6:24pm, Below Times Square

Photo by myself, on the Times Square subway platform.

A man played a steel drum at the Times Square subway stop, Tuesday night. It made for a lot of clanging. Meanwhile, trains were pulling up and the announcers were making their announcements.

As usual, there were tons of people about. If you live long enough in New York, you know exactly where along the platform to stand, so you're next to the exit at your destination.

--It's been crazy busy for me at work. You wouldn't think it with the economy, but people are purchasing apartments and renovating them.

I am working on a fancy kitchen in a townhouse, two condo apartments being merged into one giant apartment, a tiny baby's room, and a duplex on Fifth Avenue. And I am helping a coworker with her project on Park Avenue. And a neighbor just asked me to help her with her plans to open a day care (!!!).

I'm usually at work until late but I had a meeting on Tuesday. Rush hour is something you want to avoid in the city. Just getting into a subway car can be a hassle.





Related posts: Strumming a Tune, Below Ground, Busking, Below Union Square, and The Morning Serenade.

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Open 24/7 on 14th Street

Photo by myself around 14th Street and First Avenue, in the East Village.

A photo from the stash, at a slightly warmer time.

Older storefronts are more hodge podge than new ones, usually just a huge number of different signs. Obviously this store has an ATM!

Related posts: Holy Smokes, in the East Village, Signs of Old Times, on the Lower East Side, and A Glimpse of 42nd Street, Times Square.

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From the Ramp, at Pershing Square

Photo by myself around 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue.

Ah yes, rounding the bend at Grand Central, you get a cool glimpse of the Chrysler Building, only a block away.

This was taken from Park Avenue South, where it ramps up at Pershing Square. I've taken a lot of photos of this area, but not quite this view.

Happy Friday everyone!

Related posts: The Chrysler Building, at Night, The View Down 42nd Street, in Midtown, and On the Pershing Square Cafe and Paper Portraits.

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Looking Up, in Soho

Photo by myself, somewhere in Soho.

Some of the most beautiful buildings are in Soho, and were originally used as warehouse buildings.

Nowadays to live in that neighborhood, you have to spend a small fortune. Or have moved in long ago, when it was not glamorous and rents were cheap.

By the way, one of the articles in the Times from last weekend grabbed everyone's attention - who can be labeled 'middle class', in Manhattan?

Around the lunch table, we pondered the fact that the average Manhattan apartment is a one-bedroom for $3,973 per month (!)

That is average. Though to most human beings, $3,973 is awfully expensive for a single person without a trust fund. And somehow still have money left over to eat dinner. And commute to work.

How to get by in this city is a constant question for everyone. Do you move further away from the city for larger space? Do you stay in the same tiny apartment for decades? It's not an easy decision.

For the Times article about the middle class in Manhattan, click here.

Related posts: Looking North, on the Upper West Side, Looking Up, at 240 Centre Street, and Looking Down, from Midtown Comics.

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It's Suddenly Winter, in Midtown

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

It's suddenly cold here, as if it's actually winter! Egad. People stumbled about with scarves wrapped around their heads, Tuesday morning.

Monday we woke up to a frigid 9 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 13, Celsius). The winds made it feel much, much colder!

Related posts: On a Winter Day, at the Plaza Hotel, It's Chilly in Midtown and Prospect Park, and All A-Shiver, on the Streets.

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A Snapshot, from Midtown

Photo by myself in Midtown.

A photo from the stash, when it was much warmer.

Just a snapshot from daily life - a delivery guy schlepping a lunch order, a woman checking her phone, and visitors looking a little lost.

Apologies for the sporadic posts once again. It's been crazy busy and I've been under the weather.

Related posts: Street Crossing, on Fifth Avenue, Brrrr, in Midtown, and Stampede, in Midtown.

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Behind the Prada Store, in Soho

Photo by myself at Greene Street and Prince Street, in Soho.

Just behind the Prada store in SoHo is a giant, gorgeous billboard.

Its saturated colors work well with the buildings it fronts.

Related posts: On the New York Dress Code - Outerwear 101, All Wrapped up, in Soho, and Pretty in Pink, Downtown.

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Down Second Avenue, on the East Side

Photo by myself, somewhere on Second Avenue, heading downtown.

Parts of the city seem quaint, with twisty streets and smaller buildings. But then other parts resemble a highway.

Above, you'll see everyone on the streets, from motorcycles to skateboarders to cyclists to pedicabs.

--Last night, after a long day at work, I stepped onto the elevator at my office building.

The elevator started moving down. Then lurched a little. Then faltered and came to a stop. All the buttons on the wall started flashing in unison, as if possessed.

I was stuck.

Thankfully, I didn't have to pee in my shoe or eat my purse. After many minutes and lurches and flashings of buttons, the elevator finally crept back up to where it'd started and let me out. Phew.

I'm glad nothing serious happened. I told my fiance Mark about the incident later, and he told me he'd been stuck in an elevator twice before.

Once, for a few minutes. Then again for a half hour. He had to be rescued by firefighters, pulled out of the elevator as it was stuck between floors. It must be a somewhat common thing to happen, then.

Related posts: NYPD on Bikes, Ready to Rumble, in Brooklyn, and Ready to Rumble, in Alphabet City.

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Trumpet Solo, on the Ride to Brooklyn

Photo by myself, on the subway ride home.

A man played the trumpet for donations, the other night. On a strap hung a boombox that played background music.

As you can see, it hasn't been super duper cold here. Usually January is frigid. Temps have been fluctuating in the high 40s and low 50s (!).

Happy Monday, everyone!

Related posts: Jazz Players on the Subway Platform, Doo Wop, on Friday Morning, and Morning Serenade.

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Cost was Here, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Photo by myself, somewhere in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

A guy checked his phone during a smoke break, in Williamsburg.

Behind him, one of the many, many paste-ups bearing the words 'Cost was here' that were in the neighborhood.

Apparently Cost was a prolific graffiti artist in the 90s. He must have had a resurgence, since I hadn't seen his work until recently in Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Mark tells me that the artists' tags don't really mean anything literal. The artists simply like the composition of the letters next to each other, and spray paint them over and over (and over) again.

Related posts: Graffiti, Soho, Growing up Among Graffiti, Downtown, and Cereal Killers Mural, in Williamsburg.

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Store Closing, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself, around Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street, in Midtown.

Large signs announced the closing of an antiques store, in Midtown.

This photo is from the stash. It's not uncommon, however, to see stores shutting down and new ones emerging.

New York City has generally been lucky during the whole crisis. Real estate prices are back on the rise, and I believe vacancies for storefronts have been low.

Related posts: Now on Sale, in Midtown, Women in Black, Against War, and Free Massages, in Union Square.

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Foot Traffic, on Sixth Avenue

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue, around 35th Street in Midtown.

A typical view down a typical avenue, during the day.

I would say this is a typical 'non-rush hour' view, meaning that you can see spaces to either side of people. People wearing their wintry gear and ear buds. People of all different ethnicities and ages.

People, people, people.

As usual, there is scaffolding in the background. Rush hour crowds are easily 3x more crowded than the photo above.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Related posts: The Crowds on Lower Broadway, Across the Crowded Sidewalk, in Midtown, and The Daily Madness, Outside Madison Square Garden.

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A Kiss, on Broadway

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

A couple showed their affection on the street.

Ah...l'amour, l'amour.

Related posts: A Kiss, in Brooklyn Bridge Park, A Hug, in Washington Square Park, and More Free Hugs, in Union Square.

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Painted Skull and Eyeball, in the East Village

Photo by myself on Bond Street and Bowery, in the East Village.

Two large and cryptic illustrations of a skull and an eyeball adorned what looked like garage doors.

Bond Street is also known as Second Street, for whatever reason.

--The flu is going around here and everywhere else. All you hear on the subway and sidewalks is people coughing and snuffling.

My fiance Mark has been laid out with chills and a fever. Just a reminder to everyone to get a flu shot if you haven't already. I hear that the shot is very effective against this year's strain.

Related posts: The Mark of the Quel Beast, near Bowery Street, The Sign of the White Rabbit, on Houston Street, and The Rat Pack, on Avenue C.

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Homeless Man and Dog, on Lafayette Street

Photo by myself, around Lafayette and East Fourth Street, in NoHo.

A homeless man decided to pick up his dog, the other day, piggyback. I'm not sure what was going on here.

With the cold weather, the homeless are more noticeable on the streets and in the subways. Usually they camp out in front of churches and empty buildings.

Above, a couple homeless people and their dog camped out in front of a restaurant that was under renovation.

Related posts: Man and Companion, on the Sidewalk, Sitting in Herald Square, and The World Walks By, on Fifth Avenue.

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Bubbles, in SoHo

Photo by myself at Broadway and Houston Streets, in SoHo.

A man was selling toys that made bubbles, in SoHo.

The bubbles could be seen from a block away. They were a fun and surprising addition to the cityscape.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Related posts: Graffiti, in SoHo, Twilight, in SoHo, and After the Snow, in SoHo.

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Traveling Art, in NoHo

Photo by myself around Houston and Mercer Streets, in NoHo.

I've seen this truck a couple times before. Sitting on top of it is a sculpture by Sergio Furnare, a New York artist, depicting a well known photograph of iron workers on their lunch break.

The original black and white photo was taken in 1932 of ironworkers working at Rockefeller Center. They were sitting on the 69th floor and you could see the city below them. The truck is Furnare's traveling billboard.

We had a gorgeous day in the city, Saturday. It felt like Spring, on the cool side with sunshine.

In the background left is a sculpture by the minimalist artist Forrest Myers. It's comprised of a grid of beams cantilevering out from a building.

For the original 1932 photo of the iron workers, click here.
For the artist's website, click here.

Related posts: Flaming Cactus, in Astor Place, Giant Head, in Madison Square Park, and Big Wampum Poster, on Houston Street.

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On Canal Street and Funny or Die

Photo by myself at Broadway and Canal Street, near Chinatown.

A photo from a warmer time.

Canal Street is a street busy with car and pedestrian traffic. The on ramp to the Manhattan Bridge is on the eastern end of this street, and the sidewalks are lined with vendors selling perfume, jewelry and clothing.

--By chance, my fiance Mark and I tuned in to a new show of the 'Funny or Die' series, called 'Billy on the Street'.

This guy named Billy Eichner runs around Manhattan, quizzing people on the street for small prizes.

I mean, he literally runs around on the street. And there is nothing more frightening in New York than a big guy running at you (waving a microphone, yelling random questions about celebrities), so a good part of the show involves strangers running away from Billy in sheer terror. Ha.

To see clips of Billy on the Street, click here.

Related posts: Braving the Cold, on Canal Street, En Masse, on Canal Street, and Getting the Goods on Canal Street.

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The View Down 32nd Street, Midtown

Photo by myself at 32nd Street and Seventh Avenue, in Midtown.

A traffic cop helped to direct traffic on Seventh Avenue.

This is a very busy part of town, just a block away from Macy's. Ahead, a copper-clad bridge connects two buildings, high above the street.

You see some of these pedestrian bridges on the west side, for whatever reason, usually connecting warehouses together.

Related posts: Warehousing Art, in Chelsea, Cold Reality, and Gone Fishin', Along the East River.

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On Getting Back to the Grind and New Year's Eve, in the City

Photo by myself, on the Q train.

The first day back to work took a lot out of everyone. Oy.

On the commute home, folks slept or sat or stood quietly. The party was decidedly over. Boo.

-- By the way, you would never know it was just New Year's Eve or that the 'ball dropped' or anything like that. It was business as grumpily usual, yesterday.

The official Times Square website says that more than one ton of confetti gets dropped during the celebration. And that there are no portable public restrooms outside (!).

I've never stood outside on New Year's to wait for the ball to drop and most likely never will. But if I were to stand outside for hours and hours in the cold, I'm not sure I could do it without knowing there was a bathroom readily available.

Just the thought of not having a toilet nearby would make me want to pee!

For the FAQ page from the Times Square website, click here.

Related posts: All Lit Up, on the D Train, On Rain and Trains, and Delays on the B Train, Underground.

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Dressed for the Holidays, in Prospect Park Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

I met this little french bulldog in Prospect Park, the other day. She was dressed for the holiday season, and looked as if she were reflecting on holidays past. There was a very thin dusting of snow on the ground.

Mark and I spent most of the week in Brooklyn, far away from the crowds that have swarmed into Manhattan. We had a very relaxing time off work.

It's suddenly very cold, here, which shouldn't be much of a surprise since it is January. We had virtually no snow in 2012, just the very light dusting here and there.


Oh yes, I feel the same way. Must we go back to the grind??!

Related posts: A Bit of Nature, in New York, All Ears, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and Out in the Cold, on the Upper East Side.

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Unhate, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself at Fifth Avenue and 48th Street, in Midtown.

Happy New Year, Everyone!

Just a snapshot from Fifth Avenue from a little while ago. The 'Unhate' ad campaign by Benneton caused a stir, showing various political leaders kissing one another.

Above, a two-story high Obama is shown with Chinese President Hu Jintao.

It's hard to believe it's 2013. Wowee. I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!

Related posts: Bikini-Clad, on Prince Street, Our Commander and Chief, Above 7th Avenue, and It All Ends, Above Chelsea.

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A Splash of Graffiti, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Photo by myself on Berry Street, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

An explosion of graffiti in Williamsburg.

One of the paste-ups reads 'I can't afford to *heart* NY', a riff on the popular 'I *heart* NY' slogan.

It has been very chilly here, with strong winds. Yesterday we had a bit of snow mixed with rain. Brrrr!

Related posts: Lost in a Crowd, in Midtown, Ready to Rumble, in Alphabet City, and Abandoned Lot, East Village.

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A Glimpse of Houston Street

Photo by myself at Houston and Allen Streets.

Just a peek down Houston Street, a great divide in the city.

South of Houston is SoHo, the land of clothing boutiques and large furniture stores. North of Houston is NoHo and the sprawling NYU campus.

Houston Street is very wide, with traffic divided by a median strip. Along its length are older brick brownstones and many tall modern buildings.

This photo was taken from the passenger seat of our car (!). We'd had the car washed not long before, so you wouldn't even know there was a windshield there.

Related posts: Lost in a Crowd, in Midtown, Strolling Down Sixth Avenue, in the Sun, and Business as Usual, in Midtown.

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Street Crossing, on Fifth Avenue

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

We had a chilly day in the city, Christmas Day.

If there is ever a 'good' day to be in New York in terms of traffic, I would suggest Christmas Day. Not many people are driving about, and parking rules are suspended. So you can park just about anywhere.

I used my new Canon 75-300mm lens to take the above photo. It is taking some getting used to, since you can only take photos of things more than 5 feet away. Unfortunately if you see something very interesting nearby, you can't take a photo of it (!).

Related posts: Lost in a Crowd, in Midtown, Strolling Down Sixth Avenue, in the Sun, and Business as Usual, in Midtown.

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Merry Xmas, from Park Slope, Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Colored lights decorated a front lawn in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Santa seems to have left his boots.

Some of the front lawns in Brooklyn are very tiny or non-existant, with concrete slabs and little patches of grass. Occasionally, there is a tree.

Many brownstones don't have driveways or garages, so there isn't a place to keep garbage cans (!). A paved front yard means less upkeep and a place to keep trash cans off the sidewalk during the week.

--Merry Christmas, everyone! It was a sunny and chilly day here. Mark, Rupert and I are staying in town.

We drove into the city briefly to try out my xmas present, a new camera lens! Hip hip, hooray! It is a fantastic zoom lens that I have to get used to.

I wish everyone a safe and lovely holiday.

Related posts: Random Graffiti, on Second Avenue, Graff Attack, in the Meatpacking District, and The Urban Art Form, Downtown.

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Graffiti, Williamsburg

Photo by myself on North 6th Street, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

A bit of mysterious graffiti, on this popular street in Williamsburg.

--There is graffiti in abundance in Williamsburg. Layers of it. Stickers lie on top of painted tags on top of paste-ups.

Mark, Rupert and I took a walk around the neighborhood, Sunday afternoon. It was a 'gridlock alert day', which meant warnings of high traffic in Manhattan. Drivers were encouraged not to venture into the city.

It was chilly out and overcast, with brisk winds.

Happy holidays everyone!!

Related posts: Written on the Walls, in Nolita and East Harlem, Graff Attack, in the Meatpacking District, and The Urban Art Form, Downtown.

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On the Crowds in Herald Square and Walking in the City

Photo by myself at 35th Street and Sixth Avenue, Herald Square.

The hoards of crowds swarming in the streets during the holidays can be a little overwhelming.

Especially when you're trying to head in the opposite direction.

--Over the years, I've developed a way of walking where I can zip through an area without stopping.

If you've ever read about the 'pulse' of a city, this is it - where your body is so minutely timed with the chaos that you can zip through intersections without so much as a hiccup.

I'm sure one day I will smash into someone. With my luck, that someone will be carrying a huge white cake, dozens of prickly roses or an armload of marbles.

Last week, the receptionist at our office was standing at a crosswalk in this area and a man punched her in the stomach (!). She was just standing there, waiting for the light to change, and someone just walked up and punched her for no good reason.

Fortunately, she was all right. She called the police, gave her description of the elderly man who had done this, and was told that she was not alone. There have been multiple reports recently of older people acting out on strangers for whatever reason (!).

So yes, DO expect crowds in this area if you ever find yourself here. And DO give older people their space.

Related posts: Fighting the Crowds, in Midtown, Crowd Crossing, at 34th Street, and Tuned Out, in Herald Square.

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Bright Stalls at the Union Square Holiday Market

Photo by myself in Union Square.

The holiday market in Union Square was in full swing, Friday night.

Brightly lit stalls are selling jewelry, lamps, hats, scarves, art and everything else you could think of. People were browsing around and enjoying the festive atmosphere.

It was a chilly night, but loads of people were out, enjoying the end of the work week. The market has been a recurring fixture for the last 18 years! They will be open every night til 8pm through Dec. 24th.

For a little bit more about the market, see their website here.


One of many stalls selling ethnic art.

--Apologies once again for the sporadic posts. It has been soooo crazy busy at work, with every client and contractor demanding everything now, now, now.

These days, people are under the impression that architects just press a button and things are done. Not so! And in the world of real estate every day means a lot of money. So the anxiety level is very high.

I am incredibly excited to soon be working on an apartment on Fifth Avenue, near the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art, at 86th Street). We just finished up an apartment at 83rd and Madison, nearby. Stay tuned for more photos from that neighborhood (!).

Related posts: This Season at the Union Square Holiday Market, It's Christmas All Year, at the Grand Central Market, and Holiday Cheer, Already in Bryant Park.

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In the Lobby of the Sherry-Netherland, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street.

The lobby of the Sherry-Netherland Hotel, at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, is all decked out for the holidays.

The front desk is to the left, out of view. Several doormen stood by, at the ready to help people with luggage.

This hotel is very fancy, with rooms starting at $500 per night, upward to over $1k per night. They also have several apartments for sale, some with kitchens, some without (!).

One apartment for sale takes up a whole floor of the building. Its monthly maintenance is over $30k per month. Hello??!! That is a thousand dollars per day! Some of the smaller apartments resemble hotel rooms, and all are beautifully decorated.

For the Sherry-Netherland website, which includes apartments for sale, click here.

Related posts: Waiting at the Grammercy Park Hotel, All Lit Up, Outside the Gershwin Hotel, and The Royalton, Renovated.

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Outside Mascot Studio, in the East Village

Photo by myself on Ninth Street and Second Avenue.

Mascot Studio in the East Village frames fine art and sells decorative objects. I was drawn to the subtle colors of their storefront.

--As the rest of the country, the city has been devastated by the news from Connecticut. Newtown is only 90 minutes north of Manhattan.

Related posts: Outside Zucco, on the Lower East Side, Outside Three Lives, in the Village, and Peeking In, on St. Mark's Place.

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Open Everything that's Closed, on Bowery Street

Photo by myself on Bowery Street, in the East Village.

A cryptic illuminated sign to the left reads 'Open Everything That's Closed'. Barely visible above it is another sign in red that reads 'Close Everything That's Open'. Hm.

As on any typical Sunday, all the stores on Bowery were shuttered closed. The street is known for its numerous stores for restaurant equipment and supplies. It's one of the few obviously un-gentrified streets left in Manhattan.

In the olden days, you'd hear people refer to this area as 'The Bowery', mainly derived from the Bowery Mission. It was a sketchy street littered with bums. Now, not so much, thank goodness.

We had a dreary rainy day, Sunday. I took this photo from the passenger seat.

Related posts: Outside Memphis, on Broadway, Atop the Canopy at Radio City Music Hall, and Get Your Tattoos, Downtown.

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All Lit Up, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself, somewhere on Fifth Avenue.

On a chilly winter night, a brightly lit hot dog stand is a welcome sight.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Related posts: Streetside, in Midtown, On Street Carts and Bill Cunningham, New york, and Street Meats, on Seventh Avenue.

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Morning Ride on the D Train

Photo by myself on the D train.

Oh, the morning commute is tough one at times.

Brooklynites caught some shut eye on the train ride into Manhattan, Wednesday morning. As usual, the default color for coats is black.

Tis the season for holiday parties and the mornings after.

Related posts: Lost in Thought, Outside Lord and Taylor in Midtown, Holiday Displays, on Fifth Avenue, and Christmas Windows to Warm the Heart.

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The Holiday Windows at Bergdorf Goodman

Photo by myself outside Bergdorf Goodman, at 58th Street and Fifth Avenue.

The windows at Bergdorf Goodman have to be the most sumptious of all store windows during the holidays. Above, a woman is surrounded by white peacocks, their feathers and a pair of ornate chandeliers.

I'm sure the larger windows costs tens of thousands of dollars each for their designs. I try to see these displays every year, which are always elaborate and fanciful. They're less dependent on gizmos and are more like intricate set designs.

It was a little chilly the other night, but that didn't stop onlookers from oohing and aahing in front of each window, which were rimmed with large decorated frames.


In one window, a woman is shown with dozens of little white dogs performing tricks.


One stunning window showed an aerial view of a musical party in progress.

Related posts: Lost in Thought, Outside Lord and Taylor in Midtown, Holiday Displays, on Fifth Avenue, and Christmas Windows to Warm the Heart.

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Wrapped Around the Bulgari Store, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself around 56th Street and FIfth Avenue.

A giant two-headed snake encrusted with LED lights wound around the corner of the Bulgari store on Fifth Avenue.

The lights in the eyes of the snakes flicker on and off. The lights are very, very bright.

I'd see this thing whenever I passed by in a cab, so I went over Monday night to take a photo up close.

Related posts: The New York Public Library, Awash in Blue, Sparkly Lights, in Rockefeller Center, and Holiday Under the Stars, at Columbus Circle.

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Jingling and Jogging, in Prospect Park

Photo by myself in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Thousands of runners ran the loop around Prospect Park, this morning, dressed in costume. Nearly 6,000 runners finished the race.

The 'Jingle Bell Jog' is a 6K run held every year by the New York Road Runners club. I happened to be in the park this morning with Rupert and had no idea the run was held today. But when I heard the distinctive jingling and loud whoops of joy, I knew we were in for a treat.

Rupert and I stood to the side while hundreds of runners dashed by us dressed in reindeer antlers, red noses, santa hats and santa tutus. Runners were given t-shirts and bells for the race.

There was even a guy wearing nothing but a santa hat and a red speedo! Eek! Fortunately for him, it wasn't too cold.


What seemed to be an endless stream of runners went by, as we waited on the curb to cross.


Above, one runner wore the tshirt for the run, along with his antlers.


The least dressed runner of the morning, to the right, in a hat and red speedo.

For more about the Jingle Bell Jog on the New York Road Runner's website, click here.

Apologies for the sporadic posts once again. It's been crazy, crazy busy at work!

Related posts: With Bells on, at the Jingle Bell Jog, in Prospect Park, Leaving the Santa Convention, in the East Village, and On Line Behind Santa, Underground.

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Animal Hats, for Sale

Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.

Just a view down a sidewalk with a table full of winter hats for sale.

The fashion right now humorous, with hats that look like cartoon animals. In the background, one of the many Ray's Pizza joints in the city.

Related posts: Hat's Anyone? On Prince Street, On Guys in Hats, and the Issue of Style, and From the Corner Deli, in Soho.

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Looking Down 34th Street, in Midtown

Photo by myself on 34th Street in Midtown.

The view down 34th Street includes the Empire State Building, looming above.

Macy's has been decorated with a huge Christmas tree on the canopy and a giant sign with 'Believe' in script.

It's oddly balmy outside though, with temperatures hovering around 60F, or 15 Celcius. People are walking about with their jackets flapping open.

Related posts: Looking Up at Macy's in Midtown, All Decked out Below the Empire State, and Lost Near Macy's.

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The Knicks vs. the Suns, at Madison Square Garden

Photo by myself in Madison Square Garden, in Midtown.

Just before the New York Knicks game on Sunday, the lights dimmed at Madison Square Garden. Each player's photo flashed on the giant screens near the ceiling to loud, thumping music.

The Knicks played the Phoenix Suns and won, 106-99. It was a steady game as far as basketball goes. The Knicks played well, leading by 10 points or so for most of the game.

Mark and I attended the game with a friend. We had pretty good seats near the corner of the court. I'm not a basketball fan, but I found the experience thrilling. With the half-time show, flashing screens and announcements, it was non-stop action. And of course it was nice that the Knicks won.


I took this photo further down the aisle from our seats. As you can see, a good number of seats were on the floor of the court.


People milled about in front of the stadium before the game. A giant LED screen sits atop the front canopy to announce upcoming events.

Related posts: Before the Rangers Game, at Madison Square Garden, Neon Storefronts, Midtown, and From the Corner Deli, in Soho.

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