My wine friends are a creative bunch: of course they appreciate a great glass of something tasty, all while giving you the backstory on who grew the grapes and how the wine was made. Most of them also nurture other interests such as cooking, painting, writing, or photography. I’m always inspired by their efforts.

If you are part of the wine blogging universe, undoubtedly you’ve met Anatoli, author of Talk-a-Vino. His posts are always worth a read, not just for the breadth of wines he tastes and reports on, but for the unvarnished, no-nonsense opinions he offers up. He also happens to be a pretty good photographer.

Last month he shared photos from an outdoor light festival he attended in New York City. I’d never seen anything like them! Click here to take a look.

The day after Christmas, my husband and I decided to go and see the installation for ourselves. We ordered tickets online, called an Uber, and were soon on our way to Randall’s Island to experience the Lumino City Festival.

What Is the LuminoCity Festival?

My first impression was of a psychedelic landscape morphing disparate historical eras into the present: the Ice Age, represented by a winter wonderland of snowflakes and polar bears, butted up against the T-Rexes and other dinosaurs of the Jurassic Era. A tropical rain forest and a field of magic mushrooms were thrown in for good measure.

I stopped asking what it was supposed to be and just melted into the visual spectacle in front of me.

Here’s the official blurb from the LuminoCity website:

LuminoCity Inc. is a multimedia entertainment company that transforms captivating stories into multidimensional experiences. By exploring the intersection of art forms, LuminoCity seeks to blur the lines between virtuality and reality when curating unforgettable experiences for all audiences. In the inaugural year of 2019, LuminoCity proudly presents its signature event LuminoCity Festival, a month-long holiday event with an exhibition of spectacular light art displays, live performances, and a celebration of cultures.

Here’s my take on the multiple worlds of LuminoCity:

The Ice Age

Tropical Rain Forest

Welcome to the Jungle

Jurassic Park

Magic Mushroom Mania

Candy Land

And a Few Extras . . .