Winter in Central Park

The winter in Central Park, New York is a magical time. The park transforms into a winter wonderland, with snow-covered trees and frozen lakes. The hustle and bustle of the city is replaced by a serene and peaceful atmosphere, as if the park is a sanctuary from the chaos of the outside world.


As you walk through the park, the crunching of the snow under your feet and the sound of the wind whistling through the trees creates a symphony of winter sounds. The trees, bare and dormant in the winter, provide a unique contrast against the snow, and the frozen lakes and ponds become a canvas for ice skaters and winter sports enthusiasts.

One of the most iconic sights in Central Park during the winter is the Wollman Rink. The rink, located at the southern end of the park, is surrounded by the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan, creating a picturesque contrast between the natural beauty of the park and the man-made structures of the city. The rink is a popular spot for both locals and tourists, as it offers a chance to experience the joy of ice skating in the heart of the city.

But the winter in Central Park is not just about ice skating and snow sports. The park also offers a variety of other winter activities, such as horse-drawn carriage rides and Central Park Zoo's annual Holiday Lights exhibit. The horse-drawn carriage rides offer a unique and romantic way to experience the park in the winter, as the gentle clip-clop of the horse's hooves on the snow-covered paths creates a peaceful and serene atmosphere. The Holiday Lights exhibit at the zoo, on the other hand, transforms the zoo into a winter wonderland, with thousands of lights and decorations creating a festive atmosphere.

But Central Park in the winter is not just about activities and sights. It's also about the people that make the park what it is. The park is a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds, and the winter is no exception. During the winter, you can find people from all walks of life enjoying the park, from families with young children to couples on a romantic stroll. The park is a place where people come together to enjoy the beauty of the winter, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The park is also a place where people come to escape the stress and chaos of the city. The winter can be a difficult time for many, as the shorter days and longer nights can create feelings of isolation and loneliness. But Central Park offers a sanctuary from these feelings, a place where people can come to find peace and tranquility. The park is a reminder that even in the darkest and coldest of times, there is still beauty to be found.

One of the most striking things about Central Park in the winter is the way in which it brings people together. The park is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds come together to enjoy the beauty of the winter, to escape the stress of the city and to find a sense of community. It's a place where people can come together to share in the joy of the winter, to create memories and to experience the beauty of nature.

In conclusion, the winter in Central Park, New York is a magical time. The park transforms into a winter wonderland, with snow-covered trees and frozen lakes, providing a serene and peaceful atmosphere. The park offers a variety of winter activities, such as ice skating and horse-drawn carriage rides, as well as a melting pot of cultures and backgrounds. The park also serves as a sanctuary for many, offering a chance to escape the stress and chaos of the city and to find peace and tranquility. Central Park in the winter is not just about sights and activities, but about the people and the memories that make it special. It is a reminder that even in the darkest and coldest of times, there is still beauty to be found.

One of the most special things about the winter in Central Park is the way it brings out the sense of community and shared experience. Whether you're watching ice skaters gliding on the rink, taking a horse-drawn carriage ride, or simply enjoying a hot cocoa while sitting on a park bench, you can't help but feel connected to the people around you. The park becomes a shared space, where people from all walks of life come together to enjoy the beauty of the winter.

As the day comes to a close and the park begins to empty out, the lights come on and the park transforms into an even more enchanting place. The snow-covered trees and frozen ponds are illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlamps, creating a magical and ethereal atmosphere. It's a sight that stays with you long after you've left the park, a memory that you'll treasure forever.

In conclusion, the winter in Central Park, New York is a truly special time. It's a time when the park transforms into a winter wonderland, offering a serene and peaceful atmosphere, a variety of winter activities, and a sense of community and shared experience. It's a place where people come together to escape the stress and chaos of the city, to find peace and tranquility and to create memories that will last a lifetime. The winter in Central Park is a reminder that even in the darkest and coldest of times, there is still beauty to be found, and it's a place that will forever hold a special place in the hearts of those who have experienced it.

After 50 years, new LIRR lobby opens at Penn Station

 Five years after former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo predicted a "summer of hell" amid extensive and lengthy work on the Penn Station tracks, the woman who replaced him, Governor Kathy Hochul, was in attendance Tuesday. to open a new Long Island Rail Road passenger concourse that the MTA says will be brighter, larger and less cramped.

It certainly is wider and taller, for sure. The LIRR concourse at the nation's busiest transit hub has nearly doubled in width, from 30 feet to 57, while ceilings have been raised to 18 feet. The lobby stretches from Seventh Avenue near the 1/2/3 subway lines to Eighth Avenue near the A/C/E subway and now features 9,500 square feet of programmable, color-changing LED ceiling lights.

LIRR concourse at Penn Station

Gov. Kathy Hochul described Tuesday's reopening of the concourse as a timely and on-budget step toward rebuilding Penn Station on a large scale into a modern, spacious, world-class single-level terminal. It is open to natural light and features a skylight, a reminder that "yes, heaven is still out there, despite the feeling that you may be living in hell," he said in June.

Each day, more than half of Penn Station's 600,000 riders pass through the LIRR concourse, and more than a third of them don't even use the Long Island Railroad for their daily commute. The lobby project is expected to be completed in early 2023 and, when ready, will include improved accessibility including a new elevator entrance, mechanical systems to improve air circulation and expand the volume of fresh air, intuitive wayfinding and more shopping and dining options, according to the governor's office

Reconstruction of the LIRR Penn Station space is one of three major projects that will transform the LIRR passenger experience in the coming months, along with the opening of service to Grand Central Madison and the opening of a new third track of the Principal line. It's all part of a multi-million dollar plan to renovate midtown Manhattan to relieve overcrowding and revitalize the surrounding area.

"Penn Station is not only the busiest transit hub in North America, it is also the beating heart of New York City, and for too long it has failed to deliver an experience worthy of New Yorkers," Hochul said in a statement. "Today, we're raising the roof of Penn Station, literally and figuratively, and paving the way for a better future as we unveil a wider, brighter Long Island Rail Road concourse. We're one step closer to making Penn a hub first-class transit and make New York an even more livable and lovable city.

The featured LIRR Concourse project features $380 million in state funding, with 30% of contracts awarded to minority and women-owned businesses. The total cost of the corridor amounts to $559 million. Construction began in June 2019 on the East End Gateway, which opened to the public in December 2020. Last March, seven 10-ton hanger beams known informally as "Head Knockers," which historically limited heights in walkways at Penn Station was removed.

The structures above Penn Station are now supported by an innovative structural frame system, installed by Skanska/AECOM.

"This larger, brighter LIRR concourse is just a glimpse of things to come, not just for LIRR riders but for all New Yorkers," MTA President and CEO Janno Lieber said in a statement. "This project shows that the MTA is ready to finish transforming the seedy terminal New Yorkers have been suffering from for more than 50 years into a world-class facility."

Hochul's Redevelopment Master Plan calls for turning Penn into a modern, light-filled, walkable facility while revitalizing the surrounding neighborhood to prioritize the public realm, invest in affordable housing, increase access to public transportation and create a pedestrian-friendly urban landscape. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has also supported the transformation.

Empire State Development Corporation members voted unanimously in July to approve the $7 billion plan that requires New York, New Jersey and the federal government to cover renovation costs. New York City will also play a role, as to seal the deal, they will allow developers to tear down existing buildings near the transit hub and build 10 state-of-the-art skyscrapers.

Miss Nueva York Miss America 2019

Miss America New York
Miss New York, Nia Imani Franklin, won the title Miss America 2019 in Atlantic City on Sunday, in a contest for the first time there was no parade in a bathing suit.

"I'm glad I did not have to do it to win this title tonight because I'm more than just that," Franklin said of the parade in a bathing suit after the event. "And all these women on stage are more than just that."

The decision to eliminate competition in swimsuits aroused great controversy and criticism of the current direction of Miss America. Minutes before the broadcast, when a comedian who entertained the crowd mentioned that there would be no competition in swimsuit there was a loud booing in the audience.

That parade was replaced by on-stage interviews and the contestants drew attention with statements about President Donald Trump and the protests of NFL players, among other issues.

With his crown, Franklin resumed the series of triumphs that the state has had in the last years in the contest. Miss New York, Mallory Hagan, Nina Davuluri and Kira Kazantsev won the title from 2013 to 2015.
Miss America New York
Apart from the title, Franklin received a $ 50,000 scholarship as a prize.

Franklin's theme in the contest was "defending the arts." Franklin, a classical music singer, played a selection of pieces from the opera La Boheme on Sunday night.

Franklin's theme in the contest was "defending the arts." Franklin, a classical music singer, played a selection of pieces from the opera La Bohemia on Sunday night.

The judges selected the finalists from among 51 candidates during the contest held on the stage of the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.

New York, the first city in the US to limit Uber-type services

The Council of the City of New York approved on Wednesday a moratorium of one year in the delivery of new licenses for transport services type Uber, based on applications installed in cell phones.

The one-year moratorium calls for a study to analyze the impact of private transportation services offered in New York by companies that also include Lyft, Juno and Gett, among others.

The Council also voted to establish a minimum wage for drivers, similar to that received by drivers of yellow and black taxis in the city.

The limit on the growth of these companies, as well as the obligation they will have to offer a minimum wage to their employees, could serve as a model for other cities in the United States and the world, according to The New York Times.

"We are pausing the issuance of new licenses in an industry that has been allowed to proliferate without proper controls or regulations," said Corey Johnson, president of the New York City Council.

Johnson added that the intention is to support and encourage drivers of private transportation services, making sure they receive enough salaries to support their families. Mayor Bill de Blasio has supported legislation in this regard, and is expected to sign it.