Father and Son, Brooklyn

Photo by myself near Prospect Park, in Brooklyn.

A quiet moment, between father and son.

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Related posts: New York's Near Miss, Sharing a Moment and Decisions, Decisions.

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High Above Bryant Park

Photo by myself on the 28th floor above Bryant Park, at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Another photo from my excursion on Monday. Far below, people sunned themselves on one of the first hot days of the year.

In the background looms the white Neo-Classical facade of the New York Public Library. The Library facade has recently been unveiled, after spending many months under scaffolding.

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Most New Yorkers don't see the skyline very often, unless they work on a high floor. We typically spend our time crawling about on the ground and underground, oblivious to what's going on above. In fact, if you're not alert, you can easily walk by tall landmarks such as the Chrysler Building without knowing it.

This photo reminds me that you can always be seen. I've lunched in Bryant Park countless times, and never considering that there were people above.

For those interested in seeing the color version of yesterday's photograph, I added it to the end of yesterday's post.

Related posts: Braving the Chill in Bryant Park, Night View, at the Carousel and Skating Under the Empire State.

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Bird's Eye View, near Bryant Park

Photo by myself near Bryant Park, at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Yesterday I attended a meeting on the 28th Floor of a tower near Bryant Park. The view was pretty incredible.

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Before the use of computer-generated images in the architectural profession, all drawings were done by hand.

Perspective views were painstakingly constructed using plans and sections. Now with the touch of a button, the computer can send you from one viewpoint to the next, or connect viewpoints together as if you're being wheeled on a camera dolly.

The computer programs can simulate cameras lens types, too: 35mm, wide angle and fish eye, for example. Each lens type has an affect on the image that is produced, by giving the picture perceived depth or flattening it.

There wasn't so much variety in the old days when we drew by hand, since each image took time to create. You couldn't experiment so easily. I feel we're lazier now because we use the computer to figure out perspective views through trial and error. Before, you had to conceive of how an image would look like in your head first, before putting pencil down on paper.

Two popular terms that describe perspectives are the 'bird's eye view' and the 'worm's eye view'. The names are self-explanatory, and describe extremes in points of view.

Here's the same view in color:


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Parked in Prospect Park

Photo by myself in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Temperatures rose to 90F this Sunday, sending everyone to the parks.

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The great thing about the parks is that they're public. Very few New Yorkers have backyards to lounge in. Prospect Park has barbecue grilles for use, or you can bring your own. There are rolling hills, baseball diamonds and ponds.

And...the drawback about parks is that they're public. You have to deal with other people, their noise and their messes. By the end of each day, there are napkins, bottles, and full paper plates of food on the grass.

Prospect Park was packed with people, Sunday afternoon. Groups were grilling food alongside Little League games and soccer players.

Related posts: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, The Hills are Alive in Prospect Park, Brooklyn and Central Park in the Rain.

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Homeless Man, Central Park

Photo by myself outside Central Park, around 59th Street and 6th Avenue.

Not the best photo, I know, but one I felt compelled to show.

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Incredibly, I haven't sensed a dramatic rise in homeless people in New York, since the economic crisis.

The New Yorker printed a brief article about a census taken of the homeless population in New York every year. On January 26, thousands of volunteers canvassed the streets to obtain an accurate homeless count.

Based on the January 2009 census, The New York Department of Homeless Services has seen a 47% decrease in homelessness since 2005. The 2009 survey showed 775 homeless people in Manhattan, 2325 homeless people overall.

The DHS takes a count of the homeless every day at city shelters, and makes the report public on their website.

For the New Yorker article, click here.
For the Department of Homeless Services website, click here

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Details, Details

Photo by myself, Midtown.

I've forgotten where I took the above photo of an architectural detail, earlier this year.

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Okay, prepare thyself for a geeky architecture lesson!

The mystery building shown is a great example of practical needs and aesthetics. There is a gutter hidden within the cornice, about one third down from the top of the image.

The lion heads are actually 'scuppers' - rainwater flows from the gutter out through the lions' mouths. The scuppers allow the building to shed water at points along the facade. The scuppers are in line with the columns, so you are less apt to be dripped on when entering or exiting the building.

Scuppers more decorative than downspouts, which carry water down along walls in traditional buildings. On Neo-Gothic buildings, you can find scuppers disguised as gargoyles.

The Romans did not build their buildings with hidden gutters. This is a relatively modern invention.

Happy weekend, everyone!

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The Meal O'bama Cart, Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 37th Street and 8th Avenue.

You can get chicken schwarma and falafel from the 'Meal O'bama', a sidewalk food vendor in Midtown.

Incidentally, here's an article in the Times describing how many businesses have renamed themselves to include the President's surname.

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Yesterday, I took some photos of the big fountain near Columbus Circle. It was a nice, sunny day, and I'd been in the area for a site visit.

Then in my delirium, I went to the subway station and promptly boarded the wrong train. I wound up on 8th Avenue, near Penn Station. Walking several blocks to the office, I spotted the Meal Obama cart and took the photograph above.

The photos of the fountain turned out nice, but...eh. How many times has that fountain been photographed? It's a recognizable icon in the middle of a very touristy area.

Next question - how many times has the Meal O'bama been photographed? Why do I consider the Meal O'bama much more interesting than an over-publicized fountain?

There is a message in there somewhere, about what you plan on doing and what just happens, and about doing what convention tells you versus what sparks your interest at a particular moment in time.

And to complete the story, how poetic is it, that Meal O'bama is parked next to a Hallmark store?

Here's a night view of the fountain that I took on another occasion.

Related posts: A La Carte, On the Menu and Come and Get It.

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On Rain and Baseball

Photo by myself in Midtown.

It's been cold and rainy for the last several days here in New York.

For the moment, the sunny weather forecast for the weekend keeps our spirits afloat.

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A funny thing happened the other day.

I was standing on the subway platform in Brooklyn, when I noticed that a woman nearby was reading the book Watching Baseball Smarter. She was deeply engrossed and kept flipping around to various parts of the book.

The train was late and the crowd started forming on the platform. Suddenly, a fellow she knew came over and greeted her. They started an animated conversation about her book and baseball.

All this time I wanted to step in and say, 'I know the guy who wrote it! I know Zack!' But I didn't, preferring to overhear their conversation, instead.

Zack Hample, a serious baseball geek, wrote this wonderful book chock full of history about one of the most-loved games in America.

I heard Zack read early versions of the chapters aloud. From the beginning, it was destined to be a great, entertaining read. And I was happy to see that the book has done amazingly well - in its 14th printing since the initial run in 2007.

You might have seen Zack on youtube and television - he's collected over 3,800 baseballs from major league play, and has written a book about that, too. Zack has been on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and was interviewed on NPR.

Like a true baseball enthusiast, he does not prefer the Yankees and Mets over other teams.

To read more about Zack on his website, click here.

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Gone Fishin'

Photo by myself on a pier at Riverside Park.

Several fishermen cast their lines into the Hudson River. I talked to one fellow, who said he's caught blue fish and eel, and that he eats his catch!

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New Yorkers used to joke that dead bodies and hypodermic needles would be found in the body of water between Manhattan and New Jersey. New York drinking water, on the other hand, use reservoirs and has always been excellent. Many people drink unfiltered tap water.

Recent effort regarding pollution has helped the Hudson. Now people walk close to the river without a thought. There is also free kayaking (yes, can you imagine anything free in this city?) between May and October.

Three piers, at 72nd Street, 56th Street and Houston Street, have kayaking available to the public. The lines in front of the piers are sometimes long in the summertime.

Related posts: Here's to the Human Condition, The Sky is Falling and The Majestic Ansonia.

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A Warm Glow on the Upper West Side

Photo by myself on the Upper West Side, around 79th Street and Broadway.

A cozy, orangey glow came from inside someone's home.

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Lunchtime conversation Monday consisted of New York war stories. My coworkers and I were comparing notes.

'Five,' said one fellow. 'They were doing construction on the building behind me.'

'Six, for me', a Lower East Side resident said. 'Six mice in two weeks. That was the worst.'

We were comparing glue traps with humane traps and the good old traditional house cat. There's even sonar available that emits frequencies that keep mice away. (I have been very lucky. Zero for me, but I did have a run-in with a gigantic water bug that gave me a heart attack).

One of my coworkers was experiencing nightly visitations from furry friends. After the lights went off, the scratching sounds began.

Lots of advice was thrown around. I suggested using a towel that has been slept on by a cat. Someone else suggested moving the stove and fridge and plugging up all crevices, no matter how tiny.

And once you catch the mouse? What do you do with it?

I will spare you the gory details.

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Beer, Wonderful Beer

Photo by myself at Fairway, the supermarket in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

A host of lesser known beers line the shelves of this supermarket. Here you can find J.K. Scrumpy Hard Cider, Samuel Smith's Organically Produced Lager and Arrogant Bastard Ale.

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You can find a huge range of items at Fairway, my favorite supermarket, from non-dairy salmon-flavored cream cheese (made from soy), to dried French pears.

They have a kazillion cheeses and even cheese classes for cheese novices. There are buckets of olives surrounding more buckets of olives. There are fruit pastilles and canned baked beans in a section devoted to British foods. It is a food lover's paradise.

The prices are reasonable and there is no hint of pretentiousness. The only downside to Fairway is the crowds.

New Yorkers are not known for their driving skills, shopping carts included. If only they gave licenses and issued tickets for those things!

Click here for Fairway's online store, where you can purchase a number of items.

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The Brooklyn Ice House, Red Hook

Photo by myself in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Red Hook is a slightly gritty, quirky neighborhood. It's located on the edge of Brooklyn by the water and unfortunately does not have direct access to the subway.

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There's an article in the Times this week about how little New Yorkers get in unemployment benefits.

Despite the high cost of living here, New Yorkers get much less per week than other cities - $430/week here, versus $540/week in nearby Trenton or Boston. When you consider how much rent is, it's no wonder that many young single people are moving out of the city.

I had drinks with two unemployed friends on Friday. One told me about taking his 4-year old daughter to see the circus. Snow cones there cost 15 bucks a piece!

Did he get his daughter the expensive snow cone, you ask?

No way. But he did re-enroll her in her favorite dance class instead.

For the article about unemployment in the Times, click here.

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Along the Edge of Central Park

Photo by myself at the edge of Central Park, on 59th Street and Columbus Avenue.

And just like that, after days of rain, blustery winds and chilly temperatures, it was Spring. Happens every year.

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Everywhere people were saying to each other, 'Have you been outside? It is beautiful!'

Friday I lunched in Bryant Park with a kazillion other people. The season had started.

Like the Canadian geese decide to take off together, or the Emperor penguins that decide to shuffle off to the sea, it's suddenly nearly impossible to find seats and tables.

Happy Spring, everyone!

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Signs of the Times

Photo by myself in front of the American Legion in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

This neighborhood is actually quite charming, with old brownstones, tree-lined streets and little stores. Graffiti is rare in this area.

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A friend of mine told me about her office. They placed an ad in the Sunday Times for a receptionist. Their long-time receptionist had moved to Boston.

The ad was phoned in on Friday afternoon. It ran in the paper version and online. By Monday morning, the office received over 600 resumes.

Whew! TGIF, everyone!

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Looking out from the Promenade

Photo by myself from the Brooklyn Promenade, in Brooklyn Heights.

Looking out across the East River, the lower edge of Manhattan doesn't look so far away.

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My project at work is wrapping up. In the meantime, I've been helping out my coworkers on their projects.

My days consist of drawing houses all day in minute detail. Everything is included, from the hinges to the outlets to the door knobs. It's labor intensive work that drives me a bit....crazy!!! There's much less drama and distraction at my current office, unfortunately.

Drawing in such detail is normal for homes where toilet paper holders routinely cost $400 a piece. To counteract the braindeadness, I listen to podcasts and email friends obsessively. I also try to take a walk at lunch and after work to take photos.

If anyone has suggestions for photographs, do let me know!

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Trinity Church, at Dusk

Photo by myself of Trinity Church, downtown at Broadway and Wall Street.

Here's another photo from my jaunt downtown the other day. Just around the corner from the Stock Exchange, the church has occupied this piece of land since the late 17th century. It's since been rebuilt several times.

The grounds are fenced off and there are gravestones surrounding the church. Alexander Hamilton is buried there.

Related posts: Life at the Time & Life Building, Midtown, Architecture, A Glorified Profession and Making an Entrance, in Midtown.

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On the Market

Photo by myself of the New York Stock Exchange, at 11 Wall Street.

Although the building has a grand facade, it isn't located in a grand space. Unfortunately, you can only get limited views of the building, which is dramatically lit.

It was a quiet night. Armed guards stood on call outside, just in case.

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Yes, this is the famous place.

You see the interiors sometimes on tv, filled with stressed out bankers. Their arms in the air, they make signs with their fingers to buy and sell or whatever they do. The close of the market each day is rung in by a special bell.

I've only seen this building at night or on the weekend, since I work uptown. I'd love to see what it's like during rush hour. Is there a flood of bankers streaming out? Or is it more like a stampede?

Related posts: Life at the Time & Life Building, Midtown, Architecture, A Glorified Profession and Making an Entrance, in Midtown.

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One Really Big Fountain

Photo by myself in Bryant Park, around 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.

Some visitors were enjoying the spring weather near a huge fountain in the park last week.

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I've been trying to take a photo of people during rush hour. It would be a side view of the image I posted Sunday.

The reason? The morning rush hour closely resembles the famous scenes in zombie movies.

Imagine a mass of people slugging along at about the same pace, moving up the sidewalk. Their eyes are glazed, bodies leaning forward, faces slack. Some are smoking. Some are visibly half-asleep. Some are cursing the subway ride. Together they make an enormous zombie organism. Woe to you if you're trying to walk the opposite direction!

Hopefully I'll get a photo of the zombies, soon. If only if I weren't such a zombie myself!

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Lost in the Crowd

Photo by myself in Midtown.

The crowds are in full force in Midtown, with commuters racing to the subways and visitors ambling around, viewing the sights. It makes for a heady situation on the sidewalks during rush hour.

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One of the most common conversations New Yorkers have involves the size of their apartments.

People talk about their smallest apartment, their first apartment, or their current apartment. Sometimes people talk about 'the apartment that got away', or some dreamy apartment where they wound up by chance.

This week, the Times is showing the non-dreamy apartments. Recently, studio co-op apartments in New York are being offered for as low as $200,000.

The apartments might have prime locations, but they are tiny. One has a kitchen that isn't large enough for a full-size refrigerator (it is located in a nearby closet). Another apartment sports a sleeping loft/bunk bed over a sofa.

Currently, the least expensive apartment offered in Manhattan is a 250-square foot studio, with a view of a brick wall, for $199k.

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The Carousel, Bryant Park

Photo by myself in Bryant Park, around 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.

There is a working merry-go-round in Bryant Park. Rides are two dollars, and children can take their pick of colorful horses and frogs.

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It's not easy to have kids in the city.

Just getting up and down the stairs to the subway is an ordeal - you see young mothers lugging oversized strollers with their child strapped in. Or you see one parent carrying the stroller, the other carrying the child.

The nice thing is that very often, but not always, strangers will offer to help.

It's not like the suburbs here, where kids can wander aimlessly on a bike, or run over to a friend's house.

Granted, the Museum of Natural History or the zoo are all subway rides away. Regardless of distance, all it takes is two bucks to go to a museum or a toy store.

All the people I know who grew up in New York City are very unsheltered. There's something charismatic about them, as if they know they can survive just about anything.

Click here for a night view of the carousel.
Click here for the official carousel site.

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