New Years Eve, on Sixth Avenue

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

The Empire State Building is bathed in red and green, to celebrate the holiday season.

Across the street, you can barely see that the crosswalk and sidewalks are mobbed with shoppers carrying big bags of stuff. End-of-year sales are going on at every store.

--Can it be the eve of 2014 already?!! Holy cow.

My best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy new year.

Related posts: The Empire State, on St. Patrick's Day, The Empire State, at Dusk, and The Empire State Building, Bathed in White.

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Holiday Festivities at the Lotos Club, on the Upper East Side

Photo by myself at the Lotos Club, at 66th Street and Fifth Avenue.

The stunning interiors of the Lotos Club, a private literary club, were decorated for the holidays. I was lucky to have been invited to a party held there, last week.

The Club is located inside a building constructed in 1900. One can just imagine how it was when first built, with people walking about in historic dress.

The floors were oak in a herringbone pattern. The fireplace was ablaze. There were waitstaff milling about with champagne flutes, wine and hors d'oeuvres. Tables were set up, laden with cheeses, oysters, shrimp and all else. Needless to say I felt underdressed!


The immense fireplace in the library was festooned with garlands. Books line the walls and are accessed by rolling ladders.


A bar was set up below a stunning staircase. 

To visit the Lotos Club website, click here.

Related posts: Filming Outside Grand Prospect Hall, in Brooklyn, Inside the Park Avenue Armory, and City Portraits - The Williamsburgh Bank, in Brooklyn.

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Outside Tiffany's, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, in Midtown.

One of the best holiday displays at the moment must be the exterior of Tiffany's.

The usually sober granite storefront has been decorated for the season with vinyl graphics, showing a pretty streetfront. Here and there in windows and on stoops are those signature blue Tiffany gift boxes.

It started snowing this morning and it's due to snow all day. Stay warm, everyone!

Related posts: The Holiday Windows, at Bergdorf Goodman, West 10th Street, at Night, and It's Holiday Time, on Display at Macy's.

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Townhouse, in the Village

Photo by myself somewhere around West 4th Street, in the Village.

Many of the townhouses around West 4th Street are well kept, with ornamental metal work and pretty stoops. The townhouse above had a pretty, wreath on its door, suited for the season.

--It's still been crazy busy for me, with no end in sight. Now for the mad dash til the end of the year! Whee!!!

As for the city, it's been flooded with tourists. Any drive down Fifth Avenue is lined with sidewalks filled with people looking up and about.

Related posts: Living Large, on the Upper East Side, Browsing Around, in the Village, and A Dash of Charm, in the Village.

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Kebab Cart, in Midtown

Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.

A street cart vendor added charcoal to his continuous fire, Friday night, causing a moment of excess smoke. The sidewalks were crowded, and it was just warm enough to walk around comfortably with a light jacket.

This cart sells pretzels, kebabs, hotdogs and drinks. The meats are 'halal', which means they can be eaten by Muslims. There is no shortage of quick on-the-go food in our fair city.

Related posts: On the Soup Station, and Snow, Pizza Truck, Only a Buck, and On Line for Breakfast, in Midtown.

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Night View, in Soho

Photo by myself on Broadway and Broome Street, in Soho.

At night, the streets in Soho are windswept with trash.

Broadway, a long, major north-south street, is pretty empty at night, since the stores there are closed up for the night. Restaurants and bars are located on the smaller east-west streets in this neighborhood.

-- Alas, it's been a series of late nights for me. I took the photo from a ride home in a cab.

You might be happy to know that the Christmas tree is behind an enormous yellow curtain at Rockefeller Center, and all the decorations are out on Fifth Avenue, already. New York is prepared for the holidays.

TGIF, everyone!

Related posts: Twilight, in Soho, Last Night, in Bryant Park, and Night View, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

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The Morning Commute, on the B Train

Photo by myself on the B train, underground.

The commute on Tuesday morning was business as usual. We've been having chilly weather lately, so everyone is bundled up accordingly.

From this vantage point, it looks like we're a cheerless bunch. You would think that we eat gruel for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Followed by the occasional gruel biscuit for dessert. Ha.

The couple on the far left seem to be husband and wife, (ie; she seems to be speaking to him, and he's not listening!). Many couples commute together, myself and Mark included.

Related posts: Daylight, on the D Train to Brooklyn, The Morning Commute, Underground, and Bundled Up, on the Ride Home.

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Saluting Veterans, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself along Fifth Avenue, in Midtown.

The Veteran's Day parade marched along Fifth Avenue, Monday. Above, members of the US Air Force in their stunning dress uniforms. We had chilly weather and bright sun.

The parade is perhaps the most subdued of all our parades. There are a few floats blaring music from the 1940's, some marching bands, and the occasional sound of bagpipes.

Most of the parade is unaccompanied by music. Respectful spectators applaud and call out their thanks, while veterans from each generation march by.

I am always very moved on this day. Our applause and cheers are tiny gestures compared to the sacrifice of these heroes. Since the parade is held on a Monday and many people are working, the sidelines are sadly sparsely attended.


A veteran of the Korean war saluted onlookers.


An older man held a sign that read 'thank you'. Many people in the crowd shouted their thanks, as well.



Related posts: The 2011 Veterans Day Parade, The Veterans Day Parade, on Fifth Avenue, and Saluting Heroes Along Fifth Avenue, Part One.

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I *Heart* NY, on the Sidewalk

Photo by myself, on the street.

This photo is from the recent stash. I am embarrassed to say I don't remember where this was taken.

It could be anywhere. The Upper West Side? Somewhere in Brooklyn? The Lower East Side? These tiny-ish convenience stores are everywhere and they share the same sensibility: ATM inside, lottery tickets posted on the window. random stuff outside.

The 'I *heart* NY' drawn in chalk rings true for all the above neighborhoods. It is all New York, through and through.

It's been up and down here recently. I've been swamped at work. The weather has gone from bone-chillingly cold to nicely autumnal. We have a new mayor. There was a marathon.

Anyhoo, Happy Thursday everyone!

Related posts: Cost was Here, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, On the Rise, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and Graffiti, Soho.

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Human Drive-Thru, in Midtown

Photo by myself, in Midtown.

Behold, a line outside Dunkin Donuts, a very popular chain. There are 30-some locations in Manhattan, most of them south of City Hall.

As you can see, New Yorkers are such a picky bunch that they will undergo public humiliation to get a 'good' cup of coffee. Along this stretch of Midtown, the only coffee purveyors are carts parked along the sidewalk and the occasional deli.

[Disclaimer: Use of the word 'good' in this case is debatable. I'm not a fan of Dunkin Donuts, but that doesn't mean anything!]

Related posts: Death Before Decaf, in Brooklyn, On Line, in Midtown, and Waiting, in Alphabet City.

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A Rupert Update, with Friend

Photo by myself in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Rupert, our Boston Terrier (right) stands knee deep in leaves. Beside him is his smaller and sprite-lier sidekick, Penelope.

Sorry this photo is a little blurry around the animals! They kept moving around so much, it's a wonder any photos came out well at all.

(Fashion note: Penelope is wearing a Darth Vader one-piece outfit).

--It's noticeably cooler these days, as we're heading toward November. Life has been very, very busy at work and home.

All this time, too, I thought that something was going on with my big camera. I'd put my eyeball to the viewfinder but nothing seemed to be in focus.

It turns out though that it's my eyeball that's not in focus. Argh! So now I cannot tell what's good or bad until I get home, which keeps things interesting.

Related posts: Boston Terriers Gone Mad, at the Mad, Dog Run, On NYC Slogans, and a Rupert Update, and Back Home to the Brooklyn Bridge and a Boston Terrier.

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Dancer, On the Ride Home

Photo by myself on the Q Train.

A young man performed on the subway, to the usual crowd commuting home to Brooklyn.

He was part of a whole troupe of young kids, dancing to loud music. Much of his routine highlighted his incredible flexibility.



Related posts: Cartwheel, on the Q Train Home, Mimes, Below Times Square, and Flipping Out, on the B Train.

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A Moment, in Union Square

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

A man wearing a Chicago Bulls uniform and hat of feathers sat alongside the subway entrance at Union Square. In his hand he carried some sort of voodoo cane decorated with bones.

Meanwhile in the background, another man did push ups.

I was a little worried about taking this photo, since the man wearing the feathers seemed very upset. He was muttering angrily to himself about the Hare Krishna group dancing about, some 20 paces away.

Related posts: Crochet Lady, in Midtown, Green Man, in Washington Square Park, and Funky Chicken, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

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Swimming for Relief, in Herald Square

Photo by myself in Herald Square, at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

Diana Nyad, the long distance swimmer, was midway through her swim for her charity 'Swim for Relief', Wednesday morning.

A makeshift lap pool was set up right outside the entrance to Macy's. There were two lanes set up, so Nyad could have companions join her during the 48-hour swim. I was there around 10 am, and the clock was at the 25-hour mark.

There were grandstand seats, and cameras, and a narrow walkway where people could stand and take photos. Once you stood on the raised walkway, the pool was about the level of your chest.

At this writing, Swim for Relief has raised $70k, with funds going to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Their website has a webcam showing the pool (!) so you can tune into see Nyad go back and forth, and back and forth. It's a little chilly now in the city, but nothing like what it must be at sea.

For the Swim for Relief website, click here.



Related posts: A Quick Game, in Tompkins Square Park, On the Ice, in Midtown, and Badminton in Burqas, in Brooklyn.

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Out for a Walk, in Santa Monica, California

Photo by myself at the Third Avenue Promenade, in Santa Monica, California.

Just a moment from my recent visit to California, at 'the Promenade', the main attraction in Santa Monica.

A woman chatted with passersby, while carrying her pet pig in her arms. The pig, (I assume a girl pig) wore a little halter. So I guess the pig had been out for a stroll.

The promenade in Santa Monica is a very popular outdoor pedestrian mall, lined with stores on both sides. There are fountains and musicians and eateries, too.

Oh....and farm animals.

Related posts: A Four-Legged Co-Pilot, on Flatbush Avenue, Walking the Dog, While Pedalling, and The Sign of the Rat, in Midtown.

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On Window Bays and Shopfronts, Around the City

Photo by myself, on the Upper West Side.

At one of the many townhouses on the upper West Side, a pretty bay window is decorated with a Greek key pattern along the lower edge and a scalloped underside. Even the protective window grilles are ornamental.

--If you have a spare moment, check out this incredible slideshow currently on the New York Times website.

The Times showcases several small scale dioramas made by Randy Hage, a craftsman who works on movie and television props. Hage takes photos of historic, well-loved New York storefronts, then builds 1/12th scale models of them, then takes photos of the models.

The results are pretty astonishing - the uneven brickwork, painterly metal roll down doors and old timey signs are breathtakingly represented. You would never think you were looking at a replica made by hand.

Seeing these images, for me, was like looking through a time capsule. The best photo of the series shows Hage looming over the Nick's Lucheonette, and exposing the real scale of the model. (I promise the image above is a real photo of a real building!)

To see the Times slideshow, click here.

Related posts: Living Large, on the Upper East Side, A Dash of Charm, in the Village, and Outside Bedford Street Laundry, in the Village.

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Too Cool, on 42nd Street

Photo by myself on 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

Yes, another one of those 'people crossing the street ' photos. I just can't help myself.

Some folks are fashionably dressed. Others are tuned out. All are in a rush.

Apologies for the big break from posting. I went out to LA to see my family and enjoyed a few days in the sun.

Going to the West Coast is always a bit of culture shock. Not just the driving but the absence of walking. And the absence of being in a crowd all the time, with another crowd walking toward you.

Now back in town, It seems I'm the only person in this city still wearing flip flops. It is decidedly Fall and everyone is wearing proper shoes. It's been about 70F every day (21 degrees Celsius)....perfect Fall days.

Related posts: On the Crowds in Herald Square and Walking in the City, On Crossing the Street and the Ban on Sugary Drinks, and People, People, Everywhere in the Village.

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The Neon Lights, Outside Radio City Music Hall

Photo by myself, around 50th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

The large wrap-around sign at Radio City Music Hall stubbornly resists the urge to scroll or flash.

The neon signage is as distinctive as ever. The upcoming shows are displayed in smaller font, below. This view was taken on the side street Thursday night.

The nice thing about this landmark is that its location is very 'current', with tall buildings all around. You might go see the Rockettes one night, a taste of history, but on the way over you'll pass crowds of businessmen and women streaming out of the office.

Happy Friday everyone!

Related posts: Outside Radio City Music hall, on Sixth Avenue, On Radio City, and the Whitney Museum, and The Bright Lights at BAM.

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Morning Commute, from Roosevelt Island

Photo by myself around 60th Street and 2nd Avenue, on the Upper East Side.

On Wednesday morning, I was on the Upper East Side near the Queensborough Bridge. The tram was coming over from Roosevelt Island, filled to the hilt with passengers.

Roosevelt Island is a sliver of land in the East River. There are hospitals, apartment buildings, stores and schools there. One way to commute to and fro is the tram, the other is the subway. Cars are allowed access as well.

As you can see, the sun was out and it was very hot and humid. I had a routine doctor's appointment, then did a little grocery shopping. All the time, the 9/11 remembrance ceremony was being conducted in the background.

Everyone was tuned into the ceremony. Even if you weren't actively watching, you were probably thinking about it.

Related posts: The View from Roosevelt Island, The View from Downstream, and The Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, at Sunset.

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Subway Conductor, on the Job

Photo by myself at the 81st Street subway station on the Upper West Side.

A subway conductor stuck her head out to check whether all was clear before the train moved. This is routine business on every train - they look in one direction, then the other, then back to the first direction.

Just after I took this photo, the conductor looked right at me and gave me a big smile, which was nice.

Related posts: Stealing a Nap, Below Ground, Napping in Midtown, and A Much Needed Nap.

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Sleeping, Below Times Square

Photo by myself on the Times Square subway platform.

The subway platform was sparsely attended and relaxed, Monday evening. This was taken during rush hour, during a brief lull in the crowds.

We've been having heavenly weather this week, with cool autumnal breezes. Hats and long sleeves have come out of the closet.

Fall is a notoriously short season in New York. Blink....and it is over.

Related posts: Stealing a Nap, Below Ground, Napping in Midtown, and A Much Needed Nap.

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At the Bar, at Brooklyn Crab

Photo by myself in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Crab is located just across the way from Fairway at the edge of Red Hook. It opened about a year ago and has since become a destination. Mark and I were there at the bar, enjoying drinks and raw oysters.

When the new building was going up, it created quite a stir. There are three very open floors and outdoor seating. The vibe is decidedly beachy, and with the waterfront view and sea breezes, you feel as if you're on a big boat. We went there once recently for dinner and the place was packed to the gills.

You can get whole blue crabs here, along with those little mallets and skinny forks to dismantle them with. Or skip all that hard work and enjoy a clam roll or crab cakes with a bowl of chowder. And of course, all the beer to go along with it. On special days, raw oysters are $1 a piece!

For the Brooklyn Crab website, including their menu, click here.

Related posts: Pistachio Cupcakes, in the East Village, In a State of Fusion, at Sushi Samba, and Brunch at Barbuto, in the West Village.

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Graffiti, in the East Village

Photo by myself, somewhere in the East Village.

A painting of a robed woman lingers enticingly in a doorway.

We just sailed through a rainy and extremely humid Labor Day Weekend, here. As per tradition, the US Open is going on in nearby Queens.

Unlike tradition, though, many of the games weren't televised over the weekend because of disputes between the tv channel airing the matches (CBS) and Time Warner, the cable company. It was very, very strange (and annoying) not to hear the games in the background. Mark and I watched them online.

All was resolved by Monday though, just in time for the Federer game, a painful game to watch.

Related posts: Random Graffiti, on Second Avenue, Graffiti, Soho, and Graff Attack, in the Meatpacking District.

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Ice Cream in Midtown

Photo by myself at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

You'd never think of an ice cream truck in the middle of the city, but it happens all the time. Here, one was parked just steps away from Macy's and the Empire State Building.

This area has changed a bit, since part of Sixth Avenue has been closed off to car traffic. Now there are tables and umbrellas for people to sit outside and rest after their grueling shopping. Just about every popular store can be found on 34th Street - the Gap, Zara, Uniqlo, Forever 21, Steve Madden, etc. etc.

Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone! All offices will be closed on Monday. The last couple weeks, the city has felt empty. It's been a good time to get away. Mark and I will be staying in town.

Related posts: Queuing for Ice Cream in the Cold, Summer Ice, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and On Line for Cream Cakes, Outside.

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Weiner Bar, in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Photo by myself, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Der Kommissar is a small weiner-themed bar in Park Slope, Brooklyn. They have a great array of beers and nine different sausages to choose from, including a vegetarian option.

The sausages are delicious. Mark and I visited twice last week. They make some of the sausages themselves from scratch, including one called a 'Pak wurst' that has a curry-influenced filling.

We are in love with this place, which has outdoor seating in the back and a pick-up window in the front for the late-night wurst cravings I see in my future.

Above the chalkboard menu are snippets from local papers about Anthony Weiner, the unfortunately-named politician running for mayor who is renown for his sexting scandals. Recently, he admitted to sexting pictures of himself a year ago, after he had vowed to stop.

I think most New Yorkers smacked their foreheads and groaned when they heard about the last sexting revelation. It was all over the news, and brought down what was once a promising political career. Here is the Wiki entry, if you're interested.

For the Der Kommissar site, including their delicious menu, click here.

Related posts: Outside a Creperie, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Sausage Guys, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and On the Price of a Slice, Downtown.

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Cartwheel, on the Q Train Home

Photo by myself on the Q Train.

Folks on the ride home to Brooklyn were entertained by a few guys dancing on the train. As usual, this involved boom boxes with very loud music, handstands and twirling about.

Since we were crossing the Manhattan Bridge, the subway car was awash with light and everyone was checking their cell phones.

Related posts: Flipping Out on the B Train, Enjoying a Fling, on the R Train, and Upside Down on the R Train.

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Selling Hats, on the Lower East Side

Photo by myself on Orchard Street and Rivington, on the Lower East Side.

Two guys were selling hats, on the Lower East Side.

Orchard Street was closed off to car traffic on Sunday, as it is most weekends. Stores selling leather jackets and other clothing set up racks and tables on the sidewalks for customers to browse through.

Related posts: Outside Sol Moscot, on the Lower East Side, A Glimpse into the Orchard Corset Center, on the Lower East Side, and Outside Zucco, on the Lower East Side.

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Looking out, to Central Park South

Photo by myself around 65th Street and Central Park West, on the Upper West Side.

The view toward Central Park South.

Below is Central Park West, otherwise known as Eighth Avenue. The turnaround at Columbus Circle is just out of view to the right.

I don't usually like to post two scenic photos back-to-back, but I couldn't resist. I was at an apartment Wednesday with some of my coworkers, measuring the place.

At one point I opened the casement doors and stepped out on the balcony. There were people walking not far below, and one fellow looked up at me. 'No!' I wanted to tell him. 'I don't live here. I'm the hired help. I'm just measuring'.

But it was too much to explain from 60 feet up.

Related posts: The Skyline on the Upper West Side, The View from the Upper East Side, and The View from the Brooklyn Bridge.

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The Plaza at Lincoln Center

Photo by myself at Lincoln Center, around 66th Street and Broadway.

Lincoln Center is timeless. A little hard around the edges, perhaps, with all the travertine stone and only the fountain in the middle to soften the vibe.

Related posts: Around the Fountain at Lincoln Center and Humans of New York, A Look at the New Lincoln Center, and Up with the Arts, at Lincoln Center.

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On the Sidewalk, on Broadway

Photo by myself on Broadway, in Midtown.

An older gentleman looked at a loss the other day, among the foot traffic and tall buildings.

Some would say that the city is not the greatest place for the elderly - people move so quickly, it's crowded, sidewalks are uneven.

On the other hand, there are grocery stores just outside one's doorway, and you don't need a car. Sort of a mixed bag, I guess.

Related posts: Waiting Together, on Fifth Avenue, Peeking in, on St. Mark's Place, and With Pushcart, in Chelsea.

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Accordions Around the World, in Bryant Park

Photo by myself in Bryant Park, in Midtown.

Throughout this summer, Bryant Park has hosted special evenings with 'Accordions around the World'. The night I was there, I think there were thirteen accordion players scattered around the park.

Every Thursday evening, you can hear accordions playing every sort of tune. Accordion players from Norway, New Zealand, Brazil, Japan...you name it. Playing gypsy music, jazz, klezmer tunes...and so on!

There are two more Thursday nights to the summer left. For a description of this event on the Bryant Park website, click here.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Related posts: Animal Hats for Sale, All Wrapped Up, in Soho, and Fashionista, Midtown.

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Enjoying a Laugh, Outside the New York Public Library

Photo by myself at 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue, in Midtown.

I spotted three young women sitting on the steps of the New York Public Library a while ago.

I loved how they were dressed and should have asked what the occasion was. They graciously allowed me to take their photo.

Related posts: Animal Hats for Sale, All Wrapped Up, in Soho, and Fashionista, Midtown.

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Graffiti, in Red Hook, Brooklyn

Photo by myself on Van Brunt Street, in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

A derelict house stood in Red Hook, Brooklyn, covered in graffiti. On the front door someone had written 'There is no justice in Amerikkka. RIP Trayvon.'

From what I can tell, Red Hook is a racially diverse neighborhood. Some people have lived there a long time, but there are some newer apartment buildings and converted artist lofts.

Red Hook is located on the water, and so suffered extensive flooding during Hurricane Sandy, last October. One major drawback with the neighborhood is that it lacks a convenient subway station.

Though the Trayvon Martin shooting took place in Florida, 'stop and frisk' (where police are allowed to frisk people on the street because of whatever suspicion) is now being heatedly discussed in the news here in New York.

Just Monday, the stop and frisk routine of the NYPD was ruled unconstitutional. The City plans to appeal.

Related posts: Graffiti, Williamsburg, Random Graffiti, on Second Avenue, and Written on the Walls, in Nolita and East Harlem.

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Barber Shop, Brooklyn

Photo by myself around 47th Street and 4th Avenue, in Brooklyn.

In parts of Brooklyn, there are several barber shops on a block. These are places for guys to sit and hang out.

Mark and I were in the area for Vietnamese food in neighboring Chinatown.

Related posts: City Portraits - Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Passing By, in Sunset Park, and Tonight's Winning Numbers, in Sunset Park.

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Watch Repair, in Sunset Park

Photo by myself around 56th Street and Eighth Avenue, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

A young man performed watch band repairs on the sidewalk, in Sunset Park. This is the Brooklyn equivalent of Chinatown.

Some of the neighborhoods in Brooklyn are so self-sufficient, one could live there and never venture to Manhattan. Many people end up only speaking their native language, such as Chinese, Russian, Polish or Spanish.

Related posts: City Portraits - Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Passing By, in Sunset Park, and Tonight's Winning Numbers, in Sunset Park.

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RIP Big Nick's, on the Upper West Side

Photo by myself, around 76th Street and Broadway, on the Upper West Side.

After 51 years, Big Nick's, the scruffy burger joint on Broadway, shuttered its doors.

A large sign explained their predicament - their rent was raised from $42k to $60k per month. There was absolutely no way to survive.

In the reflection of the glass you can see the new high rise building across the street, a symptom of luxury living that precipitated Big Nick's demise. Below, a photo from an earlier visit. The array of signs gave the place a certain something something.

I've posted a few other photos of Big Nick's in the past. There were always a few tables on the sidewalk outside, neon signs in the windows and a warm vibe. I will miss this place and its charm.

For a look at Nick's in its heyday, click here and here.



Related posts: Store Closing, on Fifth Avenue, Signs on Third Avenue, and Now on Sale, in Midtown.

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Bet Your Last Money, on Bowery

Photo by myself on Bowery around Spring Street, downtown.

A colorful mural was painted on a metal roll down door. This block is known for large stores for restaurant supplies and housewares.

This type of art is the exception rather than the norm. Most roll down doors are either plain metal or littered with much less artistic graffiti.

Happy Friday everyone!

Related posts: FDNY Mural, in the East Village, Genesis Mural, in NoHo, and Signs of Evil, on 8th Street.

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On the Sidewalk, in Midtown

Photo by myself, somewhere in Sixth Avenue, Midtown.

It hasn't been cool enough for wearing sweaters yet but it hasn't been insanely hot, either. This photo is from the stash. We're happily enjoying some gorgeous days.

As you can see, there aren't too many trees or soft surfaces in Midtown. Just signs, asphalt and glass.

Related posts: String Duet, Below Brooklyn, Commuting in the Hood, on the Atlantic/Pacific Platform, and Wednesday Morning, Below Brooklyn.

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On the Subway Platform, Below Atlantic/Pacific Streets, Brooklyn

Photo by myself on the Atlantic/Pacific Street subway platform, in Brooklyn.

Often, commuters on their way home to Brooklyn will hear the ambient sounds of modern music, played on the xylophone. The effect is a bit surreal.

The station at Atlantic and Pacific Streets is a major one, with several train lines passing though. The Barclays Center is just above, a large performance space and home of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Islanders.

Related posts: String Duet, Below Brooklyn, Commuting in the Hood, on the Atlantic/Pacific Platform, and Wednesday Morning, Below Brooklyn.

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Times Square, at Dusk

Photo by myself in Times Square, at 42nd Street and Broadway.

Mickey and Minnie Mouse chatted in Times Square, Wednesday evening.

The space was buzzing with people, guys drumming up business for tour busses, food vendors, and lights.

Related posts: Big Red Monster, in Herald Square, All A-Buzz About a Bee, in Union Square, and A Costumed Serenade, at 59th Street, Columbus Circle.

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In View of the Brooklyn Bridge

Photo by myself in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

The view from Brooklyn Bridge Park of the East River and East Side of Manhattan.

The Brooklyn Bridge has been under renovation, lately. Parts have been covered with white cloth, which has moved along the length. This photo is from the stash, when the Manhattan end of the bridge was being fixed. The cloth is near the Brooklyn end, now.

Of course, the nice thing about taking photos of bridges is that they don't tend to move.

Related posts: Another View of the Brooklyn Bridge, The Brooklyn Bridge, in the Balance, and On the Brooklyn Bridge.

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Antiques Store, in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Photo by myself on Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

A humorous sign outside an antiques store in Brooklyn. Yes, they have everything, including medieval hatchet thingies to protect yourself with.

We're having a beautiful, unseasonably coolish stretch of days. Hooray!

Related posts: Store Closing, on Fifth Avenue, Outside Mxyplyzyk, in the Village, and A Tour Through the Winter Antiques Show, on the Upper East Side.

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