public MainPage()
        {
            //initialize the viewModel.
            this.InitializeComponent();
            viewModel = RealViewModel.GetViewModel();
            this.DataContext = viewModel;

            //add one instance of the info box
            info = new InfoBox();
            bingMap.Children.Add(info);
            info.Visibility = Visibility.Collapsed;

            //set default view location
            bingMap.SetView(new Location(40.7451934814453,-73.9048461914063), 11.0f);
        }