Pretty Lights on Water Street

Curbed has some nice pictures from the opening of the new park down on Water Street overlooking the FDR. The name of the neon structure is the "Beacon of Progress"-- but will probably be better known as "What the hell is that?" by all the tourists walking on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade at night. Trolopism has a nice shot of the view out towards Brooklyn-- looks like the park is going to be a nice quiet place to take in the sunset. Bonus link: a set of renderings that show the original plan for the park-- apparently there was some cost-cutting and a few of the niceties were eliminated during the building phase.

All the pictures of the Beacon led us to do some pondering: where are the best daily outdoor lightshows in New York City? Here are our top 5:

1. Empire State Building
2. Rose Planetarium
3. Times Square
4. The Chrysler Building
5. The Constellation Ceiling at Grand Central

Does anyone have suggestions for some lesser known neon beauties?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jake Dobkin in News on October 20, 2005 12:51 PM

Comments [rss]

June

The clock tower at Madison Square Park has been displaying some odd, yet beautiful, colors.

Dave H.

I was hanging out in that park last Saturday night. It's actually a beautiful spot with views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Promenade as well as the South Street Seaport. That neon structure wasn't illuminated, however, which probably dramtatically changes the environment, which is very naturalistic with wood benches and generous plantings.

MT

How about that architecture firm between the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges in Brooklyn that has the LED display to "communicate" with the lights on the Empire State Building. I love driving past that building on the BQE.

jake

would you count the pepsi sign in LIC, or the lights on the ferris wheel in coney island? b/c those are the only good outer borough displays i can think of. this is probably a good question to ask forgotten-ny.