33 Comments
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Travis Huggett's avatar

Moses that parted seas, not neighborhoods.

10/10. No notes.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

I mean, there are other differences too…

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David Perlmutter's avatar

Robert Moses must have been the most hated man in NYC before Trump arrived.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

While Moses gets his (deserved) fair share of abuse least he did some positive things for the city. Trump on the other hand…

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Scott Symes's avatar

Wonderful photos of the neighborhood.

This line,"He’s the most successful failer of all time." So true.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

It’s a great line, wish I had come up with it!

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Michael, not Mike's avatar

Once again. A banger of a post!

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Thanks Michael!

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Gabby Gillespie's avatar

enjoyed reading this as a fordham alum (bronx campus but spent a lot of time at lc), i knew about the moses statue but I can't believe that whole space was once dedicated to him. fordham loves to be on the wrong side of history.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Moses gave the university an extremely good deal on the land - "virtually as a gift," according to Robert Caro, so I guess they felt a plaza and a plinth was the least they could do

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Anne Kadet's avatar

I’m moving into the Lincoln Arcade. It’s never too late!

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Hate to break it to you but…

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Anne Kadet's avatar

NEVER TOO LATE I SAID

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

The closest you are getting to the Lincoln Arcade is the Dave and Busters in Midtown

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Anne Kadet's avatar

Alan H is my kinda guy!!

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

💯

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Anne Kadet's avatar

You know things have gone sour, legacy wise, when they replace your surname with “Outdoor.”

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Ha! Not to mention having your monument replaced by a 20' hippo ballerina.

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Anne Kadet's avatar

So which direction did that cone choose, do you suppose?

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

I'll have to go back and check.

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Jayne Freiall's avatar

Luv this one!

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TIM CARRY's avatar

There is an irony to Lincoln Center, a coldness to the esthetic that fittingly reflects the actions and deeds of Robert Moses. It’s a monolith of the Power Broker era In NYC. Lee Sievan’s pics are outstanding, along with your updated ones too! So love the work you are doing.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

That is a great way of looking at LC. It is definitely an example of architecture that embodies the man who made it possible, even if he didn't design it. Thanks so much for reading!

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Justin Difazzio's avatar

The most successful failer, indeed. It's all he does.

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

So good at it!

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Glencora's avatar

Thank you. I really love reading your work, because usually after I’m a few paragraphs in, I’m so absorbed and immersed that I lose all sense of my surroundings—only to be slightly surprised when I return to reality at the end. And more than a little homesick.

Is the old-fashioned phone booth on West End *really* still there?

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

It is! Along with three others. They are along West End Ave on 66th, 90th, 100th, and 101st Streets.

Thanks!

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Glencora's avatar

That’s fantastic. I want to know how they’ve survived. Landmarks commission expanded their scope? ;)

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Irv's avatar

Glad to see the binaural mics' return - love listening with headphones while looking at the images - talking of which, do you correct your verticals in camera or in software?

Thanks, Irv

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

As a bonus, they are much easier to use discreetly! For the digital stuff, I correct in post. After years of in camera perspective control, I have a hard time accepting converging verticals. I can’t afford the Fuji T/S lenses yet.

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Piano NYC's avatar

My piano teacher sitting in his corner studio facing 65 & bway used to tell me how “this area used to be a dangerous slum”which as an 18 yo couldn’t believe what he was saying! He said it was such a huge gamble to build there when Juilliard move down there (from the manhattan school of music location)!

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Rob Stephenson's avatar

Dangerous slum or not, it sure seems to be a good place to find a piano player!

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Nat Kalbach's avatar

"While it may seem surprising that a significant political figure would be so petty as to let a personal grievance influence his governing decisions" ...seems so normal nowadays, sigh. Awesome post- thanks Rob!

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