OCULUS: FABULOUS!
After the Eataly breakfast, we were offered a tour of the nearby Oculus. This is the new complex at the rebuilt World Trade Center at 185 Greenwich Street in Manhattan.
Maxwell Majewski, Concierge Specialist for the Westfield World Trade Center, which is known as the Oculus, had much to tell us.
Designed by architect Santiago Calatrava, the Oculus is a train station, a plaza, and an extraordinary shopping mall – Starbucks, Victoria’s Secret, Sephora and Boss are just a few of its almost 100 shops and restaurants. 300,000 to 400,000 people pass through it every day and thirteen subway lines whisk travelers to their destinations.
It is glorious and it is huge: 800,000 square feet of steel and glass, with windows at the very top through which you can see the sky.
The Oculus is also a memorial. Every year on September 11th, the roof of the Oculus opens up and a wedge of light appears on the floor. It is always a powerful and emotional day.
The building is in the shape of a dove, symbolizing peace. But inside, there is much activity: art exhibitions, a Farmer’s Market, Holiday Celebrations, Light Shows on Walls, and coming soon, a Beer Garden.
The word “Oculus” is Latin for “eye.” Once you are there, the striking architecture and amazing shops will be a feast for both your eyes.
