Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Photos: Caltech Prank Club Blankets The Astor Place Cube
By
Garth Johnston
Published Dec 14, 2011
Modified Dec 14, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Woody Loverude
By
Garth Johnston
Published Dec 14, 2011
Modified Dec 14, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
People must really worry that the Alamo (aka the Astor Place Cube) gets cold at night! In October Olek went and knitbombed the giant moveable sculpture and then this morning a reader sent in the above photos of the "companion cube" that appeared on it last night. As EV Grieve notes, the coverlet seems to be courtesy of Caltech's prank club (which is pretty much what it sounds like).
Here's what the signage put up with the blankie says:

We give it a few hours before the companion cube is "prematurely euthanized" — mostly because, who doesn't like "cake and grief counseling?" As for what the whole thing means, we have yet to hear back from the e-mail address posted on the The Alamo's base. Update: Clearly we don't play enough video games, as commenters point out the "companion cube" is from the game Portal.
Do you think the other Alamos get this kind of attention?
1 p.m. Update: Looks like the cover has been taken down.
Tagged
cal tech
astor place
cal tech prank club
pranks
astor place cube
the cube
the alamo
cake and grief counseling
Garth Johnston
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
NYC and NJ players celebrate the beginning of the Women's Pro Baseball League
Sabrina Robinson and Nylah Ramirez both join the Boston Hunters.
By
Michael Hill
and
Amanda Rozon
Published Jul 31, 2026
August concerts in NYC means bands on a boat, in a backyard, and in parks
Ted Leo in a park, a rave in a museum courtyard, and more.
By
Hank Shteamer
Arts & Entertainment
August concerts in NYC means bands on a boat, in a backyard, and in parks
Ted Leo in a park, a rave in a museum courtyard, and more.
By
Hank Shteamer
Group of rays spotted swimming in heavily polluted Newtown Creek
By
Hannah Frishberg
Is NYC an all-you-can-eat buffet town? A 5-year-old investigates.
By
James Ramsay
The 8 best movies to see in theaters (and outside!) this August in NYC
By
Emma Stefansky
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .