There are so many fabulous entertainment options in New York that deciding on what to do on any particular evening can be as difficult decision as what it is to come up with something to do in other cities and towns across the country. In both cases there is likely to be a sacrifice involved. The difference here is that the sacrifice will be having to give up one great performance attendance opportunity so that you can experience another equally excellent show. In other cases the sacrifice is typically the time and effort it takes to even come up with one exciting event to experience on an evening out.

Okay, that probably sounds a little biased and is also untrue in many cities across the nation and credit should be given where it is deserved. So, perhaps the comparison is inappropriate, if you live in San Francisco. Otherwise, New York will stand out as the cultural and entertainment capital of the country. It’s that simple. But that brings us back to the original dilemma of choosing a singular event or performance on a given evening. That is never a simple mater.

Many tourists in New York are amazed at all there is to do and see even though they have planned a great deal of visitations and attendance options on their agenda prior to arriving in the city. However, descriptions, advertisements and stories cannot compare to the actual experience of being in the city. With this in mind, there are still some extremely common landmarks and events that continually get the largest population of visitors. These include the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, Central Park, Times Square and one of many Broadway plays. And while all of these are great things to do and see, and definitely should not be missed, they are just the beginning of all you can see and do in New York City.

On one side of Times Square and New York’s Theatre district, you’ll find Central Park, but on the other side, you’ll find a park not as large or as well known to tourists, but certainly worthy of notice: Madison Square Park . This park is where baseball was born in America. The New York Knickerbockers, the first baseball club, was established here in 1845 by Alexander Cartwright; but baseball is not the only historic occurrence.

Nearby, in 1873, P.T. Barnum began his circus to the north of Madison Square in an empty train depot. This same block was also host to the first two Madison Square Gardens , from 1876 to 1889, then again from 1890 to 1925.

The park is also connected to the Statue of Liberty. For six years, starting in 1876, the arm and torch were on display here as a means of fund-raising to construct the statue itself and its base. In 1908, one hundred and two years ago, the New York Herald placed a gigantic searchlight among the girders of the half-constructed Metropolitan Life Building, which rose up directly across from the park, in order to signal the results of an election. Not unlike the Bat Signal from television’s Batman, a beam of light shot out over the metropolis. If the beam were aimed to the north, it would mean a victory for Republicans; if the beam illuminated skies to the South, it would mean the same for Democrats. In that year, the beams went northward as President William Howard Taft was elected. The following year, as the Met Life Building was completed, the park was in the shadow of what was then the world’s tallest building.

Madison Square Park has been a public space for the city since 1686, and was eventually named after the fourth president of the United States, James Madison. It became a park formerly in 1847, a hundred and sixty-three years ago. From baseball to circuses, politics and high-rises, the park is a vital part of New York City. If you’re visiting a few nights in the city , then it may be a place you’d like to try, if just to say you’ve been to where baseball began.

Austin Texas has plenty of fascinating cultural attractions that are included in the overall societal establishment of the city. And while the live music scene is the dominant factor that is also recognized throughout the country and much of the world, it is definitely not the only thing Austin has to offer. The Blanton Museum is just one of the many cultural attractions that is a pleasant discovery for many of the people who visit this Texan city . The museum is located at the University of Texas Austin, which is also a major supporter of and contributor to the culture of the region.

The current exhibit at the museum is titled Desire and is a collection of works by various artists that relate to a fundamental aspect of the human experience. This exploratory exhibit considers various aspects of the emotion and its effects on individuals and society. The Exhibit includes an accompanying illustrated catalog which contains a selection of texts by art writers, poets, fiction writers and visual artists. All of the writings were done in direct response to the works included in the exhibit. The works represent themes and different ideas and span the spectrum of connotations. Sculpture, photography, video, drawing and painting are some of the mediums used to display a direct emotion.

Other exhibits included in the calendar at the museum and are also part of its public and educational programs include Picasso: A Graphic Inquiry . This exhibit will run through April 1st and highlights seventeen of the artist’s significant graphic works. European Paintings is another exhibit and this one showcases some of the museum’s most prominent works from European artists. Included in this exhibit are about one hundred and forty selections from the Baroque and Renaissance periods. These are just a few of the ongoing works and touring exhibits that are part of the museum’s standard mission oriented shows.