Get In There and Gawk

It’s that time of year again when New York’s closed doors swing open to welcome the public. Openhousenewyork (OHNY) celebrates its 6th year this weekend (Oct 4-5) with some amazing tours of public spaces. This year over 200 sites of architecture, landscape architecture, and engineering, and 150 tours, talks, and workshops throughout the five boroughs are available.

OHNY and the International Association of Lighting Designers have teamed up to create Downtown – Where All the Lights are Bright! This series of talks on Saturday, October 4th, features lighting designers describing their projects on site (7 WTC, 55 Water Street, Brooklyn Bridge Pedestrian Entrance in DUMBO, and the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House). The organization CultureNOW will showcase an array of public art work in lower Manhattan with many of the artists on location to talk about their projects with the program Artists In Place. Go to the group’s website for an extensive listing of the artists’ talks as well as a downloadable map with podcasts (handy for those averse to large weekend crowds).
But act quickly if you want to be part of the scene since space is sometimes limited and RSVPs are often necessary. You’re already too late for the tours of Coney Island, the great interiors of the Financial District, and Gowanus but now is your chance to see Flushing Meadows Corona Park by trolley and take a guided walk across the Williamsburg Bridge.