Photo by myself on MacDougal Street around Minetta Lane, in the Village.
A snapshot in the Village of a theater crowd, after a show. I'm not sure who the fellow is, looking directly at me.
On the right, the Olive Tree Cafe is also known as Comedy Cellar. They show three sets of performers every night of the week.
To the left is the Players Theatre, a pre-war townhouse with two stages and rehearsal rooms. They perform plays four nights a week.
For the Comedy Cellar website, click here.
For the Players Theatre website, click here.
Related posts: Outside Memphis, on Broadway, The United Palace Theater in Washington Heights, and Get on with the Show, on Broadway.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Streetside, in the Village
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Stopped on Park Avenue, in Midtown
Photo by myself on Park Avenue and 47th Street, in Midtown.
Yet another photo from a cab, this one on Park Avenue.
As you can see, the buildings along Park Avenue are really tall. Most of them, at least above 42nd Street, are pre-war.
A ray of sunshine peaked through from between the buildings. Yes, we do get slivers of sun here.
There also happen to be several fancy car showrooms on Park Avenue, just a few streets from this spot. The Ferrari, Audi and Mercedes showrooms are all clustered next to each other, on the west side of Park Avenue. For whatever reason.
Related posts: Hovering Above Park Avenue, Life on Park Avenue, and Cabs Galore on Lexington Avenue.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Waiting, in Times Square
Photo by myself around Seventh Avenue and 44th Street, in Times Square.
A random assortment of people stood patiently, waiting for the light to change.
This photo was taken from the back of a passing cab.
There were huge traffic jams on Tuesday because President Obama was speaking at the U.N. I had a meeting on the Upper East Side and it took forever to get there, and cost a huge amount of money.
On the way back, my cab driver suggested 'cutting through Central Park, going down Central Park West, then taking 7th Avenue'. This is the equivalent of running from second base to home plate by way of right field.
This is why we happened to drive through Times Square. Usually we just drive straight down Fifth Avenue.
Related posts: At a Crossroads, in Times Square, Bewildered, in Times Square, and Sharing a Moment, in Times Square.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Daylight, on the B Train to Manhattan
Just a typical view of my morning commute from Brooklyn to Manhattan.
The B, D and Q trains are bathed in light while crossing the Manhattan Bridge. The contrast can be striking after traveling through a dark subway tunnel.
During the minute or two in mid-air, people refresh their phones for email. Some might make a quick call to work or home. You hear a lot of hurried conversations, since at the moment, cell phones don't work in the subway tunnels.
As you can see, one fellow brought a bike on the train. On a busy day, you might be smushed next to a baby carriage, a cello, luggage or a bouquet of roses. I once brought a large raccoon trap on the train (!) when I helped rescue a cat from the city streets.
I have yet to see someone carrying a live chicken, but that doesn't mean it will never happen! Haha.
Related posts: Sunset, on the Ride to Brooklyn, 9:45am on the B Train, Below Brooklyn, and All Lit Up, on the D Train.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Hug, in Washington Square Park
A young couple hugged in Washington Square Park, Sunday afternoon. The triumphal arch of the park is in the background.
We had another gloriously sunny and lovely weekend. The September and October months here are usually very nice.
Related posts: Washington Square Park, at Dusk, Looming Above Washington Square Park, and City Portrait - Washington Square Park.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Another View of the Brooklyn Bridge
Another photo from my day in Brooklyn Bridge Park.
Benches in the shape ship moorings (you know, those metal things you tie a boat to) serve as benches.
Related posts: Back Home to the Brooklyn Bridge and a Boston Terrier, On the Brooklyn Bridge, and The City in Silhouette.
Friday, September 21, 2012
In Black, in Soho
Well, that cliche that New Yorkers wear black is very true.
I'm not sure why it is the case. Partly, I think, because the city is terribly dirty. If you were to wear a white jacket, it would pick up the city grime very quickly, from riding on the subway.
Most of my own clothes are in the same color scheme - black, grey, brown, navy and dark green.
Lately I've gone into some 'color', like purple.
I look very out of place on my trips to the west coast, like I'm at a funeral (!).
Happy Friday everyone!
Related posts: Women in Black, Against War, Fashionista, Midtown, and From the Corner Deli, in Soho.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
42nd and Fifth, in Midtown
Photo by myself, at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, in Midtown.
We had a perfect Fall day, Monday. The light seems much more autumnal, with more pronounced shadows and a golden-ish glow.
The above photo was taken at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, a very busy intersection in Midtown. Lots of people stroll down Fifth Avenue, and 42nd Street is a major commuter hub, with Grand Central Terminal on the east end and Port Authority bus terminal on the west. (Here, I am facing east).
To my right, out of frame, is the large white headquarters of the New York Public Library. Ahead, is the Chrysler Building. The windows next to the 'No Turns' sign belong to it.
The above photo was tweaked for color. I de-saturated the colors quite a bit.
Related posts: A Dollar and a Dream, Holy Smokes in the East Village, and From the Corner Deli, in Soho.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Typical Streetscape, in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Just another night in the neighborhood, or the 'hood, as we call it hereabouts.
Usually there is at least one 24-hour deli per neighborhood. This one has an ATM (cash machine). A box with free local newspapers is on the sidewalk.
At the subway station, there is a light with a green part and a white part. This usually means that the entrance is operational. When the light is part red, it means the location is used only an exit, not an entrance.
Related posts: A Dollar and a Dream, Holy Smokes in the East Village, and From the Corner Deli, in Soho.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Graffiti, Soho
Even in Soho, land of beautiful buildings and beautiful people, there is graffiti.
You certainly see walls covered in paste-ups and stickers. The occasional tag shows up, too.
Related posts: Missing, on Broadway, The Sign of the White Rabbit, on Houston Street, and Tagged at 5-Pointz, Long Island City.
Monday, September 17, 2012
The Brooklyn Bridge, from Old Fulton Street
Many of the buildings in DUMBO are rather old. The one above has a nice patina of age. In the background, one of the piers of the Brooklyn Bridge.
DUMBO is short for 'Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass' and is located at the foot of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, on the Brooklyn side of the East River. The two bridges are close to each other.
There are warehouses, stores, apartment buildings and a spatter of cobblestone streets. Recently, with upgrades to the waterfront, DUMBO has become a more popular destination for visitors.
Related posts: Walking the Brooklyn Bridge, Gone Fishin', Along the East River, and From the Edge of DUMBO.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
A Kiss, in Brooklyn Bridge Park
A young couple embraced in a kiss with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. They had an audience.
We had a perfect, brightly sunny and breezy day, Saturday. The east side of Manhattan is in the background. You can see the raised road along the river, which is the FDR expressway.
Related posts: The Brooklyn Bridge, in the Balance, On Rain, and the Brooklyn Bridge, and The View from the Barge on the East River.
Friday, September 14, 2012
In the Shade, on Park Avenue
I took this while passing by in a cab. A woman was using her huge purse to shield herself from the sun.
There is a the token canopy outside a Park Avenue apartment building in the background. A guy in a suit walks by yapping on his cell phone.
There is scaffolding. Every block seems to have scaffolding. Whenever buildings are being cleaned or repaired, scaffolding is put up to protect pedestrians from being hit on the head.
We've been blessed with gorgeous weather these last few days, with low humidity and bright sun. Hooray!
Related posts: The Woman with a Cat on her Back, Stick Em Up, in Madison Square Park, and Leg Lunges, Midtown 9:25 am.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Looking South, Over Central Park
The view south over Central Park is a nice one, in the height of summer.
The street below is Fifth Avenue, running north-south. The white, square-ish building near the left is the Plaza Hotel, and the two glass towers is the Time Warner Building at Columbus Circle.
Related posts: City Portraits - Central Park, Fall From Above, and On the View from the Upper East Side.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
On NYC Slogans and a Rupert Update
My eye was drawn to a fellow's T-shirt, Monday evening.
A spin off the well known 'I *heart* NY', this T-shirt read 'NYC *hearts* me'. He told me he got the shirt from a store on Canal Street, and gave me a big smile. He was asking passersby for change.
Our dog Rupert lounged lazily in one, doing his best hippo impersonation. He also looks like he's missing his legs.
Boston terriers don't usually like water too much, since they don't have fur to help them float. For whatever reason, Rupert loves the water.
Note the token trash elements in the water. New York is not without its trash.
Related posts: On T-Shirt Slogans and the New Yorker Festival, I Heart NY, in Midtown, and Art for the Masses. Read more...
Monday, September 10, 2012
The Sky Above Park Slope, Brooklyn
A gorgeous sunset in the neighborhood turned the sky a shade of magenta.
The brick walk-up buildings are typical of this neighborhood. Each building has a tiny yard in front and a larger yard in back. Very few buildings have driveways.
Those who watched the US Open over the weekend know that New York had tons of rain. We had a tiny tornado (!) on Saturday, which turned the sky a dark grey and brought down sheets of rain.
Tornados are not typical in our area.
Mark, Rupert and I were in Prospect Park at the time and we managed to run home before the rain came down, thank goodness.
Happy Monday, everyone!
Related posts: Sunset, from the Upper West Side, Sunset, on the Ride to Brooklyn, and Sunset at the Boat Basin, on the Upper West Side.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Eye-Popping Signage at Pop Pub, on University Place
The giant cut-out sign at the pick-up window at Pop Pub is visible from the sidewalk. The descriptions advertise the scrumptious menu to the street.
Pop Burger is a chain, with three locations in the city. The other locations are at 58th Street in Midtown and Ninth Avenue and 15th Street, in Chelsea.
Besides burgers, sandwiches and salads, other pub food is available, such as pork chops, fried calamari and fish and chips (!). There is a full list of beers and wine available.
I haven't eaten at Pop Burger, and reviews are mixed. As with any restaurant, do read reviews before going.
You can see their menus and even order online from the Pop Burger website, here.
Related posts: Outside Memphis, on Broadway, Lit Up, on Fifth Avenue, and The Ghostly Glow of Times Square.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Thursday Morning on Lex, on the Upper East Side
A man stood in the doorway of Donohue's Steak House on Lexington Avenue, Thursday morning. He enjoyed a quiet moment.
Usually, Lexington Avenue is hustling and busy. The street is lined with stores and restaurants. Offices and apartments occupy the floors above street level.
New Yorkers refer to this street as 'Lex', as in 'take me to 53rd and Lex', when speaking to a cab driver. We don't have time for the additional syllables! We have people to see, things to do!
The 'A' rating in the window refers to cleanliness, only. All the restaurants in New York are inspected by the city and graded an 'A', 'B' or 'C'.
If you have plans to dine out, you can look up the grade of the restaurant online, but this has nothing to do with what the food tastes like or the decor. Click here for the city website.
I'm still recovering from the jetlag. I wish everyone a wonderful Friday.
Related posts: Behind the Curtain, Death Before Decaf, in Brooklyn, and Signs of Attitude, on the West Side.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Outside the Met, on the Upper East Side
The steps at the Met were nearly clear of people, earlier this summer.
We're at the height of tourist season and now, the steps are flooded with people. Most people sit on the steps, hanging out. It's a nice place to congregate after a visit to the museum. Often, musicians perform at the bottom of the steps.
Related posts: High Above the Metropolitan Museum, East Side Versus West Side, and How to Get From Here to There.
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
The View from the Met and One Last Thing about Japan...
The view from the rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is a scenic one.
This is a popular place to take a date. There is a bar and sculpture garden. From here, you can watch the sunset and lights of the city come on.
I didn't think I had more to say after returning from our 12-day trip. But tonight, while very jet-lagged, my fiance Mark switched on a documentary that was highly recommended to him, called Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
The movie is divine. It tells of an 85-year old sushi chef, Jiro Ono, whose restaurant was awarded three Michelin stars, and his relentless, daily devotion to his craft.
Jiro left home at the age of seven. His two sons are also sushi chefs, working alongside their father.
The movie is beautifully shot. Anyone who appreciates color photography will appreciate this film. At the beginning of the movie, Mark said 'Oh, I wish we'd seen this earlier...we could have gone to the restaurant.'
Um...no. The tasting menu costs 30,000 yen per person, or about $375 USD (!!!). The movie was filmed in 2011 and opened in New York in March, 2012.
Here's the trailer:
For the Times review of this movie, click here.
Related posts: From the Rooftop of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, On Japanese Food and Fish, and Serving Up Sushi, at 15 East 15th. Read more...
Monday, September 3, 2012
Peeping in, on 28th Street
When looking up from the sidewalk, it's sometimes easier to notice how different the buildings are that wind up next to each other.
A relatively new apartment tower stands on the far left. The building second from the right seems to have loft-like apartments, with high ceilings. The building in the middle looks to be a walk-up.
Part of this is because when you're traveling, you're traveling...and you have all day to enjoy yourself and take photos. Not so in daily life.
The other part is that looking out at different cities and cultures makes me appreciate home, and makes me want to invest the same energy into really looking at it. I'm looking forward to walking around the city streets very soon.
Today is Labor Day, which marks the un-official end of summer!
Related posts: The Ghostly Glow of Times Square, All Lit Up, at 72nd Street, and Peeping In, on the Upper West Side. Read more...
Sunday, September 2, 2012
On the Chrysler Building, Empire State Building and Deadlines Every Second
Photo by myself around 24th Street and Eighth Avenue, in Chelsea.
At one Chelsea public school playground, kids can climb the Empire State Building and Chrysler Buildings to their little hearts' delight. I am sure King Kong impersonations run rampant.
As you can tell from the white sky and barren tree, this photo is from the stash. We are recovering from our 12-hour flight home from Japan.
We flew JAL (Japan Airlines), which we highly recommend. We came home to a very happy reunion with our dog, Rupert, who spun himself around like crazy til he dropped on the floor in shock, haha.
Then sometime around 6 pm yesterday, Mark and I felt like those cartoon characters desperately in need of toothpicks to keep our eyelids open. Now we were up at 4 am. It will take several days to re-adjust.
Before collapsing, we so were lucky to catch a documentary on PBS by chance. The hour-long movie is called Deadline Every Second, and contained interviews with 12 Associated Press (AP) photojournalists.
Most of the photographers are men, and I can see why; their job can be very physical. I was particularly inspired by Tara Todras-Whitehill, a female photographer in the Middle East, who literally had to do battle against pushy crowds every day.
Many of the photojournalists are stationed in war areas. (Be warned, some of the footage is graphic). All of the photographers are fantastically gifted and passionate about photography. I was riveted and moved by what they do - make sense and stunning visual art out of sometimes horrific circumstances.
If you are interested in photography, do a search of your public television station schedule. If the movie isn't scheduled, suggest it!
Unfortunately, the full movie is not online, but the dvd is available on Amazon. For more information, see the Deadline Every Second webpage, here.
Related posts: On the Rockefeller Tree and New York in Pictures, Shooting Film, in Tribeca and the Times, and The Look, Outside the Dakota.
Saturday, September 1, 2012
The Look, in Shibuya, Japan
One last look, or series of looks from Shibuya, a very busy part of Tokyo.
It was rush hour Friday, and tons of commuters were streaming by. The sun was setting, bathing everyone's heads in a warm glow. Some people noticed me and gave me looks. Others were completely oblivious.
Just behind me was a huge intersection where five streets come together. It's perhaps the busiest intersection on the planet.
We are returning to New York today. This weekend is Labor Day weekend in the States. Most businesses are closed on Monday!
Happy weekend, everyone!
Related posts: The Look, Outside the Flatiron Building, The Look, on Greene Street, in Soho, and The Look, Outside the Dakota.
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