This forum usually does not contain words like “delightful” and “enchanting” but if you can accommodate those words or if you have children or grandchildren who can and you are reasonably close you may want to go the the New York Botanical Garden Train Show. It will continue to January 12.
The train show has a series of G scale model railroads running around and around and back and forth through tunnels and over bridges of various heights. They themselves are things any train buff with any interest in model railroads has seen. What is unusual is the buildings and bridges used. Bridges (including the Hell Gate Bridge) are all made of twigs and sticks and left in their natural color. And the buildings–there are hundreds if not over a thousand–are covered with a variety of natural materials such as twigs, sticks, sliced nuts, fungus and leaves. They are stiffened and protected with varnish or shellac. And they are all recognizable buildings from New York City and along the Hudson River. Many are famous–the Empire State Building and of course Grand Central Terminal and the original Pennsylvania Station. And many are ordinary, for example row houses. And each ordinary building is a replica of one in New York with an address to prove it. Walking through the show took an hour and a half today. It was crowded but even if it had not been it still would have taken the same amount of time. For me it was throughly enjoyable.
The structures have been built by Paul Busse. There is a section called “The Artist’s Studio” which shows how he builds them. I found that especially interesting.
For a preview you can look that the NYBG website: http://www.nybg.org/exhibitions/2013/holiday-train-show/index.php?utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=HTS2013
To get there take the MTA Harlem Line local from Grand Central Term