New York's serene Central Park makeover fixes years of neglect: in pictures
Central Park, circa 1943. The northern reaches of the park, including Harlem Meer, were notable for rugged terrain that made it an especially bucolic escape from the city. Photograph: Central Park Conservancy
But the middle of the 20th century brought major redevelopment to the north end of the park, including a project that encased the meer in a concrete retaining wall. Much of the landscape was paved over and built up, including with an ice rink/pool. During the city's financial crisis of the 1970s, this northern section of the park – which is surrounded by less affluent, historically Black and Latino neighborhoods – fell into disrepair. Seen here: Lasker rink and pool, circa 1966. Photograph: Central Park Conservancy
In 2021, crews broke ground on a project to replace the Lasker rink and pool with a new recreation center. The $160m Davis Center, which opened in April, offers year-round activities and also restores natural ecologies around the meer. Pictured here: A yoga class on the new Harlem Oval. Photograph: Tobias Everke/The Guardian
The Oval is a central element of the redesign. It may look like a lawn, but … Photograph: Tobias Everke/The Guardian
… one of the key features of the center is its ability to evolve with the seasons. The lawn will transform into a swimming pool in the summer, as seen in this aerial rendering, and an ice skating rink in the winter. Illustration: Susan T Rodriguez/Central Park Conservancy
The new Davis Center building is tucked into a hillside and overlooks the oval and the meer. Passive design reduces the need for artificial heating and cooling. Photograph: Tobias Everke/The Guardian
The green roof features skylights that illuminate the main atrium and walkways for pedestrians. Vegetation helps absorb stormwater and heat. Photograph: Tobias Everke/The Guardian
A view from inside the Davis Center atrium. Large glass doors open onto the oval. The glass is engineered to minimize reflections, helping to prevent bird collisions. Photograph: Tobias Everke/The Guardian
The Huddlestone arch, located nearby, was built in 1866 from massive boulders found in the landscape. Previous designs obscured the arch. The new Davis Center restores the flow of water between the meer and a forested area called the North woods that previous development had severed. Photograph: Tobias Everke/The Guardian
The project also resurfaces a hidden stream that flows into the Harlem Meer and reintroduces native flora to the landscape. Large rocks help to prevent soil erosion. Photograph: Tobias Everke/The Guardian
There are several new walkways, including a boardwalk that traverses the meer and allows pedestrians to get a close-up look at freshwater marsh plantings. Photograph: Tobias Everke/The Guardian
An aerial view of the new Davis Center.
Photograph: Central Park Conservancy
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Time Out
7 hours ago
- Time Out
Central Park has sadly chopped down the 'Furever Tree,' a beloved pet memorial
Central Park has lost one of its most secret—and sweetest—traditions. The so-called 'Furever Tree,' an 18-foot Hinoki false cypress tucked deep inside the Ramble, has been cut down after more than four decades of service as New York's unofficial pet memorial. For years, dog owners, cat lovers and even squirrel enthusiasts flocked to the tree every holiday season to hang laminated photos, ornaments and notes for four-legged friends no longer with us. It was a shrine, a Christmas tree and a community hug rolled into one. Milo the 'Good Boy,' Sherman the turtle and countless city dogs all had their spot on its branches. But after months of decline, the Central Park Conservancy quietly removed the tree in August. 'It was clear the tree had died due to a combination of environmental stress and wear on the landscape,' a Conservancy spokesperson confirmed to West Side Rag. Translation: drought, rough winters soil compaction, and—yes—possibly too much love. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Larry Closs (@larrycloss) Adding to the problem? Ashes. In recent years, a sign appeared near the tree pleading with visitors not to scatter pet remains at its roots, warning that 'ashes are toxic to the tree.' Some caretakers now believe that practice may have accelerated its demise. One longtime visitor, Peggy Fields Goldstein, put it bluntly: 'The pet memorial tree…apparently was the demise of that beautiful evergreen tree. It was loved to death.' The loss stings particularly hard for Marianne Larsen, the tree's unofficial 'Keeper,' who along with fellow volunteer Larry Closs has helped tend the memorial for years. 'For 45 years, the Furever Tree has been a healing place for pet owners to remember, honor and celebrate their beloved pets,' they said, adding that they're already exploring ways to keep the tradition alive. The Conservancy echoed that commitment, promising to work with the community on a 'thoughtful, sustainable alternative' that won't compromise the park's landscape. Which means there's hope that, someday, a new tree or memorial might sprout to take its place. Until then, New Yorkers will have to say goodbye to one of the city's quirkiest, most heartfelt holiday rituals. The Ramble may still be full of winding paths and secret corners—but one of its best-kept secrets has gone to the great dog park in the sky.
The Guardian
a day ago
- The Guardian
The best office chairs for all-day comfort and support, tested
What's the most important thing when you're spending hours sitting in front of a computer? Is it having the fastest internet? The sharpest screen? The perfect keyboard? No. When you're spending most of your day sitting on your bottom, the most crucial element is what's directly underneath. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. With a good office chair, you can handle a long working day without any feelings of discomfort. With a bad one, you can expect backache, neck ache, tender glutes and assorted nagging pains. Who wants to return to work when the last day left you feeling achy and decrepit? Many decent chairs are available, and while you don't want to go cheap, you also don't have to spend a fortune. I've spent the past three months trying six of the best office chairs – including some lower-cost alternatives – to help you make a better choice. Best office chair overall: Slouch Task One Best budget office chair: Habitat Beck Best for all-day comfort: Herman Miller Aeron Best for style: Ikea Hattefjäll I'm a hard-working writer who spends long days (and often nights) sitting at a desk. I'm prone to spending even more time at my desk after working hours, playing video games and working on personal projects. Basically, I'm a world-class endurance sitter, and I demand a lot from my office chair. I'm also an experienced reviewer, covering consumer technology, PC hardware, ergonomic office accessories and a wide range of home and garden products. I've got a strong idea of what works, what is going to drive you crazy, and what you need to think about before you buy. I'd like to say I spent hours running automated pressure and wear simulations, but in truth, I simply spent a lot of time sitting on each chair. I assembled each model where assembly was required, noting any issues with the process, the supplied instructions and the fixtures and fittings provided. I then spent up to a fortnight using each as my everyday office chair, sitting in blocks of up to five hours, two or three times a day. I also roped in my wife for further testing. She's a freelance illustrator and similarly inclined to spending long days at her desk. We rotated the chairs between us, occasionally bickering over who got to sit in the most comfortable option and who would be hit with the chair with the immovable backrest and less cushioning. I also put each office chair's adjustments through their paces to see what could and couldn't be moved, checked for safety issues and noted any mechanisms that didn't feel built to last. When we'd finished with a chair, it was dispatched back to the manufacturer, or a branch of Devon charity Hospiscare, so that it could go on living a useful life at someone else's desk. The Slouch Task One may not have the wow factor of the Herman Miller Aeron featured below, but it still gives you everything you'd want from an office chair. It comes unassembled, but can be put together in 20 minutes because of clear instructions, complete with videos to help. Once assembled, it feels solid, with none of the cheap plastics or creaky fittings found on the budget chairs. It looks good, too, in a choice of black or light grey for the frame and seats in beige, charcoal, pink, light grey and blue. Most importantly, it's hugely comfortable, making light work of even the most epic working days. Why we love itSlouch has got the seat spot on, with enough padding to keep your posterior from encountering any hard surfaces, and a moulded shape that holds up well under pressure. The mesh backrest keeps the spine upright while allowing for a degree of tilt, with a four-stage lock and synchronised mechanism to keep you balanced. Just about everything is adjustable, from the seat height and depth to the tension of the backrest, the height and position of the arms and the placement of the lumbar support. The gas lift has a smooth action that makes it easy to get the height right. Slouch also offers the chair with a choice of casters, covering soft and hard floors (though there is an additional cost of £19 for the hard floor option). It's a shame that … you have to pay £39 extra if you want a forward seat-tilt mechanism, although it's still a bargain compared with most other chairs. Some may hanker for more padding on the soft-feel armrests or find the colour options bland. Dimensions: 70 x 65 x 108cm Seat depth and height: 42-48cm; 42-54cm Adjustments: seat depth, seat height, arm height and position, back-tilt tension, lumbar support Habitat's chair does a good job of fitting into your average home-office setup. It's compact and attractive, with a white frame, a pink mesh backrest and a sunny light orange seat. Clear instructions make it easy to assemble – I had it ready within 15 minutes – and it feels solid once that's done. There are, sadly, no adjustments for the back or arm rests, but the seat height can rise from 44cm to 52cm, and it tilts backwards and forwards as you move. Why we love itIt's less than £100, but the Beck looks and feels like a more expensive chair. The seat has better cushioning than you'll find on other budget options, and it's neither too soft nor too firm. You may want more support from below for all-day working, but it's fine for a few hours here and there. The tilt mechanism is also more responsive than on some cheap models, though the fixed back means you don't get the same flexibility as on the Slouch, Herman Miller and Ikea chairs. The Beck is a great chair for slouching at your desk while you're engaged in deep thought or otherwise procrastinating, but not so great when you're sitting up and trying to get work done. The backrest feels slanted backwards, suggesting a relaxed posture rather than the more ergonomic vertical stance. It's a shame that … the back isn't adjustable, and neither is the seat depth or the height of the armrests, so you're stuck with what you've got. If it were my own money, I'd really try to find the extra to get the Slouch. Dimensions: 65 x 60x 92cm Seat depth and height: 48cm; 44-52cm Adjustments: seat height, back-tilt tension, tilt lock The Aeron is a high-end office design classic, and you only need to sit on one for an hour or two to understand why. Counterintuitively, the mesh seat is gentler on the glutes than any conventional padded effort, sloping down and curving off to support your thighs at just the right angle without digging in behind the knee. You can't even feel the hard plastic edge at the front, which is where so many copycats fall down. It looks and feels like the seating equivalent of an executive saloon car, mixing tough plastics with the occasional bit of chrome. Why we love itIt comes already built, so there's no pain there, and it's incredibly adjustable. It's the only chair where I needed to refer to the instructions to figure out all the controls. However, once you spend an hour or so tweaking all the heights, depths and angles, it fits the body like a glove, effortlessly tilting forwards and backwards in perfect synchronisation as you move. If you absolutely have to spend long days and nights beavering away to hit a deadline, this is the chair to do it in. While getting up to move and stretch is recommended, your back and neck won't be accusing you of torture when you do finally get away. Make sure you buy it in the right size, with smaller and larger A and C options as well as the standard B fit. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion It's a shame that … it's big and heavy, so best for an established office space; you don't want to lug this big galoot around. Really, though, the only reason not to buy it is the price. It's arguably worth it even so, but it is a serious investment. Dimensions (size B): 66 x 60 x 109cmSeat depth and height: 46cm; 45-58cmAdjustments: seat height, arm height and position, back-tilt tension, tilt limiter, lumbar support With its elegant frame, sleek seat and backrest and choice of tasteful fabrics, the Hattefjäll brings a touch of Scandinavian style into the office. You'll feel like you're working at an upmarket consultancy, even when you're sitting in your faded T-shirt and jogging bottoms because you haven't got a video call that day. Why we love itAs with pricier chairs, it has a synchronised tilt mechanism, so you can shift backwards and forwards to keep the body moving, and the casters lock in place when there's no weight on the chair, so it won't skid around when you sit down or stand up. The Hattefjäll is more than just a great-looking chair; it also has a strong set of features for the price. The backrest is adjustable to five different heights, and you can tweak the seat depth and the lumbar support. The armrests are height- and width-adjustable, reducing strain on the shoulders, and you can lock the tilt to avoid excessive slouching. It's among the most ergonomic options at this price. It's a shame that … the levers to adjust the height and tilt are a bit too small for comfort, making these adjustments tricky. I also had a serious problem with assembly. The arms attach with bolts that screw into a slit in the fabric of the seat, but these were a nightmare to align, and one bolt refused to screw cleanly into place. Yet the long-term issue here is a seat that's thin and firm, which I found uncomfortable as I neared the end of every day. Do our Swedish friends have something against cushioning? Dimensions: 68 x 68 x 114cm Seat depth and height: 40cm; 46-56cm Adjustments: seat height, seat depth, arm height and position, backrest height, back-tilt tension, tilt lock, lumbar support Best for: a very low budget The Archie is affordable for a mesh-backed office chair, but you lose a lot in terms of flexibility. The backrest bolts on to the arms, meaning neither can be adjusted, and there's no way to move the lumbar support up and down. I found the backrest solid and supportive, but if you're taller or shorter than average, you may find the lumbar support in the wrong place. On the plus side, I found this chair easy to assemble with straightforward instructions, and it's relatively comfortable if you're sitting for only an hour or two. You can tilt backwards and forwards to shift your spine around, with an adjustable tension knob and a handy lock on the height adjustment lever. It didn't make the final cut because … there's just not enough padding on the seat, and the foam used doesn't do a great job of holding its shape under pressure. After a few hours, you can feel the stiff board underneath the seat from your bottom to your lower thigh. I managed to spend more than a week with the Archie as my main office chair, but only because I had a memory foam cushion I could stick on top. Dimensions: 61 x 60 x 102cm; seat depth and height: 46cm; 44-56cm adjustments: seat height, back-tilt tension, tilt lock. Best for: a cheap desk chair for occasional use It's no mystery how this chair can be found at such an astoundingly low price. Everything inside the box needs to be assembled, including the base, involving 30 slightly agonising minutes of Allen-key action before you get a chance to sit down. The arms and backrest are fixed in place, as is the lumbar support, and while you can tilt forwards and backwards, the chair creaks and groans if you push it too far. Despite this, I found the chair surprisingly comfortable for short periods. The arms felt too low to keep my shoulders level while typing, though – a problem when there's no way to shift them up or down. It didn't make the final cut because … of its insufficient padding, with the seat feeling brutally hard and unforgiving within the space of three or four hours. I might consider it as a desk chair for lightweight offspring or for occasional evening use, but you need to spend more if you work from home. Dimensions: 59 x 46 x 100cm; seat depth and height: 46cm, 45-55cm; adjustments: seat height, back-tilt tension, tilt lock Looks are important, but what's vital is that an office chair is comfortable. And that's not just what you feel when you first sit down, but how it supports your body and posture over longer periods. Ideally, you should be able to adjust the chair so that you can sit with your feet flat close to the desk, with your thighs close to horizontal and your back vertical and straight. Your arms should be able to sit parallel to the desk and be supported by the armrests. Chairs that help you achieve this working posture will be more comfortable when you're sitting in them for most of the day. This is what makes adjustments so important. The more you can move the backrest, the arms, the seat and any lumbar support, the better chance you have of finding the right fit. DesignBeyond that, the design and structure of the seat and backrest make a difference. Foam backrests can be solid and supportive, but they can affect your posture if they're too soft. Mesh backrests are usually cooler in the summer, while still providing plenty of support. The seat will always be subjective, but you want enough cushioning to relieve pressure on your thighs and buttocks, without it being so soft that your posture suffers or you can feel any hard surfaces below. Look out for hard surfaces near the front or edges that might end up digging in an inch or two behind the knees. TiltSome degree of tilt is great. It means you can push back in your seat and rest for a minute, and that the chair will support you as you shift around. However, there needs to be control if you want to adopt a better posture while you're working. The best office chairs offer a synchronised tilt, where the seat and backrest tilt independently, but still move in unison to support you as you move. A degree of forward tilt can also be useful if you want to avoid pressure behind the knees. SafetyWatch out for safety aspects of the design. Office chairs have to conform to British standards for fire resistance, but it's also worth checking for rough edges or sharp points that may poke you as you move around your workspace, and for any mechanisms that might trap a finger while you're leaning back. Don't go cheap on a chair you're going to spend a lot of time in; you'll regret it later on. Stuart Andrews is a journalist with more than three decades of experience in computing and consumer tech. When he's not messing around with PCs, laptops and projectors, he's trying to tame his post-apocalyptic garden with the latest cordless gadgets. Likes arty movies, walking and devices that just work; hates things that won't connect to his home network
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Scottish Sun
Moment blast rocks Baltimore harbor after cargo ship explodes sending flames into the air – near site of bridge collapse
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DRAMATIC footage has captured the moment a cargo ship exploded in Baltimore. A fireball was seen coming from the vessel before plumes of thick smoke filled the air on Monday evening. 5 An explosion was reported on a cargo ship in Baltimore Credit: 10 News The blast happened on board the W-Sapphire vessel - a Liberian registered ship that is heading to Port Louis, Mauritius. And, it happened in the Patapsco River near to where the city's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed in March 2024. No injuries were reported and all 23 people on board the cargo ship were accounted for. The ship stayed afloat and was assisted by tug boats, according to the Baltimore Fire Department. But, officials said the boat showed signs consistent with a fire and an explosion. The vessel, which is 751 foot long, is being moved to an anchorage area and is being investigated by the Coast Guard. Video showing smoke coming from the vessel, which was built in 2012, was shared online. And, witnesses recalled what they saw. "We heard a huge explosion," Jay Steinmetz, who was on board a sailboat at the time, told the Fox affiliate WTTG-TV. " I thought that they were blowing up part of the bridge, but obviously I could see after I turned my head that there was a 200-foot plume of smoke over the boat that we'd just seen." Steinmetz thought officials were demolishing what was remaining of the Francis Scott Key Bridge when he heard the explosion. The cause of the blast remains unknown at this time. Coast Guard officials have created a 2,000-yard safety zone around the blast site. The explosion comes more than a year after six construction workers were killed when the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed. The Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland, collapsed after a cargo ship bound for Asia smashed into one of its support pillars: On the morning of March 26, the Dali, a 985-foot Singapore-flagged ship, left the Baltimore port as it set sail on its 27-day voyage to Sri Lanka. Within minutes, the massive cargo vessel experienced power outages as it crashed into one of the pillars of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The immediate impact caused the bridge to snap and tumble into the Patapsco River. A team of eight construction workers were making road repairs and filling in potholes on the bridge at the time of the incident. Six of the eight workmen who fell into the waters died. The victims were identified as Alejandro Hernandez Fuentes, Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, Miguel Luna, Maynor Suazo Sandoval, Jose Lopez, and Carlos Hernandez - all of whom were Latino immigrants hailing from El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. The two workers recovered from the wreckage were identified as Alejandro Fuentes, 35, from Mexico, and Dorlian Castillo Cabrera, 26, from Guatemala. The bridge came crashing down in seconds after the container ship Dali hit a supporting pier in March 2024. Supply chains experienced a shock as vessels carrying goods were unable to pass through the Port of Baltimore in the immediate aftermath of the bridge collapse. The Port of Baltimore is a major hub for the import and export of cars. And, it's among the top 20 ports in the US in terms of the number of containers handled. It proved to be the deadliest bridge collapse the US had seen in more than a decade. Officials estimate the replacement bridge, which is set to cost more than $1.7 billion, will be completed by 2028. But, demolition work, which started in July, will take around nine months to complete. 5 Flames could be seen shooting into the sky Credit: Fox 5 Plumes of smoke filled the air Credit: Fox 5 The vessel was en-route to Mauritius (stock image) Credit: W Marine Inc 5 An aerial shot of what remains of the Francis Scott Key Bridge (taken in August 2025) Credit: AFP More to follow... For the latest news on this story, keep checking back at The U.S. Sun, your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, sports news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures, and must-see videos. Like us on Facebook at TheSunUS and follow us on X at @TheUSSun
