Sign of Spring, in Soho

Photo by myself at Prince and Broadway, in Soho.

A view from a very popular crossing in Soho, this past week. This intersection is highly trafficked because of the Prince Street subway station.

Prince Street and Broadway are lined with clothing stores. The fancy pants gourmet food store, Dean and Deluca, is located on one corner, (hidden behind the bus).

We see tour buses year-round, but seeing this one the other day seemed significant. It was a very nice day out. It finally felt like Spring. And with the good weather comes the crowds and crowds and crowds.

Related posts: Tourists' Eye View, on Fifth Avenue, Mass Mentality and Strung Along, in Soho.

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Sand, Surf and Rain, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself at 52nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

It rained heavily on Thursday, so the front of the Hollister store on Fifth Avenue made a surreal sight.

The large storefront is covered with video screens, making one enormous screen. Footage of a sparkly ocean plays often, since the Hollister label hails from Southern California.

The above photo was taken from a cab. You can just see the reflection in the glass.

Related posts: On Line at Abercrombie and Fitch, in Midtown, On Display at Bergdorf's and Only in New York.

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Hippy Sign, on Prince Street

Photo by myself on Prince and Thompson Streets, in Soho.

I have to wonder how many lost hippies have referred to this sign for direction?

Related posts: The Quality Mending Company, Soho, Signs of Hope and On Mulberry Street and Small Packages.

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Filming on Location, in Soho

Photo by myself on Sullivan and Spring Streets, in Soho.

A film shoot took place in a playground in Soho.

I asked a production assistant what the shoot was for. He told me it's for 'The Girls', an upcoming series on HBO.

Apparently 'The Girls' will be modeled on Sex and The City, that is, a younger batch of women, and their trials and tribulations in New York City.

For an article about the upcoming show, click here.

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Some people might be surprised to know there are playgrounds in Soho.

There are schools, churches and graveyards too, in this charming neighborhood. There is even an outdoor pool.

I never lived in Soho (which stands for 'South Of HOuston street', but a friend of mind did, and I was insanely jealous of her. I'm sure her kitchen was about the size of a postage stamp, but who needs a kitchen when you live in such a cool neighborhood?

Soho is known for it's gigantic loft buildings and eclectic boutiques. During the 1970's, the neighborhood was nearly torn down to make way for a new undergound expressway.

Related posts: Movie in the Making, in Alphabet City, Lights, Camera, Action! and Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights.

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Doing Business in the Diamond District

Photo by myself on West 47th Street in the Diamond District.

The Diamond District looks like it's from a different era completely.

The Diamond District is not so much a neighborhood these days than one city block. 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, is lined with small stores selling precious gemstones and jewelry settings.

The kiosk above is tiny, just deep enough for a normally-sized human. Despite its size, the kiosk has roll down doors to protect against theft.

Related posts: Making Deals on 47th Street, in the Diamond District, Pawn Shops, The Diamond District and Signs of Old Times, on the Lower East Side.

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Playing the Blues, in Union Square

Photo by myself in Union Square.

A saxophone player in Union Square drew some attention, the other day.

I have to stifle a giggle at how this must have looked to other people, my taking a photo of a guy taking a photo of a musician. Ha.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Related posts: Singer and Sax, Along the Tracks, Don't Stop the Music on the Upper West Side and Strike Up the Band, in Washington Square Park.

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Happy Easter from the Wild Parrots of Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Happy Easter, everyone!

This was the most Spring-like photo I have, though believe it or not, these birds live in Brooklyn year-round. These birds were snacking outside a house in Park Slope, where we live.

Wild parrots thrive Brooklyn and...yes, they flock together. They are a nice relief to the pigeons and little birds.

I posted about the wild parrots a couple years ago. The website I mentioned at the time, Brooklyn Parrots, is still going strong. Steve Baldwin, the blog owner, posts news and wonderful photos of these birds in flight.

According to Steve, this species of bird was released in the US in the late 1960s, when there was a surplus in Argentina.

Steve conducts monthly parrot tours through Brooklyn. The next safari is on May 7th, and is free to the public. Just email Steve at his website to attend.

For the Brooklyn Parrots blog, click here.

Related posts: On Rupert and the Wild Parrots of Brooklyn, Odd and Colorful Birds, in Bryant Park and The Hua Mei Bird Garden, in Chinatown.

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Cozy Interior on Perry Street, in the West Village

Photo by myself at Perry and Greenwich Streets, in the West Village.

It's a cold and rainy weekend here, in New York.

As an antidote, I'm posting a photo from a walk about the West Village, earlier this month. At Aria Wine Bar, small plates such as salad, prosciutto and meatballs are served alongside tumblers of wine.

Exposed brick, wood rafters and subway tile make the interior rustic and charming. This looks like the perfect place for a romantic date.

This bar does not have a website. As with any restaurant, please check out reviews before visiting.

For reviews on Yelp, click here.
For a review on UrbanDaddy, click here.

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Note to photographers: since I took this photo a few weeks ago, I could not remember the name of this restaurant. All I knew was that it was on the north side of the street, near Magnolia Bakery.

The word 'cucina' is printed behind the bar, which means 'Kitchen'. So, yeah, I did about 20 searches for 'cucinas' in the West Village. Going through restaurants one-by-one on Google maps solved the mystery...and sent me to the loony bin.

Moral of the story?

Take notes on where you take photos, or at least a shot of a sign as a reminder for later on. Avoid the crazy.

Related posts: Riding in Style, in the Village, Before a Tour, Pedicab Style and Pedaling in Style, on Central Park South.

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On Riding Around Sixth Avenue and the Travel Channel

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Ah, pedicabs.

This is one way to get around the city without affecting the environment. Many cyclists will give rides to several people at a time.

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Speaking of cyclists, there is yet another new series on TV. Mark and I tuned into Triple Rush, a new show on the Travel Channel, set in Manhattan.

The show follows three different bicycle courier companies during a typical day. Apparently there are 1,500 bike messengers working at 70 messenger companies in New York. A messenger might make 20 deliveries in a day and make a bit over 100 dollars.

This job is not for scaredy cats. Cameras mounted on the messengers' helmets show just how dangerous it is, weaving through traffic at high speed in all types of weather. Dispatchers in the office are equally stressed out, delegating jobs and being assailed with orders.

All offices in New York use messenger services. It's the fastest way to deliver documents during the day. Be warned though, it can be dangerous just walking in the city because of these guys on the street.

You can see how stressful and dangerous this job through this show. I will be nicer to the messengers we use from now on!

Here's the trailer for the show:

Triple Rush - Extended Trailer from Triple Rush on Vimeo.

Related posts: Riding in Style, in the Village, Before a Tour, Pedicab Style and Pedaling in Style, on Central Park South.

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On Flowering Trees and The Olmstead Legacy

Photo by myself at 59th Street and Central Park South.

It was slightly misty, Wednesday morning. The tops of tall buildings in seemed to disappear into nothingness.

Flowering trees are planted at this rotary, near the Plaza Hotel. Behind me and to the right, is Central Park.

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Wednesday night, I came home late from work. Mark was watching a new documentary about Fredrick Law Olmstead.

The Olmstead Legacy tells the story of America's greatest landscape designer and his impact on America's cities.

I only got to catch the last 15 minutes of the 1-hour documentary, but the message was clear: survival was tough 150 years ago, Olmstead was a workaholic and he was a passionate landscape architect. In all, Olmstead's office completed over 500 projects.

It was nice to hear that Olmstead considered Prospect Park, in Brooklyn, his finest park (!). The Long Meadow in Prospect Park is also the longest unbroken green stretch in any American park. It is almost a mile long.

I learned a bunch during what little I saw of the documentary, which was done in the style of Ken Burns. I'm not sure how long this will be available, but you can actually watch the entire film on the Channel 13 site here.

For more about the The Olmstead Legacy, click here.
For the Times review, click here.

Related posts: All Abloom, in Battery Park, Off in the Distance, 59th Street and On Blooming Trees and New York Apps.

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Lady Liberty, In the Distance

Photo by myself in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

As we all know, Lower Manhattan looks very different now without the World Trade Center.

All of the taller buildings in the Financial District are modern. If you walk around the neighborhood, however, you will notice many small, older buildings.

To the left, the silhouettes of the Statue of Liberty and shipping cranes are in the distance. In the foreground, the new field at Brooklyn Bridge Park is perfect for soccer and ultimate frisbee.

Related posts: The View of Liberty, From the Sidelines and Playing Ball, in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

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In Prayer, Underground

Photo by myself on the 34th Street subway platform.

A man knelt in prayer in a tight spot on the subway platform at 34th Street.

The sign at the man's feet reads 'Please keep your money & food. God Bless You.'

Piled high on top of the man's belongings are a crucifix and a figurine.

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I apologize for how shocking this image is. I must say though that I was truly moved by this sight.

Related posts: Worthy Causes, Baby, It's Cold Outside and Seasons Greetings, from the MTA.

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Walking the Streets, in Midtown and on TV

Photo by myself at Sixth Avenue and 35th Street, in Midtown.

Weekends are leisurely in contrast to the hectic days of the work week. Oh...Sunday nights are so difficult.

The streets in Midtown are usually bustling with human and auto traffic. It is not a place for claustrophobes.

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Speaking of city streets, there is a popular car commercial that is set in a slightly altered New York.

The commercial is for the 2010 Kia 'Soul', and the actors are giant hamsters with a funky attitude. Amsterdam Ave is renamed as 'Hamsterdam Ave'. Yuk, yuk ;-)

The message is clear: Don't give your lady a toaster to drive around in!

Mark and I love this commercial. It's been out for a while, so I'm sure it's familiar to those in the US.



Related posts: Fighting the Crowds, in Midtown, On Crowds and the Commute, in Midtown and Avalanche of People, in Midtown.

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On the Imagine Mosaic and Local CSAs

Photo by myself in Central Park.

A photo taken earlier this year at one of the most popular spots in Central Park.

The mosaic is just steps away from John Lennon's home at The Dakota.

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Recently, Mark and I have been focused on eating more healthily. We are joining a local CSA to do just that.

CSA stands for 'Community Supported Agriculture'. Folks basically purchase shares of a local farmer's seasonal crop. You pick up your box of organic vegetables every week or every other week for about six months.

Every week you get a different assortment of veggies. The Park Slope CSA, which we're considering, serves up bok choy, parsnips and kohlrabi, among others. You receive about 8.5 lbs each week or two, depending on the membership.

There are many different CSA's serving the five boroughs of New York, for fresh vegetables, fruits, eggs and even flowers (!). Farms are located upstate, and the produce is trucked in a couple times a week for pick up.

Farmers get money all at once to finance their crops. People get fresh produce that is grown locally. Everyone wins. Apparently the CSA model has existed in Europe and Japan. Only recently has it taken shape in the US.

For CSA's located in and around New York, click here.

Related posts: On Lost Icons and The Dakota, A Look Outside the Dakota and Imagine, Central Park.

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Morning in Prospect Park

Photo by myself in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

In the mornings before 9 am, dogs are allowed to run off-leash in the larger parks throughout New York City.

The dogs run around, play, wrestle and socialize. The owners socialize, too. It's a good time to unwind from the week, and catch up with neighbors.

This morning was wet and very chilly, with a strong wind. The above photo was taken last weekend, when it was sunny and there was a quiet mist near the ground.

People were running and cycling on the main loop in Prospect Park. In the distance, dogs were sniffing about. I had to stop our dog Rupert in his tracks to take the photo. All Rupert wanted to do was to get across the road and play ball.

For an official list of dog parks and their off-leash policies in the five boroughs of New York City, click here.

Related posts: Roaming Free, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Cooling Off Hot Dogs, in Prospect Park and Fall Foliage in Prospect Park.

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Say Cheese, West 4th Street

Photo by myself on 12th and West 4th Streets, in the Village.

A couple posed for photos, not long ago. I was lucky enough to be standing across the street.

You can just see the photographer in the background.

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By the way, if you haven't noticed, the New York Times has started charging for content online.

You are allowed to read 20 articles for free each month. After that, you are directed to a subscription page if you try to go beyond the first page of the paper/site. Subscriptions range from $3.75/week to $8.75/week, depending on the type of devices you have. Those already getting the paper delivered to their home have free access to the site.

The paper has been not been doing well and it was just a matter of time before readers were charged for content.

TGIF everyone!

Related posts: Couple, Times Square, Older Birds, on Fifth Avenue and The Proposal, in Rockefeller Center.

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Unoppressive, Non-Imperialist and a Bargain, in the West Village

Photo by myself at Carmine and Bleecker Streets, in the West Village.

All the online reviews of the Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books store are really good. It is inexpensive, down-to-earth and eclectic, just as its name conveys.

New York used to be filled with such one-of-a-kind, funky shops. No longer. The vibe nowadays is much more polished.

This store is too cool to have a website, and its blog hasn't been updated in ages. Based on the awesome reviews on yelp, I will have to go in next time.

The store has a Facebook page with a few updates, here and there. You can get the book Subways: The Tracks that Built NYC in hardcover for a mere six bucks, for instance. Or a paperback copy of William Blake's illustrations to The Divine Comedy for ten bucks. That kind of thing.

But I think the best experience would be to go in and browse for an hour or three. ;-)

For the Facebook page, click here.

Related posts: Outside Biography Books, the Village, Searching for a Bargain, at the Strand and Still Life, Antique Store.

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Crossing Broadway, on Wheels

Photo by myself around 8th Street and Broadway, in the Village.

Some folks live on the edge.

Skateboarders and cyclists sharing the city streets with cabs, cars and buses. This fellow crossed busy Broadway this weekend, without a care.

As someone who rides around in a car or cab regularly in the city, I find skateboarding to be very dangerous. Even crossing at the middle of a street is dangerous, because drivers might not see you.

There are a lot of distractions for drivers. It's a wonder there aren't more accidents!

Related posts: On Wheels, in the Financial District, It's a Kid's Life, in Brooklyn and Portrait of a Skateboard Artist, on Prince Street.

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Fresh Flowers Outside Nello's, on Madison Avenue

Photo by myself at 62nd and Madison, on the Upper East Side.

It was downright balmy on Monday, with high humidity and temperatures in the mid-70's (about 23C).

Above, the planted flowers are out and the doorknob polished at Nello's, an expensive restaurant on Madison Avenue, on the Upper East Side. There are few restaurants on Madison Avenue, which is populated with little boutiques and antique stores.

Nello's has mixed reviews online at best. They do not have website but New York Magazine posted the menu online.

For $40 you can get the lobster bisque soup. Or the wild mushroom risotto. Or a big bite of the roasted veal chop.

One story online shows a lunch bill at Nello's totaling over $47,000. Actually $47,221.09, to be precise, and that was over a year ago. About $36k for the bill was for alcohol.

I must say that most New Yorkers avoid such places. There are so many fine restaurants here that are reasonably priced.

For a peek at the Nello's menu, click here.
For the post about the huge lunch tab, click here.

Related posts: The Cost of Living Part II, or Life in Playland, High Above the Metropolitan Museum and Glitzy Glam, Outside the Pierre.

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Looking North on the Upper West Side

Photo by myself at 67th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, on the Upper West Side.

The view north on the Upper West Side is not one that's seen often. I took the above photo from a high floor of a new building on 67th Street, last week.

To the left is the Hudson River. Across the water is New Jersey. At the traffic triangle on the lower right, Broadway intersects Amsterdam Avenue, just below 72nd Street. Amsterdam Avenue is also known as Tenth Avenue.

There aren't as many tall, new buildings on the Upper West Side as there are on the East Side, for whatever reason. The older buildings on East Side are nearly all built in limestone on Park and Fifth Avenues, while the buildings on West End Avenue mainly use brick.

This is old New York. It's a little gritty and it's buildings as far as the eye can see.

Related posts: A Peek Through Central Park, The Sky is Falling and The View from on High.

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Spring has Sprung, in the East Village and Overhead

Photo by myself at East Ninth Street and Second Avenue, in the East Village.

At long last, we had a nice sunny day on Saturday.

The sidewalks were crowded with people in this eclectic neighborhood, walking about and brunching.

--
Speaking of Spring, it's common knowledge that there are nesting red-tailed hawks in New York City. Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts have long spoken about Pale Male and Lola in Central Park.

Now there is a webcam focused on another nesting pair in the Village. Just outside an office window at New York University, Violet and Bobby have three white eggs.

As can be expected with hatching eggs, there is a lot of sitting around and waiting. When I checked in this morning, one of the parents was sitting there, as calm as can be.

For the article in the Times, click here.
See the live webcam here here.

Related posts: On Drums and the Brooklyn Bunny, Beautiful People, the East Village and The Truth in Advertising, in the East Village.

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Portrait of an Artist, in Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown.

Walking down the street during lunch on Friday, I spotted a truck plastered with fantastic black and white drawings of New York City.

I ran to the office, grabbed my camera and ran back. I met the driver of the truck, who turned out to be the assistant to the artist himself.

Krikko, the artist (above, right), was trained as an architect. His black and white pencil drawings start out as regular drawings which he then redraws at huge sizes. Some of the drawings measure over 20 feet long.

Krikko researches the buildings in his drawings through books and photographs. The aerial view of Manhattan, to the right, took four years to complete.

During our brief chat, Krikko said he is currently working on a huge drawing of the United States. When finished, the original large drawings are exhibited in a museum in New Haven, Connecticut. Krikko designed and financed the museum completely from his drawings and private donations.

Reproductions of Krikko's drawings are on sale in souvenir shops along Fifth Avenue, near the Empire State Building.

For Krikko's website, click here.
For Krikko's Wiki page, click here.
To order prints, call (888) 756-ARTS.

The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.

Related posts: Portrait of an Artist, on the Upper East Side, Is it Art? on the Lower East Side and Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights.

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On NY Bike Tours and Real Housewives

Photo by myself on Columbia Street, around Pineapple Street, in Brooklyn Heights.

While walking around Brooklyn Heights last weekend, Mark and I stumbled on a group of people on a bike tour.

A split second after this photo was taken, they parked their bikes and gazed at the East River and Manhattan skyline, behind me.

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Mark and I watched the first episode of the new season of The Real Housewives of New York City, Thursday night. I am amazed to say we got through the whole thing without changing the channel.

At this time, I would like to make a formal disclaimer. New Yorkers are nowhere as nutty, neurotic and childish as some of the women on the show. Thank goodness!

For a taste of crazy, see the trailer for this season below.



Related posts: Eating on the Run, Is it Art? on the Lower East Side and New York on TV, Coming Soon.

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Gold Guy, at 59th Street

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

A fellow all decked out in gold sat with his gold belongings, Tuesday night. This performer drew interest and requests for photos.

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I wish I had news to report, but it's been business as usual. Work has been going full blast and time is flying by.

The nice thing is that it feels like the economy is shifting to the better. I've noticed that people are definitely giving more money to street performers and the homeless.

New Yorkers seem to really enjoy rewarding performers who have talent and those that can bring a smile to passersby.

Related posts: All A-Buzz About a Bee, in Union Square, Step Lively and Big Red Monster, in Herald Square.

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View from the Barge, on the East River

Photo by myself near the Brooklyn Bridge, at Brooklyn Bridge Park.

It was hard to resist taking a photo of the Brooklyn Bridge this weekend, even though it is under repair.

The people to the right are standing aboard the Bargemusic barge, a small boat parked near Old Fulton Street.

For the last 30-some years, New Yorkers have been enjoying chamber music concerts on the water. Concerts take place every weekend, Thursday through Sunday.

Tickets are generally about $35 a piece. On April 23 and May 7, Bargemusic is offering two free matinee concerts in the afternoons. Program to be announced.

For the Bargemusic website, click here.

Related posts: Sunset, from Brooklyn Bridge Beach, On Rain and the Brooklyn Bridge and Walking the Brooklyn Bridge.

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Shine em Up, on Central Park South

Photo by myself at 59th Street and Fifth Avenue.

As usual, horse-drawn carriages are parked along Central Park South.

One driver shined up his ride's hooves with hoof black, Monday morning. Hoof black is similar to shoe polish, and adds a nice touch to the horse's appearance.

The care of carriage horses has long been a hot-button issue in the city. It is tough to see these animals out in all the extremes of New York weather, rain or shine.

There are laws regarding the horses - carriages operate 9 hours a day, seven days a week and can only work when the weather is between 90F and 18F outside. A team from the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) monitors the horses' treatment.

So far I have not noticed that any horses look abused, though some look sad or bored. I can imagine that standing in one spot with blinders in front of your eyes must be very tough indeed.

Related posts: Carriage Horse, Central Park South, A Repent Sign Guy Meets a Horse Carriage Guy and A Horse, of Course, in Midtown.

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On the View from Brooklyn Bridge Park

Photo by myself in Brooklyn Bridge Park, along the East River.

The view from the new Brooklyn Bridge Park is pretty nice.

Built on Pier #1 jutting from the edge of Brooklyn into the East River, you feel even closer to Manhattan. Ahead and to the right is Frank Gehry's new 76-story apartment tower at 8 Spruce Street, the tallest apartment tower in the country.

Despite the economy, New York has been building stuff. Until now, the Brooklyn waterfront has been underutilized. Now with the new park, there is tons of seating, a large field and a playground, all with a Manhattan view.

As for 8 Spruce Street, what would we be without a tower by Frank Gehry? It's hard to see from this distance, but the facade seems to ripple, even though it is made from stainless steel. The luxury rental apartments there start around $3,000 per month.

There are over 900 units in the building and every apartment has a different floor plan. There is even an elementary school on the ground floor.

'Luxury rentals' are a new breed of high end living in New York. Renters pay top dollar to live as if in a five-star hotel, with concierge service, swimming pool, fitness center, game room, grilling terrace, library...the list goes on.

Check out the extremely photogenic website for 8 Spruce Street here.

Related posts: Sunset, from Brooklyn Bridge Beach, The View from the Promenade and Looking Out from the Promenade.

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Brunch at Barbuto, in the West Village

Photo by myself at Barbuto, on Washington and West 12th Streets in the West Village.

Brunch service was a busy blur, Saturday. Mark and I dined at Barbuto, Jonathan Waxman's restaurant in the West Village, after hearing rave reviews from a friend.

We arrived around 1pm, when the neighborhood was just waking up. By the time we left at 2, the place was completely packed. Many guests were young and fashionably dressed. The restaurant has a large, airy seen-and-be-seen atmosphere.

The interiors are not pretentious, though. There are roll-down garage doors on all walls, so in the warmer months, the interior space becomes exterior. Sunlight was streaming in and there was additional seating on the sidewalk.

Oh, and let's get to the food.

Brunch consisted of a rustic mortadella sandwich (background), crispy potatoes and oven-baked eggs.

Mark had a beautiful sandwich with mortadella, grain mustard and carmelized onions on crusty bread. Salad on the side had a lemony vinaigrette. I had tasty oven baked eggs with creamed spinach and parmesan.

We shared a side order of potatoes sprinkled with romano cheese and rosemary. Our meal was hearty and good.

From our seats, we could look right into the open kitchen, where it was non-stop action. A gorgeous plate of roasted chicken was sunning itself near a window. Mark and I enjoyed watching the guys work with quiet intensity.

One of the owners, Jonathan Waxman, is noted restauranteur from the West Coast. He appeared on the TV show Top Chef Masters, where established chefs compete against each other for charity.

Waxman was at the restaurant on Saturday and kept a low profile. Mark and I saw him walking around the Kitchen and chatting with the staff. He was one of our favorites on Top Chef, because of his laid back, jovial personality.

Menus change daily, but some typical menus are listed on the Barbuto website here. You can even make reservations online.


The view of Barbuto, from the entrance. Garage doors are located along all sides.


The spacious kitchen is open to the dining room.

Related posts: Chez Bouley, Tribeca, Cold Noodles and Hot Shows and A Bit More on Celebrity, Past and Present.

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Catching Some Morning Zzzzzs

Photo by myself on the D train.

For a brief moment, the D train is bathed in daylight as it travels over the Manhattan Bridge.

During the morning commute, lots of people catch up on their sleep. A little girl gazed out the window at the East River.

Related posts: Seen, Below Ground, On the Platform, 34th Street and On Performances Underground, and on the Runway.

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Dog's Head on the Subway

Photo by myself on the subway, somewhere underground.

A woman balanced a dog's head on her lap, Wednesday morning, astonishing those around her.

'Amber', a Maltese, had been a faithful companion for over 8 years. Poor little Amber!

Um...joking! April Fool's! (Ok, perhaps this was a bit obvious).

Amber was sitting peacefully on her owner's lap, in a dog carrier. She was very sleepy. Her owner told me that she carries Amber around to work every day.

--
Speaking of humor, New Yorker Magazine readers know that each issue, the Shouts and Murmurs section can be kind of funny. Maybe not slap your knee and laugh out loud funny, but sort of chuckle out loud funny.

A recent Shouts and Murmurs written by young comedian Demitri Martin was enjoyable. You can read it online here.

Helpful hint: Martin's humor is quirky and thoughtful. The article is best when read at a slower pace.

Demitri Martin is a comedian from New York. He has a tv show on the Comedy Central.

For an earlier post on Martin, click here.

Related posts: On Dogs and Dogs, What's Black and White and Red All Over? and It's a Dog's Life at the Mad Dog Run.

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