Night View, Canal Street

Photo by myself on Canal Street, in Chinatown.

Temperatures are dropping here in Manhattan. Despite that, the crowds are still out on the street, looking for a good deal.

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Apologies for yet another photo from Chinatown. I find myself drawn to the colors and energy there - the shuffling crowds, the neon signs, the sheer stuff hanging from canopies and stalls.

Besides the stalls on Canal Street, open markets are being installed outside Bryant Park for holiday shopping. Lights have been strung up in neighborhoods like Little Italy, announcing the Christmas season.

It's suddenly very cold here, in the low 30s during the day. Outside the city, it's already snowed several inches. It's hard to believe that last year at this time, it was warm.

Related posts: Live From Chinatown, Fish Market, Chinatown and On the Sidewalk, Chinatown.

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The Royalton, Renovated

Photo by myself in the lobby of The Royalton, the swanky hotel at 43rd Street and 6th Avenue.

The downstairs bar and restaurant are dramatically lit. The interiors were originally designed by the innovative Phillipe Starck. A complete renovation was done in late 2007.

There are a few Starck-designed hotels that were hip in their day, including The Hudson at 58th Street and Columbus, and The Paramount at 46th and 8th Avenue.

You can check out the original Starck design for the Royalton, before the renovation here. It was strikingly different - modern and quirky, much less homey than it is now.

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Interiors are changing all the time. I guess people need to feel like they're experiencing new things, even if they're drinking the same drinks and talking with the same people.

These days, the exterior and interior of a building are seen as separate entities. The building exterior stays more or less the same, while the interior changes depending on the tenant, or the decade, or the season.

In architecture school, we are taught to think about the inside and outside of a building at the same time. Exterior and interior were seen as bound up with one another. In architecture school, there was no such thing as an interior designer or even a client. You, the architect, did it all.

How different it is in the real world!

Related posts: On Living in a Petri Dish, It Takes a Village and Architecture, A Glorified Profession.

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The View from Downstream

Photo by myself of the foot of the Manhattan Bridge, from the edge of Brooklyn, earlier this year.

Upstream of the East River, you can see the 59th Street Bridge, where Roosevelt Island begins. The bridge and the Roosevelt Island tramway played roles in the first Spiderman movie.

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Roosevelt Island, partially seen here, is legendary for being the site of Bellevue Hospital, a well-known psychiatric facility. The name alone was frightening.

According to its Wikipedia entry, Bellevue is still going on strong, with hundreds of thousands of patient visits per year.

Strangely though, you rarely if ever hear people talk about Bellevue these days. People live on Roosevelt Island, and I've been driven around there. It has a spooky, outdated atmosphere.

Additional note: Several hours after posting this, Mark let me know that I would have to print a retraction. The blue bridge in the photo is actually the Manhattan Bridge, and the bridge in the distance is the Williamsburg Bridge. There'd be no way we could have seen Roosevelt Island, from where we were, at the tip of Brooklyn.

Egad!

Related posts: More of the Brooklyn Bridge, From Under the Bridge and In the Fast Lane.

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All Lit Up on Canal Street

Photo by myself on Canal Street.

Buying and selling go on til the wee hours in this neighborhood, where many people come in search of a bargain.

Late on a Sunday night, a jewelry store was still open. Sidewalk hawkers sold their wares under lights connected to generators. People milled about in the cold night air.

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I had absolutely zero time to myself in Boston this weekend, so I don't have any photos to show of that lovely city. (Argh!!) My mom and I were there visiting my grandfather, who is a whopping 98 years old.

He's doing well, newly located in a nursing home, because he can no longer care for himself. It's a big change for him, but he's relatively healthy and in good spirits. Mom and I took him out to lunch, where he ate tremendous amounts of food. May we all live to that age and be so spirited!

I have to say that visiting the nursing home put life in perspective - we are fortunate to have our health and freedom while we do.

Related posts: Fish Market, Chinatown, On the Sidewalk, Chinatown and One Dollar, One Dollar.

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A Message from Beantown

Photo by myself of a street performer in Chinatown, on the Lower East Side.

I took the bus from Chinatown, New York, to Chinatown in Boston, Saturday afternoon. The fare is only fifteen dollars each way, compared to the train, which costs eighty-five dollars each way. You have to reserve a ticket early to get a seat.

Near the bus stop, a fellow was walking about in an animated way. He was either performing or in his own universe.

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I'm posting from Boston, where I'm visiting family.

I grew up just outside Boston, so the Boston-New York rivalry is very familiar to me.

All through my childhood, the Red Sox and Bruins were the scrappy underdogs, seen very much in contrast to the big, bad New York teams. New York was seen as both near and far, like a loud, brassy cousin you hate but can't get enough of.

All through college, I'd commute to Boston by train or bus, through New York. The trains were always packed at Thanksgiving time. One year I had to stand up the whole way on an oversold trip, while suffering the flu. Another year I took the bus home, scrunched between the wall and a large woman carrying a little dog on her lap.

Now that my parents live in California, I don't come out here so much, but I ought to. Seeing Boston now through a New Yorker's eyes, it's refreshing. The trains are slower but cleaner here. It's very green. The people are nice and not in a rush to get somewhere.

And the sports teams? Eh, they're not so bad.

Related posts: Halloween Musicians and the NYC Marathon, All That Jazz and Music to the Ears.

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Stepping Out

Photo by myself of the New York City Marathon passing through Brooklyn, earlier this month.

The Achilles Track Club, a non-profit organization supporting disabled athletes, gets a head start before the other runners. Hundreds of physically impaired athletes passed by upright and in handcycles, to cheers from the crowd. It was an inspiring sight to see.

For more about this amazing organization, where you can sponsor runners for next year's race, click here.

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I'm off today to Boston for a family event.

Hopefully I'll get some nice photos from this lovely city. Have a lovely weekend, all!

Related posts: Running Down the Streets of New York.

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In the Rain, Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown.

The whole idea of New York being littered with black umbrellas is often true. Many rainy days, I will find myself in a sea of black.

But then there are rainy days where you notice the colorful spots, in someone's handbag, or a neon sign, or the reflection of traffic lights.

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Friends of mine were shaking in their shoes Thursday, worried about the layoffs that were going on in their office.

I didn't know what to write to reassure them, except that whatever happened, they'd be able to handle it, and that often the fear of something was far worse than the thing itself.

I hope everyone out there has found shelter from the storm.

Related posts: Step Lively, On the Sidewalk, Chinatown and A View from the Streets.

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All the News Fit to Print

Photo by myself on the subway, somewhere underground.

On the subway, one of many New Yorkers engrossed in Wednesday's New York Times.

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Everyone had their noses in the paper, Wednesday morning.

Across the aisle on the train, I could read the headline 'Iraq War Ends'. The color photo showed helicopters in mid-air. Times papers were strewn on empty subway seats.

When I got to the office, the front page lay on the lunch table. I thought to myself, 'hm', and being totally out of it, emailed some friends asking what the heck was going on.

Well, we'd all been pranked on a fairly large scale. Apparently 1.2 million copies were handed out to passersby. At this writing, the real paper is still trying to figure out who was responsible for the hoax.

Here's an article on the Wired website about what happened.

Related posts: Wednesday Portraits - The New York Times and Climbing the Times.

**'All News Fit to Print' is the slogan on the New York Times masthead.

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Across the Tracks

Photo by myself of the subway platform at Union Square.

I liked this photo for looking almost like a play. Any minute, and the leading actor would walk in from the wings.

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Related posts: A Much-Needed Nap, The Space of Chance Encounters and Transit for the Masses.

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Going Up, Going Down

Photo by myself in Midtown, around Fifth Avenue and 40th Streets.

Despite the economy, there are still many construction projects underway in Manhattan.

Any project that was planned when the economy started to falter was already funded, so you still see a lot of scaffolding and construction workers in the city.

This scaffolding has a slot in it to avoid a No Parking sign.

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Well, today one of my projects fell through.

It was three-bedroom renovation on Central Park, and we'd gotten initial estimates from the contractor. The proposed design included replacing all the windows, installing lighting for the owner's art collection, installing air conditioning and some cabinetry.

Because of the economy and some technical issues, the project is put on hold. Just like that. The client told me he loved our design, etc., etc., but the time wasn't right. Maybe in two years....

I don't blame him for getting cold feet. Most people would feel the same. Our office is still rather busy, but I can't help but feel nervous. Eek.

Related Posts: On Shaky Ground, Location, Location, Location and Stray Cat, Brooklyn.

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Unleashed in Long Island

Photo by myself on the Long Island Expressway.

This view is a little deceptive. The brick church is in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. To the left of it, you can see the Empire State Building. Between the two is the East River.

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It was a beautiful Fall day today, so Mark, Rupert and I took a trip out to Long Island to visit Mark's mom, out in Long Island.

The trees are showing their gorgeous foliage, and there were many leaves on the ground. Rupert had a blast running around on the grass.

City pup no more!

Here's a video Mark threw together this afternoon, the whiz that he is. Enjoy!



Related posts: On Fish, Cats and Dogs, On Bowling and Critters and Boston (Terrier) in New York.

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Down in the Village

Photo by myself in the village, around 15th Street and Fifth Avenue.

I liked this Romanesque facade for its contrasting smooth and rough stone, and delicate railings.

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Saturday was a dreary, rainy day in the the city. It was the perfect day to stay inside and nest.

Here's a photo from earlier this year. This just illustrates how buildings stay the same but their tenants change all the time.

This building could contain anything, from a school to a museum.

It's actually now houses an institution that promotes the awareness of Buddhism in New York. They hold a bunch of seminars about world peace and Buddhism throughout the year.

You can read more about the group here.

Related posts: Tibetans of the World, Unite, The Next Generation and Peace to All.

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Warehousing Art in Chelsea

Photo by myself in Chelsea, around 15th Street and 10th Avenue.

The gallery district is made up of large warehouses, whose open floor plans and large elevators are perfect for displaying art.

There are some cobblestone streets left in this area, as well as historic brick details and connector bridges, as shown above.

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Much too tired tonight to post anything, folks.

Thank goodness it's Friday. TGIF to all!

Related posts: Hidden Treasure in the Village, FDNY and Things to Come.

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Tis the Season...For Mallomars

Photo by myself in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

Yet another photo from the Chinatown in Brooklyn. I liked how the blue awning framed the view, and which had spots of red throughout.

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It's hard to believe it's November already.

With November comes colder weather. And with the colder weather comes one of Mark's favorite cookies.

That's right, Mallomars.

Mark has a sweet tooth, and he loves basic things, like black and white cookies, Entenmann's cakes, Reese's peanut butter cups and the new, chewy Spree.

Mark grew up knowing that Mallomars, a chocolate cookie topped with marshmellow and the whole thing dipped in chocolate, is only found in the colder months. Mallomars aren't available in the summer or in the Southern states, because they would melt. So the other day, when we encountered Mallomars in the neighborhood deli, we knew that winter was coming.

The New York Times wrote about the phenomenon a few years ago. Apparently, 70 percent of Mallowmars are sold in New York, and yes, they're only available in colder months and climates. You can read about it here.

Related posts: I Scream, You Scream, Just Desserts, and Food for Thought.

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Lighting The Way

Photo by myself outside Macy's department store, at 34th and 6th Avenue.

The lights are out already at Macy's, draped in the form of a huge Christmas Tree. Outside, pedicabs line up, waiting for fares.

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There were parties everywhere in the city after the election results came in Tuesday, around 11pm. People in Fort Greene, Brooklyn danced in the streets in their nightgowns. Firecrackers were set off in Park Slope.

Mark had fallen asleep by then, and I watched the wrap up from the sofa with our puppy and cat.

Life went on as usual Wednesday. The subway was slow going in the morning. We had a little rain. My coworkers sauntered in at various times and we all sat down to work furiously.

It was the same as it ever was, only different.

Related posts: Smile, It's Happy Hour, Kicking Back on Firm Ground and The Night Sky.

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Lining Up, Election Day

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Voters queued up in lines that wrapped around the block. While people waited, many drank coffee, read the paper and made conference calls.

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The lines to vote were slow moving Tuesday morning, but we were fortunate that the weather was gorgeous.

Watching the tally of votes Tuesday night, there was nothing so powerful as NBC's live coverage of various cities, without a voice over. The camera cut between Harlem, Rockefeller Center, Chicago, Atlanta and other cities. The screen was filled with cheering people waving American flags.

New York is such a progressive city, often New Yorkers feel like we live in a country of our own. Many of us were worried about what the rest of the country would do, during the elections. I'm happy to see that we were needlessly paranoid.

Anyhow, there it is. We've elected a new president. Fireworks were set off here, in Brooklyn.

Hopefully, there will be better days to come.

Related posts: A Dollar and a Dream and Tibetans of the World Unite.

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A Dollar and a Dream

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Certain areas of Brooklyn are grittier than others. Some neighborhoods have pockets of graffiti and 99 cent stores. But there are also streets lined with historic townhouses built of brick or brownstone.

As you can see, Lotto figures highly here in the city. The image above shows three signs advertising Lotto. For many people, the sweepstakes is a shot at success.

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I hope everyone in the States is voting today.

Mark and I are going to the polling booths before work. Then we'll come home to watch the results with fingers and toes crossed.

Winning the sweepstakes is something completely out of one's control, but we all have the opportunity to contribute to history. Voting is a right as well as a responsibility. Please vote.

Related posts: Art For the Masses, Smile, It's Happy Hour and On the Sidewalk, Chinatown.

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Running Down the Streets of New York

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The NYPD provided an escort for the mens front runners of this year's New York City Marthon.

The mens lead pack came roaring down Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, clocking sub-five minute miles. The womens pack had passed by minutes earlier, as well as dozens of wheelchair participants.

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We live a few blocks from the marathon route, so I was lucky to witness hundreds of racers on Sunday. The streets were lined with cheering crowds.

Camera in hand, I was anxious. Helicopters circled overhead, tracking the race. People wondered aloud when we'd catch sight of the first runners. Mark sent text messages from home, where he was watching the coverage on television.

I can see that being a sports or news photographers must be an exciting job. There are no 'replay' options. You only get one opportunity to take a photo, and it flashes by in an instant.


The mens' lead pack at breakneck speed. You can see the shadows of onlookers.


Abdi Abdirahman was leading the mens pack around Mile Six of the New York City Marathon, Sunday. Some twenty miles and three boroughs later, he finished sixth.


The leading womens' runners. Paula Radcliffe of the UK eventually won the race. Fourth from the right Ludmila Petrova from Russia finished second. Third from the right, Kara Goucher of the US, finished third.

Related posts: Halloween Musicians and The NYC Marathon, Mass Mentality, and Inspiration.

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Halloween Musicians and The NYC Marathon

Photo by myself in the subway station at 34th Street, Halloween night.

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A photo from Halloween night - several musicians play jazz in the subway station, one dressed as an angel.

It seems like everything is happening this weekend - Halloween, daylight savings and the New York City Marathon.

I rode by Central Park on Friday in a cab, where they were setting up for the Marathon. Huge trucks were parked outside, laying down electrical lines. Port-o-potties were being unloaded by the dozen. Usually the grandstands lining Central Park West are set up a day ahead to be ready for the crowds at the finish line.

A couple years ago, Mark and I saw the marathon speed by in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Last year, we were trapped in Greenpoint, with the streets and Pulaski Bridge barricaded off to traffic.

Another year, I was returning from Boston on the bus. It took forever to get downtown to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. I remember looking out the window at exhausted runners walking around, wrapped up in shiny blankets.

To run a marathon is a badge of endurance. I know a few people who have done it in New York, including my uncle, who only trained a few months beforehand. Runners enter a lottery system to be allowed to run, since there are so many applicants. Over 100,000 people applied this year and over 39,000 are running.

The NYC marathon winds through Staten Island to Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx before finishing in Central Park. All five boroughs of New York City are thus represented.

Related posts: Live Music at Union Square, Music To The Ears and All That Jazz.

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CDP Theme Day - Books

Once again, it's CDP Theme Day, which occurs on the first day of every month. Daily photobloggers everywhere post photos on a different theme.

This month's theme is Books. I took the above photo in a Korean bookstore, where books about Obama, McCain and the current economic crisis have been translated into Korean.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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I'd love to know what people did for Halloween?

Last night I walked by tons of people in costume - kids, adults and dogs. In the city people wander the street and visit delis and other stores for candy.

Mark and I didn't have any trick-or-treaters by. It depends on the apartment building, whether kids will trick-or-treat among the apartments. For some reason, even though there are some kids in our building, they keep to themselves.

Next year, when Rupert, our Boston Terrier puppy, is bigger, we'll dress him up. I think a bumble bee costume would be adorable.

Here's the list of all participating bloggers for this month's Theme Day
American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Aurora, South Africa by shelagh, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Bali, Indonesia by Anak Dokan, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bangkok, Thailand by UberSand, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Ilse, Boulder (CO), USA by A Sterling World, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by PattheAZRealtor, Chapel Hill (NC), USA by missleah, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by trieulet, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Gliwice, Poland by prado&fio, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by PPusa, Herne Bay, Great Britain by Han, Lil n Caz, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Honningsvag, Norway by J., Islip (NY), USA by Bettye, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia by Susie of Arabia, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Karwar, India by Yogesh, Knoxville (TN), USA by hope, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by wikiyu, London, UK by Ham, Madrid, Spain by Tr3nta, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Hilda, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milton, New Zealand by Milton Daily Photo, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by snapshutter, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montréal, Canada by My Life in Montreal, Moscow (ID), USA by Sherry, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Murcia, Spain by usuahia, Napa (CA), USA by katester, 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 Kitty, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Elsa, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pensacola (FL), USA by P J, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stiffa, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Prague, Czech Republic by kakna, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Roanoke (VA), USA by Tanya, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by pearls, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Francisco (CA), USA by Burd Zel Krai, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, Korea South by SeoulSnapper, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, 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, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tauranga, New Zealand by Lisa Sarsfield, Telluride (CO), USA by mtsrool, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Trieste, Italy by Rob&Piero, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Verona, Italy by Valeria in Verona, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, 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, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Woerden, Netherlands by Marcel, Yakima (WA), USA by katney, Yellowknife, Canada by Arctic Dreamer, York, UK by Ruby in York

Related posts: CDP Theme Day - Lines, CDP Theme Day - Sister Cities, CDP Theme Day - Metal.

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A Much-Needed Nap

Photo by myself on the subway.

Yet another photo of a New Yorker catching some shuteye on the train. A suited passenger served as a human shield.

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Thanks for all the recent comments. Sorry I haven't been visiting many blogs recently; I've been busy and on the verge of a cold.

I'm sure everyone is looking forward to trick-or-treating and the weekend.

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Related posts: Asleep on the D Train, Subway Sunset - On the Ride Home, Sleeping on the Job, and Wednesday Portraits - The New York Times.

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Fall From Above

Photo by myself high above Central Park.

I took a picture from the job site of one of my projects, a three-bedroom apartment on Central Park West, Wednesday morning. The sky was overcast, but the park below was awash in the color of fall foliage.

Not a bad view, eh?

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Happy Autumn, everyone!

Related posts: The View From on High, The Sky is Falling and Shooting (Film) in the Park.

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From The Sidelines

Photo by myself in Red Hook Brooklyn, at a pee wee football game.

Mark and I watched from the sidelines as these kids became warriors.

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Related posts: Random Shots, Tomorrow's New York Giants, On The Superbowl and Fancy Living.

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The Space of Chance Encounters

Photo by myself on the subway ride home.

I like the above photo for the man in the poster, who seemed to be a part of the scene. I also like how dark the shadows are, and how bright the highlights.

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I love the subway, but the ride to and fro can be stressful. When you can't get a seat, when the trains are late, when they seem to careen out of control, when you're 5'-3" and clinging to a pole. But the subway is also the space of possibilities.

A friend of mine met a fling on the subway. There were flirtatious looks passed back and forth. Later, my friend looked on the 'Missed Connections' page of Craigslist and found a message posted to him. (It would be a short-lived encounter).

And of course there was the story this summer about a fellow who was smitten by a woman he spotted on the subway...so much so that he created a website with a hand sketch to help track her down. The story made it to major newspapers and tv shows.

And he found her. And they dated. And they broke up.

Ah well, c'est la vie!

Related posts: Subway Sunset - On the Ride Home, Asleep on the D Train and A New York Frame of Mind.

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Cold Noodles and Hot Shows

Photo by myself in the East Village, around 10th Street and Second Avenue.

Mark and I are quite smitten by the noodle dishes at this tiny Japanese restaurant that has a handful of seats. They have a couple cold noodle dishes here that are perfect for summer days.

Alas, the cold noodles will have to wait until next year!

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Speaking of food, this season's Top Chef takes place here in New York, which premieres November 12. I'm sure I will be addicted to the show even more than usual.

And speaking of Top Chef, you can meet this season's contestants today in a Five Borough tasting event.

That's right. Between noon and 3pm, Bravo TV is hosting a tasting event at Vanderbuilt Hall, at Grand Central Terminal. Fancy restaurants from each of the five boroughs will be showing their food.

Tickets are 30 bucks and all proceeds will go to charity. The list of restaurants looks scrumptious.

I wish I had known about this event earlier. I would have taken the day off to eat well and go to the gym!

Related posts: On Japanese Food and Fish, Food on the Brain and Food For Thought.

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On Fish, Cats and Dogs

Another snapshot from the fish market in Brooklyn, Chinatown.

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The last couple weeks I've been digging into the photo stash. Our new puppy has been a handful.

Rupert, who is three months old, has been great. He's learned to sit on command, and has adjusted well. The cat and he have slept near each other, without any injuries.

The only thing is, we wake up around 5 am to take him out to pee. The cat has also been very needy, meowing late into the night. The result? Mark and I are very, very, very tired.

So we took the Friday off to relax. I slept in a little. Then we drove into Sunset Park for lunch, where I snapped a couple photos. The weekend has been pretty low key.

Hats off to all parents of human and animal children out there, who manage to care for their little ones, get spotty sleep and somehow function. I honestly don't know how you do it without going nuts.




Above, Rupert at home after an afternoon of exercise, and then on the sofa with his compadre.

Related posts: Boston (Terrier) in New York, On Bowling and Critters and Radio City and Rupert, Day Two.

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Fish Market, Chinatown

Photo by myself in Chinatown, Brooklyn.

Sunset Park in Brooklyn, around 60th Street and 8th Avenue, has a large Chinese and Vietnamese population. There, you can find open fish markets and restaurants that rival those in Manhattan.

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Thanks to Tr3nta of Madrid Daily Photo Madrid Daily Photo blog and Fredrik of Ystad Daily Photo, for awarding me with awards lately. Each awarded me with the BFF award, or 'Blogging Friends Forever'.



I am flattered. Both are wonderfully, talented photographers. Do check out their sites!

Here are the rules for the award:
1. Only five people allowed
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog
3. One has to be someone new or recently new to your blog and live in another part of the world
4. You must link back to whomever gave you the award

I rarely give awards because it's so hard to choose. Here goes:

1. Tammy, of Mom Knows Everything, a lovely mother of two and one of my first readers

2. Kelly, of Geneva Daily Photo, fellow Daily City Blogger

3. Tam, of It's What You See, a great photographer from the West Coast

4. Lily, of Long Island Daily Photo, fellow photoblogger out on the island, and

5. Islipian, of 365 Days in Islip, out in Islip, New York.

Congrats to my peeps!

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Riding High

Photo by myself, in midtown, around 6th Avenue and 40th Street.

There's something about horses that inspire a bit of fear.

I've been told by horse people that these animals doesn't really know how big they are, so despite their size, they can be easily spooked.

Related posts: NYPD Blues, Heigh Ho.

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We The People

Photo by myself near Columbus Circle, earlier this year.

A crowd tries to get a view of a large screen television, near 59th Street and Columbus Avenue.

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For those of you not living in New York, here's an update on local news. Today (Thursday) we find out whether the mayor can extend the usual maximum of eight years in office.

Traditionally, mayors have adhered to term limits, however Mayor Michael Bloomberg, the self-made businessman and billionaire, is petitioning to extend his stay due to the current economy.

So far, I think Bloomberg has done a good job. Quality of life has remained the same for residents, and energy has been put into making the city a desirable place to visit.

We'll see today whether New York has the chance to have Bloomberg around another four years.

To those New Yorkers out there, what do you think?

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On Street Corners in the East Village

Photo by myself in the East Village.

A number of lamp posts in the East Village are adorned with hand made mosaics commemorating New York and 9/11.

It's nice to run into these intimate creations accidentally on a street corner.

--

Related posts: Six Years Ago, Life Goes On, Almost and Code Yellow.

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Stray Cat, Brooklyn

Photo by myself of a stray cat in Brooklyn.

Between seeing homeless humans and animals, I've come to realize that one of the most important things to any living thing is the sense of 'home'.

Animal have homes, but not always ones with human guardians. These guys tend to stay within a distinct territory. Homeless humans are the same. They stay on particular street corners, subway stations or benches.

It's unimaginable to me to be completely without a home. To not have a home is to not have an identity or sense of safety.

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I've noticed a lot more stray cats recently. I'm not sure whether it's because of the areas I frequent or because of the economy.

I sometimes see homeless people sitting on the sidewalk with a dog or cat, and it's a heartbreaking aight. It's easy to assume that the homeless person uses the animal to provoke more donations, but the animal is never on a leash or held against its will.

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Live Music, Union Square

Photo by myself at the Union Square subway station.

Jam sessions at bigger, well-trafficked subway stations are typical. Many of them sell cds of their work.

Here's a nice picture to start off the work week. These fellows were playing a feisty tune for commuters during rush hour.

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Related posts: Music To The Ears, All That Jazz, Recovering From Friday Night.

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On Bowling and Critters

Photo by myself, from the lanes at Bowlmor, a bowling alley on University Place.

There are bowling alleys in the city, but you have to know where to find them. I went to one last week for a friend's birthday party, which was fun.

--
Meanwhile, Mark and I have been homebodies with Rupert, the puppy we brought home last week.

Rupert and the cat have been getting along surprisingly well. There's been some hissing and some wary looks, but generally it's been fine. The two share a love for napping and not doing much. Sometimes they will sleep on the sofa, next to each other.

Rupert is lucky to have Mark as a devoted Dad. Already, Rupert understands the idea of wee wee pads, and the words 'no', 'sit', 'come', 'good boy' and his own name. There have been some accidents, of course - but much fewer than I'd expected.

All those episodes of The Dog Whisperer have paid off!



Here's Rupert's first quick video


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Bright Lights, Big City

Photo by myself in Midtown.

By the time I leave the office, the sky is dark. But there are always streetlights, headlights and store lights brightly lit.

Just ahead, a street vendor sells water and pretzels. Across the street lies Duane Reade, a popular pharmacy chain in the city.

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My apologies for not writing much this week. Between trying to train the dog to poop (actually, watching Mark training the dog) and my intense work load, there's little time for anything.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Related posts: Celebrating Another Week, On Christmases Past and I Deserve A Break Today.

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Commuting, Computing

Photo by myself underground.

The ease of laptops these days means you can get your stuff done anywhere.

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It's been stressful and I've been working hard the last few days. I'm just looking forward to a weekend of hanging out with Rupert, our new puppy.

TGIF, everyone!

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The Night Sky

Photo by myself, hurtling down the FDR Expressway.

I took a cab home from work Wednesday, since I worked late. We flew down the FDR Expressway along the East River. The city looked brightly shiny.

Ahead, you can see the Brooklyn Bridge stretching across the roadway.

Related posts: From Under The Bridge, More of the Brooklyn Bridge and Not a Bad View From Here.

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Neon Storefronts, Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown.

The area around Port Authority and Times Square may be cleansed, but there are still gritty bits in the city here and there.

Seeing these places open and running in the mornings, I have to say, is quite weird.

Related posts: Life's Seedy Underbelly and All You Can Eat.

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The Bandshell, Central Park

Photo by myself of the bandshell in Central Park.

The shadow cast by the half dome reveals that the concrete surface is curved and coffered.

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If you're planning to visit New York soon, it's perfect timing. Not only is the weather wonderful, but the New York Times featured The City in its travel section.

One article makes some economical suggestions to those on a budget. The attempt to stick to a $500 budget for two people over a weekend proved very difficult. The hotel stay ate up most of the money, while galleries and parks provided free sources of entertainment.

The second article lists other suggestions of what to do while here.

At least we can be sure that the city parks will always be free.

Related posts: Shooting (Film) in the Park, Sundays in the Park and Welcome to New York.

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Radio City and Rupert, Day Two

Photo by myself of Radio City Music Hall, around 6th Avenue and 50th Street.

A photo taken a while ago of Radio City Music Hall. I liked the colors and curly-cue script.

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The last couple of days have been spent nesting with Mark and our new dog, Rupert. I hope to get out of the house and taking more photos soon!

Only the second day that Rupert has been with us, and already we're a family of couch potatoes - me, Mark, the cat and wee Rupert nicely ensconced on the sofa. At times the cat and Rupert sleep on neighboring cushions.

Not all dogs and cats can adjust so quickly to each other, but Rupert is a very, very mellow pup. He keeps his distance and behaves like a pickle in a jar.

I imagine it's only a matter of time before I find Dida cat and Rupert pup locked in an embrace.



Above, Rupert shamelessly asleep during one of his many long naps.

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Boston (Terrier) in New York

Photo by myself in Brooklyn.

The long-awaited day came Saturday. Rupert, our new Boston Terrier, came home with Mark and me. It was a day full of getting acquainted, buying a leash and attempts to pee.

I'm happy to report success on all counts!

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Yeah, yeah, this is a blog about New York, not Boston, but I can't help myself.

Rupert is eleven weeks old and a New York dog. Mark and I picked him up Saturday from his home in the Long Island suburbs.

During an afternoon walk, perfect strangers ran across the street to greet us and see the puppy. So the whole thing about attracting attention with a wee, cute animal is completely true.

There has been some nervous sniffing between Rupert and our cat, Dida. So far, both sides have been politely curious.

I'll post photos of Rupert now and again as he grows up. It's just been one puppy nap after another.





Related posts: Our Four-Legged Friends, Keeping Your Dogs in a Row, What the World Needs Right Now and Dog Days of Summer.

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