On Police Precincts and Commuting Whilst Asleep

Photo by myself in Soho, around Centre and Broome Streets.

This gorgeously ritzy building just outside Little Italy was once a police station. It now houses large condo apartments. Last month, a one-bedroom in the building sold for nearly $4 million, while a four-bedroom went for nearly $20 million.

It's been long rumored that 240 Centre Street is home to runway models and celebrities like George Clooney. I've walked by many times and have never seen anyone coming out or going in.

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Apologies for being a bit out of it, recently. Things have been getting busier at the office, which is a good thing, I suppose.

Thursday morning involved a harrowing subway ride from Brooklyn to the Upper East Side. I woke up late and had exactly one hour to get from Park Slope to 94th Street and Park Avenue for a 9am meeting.

An hour is cutting it close, but it can be done if there are no delays. I raced to the subway and changed to a #5 express train, which arrived within moments. I was golden. All the stars were aligned. At 8:53, my train stopped at 86th Street and Lexington.

Then stupid me stayed on the train. Stupid me forgot the train was an express train and would not stop at 96th Street, so that I could walk the few blocks to the meeting, triumphantly on time. The doors closed and the train started and kept going and going.

Subway stops whizzed by. I started to sweat. All other passengers read their papers or enjoyed the ride, but I fidgeted frantically. A voice announced that the next stop would be '125th Street, Harlem'.

How many years have I lived here? Don't I know it's better to check the silly map than to board a train unknowingly? Duh?

In the end I was just a few minutes late, thank god, but I could have been triumphantly right on time! There's a lesson in this, people! Be alert, for heaven's sake!

Related posts: Dusk Among Towers, From Under the Bridge and Details, Details.

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On Mulberry Street and Small Packages

Photo by myself on Mullberry and Broome Streets, in Little Italy.

Little Italy is adorned with lights during this time of year. Often restaurants are covered with tiny lights, wreathes, or enormous statues of nutcrackers.

Above, a non-Italian bar in that neighborhood, had an English Bulldog snuffling about, outside.

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I had no idea that New York had 'official' condoms, but we do. Imagine that.

Apparently the wrappers are often redesigned. Why? Well, maybe because New Yorkers are design-oriented, shallow folk who are easily seduced by packaging. Or maybe we're constantly trying to find the 'new' within the 'old'. I don't quite understand it.

Anyway, here are the 2007 and 2008 wrapper designs, published in the Times. Now the City is calling for submissions for a redesign.

Deadline for entries is January 22, 2010. Sharpen your pencils! Perhaps your design will be freely distributed to millions (of amorous New Yorkers) for a good cause.

For details about the competition, click here.
For a discussion in the Times, click here.

Related posts: What's Scrolling in Midtown, Emailing Under the Influence...Not and Neon Storefronts, Midtown.

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Al Dente

Early in the week I had a dentist's appointment. Note to self: never schedule a dental appointment for a Monday. It makes the Sunday Blues that much bluer.

Deep inside my mouth, the dentist said,'Flossing is the most effective way to preserve your teeth.' Meaning that I should do more of it.

I sent him a gargled reply, but what I really meant to say was, 'Yes, I know. You should talk to my Mom about this. She has perfect teeth. Zero cavities, teeth all lined up and nice. She loves her teeth and she loves to floss.'

My mother is a hoot. She is a certified Plant Fiend (more on that someday), and she is an avid flosser. For the record, Mom prefers the classic Johnson & Johnson waxed floss, either unflavored or mint.

Example: several years ago, Mom and I went to London for vacation. At one point in a cafe near St. Martin-in-the-fields, she whipped out the floss. It's a reflex with her and she forgot where we were. Cafe tables were pushed up to each side of us, 6 inches away. (No worries, I stopped the situation from progressing).

During our week abroad, we also took a day trip to Bath. We toured the Roman Baths and Sir John Soane's house (ours was an architect's and horticulturist's vacation). We stopped by the Royal Crescent by John Wood the Elder - an oval sweep of townhouses fronted by a huge green lawn. I'm not sure of the statistics how big this place is, but it is BIG.





Long story short, I was on one end of the green and, looking back at the other end, I could see Mom sitting alone on a bench. Meaning I could see a speck of color I that assumed was my mother because the speck was flossing.

Yes.

I felt what wildlife camera people must feel, set up in their blinds. They are there to spy on the elusive arctic fox, and there it is in its natural habitat, preening itself.

All this I would have told my dentist, given the chance.


Top photo by myself on a sunnier day, in Little Italy.

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Buon Gusto

I'm one of the lucky few who work in Soho. It's not a neighborhood known for doing business, and I wonder whether the cost for office space is higher there than anyplace else.

Since I'm so crazy busy, most of my photos will probably be taken in the immediate area. No complaints - there's never a shortage of boutiques, fashionable people, or beautiful buildngs to represent.

Today, for instance, I had a quick moment during lunch to zip around. I hastened down Mulberry Street, where it seems like the San Gennaro festival is on an endless tape loop. (I never know when the festival runs, but it seems to always be just about the happen, happening, or wrapping up). Today was a perfect festival day and the streets were packed with people.



There are the usual stands selling funnel cakes, calzones, pizza and cannoli. There were games where you throw things, shoot things, or hit things on the head. Then there were the hawkers, drumming up business for their prix fixe meals. People sat outside under makeshift canopies.



I'm not usually interested in being in the midst of a crowd, but walking thru the streets today, with traffic stopped, was a welcomed change.

Little Italy is getting littler by the year, but for this brief period, it's puffing itself up BIG.

Get it while it's hot.




Photos by myself around Mulberry and Hester.

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