Law Olmsted would be pleased about that. This wooded area with its convoluted paths harks back to the…
In the early days, Central Park had sheep, but no cows. It did, however, have a Dairy, because of a scandal that broke in the summer of 1858. The Swill…
This essay is adapted from Chapter 2 of Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide. I’ve kept cross-references to other chapters in the book, all of which will eventually be updated and…
In 2011, two life-size bronze sculptures of Frederick Douglass were dedicated in New York: one at the north end of Central Park, one at the New-York Historical Society. Douglass at…