Common Archive

2024

  • Jan’s Sunset

    Posted by

    Tina Zheng

    on

    Sunset Park is a part of Jan’s childhood and his progressing life. He enjoyed the park as it’s a big park and many people enjoy using it. This park is close to his house, so he’s able to view it and go in to hang out or relax. However, there have been some changes in the park. The two places that had the most significant changes were the playground and the sprinklers. The playground seemed a lot grayer post-construction, making it not seem as vibrant. The sprinklers used to be vibrant as well, and like a big arena; the changes made the space cluttered and not as free. Even though the park seemed to be grayer than how it was when he was 9 or 10 years of age, he still enjoys going there from time to time for relaxation and just having some downtime.

    The sprinkler area in Sunset Park.
    See this post on its own page: Jan’s Sunset

  • Interview w. Tina – Jan Avendano

    Posted by

    janavedano05

    on

    After interviewing Tina about her smartwatch, I was able to learn quite a bit about what else she liked about the watch and more about how it has helped her maintain her health.

    Tina used to play Badminton, but now she spends more time going on walks, trying to get as many steps in as she can in the day. While she wanted a smartwatch, it didn’t matter to her exactly which one she got as long as it helped her to track her well-being, and she had the perfect opportunity when she bundled it with the smartphone she was buying, dropping the price of the watch significantly. The investment proved worth it, since not only did she track her steps but also her sleep. She was able to learn more about her sleep patterns and it helped her get off her phone at night more, so it keeps her in check. The watch also features a bezel that allows her to use the phone without using the touchscreen, a feature that has proven to be especially useful in the winter.

    See this post on its own page: Interview w. Tina – Jan Avendano

  • Sunset Park – Jan Avendano

    Posted by

    janavedano05

    on

    Sunset Park view of the city skyline.

    Growing up in Sunset Park, especially when I was young, I spent lots of time playing in different areas of the park. I would do water-gun fights at the sprinklers, tag at the playground, and would love riding my scooter all around the park. In recent years, the city has replaced much of the park’s recreational areas with newer, but blander spaces. The playground used to be vibrant and colorful reds, yellows, and blues, but now is a bit of a boring brown, maroon, and beige. The sprinklers also changed completely. It used to be a bright blue arena with a sprinkler in the middle, that shot out lots of water, but now, it’s a rocky area with little sprinkles here and there, and some trees and benches placed around.

    See this post on its own page: Sunset Park – Jan Avendano

  • Keep A Watch

    Posted by

    Tina Zheng

    on

    I’ve been thinking about getting a smartwatch or a fitness watch for a pretty long time. I’ve always wanted one to track my steps and my daily activities accurately, but I’ve never been able to justify getting one; I wasn’t as active, “not active enough” to get an expensive watch. I was able to get it under the promise that I would take better care of my health (especially my sleep).

    This is my Samsung Watch 6 Classic (the one with the bezel).
    See this post on its own page: Keep A Watch

  • Macaulay Honors College Visit to David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center

    Posted by

    vmanlow

    on

    Visiting on a Sunday the students and I (a professor at Brooklyn College teaching Peopling of New York City) had a chance to see the Atrium in action. It is a really impressive privately owned public space where people can mingle or just relax and read a book. Unfortunately the cafeteria was closed on Sunday. I noticed the high prices for breakfast (around $9) and lunch (sandwiches and salads starting at $14). This makes it less accessible to a wide public. It would be nice to see less expensive offerings and some more innovative use of the space as a place for exhibitions perhaps using this wonderful screen in more creative ways.

    See this post on its own page: Macaulay Honors College Visit to David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center

  • 80 Central Park West

    Posted by

    raheemm14

    on

    Rating: 2/5

    This was essentially a lawnspace for a residential building. The plants looked nice enough and there was shelter, though the only really sizable roof was over the entrance. I also thinked the walls looked quite nice, and I can tell that there was some care put into it. The lack of seats and over a dozen signs reminding me to curb my dog were somewhat offputting, and I don’t really see myself visiting this spot again. Also, there was no sign denoting that it was a POPS to begin with.

    By: Raheem Mohammed-Abraham (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West

  • 80 Central Park West

    Posted by

    Joselyn

    on

    This was also a residential building area the interaction we had was a little nicer but still not a place where you would even know it was a public space. The greenery was not taken care of and no places to sit, where it looked like you could sit but you would probably be kicked out of the area.

    Joselyn Zainos, Brooklyn College

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West

  • 10 West 66th Street

    Posted by

    raheemm14

    on

    Rating: 1/5

    This is hardly a POPS with how unappealing the environment is. Essentially, this is nothing more than the lawnspace of a residential building. There’s no sign, and we were even told by a guard that it’s a private space. In terms of scenery, the plants are all matted down and generally unkempt, the walkway in front of the residential building is actually a road for cars, and there is absolutely no shelter except at the very entrance to the hotel. Even then, the roof covers very little area, and the bench didn’t look very comfortable. Overall, a space that I would not want to visit again.

    By: Raheem Mohammed-Abraham (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 10 West 66th Street

  • 80 Central Park West

    Posted by

    nylah

    on

    This is another POP with no sign claiming that this is a public space. The only seating I saw was a ledge that had plants on it. As soon as we walked on this POP, the doorman was already eyeing to see what we were doing. I would rate this 2/5 because it seems like even the doorman didn’t know if it was a POP or not.

    -Nylah Rouse (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West

  • 80 Central Park West

    Posted by

    Sandy

    on

    I would rate this place a 2 out of 5. Compared to the other POPS that we had gone to previously was an improvement. There was seating next to the planters although we were being watched it still felt a bit more welcoming. The worker was unsure whether it was a POPS was still welcoming. It has some plants and signs that only told us to “curb your dog.” Although it wasn’t too eye appealing it didn’t make me feel like I was in a sketchy place like the other places.

    Sandy Quishpi – Queens College

    See this post on its own page: 80 Central Park West

  • 10 West 66th Street

    Posted by

    Joselyn

    on

    This place was very unwelcoming, the space was a lot bigger but the two people encounters we had made it seem like we were unwanted vistors. One person said that this was not a public space and the other one made us seem inferior as people. The place was filled with more greenery but it was not maintained at all, there was one bench but kind of in an akward space that would make it seem that only residents are allowed in this area.


    Joselyn Zainos, Brooklyn College

    See this post on its own page: 10 West 66th Street

  • 2 Lincoln Square

    Posted by

    raheemm14

    on

    Rating: 2/5

    This POPS is astoundingly small and has no seats, and definitely could be mistaken for an alleyway. The sign does not say anything about it being “open for the public” and feels more like a warning. I appreciate the plants, but the visible security cameras (around the entrance), the sidewalk floor, and the general alley-like appearance makes it an unwelcoming place. At the very least, there’s a roof, so you could use it for shelter if the weather is bad, in which case it’s conveniently placed.

    By: Raheem Mohammed-Abraham (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 2 Lincoln Square

  • 10 West 66

    Posted by

    nylah

    on

    This POP’s environment felt kinda hostile. The doorman claimed that it was private property which made us believe that we were in the wrong place. Some of the residents felt unwelcoming and this makes me believe that if anyone else were to use this POP, they would experience the same thing. There was like one bench and no sign claiming that it was a POP. There were a good amount of plants. I would rate it a 2/5.

    -Nylah Rouse (Queens College)

    See this post on its own page: 10 West 66

  • 10 West 66th Street

    Posted by

    Sandy

    on

    I would give a 1 out of 5 rating to this place. The doorman wasn’t even aware that they had a POPS and there was no sign saying it a POPS either. Instead encountered a rude old lady and I felt like I was again trespassing a very fancy hotel. Everyone was staring and the only available seating was a bench. It did not feel welcoming at all.

    Sandy Quishpi – Queens College

    See this post on its own page: 10 West 66th Street

  • 2 Lincoln Square

    Posted by

    nylah

    on

    In this POP there was no seating and looked very dull. We couldn’t find an original sign that said it was a POP. There were lights but some of them didn’t work. There was a sign in the area stating that the cameras don’t provide protection. If I didn’t know it was a POP I would say it looked like a garage. I would rate it 1/5.

    -Nylah Rouse (Queens college)

    See this post on its own page: 2 Lincoln Square
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