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…
Did you know that in Union Square, the words of the Declaration of Independence are inscribed on a ten-foot-high bronze tablet? The Independence Flagpole in Union Square commemorates the 150th…
Point of impact By 1775, American colonists and the British were on a collision course. The Stamp Act, imposed in 1765 to defray the cost of defending the colonies from…
My annual survey of amazing goods and decorations in Manhattan. You can't escape the Greeks (and why would you want to?) The windows you shouldn't miss are at Louis Vuitton…
This essay is adapted from Chapter 36 of Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide. I’ve kept cross-references to other chapters in the book. Sculptor: Jeronimo Suñol. Pedestal: Napoleon Le Brun.…
This essay is adapted from Chapter 35 of Outdoor Monuments of Manhattan: A Historical Guide. I’ve kept cross-references to other chapters in the book. Sculptor: Gaetano Russo. Dedicated: 1892. Medium and size:…
Henry Van Dyke, Jr. (1852-1933) was sent as United States ambassador to Holland and Luxemburg in 1913, just before the Great War (World War I) erupted. Perhaps it was that…
Years ago I bought this poster of an exuberant bouquet by Jan van Huysum (1682-1749), which was at the time on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. It's…
"The Minstrel Boy" Listen (John McDermott has a wonderful voice!) as if you'd never heard this song before. It isn't just about Ireland: it's about not surrendering your values. The Minstrel-boy to…
Why choose just one? Here's a selection of my favorite New Year's cards from New York Public Library's digital collections: a little corny, a lot sincere. Most of them probably…