Throughout her career, Bascove has painted a many of New York Citys bridges, from the Verrazano Bridge to the Harlem River Bridges, spanning all five boroughs using curved geometrical strokes and vivid colors to render monumental bridge structures. For this exhibition she has concentrated on Central Park and the smaller arch structures that span its waterways and paths, allowing the details of the bridges shine through. Bascove has captured the diverse material and structural elements of the overpasses along with the open grandness of some of the structures and the hidden tranquility of others.

This exhibition will be on view through Friday, August 14. The Arsenal Gallery, located in Central Park at 5th Avenue and East 64th Street, is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.

Just to the north of the Arsenal and the Delacorte Clock, visitors may have a super-auditory experience, as they stroll through pedestrian path under the 65th Street Transverse road. Here composer John Morton has installed his Sound Tunnel, an installation of sounds he recorded within the park, which remix in spontaneous and unpredictable ways. On every half-hour and hour with the ringing of the Delacorte chimes, this 20-minute, 6-speaker sound installation incorporates field recordings made in Central Park over the last year.

Using computer technology, a randomly generated selection of ambient sounds such as horses clopping, baseball games, birds, and chime tunes are woven together to form ever-changing compositions that echo through the cavernous tunnel. The installation runs from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 through September 10.

To hear sound clips from the installation and for more information, click here.

This years Christmas Bird Count reveals that Central Park is home sweet home to 6,041 birds, among the highest number of birds counted in the last five years, said Commissioner Adrian Benepe. Beginning and advanced avian aficionados alike did a fantastic job surveying the park and identifying an array of birds throughout the parks winter wonderland, from resident White-throated Sparrows and Blue Jays to the rare Pine Sisken and even a Wild Turkey. There were two (Mute) Swans a-swimming, but no partridge in a pear tree. Special thanks to the New York City Audubon Society and Central Park Conservancy for co-hosting this 109th annual holiday tradition that allows New Yorkers to become citizen scientists in their local park.

The results of this years tally indicate that Central Park is presently home to several birds that are either uncommon or rare for this time of year, including two Red-headed Woodpeckers. The largest flocks spotted were of the House Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Ring-billed Gull, Mallard, and Rock Pigeon. Large numbers of Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck, and Canadian Goose were also spotted.

The first bird counts in America took place on Christmas Day 1900 and were intended to promote bird counting as an alternative to bird hunting. This years Christmas Bird Count in Central Park was led by the New York City Audubon Society and jointly organized with NYC Parks & Recreations Urban Park Rangers, and the Central Park Conservancy.

GO GREEN! ECO TIP OF THE DAY

When possible, purchase Fair Trade Certified coffee and tea. The farmers that grow these coffee beans and tea leaves do not use pesticides, so they increase biodiversity of organisms in third world countries. Fair Trade also ensures fair working conditions for the farmers.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Those who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.

Edgar Allan Poe
(1809 - 1849)

All-Star Summer is set to hit New York City in a few weeks, and the lineup of festivities just added another future hall-of-famer in Bon Jovi, said Mayor Bloomberg. The free concert in Central Park is going to help make this years All-Star Summer a celebration to remember. The 2008 All-Star Game will pay tribute to the storied history of Yankee Stadium, and Bon Jovi will help us ensure it goes out in a blaze of glory, hopefully a blaze in late October.

Major League Baseball wants All-Star Summer to be the ultimate celebration for baseball fans in New York City, said Tim Brosnan of Major League Baseball. A free concert in Central Park featuring one of the biggest rock bands in the world will reach tens of thousands of fans and put an exclamation point on the weeks many fan festivities.

Beginning Wednesday, July 2nd, tickets will be distributed at baseball parks and events throughout New York City. The bulk of tickets distributed at the ballparks will be found at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, with others made available in Queens at Shea Stadium, in Brooklyn at the home of the Cyclones and in Staten Island at the home of the Staten Island Yankees. Tickets will also be available at MLB.com. For more information about the concert, fans can go to MLB.com.

This concert is the perfect cap to all the festivities and events that we have planned around Yankee Stadiums final All-Star farewell, said NYC & Company CEO George Fertitta. MLB All-Star Summer and Bon Jovi playing Central Park are just a few examples of all the things there are to see and do around the City not only this summer, but year long and proves once again that New York City is the best destination to host world-class, high-profile events.

This concert is the perfect exclamation to all the festivities and events that we have planned around Yankee Stadiums final All-Star farewell, said NYC & Company CEO Fertitta. MLB All-Star Summer and Bon Jovi playing Central Park are just a few examples of all the things there are to see and do around the Citynot only this summer, but year longand proves once again that New York City is the best destination to host world-class, high-profile events.

Live music and Central Park go together like baseball and hot dogs, said Parks Commissioner Benepe. This concert helps celebrate the past, present and future of Major League Baseball in New York City. Bon Jovis music, delivered free to the fans in an historic park setting, is an appropriate tribute to Yankee Stadium and the MLB All-Star Summer.

Bank of America will promote the concert and offer ticket giveaways through radio promotions in the tri-state area. Additional concert supporting partners including MLB sponsors Aquafina, Sharp and Taco Bell will be distributing tickets through radio sweepstakes, promotional giveaways and in-store programs.

In the event of inclement weather as deemed by the Parks Department, the concert will be cancelled. If it is raining and fans are unsure about the status of the concert, they can call 311 for information or visit MLB.com.

In the event of inclement weather, the concert will be cancelled. If it is raining and fans are unsure about the status of the concert, they can call 311 or visit MLB.com for information.