Walking through Manhattan in February can often feel like a scene from a dreary winter tale. The sky is often cloaked with a cold gray shroud, the streets are blanketed with a thick layer of slush, and an unforgiving wind tears through the avenues. But amidst this bleakness, a burst of color and playfulness awaits the visitors and locals willing to venture outside during the chilly months. Say hello to Citrovia, the whimsical art installation located at Manhattan West.
An escape from the dark, rainy, and dismal days, Citrovia is a beacon of joy and creativity. As the overhead lighting displays illuminate the area, they cast colorful moods, that lie in stark contrast to the dreary weather outside. Layers of pillowy white fabric drape overhead, mimicking clouds against painted blue skies, a welcome reprieve from the cold gray shroud that has enveloped the city.
Commissioned by Brookfield Properties
Commissioned by Brookfield Properties, the creative mind of Sara Fay at The Cuttlefish, Inc. worked with Evan Schechtman at Midnight Theatre, and Warren Adcock at Adirondack Studios, who’ve been involved with Disney projects, to bring vibrant life into this corner of Manhattan. They transformed a standard construction shed and scaffolding into Citrovia: an unexpected and creative approach that turned an eyesore into an attraction.
Within this lemon wonderland, each element is meticulously crafted — from the handcrafted detailed plaster lemons, and the steel structures to the foam and painted leaves. The atmosphere is playful yet surreal, resembling a lemon grove more likely found in a vivid dream than in the urban environment of Ninth Avenue. From the wooden crates filled with lemons to lemon slices adorning the turf, it’s an eccentric and immersive experience.
The scent that wafts through the air, a creative concoction by perfumery 12.29, adds another layer to this urban playground. And it’s more than just a visual feast; with interactive augmented-reality games, an educational program titled “Little Lemons in the Big Apple” in collaboration with the Salvadori Center, and sitting close to Penn Station, Citrovia becomes a destination for family picnics, Instagram opportunities, and romantic dates.
It’s nestled alongside the Moynihan Train Hall, close to tenants such as Whole Foods, Peloton, and dining venues by Danny Meyer — making Manhattan West a hub of activity in what has become a beautiful space to catch one’s breath. Here, one can take a stroll under a dreamy canopy or sit beside a six-foot-tall, 1,000-pound lemon. Despite its vast size, scale, and proportion, Citrovia’s whimsical charm makes it feel like a cozy meeting spot in the heart of Midtown West, near the bustling Hudson Yards.
As an experience that melds the whimsical with the elegant and the gaudy with the playful, Citrovia stands as a brainchild of a dreamlike riff on fantasyland and magical realism. It’s an inviting space that weaves together the experiences of New Yorkers and visitors, serving as an exciting exhibit that splashes color into the lemon wonderland of Midtown. From sunrise to sunset, it transforms into a place that could very well be the setting of a Willy Wonka or Dr. Seuss story, stationed within the bounds of 9th Avenue, found between 31st and 33rd Streets. The mixed-use development and ongoing construction seem to suspend their presence, allowing playful, elegant moments to unfold in this patch of urban creativity.
Conclusion
In the heart of a frosty Manhattan winter, Citrovia emerges as a spectacular oasis that triumphs over the pervasive bleakness with its whimsical and colorful art installation. This creative endeavor by The Cuttlefish, Inc., along with the support of various collaborators, has turned a mundane construction site into a visually striking and immersive lemon grove wonderland that delights the senses and offers a playful escape.
Free and accessible to all, Citrovia is not only a feast for the eyes but also an interactive and educational experience that radiates joy and creativity amidst the gray winter months. It encapsulates a unique blend of the magical and the realistic, adding vibrancy to Midtown West and establishing itself as an enchanting urban retreat that reimagines the way New Yorkers and visitors experience and engage with public art spaces.
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FAQs
Where is the Citrovia installation?
Citrovia New York: A Whimsical Outdoor Art Installation on the West Side of Manhattan. Take a stroll through the Citrovia New York lemon garden, an unexpected and beautiful free exhibit in the bustling Hudson Yards neighborhood of Midtown West.
Is Citrovia free?
Citrovia is for you and your furry friend. Best of all, it’s FREE!
What is in Manhattan West?
A destination for connection, Manhattan West is a vibrant urban plaza with landscaped gardens and dynamic street-front retail bringing together high-end, experiential shops and more than 25 innovative food and beverage concepts, all enlivened with public art and events by Arts Brookfield, Brookfield’s award-winning.
Can you go to Times Square for free?
Although there is no Times Square entrance fee to enter the square or the celebration area for New Year’s Eve, there are certain areas in Times Square that will require visitors to purchase entry tickets. The prices of those entry tickets will vary from place to place.
Why is Manhattan so famous?
Manhattan serves as New York City’s economic and administrative center and has been described as the cultural, financial, media, and entertainment capital of the world.
Who owns 1 Manhattan West?
One Manhattan West officially opened on October 30, 2019. As of 2022, a joint venture of Brookfield, the Qatar Investment Authority, and the Blackstone Group owns the building.