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.

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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.

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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!

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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!

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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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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!



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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).

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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!

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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!

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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?

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Night View at the World Trade Center

Photo by myself of the World Trade Center site.

Cranes were silhouetted against the night sky, Monday evening, making for a dramatic view.

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For those visiting the World Trade Center site, be forewarned. There doesn't seem to be a viewing platform of the construction now. The large platform in front of Century 21 on Cortlandt Street is gone.

Many streets in the area are blocked off or covered in scaffolding. It's best to bring a map and compass to you can find your way around!

I'm not sure how many people actually live near the World Trade Center. It's not your typical neighborhood. The scale of the buildings is large, many of the buildings house offices that close up after rush hour, and there are few visible amenities.

Battery Park City, a complex of modern apartment buildings, is within walking distance across West Street. BPC is a jam-packed with young families and enjoys a prime location by the water.

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The Latest in Un-Model Behavior

Photo by myself in Midtown, around 5th Avenue and 40th Street.

It's still cold here, though Spring is around the corner. The blustery winds make days seem much colder than they look.

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What's going on in New York right now?

Well for one, ridiculousness. This weekend, several women were injured when a stampede broke out among hundreds of contestants waiting to audition for America's Top Model.

Investigators are still trying to sort out what happened. Some screamed that there was a bomb. Some cried that there was a fire. In the end, they believe the stampede started over people cutting in line.

Oh of course, we New Yorkers and seriousness over queuing!

You can read more about the silliness here here.

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Playing Ball in the Public Courts

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

A whiff of warmer weather on Saturday brought many people outside.

The public courts in Brooklyn were swarming with people playing handball and hoops. Nearby, the dog run was filled with dogs of different sizes, and the playground was humming with children.

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City life means sharing public spaces with others. Private yards are a luxury here.

I've known a couple people lucky enough to live in garden apartments - the ground floor apartment facing the back, in smaller buildings. They were able to grow vegetables and host parties. The downside to these apartments is the safety hazard; they're not the best choice if you live alone and you have jumpy nerves.

Larger buildings often make the outdoors available to all their tenants. Some newer buildings also have landscaped rooftops and exercise rooms.

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Columbus Circle, at Dusk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Making Off With the Lower East Side

Photo by myself on the Lower East Side.

Believe it or not, there are still a few neighborhoods that retain the flavor of old New York. The Lower East Side is one such area with very few modern buildings.

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The Bernard Madoff case has hit New York hard.

Madoff, whose deceptive business dealings defrauded investors of billions of dollars, had many New York clients. Investing and finance figure prominently in this town, so everyone has an ear turned to this story. News came this week that Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison.

I don't know anyone personally who invested with Madoff, but I do know people who know people who did. The hardest hit are the older people of course, who were counting on their money for their retirement.

With all the turmoil these days, it's tough to contemplate the mess that a single person can create for so many others.

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In the Streets with Silly String

Photo by myself in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, earlier this year.

Traffic was stopped along 8th Avenue to allow for the celebration of Chinese New Year this year. Kids and adults played with firecrackers and Silly String.

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Related posts: The Dragon Parade on Mott Street, Running Amok in the Streets and A Careful Choice in Chinatown.

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