a marvelous use of vacant subway booth inside Grand Army Plaza station in Brooklyn, artists Akiva Leffert and Sarah Cassidy have crafted a magnificent humorous bodega display of puns, Rex's Dino Store!

I get such a kick out of the imagination, innovation, and humor! Plus, it's a terrific way to put vacant space to good use, let artists take it over! 

Not those nimrods with welded I beams in "modern" art installations of "abstract art" bullshit, but cool stuff like this that inspires others to enjoy the day, life a fun life, and appreciate imagination

Featuring gag items you can purchase with a MasterClaw credit card, like Alka-Saurus, Snarlboro cigs, Trillo-bites, 3 Tusketeers and Buttertalon, Dur-Rex Ultra Ribbed, Meteoritos, MuciRex night and day Brontochitis, and copies of the The Pangaea Times and Maul Street Journal, and a bulletin board listing cave sublets.

The exhibit is part of the MTA’s Vacant Unit Activation Program, launched in 2023, which aims to fill underutilized spaces in the subway system with non-traditional uses to make stations more welcoming and vibrant for riders from the currently defunct 30 + retail spaces found in the subway.

When the subway opened in 1904, the founders declared that it constituted “a great public work” and that all parts of it “exposed to public sight shall therefore be designed, constructed, and maintained with a view to the beauty of their appearance.”

If you are a nonprofit, community, or arts organization and would be interested in operating a unit, reach out to mtare@mtahq.org

  

A better video at  https://www.instagram.com/p/DJ-HhzoKN18

via the constantly delightful, and ever surprising Atlas Obscura  https://www.atlasobscura.com/

If you have suggestions on more fun stuff they can create and add, or want to contact Rex by email Rex@Rexs.NYC  or sliding into his DMs on https://www.instagram.com/rexs_nyc/ or   https://rexs.nyc/

This took about a year, "We hired a contractor to do the protective glass in the front, which was its own whole saga. The contractor had to get approved by the MTA and that took a month because there's a lot of approvals. We've got our contacts at the MTA, but they have to get approval from different departments, so it's a whole journey. We worked on it for over a year, but there were parts of the process that were mostly just waiting for something to happen. Which gave us time to come up with more products!"

https://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2025/05/14/dinosaur-themed-art-exhibit-opens-in-subway-station/

https://pix11.com/things-to-do/dinosaur-themed-store-opens-at-brooklyn-train-station/

https://nygroove.nyc/grand-army-plaza-dinosaur-bodega/

dozens of BMWs, Mercedes, and even a Rolls-Royce Cullinan, all of which were stolen, and stashed in The Bronx. $6 million dollars worth, and were about to get shipped to Africa

The thieves targeted premium vehicles at homes in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, where they often broke into homes to steal the key fobs that allowed them to pilfer the cars without damaging them, authorities say.

 The thieves operated multiple impromptu “showrooms” in parking garages in the Longwood neighborhood of The Bronx, where customers would come to examine the stolen vehicles before paying cash to have them shipped to customers in Gambia and Ghana

As part of the bust, authorities recovered 72 of the stolen vehicles

The recovered vehicles were found in shipping containers at ports in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and Staten Island, New York, where they were queued up to be shipped to West Africa.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/cops-recover-6m-in-luxury-cars-stolen-by-home-invaders-before-shipping-to-africa

Construction on Disney’s new, 22-story New York City headquarters at Hudson Street caused what the city said was nearly $6 million in “significant structural damage” to the neighboring Spring Street NYC Fire Museum, forcing it to close for nearly a year.

“Construction work at the site of the new Disney HQ caused damage to the FDNYs historic building, which is home to the NYC Fire Museum,” a city Law Department spokesman said in a statement. “This filing protects the City’s rights while we work with Disney and its insurers to determine whether we can resolve this matter without further litigation.”

https://nypost.com/2025/04/05/us-news/disney-left-nyc-fire-museum-with-6-million-in-damage-city/

Saul Leiter, New York City streets in color

Saul Leiter took photos every day for 60 years in New York’s East Village, capturing daily life in the neighborhood where he lived for his entire adult life. Leiter was a postwar pioneer in color photography, and when he died, in 2013, he left behind at least 40,000 color slides, 15,000 black-and-white prints, and 40,000 black-and-white negatives

https://www.pressreader.com/usa/the-guardian-usa/20240205/282011857255750

https://airmail.news/arts-intel/events/saul-leiter-an-unfinished-world

https://independent-photo.com/news/the-unseen-saul-leiter/

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/saul-lieter/index.html

https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/soleitercocacola.jpg

the New York MTA has decided to keep secret the facts about how it charges "congestion tolls", when faced with fraud it deo

MTA concluded the four congestion tolls in question (Jesse King's Vespa case), should be refunded.

MTA has not explained why those tolls were charged in the first place, or whether congestion cameras have initiated similar mistaken tolls to other drivers.

This case reveals the secrecy in the way congestion tolls are reported on NYC MTA E-ZPass bills. Unlike tunnel tolls, which are clearly labeled according to the particular tunnel a driver uses, E-ZPass bills do not label which cameras — at which intersections — are involved in prompting a congestion toll.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a Democratic candidate for New Jersey Governor and one of the loudest critics of congestion pricing, said motorists should be able to easily discover which cameras captured their vehicles incurring a toll on 60th Street and below.

“Just like if I got charged somewhere on the [New Jersey] Turnpike or [Garden State] Parkway, you should know which camera charged you the congestion tax. Where you came in and where you came out,” Gottheimer said.

The MTA says its own employees have the ABILITY to verify locations and times recorded by toll cameras as needed, but the agency DID NOT respond to questions about how commuters might determine for themselves which congestion cameras initiate which tolls.

https://www-nbcnewyork-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/congestion-pricing-error-raises-bigger-issue/6171108

hypocrisy is a horrible personality trait. but politicians seem to be cursed with it.

Long before she became a champion for congestion pricing, Gov. Hochul spent a decade opposing tolls in upstate New York

https://nypost.com/2025/03/01/us-news/hochul-blasted-for-spending-early-career-fighting-tolls-hypocritical/

The New York City Fire Department issued its first-ever criminal summons to a driver whose car blocked a fire hydrant and slowed down efforts to extinguish a Bronx fire that killed two people

 

https://gothamist.com/news/after-fatal-bronx-fire-fdny-issues-1st-ever-criminal-summons-for-blocking-hydrant

“Ninety nine percent of Staten Islanders know those speed cameras are money-grab cameras,” the lawyer said. His client was charged with 2nd-degree obstruction of governmental administration and third-degree criminal tampering for using floral arrangements to block speed cameras

I was putting up these flowers as a beautification public arts statement — what I am famous for — because these ugly things on these poles were apparently cameras and I was putting these flowers up to beautify the community,“ LoBaido told reporters

https://nypost.com/2025/02/24/us-news/infamous-nyc-activist-scott-lobaido-admits-he-used-flowers-to-block-speed-cameras-im-the-beautification-squad/

here's some good news from the Pres, no more wasting tax payer dollars creating new pennies, and no more New York congestion pricing on tax payer PAID FOR streets, roads, and highways

 https://gothamist.com/news/trump-moves-to-stop-congestion-pricing-tolls-in-new-york-city

Now if the stupid Daylight Savings Time would get killed off, then two of my " you get my vote if you" requirements will be met! 

the Long Island Motor Parkway (also known as the Vanderbilt Parkway). 1908

Celebrated as the first road in the United States designed exclusively for automobiles. Stretching from Queens to Ronkonkoma, it featured innovative overpasses and bridges, making it a pioneer in modern roadway design.

Initially a private toll road costing $2 to use, it was largely frequented by wealthy car enthusiasts eager to race their vehicles. The parkway was eventually closed in 1938 and absorbed by the state, though parts of it remain today, repurposed as a scenic bike path in Queens.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=594554250082552&set=a.419453880925924

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/motor_pkwy

clever

https://www.instagram.com/whatisnewyork/

after the first week of New York City congestion pricing, the PATH train fare hikes started Sunday, nope... absolutely no connection, collusion, or conspiracy would ever make me think that the train fares got hiked to take advantage of the situation... after all, only 43000 fewer cars used Manhattan streets after the congestion pricing was forced on the taxpayers who already paid for the roads

https://www.fox5ny.com/news/mta-manhattan-traffic-dropped-7-5-first-week-congestion-pricing
https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/path-train-fare-hikes-new-york-new-jersey/

another unexpected side effect, that they have zero ability to deal with? all those people now trying to park just outside the congestion area. 

https://abc7ny-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/abc7ny.com/amp/post/nyc-congestion-pricing-installed-plan-causing-battle-parking-among-city-state-drivers-residential-neighborhoods/15799804/

The New York City MTA and local law enforcement had to stage a crack down (instead of daily doing their job, it's now a special occasion) with six operations at MTA crossings, including the Verrazano and RFK Bridges, to bust people that don't pay tolls

Vehicles were impounded for various violations, including suspended registrations due to unpaid tolls, unregistered vehicles, suspended licenses, and unreadable disguised plates.

Nearly 2,500 vehicles have been impounded since the multi-agency crackdown began. 

Through 44 operations, approximately $17 million in unpaid tolls, fees and judgments have been amassed. The operations also resulted in 521 arrests and 22,960 summonses issued.

https://abc7ny.com/post/mta-nypd-impound-300-vehicles-latest-ghost-cars-crackdown/15404972/

Tony Hawk Recreates 'Central Park Mystery Skater' Photo From 1965, after some pretty impressive work to investigate this mysterious, dapper skateboarder from the mid-60s,

While the "mystery skater" still technically remains a mystery, everything that has sprouted since the investigation—and really, since 1965 when the original photo was shot—has been so rad. It brought the skateboarding community (and beyond) together in such a cool, unique way.

I posted about the photographer and his 1965 New York Central Park skateboard montage a decade ago  https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2014/11/the-invention-of-skateboard.html

https://www.skateboarding.com/trending-news/tony-hawk-recreates-central-park-mystery-skater-photo-from-1965

New York City... where car-booting, a duty shared by the marshals (private contractors (who bribed the mayor, or got the contracts by calling in favors owed by the mayor (in return for campaign donations or similar benefits to the Mayor) ) appointed by the mayor and the city’s Sheriff’s Office

Car-booting, a duty shared by the marshals and the city’s Sheriff’s Office, spiked in 2023. 

About 135,000 cars were booted last year, up from roughly 87,000 in 2022, according to data maintained by the Department of Finance.

The median net income for all the marshals was $577,000. Eight earned more than $1 million. 

https://gothamist.com/news/evictions-and-car-booting-spiked-in-2023-it-was-big-business-for-nyc-marshals

the New York City mayor ordered law enforcement to target vehicles with covered plates, but it turned out, the Secret Service vehicles had license plate covers, which are illegal in New York state...

Who got arrested? Some protester. 

Yup, VP Harris's secret service team for her step daughter, had illegal license plate covers on their cars assigned to the detail protecting Harris’ stepdaughter... and the only person arrested was a guy fed up with bully badges evading tolls, hit and runs, and ignoring tickets.

https://gothamist.com/news/nyc-license-plate-vigilante-arrested-after-targeting-secret-service-cars-protecting-vp-harris-step-daughter

NYPD vehicles old motto — "Courtesy, Professionalism, Respect" — will be replaced with decals bearing the new one: "Fighting crime, protecting the public." and it's only costing the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars

 https://gothamist.com/news/the-nypd-is-spending-200k-to-change-the-slogan-on-its-patrol-cars

the Gov of New York calls it quits on NYC congestion pricing. Turns out that's a bad idea in an election year... it pisses off the voters

The plan to toll drivers in Manhattan south of 60th Street was designed to reduce gridlock and pollution while funding billions worth of mass transit upgrades.

Instead, it would result in protests, voters trying to get the opposition elected, etc

https://gothamist.com/news/gov-hochul-floats-last-minute-delay-to-nyc-congestion-pricing-amid-political-pressure

the Brooklyn Trolley Group is looking to build a pre-1918 trolley fleet and are researching sources to either purchase or lease any NYC vintage cars. Either single truck (Brill 21E) or double truck cars.

Trolley cars were the basic public transportation in Brooklyn for much of the last century. Indeed, the Brooklyn Dodgers were originally the Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers, so named for Brooklynites leaping aside from oncoming trolley cars. (I didn't know that!)

The first urban light rail system began operations in New York City in 1832—two years before Brooklyn was incorporated into a city itself—as a small, boxy car pulled by horses over rails embedded in the street.

https://brooklyntrolley.org/

the federal Department of Justice issued a warning to the NYPD to stop illegally parking police cruisers on sidewalks... for a good reason, but not as simple as "be professional, stop breaking the parking laws, you mooks!" Instead, it's quite legal... the federal law about the sidewalks must be clear for wheelchairs! Huh! I like that!

Terrific photo by Terry Sanders that highlights the lack of the 3 virtues the police have on their door... because they simply abuse their power and park illegally. All the time

The issue is so widespread that it has become a civil rights violation against people with disabilities, federal officials said.

The U.S. Department of Justice issued a letter to the police department last month warning that illegally parking in that manner is a violation of the American with Disabilities Act, and gave the NYPD two weeks to respond and comply

You'd expect that the police department would comprehend what that means... that they are acting illegally, have been busted, and must toe the line, LEGALLY, and learn how to PARK

When confronted by CBS news, the police relied on the excuse it will not accept from citizens who illegally part, and I quote "there is limited parking space near its police stations." 

So, the lack of parking justifies illegally parking as far as the NYPD is concerned, as long as it benefits them? It seems that is the only excuse they have. Mighty damn weak. 

District U.S. Attorney Damian Wiliams cites a recent study that found city vehicles block sidewalks or crosswalks outside 91% of NYPD precincts. 

https://pix11.com/news/local-news/feds-warn-nypd-to-stop-illegally-parking-police-cruisers

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/doj-threatens-nypd-with-lawsuit-over-sidewalk-parking/5340834

https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/department-of-justice-writes-scathing-letter-to-nypd-about-parking-on-sidewalks-crosswalks-heres-what-it-says/

https://lavocedinewyork.com/en/new-york/2024/04/22/doj-threatens-to-sue-nypd-over-cars-parked-on-sidewalks/