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Great Wolf Lodge Expands Family Friendy Attractions and Experiences Nationwide

Joe Kleiman
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Madison, WI, USA (May 1, 2012) /PRNewswire/ — Great Wolf Resorts, Inc., North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, is adding a wide array of family fun attractions and experiences to its properties nationwide. From bowling experiences that are perfect for little hands, to the sweetest spa experiences around, Great Wolf Lodge® has added something new at each of its resorts just in time for weekend getaways and summer travel planning.

“We’re delighted to introduce so many new amenities and attractions that help us continue to do what we do best – create family traditions, one family at a time,” said Tim Black, executive vice president of operations, Great Wolf Lodge. “We’re in the business of providing quality experiences for families, and brand-wide we have added exciting new experiences that our guests can enjoy together.”

Whether first time visitor, or repeat guest, Great Wolf Lodge seeks to exceed expectations at each of its premier properties. Beginning with over $4 million in renovations at the brand’s first two resorts in Wisconsin Dells, WI and Sandusky, OH, and extending to new activities and attractions at all locations, family-focused fun is the center of all that’s new at the Great Wolf Lodge nearest you.

Ten Paw Alley Strikes with Fun
Ten Paw Alley puts a family-spin on traditional bowling. The six lane alley complete with five pound balls and “no rental shoes allowed” policy is already a fan favorite at the Great Wolf Lodge properties in Pocono Mountains, PA; Mason, OH; Williamsburg, VA and Concord, NC.

Howl at the Moon Glow Golf
A walk in the woods glows at Great Wolf Lodge. At the resort in Pocono Mountains, PA no matter what the clock says, it’s always a good time for an evening stroll in the forest and this new glowing miniature golf experience is not your average shot in the dark.

Scooops Kid Spa is an Ice Cream Dream in Sandusky, Ohio
A day of pampering has never been so delicious! Great Wolf Lodge in Sandusky, OH is getting ready to serve up flavorful fun with the addition of Scooops Kid Spa in June. Complete with giant banana split thrones for pedicures, ice cream-themed manicures and sherbet scrubs, Scooops Kid Spa is the perfect pampering treat for young girls. After all the activities in the waterpark, a visit to the Scooops Kid Spa is the perfect way to end the day.

Resort-wide, Scooops Kid Spa guests will have the chance to experience special one-on-one time with one of the resort’s lovable characters, Violet, during Social Hour. Pedicures and manicures are now much more fun with everyone’s favorite girly wolf, Violet, by your side!

The MagiQuest Adventure Continues
Already a Great Wolf Lodge favorite, MagiQuest, the interactive live-action, adventure game has begun a new chapter. Earlier this spring, MagiQuest opened to aspiring magi at the Great Wolf Lodge in Niagara Falls, Canada . Now, the game has powered up at all Great Wolf Lodge resorts. Topper Powers have been added to MagiQuest wand toppers, giving players the ability to enhance their MagiQuest game experience. From unlocking new quests to causing a game-wide effect that impacts the entire kingdom, topper powers bring a new level of magic to the fun.

Topper Powers are just one part of the MagiQuest adventure for the Great Wolf Lodge resorts in Kansas City, KS, Concord, NC and Traverse City, MI . With the addition of Compass Quest at these resorts, players who have achieved “Master Magi” status can now take on new challenges and quests solving mysteries and slaying dragons.

Northern Lights Arcade
MagiQuest is not the only interactive gaming experience that guests can enjoy while at Great Wolf Lodge. The Northern Lights Arcade at each resort is getting a facelift, complete with many new games and prize-winning opportunities. The Great Wolf X Theatre and Lazer Frenzy attractions in Grapevine, TX, are new multi-participant experiences that are fun for the whole family, while the Williamsburg, VA resort is adding a Great Wolf XD Rider attraction experience and Oliver’s Time Challenge interactive game.

The Great Wolf Kids Pack Expands
Kids love the Great Wolf Lodge family of characters, and a new friend has joined the pack. Oliver Raccoon, who never leaves home without his gadgets and bug net, can be found throughout the resorts, exploring Cub Club, playing MagiQuest and hosting Story Time. Together with Wiley the Wolf and Violet, Oliver brings smiles and hugs to the resorts’ youngest guests each and every day.

Kids programs are a key part of the Great Wolf Lodge experience. As the Great Wolf Kids Pack continues to grow, so do the memorable and interactive experiences children can take part in during their stay. Great Wolf Kids trading cards have become treasured collectibles during meet and greets with the Great Wolf Lodge characters and new life-sized versions of the game “Memory” help entertain children as their parents check in. This summer, the resorts will debut original, branded stories and accompanying picture books. Each book stars Wiley the Wolf, Violet, Oliver Raccoon and their friends and will be read at Story Time. Families can then purchase the books to take home with them.

Dining is a Howl
Eating has never been such fun as Great Wolf Lodge continues to enhance its food offerings company-wide. A day of play at the Great Wolf Lodge water park can leave you “Hungry as a Wolf” and ready to dine in the new pizza parlor location in Mason, OH. Even treating yourself to ice cream and frozen yogurt is an interactive dining experience as seven properties add a unique dessert experience that allows guests to design their own treat and have it delivered by a robot.

Breakfast is no longer just for dining; it’s also a great time for photos and friends in Grapevine, TX with the debut of the Wake up with Wiley (and Friends) character breakfast buffet. Kicking off in mid-June, the dining experience will bring the Great Wolf Lodge characters together for a breakfast experience that is as delicious as it is fun.

Guests in Concord, NC and Sandusky, OH will dine and save all summer as children ages 10 and under eat free. Families staying at the resorts between Memorial Day and Labor Day can take advantage of the offer which features one free child breakfast or dinner buffet per adult buffet purchased at regular cost in the Loose Moose Cottage.

Guest Service Begins at Home
With all of the new attractions and amenities inside the resorts, Great Wolf Lodge continues to focus on enhancements and features to assist guests before they even set foot in the lobby, and many are with the click of a mouse. Vacation planning has never been easier with the help of the fully interactive Great Wolf Lodge website, complete with online chat assistance, videos, discounts and special offers.

To help guests maximize their time at the resort, Great Wolf Lodge has introduced online check-in. Guests can now check-in from home on their personal computer, and then bypass the regular line at the front desk which helps the Great Wolf Lodge experience begin that much faster.

Stories from “Behind the Howl”
Behind the scenes stories are always favorites for brand fans, and Great Wolf Lodge now offers a peek inside the life of the resort online. “Behind The Howl”, the official company blog launched earlier this spring and features exclusive news, tales written by Pack Members and stories about the Great Wolf experience. With frequent updates, fans can stay up to date on all that’s news at their favorite Great Wolf Lodge resort by reading the Great Wolf Lodge blog “Behind the Howl” at blog.greatwolf.com.

About Great Wolf Resorts, Inc.
Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. ®, Madison, Wis., is North America’s largest family of indoor waterpark resorts and, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates its family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge® brand. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with Great Wolf Lodge locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash.; and Charlotte, N.C. Through Great Wolf Resorts’ environmental sustainability program, Project Green Wolf™, the company is the first and only national hotel chain to have all US properties Green Seal™ Certified – Silver.

The company’s resorts are family-oriented destination facilities that generally feature 300 – 600 rooms and a large indoor entertainment area measuring 40,000 – 100,000 square feet. The all-suite properties offer a variety of room styles, arcade/game rooms, fitness rooms, themed restaurants, spas, supervised children’s activities and other amenities.

Fentress Architects’ Green Square Complex Incorporates Science Museum and State Offices

Joe Kleiman
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Raleigh, NC, USA (April 30, 2012) /PRWEB/ — Science just got a bit more awesome. The newly-opened Green Square Complex project creates an experiential environment where the public can learn about environmental issues affecting everyday life through interacting with actual scientists and their ongoing research projects.

A two-block, multi-use sustainable development, the Green Square Complex is the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (NC DENR) downtown Raleigh complex, which brings together its staff in a new headquarters and expands the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences with the Nature Research Center. These components are joined by two skyway pedestrian bridges. The space physically expresses the mission of NC DENR to protect, conserve and teach about regional and global ecosystems, energy use, and sustainable strategies.
 
A primary function of the NRC is to educate the public about environmental and scientific research, using state-of-the-art media, exhibits and laboratories to demonstrate the process of scientific discovery. The new facility features numerous hands-on exhibits, interactive media presentations, and research and teaching laboratories on earth sciences, genomics, paleontology and astronomy. A key feature is the Daily Planet, a four-story tall sphere projection environment that serves as a focal point for the visitor, anchoring the laboratories and gallery spaces located on all four levels of the facility.
 
The project isn’t only good for the mind, but for the earth as well. Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification, the project boasts a 10,000-square-foot green roof and maximizes daylighting by having far fewer interior walls and more windows than the typical office building. Water conservation is achieved through constructed cisterns that capture rainwater. Stormwater runoff, North Carolina’s number one cause of water pollution, was eliminated. The project also utilized locally-quarried stone and locally-recycled steel. The DENR Office Building has high performance glazing, sunshades at the south facing curtainwall and upgraded perimeter glass stairs that encourage floor to floor communication without needing to use elevators. The building also has a raised floor system with a low velocity HVAC system.

Fast Facts | Green Square Complex

Completion: April 2012
Size: DENR Office building: 146,250 square feet
Nature Research Center: 105,000 square feet (including 10,000 square feet of labs)
Parking Structure: 120,000 square feet
Cost: $126 million
Expected Annual Visitors to NRC: 900,000
Architects: Fentress Architects in association with O’Brien/Atkins Associates (Architect of Record)

Fentress Architects is a global design firm that passionately pursues the creation of sustainable and iconic architecture. Together with their clients, Fentress creates inspired design to improve the human environment. Founded by Curtis Fentress in 1980, the firm has designed US$26 billion of architectural projects worldwide, visited by over 300 million people each year. Fentress is a dynamic learning organization, driven to grow its ability to design, innovate and exceed client expectations. The firm has been honored with more than 385 distinctions for design excellence and innovation, and in 2010, Curtis Fentress was recognized by the American Institute of Architects with the most prestigious award for public architecture, the Thomas Jefferson Award. Fentress has studios in Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; San Jose, California; Washington, D.C.; and London, U.K. http://www.fentressarchitects.com

MissionTix Now Offering Reusable RF Wristbands for Venue Ticketing

Joe Kleiman
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Baltimore, MD, USA (April 30, 2012) /PRWEB/ — Baltimore-based ticketing service MissionTix today announced the use of reusable, rewearable ticketing wristbands that offer an alternative means of entry for ticket buyers at participating venues.

MissionTix’s rewearable wristbands each contain a unique Near Field Communication (NFC) chip. When a customer buys a ticket for a participating venue through MissionTix.com, instead of them choosing print-at-home, or mailed hard tickets, they’ll be able to fill-up their wristband and wear it to the venue where it is scanned and authenticated.

“We’ve used this technology before but it was in a wristband that was cut off and discarded afterwards,” explains Joe Loverde, owner of MissionTix. “We loved the idea and saw the potential for both venues and concertgoers. That’s when we started researching reusable options.”

The wristbands can be purchased for a one-time nominal fee through MissionTix.com and are tear- and water-resistant, providing a long duration of wear. Ticket buyers wear the stylish and comfortable wristband to the venue where it is validated with the use of an NFC Reader. MissionTix is working with Skycore LLC and their codeREADr app for their wristbands.

“This is the first time we’ve seen NFC technology deployed at entertainment venues where a single, secure ID can be used for multiple events. We see this technology evolving into other value-add services, including stored value within the venue or with local merchants,” said Rich Eicher, CEO of Skycore LLC.

Tickets for the Bejing Olympics and for theme parks across the country have already been using the similar Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. NFC is a subset of RFID that limits the range of communication between the chip and the reader and acts like a personal, ‘electronic barcode’ where the transaction ID is stored in a way that cannot be copied or faked, unlike visual barcodes.

MissionTix’s partners that have signed on to use the NFC wristbands thus far include the Recher Theatre and Ottobar.

“Our wristband is now an option for small- and medium-size events and venues, whereas previously, only festivals and larger events and venues had considered this as a viable ticket solution. And even in those instances, they have been using wristbands that are typically cut-off and thrown away,” said Loverde. “Now events and venues of all sizes can utilize this fashionable option. The reusable and rewearable wristbands at even its basic level means a faster and more secure check-in process. But there are far more advantages, such as using it as a wallet for event attendees purchasing food, beverages or merchandise, that can be applied.”

“MissionTix is staying ahead of the technology curve by offering NFC wristbands right now,” said Eicher. “In a few years virtually every smartphone will be NFC-enabled with tickets securely stored within the device itself. That will be the ultimate convenience for consumers and venues.”

MissionTix is the first to deploy Skycore LLC’s transaction redemption platform with NFC technology.

MissionTix, a Baltimore-based online ticketing service, has catered to promoters, venues, non-profits and festivals since 2001 offering lower service fees, marketing strategy and support, and personalized customer service. MissionTix services include: online and traditional ticketing; assigned seating; mobile support; box-office software; fan club ticketing; Facebook integrated ticket purchasing; group sales portals; social sharing; and in-house web design and marketing by the award-winning advertising and creative agency Mission Media. For more information on MissionTix, visit http://www.missiontix.com or find us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MissionTix.

Cinnabar’s Newest Project, Lands End Lookout, Opens a Window on History and Nature

Joe Kleiman
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Observation deck and gallery, Lands End Lookout. Courtesy EHDD.

EDITOR’S NOTE: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LANDS END LOOKOUT AND CINNABAR’S WORK ON THE VISITOR CENTER’S EXHIBITS AND RETAIL ELEMENTS, PICK UP THE LATEST COPY OF INPARK MAGAZINE AT THE AAM MUSEUM EXPO OR CLICK HERE TO READ THE COVER STORY ONLINE ON THE IPM EDITORS BLOG.

San Francisco, CA, USA /PRWEB/ —  On April 28, 2012, The National Park Service and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy unveiled the Lands End Lookout, the newest visitor center within the Golden Gate National Parks. Located along San Francisco’s rugged Pacific coast, the new 4,150-square-foot “green” visitor center sits directly above the former Sutro Baths at the northwest edge of the City, and features a museum store, café, and educational and interpretive exhibits highlighting the natural landscape and cultural history of this remarkable site.

Work began on the visitor center in 2011, through a generous lead gift from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, with major support from the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, and additional funding from the Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund. The Lands End improvement project also received lead support from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund for upgrades to the USS San Francisco Memorial overlook and parking area, a new wheel-chair accessible trailhead and overlook at Merrie Way, renovations and extension of the Coastal Trail, expanded bicycle and vehicle parking, and restoration of coastal views and natural habitat largely driven by Parks Conservancy and NPS volunteers. Additional funding came from the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation and the California State Coastal Conservancy.

“The Goldman Fund is so pleased to see how the community has responded positively to the improvements at Lands End. The Lookout will dramatically enhance the visitor experience and create more opportunities to enjoy this spectacular place,” Amy Lyons, Executive Director, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. “Lands End has always been special to Mr. Goldman as he used to walk there with his father as a young boy and continued the tradition with his grandchildren.”

Long before Europeans arrived in North America, Lands End was a seasonal home to the Yelamu Ohlone tribe. In the late 1800s, Adolph Sutro, a San Francisco entrepreneur, supported the building of the Cliff House Railroad to bring the general public to his ocean-side amusements—the Sutro Baths and Sutro Heights Gardens. In 1887, at Sutro’s urging, Seal Rocks became a designated marine preserve—one of the nation’s first. In its many reincarnations, the site has served as the Playland amusement park and a 1960s ice rink, but these early visitor amenities were destroyed by fire in 1966. In the 1980s, the land was purchased by the National Park Service and the recent improvements are the latest in a long line of innovative and sustainable projects made possible through their partnership with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy.

“The new Lookout showcases Lands End as an amazing piece of San Francisco history,” said Frank Dean, general superintendent, Golden Gate National Parks. “With these improvements, visitors will be able to truly appreciate its fascinating natural and cultural legacy.”

Open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., the new Lookout presents visitors with stunning 30-mile views of the California coast, and provides the opportunity to explore the natural and cultural history of this beloved park site. The new Lands End visitor experience includes:

Interactive Displays and Panels: Visitors will learn about the coast’s geology, the original inhabitants of Lands End, the Yelamu (Ohlone) tribe, Adolph Sutro’s role in developing this part of the City in the 1880s, and the archeological remnants of an early amusement park. Educational displays also reveal the many animals and plants that call the area home, and why native plants and habitat restoration are key to the endurance of wildlife.

Interpretative Items and the Lookout Café: Visitors can take a peek into the future thanks to a fortune-telling machine from the Musée Mécanique, an old fashioned “arcade” at the nearby Cliff House, and choose from a selection of unique interpretative items for purchase. The new Lookout café features a selection of fresh, locally-sourced grab-and-go fare, including the It’s It, which was originally developed by George Whitney for sale at Playland At the Beach. 

Sustainability and Design: Designed with the surrounding natural landscape in mind, architectural components of the new Lookout include reclaimed Redwood siding, natural ventilation and lighting, low-flow fixtures, native-plant landscaping and photovoltaic systems, and windows that showcase the panoramic view of Sutro Baths and the California coastline. The structure also offers storage space for the ongoing volunteer-driven stewardship efforts that will help sustain the maintenance and preservation of Lands End as well as the nearby California Coastal Trail.

“We are delighted to be able to reinvigorate one of the top visitor destinations in the Bay Area,” said Greg Moore, President and CEO of the Parks Conservancy. “This stunning—and sustainable—visitor facility would not have been possible without our partners the National Park Service, generous support from our donors, and active participation from our volunteers, neighbors, and members of the community.”
About the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is the nonprofit membership organization created to preserve the Golden Gate National Parks, enhance the experiences of park visitors, and build a community dedicated to conserving the parks for the future. The Parks Conservancy is an authorized “cooperating association” of the National Park Service, and is one of more than 70 such nonprofit organizations working with national parks around the country. To learn more, please visit http://www.parksconservancy.org or call (415) 561-3000.

About the National Park Service
The National Park Service (NPS) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior charged with managing the preservation and public use of America’s most significant natural, scenic, historic, and cultural treasures. The NPS manages the Golden Gate National Parks, as well as 394 other park sites across the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/goga or call (415) 561-4700.

About our Partners
The Lands End Lookout is designed to maximize the visitor experience at this beloved San Francisco destination. The storied natural and cultural history of the area has been interpreted through hands-on displays, panels and merchandise to create an interactive museum store experience. The Lookout’s architecture is the work of several San Francisco based firms including architects from EHDD, landscape architecture by SURFACEDESIGN INC., general contracting work by Plant Construction Company, L.P., exhibition and retail design by Macchiatto, graphic design by Studio Hinrichs, and exhibit and fixture fabrication by Cinnabar in Los Angeles.

NASA’s Orion Spacecraft to Visit Virginia Air & Space Center

Joe Kleiman
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Orion at Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Center last week. Courtesy NASA.

Hampton, VA, USA (April 30, 2012) /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In addition to giving visitors a glimpse into NASA’s past, a new summer exhibit at the Virginia Air & Space Center (VASC) will focus on the future.

A full-scale test version of NASA’s Orion spacecraft is scheduled to arrive at the museum by 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 1.

The 18,000-pound Orion test vehicle, built at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., was used in the successful test of Orion’s launch abort system, Pad Abort 1 in May 2010. A pad abort would provide escape capability to protect the crews in the event of an emergency during launch or initial ascent.

Today, NASA is building the first space-bound Orion capsule, which will launch on Exploration Flight Test-1 or EFT-1, an uncrewed launch planned for 2014. This test will see Orion travel farther into space than any human spacecraft has gone in more than 40 years.

The VASC is the official visitor center for NASA Langley, offering more than 100 interactive exhibits that detail NASA’s historic achievements, including the Apollo 12 Command Module and a moon rock retrieved during the Apollo 17 mission. The Orion capsule will be located in the Center’s main gallery near the Apollo 12 Command Module and is the first piece of the VASC’s planned exhibits to celebrate a summer of exploration.

“We are thrilled to be able to display the full-scale test version of NASA’s Orion spacecraft this summer. As the visitor center for NASA Langley Research Center we are excited to share the NASA story with our members and visitors and showcase the latest in NASA technology,” said Brian DeProfio, Interim Director of the Virginia Air & Space Center.

On May 26, VASC will open Destination Station, a hands-on exhibit that showcases and celebrates the achievements and innovative discoveries made aboard the International Space Station, an internationally-developed research facility located in Earth’s lower orbit. On Aug. 20, a full-scale model of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) will be on display at VASC, offering visitors an up-close look at NASA’s current Mars mission.

For more information about Orion, visit
http://www.nasa.gov

To follow Orion on Facebook or Twitter, visit:
http://twitter.com/NASA_Orion
http://www.facebook.com/NASAOrion

For more information about the Virginia Air & Space Center, visit
www.vasc.org

Museum of the City of New York Finalist for $250,000 Preservation Grant

Joe Kleiman
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New York, NY, USA /PRWEB/ — On Friday, April 27, 2012, the Museum of the City of New York announced its selection as a finalist in Partners in Preservation’s New York City 2012 program. The partnership between American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, http://www.partnersinpreservation.com, provides preservation grants for local historic places. New York City has been named as this year’s location and the seventh city to participate. The Museum would use the award to restore the façade of its landmark Georgian Revival building, which features an elegant wrought-iron entrance gate and two life-size bronze sculptures of Alexander Hamilton and DeWitt Clinton. These features have remained entirely untouched since they were first installed in 1932.

The Museum is one of 40 finalists competing for a $250,000 grant. The finalist will be chosen by popular vote. Individuals can vote for the Museum of the City of New York once a day by logging on to http://www.helpmcny.com/. Voting will be open from through May 21.

The Museum was chosen because of the distinct historic details of its landmark Fifth Avenue building, which stands at the top of Museum Mile. The restoration would further the preservation of one of the premier examples of the Colonial Revival style in New York City.

The two impressive bronze statues adorning the façade were commissioned and designed specifically for the Museum. The now-weathered masterpieces were created by sculptor Adolph A. Weinman (1870-1952), who was also responsible for the “Mercury” dime and “Walking Liberty” half dollar for the U. S. Mint, and friezes for the U. S. Supreme Court building. The life-size statues boast their subjects in carefully selected poses. Hamilton appears as he does in a statuette owned by direct descendant Mr. Pierpont M. Hamilton, and Clinton’s stately stance was designed by Weinman, who requested a live model dressed in period costume to pose while he sculpted. It is believed Weinman used this technique before when he employed silent movie actress and popular live model Audrey Munson as inspiration for the “Walking Liberty” half dollar in the early 1900s.

The Museum’s 19-foot painted, wrought iron gate, installed in 1932, is accented by hand-shaped decorative elements and supported by marble piers. Restoration of the gate requires cleaning, stripping of decades of coatings, and stabilization to ensure that it will endure for many more years. The gate is attributed to the renowned designer and manufacturer, E.F. Caldwell and Co., who also produced lighting and metal features for Radio City Music Hall, Penn Station, the Waldorf-Astoria, and Grand Central Terminal. In the company of these other great New York treasures, the Museum’s Caldwell gate is an impressive architectural element worthy of careful restoration.

“Commissioned specifically for the Museum by influential designers of the time, both the iron gate and bronze statues are important to our history, as well as New York City’s architectural landscape. These distinct features complement the building’s character, and Partners in Preservation offers the public a wonderful opportunity to support their restoration and longevity,” said Susan Henshaw Jones, Ronay Menschel Director of the Museum of the City of New York.

The Museum has welcomed visitors from the city, the region, and the world to its landmark building for over 80 years. In 2006, the Museum initiated a capital campaign for a Modernization and Expansion Project that centers on the renovation and expansion of its historic building, the construction of new climate-controlled collections storage, and the creation of new state-of-the-art exhibition space. The Museum engaged the award-winning firm of Ennead Architects to undertake this three-phase project. The $92 million project, of which more than $89 million has been raised, will enhance every aspect of the institution’s operations and help the Museum to achieve its goal of being a world-class museum for and about New York. Completion is anticipated in 2014. Restoration of the distinguished façade is part of this project.

Some of the accomplishments of the project to date are: the completion of a three-level addition to the rear of the 1932 building that houses a two-story climate-controlled, state-of-the-art curatorial center for Museum collections, topped by a soaring 3,000-square foot space for exhibitions now named the James G. Dinan and Elizabeth R. Miller Gallery; the restoration of historic elements in the landmark building; and the installation of sophisticated mechanical and electrical systems.

ABOUT OPEN HOUSE WEEKEND
In honor of Partners in Preservation and in appreciation of public support, the Museum will host an Open House Weekend on Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6 with exhibition tours, family programs, and free ice cream. On Saturday at 10am “Planning Urban Places and Spaces,” a family workshop, takes participants on an exploration of urban transportation. On Sunday at 10am and noon, participants may tour the blockbuster exhibition The Greatest Grid: The Master Plan of Manhattan, 1811-2011 and learn how the city’s street grid has evolved over the past 200 years.

ABOUT PARTNERS IN PRESERVATION
Each year, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation review hundreds of project proposals before selecting the participating Partners in Preservation projects. New York City is the seventh metropolitan area to be selected to participate, which in the past has made grants for preservation projects in San Francisco, Chicago, New Orleans, Greater Boston, Seattle-Puget Sound, and Saint Paul/Minneapolis. The prospective grantees, each of which is a nonprofit organization or a government agency, complete formal grant applications, and are then reviewed towards specific criteria that includes their historic significance and accessibility to the public, demonstration of community support and organizational excellence, and evidence of a coherent and sustainable preservation plan. Voters are allotted one vote per day, from April 26 through May 21, 2012, to help give away $3 million to preserve historic places in New York City.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK
Founded in 1923 as a private, nonprofit corporation, the Museum of the City of New York celebrates and interprets the city, educating the public about its distinctive character, especially its heritage of diversity, opportunity, and perpetual transformation. The Museum connects the past, present, and future of New York City, and serves the people of the city as well as visitors from around the world through exhibitions, school and public programs, publications, and collections.

VIDEO: Seven Days of Museums Day #2

Joe Kleiman
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Courtesy Miami Art Museum

(April 30, 2012) — Between April 29 and May 5, in honor of the AAM Annual Conference,  IPM News will be presenting three videos each day showcasing the recent work of American museums.

TODAY’S VIDEOS:

LIVING WITH WILDFIRE: SHARE YOUR STORIES
BRADBURY SCIENCE MUSEUM, LOS ALAMOS, NM:
Exhibit Installation in progress at the Bradbury Science Museum. Opening at the Museum in June, the exhibit will have a recording booth where you’ll be able to tell your personal wildfire story, and a way to listen to stories told by others both at the Museum and on the Museum’s website.

THE RECORD: CONTEMPORARY ART AND VINYL
MIAMI ART MUSEUM, MIAMI, FL:
Record covers have the capacity to trigger memories and convey emotion in the most personal way. They are significant not only as tangible connections to music, but for some, as a first encounter with visual art. For this special, interactive project accompanying “The Record: Contemporary Art and Vinyl,” a number of prominent international artists were asked to choose records based on cover visuals. Visitors are invited to listen to these records and to forge their own associations with the selected material. DJ Le Spam discusses his “Cover to Cover” selections.

RESTORATION OF PT-305
THE NATIONAL WWII MUSEUM, NEW ORLEANS, LA:
See the PT-305 all-volunteer boat restoration at the Kushner Restoration Pavilion at The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. One hundred ninety-nine Patrol Torpedo boats were built by the Higgins plant in New Orleans during World War II. Only five of those boats remain in the U.S. today and only one is operational.

VIDEO: Seven Days of Museums Day #1

Joe Kleiman
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Courtesy Corning Museum of Glass

(April 29, 2012) — Between April 29 and May 5, in honor of the AAM Annual Conference,  IPM News will be presenting three videos each day showcasing the recent work of American museums.

TODAY’S VIDEOS:

EARTHQUAKE: EVIDENCE OF A RESTLESS PLANET
CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, SAN FRANCISCO, CA:
Don’t miss Earthquake, a major new exhibit and planetarium show, opening May 26, 2012. Take a kinetic journey toward understanding these super seismic phenomena and how they fit into the larger story of our ever-changing Earth. Our planetarium show, Evidence of a Restless Planet, will launch you on a breathtaking tour through space and time. Fly over the San Andreas fault before diving into the planet’s interior, travel back in time to witness both the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the break-up of Pangaea 200 million years ago, and much more.

VERONIKA BECKH, ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS, CORNING, NY:
A Berlin-based artist, Beckh has exhibited extensively in the United States and Europe. Her work invites viewers to disconnect from the noise and chaos of everyday life and to find light, tranquility, and contemplation. Beckh used her residency at The Studio to expand her practice beyond smaller objects and ensembles toward room installations. She experimented with scale, combining blown pieces with float glass and mirror to integrate with and respond to space, light, reflections, and the viewer.

SURVIVING THERESIENSTADT:THE MICHAEL GRUENBAUM COLLECTION
UNITED STATES HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM:
Judith Cohen, the Museum’s photo archivist, explains in this episode of Curators’ Corner how a scrapbook and “memory book” from the Michael Gruenbaum Collection provide a rare view into life in Theresienstadt, the Nazis’ “model” camp-ghetto.

VIDEO: Theme Park Review Presents Leviathan and Arctic Explorer POV’s

Joe Kleiman
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(April 29, 2012) Point of view video of Leviathan and Polar Explorer have been added to the playlist “Theme Park Review Presents 2012 Coaster POV’s” on the IPM News YouTube Channel.

Leviathan, at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan, Ontario, Canada, is a Bolliger and Mabillard hypercoaster reaching 306 ft high on its lift hill with a decent drop of 80 degrees where riders will reach a top speed of 92 mph.  The coaster traverses 5,486 feet in its 3 min, 28 second journey.  The coaster features three 32-passenger trains, each housing eight cars, with four seats set across each car.  The US$28 million coaster will open to the public in May.

Arctic Explorer is the thrill ride component of the new US$13 million Polar Land at Legoland Billund, in Billund Denmark, which also includes a live penguin display and a new restaurant.  The new family-friendly coaster from Zierer features a 70 ft lift hill and speeds up to 40 mph.  Sites along the track include a mountain, frozen waterfall, and arctic animals made of LEGO’s.  Inside the mountain, riders will crash through a frozen lake in a 15 ft freedrop similar to the ones on Th1rt3en at Alton Towers and the upcoming Verbolten at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.  The Arctic Explorer coaster and Polar Land are also scheduled to open in May.

All footage for Theme Park Review point of view videos is either supplied by the respective parks or filmed by Theme Park Review members with the park’s permission.  www.themeparkreview.com

Pick Up 2012 Museums Issue of InPark Magazine and Meet the Editors at AAM

Joe Kleiman
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InPark Magazine Editors Martin Palicki and Judy Rubi

Minneapolis, MN, USA —  InPark Magazine will be present at the American Association of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting and MuseumExpo this week in Minneapolis/St. Paul.  Editors Martin Palicki and Judy Rubin will be in attendance and look forward to meeting and chatting with InPark readers.  All suggestions and feedback are welcome.  InPark is the ideal way for museum operators to connect with industry leaders in themed exhibition design and immersive multimedia experiences.

The print edition of the latest InPark issue, covering the museums trade, will be available at the following booths during MuseumExpo: Cinnabar (1001), Electrosonic (1408), and  nWave Pictures (1610).  The  TEA Mixer Tuesday evening at Brit’s Pub and Eating Establishment is the perfect place to both pick up the print edition and meet the InPark editors.

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InPark Magazine (IPM) covers the intersection of themed entertainment and technology. We specialize in creating custom-crafted content designed to appeal to the industry’s top designers, creators, developers, owners and operators.

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