Signs Galore, 32nd Street

Photo by myself, on 32nd Street and Fifth Avenue in Koreatown.

A very belated Happy New Year from the city! I hope everyone is warm, or at least, warmer than we are. :-)

I was out on lunch break the other day and snapped a photo in Koreatown, the smallest of neighborhoods with the most possible number of signs.

Related posts: Evening, on Sixth Avenue, Outside Sol Moscot, on the Lower East Side, and 32nd and Fifth, in Midtown.

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A Moment, in Koreatown

Photo by myself, on 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue, in Koreatown.

No, not a shot from Asia, but a moment in Koreatown on 32nd Street.

Koreatown is found within a few blocks in this area of Midtown. Signage for restaurants, karaoke bars, grocery stores and barbershops float well above street level.

Related posts: Cheers, from Koreatown, A Snapshot from Koreatown, 32nd Street, and 32nd and Fifth, in Midtown.

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32nd and Fifth, in Midtown

Photo by myself on 32nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

Just a little view of the hodge podge of Fifth Avenue. There is an assortment of souvenir stores there between 40th and 26th Streets.

-- Technically, 32nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues is part of Koreatown, or more familiarly, Ktown.

The neighborhood is comprised of only a few city blocks, lined with Korean bbq restaurants, karoake bars and desert places. Many of the restaurants are open 24 hours.

Related posts: Snapshot from Koreatown, 32nd Street, For Your Listening Pleasure, and Much More on Food.

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Cheers, from Koreatown

Photo by myself, around 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue, in Koreatown.

A couple of visitors were chatting in Koreatown, the other day. I'm not sure why the woman was smiling, but I'm glad she was looking my way.

This particular block is one of my favorites in Manhattan. It's filled with signs on both sides of the street. There are excellent Korean bbq and tofu restaurants to choose from.

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The above photo was taken with my new little Leica. So far, so good!

Related posts: Snapshot from Koreatown, 32nd Street, On Street Photos in Midtown and Online, and Grinning and Bearing it, on 42nd Street.

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Putting up the Lights, in Koreatown

Photo by myself in Koreatown, around 35th Street and Sixth Avenue.

Christmas decorations in the summer?

Well, no. Koreatown has been festooned with decorations during the nicer months. The tiny neighborhood has been decorated with lights and streamers, in an attempt to make it more noticeable.

Hard to say how successful this venture will be. Already, the few streets that comprise the area are plastered with signs and lights. If you have a hankering for a hearty meal of tofu casseroles or barbeque, you simply need to know where to go.

Koreatown is nestled within Midtown. Restaurants, bars and stores are located throughout 32nd through 35th Streets, between Madison and Sixth Avenues, in Midtown.



Related posts: Snapshot from Koreatown, 32nd Street, Much More on Food and Lost in Translation.

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Snapshot from Koreatown, 32nd Street

Photo by myself in Koreatown, on 32nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

Just a few blocks in Midtown comprise the neighborhood known as Koreatown, affectionately known as 'Ktown'. Stores, restaurants, karaoke bars and supermarkets cater mainly to Koreans.

The restaurants here tend to specialize. Some restaurants are known for their tofu casseroles - soups thick with tofu and various goodies like kim chi or seafood. Others are known for barbecue, where you grill your own meat at the table, creating a smoky, hearty meal.

Many restaurants here are open 24/7, since Korean businessmen tend to work hard and party hard. I love this area and can never tire of Korean food. It's much less oily than typical Chinese food, and there is a huge variety to the diet.

Koreans love their beef, but they also love fresh vegetables, tofu, raw fish and anything made from rice. Flavors tend toward spicy, but you can customize it to your liking.

For a good primer on some of the popular restaurants in the Ktown area, click here for a guide in the Times.

Related posts: Lost in Translation, On Broadway and In the Streets with Silly String.

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CDP Theme Day - Books

Once again, it's CDP Theme Day, which occurs on the first day of every month. Daily photobloggers everywhere post photos on a different theme.

This month's theme is Books. I took the above photo in a Korean bookstore, where books about Obama, McCain and the current economic crisis have been translated into Korean.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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I'd love to know what people did for Halloween?

Last night I walked by tons of people in costume - kids, adults and dogs. In the city people wander the street and visit delis and other stores for candy.

Mark and I didn't have any trick-or-treaters by. It depends on the apartment building, whether kids will trick-or-treat among the apartments. For some reason, even though there are some kids in our building, they keep to themselves.

Next year, when Rupert, our Boston Terrier puppy, is bigger, we'll dress him up. I think a bumble bee costume would be adorable.

Here's the list of all participating bloggers for this month's Theme Day
American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bali, Indonesia by Anak Dokan, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bangkok, Thailand by UberSand, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Boulder (CO), USA by A Sterling World, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by PattheAZRealtor, Chapel Hill (NC), USA by missleah, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gliwice, Poland by prado&fio, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Herne Bay, Great Britain by Han, Lil n Caz, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by Susie of Arabia, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by hope, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by wikiyu, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by snapshutter, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montréal, Canada by My Life in Montreal, Moscow (ID), USA by Sherry, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Murcia, Spain by usuahia, Napa (CA), USA by katester, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Elsa, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stiffa, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by pearls, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, Korea South by SeoulSnapper, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tauranga, New Zealand by Lisa Sarsfield, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trieste, Italy by Rob&Piero, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Verona, Italy by Valeria in Verona, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Woerden, Netherlands by Marcel, Yakima (WA), USA by katney, Yellowknife, Canada by Arctic Dreamer, York, UK by Ruby in York

Related posts: CDP Theme Day - Lines, CDP Theme Day - Sister Cities, CDP Theme Day - Metal.

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Much More on Food

Photo by myself in Koreatown, on 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

There are tons of snacks to be had at Woorijip, a bustling deli serving fresh and packaged Korean food. Hot and cold foods are displayed at the salad bar. Fully prepped meals change daily and are wrapped for take away.

Be sure to get there early, or you'll have trouble getting through the door.

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Our current environmental consciousness makes sense - we all live on the same planet, how we dispose of whatever we use and where it comes from makes a difference.

A recent article in the New Yorker goes one step further. Where is our food coming from? Is what we're eating becoming endangered, or endangering other species? Is it good for us, our bodies? Is it good for our planet?

These questions are heavy ones, and so is the article, which is a review of The End of Food by Paul Roberts. These are important issues that we'll be hopefully talking about in the near future, just as we now talk about whether certain plastics are recyclable.

The differences among cultures have become obvious. Some can hardly afford to eat, and others eat unhealthily and in huge quantities. It used to take 10 weeks to raise a chicken for consumption. Now it takes a little more than 5 weeks. How do we navigate this stuff?

I have the luxury of choosing my food. Hopefully Mark and I can make healthy choices for ourselves and how we effect the rest of the planet.

Related posts: Building for a Greener Environment, On Zen and Eating Too Much Delicious Food

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Lost in Translation

Photo by myself in Koreatown, on 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

There is always an assembly of smokers outside this building. Mostly Korean businessmen while away their stress, regardless of the weather.

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After a long week of quiet dinners and drinks relaxing with Mark, last night we went a little nuts (hence the delayed post).

An old coworker friend was leaving her job, and a group of us went out for drinks, followed by a few hours in a karaoke booth. A couple of martinis, beer and sake later, I was giggling uncontrollably, watching Mark belt out 'Hotel California'.

If you're interested in a surreal, 'Lost in Translation'-like experience, karaoke is the solution. Every city with a strong Korean or Japanese population has these places - small karaoke booths where you can sing and celebrate and embarrass yourself.

Each booth is individually climate controlled. There are unlimited drinks and food. People pay a set fee per hour to have free reign over the karaoke machine. Meanwhile, cheesy dated images of couples and sunsets play on the video screen with subtitles.

In New York, there are some random bars that have Karaoke night, but the individual booths in Koreatown are the real deal. Walking down the hall to the ladies room, hearing the various parties around me, I felt like I was in another land.

Even though the experience was tame, the place felt seedy and transient. Everyone was engaged in pure excess - food, drink, enjoyment.

I'm not sure Mark and I would ever do it again. We'll have to recover from last night first.

Here's the trailer of 'Lost in Translation':

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Single Woman with Cats

Photo by myself, in Koreatown.

There's always mandoo (Korean dumplings) being made at the Mandoo Bar on 32nd and Fifth Avenue.

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I don't remember things often. My brain is a sieve. If anyone asks me to tell a joke or recite a poem on the spot, I'm speechless.

I do, however, recall one of the best cartoons ever. It was in The New Yorker, by Leo Cullum.

A man stands in front of his cat, shaking his finger and scowling. He says to the cat, 'Never, ever, think outside the box.'

For a while now, my cat Dida has been doing just that. She's ruined the wood of the laundry room floor. Mark and I have gotten fed up (Mark especially) and now Dida has been relocated to the bathroom, along with her litter, a bowl of water and a bowl of food.

When I adopted Dida, I also adopted two of her kittens. She'd had a beautiful litter, and the whole family spent their days in the window of a pet store on Ninth Avenue. Only Dida and two kittens remained when I finally went into the store. I wanted the two kittens, but I walked out with three cats. Yes, I'm a softie, and I didn't want anyone to be left out.

After adopting the cats, I was sensitive to that cliche, 'single woman with cats'. I was single, I lived in a walk-up in New York, I had cats. The cats kept me company. I took care of them and in their own way, they cared for me. I coined my screen name 'Kittylittered', because I was 'littered with cats'.

The single woman with multiple cats is an urban cliche. It mixes a couple of beliefs together - that women, especially single ones, have a preference for cats over dogs, and that it's easy for women to wind up alone in the city.

I have to wonder why 'single woman with cats' is also supposed to be funny. Because not everyone is a cat lover? Because to shack up with cats means to isolate oneself, when you really need to let your hair down and go out?

The two kittens grew up to be cats, and two years ago they died suddenly within six months of each other. I won't go into how they died, but it was sudden and sad. Now, Dida doesn't remember that she was a mom (I don't believe. We haven't talked this out, but she doesn't act like a mom, and she doesn't act like she misses any cats, which I guess is a good thing).

Like any self-respecting cat, Dida's been yowling from her little prison. Hopefully, she'll only have to stay there a couple weeks before she's cured of her 'little problem'.

Until then, I'll be an attached woman with a wailing cat in the background.

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