57th Street Tower, from Columbus Circle

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

One of a few very, very tall buildings is being built on 57th Street. This might be what's called 'The Columbus Circle Tower', or the 'Extell Tower', one of which is supposed to be 99 stories tall.

If you look closely, there is a dot on the right side, about halfway up. I took this photo because I could see the dot moving upwards. It must have been some mechanical equipment being hoisted up toward the roof, which could not fit into the elevator (!). Yipes. I'm sure there was scaffolding below!

Related posts: Billionaire's Row, Along Central Park South, Manchester House, on the Upper West Side, and Living Large, on the Upper East Side.

Read more...

The View near 59th Street, Columbus Circle

Photo by myself around 60th Street and Broadway on the Upper West Side.

It was busy and cold on Monday near Columbus Circle. Cabs and cars were whizzing by.

In the background toward the left, is one of the new buildings for billionaires. The skyscraper at 1 East 57th Street is a really, really tall residential tower, rising 75 stories. It looms over its neighbors.

Costs for apartments at 1E57 there average $6,667 per square foot. Egad. Some apartments sold for as much as $91 million dollars.

Luckily at this writing, there are still some $58 million dollar apartments that are up for grabs! For the One57 website, click here.

Related posts: One Central Park, at Night, Billionaire's Row, above Central Park South, and Office Towers, near Bryant Park.

Read more...

Serenade, Below 59th Street

Photo by myself, below 59th Street, Columbus Circle.

A musician serenaded the subway platform, Tuesday night.

Sitting on a suitcase, with his guitar plugged into an amp, the singer also used his left foot to operate a drum. A one-man band!

Related posts: Drum Circle, in Tompkins Square Park, Busking, Below Union Square, and Folk Singers, in the Village.

Read more...

Strangers, Below Columbus Circle

Photo by myself at the 59th Street subway station.

Three strangers sat on a bench at the Columbus Circle subway station, the other night.

Related posts: In Darkness, Below Ground, All Lit Up on the D Train, and The Morning Commute, Underground.

Read more...

Fake New York Marathon, at Columbus Circle

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

A podium and many signs were put up the other day for the New York City Marathon, in Columbus Circle.

The New York Marathon is normally run in the beginning of November (!) There were bright lights and cameras set up. This must have been the stage set for a movie or commercial. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to ask any of the crew.

While I wouldn't say it's an every day occurrence to see film crews in the city, it is certainly not rare. Usually, large white trucks are parked within a few blocks for the cast's changing rooms, and there are tables out with food. Production assistants mill about, making sure the sidewalks are clear.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Correction: Reader John, below, commented that this was a ceremony for runners chosen by lottery to run in this year's marathon. Every year, many, many more runners sign up than there is space for.

Related posts: Filming on Location, in Soho, A Film Shoot, in Midtown, and Campaign Offices, Set in Midtown.

Read more...

Duet, on the 59th Street Platform

Photo by myself at the 59th Street subway station.

A violinist and a cellist performed together on the Columbus Circle subway platform, the other night.

Playing entirely by ear (the sheet music in front of the cellist was just for show), this pair performed the Beethoven Violin Concerto and various movements of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. The violinist had dreadlocks and the cellist had his hair up in a ponytail.

Most people haven't heard classical music played live. These photos were taken during a lull, but a few minutes later, a good-sized crowd stood around, utterly entranced.



Related posts: On a Musical Interlude and the NYT Hawk Cam, On Street Music and the Polar Bear Swim, and Serenade, in Tompkins Square Park.

Read more...

Along for the Ride, in Columbus Circle

Photo by myself in Columbus Circle, at Central Park South and Columbus Avenue.

Just as the light turned color, this duo crossed my path in Columbus Circle. You can see the globe sculpture near the Trump International Tower and subway station in the background.

I had barely enough time to grab my camera, so this photo is a bit overexposed.

Fortunately for everyone, this little dog had his leash attached to the inside of the carrier. He was very, very excited and jumped up and down, yipping and yapping.

Related posts: Doggy Bag, on the Q Train, Dogs in Fur Coats, on Madison Avenue and On Dogs and Dogs.

Read more...

Holiday Under the Stars, at Columbus Circle

Photo by myself at the Time Warner Center, in Columbus Circle.

Above, the main atrium space in the Time Warner Center. In the background are Columbus Circle and Central Park South.

Suspended in the atrium are twelve stars, each internally illuminated with LED lights. The largest stars are 14 feet tall.

The LED lights cycle slowly through the color spectrum, turning the stars blue, purple, yellow, orange, red and green. It takes less than a minute to get through the entire spectrum. I took the above photo at around 3 pm.

Starting at 5pm every day is a light show called Holiday Under the Stars. The show includes over 150 strobe lights and a musical soundtrack. The show must be very dramatic, since by that time it's dark outside.


Above, the lights slowly turn from blue to green.

Related posts: On Target, On Houston, The Starry Sky Above 59th Street and The Twinkling View at Rockefeller Center.

Read more...

A Forest of Columns, Below Ground

Photo by myself at the 59th Street subway station.

Daylight and fluorescent light intersect at the station at 59th Street, on the Upper West Side.

These tracks are very tidy, a highly uncommon sight. Usually in between the tracks are enormous brown puddles and litter. And rats, of course. Don't forget them.

Some subway stations, like this one, are located directly under the street. The light comes in from grates in the sidewalk, like skylights. Rain falls directly onto the tracks.

Other subway stations, serving more than one subway line, have layers of tunnels. You have to navigate among stairways or escalators and pedestrian tunnels. For those with baby carriages, wheelchairs or crutches, you can use the scary elevators. Good luck. Nice knowing you! ;-)

Mark tells me that one of the deepest subway station occurs at Lexington and 63rd Street. F trains are coming in from below the East River from Queens, while the street level in Midtown is high.

I made the mistake of getting out at 63rd and Lex once, late for a meeting at 63rd and Madison. I had to run up two monster escalators to another escalator to reach the real world. It felt like I was emerging from the center of the earth.

Related posts: The Elevated Tracks, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Moving on Up and Across the Tracks.

Read more...

On Little Black Dresses and Little Black Dogs

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

The language of many fashionable women of a certain set is shown above: little black dresses, big bags, small dogs. Most of the time, the small dogs are placed into the big bags during subway rides.*

There is a requisite splash of jewelry. There are sandals, pedicured feet and plucked eyebrows. There are bodies toned from daily gym routines and nightly evenings on the town.

*All dogs, except seeing-eye dogs, must be placed in carriers while on the subway. If the dog is too large for a bag, they cannot get on the train.

Related posts: Uggs in Times Square, Outside Biography Books, Bleeker Street and On Dogs and Dogs.

Read more...

Columbus Circle, in Black and White

Photo by myself in Columbus Circle, around 59th Street and Broadway.

The giant steel globe at Columbus Circle is very shiny in the sun.

Beyond, a modern building is home to Jazz at Lincoln Center.

--

Related posts: Brrrrrrrrrr, 1 Central Park, at Night and On Columbus Circle and le Cirque.

Read more...

Columbus Circle, at Dusk

Photo by myself in Columbus Circle, at 59th Street and Broadway.

Despite the economic situation, the streets are still bustling here, with tourists, street vendors, cyclists, cabbies and regular New Yorkers.

This little corner near Central Park is one of my favorite places, with its mix of older buildings and new glass towers. There's a rotary and a fountain, and a large open space that makes for a dramatic view, day or night.

--
Work has been busy with late nights and stress. Friday, I stayed past nine for a deadline, and took a cab home with some coworkers who live nearby.

'Park Slope. Take the FDR to the Brooklyn Bridge, please.'

I could see the cabbie give us a look in the rear view mirror. He did not seem happy.

I've had cabbies refuse to drive to Brooklyn, but by law, they're supposed to drive you anywhere in the five boroughs. Their worry is that by driving outside Manhattan, they're less likely to find a return fare.

The common excuse is that they're wrapping up for the night and have to hand the cab off. Since taxi medallions are so expensive, (one sold for more than 500k last year), it's common for cab drivers to run in shifts, with the same vehicle.

There are gypsy cabs too, large dark sedans that quote you a price for a trip, however, these are not legal in New York. As a pedestrian you're expected to use a yellow cab, which are numbered and use meters to determine their fares.

Related posts: On Columbus Circle and Le Cirque, Taking a Glance at Columbus Circle and 1 Central Park at Night.

Read more...

On Columbus Circle and Le Cirque

Photo by myself of Merchant's Gate, in Columbus Circle at 59th Street.

It snowed again Tuesday, leaving white stuff in some parts and puddles of slush elsewhere. People walked around carefully avoiding the icy bits, Wednesday morning.

--
For all you food lovers, it's restaurant week in New York.

Actually, restaurant week (which traditionally spans two weeks in the winter and summer) lasts until February 27th, a while from now. This year the occasion has been extended to help stimulate the economy. Top restaurants all over New York offer prix fixe lunches and dinners at affordable prices.

At the famed Le Cirque, you can get a complete meal for $24.07 - as a main course, for instance, you can have divers sea scallops or a steak with French adjectives, like tapenade and confit. It is a gourmand's dream come true.

There are 250 restaurants participating from all around the city. For a complete listing, click here.

Related posts: Art for Public's Sake, At the Brooklyn Museum - The DIzzying World of Murakami and What's on the Walls Underground.

Read more...

1 Central Park, at Night

Photo by myself of 1 Central Park, at 59th Street and Columbus Avenue.

What used to be the AOL Time Warner building, is now known as 1 Columbus Circle. A multi-story mall is located on the ground floor, with luxury shops and restaurants.

The condominiums at 1 Central Park were being offered several years ago. I read that studio apartments were priced at $3 million dollars.

--
Mark and I have been watching Hellboy 1 & 2 on dvd. Set in a romanticized New York, these fantastic movies star Ron Perlman as the title character, a superhero with authority issues. I recommend the movies for their visual grandeur.

There is something about New York which makes it the setting for so many movies, especially fantastic ones with superheroes. Besides Hellboy, King Kong, Spiderman and Superman also use Gotham as their home base.

With its share of iconic buildings, helpless mobs and a feeling of eerie surreality, New York is the sensible backdrop for good versus evil.

Related posts: Dusk Among Towers, Skating Under the Empire State and 42nd Street.

Read more...

Brrrrrrrr

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

A group of cold tourists surrounded a vendor selling cashmere scarves. For ten bucks you could bundle yourself up in style.

--
I hope everyone is not overstuffed with a hangover. Our evening was rather typical, involving much too much food, wine, chatter, animals and children.

Why is it that every holiday people just go nuts?

Related posts: A Message from Beantown, On Bowling and Critters and Our Extended Family.

Read more...

Taking a Glance at Columbus Circle

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

The Trump International Hotel at One Central Park, has hung up evergreen boughs along its brass canopy. Below, the doorman talks to a waiting driver.

--
I've noticed recently that I hardly take black and white photos anymore. I can't say this is on purpose, because the 'black and white' images are originally taken in color. It's just that I've gotten a little better with my picture taking, so the color ones don't look so terrible.

There is something about New York and black and white images, though. It's a city of high contrasts. It's a city of classic looks. There are often sharp angles, and deep shadows. And there's often such a mix of different color schemes, that black and white just makes sense.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Related posts: Now, On Center Stage, East (Side) Versus (West) Side and At The Brooklyn Museum - The Dizzying World of Murakami.

Read more...

Going For The Gold

Photo by myself, outside the Trump International Hotel and Tower, at 59th Street and Central Park West.

This shiny sign and shiny building symbolize less class and sophistication than sheer bling.

--
Tonight (Tuesday), Bob Dylan is playing in Prospect Park, his first Brooklyn concert.

Tickets went on sale in June for 7,000 seats, ranging between $55 to $100 dollars. Reports said that some tickets were being resold for over $550.

Mark and I didn't go, though. He's still recovering from working the weekend. We've been glued to the television at night, watching the Olympics, like everyone else. The camera flit between the synchronized diving, swimming and gymnastics.

Whew!

Read more...

CDP Theme Day - Metal

Photo by myself of the large metal globe sculpture at Columbus Circle, at 59th Street and Columbus Avenue.

This sparkling sculpture is at least 30 feet wide and is held above the ground by one big, chrome column. All around, people are rushing by to board the subway, tour the fancy shops at the Time Warner Center and saunter in Central Park.

The above photo was inspired by this month's Theme Day, held by the City Daily Photo site. Blogs all over the world are also showing photos featuring the theme metal, today.

--
There is a lot going on right now.

Coworkers and friends are changing jobs, even in this uncertain market. Construction in the city is going at a mad hum.

In the building where my main project is situated, a brand new condo building, there are 90 renovations going on. That's nine-zero projects that are starting up, in full gear, or wrapping up.

You wouldn't think there's a real estate crisis going on.

Click here to view thumbnails for all Theme Day participants.

Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Baruch, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brantford (ON), Canada by Nancy, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chesapeake (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Cincinnati, USA by Erik Laursen, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Edmonton (AL), Canada by , Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Piskie, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gabriola, Canada by Snapper, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jerusalem, Israel by Esther, Kansas City (MO), USA by Cate B, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Leipzig, Germany by weltbeschreiber, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Lynchburg (VA), USA by June, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Mashhad, Iran by Meead, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mesa (AZ), USA by Mesa Daily Photo, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Scott, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stephanie Craig, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Pretoria, South Africa by Sam-Ruth, Quezon City, Philippines by ann pablo, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Rancho Palos Verdes (CA), USA by Sarah Adams, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Villigen, Switzerland by z, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Read more...

All That Glitters

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

The fountain in front of the AOL Time Warner Building is lit up in the evenings. This glamorous location makes you feel like you're in the midst of everything.

--
The other night I was watching the last episode of The Real Housewives of New York City, which I'd recorded. What can I say? I couldn't help myself.

Mark settled on the sofa next to me. After a couple minutes he asked, 'Who are these people?'

Obviously he can't understand us girls. Even though I started out resisting this show, these women grew on me. I admit it. They're a bit ridiculous. Some should just get over themselves. But like so many of Bravo's reality shows (Top Model, Top Chef, that tattoo show in LA), Real Housewives is seriously addictive.

No, these five women don't represent New York in the least. Their experiences and concerns reflect a very small demographic. I doubt any of them have taken the subway in years. What makes the show addictive are their personalities, which are strong, over-the-top and a little nuts.

Incidentally the top random keyword search that is referred to this blog is for the name 'Bethenney', for Bethenney Frankel, a natural foods chef on the show. Bethenney is the wittiest one of the bunch. Her troubled childhood and unsettled relationship status makes her the 'housewife' most women would find compelling, I think.

Anyway, Season 1 of Real Housewives is over. Mark has a reprieve.


For earlier posts on the show, click here or here.

Read more...