JFK Airport

JetBlue celebrates Record Store Day at JFK Airport

April 13, 2015Harriet BaskasAirports, Events, Musicindi record stores, JetBlue, JFK Airport, Record Store Day

Record Store Day – a fun event dating back to 2008 celebrating record store culture and the role independent record stores play in communities – officially takes place this year on Saturday, April 18, 2015, but JetBlue is kicking things off early on Tuesday, April 14 with live music and a pop-up record shop in Terminal 5 at JFK Airport.

The live music starts at noon with country-blues-soul singer Elle King at noon, punk pop artist Kevin Devine at 3pm and indie rock band Caveman at 5pm.

Earlier in the day, at 9 a.m., the New York City-based record shop Other Music will open a pop-up record shop complete withe turntable listening stations and music for sale. Giveaways and prizes are also promised.

(Photo courtesy Galt Museum & Archives, via Flickr Commons)

The Beatles arrive at JFK Airport – this day in 1964

February 7, 2015Harriet BaskasAirports, MusicEd Sullivan Show, JFK Airport, The Beatles

On February 7, 1964 Beatlemania arrived in the United States in the form of John, Paul, George and Ringo stepping off Pan Am Yankee Clipper flight 101 at New York’s Kennedy Airport.

They’d flown over from London Heathrow Airport, were greeted by 3,000 screaming fans and two days later appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.

Sculptures made of Starbucks cups at JFK Airport

February 5, 2015Harriet BaskasAirports, ArtDelta Air Lines, JFK Airport, sculptures, Starbucks

Carnival Float sculpture made of Starbucks cups by Francesca Signori. Courtesy Delta AIr Lines

As part of Delta Air Lines’ announcement that it will now be serving Starbucks coffee on board its airplanes, the airline commissioned artists in London, New York and Sao Paulo to create sculptures using Starbucks cups.

Look for the cup sculptures, which depict Big Ben in London, Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple in the historic district of Asakusa and a carnival float in São Paulo, Brazil in Terminal 4 at New York’s-JFK International Airport.

London’s Big Ben, by Shotopop artists Carin Standford and Michael Crozier – made of Starbucks cups. Courtesy Delta Air Lines

Tokyo’s Sensoji Temple – made of Starbucks cups, by Jeff Nishinaka. Courtesy Delta Air Lines

Snack Saturday: JFK’s new Central Diner

July 19, 2014Harriet BaskasFood, Snack SaturdayAirport food, Central Diner, diners, JFK Airport

Diners (and luncheonettes) are part of the iconic New York City scenery, and now JFK International Airport has a diner of its own.

Located pre-security in Terminal 4, the 1930s-inspired Central Diner has the classic service counter, with banquette, booth and patio seating as well as a take-out window.

Like all great diners, the Central Diner is open 24 hours a day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a menu offering everything from omelets to milkshakes and martinis.

Go ahead, order all three for dinner.

50 years ag today: The Beatles arrive at JFK Airport

February 7, 2014Harriet BaskasHistory, MusicEd Sullivan Show, JFK Airport, The Beatles

The Beatles’ first visit to the United States began 50 years ago today, on February 7, 1964, with their arrival at New York’s JFK International Airport on Pan Am Flight 101.

Two days later, the Fab Four performed on The Ed Sullivan Show to a TV audience of 70 million people – most of them screaming young girls and their alarmed parents.

There will be concerts, exhibits and other special events taking place around the country this weekend to mark the milestone of the first Beatles invasion in the U.S, but it kicks off at JFK Airport this morning when the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey unveils a historical marker at the landmark TWA Flight Center (in the airport’s Central Terminal Area) paying tribute to The Beatles’ arrival and first press conference in the United States.