Big Wampum Sign, Eighth Avenue

Photo by myself on Eighth Avenue, around 39th Street.

New York has cleaned up quite a bit, but not completely. There are still some seedy spots. You have to look for them, but they exist.

An adult store near Port Authority bus station has a sign that is two stories tall.

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New York has evolved in the last ten years.

The peep shows and stripper bars have been ousted from Times Square. Dog owners are fined $250 if they fail to clean up after their pets. Street vendors are required to be licensed, people evading paying a subway fare are fined up to hundred dollars.

The list of laws goes on and on.

All the above and a reduction in crime has made New York a much more attractive city to visit and call home.

Related posts: Reasons to be Pretty, Times Square, Visions of a Cheeseburger, Midtown and Meat Market, Ninth Avenue.

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Sound the Horns in Union Square

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

I took this photo just a week ago, but the weather has already changed. No longer true flip flop weather, we have officially entered Fall.

Now, people can't decided between boots or sandals. Wearing short sleeves without a sweater is a little chilly.

Related posts: Music While You Wait, Music to the Ears and All That Jazz.

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Elegant Living on the Upper East Side

Photo by myself on the Upper East Side, at 84th Street and Park Avenue.

Some of the townhouses in this area are just to die for. Limestone facades, cast iron balcony railings and beautiful details make these townhouses precious to the eye.

The buildings on Park and Fifth Avenue are similarly detailed, though for apartment buildings at a much larger scale.

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This weekend, Mark and I went to our fourth wedding of the summer. We are all wedding'ed out!

The reception was held in a gorgeous townhouse on the Upper East Side, called the Harold Pratt House, partially shown in the photo above with the arched windows. Originally a private residence built in the beginning of the 20th Century, the building is now the headquarters for the Council for Foreign Relations.



It's hard to believe that a family once lived in the townhouse, which has a paneled library, curving staircase and polished stone floors. It was donated by Mrs. Harold Irving Pratt to the Council of Foreign Relations after a period of disrepair.

The location was a perfect choice for an elegant reception. With the rooms filled with guests in fancy attire, it was easy to imagine the building in its heyday. Mark and I drank much too much and spent the entire day Sunday nursing our hangovers.

To see photos of the interior and read more about the history of the building, click here.

Related posts: Taking a Break at the Statue of Liberty, Union Square in Black and White and The View of Liberty.

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Tailor Made in the Garment District

Photo by myself in the Garment District, around 38th Street and Seventh Avenue.

Fashion Week may be over, but this bronze statue lives outside year-round, a tribute to those in the 'rag trade'.

Fashion showrooms are located in this neighborhood on Seventh Avenue, and there still some stores selling fabric and notions. The majority of manufacturers have moved out of Manhattan, however, since rents are high.

The statue sits in an outdoor plaza with zero public seating. People use what they can find.

Related posts: Taking a Break at the Statue of Liberty, Union Square in Black and White and The View of Liberty.

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New York's Bravest in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Park Slope Brooklyn, around Fourth Avenue and Sixth Street.

The firetruck at Engine Company 239 was bathed in bright sunshine, Friday afternoon.

The firehouse above has been in existence since 1895 and was only recently renovated. You can see photos of the exteriors and interiors here.

Incidentally, this fire station had a woman captain, one of the few women in the organization. PBS made a movie about Captain Brenda Berkman and other women in the FDNY, called 'Taking the Heat'. You can read more about it here.

The FDNY lost 343 members on September 11, 2001.

Related posts: FDNY, Heigh-Ho and Riding High.

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Fresh on the Upper West Side

Photo by myself on the Upper West Side, around Broadway and 78th Street.

Westside Market is just a few blocks north of Fairway Supermarket. Both are large and well-trafficked markets with fresh produce set outside on the sidewalk.

The produce is there all year. Heat lamps under the awning keep shoppers warm during the cold months.

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New York is a pedestrian city. The majority of New Yorkers take the subway and walk home. Along the way, they make stops to gather fresh produce, pet food, take-out dinner, whatever they need and can carry home.

Recently people have become lazier, ordering supplies from Fresh Direct. Hundreds of cardboard boxes with the Fresh Direct logo are piled on the sidewalks to be recycled.

Like many specialty stores, you can order from Westside Market, too. They will cater any type of event you have. Just click here.

Related posts: Food on the Brain, Russ and Daughters, Lower East Side and Window Dressing at the Little Pie.

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Duane Street, Tribeca

Photo by myself in Tribeca, on Duane Street.

There isn't a canopy outside a home furnishings store called Duane Modern, only a skeleton to support one.

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I admit, I have a tendency to take photos of buildings. I can't help it. I'm an architect surrounded by historical and modern architecture. And they don't move, so it's easy!

Mark tells me I should take photos of people. 'People are interested in people,' is his mantra.

Taking candids is something that I've gotten used to doing. It's somewhat addictive, too. There is a cheap thrill to catching people unaware, like a voyeur or undercover spy.

What type of photograph do you prefer?

Related posts: Details, Details, Flatiron Building, in Detail and The Apthorp, Upper West Side.

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Model Behavior, Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 38th Street and Seventh Avenue.

Don't be fooled, not all New Yorkers are impossibly thin or tall.

I noticed several of this breed last week, Fashion Week. My spidey-sense says they were models for the runway shows.

Personally I could never wear such high heels as the woman pictured or the gals on Sex and the City. Many sidewalks are dangerously uneven, making it precarious whether you're in sneakers or stilettos.

Twice this summer I've flopped over onto the sidewalk, while wearing high wedges. Both times I was helped upright by my fellow New Yorkers, who asked whether I was all right. The ego was bruised but everything else was fine.

Watch your step!

Related posts: Variety = Spice of Life, Crowded Sidewalk, Midtown and Choose Your Tree on Sixth Avenue.

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It's a Dog's Life, at the Mad. Dog Run

Photo by myself in Madison Square Park, at 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue.

The dog run at Madison Square Park is appropriately named 'Mad Dog.' Here, dogs of all shapes and sizes get their run on.

Above, an eager Jack Russell waits for his owner to toss a tennis ball.

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New York humans have their parks and fancy gyms. New York dogs, on the other hand, have their dog runs.

Without backyards to romp around in, dogs have to share their outdoor spaces and play nice. Public dog runs usually have separate spaces for big dogs and small ones. Often provided are fresh water and benches for humans.

It's not easy being a NY dog. You have to abide by a tacit set of rules (no humping, no biting, stop play when yelps occur). You have to tolerate traffic and crowded sidewalks. There isn't much grass.

Incidentally, check out the Times for a series called 'The Puppy Diaries', documenting a puppy's first year of life. This week, Scout, a gorgeous labrador retriever, visits New York for the first time. It's a familiar scenario, where an owner wonders whether the city is the right place for a dog.


Above, a Shibu Inu surveys all from his perch.

Related posts: Off Leash, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Sharing a Moment and Keeping Your Dogs in a Row.

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It's a Kid's Life, in Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Our neighborhood has basketball courts, hand ball courts, a dog run, playgrounds and a skateboard lot.

Since most New Yorkers don't have their own backyards, these public areas are filled every day with kids and entire families. The area for skateboards also has railings for tricks.

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I don't often post photos of kids, but they do exist here in New York!

Often families move to the suburbs when kids get to school age. Some public schools are specialized and require high test scores to qualify, so children aren't guaranteed to go to a good school.

Every few years, parents go nuts with school applications. The competition is fierce. There is much comparing of notes about which schools are better than which.







Of course, one alternative is to enroll your kids in private school. The cost for yearly tuition at some high schools can reach as much as $26,000.

Ahem.

Related posts: Playing Ball in the Public Courts, Running Amok in the Streets and A Careful Choice, in Chinatown.

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Dirty Water Dogs, Midtown

Photo by myself around 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

Folks enjoying food from a street cart. Hot dogs are called 'dirty water dogs' when they're boiled, instead of grilled.

This cart serves Halal meat, which means the animal was slaughtered in a manner acceptable by Muslim law. There are hundreds of carts like this in the city that serve up anything from shwarma to shish kabobs to pretzels.

Street food is a convenient alternative to a sit-down meal. Most street food is delicious, however, eat at your own risk!

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New York street food usually gets mixed reviews. Some people swear by it, others won't go near the stuff.

Every year, the best of the best compete in a cook-off, called The Vendys. Vendors serving everything from burritos to biriyani to artisanal ice cream square off for a number of different awards.

This year, the event will be held next Saturday from 2-7pm in Queens. Mark and I have always wanted to go, but we probably won't make it, since we have yet another wedding to attend. Drat! I'm salivating just thinking about it.

Get your tickets in advance here.

By the way, yesterday's post on the birds in Bryant Park was mentioned on the New York Daily News website. Click here to see it.

Related posts: The Meal Obama Cart, Midtown, Hot of the Grill, the East Village and On the Boardwalk, in Coney Island.

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Odd and Colorful Birds, Bryant Park

Photo by myself in Bryant Park.

Several exotic birds were on display in Bryant Park last week. It was an official Park installation, where you could see the birds up close.

There were several birds, large and tiny. I was drawn to the tiny one. Their caretaker was generous enough to perch him on my finger.

Here he is, above, looking very sleepy. As soon as he got to my finger, he started blinking out of sheer exhaustion, the poor thing.

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Apparently the exotic birds are part of display called 'Meet the Birds', held at the park each Tuesday, near the Carousel.

The birds are brought in from the Arcadia Bird Sanctuary of New Jersey, a non-profit organization that saves these animals from abuse, injury or homelessness. Often the birds, which have lifespans of up to 80 years, will outlive their owners. Thus the homelessness.


Bigger parrot friends, sharing a perch.


Another view of this lovely creature, this time on his caretaker's hand.

If you want to see these gorgeous animals in person, act soon. The display has taken place throughout the summer and there are only two Tuesdays left. The birds are there til September 29!

For more photos of the birds, visit the Bryant Park Blog.

Visit the Arcadia Bird Sanctuary in Freehold, New Jersey, to see how they've rescued hundreds of birds.

Related posts: On Rupert and the Wild Parrots of Brooklyn, On Dogs and Dogs and Cats on Leashes.

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Fashionably Late

Photo by myself on 39th Street and Seventh Avenue.

I just happened to be walking in the garment district when I encountered this sight. A gaggle of people waited along the sidewalk before a runway show. Designers are showing their Spring 2010 collections now, all over the city.

A woman next to me said she thought it was a Calvin Klein show (in fact, it was). Paparazzi stood behind a metal barricade, their flash bulbs popping whenever a passenger hopped out of a fancy car.

I didn't see any celebrities I recognized, but the women I saw were all absurdly skinny. You could not be any skinnier!

To see who attended the Calvin Klein show and some of the amazing designs, click here.



Related posts: Uggs, in Times Square, Fashion Accessories, Coming Soon and The Latest Thing.

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NYPD in Action, Underground

Photo by myself at the subway station at 34th Street.

A couple policemen pinned a man down on the ground, Wednesday afternoon. The man's girlfriend stood nearby. The other man, standing, was one of many bystanders.

It was not clear what had happened, just moments before.

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New York City is nothing like how it used to be. The parks used to be drug-riddled, the subways fearful. People never parked nice cars on the street, for fear of finding smashed windows and stolen radios.

Related posts: Police Line, Do Not Cross, Heigh-Ho and Policing the Subway, Midtown.

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Faces in Fashion, at Bryant Park

Photo by myself in Bryant Park, around 41st Street and Sixth Avenue.

Tim Gunn, one of the hosts of Project Runway, the popular reality show about that pits wannabe fashion designers against one another, was being filmed at Bryant Park, Tuesday afternoon.

A small entourage of stalkers (including myself) snapped photos, while Mr. Gunn stood patiently.

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Yes, here I was proclaiming how little New York changes during Fashion Week. How silly of me.

I lunched in Bryant Park, next to the hulking white tents where most of the runway shows are held. I noticed many, many dressed up people, much more gussied up than usual.

And of course, Tim Gunn was there, too. He must be one of the few celebrities who look exactly how they do on tv. Standing straight in a charcoal grey suit, Mr. Gunn was stylishly elegant.



Related posts: Fashionista, Not, Schmata, or the Annual Warehouse Sale and A Bit more on Celebrity, Past and Present.

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At the Base of Merchant's Gate, Central Park South

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

This fountain is actually part of Merchant's Gate, one of four main entrances to Central Park.

Built in the early 1900s, the Gate has one main column that is topped with a sculpted chariot pulled by seahorses. Gilded a bright gold, the sculpture is noticeable from a distance.

I like that you can see the chariot sculpture from faraway. When you're up close to the Gate, you are simply too captivated by the fountains and sculpture to look up.

Here's a photo I took of Merchant's Gate during the winter, with a view of the sculptured top.

Related posts: One Really Big Fountain, Along the Edge of Central Park and Shooting (Film) in the Park.

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On the Street and on the Runways

Photo by myself at the New York Stock Exchange, at Wall and New Streets.

When I was here around twilight, a guard stood outside this institution. The building is probably patrolled all day and night, though I'm sure there's nothing of immense value inside.

Click here for an overall view of the building.

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By the way, it's Fashion Week in New York. Designers are showing their Spring 2010 Spring Collections.

Enormous white tents have been strung up in Bryant Park for the occasion. Not all shows take place in the park; some are staged in hotels and auditoriums around town.

Unfortunately most New Yorkers don't see the shows at all, which are open to a select few. We have to flip through magazines like everyone else.

Click here to see New York Magazine's excellent review of the shows and fashion trends.

Related posts: On the Market, Trinity Church, at Dusk and Making Off with the Lower East Side.

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The City in Silhouette

Photo by myself from the Manhattan Bridge.

The sun was setting with the East River and Manhattan, beyond.

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A correction on what I posted the other day about the US Open, which is going on now in Queens.

Although there aren't any physical signs in the city that something big in tennis is going on, you can tell from New Yorkers.

Many are staying up late at night or staying in over the weekend, watching the games. It's been raining intermittently here, making the games even more suspenseful.

Related posts: Sunday Morning Along the East River, Enjoying the View Across the East River and The View from the Promenade.

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Enjoying a Ride, in Central Park

Photo by myself in Central Park.

The main road within Central Park loops around the park's perimeter. A little over six miles long, it weaves around and has some hills along the way, making it an ideal venue for cyclists and runners.

On a typical day, pedicabs, horse-drawn carriages, joggers, cyclists, rollerbladers, strollers are out, enjoying the park.

Be very careful to look both ways before crossing the road. I've witnessed more than one collision!

Related posts: Along the Edge of Central Park, The World Above Central Park and Homeless Man, Central Park.

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Life Goes On, Columbus Circle

Photo by myself at 59th Street Columbus Circle.

Not sure if the guy above is homeless or had a very late night. He was sleeping in the corner very peacefully, while people trooped past on the subway platform.

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It's been chilly recently, a sudden onset of Fall. Usually New York experiences Indian Summer, a warm spell in the middle of September that sometimes lasts through October. Hopefully it will happen this year.

The US Open is going on in Flushing Meadow, Queens. Mark and I watched a little bit last night.

All throughout the match between Nadal and Fernando Gonzalez, brisk winds sent the ball flying this way and that. The game was finally suspended because of the weather.

The US Open is played outside Manhattan, just a subway ride away. There is so much going on in the city, however, you're not aware that anything special is going on while it's being played.

Tickets for good seats are expensive. You can get seats for less than $100 in the nosebleed section, but seats with a better view cost well over $500. Each. Most New Yorkers enjoy watching the games on television.

Related posts: Castaways, Society's Trash and Down and Out in Soho.

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Serious Fun, in Bryant Park

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

What looked like a serious game of chess took place among a motley assortment of strangers in Bryant Park.

The nice thing is that this entertainment is free!

Related posts: Playing in the Rain, Bryant Park, City Portrait - Washington Square Park and Not Your Average New Yorker.

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Work Hard, Play Hard

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

Ah yes, New Yorkers are enjoying themselves, knowing how fleeting the good weather often is.

A few ping pong tables have been installed along the north edge of Bryant Park, for public use. All you have to do is sign up to play. Notice the very urban, indestructible metal net.

Some folks blew of steam after work on Tuesday, surrounded by onlookers and office buildings.

Related posts: High Above Bryant Park, Spring is in the Air and Out to Lunch.

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Street Eats, Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 34th Street and Eighth Avenue.

Sidewalk vendors aren't limited to bagels, coffee and hot dogs. Fruit vendors provide a healthy alternative for breakfast.

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Monday night, Mark and I watched a new episode of Anthony Bourdain's 'No Reservations'.

The topic? New York!

Tony explored the boroughs less spoken-about, namely, those not Manhattan: Staten Island, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Bourdain gave us his top picks, and they ranged from Sri Lankan to Korean to Soul Food.

Mark and I were impressed by a visit to a bustling food court in Flushing, Queens. There, Tony enjoyed a braised lamb dish with hand-pulled noodles. The food looked incredibly delicious.

We were also smitten with a restaurant located in a Hindu Temple, also in Queens. The food is described to be absolutely authentic, by the executive chef of Tabla, who was on the show.

Trays laden with dosas and curries were plopped down on the table. By the end of it, Mark and I were salivating, despite being full from dinner.

Here's a comprehensive restaurant list from the New York Post.
Here's the New York Daily News article about the show.

Related posts: Russ and Daughters, Lower East Side, Window Dressing, at the Little Pie and I Scream, You Scream.

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Faces in a Crowd

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

In a split second, the crowd of people parted and a bus glided by. On the right, a man's face is actually part of a popular ad for English classes.

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It's Labor Day weekend, and it feels as if there are only a handful of New Yorkers left in town. Mark and I found parking space easily on our street, and our restaurant was half empty during dinner.

The nice thing about a long weekend is the short work week afterwards. Woohoo!


Former New Yorker Ming from Bangor Daily Photo requested more photos of Rupert.

Most of the time, his ears are down and relaxed. Here's an iphone photo of our pup with ears standing straight up, waiting for Mark to return. Rupert is on High Alert anytime one of us departs, even for a moment.

Related posts: Sharing the Sidewalk, 42nd Street, Crowded Sidewalk, Midtown and On Times Square and Our Rupert.

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City Portraits - Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Green-Wood Cemetery, in Brooklyn.

This enormous cemetery is located next to Park Slope and Sunset Park, in Brooklyn, just a train ride from Manhattan.

Many notable people are buried here, as well as Civil War dead. In fact, a Civil War battle was fought here called the Battle of Brooklyn, on August 27, 1776. The American side lost to the British, so the battle was lost from memory for many years.

Recently the battle has been re-enacted yearly. In fact, the anniversary was just last week. You can see a clip here.

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Saturday afternoon, Mark, Rupert and I toured quickly through Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn. It was our first time visiting, though we've wanted to go for some time now.

Unfortunately, our little dog Rupert had to pee, and dogs are not allowed on the grass. So our time was limited!



The cemetery is 478 acres huge, with rolling hills, scenic roads and even some ponds. Sculptures and mausoleums were scattered everywhere.

Our map told us that Leonard Bernstein, the late conductor and composer, was buried near the area where the Civil War battle took place. I jumped out of the car to look for his headstone.

Thinking he'd have some kind of grand mausoleum or crypt, I wandered around for several minutes, only to find a modest marker near the Bernstein family plot. Visitors had left mementos on the maestro's headstone.



Other notable people at Green-Wood include Jean-Michel Basquiat, Samuel Morse, Theodore Roosevelt, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Green-Wood Cemetery happens to be located at the highest point in Brooklyn. There's a clear view down to the water and Manhattan, beyond. The views were quite astonishing, and, I suppose, poetic.





City Portraits is an ongoing, once-in-a-while installment featuring parts of New York.

Related posts: City Portraits - East Village, City Portraits - Washington Square Park and Every Street is Beautiful.

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The Rooftops on Central Park West

Photo by myself along Central Park West, at 73rd Street.

The Dakota, on the left, and The Langham on the right, are two pre-war buildings on Central Park West.

Both were built around the turn of the (20th) century, back in the day when each residential building had a distinctive name.

Click here to see The Dakota when it was first erected, with virtually nothing around it. It's pretty striking.

What amazes me is that the design of the Dakota anticipated what New York would become. It was not a rambling building in the landscape, but a compact fortress. New York was predestined to be a built-up city, like London.

The building extends one city block in the north-to-south direction, but there are buildings built just next to it on the west (the side opposite the park).

For a close-up from an earlier visit, click here.

Related posts: Dusk Among Towers, Details, Details and At the Foot of the Manhattan Bridge.

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Imagine, Central Park

Photo by myself in Central Park, around 72nd Street and Central Park West.

Fans pay tribute to the late John Lennon near this part of Central Park, called Strawberry Fields.

The mosaic is located near the exit at West 72nd Street, steps away from where Lennon lived. Lennon was killed in 1980 in front of his home by a crazed fan named Mark David Chapman.

Related posts: The Bandshell, Central Park, Sundays in the Park and Central Park, in the Rain.

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Patrolling the Streets

Photo by myself in Midtown.

A policeman kindly posed for me with his spunky ride.

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We've had some gorgeous weather here in New York - cool nights, low humidity, sunshine.

If you're like me, you're in disbelief that it's September already. What the $#*&!! happened??!!

This coming weekend is Labor Day weekend, which marks the end of summer and the beginning of the school year.





Related posts: Heigh-Ho, Riding High and NYPD Blues.

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A Work in Progress, Midtown

Photo by myself in the Garment District, around 39th Street and Eighth Avenue.

I was in the Garment District shopping for my sewing addiction, Tuesday afternoon. Street repair was going on above and below ground.

Can you believe that there are water mains in lower Manhattan that date from the late 1800s that are still in use? In fact, one burst in Tribeca in early August, flooding buildings and the subway.

Related posts: On Rain and Midtown, Step Lively and Tough Times, Midtown.

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Getting the Goods on Canal Street

Photo by myself in Chinatown on Canal Street.

Boxed brand name perfumes can be found here, as well as jewelry and anything else you can imagine.

On a recent trip I felt the shopkeepers were more aggressive than usual, standing in the middle of the sidewalk and hailing potential customers.

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Sorry to say I'm in a little bit of a photography slump.

It happens now and again. Then out of nowhere, the inspiration comes back and everything looks shiny new and hopeful.

The sluggish economy is also getting to me. Of course, I like the extra down time and I'm grateful to still be working (for this moment, at least!). With luck, things will pick up this Fall.

Is business still lagging in your neck of the woods, dear readers?

Related posts: Happy Thanksgiving, from Macy's, and Browsing Around in the Village.

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