Beginning June 21st, British artist Luke Jerram will have installed 60 pianos throughout city parks and public spaces as part of an interactive public art installation (which has already hit London). And before you start plotting out some space for an upright in your studio apartment, yes, they will be chained to 90-lb cinder blocks to deter ambitious thieves. more ›

This afternon the Newtown Pippin Restoration and Celebration is planting NYC's first public access apple orchard! It will consist of 40 trees right on Randall's Island, and according to this Facebook page the Parks Department is in the know... but it's been a day and they haven't responded to our request for comment, or more information, or anything. So what we do know is that the trees are included in the MillionTreesNYC program, and they should have their first fruits by... 2015, with a full harvest by 2020. It is then that the orchard will be open to the public, and according to the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance, "paddlers and rowers will be able to land, stroll over to pick fruit, and continue on their way." Just 10 years away, folks! more ›

Elizabeth Marvel first knocked our socks off six years ago when we saw Ivo van Hove's inspired, visceral interpretation of Hedda Gabler at New York Theater Workshop. Ever since, she's been reason enough to see pretty much anything, from Top Girls to The Good Wife. Don't ask us to articulate what makes her so eminently watchable, just go see Marvel for yourself starting next week at the Public Theater, where she's playing the title role in The Book of Grace, the new one from Suzan-Lori Parks—you know, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such hits as Topdog/Underdog. more ›

Breeders and babies get a lot of bad press for being buzzkills at bars... but what about cute, adorable, little puppies? CityRoom's complain box was filled with grievances about dogs leaving the home with their humans this weekend; one woman was horrified that the Gap allows canines in their stores. Probably whilst fanning herself to not suffer a fainting spell, she ends her rant declaring: "My goodness, aren’t they afraid of being sued by a customer who has an allergic reaction, or claims to have been threatened or bitten by an unmuzzled animal on their premises? Perhaps what it will take to keep animals out of stores is a few too many paw prints on the merchandise, or a deposit by a dog that mistook a rug for a sidewalk." more ›

While those space age automated public toilets—or A.P.T.s, as they're known in the business—have been getting all the attention lately, one atavistic bathroom experience is still quietly savored by the public at Herald and Greeley Squares. It involves actual human attendants, who clean and inspect the restrooms 15 to 25 times a day. Their continued employment is sort of a John Henry victory over the rise of the machines that will soon be operating every train, controlling every taxi, and flushing every toilet. more ›

First the Upper East Siders were ranting about sidewalk congestion, and now the Upper West Side is joining in on the complaint chorus. A writer for West Side Spirit has a bone to pick with enclosed sidewalk cafés; because what else are you going to get worked up about these days? La la la, there are really no other problems except dining establishments jutting out on to public property. Really, nothing. more ›

Yesterday Mayor Bloomberg stepped back from a plan to make smoking in public parks and beaches illegal, cautioning that the proposal would stop short of completely outlawing smoking on Parks Department property. Bloomberg boasted at a press conference, "Nobody is more of a believer in saving lives and stopping smoking. In fact, we already ban smoking, for example, in playgrounds." However! "There's also the practical aspect of how we can enforce it. Our Police Department has enough to do. They can't be going around giving tickets." Not with all those photographers and superheroes on the loose, anyway. The mayor explained that the ban would not cover entire parks, only select areas where large crowds might gather. He also acknowledged that if you, the embattled smoker, are "sitting in the middle of Sheep Meadow and you’re the only one there, are you doing any damage to anybody other than killing yourself? Probably not." At the same time, Bloomberg reaffirmed his tough anti-smoking stance: "Make no mistake about it. This city is not walking away from our commitment to make it as difficult and as expensive to smoke as we possibly can." So smoke 'em while you can still (barely) afford 'em. more ›

For at least a decade, Pratt's made a big deal about how its 25-acre grassy campus doubles as a much-needed public oasis for the Clinton Hill community. But the gates to Eden are closing. In June the campus was shut to the public to accommodate a major "beautification" construction project, and when it reopens again in a month only authorized visitors and those with Pratt ID cards will be welcome. Well, outsiders will be allowed to cut through the campus to get from DeKalb to Willoughby, but they're no longer invited to linger. Some wonder whether the change is in response to a perceived crime spike in the neighborhood; last month a Pratt architecture student wound up in a coma after a violent mugging near campus. Whatever the motivation, neighbors are already up in arms, and there's even talk of a petition! But one Pratt student, commenting on The Local, wants the neighbors to know they're not alone—"there are a lot of rules for Pratt students on campus, too. For example, we’re no longer allowed to skateboard." Which reminds us; student sit-in season is almost upon us! more ›

Mayor Bloomberg, you really won some votes talking about bringing back the Brooklyn trolleys, but you'd really win over the city if you allowed public drinking in parks. The NY Post reports that he recently addressed the no-drinking policy, saying, "I never understood why we don't let you drink in the park." However, he didn't show any signs that he'd be changing the policy, only saying, "We don't let you drink in the park. I mean, you go to watch the Philharmonic, you can't have a bottle of wine." In the past he has suggested that a bottle of wine while watching something akin to the Philharmonic is okay—something that was called out for being a classist sentiment. Recently Marty Markowitz was also supporting a form of drinking in public, after he was spotted with a glass of white on a stoop in Brooklyn (but he wasn't fined, like the Brooklynite drinking a beer was). more ›

Last night the big Red Bull snowboarding event finally took place at East River Park, with around 20,000 fans sticking it out in bone-chilling weather. 16 riders were lucky enough to drop in from a nine-story structure, but only one took home the 1st prize of $50K: New Jersey’s own Shayne Pospisi. Finland’s Torstein Horgmo took 2nd place, with 3rd going to New Hampshire’s own Scotty Lago and Terje Haakonsen of Norway taking home Best Trick honors for "dropping into the 90-foot tall ramp with his back foot unstrapped from the binding, pulling off a one-footed method air as he kicked his rear foot out." Anthrax brought the rock to the event, playing a few songs along with Brooklyn’s Black Gold and Valient Thorr...and according to Anthrax's Scott Ian, Chuck D also performed with them. Here's some video of the boarders: more ›

Bad idea snow pants! That giant, steep slope you see being erected on the Manhattan side of the East River will host professional riders this week...but Curbed (via Fast Company) is reporting they may leave it open for amateurs, too: "My sources at Red Bull tell me it might stay up and be open to city rippers throughout the winter!" Upon completion this thing is going to be 90 feet high with a "specially constructed kicker toward an immense 80-foot long hip" and a "massive 45-degree spine," according to the experts. We contacted the company to see if this was true, and to remind them of the litigious society we live in, but they only told us "no comment." Which isn't a denial! Get ready to sign one gnarly release form, New York! more ›

New York City's eight-plus million residents just got 33 new public places where they can recycle their rubbish, Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced at a press conference yesterday in City Hall Park. The new locations are an expansion of a pilot public recycling program that started in March 2007, when 126 blue and green recycling cans were placed in high traffic areas at 10 sites, finally giving New Yorkers' the chance to do in public what they're required by law to do at home. more ›

The waterfront property at the Domino Sugar Factory in Williamsburg will be open to the public for the first time in over a century this Sunday. Refinery, LLC, the developer who plans to convert the landmarked refinery into residential units, is inviting everyone over for free refreshments and a chance to take in the East River views. The plan is to have more of these events in the spring and give the community a taste of what's to come when developer completes a planned five-block-long esplanade on the property. more ›

is an incredibly thorough and well-researched reference guide for home and professional cooks alike. more ›

Could the city soon see the 300-acre Brooklyn Navy Yard up close? The NY Post points out that the former military base may soon become a tourist destination, as they are offering up bus tours starting tomorrow (tomorrow is free, coinciding with OHNY, then it'll cost $30 a head). There will also be 35 artists' studios opened at the Navy Yard tomorrow (details). Last year there was some controversy surrounding the OHNY tour, so hopefully they've worked out the kinks. more ›

The confusion about public drinking continues! It's illegal, but Bloomberg created a huge gray area when in 2003 he declared that wine consumption at Central Park concerts was a-okay. Now Brownstoner focuses in on stoop drinking after a Park Slope man received a $25 open container violation ticket for enjoying a brewskie "after Biden's speech" when a patrol car with an observant cop came by. The officer "explained that if I was behind a fence or gate I would be ok. Since we don't have a gate, the set-back from the sidewalk didn't matter." The NYPD press office hasn't responded to our question about whether stoop drinking is okay yet, so we'll take that as a yes. Besides, in 2005 the NY Times all but encouraged stoop parties. more ›

Now that we've all had a chance to see the NYC Waterfalls, at least in pictures, from the land and water, let us know what you think so far. Keep in mind that there is still the nighttime perspective to come, during which the falls with be lit up until 9 p.m. And while the NYC Waterfalls are obviously no match for Niagara when seen close up, they do convey a winning charm when unexpectedly glimpsed from afar, from spots like the Williamsburg Bridge. (Guess it's no secret how we're voting.) more ›

Delayed spoiler alert: This photo reveals what the upcoming East River waterfalls will most likely look like. Although artist Olafur Eliasson’s ambitious art project doesn't officially start until June 26th, apparently they do need practice turning the spigot. One eagle-eyed Curbed reader caught them in the act late last night and snapped this photo, which depicts the waterfall at Pier 35 by the Manhattan Bridge. more ›

The elegant 7th floor roof garden at Rockefeller Plaza is usually off limits, but for the next two evenings the general public is invited up to sip cocktails while savoring the twilight view. The only catch is that you have to absorb a lot of information about Canada, because our northern neighbor's tourism board is the one footing the bill. But since their national sales pitch comes with free food, music, drinks and hand massages, who's complaining? more ›

When Olafur Eliasson's NYC Waterfalls start roaring on the East River and New York Harbor this June, cruises like Circle Line will be bringing passengers so close to the spray they’ll need to stock ponchos on board. Sure, you could just look at the falls from any number of points on the shore, but tour boat companies are betting that plenty of people will gladly pay for the Man-Made of the Mist experience. more ›

Work on this summer’s NYC Waterfalls project seems to be flowing forward, as the photo above indicates. The $9-$10 million project will bring 4 man-made waterfalls, ranging 90 to 120 feet, to the East River and New York Harbor. Presented by The Public Art Fund, the waterfalls are the creation of Danish–Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, who’s currently enjoying a retrospective at MoMA. more ›

The festive factor was running high at last night's Taste of the Lower East Side, the 8th Annual fundraiser for the Grand Street Settlement. Forty neighborhood eateries pitched in to benefit Grand Street's programs that assist low-income Lower East Side residents, and they showcased some of their best dishes for the crowd of well over 1,000 people. more ›