Photo by myself on the subway.
It's not terribly uncommon to see people knitting or crocheting on the subway.
Or putting on makeup. The great majority of riders have their noses in real and electronic media, or catch up with their sleep.
Rules prevent people from eating, but that doesn't mean you won't sit next to someone feasting on a chicken dinner. Ick.
This photo is from the stash. We're out in LA on vacation for the week, where there is no subway. A great many people ride buses here for public transport. Posts will continue here, in the meantime.
Related posts: Upside Down, on the R Train, All Lit Up, on the D Train, and 6:24pm, Below Times Square.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Knitting, on the Commute
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
A Misty View of Central Park
Photo by myself in Central Park.
A look at Central Park near Central Park South, looking east. There are remnants of snow and a mist clinging to the ground. Some pedicabs are parked in the foreground.
Anytime it snows in the city, it's nice at first, but quickly becomes a yucky mess. A white plastic bag clings to a tree branch on the upper right.
This photo is from the stash. We're in sunny Los Angeles through the end of this week. Posts will continue here, in the meantime.
Related posts: The Wintry View from Central Park South, City Portraits - Central Park, and A Snowy View of Central Park.
Monday, March 25, 2013
The New York, New York Hotel, on the Strip
Photo by myself outside the New York, New York Hotel, on the Las Vegas Strip.
No, not the Brooklyn Bridge, but a very good simulation out in Las Vegas!
The New York, New York hotel also has the Chrysler Building and Statue of Liberty outside, as well as a roller coaster. Inside, there are casinos, eateries and walkways lined with facades depicting New York City neighborhoods.
My fiance Mark and I were in Las Vegas for a couple days. A quick visit was plenty for us.
A view from the foot of the New York, New York hotel, complete with fake skyline.
Looking down the Strip at all the twinkly lights.
Related posts: A Day Excursion to Nara, Japan, Greetings, from Beijing, China, and Greetings, from Casa del Mar, in Santa Monica.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
A Glimpse of the Hard Rock Hotel, in Las Vegas
Photo by myself in the Hard Rock Hotel, in Las Vegas.
Shiny Harley Davidson motorcycles flank the entrance inside the casino at the Hard Rock Hotel where we're staying, in Las Vegas.
Beyond, you can see one of the many blackjack tables and one of the many, many bars, with tv screens on top. To the left, some of the slot machines.
Mark and I are here for a couple days, before driving to LA. I've never been to Las Vegas (!). It's a bit over the top, to say the least.
The hotel is great, but it's spring break and of course there are tons of crazy kids running around, whooping it up. It's about 70F during the day, and the pool areas are swarming. Meanwhile, the casinos here are open 24/7.
It's also basketball season. Below, a photo of the sports betting area at the hotel, where games and events are displayed so guys can bet all their money and hang out with their buddies.
The sports betting area at the Hard Rock Hotel. Everything you can possibly bet on is displayed on an immense curved screen.
Posts will continue while we're on the West Coast. We're due back in New York on Friday, March 29th.
Related posts: A Day Excursion to Nara, Japan, Greetings, from Beijing, China, and Greetings, from Casa del Mar, in Santa Monica.
Friday, March 22, 2013
Atop Radio City Music Hall, in Neon
Photo by myself, around Sixth Avenue and 50th Street, in Midtown.
The old-fashioned neon lights at Radio City Music Hall are lit every night, showing coming attractions.
This stretch of midtown is empty at night, save people strolling around. Most of the buildings are very tall and business-oriented. At street level, there are few stores or restaurants, so not much is open at this hour.
For a daytime view of this corner, click here.
People have been envious of our upcoming trip to Las Vegas and LA. Oh, the sun, the warmer weather. In fact it snowed here again, Thursday, just to prove that it's not quite Spring yet.
Thanks to all for putting up with my spotty posts. It's been that kind of busy. Posts will continue here in the meantime.
Related posts: Outside Radio City Music Hall, on Sixth Avenue, Bright Lights at BAM, and In Neon, on the Upper West Side. Read more...
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Night View, of Bryant Park
Photo by myself in Bryant Park, at 41st Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.
The view of Bryant Park at night is a peaceful one.
Wednesday night we finally had nice weather. No icy winds. No rain. Hurrah!
At the East end of the park lies the main branch of the New York Public Library. A large fountain spouting water was all lit up.
Related posts: Under the Canopies, in Bryant Park, West 10th Street, at Night, and Night View, at the Dakota. Read more...
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Across Vanderbilt, in Midtown
Photo by myself at 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Avenue.
Believe it or not, above Houston Street there are a handful of streets that don't have numbers for names.
Vanderbilt Avenue is a tiny street that spans just a few blocks in Midtown. Grand Central Station, which was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt in the mid-1800s, is located at southmost end of the street.
Related posts: All Lit Up, on Fifth Avenue, In Neon, on Seventh Avenue, and After the Rain, in Midtown. Read more...
Friday, March 15, 2013
Device Valet, on Wheels
Photo by myself around 68th Street and Lexington Avenue, on the Upper East Side.
I heard about this on the radio but seeing it in person made it real. Cell phone 'valets' on wheels.
Kids aren't allowed to have cellphones or other electronic devices in school, so they can 'park' their devices in a truck outside the school. This way, they can waste no time device-less.
Costs for such services vary from fifty cents to a dollar a day. Seriously.
For more about phone valets, read about it in USA Today here.
Related posts: Larger than Life Mural, in the East Village, School is in, at Parsons on 13th Street, and School's Out on the Upper East Side.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Looking Up West End Avenue
Photo by myself, around 77th Street and West End Avenue, on the Upper West Side.
West End Avenue seems to extend forever, or just about forever. The lights are well-timed, so it's one red light after the other.
There aren't any stores on West End Avenue, just the same as Park Avenue, on the East Side. Just one older apartment building after the next.
By the way, in Manhattan because of the street grid, 'up' means 'north, while 'down' means 'south'. In actuality, the north-south grid is slightly skewed.
Related posts: Looking North on the Upper West Side, The Rooftops on Central Park West, and All Lit Up, on the Upper West Side.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Manchester House, on the Upper West Side
Photo by myself on 79th Street and Amsterdam, on the Upper West Side.
This photo from the stash looks like it was taken in England, but not so.
Manchester House is a large co-op building on the Upper West Side. Elaborate ironwork and stone adorns the entrance.
Random blocks of stone break up the brick areas above the first floor, as if the building were built over a long time. It was actually built in 1926 by Emery Roth, who designed many of the large, high end apartment buildings in Manhattan.
Little pointy hats sit on top of the lights. My guess is they are designed to look like gas lights, with openings for air to escape.
Related posts: A Dash of Charm, in the Village, 901 Broadway, in the Flatiron District, and Twilight, on West 4th Street.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Touring along Great Jones, Downtown
Photo by myself at Great Jones and Lafayette Streets, in the East Village.
A photo from a sunnier day.
When sauntering around wearing infinity scarves and tall boots in the East Village, one cannot help but look around at all the older buildings.
The sidewalks are hollow in this area, like many downtown neighborhoods. These are not the typical poured concrete walkways. Basements and/or tunnels lie below.
Trucks are only allowed to park as far as the curb, for obvious reasons1
Related posts: 9:45am on the B Train, Below Ground, The Commute Home, on the D Train, and On the Subway Platform, Below 34th Street.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Morning Commute, Below Ground
Photo by myself, below ground.
The morning commute is usually very quiet, with people tuning into the news on their devices or perhaps even a book, or catching the last bit of a nap.
Partially out of view, a man was reading his ipad. You can see the ghostly glow cast on his face.
There are periods in the winter, where you barely get a hint of sun. There is a five-minute walk to the subway, then tunnels, then a five-minute walk to the office. Some office workers stay in for lunch and eat at their desks.
I think this is why people are in their grumbly moods.
Related posts: 9:45am on the B Train, Below Ground, The Commute Home, on the D Train, and On the Subway Platform, Below 34th Street.
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Stopped Mid-Song, on the Subway Platform
Photo by myself, on the subway platform at Times Square.
A musician caught me red-handed, taking his photo. He had been playing a keyboard and singing a jazzy tune into a microphone.
All was well a split second later, after I gave him a dollar donation.
Whether it's below Columbus Circle, Herald Square or Times Square, the platforms look very similar - there is quarry tile on the floor, some signage showing which trains stop at the platform, and a yellow stripe along the edge, with warning bumps.
All the support columns have large rivets and are painted green. There are signs showing the station name.
If you're in the city long enough, you start noticing some subtle differences among the stations. The art is unique to each station. Some stations have very wide platforms, with benches or newsstands in the middle. Other stations have platforms that seem dangerously narrow, especially at rush hour.
Times Square is a large station with many train lines. The station is a maze of tunnels, ramps and walkways. If you know where you're going it's pretty simple but it can be confusing for the first-time visitor.
Related posts: Jazz Players, on the Subway Platform, String Duet, Below Brooklyn, and The Morning Serenade. Read more...
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Empire State in Green and Blue
Photo by myself in Bryant Park, in Midtown.
Monday night, the Empire State Building was all lit up in green and blue. This photo was taken in Bryant Park, about seven blocks north.
During the winter, there is a raised area for seating and an ice rink. People were out skating while 'Grease' was being shown on a giant movie screen.
The colors for the Empire State Building are scheduled well in advance, and the colors often have symbolic meaning. These are LED lights, so technically, the color selection is limitless.
According to the ESB website, Monday's green and blue symbolized 'the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy and International Corporate Philanthropy Day'.
Ha.
For the schedule of light colors, click here.
Related posts: The Empire State Building, Bathed in White, The View from Bryant Park, at Dusk, and Under the Canopies, in Bryant Park.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Selling Snacks, Below Ground
Photo by myself at the subway station of Atlantic/Pacific Street, in Brooklyn.
A woman named Maria sells homemade fried pastries on the subway platform in Brooklyn. She allowed me to take her photo, but for some reason, did not look at the camera.
I see Maria standing here often, during the evening rush hour. She also sells chocolate bars.
Related posts: The Empire State Building, Bathed in White, The View from Bryant Park, at Dusk, and Under the Canopies, in Bryant Park. Read more...
Friday, February 22, 2013
The Steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Photo by myself outside the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on the Upper East Side.
The steps of the Met are often crowded with people standing, taking photos or sitting during a break.
There are blocks of stone above the columns, for whatever reason. This was part of the original design, and have always struck me as looking unfinished. It might be a reference to archaeology, but I'm not sure.
Happy Friday, everyone!
Related posts: From the Rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum, on the Upper East Side, and The New York Historical Society, at Dusk.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Bayard and Mott Streets, in Chinatown
Photo by myself at Bayard and Mott Streets, in Chinatown.
In the middle of Chinatown, you would never know you were in Manhattan.
Mott Street is a long street that runs north-south. Along its length you can find stores selling Chinese herbs, lichee ice cream, soup dumplings and roast pork buns.
Related posts: On Line for Cream Cakes, Outside, En Masse on Canal Street, and From Under the Banner, in Chinatown.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Serenade, Below 59th Street
Photo by myself, below 59th Street, Columbus Circle.
A musician serenaded the subway platform, Tuesday night.
Sitting on a suitcase, with his guitar plugged into an amp, the singer also used his left foot to operate a drum. A one-man band!
Related posts: Drum Circle, in Tompkins Square Park, Busking, Below Union Square, and Folk Singers, in the Village.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Outside Academy Records, in Williamsburg
Photo by myself, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
A snapshot from Williamsburg Brooklyn, land of fashion-conscious hipsters, graffiti and stickers.
Williamsburg has become very developed of late, with tons of new condominium buildings near the water. Prices are expensive, since the commute into the city is so quick. It's only one stop away on the L train.
It's President's Day today in the US. Banks are closed, and most people have the day off.
Related posts: Hipsters in their Natural Habitat, The Hipster Olympics, and The Three Pete's.
Friday, February 15, 2013
Spiderman, Below Times Square
Photo by myself, below Times Square.
Spiderman had a talk with a man about the Bible, the other day.
For whatever reason, many superheroes are associated with New York. I guess because we've historically been riddled with crime? Spidey is no exception.
There have also been regular sightings of people with literature about the Bible in the larger subway stations. I see them almost every time I pass through Times Square.
Happy Friday everyone!!
Related posts: On the Sidewalk, in the Flatiron District, Ghoulish Greetings, on the R Train, and Green Man, in Washington Square Park.
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