Browsing Around in the Village

Photo by myself on Christopher Street, in The Village.

Shoppers strolled the sidewalks Saturday afternoon, taking in all the boutiques with their festive decorations.

In this neighborhood, tiny bookstores are located next to tea purveyors and x-rated shops. Just around the corner, competing lines of people waited outside Magnolia Bakery and the Marc Jacobs store.

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Walking around on Saturday, the city felt empty. There were people here and there on the sidewalks, but nothing like the bustling droves there can be, doing last-minute holiday shopping.

You could tell that most of the residents weren't home. The pristine townhouses in that neighborhood, on Bleeker and Bedford and Barrow, looked gorgeous but without life. The celebrities and regular folk who live there were probably lounging on an exotic beach, rather than shuffling around New York on an overcast day.

Related posts: A Moment Alone in the East Village, Hidden Treasure in the Village and Food for Thought.

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Grace Church, in Black and White

Photo by myself of Grace Church, on Broadway and East 10th Street.

This very pretty neo-Gothic church is a little gem in this area of the Village. It's a national landmark, and its gorgeous details and pristine green lawn are fenced off from the busy street.

A homeless man and his belongings are standing out in front.

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Having this long weekend off from work has been a mini-vacation. In fact, Friday seemed like the longest day ever, filled with little errands in the neighborhood.

Speaking of vacations, Mark and I readying ourselves for a week-long trip to Mexico, beginning next Saturday, planned eons ago. It's a shaky time to leave the country but then, there is never a good time to take off.

We'll have computer access while we're away, and I am bringing my camera, of course. So I'll either be posting from my stash of NY photos or photos of the little Mexican town where we'll be staying.

Strange to say, but I feel nostalgic for New York already!

Related posts: On Living in the Sticks, in Brooklyn, On Eating Chicken Sandwiches, in Montreal and No Place is Perfect.

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Amidst The Rubble, 59th Street

Photo by myself on the subway platform at 59th Street, Columbus Circle.

This subway station seems to always be under renovation, yet it never looks any better. Stains streak the walls, liquid drips from the crusty ceilings and the platforms are dangerously cluttered with temporary structures.

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Mark and I were treated to an incredible feast, Thanksgiving Day.

Our friends' relatives cooked turkey, stuffing and Korean dishes. The wine and heaps of food made for an indulgent meal, and we staggered home (eventually) to fall into a deep coma on the couch.

It's a good thing Thanksgiving comes only once a year!

Hope everyone is having a restful holiday weekend.

Related posts: The Subway Platform, 59th Street, Recovering From Friday Night and Tempting Fate.

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Happy Thanksgiving, from Macy's

Photo by myself in front of Macy's in Herald Square, around 34th Street and 6th Avenue.

It was general mayhem on Wednesday afternoon, the air abuzz with anticipation of the Thanksgiving parade. The metal grandstands and areas for the press were set up, and the elaborate window displays at Macy's were on full view.

All the festive windows had colorful moving parts, drawing fascinated kids and adults.

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Yes, they're all set up for the annual Thanksgiving Parade, that tours more than forty blocks from Columbus Avenue in the Upper West Side to the Macy's store in midtown. The parade route is lined with blue 'Do Not Cross' signs, and you can sense the anticipation in the air. Thanksgiving also marks the unofficial beginning of the Christmas shopping season.

Mark and I will be spending Thanksgiving dinner with friends in Brooklyn; one friends' Korean grandmother will be cooking traditional foods, so we are planning to starve ourselves beforehand.

This holiday comes at a poignant time, as everyone feels a bit insecure because of the economy. Perhaps it is good timing to take stock of what things in our lives we do have.

Mark is coming off a stressful assignment and is taking the rest of the year off from work. This time is slow in his industry anyway, and he will spend quality time with Rupert and Dida. Rupert, our four month old Boston Terrier, is going through a disobedient phase, chasing our middle-aged cat Dida any chance he can. It makes for a circus atmosphere at home.

Thanksgiving in America is one of the busiest traveling periods of the year, as families reunite from all over. What are your Thanksgiving plans, if you have any?

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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The MetLife Building, All Lit Up

Photo by myself of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company at 23rd Street and Madison Avenue, at dusk.

This building is dramatically lit in the evenings. Its details are wonderful and two fine restaurants are housed on the ground floor; Eleven Madison Park and Tabla.

I rarely post architectural shots because Mark says that photos with people are more interesting. But I couldn't resist posting a photograph of one of my favorite buildings in New York.

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Yet another one of my projects has been affected by the economy. This one, the partial renovation of a gorgeous duplex on the Upper East Side, has been put on hold until 2010. The owners were planning to put in central air conditioning and redesigning several rooms.

Meanwhile, friends are still shaking in their shoes regarding the future. One friend's office seems to lay off several employees, each pay day.

BUT...not everything is bad. One friend just found a job, after a sudden lay off a couple months ago. A couple other friends have found temporary work at another architectural office.

Incidentally, this blog gets the most hits from search engines regarding the cost of living in New York. Maybe it's because people are curious, since New York an expensive city, or maybe people are looking to relocate? I'm not sure.

All I know is that it's a shaky time, but that all is not lost.

Related posts: 42nd Street, Architectural Detail, Above and The Cost of Living Here Part Two, or Life in Playland.

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Serving it Up From the Back of a Truck

Photo by myself on Lower Park Avenue, around 23rd Street.

This is one of the many Halal meat trucks that park around the city and serves up entrees at all hours of the day. They start emitting the smell of cooked chicken during morning rush hour. (Yum!)

My favorite has to be the chicken and rice, basically cut up chicken over yellow rice with various sauces. The trucks often serve falafel and lamb as well.

The word 'Halal' refers to the way an animal is slaughtered for meat, under Islamic belief.

Related posts: A la Carte, I Scream, You Scream and Mangia.

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Man and Companion, on the Sidewalk

Photo by myself on Broadway and 8th Street.

A man and his dog sought the kindness of strangers Sunday afternoon.

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Self-described as 'not homeless but very badly off', this gentleman was sitting with his dog on the sidewalk. The dog was an American Bulldog, and jumped out from under several layers of blankets when I stopped to talk. They commuted into Manhattan from the Bronx to earn their keep.

The man (I forgot to ask his name) told me about the violence he sometimes encounters on the streets, and that his canine companion has defended him on more than one occasion. We had a friendly chat, mostly about his dog, which was huge and extremely friendly.

It was a cold afternoon. As we parted, the man promised they would not stay outside long.

Related posts: Life in High Contrast, Keeping Your Dogs in a Row, and Our Four-Legged Friends.

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The Markets in Union Square

Photo by myself in Union Square, at 14th Street and University Place.

Already the crowds are swarming at open holiday markets, such as Union Square, above. Even though the wind was high and the weather cold, shoppers crowded the area.

Similar markets can be found in Bryant Park and Grand Central Subway Terminal, where you can get all sorts of unusual handicraft gifts.

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Since I'd gone to Boston last weekend, this weekend seems like a luxury.

I highly recommend the following tactic to those who are short on time - take even more time out of your schedule. Then when you get back to your normal, harried life, you will feel better.

Saturday I was doing some errands, despite the terrible cold. There were tons of people milling about the stores, though not necessarily purchasing anything.

It was great to see the city outside and active, since it's the people that make a city come alive.

Related posts: Buying in Bulk, Christmas Shopping and The Majestic Ansonia.

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Open 24/7, Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

New York has a couple 7-11's, but most of the delis here are on-of-a-kind establishments. They're perfect for picking up a bunch of flowers, a last minute ingredient or a midnight craving.

Beyond, you can see one of the tallest buildings in Brooklyn. The Williamsburgh Bank Tower was recently been converted into condominiums.

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It's been both a long and short week here in New York.

Time whizzed by and Mark and I are tuckered out. We're happy it's the weekend, so we can chill out with the animals, run some errands and sleep in.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Related posts: Neon Storefronts, Midtown, A Glimmer of Nature and Nearly Perfect.

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The Subway Platform, 59th Street

Photo by myself at the 59th Street subway platform.

All eyes are on the end of the tunnel.

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One thing I noticed in Boston, was how clean the subway stations were. And modern. And well-designed.

Most of the underground stations had signs showing when the next train would arrive. And the tracks were elevated to the same level of the platform, so there isn't the equivalent of a gutter filled with trash.

The subway here in New York suffers from constant change, methinks, due to bad management. One year the rates will be hiked, the next year there will be rumors of discounts and added subway lines. Yet for the most part, the tracks and stations look the same, that is, a mess.

I don't mind the grittiness so much. It's perplexing, though, that we compare so poorly with other major cities.

Related posts: Transit for the Masses,Finito and Tempting Fate.

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Night View, Canal Street

Photo by myself on Canal Street, in Chinatown.

Temperatures are dropping here in Manhattan. Despite that, the crowds are still out on the street, looking for a good deal.

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Apologies for yet another photo from Chinatown. I find myself drawn to the colors and energy there - the shuffling crowds, the neon signs, the sheer stuff hanging from canopies and stalls.

Besides the stalls on Canal Street, open markets are being installed outside Bryant Park for holiday shopping. Lights have been strung up in neighborhoods like Little Italy, announcing the Christmas season.

It's suddenly very cold here, in the low 30s during the day. Outside the city, it's already snowed several inches. It's hard to believe that last year at this time, it was warm.

Related posts: Live From Chinatown, Fish Market, Chinatown and On the Sidewalk, Chinatown.

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The Royalton, Renovated

Photo by myself in the lobby of The Royalton, the swanky hotel at 43rd Street and 6th Avenue.

The downstairs bar and restaurant are dramatically lit. The interiors were originally designed by the innovative Phillipe Starck. A complete renovation was done in late 2007.

There are a few Starck-designed hotels that were hip in their day, including The Hudson at 58th Street and Columbus, and The Paramount at 46th and 8th Avenue.

You can check out the original Starck design for the Royalton, before the renovation here. It was strikingly different - modern and quirky, much less homey than it is now.

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Interiors are changing all the time. I guess people need to feel like they're experiencing new things, even if they're drinking the same drinks and talking with the same people.

These days, the exterior and interior of a building are seen as separate entities. The building exterior stays more or less the same, while the interior changes depending on the tenant, or the decade, or the season.

In architecture school, we are taught to think about the inside and outside of a building at the same time. Exterior and interior were seen as bound up with one another. In architecture school, there was no such thing as an interior designer or even a client. You, the architect, did it all.

How different it is in the real world!

Related posts: On Living in a Petri Dish, It Takes a Village and Architecture, A Glorified Profession.

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The View from Downstream

Photo by myself of the foot of the Manhattan Bridge, from the edge of Brooklyn, earlier this year.

Upstream of the East River, you can see the 59th Street Bridge, where Roosevelt Island begins. The bridge and the Roosevelt Island tramway played roles in the first Spiderman movie.

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Roosevelt Island, partially seen here, is legendary for being the site of Bellevue Hospital, a well-known psychiatric facility. The name alone was frightening.

According to its Wikipedia entry, Bellevue is still going on strong, with hundreds of thousands of patient visits per year.

Strangely though, you rarely if ever hear people talk about Bellevue these days. People live on Roosevelt Island, and I've been driven around there. It has a spooky, outdated atmosphere.

Additional note: Several hours after posting this, Mark let me know that I would have to print a retraction. The blue bridge in the photo is actually the Manhattan Bridge, and the bridge in the distance is the Williamsburg Bridge. There'd be no way we could have seen Roosevelt Island, from where we were, at the tip of Brooklyn.

Egad!

Related posts: More of the Brooklyn Bridge, From Under the Bridge and In the Fast Lane.

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All Lit Up on Canal Street

Photo by myself on Canal Street.

Buying and selling go on til the wee hours in this neighborhood, where many people come in search of a bargain.

Late on a Sunday night, a jewelry store was still open. Sidewalk hawkers sold their wares under lights connected to generators. People milled about in the cold night air.

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I had absolutely zero time to myself in Boston this weekend, so I don't have any photos to show of that lovely city. (Argh!!) My mom and I were there visiting my grandfather, who is a whopping 98 years old.

He's doing well, newly located in a nursing home, because he can no longer care for himself. It's a big change for him, but he's relatively healthy and in good spirits. Mom and I took him out to lunch, where he ate tremendous amounts of food. May we all live to that age and be so spirited!

I have to say that visiting the nursing home put life in perspective - we are fortunate to have our health and freedom while we do.

Related posts: Fish Market, Chinatown, On the Sidewalk, Chinatown and One Dollar, One Dollar.

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A Message from Beantown

Photo by myself of a street performer in Chinatown, on the Lower East Side.

I took the bus from Chinatown, New York, to Chinatown in Boston, Saturday afternoon. The fare is only fifteen dollars each way, compared to the train, which costs eighty-five dollars each way. You have to reserve a ticket early to get a seat.

Near the bus stop, a fellow was walking about in an animated way. He was either performing or in his own universe.

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I'm posting from Boston, where I'm visiting family.

I grew up just outside Boston, so the Boston-New York rivalry is very familiar to me.

All through my childhood, the Red Sox and Bruins were the scrappy underdogs, seen very much in contrast to the big, bad New York teams. New York was seen as both near and far, like a loud, brassy cousin you hate but can't get enough of.

All through college, I'd commute to Boston by train or bus, through New York. The trains were always packed at Thanksgiving time. One year I had to stand up the whole way on an oversold trip, while suffering the flu. Another year I took the bus home, scrunched between the wall and a large woman carrying a little dog on her lap.

Now that my parents live in California, I don't come out here so much, but I ought to. Seeing Boston now through a New Yorker's eyes, it's refreshing. The trains are slower but cleaner here. It's very green. The people are nice and not in a rush to get somewhere.

And the sports teams? Eh, they're not so bad.

Related posts: Halloween Musicians and the NYC Marathon, All That Jazz and Music to the Ears.

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Stepping Out

Photo by myself of the New York City Marathon passing through Brooklyn, earlier this month.

The Achilles Track Club, a non-profit organization supporting disabled athletes, gets a head start before the other runners. Hundreds of physically impaired athletes passed by upright and in handcycles, to cheers from the crowd. It was an inspiring sight to see.

For more about this amazing organization, where you can sponsor runners for next year's race, click here.

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I'm off today to Boston for a family event.

Hopefully I'll get some nice photos from this lovely city. Have a lovely weekend, all!

Related posts: Running Down the Streets of New York.

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In the Rain, Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown.

The whole idea of New York being littered with black umbrellas is often true. Many rainy days, I will find myself in a sea of black.

But then there are rainy days where you notice the colorful spots, in someone's handbag, or a neon sign, or the reflection of traffic lights.

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Friends of mine were shaking in their shoes Thursday, worried about the layoffs that were going on in their office.

I didn't know what to write to reassure them, except that whatever happened, they'd be able to handle it, and that often the fear of something was far worse than the thing itself.

I hope everyone out there has found shelter from the storm.

Related posts: Step Lively, On the Sidewalk, Chinatown and A View from the Streets.

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All the News Fit to Print

Photo by myself on the subway, somewhere underground.

On the subway, one of many New Yorkers engrossed in Wednesday's New York Times.

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Everyone had their noses in the paper, Wednesday morning.

Across the aisle on the train, I could read the headline 'Iraq War Ends'. The color photo showed helicopters in mid-air. Times papers were strewn on empty subway seats.

When I got to the office, the front page lay on the lunch table. I thought to myself, 'hm', and being totally out of it, emailed some friends asking what the heck was going on.

Well, we'd all been pranked on a fairly large scale. Apparently 1.2 million copies were handed out to passersby. At this writing, the real paper is still trying to figure out who was responsible for the hoax.

Here's an article on the Wired website about what happened.

Related posts: Wednesday Portraits - The New York Times and Climbing the Times.

**'All News Fit to Print' is the slogan on the New York Times masthead.

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Across the Tracks

Photo by myself of the subway platform at Union Square.

I liked this photo for looking almost like a play. Any minute, and the leading actor would walk in from the wings.

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Related posts: A Much-Needed Nap, The Space of Chance Encounters and Transit for the Masses.

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Going Up, Going Down

Photo by myself in Midtown, around Fifth Avenue and 40th Streets.

Despite the economy, there are still many construction projects underway in Manhattan.

Any project that was planned when the economy started to falter was already funded, so you still see a lot of scaffolding and construction workers in the city.

This scaffolding has a slot in it to avoid a No Parking sign.

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Well, today one of my projects fell through.

It was three-bedroom renovation on Central Park, and we'd gotten initial estimates from the contractor. The proposed design included replacing all the windows, installing lighting for the owner's art collection, installing air conditioning and some cabinetry.

Because of the economy and some technical issues, the project is put on hold. Just like that. The client told me he loved our design, etc., etc., but the time wasn't right. Maybe in two years....

I don't blame him for getting cold feet. Most people would feel the same. Our office is still rather busy, but I can't help but feel nervous. Eek.

Related Posts: On Shaky Ground, Location, Location, Location and Stray Cat, Brooklyn.

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Unleashed in Long Island

Photo by myself on the Long Island Expressway.

This view is a little deceptive. The brick church is in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. To the left of it, you can see the Empire State Building. Between the two is the East River.

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It was a beautiful Fall day today, so Mark, Rupert and I took a trip out to Long Island to visit Mark's mom, out in Long Island.

The trees are showing their gorgeous foliage, and there were many leaves on the ground. Rupert had a blast running around on the grass.

City pup no more!

Here's a video Mark threw together this afternoon, the whiz that he is. Enjoy!



Related posts: On Fish, Cats and Dogs, On Bowling and Critters and Boston (Terrier) in New York.

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Down in the Village

Photo by myself in the village, around 15th Street and Fifth Avenue.

I liked this Romanesque facade for its contrasting smooth and rough stone, and delicate railings.

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Saturday was a dreary, rainy day in the the city. It was the perfect day to stay inside and nest.

Here's a photo from earlier this year. This just illustrates how buildings stay the same but their tenants change all the time.

This building could contain anything, from a school to a museum.

It's actually now houses an institution that promotes the awareness of Buddhism in New York. They hold a bunch of seminars about world peace and Buddhism throughout the year.

You can read more about the group here.

Related posts: Tibetans of the World, Unite, The Next Generation and Peace to All.

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Warehousing Art in Chelsea

Photo by myself in Chelsea, around 15th Street and 10th Avenue.

The gallery district is made up of large warehouses, whose open floor plans and large elevators are perfect for displaying art.

There are some cobblestone streets left in this area, as well as historic brick details and connector bridges, as shown above.

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Much too tired tonight to post anything, folks.

Thank goodness it's Friday. TGIF to all!

Related posts: Hidden Treasure in the Village, FDNY and Things to Come.

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Tis the Season...For Mallomars

Photo by myself in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Yet another photo from the Chinatown in Brooklyn. I liked how the blue awning framed the view, and which had spots of red throughout.

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It's hard to believe it's November already.

With November comes colder weather. And with the colder weather comes one of Mark's favorite cookies.

That's right, Mallomars.

Mark has a sweet tooth, and he loves basic things, like black and white cookies, Entenmann's cakes, Reese's peanut butter cups and the new, chewy Spree.

Mark grew up knowing that Mallomars, a chocolate cookie topped with marshmellow and the whole thing dipped in chocolate, is only found in the colder months. Mallomars aren't available in the summer or in the Southern states, because they would melt. So the other day, when we encountered Mallomars in the neighborhood deli, we knew that winter was coming.

The New York Times wrote about the phenomenon a few years ago. Apparently, 70 percent of Mallowmars are sold in New York, and yes, they're only available in colder months and climates. You can read about it here.

Related posts: I Scream, You Scream, Just Desserts, and Food for Thought.

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Lighting The Way

Photo by myself outside Macy's department store, at 34th and 6th Avenue.

The lights are out already at Macy's, draped in the form of a huge Christmas Tree. Outside, pedicabs line up, waiting for fares.

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There were parties everywhere in the city after the election results came in Tuesday, around 11pm. People in Fort Greene, Brooklyn danced in the streets in their nightgowns. Firecrackers were set off in Park Slope.

Mark had fallen asleep by then, and I watched the wrap up from the sofa with our puppy and cat.

Life went on as usual Wednesday. The subway was slow going in the morning. We had a little rain. My coworkers sauntered in at various times and we all sat down to work furiously.

It was the same as it ever was, only different.

Related posts: Smile, It's Happy Hour, Kicking Back on Firm Ground and The Night Sky.

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Lining Up, Election Day

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Voters queued up in lines that wrapped around the block. While people waited, many drank coffee, read the paper and made conference calls.

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The lines to vote were slow moving Tuesday morning, but we were fortunate that the weather was gorgeous.

Watching the tally of votes Tuesday night, there was nothing so powerful as NBC's live coverage of various cities, without a voice over. The camera cut between Harlem, Rockefeller Center, Chicago, Atlanta and other cities. The screen was filled with cheering people waving American flags.

New York is such a progressive city, often New Yorkers feel like we live in a country of our own. Many of us were worried about what the rest of the country would do, during the elections. I'm happy to see that we were needlessly paranoid.

Anyhow, there it is. We've elected a new president. Fireworks were set off here, in Brooklyn.

Hopefully, there will be better days to come.

Related posts: A Dollar and a Dream and Tibetans of the World Unite.

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A Dollar and a Dream

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Certain areas of Brooklyn are grittier than others. Some neighborhoods have pockets of graffiti and 99 cent stores. But there are also streets lined with historic townhouses built of brick or brownstone.

As you can see, Lotto figures highly here in the city. The image above shows three signs advertising Lotto. For many people, the sweepstakes is a shot at success.

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I hope everyone in the States is voting today.

Mark and I are going to the polling booths before work. Then we'll come home to watch the results with fingers and toes crossed.

Winning the sweepstakes is something completely out of one's control, but we all have the opportunity to contribute to history. Voting is a right as well as a responsibility. Please vote.

Related posts: Art For the Masses, Smile, It's Happy Hour and On the Sidewalk, Chinatown.

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Running Down the Streets of New York

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The NYPD provided an escort for the mens front runners of this year's New York City Marthon.

The mens lead pack came roaring down Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, clocking sub-five minute miles. The womens pack had passed by minutes earlier, as well as dozens of wheelchair participants.

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We live a few blocks from the marathon route, so I was lucky to witness hundreds of racers on Sunday. The streets were lined with cheering crowds.

Camera in hand, I was anxious. Helicopters circled overhead, tracking the race. People wondered aloud when we'd catch sight of the first runners. Mark sent text messages from home, where he was watching the coverage on television.

I can see that being a sports or news photographers must be an exciting job. There are no 'replay' options. You only get one opportunity to take a photo, and it flashes by in an instant.


The mens' lead pack at breakneck speed. You can see the shadows of onlookers.


Abdi Abdirahman was leading the mens pack around Mile Six of the New York City Marathon, Sunday. Some twenty miles and three boroughs later, he finished sixth.


The leading womens' runners. Paula Radcliffe of the UK eventually won the race. Fourth from the right Ludmila Petrova from Russia finished second. Third from the right, Kara Goucher of the US, finished third.

Related posts: Halloween Musicians and The NYC Marathon, Mass Mentality, and Inspiration.

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Halloween Musicians and The NYC Marathon

Photo by myself in the subway station at 34th Street, Halloween night.

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A photo from Halloween night - several musicians play jazz in the subway station, one dressed as an angel.

It seems like everything is happening this weekend - Halloween, daylight savings and the New York City Marathon.

I rode by Central Park on Friday in a cab, where they were setting up for the Marathon. Huge trucks were parked outside, laying down electrical lines. Port-o-potties were being unloaded by the dozen. Usually the grandstands lining Central Park West are set up a day ahead to be ready for the crowds at the finish line.

A couple years ago, Mark and I saw the marathon speed by in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Last year, we were trapped in Greenpoint, with the streets and Pulaski Bridge barricaded off to traffic.

Another year, I was returning from Boston on the bus. It took forever to get downtown to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. I remember looking out the window at exhausted runners walking around, wrapped up in shiny blankets.

To run a marathon is a badge of endurance. I know a few people who have done it in New York, including my uncle, who only trained a few months beforehand. Runners enter a lottery system to be allowed to run, since there are so many applicants. Over 100,000 people applied this year and over 39,000 are running.

The NYC marathon winds through Staten Island to Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx before finishing in Central Park. All five boroughs of New York City are thus represented.

Related posts: Live Music at Union Square, Music To The Ears and All That Jazz.

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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 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