Daytime

January 18, 2012 | Filed Under College Campus, Columbia University, Harlem/Morningside Heights | 4 Comments 

Earlier, I’d posted some photos of College Walk, lit up at night, on the Columbia University campus.

 

The lights will stay up until the end of February but during the day, they’re turned off.

 

The place looks different, huh?   Like night and day.   ;-)

Paz

 

 



Lights

January 2, 2012 | Filed Under College Campus, Columbia University, Harlem/Morningside Heights, Holiday Lights | 22 Comments 

Happy New Year, everyone!

 

I’ve taken and posted photos, before, of the illuminated trees along College Walk on the Columbia University Campus.

 

However, I never get tired of taking photos and posting them.

 

So here are new photos, again.   ;-)

 

Lights are kept on the trees from December to February 28.

 

There’s even a tree-lightening ceremony when the trees are first lit.

 

From the looks of this, the person who put up the lights on this tree did a very through job.

Paz



A Beautiful Autumn Day

October 1, 2011 | Filed Under Autumn/Fall, College Campus, Columbia University, Pigeons, Sparrows | 8 Comments 

It was a beautiful, warm and sunny day, yesterday, Friday.   Actually, it felt more like summer than autumn.  Everyone was outside, enjoying the weather.   Many folks (including me) were still wearing summer attire.  On the Columbia University campus, these girls sat relaxed, enjoying their chat.

 

This flowing fountain looked very picturesque.

 

Even the birds took advantage of the warm weather and the fountain.

I enjoyed watching this pigeon dive into the fountain and the sparrow take sips of water.

Of course, as I approached them to get a closer shot, they flew away.

It was good to see everyone enjoy the day.

Paz



Graduation Time!

June 4, 2010 | Filed Under Columbia University, Slideshow | 11 Comments 

The month of May held a lot of school graduations all over the city.  One was at Columbia University.  Every year, it always seems to rain on the day of this college’s commencement ceremony.  There’s a saying on the campus that if it rains on graduation day, it means good luck.  I thought that belief was only held for weddings, however, I suppose it’s a good wish for a graduate to have, too. 

 

Despite the rain, everyone looked happy — both the graduates, their family (especially the proud parents) and friends.  The heavy rain drops did not dampen their festive spirit.  Later that evening, the top of the Empire State building was lit in the colors of blue and white, the official colors of the college. 

 

Here are a few scenes after the graduation ceremony.  Thanks, Klaus, for helping me put this slideshow together.  Whew!


Paz

 

[slideshow id=8]



Posing in Front of Alma Mater

March 24, 2010 | Filed Under College Campus, Columbia University | 13 Comments 

These ladies (probably visitors and their tour guide) posed in front of Alma Mater, a 106-year old statue located in the center of the Columbia University campus.  This 12-foot bronze statue is a well-known college symbol.  Rich in imagery, the sculpture sits in an ancient-Greek styled chair, with her arms stretched outward.  She holds a scepter, full of symbols, in her right hand.  The arms of the chair are formed into lamps, which symbolize Wisdom (Sapientia) and Teaching (Doctrina) and an open Bible rests on the sculpture’s lap.  The sculptor, Daniel Chester French (who also carved the marble statute of Abraham Lincoln’s body on the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.),  was an avid taxidermist.  If you look closely enough, you’ll find an owl hidden in the folds of the Alma Mater’s robe.

 

I’ve noticed that the sculpture has appeared in a few movie location scenes.  Three that come to mind are Ghost Busters, Spider-Man and Spider-Man 2.  Does anyone remember seeing Alma Mater in any other movie location?

 

Paz

 

Ed. Note:  In response to a couple of comments, the owl is NOT obvious in the photo.  You’d have to look closely at the sculpture, in person, to find it or you’d have to look at a close-up photo of the hidden owl to spot it.   In the comments section, ET has included a link for a tip on how to spot the owl.

 

Tanita, in the comments section, has accurately pointed out that the literal meaning in Latin of "alma mater" is "nourishing mother".  It’s a common term for the college that one attends, so everyone who’s attended college has an alma mater.  However, in the case of the Columbia University sculpture, Alma Mater also happens to be the name of the statue. 

 

I didn’t mention a legend about the sculpture before, which is that the first Columbia student in the freshman class to spot the hidden owl would graduate as Valedictorian.  Back in the day when Columbia was an all-male college, the legend was that the first freshman to find the owl would marry a Barnard (an all-female college affiliated with Columbia)  woman.

 

Lastly, I got mixed up with the days and forgot that TODAY was Thursday.  As a result, I forgot to post a Motion Thursday photo.  I hope to remember next Thursday.   ;-)

 

Thanks for all your comments, everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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