Police Barricades Become DIY Street Furniture in Harlem

From Gothamist:

Courtesy New York Shitty

"Here's a big slice of awesome. New York Shitty has posted a "salute" to these two ingenious gentleman who transformed a bunch of NYPD barricades into public seating in Spanish Harlem. "The gent on the right claimed credit for this creation—and stated that the NYPD gives him plenty of guff about it," Miss Heather writes. 'He told yours truly they come by regularly and roust him from his 'bench.' Because it is their property.'

Next time the cops try that, we hope this guy tells them they need to show I.D. and a property voucher to get their barricades back."

Piano to the People!

From the NYT City Room Blog

".... volunteers have been enlisted to keep an eye on each of the pianos around the city — 36 in Manhattan, 10 in Brooklyn, 4 in the Bronx, 6 in Queens and 4 on Staten Island. Sing for Hope, the New York-based charity that imported “Play Me, I’m Yours” from Britain, says the pianos will stay put: They are anchored by cables to fences or to cinder blocks. Even a piano mover would have a hard time making off with one.

Sing for Hope had an unlocking ceremony at 9 a.m. in Times Square, where a piano is at 42nd Street and Broadway, just below a walk-don’t walk sign. There was a concert that began with “I Love a Piano.” Alexander Long, who recently graduated from New Rochelle High School, accompanied two singers, Jaela Cheeks-Lomax and Samantha Bogle."

Pianos in New York; what a lovely idea.