Abandoned Lot, East Village

Photo by myself in the East Village, around 13th Street and 2nd Avenue.

Despite the gentrification of New York, there are still some vacant blocks in Manhattan. This piece of property is located in a fairly nice neighborhood, filled with restaurants, bars and apartment buildings.

Mark saw this photo and says that 'Kuma' is perhaps the most prolific graffiti artist in the city. Kuma's tags are everywhere.

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Related posts: Art for the Masses, A Dollar and a Dream and Signs of the Times.

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Carriage Horse, Central Park South

Photo by myself on 59th Street, near Sixth Avenue.

There are always carriage horses standing along Central Park South, waiting to take visitors out for a spin. Some wear feathers and pull decorated cars. This horse was trying to enjoy a meal, but for the pigeons.

This photo commemorates the Kentucky Derby, which ran on Saturday.

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Animal lovers will be happy to know that humane laws protect the carriage horses in New York. The ASPCA ensures that the horses are not worked more than nine hours a day, and never work in weather under 18 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are many animal rights advocacy groups trying to eradicate the carriages, at war with the carriage drivers, who care for their animals. I'm glad there are people looking out for the horses. It's surprising how often I think about the horses, on the very hot and very cold days.

To view the humane laws protecting the carriage horses, click here.
To read about the carriage trade from a driver's point of view, click here.

Related posts: Heigh-Ho, Riding High and Not So Wild Horses.

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Crowded Sidewalk, Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown, during rush hour.

Friday morning, I emerged from the subway, as I usually do, half-asleep and late for work.

People were dodging this way and that. Some were in a hurry, some were taking their time. A blaring siren went off, and all traffic stopped to let a fire truck pass.

New Yorkers are so accustomed to all the distraction along the streets, that the people and noise don't seem to phase us. At street corners, crowds weave into each other at high speed, as if choreographed.

Even the dogs in New York are unflinching in the face of such chaos!


By the way, my Meal O'bama photograph is featured as the photo of the week on the Manhattan Young Democrats site.

Related posts: All A-Shiver on the Streets, It's a Free Country, After All and Step Lively.

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A Beer Garden in Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Boerum Hill Brooklyn, at Pacific and Smith Streets.

This outdoor beer garden was bustling the other night. You would never know that it's located in a bustling Brooklyn neighborhood, full of brownstones, fine restaurants and little stores.

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Earlier this week, the New York State Mega Millions was up to $180 Million dollars!

I usually don't do these things but I bought tickets with some friends. No one bought the winning ticket, and now the pot is up to $220 Million. The drawing is today.

I won't start celebrating yet, since the odds are 1 in 175,711,536. You can still get your tickets before 11pm today!

Related posts: Time for Valentine's, All Lit Up on Canal Street and Decisions, Decisions.

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Father and Son, Brooklyn

Photo by myself near Prospect Park, in Brooklyn.

A quiet moment, between father and son.

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Related posts: New York's Near Miss, Sharing a Moment and Decisions, Decisions.

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High Above Bryant Park

Photo by myself on the 28th floor above Bryant Park, at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Another photo from my excursion on Monday. Far below, people sunned themselves on one of the first hot days of the year.

In the background looms the white Neo-Classical facade of the New York Public Library. The Library facade has recently been unveiled, after spending many months under scaffolding.

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Most New Yorkers don't see the skyline very often, unless they work on a high floor. We typically spend our time crawling about on the ground and underground, oblivious to what's going on above. In fact, if you're not alert, you can easily walk by tall landmarks such as the Chrysler Building without knowing it.

This photo reminds me that you can always be seen. I've lunched in Bryant Park countless times, and never considering that there were people above.

For those interested in seeing the color version of yesterday's photograph, I added it to the end of yesterday's post.

Related posts: Braving the Chill in Bryant Park, Night View, at the Carousel and Skating Under the Empire State.

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Bird's Eye View, near Bryant Park

Photo by myself near Bryant Park, at 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Yesterday I attended a meeting on the 28th Floor of a tower near Bryant Park. The view was pretty incredible.

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Before the use of computer-generated images in the architectural profession, all drawings were done by hand.

Perspective views were painstakingly constructed using plans and sections. Now with the touch of a button, the computer can send you from one viewpoint to the next, or connect viewpoints together as if you're being wheeled on a camera dolly.

The computer programs can simulate cameras lens types, too: 35mm, wide angle and fish eye, for example. Each lens type has an affect on the image that is produced, by giving the picture perceived depth or flattening it.

There wasn't so much variety in the old days when we drew by hand, since each image took time to create. You couldn't experiment so easily. I feel we're lazier now because we use the computer to figure out perspective views through trial and error. Before, you had to conceive of how an image would look like in your head first, before putting pencil down on paper.

Two popular terms that describe perspectives are the 'bird's eye view' and the 'worm's eye view'. The names are self-explanatory, and describe extremes in points of view.

Here's the same view in color:


Related posts: 42nd Street, Grand Central and Tall Tales and What's Cooking in Curry Hill.

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Parked in Prospect Park

Photo by myself in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Temperatures rose to 90F this Sunday, sending everyone to the parks.

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The great thing about the parks is that they're public. Very few New Yorkers have backyards to lounge in. Prospect Park has barbecue grilles for use, or you can bring your own. There are rolling hills, baseball diamonds and ponds.

And...the drawback about parks is that they're public. You have to deal with other people, their noise and their messes. By the end of each day, there are napkins, bottles, and full paper plates of food on the grass.

Prospect Park was packed with people, Sunday afternoon. Groups were grilling food alongside Little League games and soccer players.

Related posts: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, The Hills are Alive in Prospect Park, Brooklyn and Central Park in the Rain.

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Homeless Man, Central Park

Photo by myself outside Central Park, around 59th Street and 6th Avenue.

Not the best photo, I know, but one I felt compelled to show.

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Incredibly, I haven't sensed a dramatic rise in homeless people in New York, since the economic crisis.

The New Yorker printed a brief article about a census taken of the homeless population in New York every year. On January 26, thousands of volunteers canvassed the streets to obtain an accurate homeless count.

Based on the January 2009 census, The New York Department of Homeless Services has seen a 47% decrease in homelessness since 2005. The 2009 survey showed 775 homeless people in Manhattan, 2325 homeless people overall.

The DHS takes a count of the homeless every day at city shelters, and makes the report public on their website.

For the New Yorker article, click here.
For the Department of Homeless Services website, click here

Related posts: Grace Church in Black and White, Castaways and Down and Out in Soho.

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Details, Details

Photo by myself, Midtown.

I've forgotten where I took the above photo of an architectural detail, earlier this year.

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Okay, prepare thyself for a geeky architecture lesson!

The mystery building shown is a great example of practical needs and aesthetics. There is a gutter hidden within the cornice, about one third down from the top of the image.

The lion heads are actually 'scuppers' - rainwater flows from the gutter out through the lions' mouths. The scuppers allow the building to shed water at points along the facade. The scuppers are in line with the columns, so you are less apt to be dripped on when entering or exiting the building.

Scuppers more decorative than downspouts, which carry water down along walls in traditional buildings. On Neo-Gothic buildings, you can find scuppers disguised as gargoyles.

The Romans did not build their buildings with hidden gutters. This is a relatively modern invention.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Related posts: Dusk Among Towers, Architecture, A Glorified Profession and Things To Come.

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The Meal O'bama Cart, Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 37th Street and 8th Avenue.

You can get chicken schwarma and falafel from the 'Meal O'bama', a sidewalk food vendor in Midtown.

Incidentally, here's an article in the Times describing how many businesses have renamed themselves to include the President's surname.

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Yesterday, I took some photos of the big fountain near Columbus Circle. It was a nice, sunny day, and I'd been in the area for a site visit.

Then in my delirium, I went to the subway station and promptly boarded the wrong train. I wound up on 8th Avenue, near Penn Station. Walking several blocks to the office, I spotted the Meal Obama cart and took the photograph above.

The photos of the fountain turned out nice, but...eh. How many times has that fountain been photographed? It's a recognizable icon in the middle of a very touristy area.

Next question - how many times has the Meal O'bama been photographed? Why do I consider the Meal O'bama much more interesting than an over-publicized fountain?

There is a message in there somewhere, about what you plan on doing and what just happens, and about doing what convention tells you versus what sparks your interest at a particular moment in time.

And to complete the story, how poetic is it, that Meal O'bama is parked next to a Hallmark store?

Here's a night view of the fountain that I took on another occasion.

Related posts: A La Carte, On the Menu and Come and Get It.

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On Rain and Baseball

Photo by myself in Midtown.

It's been cold and rainy for the last several days here in New York.

For the moment, the sunny weather forecast for the weekend keeps our spirits afloat.

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A funny thing happened the other day.

I was standing on the subway platform in Brooklyn, when I noticed that a woman nearby was reading the book Watching Baseball Smarter. She was deeply engrossed and kept flipping around to various parts of the book.

The train was late and the crowd started forming on the platform. Suddenly, a fellow she knew came over and greeted her. They started an animated conversation about her book and baseball.

All this time I wanted to step in and say, 'I know the guy who wrote it! I know Zack!' But I didn't, preferring to overhear their conversation, instead.

Zack Hample, a serious baseball geek, wrote this wonderful book chock full of history about one of the most-loved games in America.

I heard Zack read early versions of the chapters aloud. From the beginning, it was destined to be a great, entertaining read. And I was happy to see that the book has done amazingly well - in its 14th printing since the initial run in 2007.

You might have seen Zack on youtube and television - he's collected over 3,800 baseballs from major league play, and has written a book about that, too. Zack has been on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and was interviewed on NPR.

Like a true baseball enthusiast, he does not prefer the Yankees and Mets over other teams.

To read more about Zack on his website, click here.

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Gone Fishin'

Photo by myself on a pier at Riverside Park.

Several fishermen cast their lines into the Hudson River. I talked to one fellow, who said he's caught blue fish and eel, and that he eats his catch!

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New Yorkers used to joke that dead bodies and hypodermic needles would be found in the body of water between Manhattan and New Jersey. New York drinking water, on the other hand, use reservoirs and has always been excellent. Many people drink unfiltered tap water.

Recent effort regarding pollution has helped the Hudson. Now people walk close to the river without a thought. There is also free kayaking (yes, can you imagine anything free in this city?) between May and October.

Three piers, at 72nd Street, 56th Street and Houston Street, have kayaking available to the public. The lines in front of the piers are sometimes long in the summertime.

Related posts: Here's to the Human Condition, The Sky is Falling and The Majestic Ansonia.

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A Warm Glow on the Upper West Side

Photo by myself on the Upper West Side, around 79th Street and Broadway.

A cozy, orangey glow came from inside someone's home.

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Lunchtime conversation Monday consisted of New York war stories. My coworkers and I were comparing notes.

'Five,' said one fellow. 'They were doing construction on the building behind me.'

'Six, for me', a Lower East Side resident said. 'Six mice in two weeks. That was the worst.'

We were comparing glue traps with humane traps and the good old traditional house cat. There's even sonar available that emits frequencies that keep mice away. (I have been very lucky. Zero for me, but I did have a run-in with a gigantic water bug that gave me a heart attack).

One of my coworkers was experiencing nightly visitations from furry friends. After the lights went off, the scratching sounds began.

Lots of advice was thrown around. I suggested using a towel that has been slept on by a cat. Someone else suggested moving the stove and fridge and plugging up all crevices, no matter how tiny.

And once you catch the mouse? What do you do with it?

I will spare you the gory details.

Related posts: Rent, The Majestic Ansonia and Among Beautiful Things.

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Beer, Wonderful Beer

Photo by myself at Fairway, the supermarket in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

A host of lesser known beers line the shelves of this supermarket. Here you can find J.K. Scrumpy Hard Cider, Samuel Smith's Organically Produced Lager and Arrogant Bastard Ale.

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You can find a huge range of items at Fairway, my favorite supermarket, from non-dairy salmon-flavored cream cheese (made from soy), to dried French pears.

They have a kazillion cheeses and even cheese classes for cheese novices. There are buckets of olives surrounding more buckets of olives. There are fruit pastilles and canned baked beans in a section devoted to British foods. It is a food lover's paradise.

The prices are reasonable and there is no hint of pretentiousness. The only downside to Fairway is the crowds.

New Yorkers are not known for their driving skills, shopping carts included. If only they gave licenses and issued tickets for those things!

Click here for Fairway's online store, where you can purchase a number of items.

Related posts: The Mother of all Supermarkets, Meat and Food on the Brain.

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The Brooklyn Ice House, Red Hook

Photo by myself in Red Hook, Brooklyn.

Red Hook is a slightly gritty, quirky neighborhood. It's located on the edge of Brooklyn by the water and unfortunately does not have direct access to the subway.

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There's an article in the Times this week about how little New Yorkers get in unemployment benefits.

Despite the high cost of living here, New Yorkers get much less per week than other cities - $430/week here, versus $540/week in nearby Trenton or Boston. When you consider how much rent is, it's no wonder that many young single people are moving out of the city.

I had drinks with two unemployed friends on Friday. One told me about taking his 4-year old daughter to see the circus. Snow cones there cost 15 bucks a piece!

Did he get his daughter the expensive snow cone, you ask?

No way. But he did re-enroll her in her favorite dance class instead.

For the article about unemployment in the Times, click here.

Related posts: Cheers, Lure Fish Bar, Soho and Reflections Apres Happy Hour.

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Along the Edge of Central Park

Photo by myself at the edge of Central Park, on 59th Street and Columbus Avenue.

And just like that, after days of rain, blustery winds and chilly temperatures, it was Spring. Happens every year.

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Everywhere people were saying to each other, 'Have you been outside? It is beautiful!'

Friday I lunched in Bryant Park with a kazillion other people. The season had started.

Like the Canadian geese decide to take off together, or the Emperor penguins that decide to shuffle off to the sea, it's suddenly nearly impossible to find seats and tables.

Happy Spring, everyone!

Related posts: The Whole World in His Hands, The Bandshell, Central Park and Working It.

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Signs of the Times

Photo by myself in front of the American Legion in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

This neighborhood is actually quite charming, with old brownstones, tree-lined streets and little stores. Graffiti is rare in this area.

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A friend of mine told me about her office. They placed an ad in the Sunday Times for a receptionist. Their long-time receptionist had moved to Boston.

The ad was phoned in on Friday afternoon. It ran in the paper version and online. By Monday morning, the office received over 600 resumes.

Whew! TGIF, everyone!

Related posts: It's a Free Country, After All, A Dollar and a Dream and On the Boardwalk, in Coney Island.

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Looking out from the Promenade

Photo by myself from the Brooklyn Promenade, in Brooklyn Heights.

Looking out across the East River, the lower edge of Manhattan doesn't look so far away.

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My project at work is wrapping up. In the meantime, I've been helping out my coworkers on their projects.

My days consist of drawing houses all day in minute detail. Everything is included, from the hinges to the outlets to the door knobs. It's labor intensive work that drives me a bit....crazy!!! There's much less drama and distraction at my current office, unfortunately.

Drawing in such detail is normal for homes where toilet paper holders routinely cost $400 a piece. To counteract the braindeadness, I listen to podcasts and email friends obsessively. I also try to take a walk at lunch and after work to take photos.

If anyone has suggestions for photographs, do let me know!

Related posts: On the Brooklyn Bridge, Home Sweet New York and Looking out at Manhattan.

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Trinity Church, at Dusk

Photo by myself of Trinity Church, downtown at Broadway and Wall Street.

Here's another photo from my jaunt downtown the other day. Just around the corner from the Stock Exchange, the church has occupied this piece of land since the late 17th century. It's since been rebuilt several times.

The grounds are fenced off and there are gravestones surrounding the church. Alexander Hamilton is buried there.

Related posts: Life at the Time & Life Building, Midtown, Architecture, A Glorified Profession and Making an Entrance, in Midtown.

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On the Market

Photo by myself of the New York Stock Exchange, at 11 Wall Street.

Although the building has a grand facade, it isn't located in a grand space. Unfortunately, you can only get limited views of the building, which is dramatically lit.

It was a quiet night. Armed guards stood on call outside, just in case.

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Yes, this is the famous place.

You see the interiors sometimes on tv, filled with stressed out bankers. Their arms in the air, they make signs with their fingers to buy and sell or whatever they do. The close of the market each day is rung in by a special bell.

I've only seen this building at night or on the weekend, since I work uptown. I'd love to see what it's like during rush hour. Is there a flood of bankers streaming out? Or is it more like a stampede?

Related posts: Life at the Time & Life Building, Midtown, Architecture, A Glorified Profession and Making an Entrance, in Midtown.

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One Really Big Fountain

Photo by myself in Bryant Park, around 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.

Some visitors were enjoying the spring weather near a huge fountain in the park last week.

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I've been trying to take a photo of people during rush hour. It would be a side view of the image I posted Sunday.

The reason? The morning rush hour closely resembles the famous scenes in zombie movies.

Imagine a mass of people slugging along at about the same pace, moving up the sidewalk. Their eyes are glazed, bodies leaning forward, faces slack. Some are smoking. Some are visibly half-asleep. Some are cursing the subway ride. Together they make an enormous zombie organism. Woe to you if you're trying to walk the opposite direction!

Hopefully I'll get a photo of the zombies, soon. If only if I weren't such a zombie myself!

Related posts: Cold Days in Midtown, Yep It's Still Winter and Brrrrrrrrr.

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Lost in the Crowd

Photo by myself in Midtown.

The crowds are in full force in Midtown, with commuters racing to the subways and visitors ambling around, viewing the sights. It makes for a heady situation on the sidewalks during rush hour.

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One of the most common conversations New Yorkers have involves the size of their apartments.

People talk about their smallest apartment, their first apartment, or their current apartment. Sometimes people talk about 'the apartment that got away', or some dreamy apartment where they wound up by chance.

This week, the Times is showing the non-dreamy apartments. Recently, studio co-op apartments in New York are being offered for as low as $200,000.

The apartments might have prime locations, but they are tiny. One has a kitchen that isn't large enough for a full-size refrigerator (it is located in a nearby closet). Another apartment sports a sleeping loft/bunk bed over a sofa.

Currently, the least expensive apartment offered in Manhattan is a 250-square foot studio, with a view of a brick wall, for $199k.

Related posts: For the People, Life in the Balance and New York's Near Miss.

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The Carousel, Bryant Park

Photo by myself in Bryant Park, around 42nd Street and 6th Avenue.

There is a working merry-go-round in Bryant Park. Rides are two dollars, and children can take their pick of colorful horses and frogs.

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It's not easy to have kids in the city.

Just getting up and down the stairs to the subway is an ordeal - you see young mothers lugging oversized strollers with their child strapped in. Or you see one parent carrying the stroller, the other carrying the child.

The nice thing is that very often, but not always, strangers will offer to help.

It's not like the suburbs here, where kids can wander aimlessly on a bike, or run over to a friend's house.

Granted, the Museum of Natural History or the zoo are all subway rides away. Regardless of distance, all it takes is two bucks to go to a museum or a toy store.

All the people I know who grew up in New York City are very unsheltered. There's something charismatic about them, as if they know they can survive just about anything.

Click here for a night view of the carousel.
Click here for the official carousel site.

Related posts: Every Day is Kid's Day, Spring is in the Air and Out to Lunch.

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The Rink at Rockefeller Center

Photo by myself at Rockefeller Center, around 50th Street and 5th Avenue.

If you're interested in skating in New York, you'll have to act quickly! The open air skating rink is open until April 19th this year.

Other rinks in the city include Central Park (outdoors on the Pond), Chelsea Piers (indoors), Bryant Park (outdoors), The Museum of Natural History (outdoors) and South Street Seaport (outdoors).

The rink at Rock Center even offers a special package for those wanting to propose marriage. For a fee, you have ice time all to yourselves, a song of your choice is played on the intercom, and you and your fiance are given a champagne toast.

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Alas, it's the end of another week.

TGIF everyone!

Related posts: Skating Under the Empire State, Sparkly Lights in Rockefeller Center and On Taking Candids.

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Something Old, Something New

Photo by myself in Riverside Park, on the Upper West Side.

Here's another photo from my visit to Riverside Park this weekend. An abandoned structure just off shore looks very mysterious. It turns out that the area between 59th to 72nd Street was once a rail yard. The elevated structure is part of the West Side Highway, which runs the length of Manhattan.

Like most public spaces New York, Riverside Park was run down and dangerous in the 1980's. Since then, the city and volunteers have worked together to rehabilitate the park into a thriving destination.

There are ball fields, free tennis courts, basketball courts, community flower beds, and running tracks. Separate lanes keep cyclists and rollerbladers clear of pedestrians.

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A series of residential towers called 'Trump Place' line the edge of the water. The apartments and condominiums have great views of New Jersey and the Hudson River, but the buildings are rather monotonous.

For more about Riverside Park, click here.

Related posts: Along the West Bank, It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Living in Style on Riverside Drive.

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Public Art at the Lever House

Photo by myself in the courtyard of the Lever House, at 390 Park Avenue, at Park Avenue and 53rd Street.

A collection of giant bronze sculptures is currently on display at the Lever House, one of the seminal buildings in modern architecture. By the artist Tom Sachs, these huge Hello Kitty and bunny sculptures provide startling contrast to their surroundings.

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I never thought Hello Kitty and the Lever House could go together, but here they are!

The Lever House is one of my favorite tall buildings, for its gorgeous, spare detailing. It was built in 1951 by SOM (Skidmore, Owings and Merrill). The curtain walls of this building are made of stainless steel, which resembles a precious metal.

I walked by the Lever House Tuesday afternoon. It was lovely to see people enjoying the courtyard, which seems perfectly sized. There's a 24-story building there, but you wouldn't know it.

For the snazzy website for the Lever House restaurant, click here
For more on the Hello Kitty installation, click here.

Related posts: Architecture, A Glorified Profession, Building Big and Looking Up, in Park Slope.

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Life on the Water, in Riverside Park

Photo by myself of the Boat Basin in Riverside Park, on the Upper West Side, around 79th Street and West End Avenue.

Believe it or not, you can live in a houseboat year-round off Manhattan. The Boat Basin is one of a few places where you can moor your boat, on the Hudson River. On the opposite shore lies New Jersey.

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I've read a little about the houseboat culture that exists in places like Seattle. These are close knit communities where residents share a sense of place and belonging. This is a huge contrast with New York life, where you can live in the apartment next to someone for years and never speak.

Why would New Yorkers not know their neighbors, you ask?

It's a strange thing, but many prefer the safety of anonymity. We fear getting too close, and setting someone off. What if the neighbor is a freak show, just waiting to develop an unhealthy attachment to someone? Then our hard-earned privacy in the big city would be lost forever.

If only we all lived on houseboats!

Related posts: Docked Along the West Side, A New York Frame of Mind and The View from the Promenade.

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The Towers near Riverside Park

Photo by myself in Riverside Park, on the Upper West Side.

A series of towers called Trump Place are built along the west side of Manhattan. The development has extended the park, while giving the apartments have a clear view of the Hudson River and New Jersey.

Riverside Park starts around 158th Street and runs down to 72nd Street on the west side. From there you can take a bike path that runs along the water, all the way down to Battery Park City, at the southern tip of Manhattan.

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Sunday we had gorgeous weather, so Mark and I took Rupert out to Riverside Park. We had a small picnic along the water and walked around a bit.

I took tons of photos and could not decide what to show. I finally decided on a cheery color photo, to start off the week.

Have a good Monday, everyone!

For more about the development of Trump Place, click here.

Related posts: Along the West Bank, It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Different Vistas.

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Down Broadway

Photo by myself in Soho around Prince Street and Broadway, looking south.

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The name 'Broadway' is identified with live performances, since the theater district is located near Broadway, around 42nd Street.

Broadway the street, however, is a long avenue that runs north-south. The other north-south avenues on the west side change names around 59th Street (Columbus Avenue becomes Ninth Avenue, Amsterdam Avenue becomes Tenth Avenue), but Broadway remains Broadway.

Broadway remains Broadway for a good long way, in fact. It should be called Longway, because it runs from Lower Manhattan all the way north, past 168th Street, across the Harlem River to Riverdale, in the Bronx.

For more about Broadway, click here.

Related posts: Grand Central and Tall Tales, The Whole World in His Hands and Reflections Apres Happy Hour.

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The View from New York and the Plaza Hotel

Photo by myself of the Plaza Hotel, on 59th Street and Fifth Avenue.

This entire building used to be a hotel. In 2007, some of the upper floors were converted into condominium units, which would enjoy the hotel amenities. Ownership was changed and all of the Plaza fixtures were sold off. Many wound up on ebay.

According to Wikipedia, one of the Plaza apartments sold for $53 million (yes, you heard me) in May, 2007. The apartments are actually not ideal - the ceiling heights are low, because the building added central air conditioning after being built.

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Of course, images like the one above are a little silly now.

It's a stressful time, and I don't want to give the wrong idea that New Yorkers are whistling and skipping merrily. Not at all. But then I don't want to post negative news, so I feel a bit torn.

I see a lot of people shopping, but most are probably tourists. Most New Yorkers are feeling very anxious. They eat and drink on Fridays and the weekend, but most are staying in, the rest of the week.

More friends were laid off this week. The mood is not so great. Fortunately our community is small and we're all looking out for each other.

Anyhow, I'm looking forward to a weekend of pure relaxation. Mark and I don't have anything definite planned...just some intense hanging out with the cat and dog, and perhaps some loafing around on the sofa!

I truly hope everyone out there is doing all right. Happy weekend!

Related posts: Queuing Up at Grand Central Terminal, Lower Fifth Avenue and TGIF.

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St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself of St. Thomas Church, at Fifth Avenue at 53rd Street.

This is just one of many churches and cathedrals in this busy neighborhood. I just happened to be walking by.

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I am at a loss for words again, tonight. The week has just sped by.

TGIF, everyone!

Related posts: Grace Church, in Black and White, Looking Up, in Park Slope and Millinery Center, Midtown.

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Acrobatics Below 34th Street

Photo by myself at the subway station at 34th Street.

A group of talented teenagers practiced their acrobatic dance moves in the subway station Wednesday evening. They did a mix of spins, jumps and twirls.

Noticing that I was taking pictures, they mugged for the camera.

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Related posts: The Day After, The Space of Chance Encounters and Live Music, Union Square.

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A Touch of Nature, in Prospect Park

Photo by myself outside Prospect Park, in Park Slope.

This weekend we saw spring-like weather, which included fog.

There were many people walking about, with children and dogs, just taking in the air. A colorful blanket of leaves carpeted the grounds of this large park in Brooklyn.

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In times like these, there's nothing so restorative to the mind and body as Nature.

We internalize the stress of the world, which we receive on the airwaves, on the streets, at our desks and in our dreams. I'm often surprised to find myself exhausted from a typical day's work. And it's not as if I'm working any harder than before.

At least I live in a culture that values open space, and provides it free of charge every so often. There are parks in Manhattan and throughout Brooklyn, where you can walk, picnic, bring your dog, bike and play.

It's a nurturing experience. Try it.

There's nothing so soothing to the eye as the natural beauty in the world.

Related posts: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Giving Thanks and The Sticks.

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On the New York Streets, Then and Now

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 5th Avenue and 54th Street.

The sidewalks were filled on Monday with visitors, vendors and all else.

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Occasionally, I browse through the obituaries. That might sound a bit ghoulish, but really I enjoy reading the mini-biographies there. I'm drawn more to the twists and turns in peoples' lives than successes.

On Monday, the Times reported that Helen Levitt, a New York photographer, passed away at age 95. The bulk of her work included candid photography of street life and children, in New York.

Levitt was one of the first noted photographers to use color extensively. She associated with Walker Evans and Henri Cartier-Bresson. She had her first show at MoMA at age 30, yet is scarcely known by most people.

It's incredible to see the city streets in her images, taken in the 1930's and 1940's. Children of different races are shown playing on the asphalt together.

Helen Levitt died in her sleep this weekend, at her apartment in Greenwich Village.

Click here for Levitt's interview on NPR.
Click here for the Times obituary.
Click here for some of her photos.

Related posts: Taking a Glance at Columbus Circle, Decisions, Decisions and For the People.

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Trading Spaces

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

There are some very pretty residences in Brooklyn. Some of the townhouses are set back from the street and have little gardens in front.

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New Yorkers I know are moving. But they're staying in New York.

A couple I know is moving in with each other. After consulting a few realtors, they found a big one-bedroom apartment in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The place is described as having 'walk-in closets' and an eat-in kitchen, which are absolute luxuries in New York standards. Not only that, they managed to bargain the rent down by a hundred dollars a month, to $1,800. Unheard of!

It's a renter's market. The Times says so, too.

After 10+ years of living in New York, I never thought I'd see this day. It was a given that rents would go up, and renters were at the mercy of landlords. It was a given that if you saw an apartment in the Village Voice Wednesday morning, you'd find yourself competing with 50 other applicants that afternoon.

For those lucky enough to have stable jobs and incomes, their time has come.

Related posts: Parked in Park Slope, Rent and Lining Up, Election Day.

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Look Who's Lighting Up Broadway

Photo by myself in Soho, around Spring Street and Broadway.

These little kiosks look so cozy to me, when they're just glorified tin cans.

Many are fashioned out of stainless steel, with an imprinted diamond pattern.. The stainless steel means they won't rust in the rain, and the diamond pattern breaks the surface of the metal, to help against buckling (though you wouldn't know it from this photo).

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The local New York news channel, NY1, televises an update on Broadway theater every weekend. There are many superstars you can see performing live, right now.

For instance, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini, Jeff Daniels and Marcia Gay Harden all appear in God of Carnage. Susan Sarandon and Geoffery Rush star in 'Exit the King'.

Meanwhile, David Hyde Pierce stars in a musical called 'Curtains', while Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons are in 'Impressionism'.

I don't recall so many well-known actors on Broadway, all at once. Does this have to do with the film industry? Is it because most current movies are big budget and action-packed, that is, less-focused on the actors?

Hard to tell. Perhaps all the above!

Related posts: On Seeing the World Through a Different Lens, A La Carte and Welcome to New York.

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Street Serenade, Soho

Photo by myself in Soho, around Prince and Greene Streets.

A talented cellist played Bach suites for passersby, Friday evening. The weather was finally nice enough to walk around without a heavy coat.

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According to the Times, Saturday night, New York is observing Earth Hour.

Between 8:30 and 9:30pm, scores of major landmarks will be dimming their exterior lights. The list of participants includes the theater marquees on Broadway, the Empire State Building and all the major bridges out of Manhattan. Individuals are encouraged to turn off all lights and unplug devices as well.

I have to say, it's about time.

It lifts my spirits to know that so many other people all over the world feel the importance of this issue. Seventy-four countries are participating, with the target of 1 billion individuals.

The artist Shepard Fairey, who created the iconic Change poster of President Obama, created eye-catching images for the campaign.

Mark and I will be participating. I hope you'll join us!


You can see the list of landmarks here.
You can see the Flickr site here.

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Rain, Rain, Go Away

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 35th Street and 6th Avenue.

It rained later in the day on Thursday.

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Spring rains are common in New York. In my head, rainy days seem to occur more often on weekends than weekdays.

But that doesn't seem logical, now does it?

TGIF, everyone!

Related posts: What's Scrolling in Midtown, Making an Entrance, in Midtown and Bright Lights, Big City.

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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.

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

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On Music and Elephants, Underground

Photo by myself at the 34th Street subway station.

The Alex Lo Dico Ensemble played jazz to the rush hour crowd, Tuesday evening. I wrote about them earlier, here.

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Like most places, it's not an easy time in New York right now.

The city is facing another subway fare hike. A vote today (Wednesday) determines whether the fare will jump from $2 a ride to $2.50.

Is it me, or does the subway fare seem to continually go upwards?!

As an antidote, I offer you this. The circus is in town and guess how the elephants get into the city?

They take the tunnel, of course.

Yes, the Ringling Brothers elephants walk themselves into Manhattan underground, via the Midtown Tunnel. It's an annual spectacle that I've heard about but never attended.

Hopefully next year, I'll give everyone a heads up - if you're near the tunnel entrance, you can see them all come out.

More about the elephants here.

Related posts: Tales From Below - A Subway Transcript, Pulling Strings on the Subway Platform and Art Underground the MoMA Way.

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Ready to Rumble, in Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

A posse of motorcycle riders revved through Williamsburg, Brooklyn, this weekend. Their rides made quite a statement in this relatively quiet neighborhood.

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Believe it or not, there is more than one B. Madoff in the New York City.

As reported in the Times, one B. Madoff was listed in the phone book. Only he wasn't the investor who's in prison for swindling his clients of billions of dollars. This B. Madoff was B. Jeffrey Madoff (pronounced Mad-off), an advertising producer.

It's remarkable to think that B. Jeffrey Madoff only received phone calls and a suspicious package. You'd think that he'd get a lot worse.

I hope the Madoff case doesn't set New York back in terms of our public relations. It's taken a long time for us to overcome the image of being a scary den of crime!

Related posts: The Three Pete's, Building Big and Taxi!.

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The View from Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Photo by myself from the edge of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

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The view of Manhattan varies quite a bit, depending on where you're standing. Some parts are quite plain.

From Williamsburg you see the east side of Manhattan, just below 23rd Street. The tower on the right is the MetLife Building. I took a picture of it here.

Between lower Manhattan and Midtown, the buildings decrease notably in size. Manhattan is built on natural bedrock but geologically some areas are stronger than others.

Neighborhoods are zoned so that skyscrapers are built only in areas that can bear their weight.

Related posts: A View from the Promenade, The View from Downstream and Where the Kids are - Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

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A Walk in the Park

Photo by myself in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

On a recent cool day, Mark, Rupert and I took a stroll through the park in Brooklyn, near where we live. (The cat didn't join us, preferring the sofa cushion).

On weekends, the parks are typically filled with joggers, cyclists, couples and families.

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The news on us is generally good.

One of my projects at the office is wrapping up and is turning out well - a three-bedroom renovation on the Upper West Side. The owners are moving in at the end of April, on schedule. (In my line of work, being on schedule and within budget is a miracle). I'm now helping out on a huge project on Fifth Avenue.

By the way, if you're looking to renovate, now is the time. Contractors are bidding fiercely on projects, significantly lowering their average per square foot costs.

Below, the most recent edition of the Rupert movies, that Mark whipped up. Enjoy!



Related posts: A New York Mascot, Doggone It, Rupert is Six Months Old and Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

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Dimming the Lights on Broadway

Photo by myself at the theater at BAM, the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

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Lights were dimmed in theaters on Broadway this week, in respect for Natasha Richardson. Her passing has been all over the local and prime time news. Richardson performed extensively here on stage, and lived in the city before moving to upstate New York. Her wake was held Friday on the Upper East Side.

Charlie Rose aired a special on the actress Friday night, playing clips from several previous interviews.

During a 2001 interview, she recounted the 'scariest moment of her life' - she had to rush off a movie set because her husband Liam Neeson had been in a serious motorcycle accident. He had hit a deer but survived with some broken bones.

The actress was driven 10 hours to New York, not knowing his condition. Retelling the story, Richardson was visibly upset. It was uncanny to watch.

One can't help but wish 'what if'.

You can see the 2001 interview here (the part about the accident occurs late in the interview).

Related posts: From the Great White Way, Central Park in the Rain and A Peek at the Planetarium.

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Inhale, Exhale...

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

A dazzling display of hookahs of all shapes and sizes.

Head shops like this one are located in different neighborhoods in the city. It's legal to sell vaporizers, water pipes and rolling papers, which can be used with tobacco and other substances.

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TGIF, everyone!

Related posts: Eco-Friendly Cardboard Design, The Markets in Union Square and The Mother of all Supermarkets.

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184 3/4 West 4th Street

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

Yes indeed, there is a number 184 3/4 on West 4th Street. There, a tiny shop called The Silversmith sells all sorts of jewelry to passersby.

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It was slightly Spring-like weather today, and as always, New Yorkers took to the streets. There was much strolling about, and lounging at sidewalk cafes, sipping beverages.

Just in time for the warmer weather, Spa Week comes to New York from April 13-19th. Dozens of spas around the city have special deals for treatments during that time.

Book your spa appointments now!

Related posts: Riding in Style in the Village, Down in the Village and 42nd Street.

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The Empire State on St. Patrick's Day

Photo by myself of the Empire State Building on St. Patrick's Day.

The Empire State Building is lit with LED lights. This means that the colors can be adjusted easily to any color imaginable. I'm sure in the past they must have been limited to a set palette of colored lenses.

You can see the schedule of the lights here. On days when nothing in particular is being celebrated, the lights are colored white.

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Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Here's another great thing about living in the city - you don't have to worry about drinking and driving. You can always jump into a cab, and the subways run into the wee hours. For a mere $2 a ride, you can get home safely, and even have a little nap on the way.

Did everyone wear a little green on Tuesday?

Related posts: What's Going Up, Near the ESB, Working Toward a Complaint-Free World and 42nd Street.

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