The 12 Posts of Christmas (2012), volume XI

The Brave Astronaut clan is making their way to New York for a few days of "enforced family fun."  My siblings will also be in attendance. Tomorrow will of course be for family - Friday we are planning to head into New York to take in the Christmas sights.

When one thinks of New York, what comes to mind?  For me it is a bevy of things - the Empire State Building, Central Park, the subway, the sights and sounds of the city at Christmastime, and many others.  This year, several people sought to capture the essence of New York in a list of objects.  Inspired by “A History of the World in 100 Objects,” the British Museum’s BBC radio series and book, The New York Times recruited historians and museum curators to identify 50 objects that could embody the narrative of New York. WNYC Radio host Leonard Lopate also asked his listeners to participate in a similar project.  That list of ten appears first.

1. Object #1: The Greek Coffee Cup 
2. Object # 2: The Subway Token 
3. Object # 3: The Food Cart 
4. Object #4: The Oyster 
5. Object #5: 18th-Century Ship Excavated from WTC Site in 2010 
6. Object #6: Frank O'Hara's Lunch Poems 
7. Object #7: The Brooklyn Bridge 
8. Object #8: "Wall St." Sign 
9. Object #9: Manhattan Schist 
10. Object #10: The NYC Subway Map 

Here's the New York Times list.  I'm not linking all of these - you can click on the link to see more.

1. Mastodon Tusk, About 11,000 B.C.
2. Munsee Arrowhead, Pre-1700 
3. The Schaghenbrief, 1626 
4. The Flushing Remonstrance, 1657 
5. Painting of New Amsterdam, 1665
6. The Oyster, Late 1600s 
7. English-Dutch Dictionary, 1730 
8. Beads From the African Burial Ground, 1700s 
9. A Horse’s Tail, 1776 
10. Washington’s Balcony, 1789 
11. Wooden Water Pipes, About 1800 
12. Randel’s Map, 1811 
13. Lake Erie Keg, 1825 
14. Singer Sewing Machine, 1851 
15. Patent for Otis Elevator Brake, 1861 
16. The Lefferts’ Cookbook, 1800s 
17. Checks of Boss Tweed, 1866-1870 
18. Edison’s Dynamo, 1882 
19. Brooklyn Bridge Toll Ticket, About 1883-1898 
20. Manuscript of ‘The New Colossus,’ 1883 
21. Sculpture of the 1898 Consolidation 
22. Child’s Shoes From the General Slocum, 1904 
23. Tiffany Subway Throttle, 1904
24. Battle’s Badge, 1911 
25. The Automat Machine, 1912 
26. The Bagel, Early 1900s 
27. 1913 Armory Show Stamp 
28. First Yankee Stadium Program, 1923 
29. Rivoli Air Conditioning Advertisement, 1925 
30. Ticker Tape, 1929 
31. The Artichoke, 1933 
32. Tree of Hope, 1934 
33. Time Capsule From 1939 World’s Fair 
34. Levittown House, 1947 
35. 1955 World Series Banner 
36. Checker Taxicab, 1952-1986 
37. Diplomatic Plates, 1960s Onward 
38. ‘Tonight Show’ Audio Track, 1962
39. Greek Coffee Cup, 1960s 
40. Bernstein’s Baton, 1969 
41. Saturday Night Special, 1960s Onward 
42. ‘FORD TO CITY: DROP DEAD’ Headline, 1975 
43. AIDS Button, 1980s 
44. Loisaida Avenue Sign, 1987 
45. The Boom Box, 1980s 
46. The Phantom’s Mask, 1988 
47. The MetroCard, 1994 
48. 9/11 Dust, 2001 
49. Mast Brothers Chocolate Bar, 2007 Onward 
50. Meng Political Sign, 2012