City of Art: New York's Hidden Treasures Revealed: Play Now | Play in Popup

Ahead of the panel discussion City of Art: New York’s Hidden Treasures Revealed which MAS is hosting on Thursday, April 16, at 6:30 pm., leading environmental artist George Trakas talked to Elizabeth Werbe of MAS about his recent public art work in New York City.

Widely acclaimed for numerous projects in North America and Western Europe over the past thirty years, Trakas has recently completed a major piece of work for the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Brooklyn. Commissioned by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art program, his creation makes approximately 1,000 feet of shoreline accessible to the public. Continue Reading>>

MAS is pleased to announce the opening of the exhibition, By Way of Broadway: New York Photographs by Cervin Robinson, next Thursday, March 26. One of the most widely-published architectural photographers working today, Cervin Robinson began taking photographs at the encouragement of his father, an architect, when he was twelve, and this collection explores New York’s visual landscape comprising thirty views of the 17-mile length of Manhattan’s main street taken over the course of three decades.

The exhibition opens with a reception at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25, at MAS. The event is free but reservations are required. RSVP online or call 212-935-2075. By Way of Broadway will be on display at MAS galleries through Wednesday, May 6, and the galleries are open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., and closed at all other times. Continue Reading>>

In anticipation of next year’s 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s legendary exploration of New York harbor and the river that was to be named for him, author Frances Dunwell will present an inspiring lecture about the transformative role of the Hudson River in American history and culture at MAS next Monday, November 17. In her book The Hudson: America’s River she considers how the river’s unique geography, scenic beauty, and culture of entrepreneurship have influenced the shaping of Manhattan, given rise to the Empire State, and impacted the trajectory of world trade and global politics. Dunwell will begin her lecture with the age of Dutch exploration and colonization and conclude with the environmental cleanup initiatives that set a national precedent for conservation.

The program is set to be a unique portrait of the river that is as varied as its own landscape, and of particular interest to history buffs, environmentalists, and urban planners, as well as regular New Yorkers who want to learn about the origins of their city and how it acquired its historic prominence. Continue Reading>>

The First Annual Jane Jacobs Forum: Housing New Yorkers in the 21st-Century
Wednesday, November 5, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
In announcing his PlaNYC 2030, Mayor Bloomberg said the city must prepare for its population to grow by more than one million residents by the year 2030. Ensuring that New Yorkers have affordable and sustainable places to live is one of the most important goals for the city today.

Urban visionary and activist Jane Jacobs wrote that a strong sense of community is critical in creating dynamic and diverse neighborhoods. But today, it is increasingly difficult for New Yorkers of low and moderate income to  live here. In the midst of these precarios economic times, how can planners, architects, city officials, and developers work with local residents to create affordable homes? How will today’s credit crisis further impact the cost and availability of housing in New York City? What can we do to retain the unique, densely populated, mixed-income neighborhoods that Jacobs favored? Continue Reading>>

Do you know what the name of Henry Hudson’s ship was, or which Midtown skyscraper is named for a woman’s cosmetic? What about the identity of the figure on horseback outside the Museum of Natural History, or the name of Kennedy Airport before it was named for the late president?

If so, you should have joined MAS and quiz-masters Greg Young and Tom Meyers, aka The Bowery Boys (pictured), last night at Common Ground Bar as they put teams of New Yorkers through their paces on a variety of topics relating to New York City history. Congratulations to NYC Trivia Night champions Steve Scofield and Julia Mucci - the Astoria Aces, edging out the Certificates of No Effect in a tight-fought contest, winning themselves a variety of New York City maps and books from the MAS bookstore Urban Center Books.

However, if you couldn’t make it last night, you can still test your knowledge of the city by downloading the quiz questions here and the answers here and playing at home. Continue Reading>>

On Saturday, October 18, join the winner of this year’s Jane Jacobs Medal for New Ideas and Activism, Alexie Torres-Fleming, on a walking tour highlighting several community-driven projects undertaken by her organization that have improved the health of the Bronx River watershed. HighOn Saturday, October 18, join the winner of this year’s Jane Jacobs Medal for New Ideas and Activism, Alexie Torres-Fleming, on a walking tour highlighting several community-driven projects undertaken by her organization that have improved the health of the Bronx River watershed.lights include the restoration of Concrete Plant Park — a once-contaminated property that was converted to parkland designed by local residents, and several storm water best management practices, including rain gardens, green roofs, and rain barrels.

From Burning to Blooming: Community Driven Projects in the Bronx
Saturday, October 18, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Space is limited. $15, $12 MAS members/students. Purchase tickets online or call 212-935-2075. Leader: Alexie Torres-Fleming, founding director of Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice. Meet outside the office of Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice, 1384 Stratford Avenue, Bronx, NY 10472, MAP.

For details of upcoming MAS programs, visit www.mas.org/tours and for a downloadable version of our fall program calendar in PDF form, click here.

On Tuesday, October 14, Greg Young and Tom Meyers, hosts of the popular weekly New York City history podcast The Bowery Boys, will join MAS in hosting a spirited evening of New York City trivia: history, architecture, culture, and more. Come and test your knowledge about the city you call home, meet new people, and lift a glass to New York. A bonus speed round will determine the champions. Put together your team of experts (only four persons per team, please) and join us.

New York City Trivia Night
Tuesday, October 14, 6:30 p.m.
At Common Ground Bar and Restaurant, 206 Avenue A, between 12th and 13th Streets MAP
Free, but reservations are strongly recommended due to limited capacity.  RSVP online or call 212-935-2075.

For details of other upcoming MAS programs, visit www.mas.org/programs, and to download the full schedule of MAS fall programs in PDF form, click here.

Last Saturday – September 27, a group of New Yorkers joined Peggy Shepard, winner of the 2008 Jane Jacobs Medal for Lifetime Achievement, and Cecil Corbin-Mark, deputy director of West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. (WE ACT), on a bus tour exploring issues of environmental justice in Harlem. The tour examined how noxious hazards, such as garbage and bus depots, co-exist with some of the city’s cultural treasures, such as the  museums and art institutions of “El Barrio,” Marcus Garvey Park, and the new Harlem Waterfront Park.

In addition to learning about the practice of situating environmentally harmful facilities in low-income communities of color and receiving a first-hand glimpse of how traffic congestion, noise and air pollution, and toxic odors contribute to high asthma rates among local residents, participants gained greater insight into ongoing struggles and siginficant victories. These include the bold act of civil disobedience that brought citywide attention to health risks posed by the the North River Sewage Treatment Plant. Tour takers also marveled at the remarkable architecture of the Mount Morris and Hamilton Heights historic districts. Continue Reading>>

The proliferation of chain stores and bank branches is an increasing threat to the character of diverse neighborhoods throughout New York City.  By highlighting successful innovations that have been adopted in other cities and exploring the distinct pressures faced by business owners, this program aims to provide local merchants, community members, and municipal representatives with tools and strategies to safeguard small-scale retail, drive economic development, and establish a constituency pushing for policy reform.

Solutions for Preserving New York’s Neighborhood Businesses
Monday, October 6, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
At the West Side Institutional Synagogue, 120 West 76th Street at Columbus Avenue, MAP
FREE, but reservations are strongly recommended. RSVP online or call 212 935 2075. Advance ticket purchase is available until 3:00 p.m. the day of for programs that are not sold-out. Attendees are advised to arrive fifteen minutes prior to the event start time, as late seating is not guaranteed. Those without reservations will be admitted, space permitting, on a first-come, first-served basis. Continue Reading>>

On Saturday, September 27, Peggy Shepard (at left), winner of this year’s Jane Jacobs Medal for Lifetime Achievement, will lead a bus tour highlighting issues of environmental justice in Harlem. This tour will examine how noxious hazards, such as garbage and bus depots — whose location is determined by the city government — co-exist with some of the city’s cultural treasures, such as the museums and art institutions of “El Barrio,” Marcus Garvey Park, and the new Harlem Waterfront Park.

Toxic Hazards and Cultural Treasures, Saturday, September 27, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Space is limited.  $25, $20 MAS members/students.  Purchase tickets online or call 212-935-2075. Leader: Peggy Shepard, co-founder and executive director of West Harlem Environmental Action (WE ACT).  Meeting location will be given upon registration.

For details of upcoming MAS programs, visit www.mas.org/programs.  To dowload the full schedule of MAS fall programs in PDF form, click here.