Chase Plaza, between William and Broad Streets in Downtown Manhattan, offers that rare trifecta: light, space and art. 
Jean Dubuffet’s Group of Four Trees dominates the space. 
Made of fiberglass, aluminum and steel, Jean Dubeffet’s work was erected in 1972 and stands four stories tall.
The sculpture is one of the 14,000 works in Chase Manhattan’s private collection.*
This being one of the few that the public can see.
(*According to Manhattan’s Downtown Alliance)
Popular tourist destinations in Downtown Manhattan include the 911 Memorial, City Hall and Wall Street. 
Even though many tourists stand in front of Federal Hall National Memorial, and take pictures of the statue of Washington on the steps, only a few actually go inside the historic site.T
his is odd because it’s not only free, but also quite warm.
There’s interesting things to learn. 
And best of all – no guns are allowed.
February 2015 has been reported as the coldest month in 35 years for Manhattan. 
The East River isn’t frozen yet. 
But it’s getting there. (Click here or the images below for video.)
Built in 1921, the Cunard Building stands at 25 Broadway, above Bowling Green, at the foot of Manhattan. 
Best known for housing the Cunard Shipping Lines, which built famed ships, including The Lusitania, Mauritania, Queen Mary & Queen Elizabeth. 
The building is also cited by Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby: There’s a bird on the lawn that must be a nightingale come over on the Cunard or White Star Lines.
Perhaps Mrs. Buchanan, if she were here today, would have even visited the Cunard Building for an afternoon meal.
Few are braving the cold and ice in Manhattan’s Financial District this February. 
Excepting of course the tourists… 
The TV show camera crews…
And the delivery guys. 
After all, the show must go on.
He went into the oncoming pedestrians, half of them on their phones, and failed to pull his shoulder back, knocking the woman, intent on her messages, sideways. 
Another was coming right after her, protecting a plastic bag. 
“What ya got in there?”
“A crystal palace.”
“Looks like some bullshit trophy to me.” 
“Come on, man, have a heart.” The homeless man was on his knees, hat and sweater askew. “Jesus had a heart for you.” 
He cut around him and hurried down the stairs to the 5 train.
“Could I get another?”
“Sorry, the bar is closed.”
“Oh, the bar’s closed?” I repeated it quickly to make it go away.
“Sorry, sir.”
“What about last call?” 
“I made the announcement 15 minutes ago.”
“No, you didn’t.” My voice sounded outside of me.
“I’m sorry, sir.”
“I must have been in the bathroom.”
He started to take my glass.
“Just a pint. I’ll finish it in 5 minutes.” The ringing in my ears was worse; I had to see a doctor.
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s still 6 minutes to, right?” Could he even hear what I said? “I’ll be finished by the time you close.”
He took my glass.
“You’re not serious.”
And walked away.
“What the fuck…?”
The woman beside looked half around and pulled her purse closer in.
I slid the stool abruptly back. “I’m Jason B., man! What do you think I want with that?”
The bartender returned. “Sir, do we have a problem here?”
“I just asked for another beer, all right?”
“Do we have a problem?”
I blinked back, open and closed, like a mechanical doll. “No, we don’t.”
It was warm outside, still, and the streets were quiet. 
I just needed one more.
Bogdan Dico’s icon looked at me like an ATM machine, the bald head gleaming.
I was lucky and won a big hand. Everybody was surprised by that, except Bogdan. He knew that I would make a wrong move. I rested on my laurels and got distracted by drink and then the people walking past. 
And then I saw that Bogdan had taken two players out. There were only two of us left. I had an Ace-Eight, and the River produced a matching Ace. Bogdan beat me on that hand. He eliminated the other player and had 80% of the chips.
And then I took Bogdan Dico down. I had the cards, and he never believed it. It ended with a straight. We were both stunned by that. I stared at that glorious little Nine of Clubs until the screen changed for the next game. 
I’ve seen too many polls as of late regarding this racism thing in the United States. 
More than anything, I am confounded by the manner in which the ‘information’ is delivered, newscasters frowning as they read, “Black people don’t trust authority and white people can’t understand why that is.” 
It’s like the damn gun issue – everyone talking and no one listening.
Here’s my dime: It’s going to take a long time yet for this society to recover from the abomination that was slavery.
And for any positive changes to occur, whites need to be a hell of a lot more understanding, accommodating and trusting toward blacks. (Exclamation point.)
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