Manhattanhenge 2021

In May of 2019, I blogged about Manhattanhenge, the four periods of time each year (twice for the sunrise, twice for the sunset) when the sun lines up with the east-west streets of the main Manhattan (New York City) street grid.

 Who knew?  I sure didn't, in my 21 years of growing up in New York City.

I grew up in the New York City of the 1950's and 1960's.  In my school years I was fortunate enough (or unfortunate enough, however you view it) to take yearly school field trips to the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and a play (I don't remember what the play was).  At some point I was taken to the Statue of Liberty.  My public elementary school even took our class to the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows in 1964.

One thing I never knew about, though, in all my growing years, was a phenomenon which is now called Manhattanhenge.  This celestial event was popularized by astrophysicist and educator Neil deGrasse Tyson.  Tyson, as it happens, went to the same high school as I did. (Just not at the same time!)

Tyson coined the name "Manhattanhenge" in 2002, almost 30 years after I left New York City for good.

So I never have seen Manhattanhenge.  Me, the person who delights in photographing sunrises and sunsets, has never witnessed this event.

For the sunset, the alignment it is two sunsets in late May and, again, two sunsets in mid July. One sunset of each pair is a "full Manhattanhenge" and one is a "half Manhattanhenge".  Full Manhattanhenge is May 30.  The sunrise "reverse Manhattanhenge" for 2021 has already occurred.

This year, the May event is May 29-31.  The Memorial Day weekend.

Where to stand, in case you are interested.

It also brings traffic to a standstill and crowds jostle for the best photographic angle.  Yes, I've seen those photos, too.  Of course, that didn't happen in 2020.  Perhaps the crowds will be back in 2021.  My back, though, isn't ready for it.  Still....I priced a hypothetical trip for three nights in a motel in Brooklyn we stayed at once before and, not including food, the chance to see Manhattanhenge would set us back nearly $1,000.  With my present back issues, I'm not up to traveling down there and standing for hours, either.

I don't envy those I know in New York City what they went through in 2020, but I can envy them this display.

Apparently, there are other cities with their own "henges". But New York City was my birthplace, and it's where I want to view it.

New York City here I come for Manhattanhenge.  One day.

A Musical Blackout #MusicMovesMe

I was not in New York City last night when the lights went out.  But I came close to being there.  July 12 and 13 were Manhattanhenge (one of four occasions during the year where the sunset or sunrise line up with the Manhattan street grid) and we wanted to be there.   We ended up not going - but if we had been there...

But thanks to social media, I was able to be there, and I decided to move my Music Moves Me post to  today, as I was so moved.

Who are the #MusicMovesMe bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only on this music train, please!)   First, there is XmasDolly.  Her chief co-conductor is Cathy of Curious as a Cathy. Her other co-conductors are:   Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, and me.  Callie of JAmerican Spice blogs from time to time.  

Our guest conductor for the month of July is Driller AA of Driller's Place. 

For our theme today he has picked: "Your Pick" so this isn't my usual rock music post.
New York City has had four major blackouts in my lifetime.  I was there for the first, on November 9-10, 1965.  

The second was during my father's birthday, July 13-14, 1977.  This one did not find New York City at its best.  The third was in August of 2003 and affected a lot of the Northeast.  We did not lose power for long where I live upstate, but we had rolling blackouts for a while.

The fourth one was 42 years later, to the day of the second blackout.  I found out about it - where else?  on social media.

Of the various reports I read, this one may have been the most inspiring.  There was supposed to be a concert at Carnegie Hall by a choir called MCO.  When the lights went out, the concert was moved outdoors.

Thanks to social media, I can bring you a little of it for your Sunday enjoyment. (MCO specializes in sacred music, and this is a religious performance).  There are other clips on Twitter (if you are on Twitter) and, on some of them, you can get quick views of Manhattanhenge.

Here is one more video from yesterday's impromptu outdoor blackout concert, with MCO singing a song called I Stand Amazed. 

To learn more about MCO you can look them up on Facebook or Wikipedia)

This wasn't the only concert cancelled - Jennifer Lopez had just started a concert at Madison Square Garden when the lights went out. 

I'm not a big J-Lo fan so I can't pick a good one for you so instead, for my final song for today, I turn to Billy Joel's Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway).  This is a live performance at Yankee Stadium.  I grew up in the Bronx.

So once again, happy birthday in heaven to my father.  And, please join me again tomorrow for Garden Bloggers Bloom Day.

Manhattanhenge

Who knew?

I grew up in the New York City of the 1950's and 1960's.  In my school years I was fortunate enough (or unfortunate enough, however you view it) to take yearly school field trips to the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan and a play (I don't remember what the play was).  At some point I was taken to the Statue of Liberty.  My public elementary school even took our class to the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows in 1964.

One thing I never knew about, though, in all my growing years, was a phenomenon which is now called Manhattanhenge.  This celestrial event has been popularized by astrophysicist and educator Neil deGrasse Tyson.  Tyson, as it happens, went to the same high school as I did. (Just not at the same time!)

Tyson coined the name "Manhattanhenge" in 2002, almost 30 years after I left New York City for good.

So I never have seen it.  Me, the person who delights in photographing sunrises and sunsets, has never witnessed this event.

It happens that the sun, four times a year (twice for sunrise, and twice for sunset), aligns perfectly with Manhattan's street grid.  For the sunset, it is two sunsets in late May and, again, two sunsets in mid July.

Last night, half of the sun would have been visible on the grid if the weather had been favorable.  Tonight, the full sun will be visible, again, if the weather cooperates.

Here are dates and times for 2019.

Tyson says:

"For best effect, position yourself as far east in Manhattan as possible. But ensure that when you look west across the avenues you can still see New Jersey. Clear cross streets include 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th and several streets adjacent to them. The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building render 34th street and 42nd streets especially striking vistas."

It also brings traffic to a standstill and crowds jostle for the best photographic angle.  Yes, I've seen those photos, too.

Should I or should I not Manhattanhenge? Have any of my readers witnessed it?

Why didn't I know about this in 1970?  Now, I would have to spend hundreds of dollars on a motel room and more money for the bus trip to see this, all the while hoping the weather cooperates.

Or that, by mid-July, it isn't 95 degrees and humid at sunset.

Florida in January - definitely not Manhattanhenge

I admit the New York street grid would make such a sunset unforgettable.

New York City skyline, December 25, 2018

Still....Tyson, what have you done?

Origin #AtoZChallenge

New York City.  It's the city many of us think we know, others of us want no part of, and still others dream every waking moment of visiting.

I was fortunate enough to be born in, and grow up in, New York City, so I can call New York City my city of Origin.  I left when I was 21 and have only returned to visit friends and family.  I was never a true child of New York City - always aching for fewer crowds and less congestion.  My father, on the other hand, was born in Brooklyn, spent part of his life in the Bronx, and returned to Brooklyn for his last few years of life.  Except for World War II, he lived there all his life.

I'd like to give you some views of New York City.  Some you will expect.   Some will surprise you.

The Manhattan skyline, up close but not too personal.

This is some more of what you might expect.

From an elevated park called the High Line, you can get quite up close and personal with older buildings.

Tranquility Garden, Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn. Yes, there is plenty of green in New York City.

Or, these beautiful houses in (hoping I'm right here) Borough Park, also in Brooklyn.  Yes, there aren't skyscrapers everywhere.

The other day, I blogged about the Lott House, a circa 1800 farmhouse in the Marine Park section of Brooklyn.  Would you expect to see a farmhouse in New York City?  Here it is, decorated for Christmas.

"O" day in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge.  My theme: Finding America through Photos.

Little (Church) and Lott (House) #AtoZChallenge

Today, for "L" day in the #AtoZChallenge, I take you to a church in Manhattan and an 18th century farmhouse (yes, farmhouse) in Brooklyn.


The "Little Church Around the Corner" is an Episcopal Church (the formal name is the Church of the Transfiguration but that doesn't begin with "L" located on West 29th Street in Manhattan.

This picture really shows how "little" it is compared to its neighbors.

The congregation was founded in 1848 and the church building dates from 1850.  It was declared a national landmark in 1973.  It has a long and distinguished history, including being used as a stop on the Underground Railroad, and a shelter for African Americans during the terrible Draft Riots of 1863.  It has ties of many years with the New York City theatre community, dating from around 1870.

The Hendrick Lott house is one of the oldest houses in New York's borough of Brooklyn, dating from 1800, although it incorporates part of a structure dating from 1720.

I have family living in the neighborhood the Lott House is located in, and my son (who is now in his late 20's) has memories of walking to the house, then neglected and in disrepair, the property overgrown, with his cousin.  He was about five at the time. 

When we visited last year at Christmastime with my son, the house was one of the first things he wanted to see.

How happy he was to see that the house is being restored, although visitors are only permitted on special occasions.  I can't even imagine how valuable the land (the house sits on about 3/10 of an acre) it sits on is.  I think its survival was little short of amazing.

Luck?  Or something more?