PJ's Studio: January 2025

Sunday, January 26, 2025

Grand Central Holiday Train Show 2

As promised here is a second set of pics from this year’s holiday train show at Grand Central Terminal.

It’s a dazzling display, really capturing the magic of the city.

It also captures some of the more mundane scenes of city life.

And as in the city itself, the juxtaposition of the old and new.

Also, some sights that seem to have disappeared somewhere along the way.

They couldn’t resist the urge to be a bit playful.

And wandered from the theme to include some classic all-American scenery

and moments.

But it’s the NYC pizzazz that makes the exhibit fun.

Hats off to the MTA!

Here’s a link to the previous blog…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2025/01/grand-central-holiday-train-show.html

Cheers!

Sunday, January 19, 2025

Grand Central Holiday Train Show

The MTA has a great collection of toy trains.

They show them off at their museum located in Grand Central Terminal.

While I have enjoyed many of their shows in the past this one is especially beautiful. And it’s open through the end of the month – so there is still time to visit.

Not surprisingly, Grand Central Terminal is the star of the show. Even the close-ups are adorable.

The display features trains and buildings from various eras.

I was amused to see the much beloved and greatly missed Pearl Paint represented.

And CBGB. 😊

The City Harvest trucks are a nice modern touch.

While the phone booth is just a distant memory - the pigeons not so much.

The exhibit was so cute that I will post a second set of photos next week.

Cheers,

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Florence 3 : Golf Cart Ban Alert

Following on the heels of Venice’s decision to charge a daily people fee comes the news that Florence is banning golf carts and other atypical vehicles.

They are also banning loudspeakers and amplifiers.

And, key boxes used by short-term rentals.

Apparently, they had no choice.

7.8 million people visited Florence in the first nine months of 2024.

Tourist use is concentrated in just 5 square kilos (2 square miles.) And it is so crowded that people can barely walk through the streets.

Luckily for us, when we visited in 1997 the only crowds were the ones the bride and her bridal party attracted in the square.

Of course, there was a line for the Bargello – but who could resist the chance to check out Donatello’s David – a groundbreaking example of early Renaissance art.

Made of bronze in the 1440’s, it is the first freestanding nude male sculpture created since Greco-Roman times.