Open House New York

The third annual Open House New York is taking place Saturday, October 8, and Sunday, October 9.

As part of the city’s Architecture Week, OHNY Weekend opens the doors to some of New York’s most celebrated achievements in architecture and design by providing free public access to 150 exceptional sites, many normally closed to the public, as well as tours, talks, walks, performances and family programs.

For those who don't know, the annual event opens normally inaccessible private buildings to the public for the weekend. It's free of charge, and one of the best opportunities all year long to get a weekend-long architecture fix. Highly recommended.

...and now for something completely different

Artists erect giant pink bunny on mountain

An enormous pink bunny has been erected on an Italian mountainside where it will stay for the next 20 years.

The 200-foot-long toy rabbit lies on the side of the 5,000 foot high Colletto Fava mountain in northern Italy’s Piedmont region.

Viennese art group Gelatin designed the giant soft toy and say it was “knitted by dozens of grannies out of pink wool.”

And Gelatin members say the bunny is not just for walking around - they are expecting hikers to climb its 20 foot sides and relax on its belly.

Via Ananova.

Brooklyn Responds

The fine folks at JellyNYC, Trampoline House, and KEXP (that’s right, KEXP, the Seattle-based public radio station) have put together a two-night showcase of indie music to provide aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The concerts will be held at Southpaw and all proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross, America’s Second Harvest, and Humanity First. Via Greenideas.

Atlantic Antic

Further proof that interesting things happen on Atlantic Avenue only when I go out of town: The Atlantic Antic street festival is this Sunday.

Come on over for one very crowded mile of local merchants, non-profit organizations, community groups, arts & crafts, and food vendors. There’s even an after party at Magnetic Field.

Not sure? Check out photos from last year on Flickr.

Floating Island

More on Robert Smithson, from the NY Times.

Robert Smithson, “Floating Island to Travel Around Manhattan Island”
In conjunction with the seminal earth artist’s retrospective on view through Oct. 23 at the Whitney Museum, the Whitney will create one of Smithson’s heretofore unrealized proposals, using the artist’s 1970 drawing called “Floating Island to Travel Around Manhattan Island.” A tugboat will haul a large barge planted with vegetation around Manhattan. Both will be visible from shore at a number of publicized sites on the Hudson, Harlem and East Rivers. The island will sail daily from Saturday through Sept. 25.

Free Public Opening
Saturday, September 17, 5 – 7 pm
Hudson River Park, Pier 46 at Charles and West Streets
Remarks: 6:30 pm

Viewing Schedule: 8 am – 8 pm daily
Saturday, September 17 – September 25

More information available at Whitney Museum of American Art and New York Magazine’s fall art preview. Image from this morning’s Today in New York on WNBC.

Deep deep hole

When you were a kid, did you ever wonder where you would end up if you dug a hole straight down, through the center of the earth and out the other side. Well, if you started at Atlantic & Bond, this is where you would end up. Find out where your hole would be. Via Captology Notebook.

One lonely house

More Images of Slidell from WDSU in New Orleans.

Slideshow 1 | Slideshow 2

"There were homes that were totally destroyed and were no longer on the lots," St. Tammany Parrish Sheriff Jack Strain said. "Apartment complexes, with multiple housing units are no longer there. They are totally gone."

Confirmation: Slidell fish camps gone

Found on the Katrina Information Map. This is an aerial photograph of the area on the north coast of Lake Pontchartrain between Highway 11 and I-10. Via Google Maps Mania. Wired News covers the map in this article, A Disaster Map 'Wiki' Is Born.

New Orleans Fairgrounds Race Track

Another image of New Orleans... of another favorite place, the New Orleans Fairgrounds Race Track. The infield is the site of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival every spring.

According to a this MSNBC article:

Video of the racetrack broadcast on television showed a roof shorn from the grandstand and significant debris and damage throughout the grounds, with water lapping on the infield and in the barn area. The video footage was shot Tuesday morning, before a levee break on the Orleans Parish line released more water from Lake Pontchartrain into the city.

Click here for an idea of the impact the levee breaks have had on the neighborhood surrounding the Fairgrounds. Images from Digital Globe.