The Cube @ Astor Place

It’s a giant cube… yeah, but I still had to take a picture with it.

Michael Cera spun this in a movie so I have to take a star off.

How can you not like the cube?! It’s big, it’s cool, it’s fun, it’s spin-​able, it’s a meeting spot, it’s a work of art and it’s in the East Village! It’s unavoidable actually because it’s right off the 6 train station. But beware, because the cube is always surrounded with people everyday, rain or shine and you may or may not get a selfie with the sculpture. If you want to get a moment with it, try early morning on weekdays. Otherwise I recommend you visit the Starbucks across the street and watch the crowd to have fun with it.

So I came here because it was on a bucket list, and I was not impressed.
Yes its kinda cool — a big cube. I tried to spin it and I couldn’t get it to spin.
I guess its cool as a meeting spot– like hey meet me at the cube, but other than that I wouldn’t go out of my way to go see this thing…

No this is not a review about the AllSpark!
The Cube @ Astor Place aka The Cube or Alamo is a sculpture located on Astor Place. It is basically a black cube mounted on a corner.
If you look closely at the base of the cube, you’ll find a plaque with the name Alamo on it. What you probably don’t know is that the name was selected by the artist’s wife because its scale and mass reminded her of the Alamo Mission. Cool huh?
Anyway, it is a landmark, a handy rendez-​vous location if you’re meeting with mates and and a must-​see when you are in NYC. Check it out and don’t worry. It’s hard to miss.

The cube !!!
It’s basically a cube shaped landmark… located in mahatten…
One of the well known landmarks in New York City… Lots of people take pictures of this puticlear cube located right on the streets… this is my first time actually passing the cube and I saw some pretty awesome things…
There are these snake acts… Well I guess snakes… people letting you hold it and take pictures there was about five snakes on the floor right next to the cube. It was pretty cool… Many people actually stop and enjoy the area also… Some took pictures with the cube… It was pretty cute… Love the area… Whatever lets just say I love mahatten… But there many restaurants and cute stores located around here… so when you stop by to check the cube… check out the area as well… lots of interesting things to do. won’t disappoint you! Promise! :)

The Cube is a landmark in New York City. The Unilocal NYC Bucket List brought me to this sight and honestly I cannot say how it made it on the list. It is a rather small and it doesn’t turn very easily. Nice area.

I am a native New Yorker from Brooklyn, but I am clueless about what this landmark means or what is the historical reference behind it. I know it spins and that’s about it. You can’t miss it when you get off the train station near Astor Place. It is a great meeting spot to meet up with someone in the East Village.

Don’t know much about history, Don’t know much about Biology…
but I DO know this thing spins! (The reference is only lame if you’re not with it!)
My (might as well be) native-​New-​Yorker-​ultimate-​girl-​crush-​for-​all-​seasons, Vivian W. told me I must spin the Cube. I thought she was up to her old tricks and testing my gullibilty, but indeed it does spin! My friend and I failed at spinning the cube, but was able to after enlisting help from 3 strangers. That was fun, free, and I got a picture out of it! I think it’s a cool landmark to check out if you’ve already visited all the major, touristy landmarks.

If you’re nearby, it’s a fun stop! Some of the only public art I know of that’s so physically interactive that it might hit you if you’re not careful.
Also, don’t say, «Let’s meet at the Astor Place Starbucks» (since there are two in sight of The Cube)… just meet at The Cube.

One of those things everyone should experience when visiting downtown. It is historical, even if the neighborhood is yuppifying!

It’s a cube. A big black cube. I was born and bred in NYC — have only lived in Queens for 2 years (and change),
I’m a Manhattan brat through and through. I’ve lost track how many times I’ve used this big ol’ block as a meeting point, a seat, an ice breaker, taken photos of the darn thing, etc.
This cube thing is an NYC institution. One I’ve spun around many times when in junior high/​HS when I found out it spun. 5 stars because it’s there and Manhattan owns it :).

The Cube @ Astor Place is an interactive sculptural iconic art piece. It’s also the landmark spot to tell your friends to meet up there when you’re not exactly sure where to meet. Plopped right in the middle of Astor Place, across the street from Cooper Union, it’s impossible to miss. Unfortunately, a lot of people like to sleep by it or skateboard around it, but hopefully when the coast is clear, you get to spin it. It’s literally a tilted gigantic cube, and believe it or not, it spins 360 degrees. However, don’t attempt to be Hercules because it’s quite impossible to spin alone, unless you are that strong. Drunk or not, grab a few strangers off the street and get spinning.

You ain’t a real New Yawker if you never spun the cube. When you have seen the Lower East Side go thru riots and drug infestation of unparalleled proportions back in the day you can appreciate a cube that spins.
Instead of your mind spinning with all the madness that used to be out and about, oh boy the good old days.

The Cube at Astor Place is a great place to meet up with friends before a get together. It’s a big black metallic cube that’s located in the heart of Astor Place. It sits on it’s own in a small island facing the entrances to the 6 train on both sides. Hard to miss. For years I didn’t know it’s an interactive artwork and here’s my ode to The Cube in the form of a haiku:
The Cube, yes it spins…
So grab your friends and do try…
Then grab a drink nearby.

I am nothing like Arnold Schwartzenegger but if you try to push this cube you will feel like a strong man. Okay so maybe I couldn’t push it not even with the power of my wushi finger hold technique and all of the strength of my litlle pinky finger and maybe you would need another person on the other side of the cube «spotting you» but it is still cool to spin this thing. Just bring some antibacterial gel right after though who knows who has touched it.
But if you are not pushing the cube standing here makes you feel like you’re at the crossroads of the world. Just like Times Square but in a much cooler part of town, less tourists and more authentic real new yorkers. The cube is at the epicenter of a lot of great neighborhoods like union square, east village, west village and noho/​soho. This is also a great place to meet up with your friends and people watch and is a hang out spot for NYU and Cooper Union kids and the occasional skateboarder.
Just meet up here and pick a direction and go-​lots of bars and japanese eateries and other places nearby and if you are waiting a little too long check out the kmart nearby or grab a coffee from starbucks across the street.

Not really as good as it gets, but I do enjoy spinning the cube as if I’m rollin dice at a casino.
You gotta love interactive art.

It’s a big black spinning cube. Like an evil giant Rubik’s cube. Or Hellraiser cube.
Touch it. Spin it. You know you want to.
Whenever I walk by it on the way to the bars and restaurants down St Marks or if I’m heading over to McSorleys I try to spin it unless it’s surrounded by skater kids hanging around it or homeless sleeping by it. It’s not as easy to spin as it was years ago so you have to use some muscle. Someone needs to WD-​40 this thing!
It’s always a fun goofy thing to do late at night when drunk from bar hopping. It’s an iconic NYC landmark, and a great spot to meet up with friends coming from the subway stop close by. Usually the MUD Truck is nearby too if you need a cup of java.
Spin the cube — you know you want to!

Tony Rosenthal’s spinning creation has become a must-​do for all visitors to the East Village. It has been the absolute perfect meet up spot and a most unique landmark, one that is unmistakable and allows for interaction with it’s admirers. For years I never knew it could spin, but I’m so glad it does.
Definitely be careful while pushing the cube. I’ve seen accidents happen and tempers flare all too many times. Most of the people sitting below are usually hippies who look more like they’re homeless than they are students, but they’ll all scatter away when the rain comes.
Long live «The Alamo.»

«The Cube» is actually titled «The Alamo» and is a sculpture by Tony Rosenthal, who died in 2009 and was known for his monumental outdoor sculptures.
The base, which turns, had become fused with rust and debris, and there had to be some restoration work done to the cube a few years ago so it would spin again.
When I was a freshman at Cooper Union in 1980, I joined the fencing club briefly; it was headed by an Art school grad named Artie Lange. He insisted the sculpture was called «The Alamo» because it was the shape of the trash receptacles in Texas.