New York

05/22/13 8:06am

Daily What?!: Betty Boop Bike Rack in Midtown

Featured, New York

NYC Bike Rack-David Byrne-Betty Boop-Midtown-44th and 7th-Untapped Cities

David Byrne Bike Rack “The Old Times Square” on 44th Street and 7th Aveue

This awesome bike rack wasn’t actually inspired by Betty Boop, but we like the alliteration of Betty Boop Bike Rack. It’s actually part of a series by artist David Byrne (from the Talking Heads) in partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation and Pace Gallery. As an avid cyclist, David was invited to join a city design competition for bike racks and later submitted his own designs which the city agreed to install.

bikes, Daily What?!

05/21/13 2:00pm

Saving NYC’s Vintage Diners: Moondance, Cheyenne, Empire Diner & the Lost Diner

It’s always exciting for us at Untapped to see the passionate work of residents get the spotlight. Michael Perlman, chair of the Rego-Forest Preservation Council, is one of those New Yorkers who has taken his fascination for urban quirks and history towards a greater mission–in his case, preservation. Last week, Michael’s work saving the diners of New York City was featured a piece by Eric Jaffe in The Atlantic Cities, chronicling his (often successful) quest to find buyers for iconic diners like the Moondance and Cheyenne diners. He’s also been trying to save the Empire Diner in Chelsea and the abandoned Lost Diner/Lunchbox Diner on West Street.

diners, empire diner, Forest Hills, Michael Perlman, queens

05/21/13 1:00pm

Untapped Mailbag: Where Can You Film An Apocalpyse Movie in NYC?

Featured, New York

Ellis Island Southside Hospital

We love hearing from readers in our Untapped Mailbag, especially when they have questions like, “Where can I film a TV show with an apocalypse v. man story line?” In our answer, here’s a sampling of the spots we suggested:

Ellis Island Southside Hospitals: There isn’t much creepier than an abandoned hospital. This one has old incinerators, medicinal bottles, surgical wards and more.

Fort Totten: This Civil War fort is particularly apocalyptic for the inscriptions soldiers carved into the walls while stationed here.

abandoned, City Hall, Ellis Island, Fort Totten, gowanus, staten island, Untapped Mailbag

by rachel alban

05/21/13 11:00am

Untapped Secrets of Central Park: What Wasn’t In The Plan

by rachel alban

3 Comments

In 1858, the City of New York held a design competition for Central Park. The winning plan, by Frederic Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, was named ‘the Greensward Plan’ and featured an English style landscape with meadows, lakes, hills, winding pedestrian paths, and many trees to block the view of city buildings.

Over the years, the park has evolved from the original plan due to changing administrations and in response to the changing needs of New Yorkers. In this post, we look at some quirky and surprising details in the park that were not a part of the original Greensward Plan, yet have become a part of its history and character.

Pictured above is Belvedere Castle which was built to overlook the rectangular Croton Reservoir. In 1931, the reservoir was drained and the site developed into today’s Great Lawn.

Where to find it: Mid-Park from 79th to 85th Street. (more…)

central park, parks

Arts & Culture

05/21/13 10:00am

Daily What?! Find George Washington’s Tooth in Fraunces Tavern, NYC

Image via New York Insolite Secréte

We previously covered Fraunces Tavern on Pearl Street, where George Washington gave his farewell address in 1783, in our roundup of Presidential Haunts in New York City. But did you know Fraunces Tavern is also home to one of George Washington’s teeth and a lock of his hair? Washington had one tooth left when he was sworn in as the first President of the United States, and this solitary tooth was holding together a set of dentures made of cow’s tooth, gold, Washington’s teeth and ivory of a hippopotamus. (Contrary to a popular misconception that he had wooden dentures).

Daily What?!, george washington, history

05/21/13 9:00am

A Watertower Speakeasy Hits Chelsea