Parading Down Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself on Fifth Avenue around 40th Street.

I've been holding onto this photo for a while, since last year's Veteran's Day Parade.

Boy am I glad it's Friday? TGIF everyone!

Related posts: Fighting the Crowds, in Midtown, Lost in the Crowd and We the People.

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Out to Lunch, in Midtown

Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.

Spring has sprung here in the city. Unfortunately, not everyone works near a public park.

Some buildings are designed with public space in mind, offering areas to sit and enjoy the good weather. This bank of steps of various sizes also has planters for trees.

People can perch and eat, relax and have some alone time before slogging off to their desks.

Related posts: On Curvy Walls and Stone Slabs, The Royalton Renovated and Dusk Among Towers.

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Commuting in the Hood, on the Atlantic/Pacific Platform

Photo by myself on the platform of the Atlantic/Pacific subway station.

Just about everyone immerses him or herself in a handheld device during the daily commute. People were reading their Kindles, playing shoot-em-up games and listening to music Tuesday evening.

As you can see, all Brooklynites look like they shop at The Gap. The prevailing aesthetic is 'non-descript comfy'.

Once in a blue moon, you will spot someone in a fashion color or a suit.

Related posts: Waiting for the Train, at Atlantic/Pacific Streets, Passing the Time, Underground and On Shopping on West 4th and My Insider's Guide.

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Toy Shopping in the East Village

Photo by myself, somewhere in the East Village.

A fanciful display outside a toy store downtown, in the East Village.

Many stores welcome dogs and leave bowls of water outside for them in the summer. You can just see the water bowl to the left of Mr. Bear's foot.

Related posts: The Markets in Union Square, Christmas Shopping and On Shopping on West 4th and My Insider's Guide.

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On Visiting New Yorkers, in the Flesh and Online

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

A musical ensemble charmed onlookers with their pop songs. Just about everyone was walking around outside, enjoying the Spring weather.

A woman smiled after giving the group a tip.

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Speaking of walking around, there are two very different ways to visit New Yorkers.

If you're in town this summer, Brooklyn opens its doors to lovers of historic architecture.

The Brooklyn House Tour showcases homes each week in various Brooklyn neighborhoods. You can walk through privately owned brownstones in Fort Greene, mansions in Brooklyn Heights and gardens in Clinton Hill.

Tickets are between $20 and $40. For more info, click here.

If you're not in town, join virtual tours of New York apartments at Time Out New York.

In a section dedicated to apartment living, you can visit studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and their Manhattan and Brooklyn residents. It's real up close and personal.

I think I enjoyed the smaller apartments the most, since it's tough to squeeze variety out of a few rooms. Each photo essay is wonderfully staged, and includes a source list if you like anything you see.

For the virtual apartment tours, click here.

Related posts: Below the Ansonia on the Upper West Side, The Towers Near Riverside Park and An Oasis on Park Avenue.

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Big Red Monster, in Herald Square

Photo by myself in Herald Square, around 34th Street and Seventh Avenue.

Elmo, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and Sponge Bob Square Pants were just some of the characters populating this busy area near Macy's, last week.

I'm not sure what the occasion was for the people in costume? Maybe they were just enjoying the nice weather, like everyone else.

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Mark is in LA for a few weeks for work, so I'm playing single mom right now to our cat and dog.

I've let myself go a little already. Breakfast this weekend has been Oreo cookies. Gone is the half bag of Doritos I swore I'd never lay hands on. Now I am eyeballing the can of Spaghetti-O's we've stashed in case of alien invasion. Horrible!

The nice thing is that we can video chat. Rupert starts howling when he hears Mark's voice, then cocks his head to each side, trying to figure out what the face on the computer screen is.

Anyway, kudos to those single parents out there. It's not easy!

Related posts: Big Green Monster, in Midtown, Step Lively and Santas on Parade, in Washington Square Park.

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On Fancy Cakes in the Financial District

Photo by myself at Stone Street and Hanover Square, in the Financial District.

I love this part of town near Wall Street, which has an 'ye olde' feeling about it.

Above, Financier is a fancy patisserie. Its name playfully alludes to the name of a French cake, as well as its location in the Financial District.

I regret not stepping inside, though I'm probably slimmer for it. Their assortment of elegant cakes and French pastries is impressive. Chocolate mousse cakes, sacher tortes, berry tarts and petit fours are just some of their decadent concoctions.

They also serve a large menu for breakfast and lunch, cater parties and create one-of-a-kind wedding cakes.

Lucky for everyone, they accept online orders, for pick up, only. (I doubt their perfect cakes would travel well in the US Mail).

For their website, which includes photos of their creations and menus, click here.

Related posts: On the Market, Trinity Church, at Dusk and Window Dressing, at the Little Pie.

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Outside The Sunburnt Cow, Avenue C

Photo by myself in Alphabet City, at Avenue C and 9th Street.

A playful sign hangs outside The Sunburnt Cow, an Australian-themed restaurant.

What is Australian cuisine, you ask? Well, the menu lists fresh shark, mutton stew, wild boar and a 'kangaroo shepherd's pie'. (No telling whether there is real kangaroo in the pie).

Their offshoot, called The Sunburnt Calf, is located on the Upper West Side. Both gastropubs feature fancy brunches for $18, with all the 'moomosas', 'moo marys', or screwdrivers you like.

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Thanks everyone for the comments on yesterday's photo! I'm absolutely tickled that people enjoyed it.

Thursday, I left my camera at home. Naturally, the best moments eluded me - two visitors with enormous backpacks crammed in the subway during rush hour, one girl walking in knee highs and tiny skirt, a woman sitting next to two giant teddy bears on a bench, street vendors and a man singing in the subway station wearing a tin foil crown.

Related posts: Cow Appreciation Day, Fifth Avenue, Now on Sale, in Midtown and Signs of Hope.

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Leg Lunges, Midtown 9:25 am

Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.

I took this photo Wednesday morning from a cab, on the way to a job site. I was somewhere around 27th Street, (I think?) trying to make it crosstown for a meeting.

A woman was doing leg lunges down the sidewalk. A man was walking his little dog. Daily life in Manhattan. Pretty ordinary. You can see my taxi in the reflection of the building.

The cab driver turned around and asked what country I was from.

'Brooklyn,' I said, and not being sarcastic. We really are a land of our own!



Related posts: Playing Ball in the Public Courts, Running Along the Brooklyn Bridge and Playing Ball, in Red Hook Brooklyn.

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Community Garden, on 7th Street

Photo by myself at 9th Street and Avenue C.

La Plaza Cultural is a community garden and open air performance space in Alphabet City. It's been there since 1976, when this neighborhood was very, very sketchy.

This is just one of many community gardens in this neighborhood. Some are tiny, others substantial, with seating and shady areas.

Members pay a $25 annual fee to share garden plots. Easter Egg hunts, birthday parties, weddings and performances are held here during the nice months.

If you're a tin can or an odd whirlygig in this area, beware! You might just end up on top of this fence.

Related posts: Shooting (Film) in the Park, The Getty Villa, in Malibu California and Community Garden, an Urban Oasis.

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New York's Finest, on the Hudson River

Photo by myself in Battery Park, along the Hudson River.

I'm not sure what was being discussed among the above fellows.

The weather? How many drug busts had taken place that morning? Dead body count? The latest Nicks game?

Good to know that our waters are being patrolled as often as our streets and subways.

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Ever wonder what happens to all the merchandise seized by the NYPD?

Rolex watches, cars, jewelry, electronics...you name it, are auctioned off to the public online, at propertyroom.com.

I have to say that getting jewelry or other valuables at this site is better than shopping on ebay, for example. On the Property Room site, you know the goods are real, since they've been verified by authorities.

In case you're wondering, there is photographic equipment up for grabs, too. Lenses, SLRs and digital cameras are available, though many items are untested and are sold 'as is'.

Last but not least, winners get bragging rights that their goods were 'hot'!

Related posts: NYPD Blues, NYPD in Action, Underground and Policing the Subway, Midtown.

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On the Steps of St. Stainislaus, 7th Street

Photo by myself at the steps of St. Stanislaus, on East 7th Street and First Avenue.

A small shrine for the late president Lech Kaczynski and his wife Maria, on the steps of St. Stanislaus in the East Village. The President, his wife and many other high officials perished in a tragic plane crash last week.

St. Stanislaus is a Roman Catholic church that conducts its masses in Polish. The Polish community has long populated the East Village as well as Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Related posts: What's New and Old in the East Village, Life Goes On, Almost and The Beginning of the End.

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Cluttered Sidewalks in the East Village

Photo by myself, somewhere in the East Village.

The sidewalks are narrow in most of the older neighborhoods in Manhattan. On trash pick-up days, there is little room for pedestrians to pass by.

New York is tidier than it used to be, but it still has a long way to go. Unfortunately, litter is a way of life. The sidewalks and subway tracks are often the place where wrappers, coffee cups, gum and other stuff winds up on a daily basis.

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In my early days as a New Yorker, I went through a personal crusade against littering (I wrote about it here in an earlier post). It's still shocking to see people, often kids, casually toss stuff on the street when there are trash cans everywhere.

As a dog owner, I really notice what's on the streets. Rupert will come very close to eating paper bags, jujubees and discarded chicken bones. Actually the quantity of chicken bones bewildered me. How is it that we eat so many chicken wings outside?

So when you see the litter in New York, please know that only a fraction of us treat our city poorly. The rest of us are completely disgusted.

Related posts: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, The View of Liberty and Tonight's Winning Numbers, in Sunset Park.

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Sunset Along the West Side Highway

Photo by myself from a car, along the West Side Highway around Pier 54.

There are all sorts of things along the West Side Highway.

Piers and old boats jut into the water. There is also an enormous sports complex, Chelsea Piers, which contains a running track, bowling alley, golf driving range, and courts for soccer, basketball and handball.

In the daytime, a paved walkway running along the water is visible. Runners, rollerbladers and strollers use the parks that runs along the west side, spanning from Riverside Park in the Upper West Side, all the way down to Battery Park City.

Related posts: Subway Sunset, on the Ride Home, Sunrise, Sunset and Strange Skies, Above Sunset Park.

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City Portraits - The Williamburgh Bank, Brooklyn

Photo by myself at the Brooklyn Flea Market, at One Hanson Place.

This past weekend Mark and I visited the Brooklyn Flea Market at the Williamsburgh Bank Building.

The Williamsburgh Bank is the tallest building in Brooklyn. You can see the building from just about everywhere. The exterior was recently restored, and the upper floors converted into fancy condo apartments. The interiors on the first floor are just incredible.




Light streams through one of the large windows on the mezzanine level.


A starry mosaic covers the arched ceiling of the lobby. Note the delicate iron work in the background.



Many of the original elements are still in the lobby, including tellers windows, light fixtures and the vault door.

Vendors were selling quality vintage clothing, art and furniture. Outside in the parking lot, you can get a host of different foods. There was a roaring pizza oven (!), handmade chocolate and ice cream.

Mark oogled at some of the vintage lamps offered, while I was just astounded by the building. Fortunately for us all, the Brooklyn Flea Market is open every weekend.

For the Brooklyn Flea website, click here.
The Williamsburgh Bank building is located just steps away from the Atlantic/Pacific subway stop in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

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

Related posts: City Portraits - The High Line, Chelsea, City Portraits - Washington Square Park and City Portraits - Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn.

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Passing By, in Sunset Park

Photo by myself in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Sunset Park is the equivalent of Chinatown in Brooklyn. Stores and restaurants are crowded around Eighth Avenue, since the word 'eight' in Mandarin sounds similar to the word meaning 'good fortune'.

As in Chinatown in Manhattan, many storefronts open directly to the street. This makes walking down the sidewalk slow, as people cannot help but look into each store.

I took this photo last year and it's one of my favorites. The blue light of the tv contrasts nicely with the store interior.

Related posts: Night View, Canal Street, Soap Bubbles, Chinatown and Fish Market, Chinatown.

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Beautiful People, the East Village

Photo by myself around St. Mark's Place and 1st Avenue, in the East Village.

For some reason, all the customers brunching outdoors this weekend were young, fashionable and female.

Brunch is a meal dear to the heart. As usual, New Yorkers are over the top with their menus. All the mimosas you can drink? Gigantic omelet with a side of home fries? Cheesy grits? Why, of course.

Above, at Cafe Mogador on St. Mark's Place, brunch is served between 9am and 4pm, Saturdays and Sundays. That's some window of time.

Mogador serves up various concoctions of organic poached eggs, with fresh orange juice, along with cappucino or tea. There is always, always a line of people waiting on the sidewalk. Often, customers resemble movie stars.

Time Out New York devotes a whole section to brunching in New York. Their lists include 'Outdoor Brunch Spots', 'Best Rooftop Brunches' and 'Best Brunch Deals'.

In NY-ese, 'brunch' means 'wake-up-late-because-you-spent-last-night-drinking-much-too-much'.

Related posts: Brunching on St. Mark's Place, Sharing a Moment and Summering in the City.

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On Blooming Trees and New York Apps

Photo by myself in Tompkins Square Park, in Alphabet City.

It seems like every tree is fully in bloom right now, a mass of yellow or pink. If you have any allergies at all, be sure to bring kleenex.

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This week in the Times, there is an article about new apps (application for the iphone) made just for New Yorkers.

Parking spaces are scarce in certain neighborhoods. Park Slope, where Mark and I live, is drastically short on parking space. (As a result, a high percentage of Mini Cooper owners live here).

StreetParkNYC and Roadify allow New York drivers to communicate when they're leaving their precious parking spaces. Meters cost 50 cents per hour and garage parking costs anywhere up to twenty bucks an hour. I'm sure New York will be one of many cities for such applications. I'm sure this will be a default part of navigation devices in the future.

Related posts: Happy Summer, Fall Foliage, in Prospect Park and Tell me about the Rabbits.

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The Writing on the Wall, on Avenue A

Photo by myself in Alphabet City, around 6th Street and Avenue A.

A large mural was going up in Alphabet City announcing a new comedy show with actor John Reilly. Below, some large illustration dedicated to the motorcyclists who frequent this area.

I walked by the crane later when it was closer to the ground. The workers were on their lunch break. I noticed they paint the murals the old fashioned way, working from a small copy of the image.

In the close up photo, you can see the framed image held by one of the artists. Pretty incredible!



Related posts: The Rat Pack, on Avenue C, Ninja Assassins, in the East Village and Painting by Numbers.

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Graffiti Gets Physical, on St. Mark's Place

Photo by myself in the East Village, around St. Mark's Place and 1st Avenue.

It's been a beautiful Spring weekend here in New York. People crowded the sidewalks Saturday for brunch and strolling about. Birdsong was in the air. Every street was graced with many green and pink flowering trees, and sneezing people.

St. Mark's Place is a street that runs east-west through the East Village. It is incredibly rich in content. Different restaurants and stores are located there, with the most touristy strip between Second and Third Avenue. This street was the first to show 'graffiti art' in a gallery setting. It has also been home to many artists and musicians.

The tiny vintage clothing store pictured above was featured on an old Led Zeppelin album called Physical Graffiti. It is just one of the colorful nooks and crannies on this popular street.

It seems that each building on this block has a story. For a detailed run down, click here.

Related posts: City Portraits - The East Village, Shopping on St. Mark's Place and On Eight Million Stories and St. Mark's Place.

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Flipping Out in Park Slope and on TV

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

There are many beautiful historic brownstone buildings in Park Slope Brooklyn, located several subway stops outside Manhattan. The building above has stained glass windows, lovely brickwork and painted wood carvings.

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Have you seen the Bravo show Flipping Out, about the decorator Jeff Lewis? Lewis renovates homes in LA before selling them, and is neurotic and hilarious. He makes people move furniture by the inch, fusses over paint colors, and drives his employees mad.

Well, the show comes very close to what it's like in the profession of high end architecture and design. If you have neurotic tendencies, architecture and decorating are for you. I have seriously woken up in the middle of the night wondering if I specified the right type of closet light, or the right height for a closet rod.

For any project, architects list every single thing that will be built or installed, in detailed charts. Every recessed waterproof light in the showers, every LED undercabinet strip light and every closet light that turns on when you open the closet door is given a number and described in detail.

Cabinet knobs, door stops, door knobs and hinges, door types, appliances, paint colors, toilets and faucets are all listed. Everything about everything you can think of, short of the nails, so that the Contractor can determine an accurate price.

Jeff Lewis? He's the voice in my head!

Related posts: Details, Details, On the Market and The Flatiron Building, in Detail.

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Deck Yourself Out, in Soho

Photo by myself around Spring and Greene Streets, in Soho.

Open air stalls sell jewelry, hats, graphic tee shirts and everything else all year round, on an empty lot in Soho. Much of the goods are or look handmade. There are no packaged or brand name goods.

Metal pipes provide a structure to support lights, sheets and wire mesh. The result resembles a nomadic campground.



Related posts: Still Life, Antique Store, Buying in Bulk and Happy Christmas Eve.

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On Guard Below Grand Central

Photo by myself inside Grand Central terminal, in Midtown.

The rush of commuters at catching trains every late afternoon is a thrilling sight. Below the main terminal, exits lead to trains heading to Connecticut and upstate New York.

I'm not sure why some of the exits were being guarded by what looks like the National Guard. It's also curious why the National Guard wore camouflage gear, when all around are NOT trees, grasses or brush, but buildings and people. Strange!

Related posts: On Street Photography and Grand Central Station, The Crowds in Grand Central and Queuing up at Grand Central Terminal.

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A Horse of Course, in Midtown

Photo by myself around 34th Street and 7th Avenue, in Midtown.

Some four-footed and two-footed members of the NYPD posed for me.

The NYPD still uses horses, mostly for crowd control. The crowds are so overwhelming in this area near Penn Station, every day. They help create a living blockade, keeping pedestrians out of the street.

Rounding the corner and encountering these huge creatures is a treat. Each time, I cannot help but stop and say hello.


Above, a photo from last year. There are horse lovers here in NYC.

Related posts: Heigh-Ho, Police Line, Do Not Cross and Riding High.

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On Magic Hour and Stomping in the East Village

Photo by myself in the East Village, around 2nd Avenue and 9th Street.

Above, a photo from my stash that I've been holding onto for the longest time. The weather was perfect and people were chatting and dining on the sidewalk. As you can see, just about everyone wears jeans in the East Village.

I took this photo one afternoon last November, when the light was turning golden. Many photographers call this time 'magic hour'. Everything looks good during 'magic hour'.

In the background, you can see the billboard for Stomp, the percussive dance performance that has been running for over 15 years.

I had no idea that Stomp was created by two choreographers in Brighton, UK. Because of its urban connotations, (men and women dancing wildly in jeans and t-shirts, beating out rhythyms with brooms and garbage can lids), the show has lodged itself in the East Village, a grungy, arty neighborhood. It seems much more New York than Britain.

Mark and I have yet to see the show, but I'm certain it's amazing. I hope it stays around another 15 years.

You can see some video of the show on their website, here.

Related posts: City Portraits - The East Village, On Eight Million Stories and St. Mark's Place and A Moment Alone in the East Village.

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Running Along the Edge of Manhattan

Photo by myself in Battery Park City.

Pictured above, one of the many runners we encountered during our afternoon in Battery Park City. The park is located at the edge of Manhattan. Beyond, you can see the Hudson River and Jersey City, New Jersey.

The thing about living on an island is that when you look out, you can't see what's behind you. Simple logic, I know, but there it is.

Battery Park City is a complex of many modern apartment buildings, similar to those near Riverside Park. They were all constructed at the same time, in the 1980s, and are a product of that time - pinkish granite, punched windows, vaguely post-modern.

Many people criticize Battery Park City for not being too great to look at, and I have to agree. The neighborhood lacks the charm and majesty of the older buildings, like those along Fifth Avenue or Central Park West.

Fortunately, though, you don't see what's behind you.

Related posts: Looking Out at Manhattan, Running Atop the Brooklyn Bridge and Something Old, Something New.

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All Abloom, in Battery Park City

Photo by myself at the Oval Lawn, in Battery Park City.

A small grove of cherry trees bloomed in the heart of Battery Park City at the southern tip of Manhattan, surrounded by tall apartment buildings.

Families, runners, saunterers and sun worshipers were out in full force, Saturday, enjoying the good weather. The park in Battery Park City winds along the waterfront. You can walk along the water or tuck into shaded garden areas.

The park is relatively new and is very well maintained. From here, you have clear views of the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and the New Jersey shoreline.

Saturday afternoon, Mark, Rupert and I toured around the 36-acre park. One loop around is a long walk. There is also a marina for small boats, a ferry terminal and a dog run. Rupert had a grand time sniffing about and met some Manhattan buddies.

For a map of the park in Battery Park City, click here. (The blue in the map designates buildings, not water).
For detailed information about all aspects of Battery Park City, click here.



Related posts: Happy Summer, The Community Garden - An Urban Oasis and A Touch of Nature, in Prospect Park.

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On Line for the Ferry, at Pier 11

Photo by myself at Pier 11, near Wall Street.

Believe it or not, the above photo shows the tremendous line of people waiting for the ferry. Each day, hundreds of commuters travel on the NY Waterway ferries from parts of New Jersey to Wall Street.

You can also catch a ferry from midtown at West 39th Street or from the World Financial Center, which is also downtown. Depending on the time of day, ferries depart every ten to thirty minutes. Fares vary depending on distance.

I have yet to take one of these ferries. Like many New Yorkers, I took the Staten Island Ferry just to enjoy the water ride, taking the return trip immediately. By the way, the Staten Island Ferry is free of charge!

Click here for the NY Waterway Ferry site.
Click here for the Staten Island Ferry site.

Related posts: The Latest Thing, Waiting on Line, Fifth Avenue and Waiting for Dogs, in Madison Square Park.

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The Daily Madness, Outside Madison Square Garden

Photo by myself outside Madison Square Garden, at 34th Street and 7th Avenue.

Crowds and crowds of people swarm down 7th Avenue each day at rush hour. Both sides of the street are packed with bodies trying to get home.

Penn Station, a major station for trains and the subway, is located next to Madison Square Garden, a major performance center. Both are hideously ugly buildings. Seriously.

Crowds of people assemble every night for events at The Garden, while crowds of people commute to New Jersey, Philadelphia and other parts of New York.

Behind the temporary barricade in the middle distance, you can see a long line of people waiting for taxis. Taxi queues are used only in these high traffic areas. Usually people hail cabs anywhere along the street.

This area is not a good place for baby strollers, rolling luggage, bicycles, the elderly, anyone handicapped, anyone sauntering about enjoying the view, claustrophobes and small animals.

Related posts: Lost in the Crowd, Lost in the Crowd and We the People.

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Ye Olde Pub, Downtown

Photo by myself on Stone Street and Mill Lane, in the Financial District.

The Dubliner is located close to another Irish-themed pub, which I posted about earlier, called The Ulysses.

You'll find a whole array of pub food here, with varying degrees of authenticity. The menu includes steak and ale pie, pot roast and bangers and mash.

An unfortunate laminated sign tacked on the front door, advertises 'Trivia Night'.

Related posts: Hot Diggity Dogs, All Day Long, Meat Market, Ninth Avenue and Beer, Wonderful Beer.

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