On A Mission in the East Village

Photo by myself in the East Village, at 4th Street and 1st Avenue.

Social Tees, a small company that does custom screen printing on t-shirts and other wearables, also rescues all sorts of animals.

Two cats slept in the front window, while other creatures were inside, safe from the rain.

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The East Village has long been synonymous with artists and grass roots activism. The tiny storefront, above, is just one example, all in one place.

For whatever reason, there are tons of cute little Japanese restaurants in the neighborhood. There are also tons of bars, some of them very 'down-to-earth', others more hip.

As you walk eastward, the avenues decrease - after 2nd Avenue comes 1st Avenue, followed by Avenue A, Avenue B, and so on. The lettered avenues constitute Alphabet City, which used to mean 'best not go there at night because you might not come out with your wallet'.

Nowadays the far reaches of the East Village are rather safe, though it remains a long hike to the subway.

Related posts: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Grace Church, in Black and White and We Don't Do Windows.

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Looking Up, in Park Slope

Photo by myself of the Armory in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

This old armory was recently renovated to become an multi-purpose athletic center, complete with indoor running track. The facade shows a mix of delicate brickwork and flat surfaces.

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Everyone is so busy looking straight ahead, in New York, I thought an interesting theme for photographs might be of buildings or spaces, looking straight up.

Most of the time, the storefronts change with the seasons or tenants, while the upper floors remain constant. So many precious details go unseen because people are too busy walking, avoiding pedestrians and traffic, window shopping or just wandering in a daze.

Or, how about images of New York from a superhero's point of view. Visions from the rooftops, in mid-air, facing a subway car hurtling through space?


Above, a lovely older building in Midtown.

Related posts: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Grace Church, in Black and White and We Don't Do Windows.

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Playing in the Rain, Union Square

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

Tables with chess boards printed on them are out constantly for public use. All you need are the chess pieces and an opponent.

Even in the chilly February rain, these enthusiasts played on.

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Related posts: Peace to All, Live Music, Union Square and On a Public Mugging, or a Gimmick Gone Wrong.

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Grand Central and Tall Tales

Photo by myself on Park Avenue and 42nd Street.

I took this photo from the back of a cab Tuesday night. There's a piece of Park Avenue that winds around under the Pan Am Building at 42nd Street before becoming Park Avenue South.

The view of Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler building from below is the most striking at night.

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When you work on fancy houses, things get tricky near the end of the project.

The floors are sanded, the walls and cabinets are painted. Lights and hardware are installed. Everything has to remain pristine until the owners move in.

To keep the site clean, you remove your shoes and either pad around in socks or wear little booties. I write all this because one of my coworkers showed up to her job site Tuesday morning, only to find that she forgot to put on socks (!). She had to borrow a pair from the client before stepping across the threshold.

The story was told over lunch, in teary-eyed laughter. We spent the rest of lunch discussing whether she should launder the socks and return them to the client, or buy a new pair altogether.

Her story reminded me of a time I showed up at a job site with a huge hole in the big toe of my stockings. My toenail, painted a hot pink, kept peeking out the hole. I had to hop behind pieces of furniture to hide.

Oh the adventures we architects have at the workplace!

Related posts: Queuing Up At Grand Central Terminal, Life on the Edge of a Very Big Precipice (in my Little Head) and My First Run-In With the NYPD.

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On Tenement Life and Cable TV

Photo by myself on the Lower East Side, somewhere along Stanton Street.

An older woman peeked her head out during my walk in the neighborhood on Sunday.

The cable running from the roof in through the window is for cable television. In older buildings, it's easiest to locate the cable connection on the roof, then run wires straight down from the outside to each apartment, rather than along the stairs.

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I'm reminded of an episode of Friends, which involved cable tv. (Disclaimer: I watched perhaps 2 episodes of this sitcom, and this was one of them. The other involved Pheobe and a cat and a song about the cat).

Joey and Chandler were watching tv, when suddenly they started getting the adult channel. Fearing the channel would disappear just as quickly, the tv was left on all the time. The guys wind up watching hour after hour of x-rated programming.

This is roughly a true depiction of New York life. Well, sort of.

In the older walk-up buildings, the cable hook-up is a complete mystery, this cable coming in from the window. Often when you first move in, you get free tv. Gradually the free tv disappears, and you're faced with making the dreaded phone call to the cable guy.

Perhaps I'm generalizing here, but it happened to me (not the adult channel, but the free cable), and I've heard the same story told over and over.

Note: A 'tenement' is another name for a walk-up building, a four or five (and sometimes six) floor residential building without an elevator. When originally conceived, the word 'tenement' did not have the class stigma it has today.

Related posts: Rent, The Low Down on Walk Ups and The Community Garden - An Urban Oasis.

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Russ and Daughters, Lower East Side

Photo by myself on the Lower East Side, on Houston Street.

A deli called Russ and Daughters on Houston seems to hail from a bygone era. Their beautiful display cases are filled with smoked fishes, sardines and caviar.

The employees were so friendly, they posed for photos. And the pumpernickel bagel and whitefish I had was delicious!

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Sunday afternoon, I walked around the city in the cold rain. It was a typical New York wintry day - mid-30s, drizzling and chilly. (It was miserable).

It used to be that I'd be one of a few people on the street on the Lower East Side (LES). Now the streets were nearly busy. There are many new boutiques and restaurants. A long line could be seen inside Katz's deli, waiting patiently for lunch.

Related posts: New Museum, The Bowery, Mangia and Food on the Brain.

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Parked in Park Slope

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn, near Prospect Park.

On a nice street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Mark and I encountered this car from another time.

It's an old, white wagon labelled 'Wildlife Control'. Not sure what it's used for now. It was giant, about the length of two Mini Coopers parked end-to-end, and riddled with rust.

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I've heard it said that half of the cars being driven around in Park Slope, the neighborhood where Mark and I live, are looking for parking.

The streets are often congested because people double park, even on the busy avenues. Townhouses on the side streets are home to many tenants, and there are few parking lots and garages.

The situation is worse in downtown Brooklyn. A very urban area packed with government buildings, shopping malls, sidewalk vendors, giant potholes and all else.

Often you will find cars parked on the sidewalks, to avoid street cleaning and congestion. Sheer mayhem!

Related posts: Fixing Flats in the Streets, Serving it Up From the Back of a Truck and Nice Set of Wheels.

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Yep, It's Still Winter

Photo by myself from Midtown, around 34th Street and Broadway.

It's been cold and blustery lately, despite a nearly Spring-like day earlier in the week.

The winter winds are strong, making it tough to walk down the streets.

Bundle up!

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Related posts: In the Rain, Midtown, Snowing in the City and Policing the Subway in Midtown.

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On Rupert and The Wild Parrots of Brooklyn

Photo by myself of our puppy Rupert, in bed.

Our dog enjoys sleeping in, often crawling under the covers.

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Apologies for all the animal photos recently - I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Hopefully the coming weekend will provide some nice recuperation.

Meanwhile, here's another story about animals in New York:

Believe it or not, Brooklyn is known for flocks of wild parrots. Mark and I see them at feeders in our neighborhood. Yes, parrots, those sociable green birds you imagine hanging out in tropical forests. How they manage to survive our winters is a mystery, but the parrots are here, and they are flourishing.

Brooklyn Parrots is a website dedicated to the wild parrots in Brooklyn. The site presents dramatic photos of the birds in flight, as well as loads of historical information.

In fact, you can attend safaris with blog's author Steve Baldwin. Steve conducts tours around Brooklyn, tracking the parrots in their favorite haunts. The next safari is on March 14th and will tour through Brooklyn College and the Greenwood Cemetery.

Do check out this lovely site if you can, here.

Related posts: On Dogs in the City, Man and Companion on the Sidewalk and Unleashed in Long Island.

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Start Spreading the News

Photo by myself at a newsstand in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Many kiosks and neighborhood delis in New York house cats. These guys earn their keep by controlling the rodent population.

This beautiful cat was extremely friendly, catching my eye Wednesday night. He rolled over on the grimy floor without hesitation.

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You wouldn't think there were so many animals in the city. There are animals all over the place - pets of all kinds, pigeons and varmints.

Late last fall, Mark and I were walking on a busy Brooklyn street. I looked up and saw an enormous red-tailed hawk perched on the street light. He was looking for a pigeon dinner and was in the right place!

Related posts: The Guy with a Cat on His Head, On Fish, Cats and Dogs and Cats on Leashes.

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Street Art, Soho

Photo by myself in Soho, on the corner of Spring and Elizabeth Streets.

A mural outside the clothing store Eleven depicts Claudette Colvin, an early member of the Civil Rights Movement.

The text next to the figure reads: 'At age 15 in 1955 Alabama, she refused to give up her bus seat in violation of the segregation law there. She was arrested 9 months before Rosa Parks, but because of her pregnancy, the powers that be decided she would not be a 'reputable face' for the Civil Rights Movement'.

You can read more about Claudette Colvin here.

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Related posts: The Latest Thing, We Don't Do Windows and Behind the Curtain.

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Still Life, Antique Store

Photo by myself in an antique store in Brooklyn.

One of my favorite furniture stores is called The Golden Calf, in Williamsburg.

A small place, it's always packed with interesting finds, from curio cabinets to milking stools to hand-dipped candles. It's a homey place to while away some time, browsing.

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Edit: I'm sorry to say the Golden Calf is no longer around.

Related posts: The Markets in Union Square, Browsing Around in the Village and Shopping on St. Mark's Place.

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Doggone It, Rupert is 6 Months Old

Photo by myself at a Boston Terrier meeting in Soho.

Perhaps 40 or so Boston Terriers convened not too long ago in a pet store. There was much running about, licking, sniffing, prancing and playing. Apologies for the poor photo, these guys could not sit still!

Despite what you might think, there was enough variation in color, markings and collars among the dogs that you could tell where your dog was. It was an exciting couple hours that was enjoyed by all.

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Mark and I took Rupert, our Boston Terrier, to a Meet Up for Boston Terriers a week ago.

Typically New Yorkers take their dogs to parks, where they remain on leash, or dog runs, where they can run around off the leash. The dog runs are contained areas typically covered with gravel. Sometimes there are smaller pens nearby where small dogs can play amongst themselves.

These meetings where only one breed of dog meet are different. One in particular is called the Dachshund Parade. Hundreds of dachshunds (those little weiner dogs) meet in Washington Square Park every April and October, and I can only imagine what it's like.

Anyway, here's the latest video from Rupert, who is now 6 months old:


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From the Great White Way

Photo by myself in Times Square.

Huge illuminated billboards advertise musicals playing in the Theater District nearby. With all the lights, this area is referred to as 'The Great White Way'.

For those visiting who want to see a show, you can go to the TKTS booths in Times Square, South Street Seaport and Brooklyn for discounted tickets the day of the performance.

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I feel lucky to have met photographers, graphic designers and artists during my time in New York.

A coworker's cousin stars in a play on 43rd Street. Without a day job. I lived in the same building as an opera singer. I could hear her practicing the few days a month when she was in town.

One of Mark's good friends used to photograph for Rolling Stone. He's a talented painter who now works with computer animation.

A friend of a friend is the lead singer in a band with a small following. He travels some, drinks hard and feels he will never truly 'make it'. I have listened to him rant, vodka bottle in hand, about the cutthroat music business. I get the sense it's a love-hate relationship that he can't save himself from.

Countless others slough it away at their day jobs, while trying to make it as an actor or stylist in their free time. It's these folks and the established creatives who form my idea of New York - a city that is vibrant, persevering and colorful.

Related posts: Life's Seedy Underbelly, The Best of Times, The Worst of Times and Reflections Apres Happy Hour.

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On 8 Million Stories and St. Mark's Place

Photo by myself on St. Mark's Place, a very popular hang-out for the kids in the East Village.

This street has become more sanitized and gentrified, believe it or not. The neighborhood is active at all hours. At bars and music venues nearby, you can catch emerging bands for a modest cover charge.

Though you can still get piercings, t-shirts and tattoos, the vibe here has become more Hello Kitty recently.

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Last night I happened upon an inspiring source of images from New York, in the Times, no less. The paper has taken advantage of their online format, in that they're no longer limited to a certain number of printed pages.

The series 1-in-8 million shows interviews and photo-essays of regular New Yorkers. It's a fascinating, striking view into the lives of all sorts of people.

The black and white photos are superb, as are the stories of these New Yorkers, told in their own voices. Meet a precocious high school cheerleader who studies several languages, or a gentleman who works with mens suiting at Saks Fifth Avenue. There's a 90-year old woman who makes mozzarella cheese in Williamsburg and a man who's owned a drugstore on the Lower East Side for 40 years.

Each person is so remarkable and beautifully presented, I wish I could meet them in person.

An interview with a new New Yorker is added each week. I'm completely hooked.

Related posts: Buying in Bulk, Tis the Season and Shopping on St. Mark's Place.

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On Display at Atlantic/Pacific, Brooklyn

Photo by myself in the Atlantic/Pacific subway station in Brooklyn.

A major hub in Brooklyn has been overtaken by a temporary installation by MoMA. Now until March 5, the billboards have been replaced with large scale photographs and reproductions from the Museum of Modern Art's collection.

The Museum hopes to lure Brooklynites over for a visit to see the real stuff.

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Several days ago I posted a a photo of the guerilla graphics that have overtaken the Atlantic/Pacific subway station in a big way. Dozens of steel columns have been covered with bold graphics announcing a forthcoming installation on behalf of MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art.

All the billboards in the sprawling station have been replaced with huge images of artwork. Color photographs have been mounted on lightboxes on the walls. The effect is both subtle and striking.

If you didn't know any better, you wouldn't notice anything different. On closer inspection, you notice that there are no words on images. No catchy slogans, no ad copy, nothing. It's just pure image.

Next to each art piece is the traditional caption showing the artist, name of the piece and creation date. You are in a public museum, of sorts.

Jackson Pollack splatter murals, Cindy Sherman self-portraits and Monet landscapes grace the walls. It's art as advertising, with the message that MoMA is art.

MoMA is Impressionism and Abstract Expressionism and photography. The museum is one-stop shopping, just a subway ride away.



Related posts: Art Underground, the MoMA Way, On Navigating the City and The Subway Platform, 59th Street.

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On Broadway

Photo by myself in Times Square, around 43rd Street and Broadway.

The other night in Times Square, it seemed like everyone was from another part of the world. I heard many different accents while walking down the street.

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It's the perfect time to visit New York right now. We are going through a very mild spell of weather.

The last few days, temperatures have been in the 40's and 50's, making it feel very much like Spring.

Related posts: All A-Shiver on the Streets, What's Scrolling in Midtown and Brrrrrrrrr.

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Time for Valentine's

Photo by myself in Times Square, around 44th Street and Broadway.

It's hard to describe how populated the area is with large signs and lights. The illuminated billboards loom over the street on all sides. Fortunately for all of us, fluorescent and LED lights are extremely energy efficient.

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We're in for an interesting week - Friday the 13th, followed by Valentine's Day and President's Day next Monday.

Times Square is prepared for the occasion, with a heart-shaped sculpture near the TKTS ticket booth. The sculpture will be standing for a limited time, only. Its creation was sponsored by a jewelry store chain.

For another view of the heart without all the people, click here.

Related posts: Uggs in Times Square, Times Square, NYC and East Coast, West Coast.

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On Modern Interiors and Mad Men

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The atmospheric glimpse into an office interior caught on camera some time ago.

Anything can be evocative, including fluorescent lighting, green walls and metal storefronts.

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Speaking of office interiors, do check out the award-winning AMC television series Mad Men, if you can. Mark and I watched the first episode on dvd and were mesmerized.

I had heard the show mentioned on NPR for being well-scripted and staged. The 'Mad Men' were those advertising men in the 50s and 60s who worked hard and played hard on Madison Avenue in New York.

Mark works in advertising, and Madison Avenue is a term that's still used, though advertising firms are now scattered all around the city. Madison Avenue firms were the established offices that handled corporate clients, back in the day.

It was a competitive, hard drinking and cigarette-smoking time. And though the show presents its characters and stories in an unglamorous way, the screen manages to reek of glamor. If you're a fan of emerging modernism in fashion, architecture and design, Mad Men is for you.

It makes sense for a show to capitalize on American advertising. I'm surprised the idea didn't come along sooner.

Read what the Times had to say about the show here.

For the NPR interview with Matt Weiner, the show's creator, click here.

Related posts: Nearly Perfect, Not Your Average New Yorker and New York on TV, Coming Soon.

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The Dragon Parade on Mott Street

Photo by myself on Mott Street in Chinatown.

Festivities for Chinese New Year drew to a close in Chinatown, Manhattan.

With drums beating in the background, a dragon visits shop owners to chase away evil spirits. Mark and I ran into the parade on our way into Soho, Sunday afternoon.

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Happy Monday, everyone!

Related posts: Night View, Canal Street, On Fish, Cats and Dogs and No Reservations.

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Art on Exhibit - James Jean in Chelsea

Photo by myself at the Jonathan Levine Gallery on 20th Street in Chelsea.

Many galleries in New York are housed in old warehouse buildings. The galleries are usually found together in Soho and Chelsea, however they are also on the Upper East Side and in Midtown.

People often take an elevator to the top floor, then visit galleries on each floor on the way down, taking the stairs. Private galleries differ from museums, in that there's no admission fee.

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Mark and I visited a gallery in Chelsea, Saturday, featuring one of our favorite artists, James Jean. At only 30 years old, Jean has published several books of his work and has received numerous awards for his paintings and illustrations. Jean was schooled at the School of Visual Arts and now lives in California.

It was the last day of the exhibit and nearly all the art had been sold. People milled about marveling at the fantastic, huge images. On opening night, Susan Sarandon and Keith Carradine were in attendance.

Mark and I visited several other galleries in the building on our way out. We saw an assortment of folk art, huge color photographs, impressionistic painting and abstract sculptures.

I find visiting galleries more fun than traditional museums because you never know what you're in for.




A gorgeous detail from one of the paintings.

To see Jean's website click here.

Related posts: New Museum, The Bowery, Warehousing Art in Chelsea and Artsy Fartsy.

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Running Amok in the Streets

Photo by myself in Chinatown, Brooklyn on Chinese New Year.

Believe it or not, there are kids in New York City. I don't photograph them a lot, usually because they're under the watchful eye of parents or I'm in a rush to get somewhere.

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You see children on subways and on the streets - small, precocious creatures with big eyes and an air about them.

Kids grow up quickly in the city. Before their first birthdays, they're yabbering on the subway, or being pushed in strollers on crowded sidewalks.

By the time they're ten, they know their way around. They've seen it all. Often I see them walking alone to school or riding the subway, unaccompanied.

Related posts: On the Sidewalk, Chinatown, One Dollar, One Dollar and Live, From Chinatown.

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Art Underground, the MoMA Way

Photo by myself from the Atlantic/Pacific subway station in Brooklyn.

Hyper graphics announce a forthcoming installation by MoMA, the Museum of Modern Art. From February 10 - March 15, special exhibits will be on view at Atlantic/Pacific station, one of the main stops in Brooklyn.

I'll definitely be there for photographs!

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According to The Brooklyn Paper, the graphics are part of an ad campaign to lure Brooklynites across the waters to MoMA, on 54th Street.

Although New Yorkers live among great museums and institutions, it's a pity that these artistic venues are so expensive. An adult ticket for MoMA costs $20. Many New Yorkers visit on Friday evenings, where admission is free between 4pm and 8pm.

The same goes for the Guggenheim, where an adult ticket costs $18. I remember thinking several times before attending a special exhibit there a few years ago, which was even more expensive that the usual arm and leg required at the door. (Happily, I wound up attending and enjoying every minute of the show).

You can read more about the MoMA ad campaign here.

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On Columbus Circle and Le Cirque

Photo by myself of Merchant's Gate, in Columbus Circle at 59th Street.

It snowed again Tuesday, leaving white stuff in some parts and puddles of slush elsewhere. People walked around carefully avoiding the icy bits, Wednesday morning.

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For all you food lovers, it's restaurant week in New York.

Actually, restaurant week (which traditionally spans two weeks in the winter and summer) lasts until February 27th, a while from now. This year the occasion has been extended to help stimulate the economy. Top restaurants all over New York offer prix fixe lunches and dinners at affordable prices.

At the famed Le Cirque, you can get a complete meal for $24.07 - as a main course, for instance, you can have divers sea scallops or a steak with French adjectives, like tapenade and confit. It is a gourmand's dream come true.

There are 250 restaurants participating from all around the city. For a complete listing, click here.

Related posts: Art for Public's Sake, At the Brooklyn Museum - The DIzzying World of Murakami and What's on the Walls Underground.

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In Full Color on Houston Street

Photo by myself on Houston Street, in Nolita.

A mural originally created by the pop artist Keith Haring in 1982, along Houston Street. The mural was repainted last year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the artist's birth.

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The nice thing about art in the city is that it's usually done on a large scale. You have to compete against so much, after all, that to be recognized by passersby as art takes something.

Another nice thing about public art is that people talk about it later. There was a huge turnout for The Gates in Central Park, for instance, Christo's 2005 installation of orange temporary structures.

Everyone had an opinion about The Gates. For once, lunchtime conversation revolved around whether the Gates qualified as Art, instead of another discussion about American Idol. The fact that the Gates were temporary mattered - they were Art, but they were also an Event that was publicized and experienced and then taken down.

For a little more about the Keith Haring mural, click here.

Related posts: Art for Public's Sake, At the Brooklyn Museum - The DIzzying World of Murakami and What's on the Walls Underground.

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On Crossing the Street, the New York Way

Photo by myself near Columbus Circle, at 59th Street and Central Park West.

There's a lot to see, just walking down the street - people, traffic, bike messengers, dogs, lights, signs.

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A friend of mine was hit by a bike messenger last week. Miraculously, she was unharmed but her cell phone was destroyed.

I've seen pedestrians hit by cars and bikes. None of the accidents were serious - all the pedestrians got up and walked away.

The cause for many accidents are the one-way streets. Pedestrians quite wrongly assume that a one-way street means that all the traffic is running in one direction.

Not so.

Often, delivery guys and messenger guys ride their bikes on the wrong side of the road. Hence the need to look in the direction traffic should be coming from, then to look in the other direction, then look again in the right direction, before crossing.

The savvy, neurotic New Yorker crosses the street unscathed!

Related posts: On Navigating the City, CDP Theme Day - Metal and Amidst the Rubble, 59th Street.

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A Careful Choice, in Chinatown

Photo by myself in Chinatown, Brooklyn.

Celebrations for Chinese New Year were going on Sunday, all along 8th Avenue in Brooklyn's Chinatown. Drums were beating while families walked about. Children purchased harmless firecrackers and silly string.

The boy above made his selection of Silly String after weighing his options.

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For those who don't know, 2009 is the year of the Ox in Chinese astrology.

The Ox is known for being hardworking and dependable, which makes sense for our world situation. Hopefully we will reap the benefits of our hard work next year.

Related posts: Fish Market, Chinatown, Live, From Chinatown and On Fish, Cats and Dogs.

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Living in Style on Riverside Drive

Photo by myself on Riverside Drive, on the Upper West Side.

A photo from a warmer time.

There are gorgeous buildings here on Riverside Drive, facing west toward the Hudson River and New Jersey. Just across the street lies Riverside Park, which runs along the length of Manhattan.

Some buildings along this street are modern, but most are traditional. It must be wonderful to look out on the sunset over the water every evening.

Related posts: Warehousing Art in Chelsea, Hidden Treasure in the Village and Architectural Detail, Above.

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