Photo by myself at 73rd Street and Broadway on the Upper West Side.
The Ansonia is a well-known pre-war apartment building on the Upper West Side. (Pardon the odd angle. The building is actually not slanted!)
Above, the residential entrance at 73rd Street. A bank is located on the first floor, to the left.
The details of the building are sculptural and over-the-top. A 4-bedroom co-op apartment was just sold here for 5.6 million dollars.
For listings of available apartments and recent sales, click for listings here.
Related posts: Below the Ansonia, on the Upper West Side, The Majestic Ansonia and The Stately San Remo on the Upper West Side.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
At the Base of the Ansonia, on West 73rd Street
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
At a Crossroads, Outside Macy's
Photo by myself around 35th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.
A fellow was taking photos of the billboard on the Macy's building, Tuesday evening. What looks like an odd hat is really the flash attachment of his camera.
Macy's is located at 34th Street, where Broadway and Sixth Avenue intersect. The result is a large open space. A small public park is located on the sliver in the middle.
The 34th Street subway station and Long Island Railroad station is located here, too. Times Square is just steps away at 42nd Street. There is always tons of people walking about.
Related posts: Lost, Near Macy's, Happy Thanksgiving, From Macy's and There's a Moon Out Tonight.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Queuing for Ice Cream, in the Cold
Photo by myself at 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue, in the Flatiron District.
Sure, even in the cold weather, the Van Leeuwen Ice Cream truck has business. Their clientele was dressed head to toe in knits in the chilly Spring weather.
The Van Leeuwen truck is parked daily around 22nd Street and 6th Avenue. Here, it was a couple blocks away at 23rd and Fifth. In addition to 'artisanal' ice cream, they serve coffee, espresso and pastries.
Artisanal ice cream means no preservatives and no artificial emulsifiers. The creamy and rich ice cream is also served in containers made from recycled materials. A portion of the proceeds are also donated toward wildlife preservation.
I have yet to sample their goods, which must be delicious. For more about the Van Leeuwen company, visit their pretty website here.
Related posts: The Latest Scoop, Italian Ice, East Village and I Scream, You Scream.
Monday, March 28, 2011
On Meditation and Taking Candids
Photo by myself on Beech Street, in Boston.
Above, the only halfway decent photo I managed to take during my weekend in Boston.
Photographers were absolutely not shy, Sunday morning. They stood very close, while a woman was in meditation. The woman was a member of the Falun Gong, a religious group that uses meditation to attain spiritual well-being.
In the four years that I've been taking photographs regularly, I've seen an incredible change on the streets. I'm curious to know whether other people see it, too?
First, people in their daily lives seem much more on guard about being photographed. Street photography has become much more commonplace, and it seems harder to take good candids.
Second, photographers are bolder than ever. I'm not sure whether the paparazzi have influenced us, or the breakdown of boundaries via Facebook and other trends?
The above scene would certainly not have happened ten years ago. I truly hope this does not become a common sight.
Related posts: Stick Em Up, in Madison Square Park, On Contortionists and Viral Videos and Sun Salutation, in the East Village. Read more...
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Peeping in, on the Upper West Side
Photo by myself around 72nd Street and Central Park West on the Upper West Side.
It's hard to resist peeping into people's apartments. It's a very human reflex.
A man was preparing dinner in a small galley kitchen, to the left. To the right, the lights were on in the Living Room. You can see the beams in the ceiling, which are typical in pre-war buildings.
The building above is a little unusual. Many of the apartments are duplex units, that is, apartments that have an upstairs and downstairs, connected by an internal stair. There are triplexes, too, apartments with three floors. The room above the Living Room is probably the Master Bedroom.
The benefit of owning a duplex is that they feel more like a regular house than an apartment building. The drawback is that the internal stair takes up precious square footage. Each level also seems small in comparison to an apartment on a single level.
There is a bit going on in the photo above. The large window on the right is metal. The windows on the far left are old, wooden windows, located in a fire stair. They look in need of a good cleaning.
There are a couple through-wall air conditioners above, where the air conditioning units penetrate the exterior wall. The air conditioner in the man's kitchen is within a window, which is not too nice looking and blocks some daylight from coming in.
Related posts: On New York Buildings, High and Low, Trumped, on the Upper West Side and How the Other Half Lives.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
On Passing the Time and New York City BIDs
Photo by myself in Union Square.
People walked around with their eyeballs and ears glued to their phones the other day, in Union Square.
This large, informal open area is host to many impromptu gatherings. You can find musical performances, hackey-sack contests and political protests here. In the background above, a large group jumps rope.
Among scheduled events are the Farmer's Market on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. During the holiday season, vendors set up special carts for their goods.
How are the parks and open spaces kept so clean, and how are formal events organized?
New York is divided up into 'BID's, or Business Improvement Districts. Businesses and buildings in each neighborhood contribute money to non-profit groups that that maintain the open spaces and activities.
Each neighborhood has its own decorations during the holidays, its own style of trash cans and signage. Lower Manhattan's Downtown Alliance was instrumental in getting people back into the neighborhood after 9/11. Lower Manhattan has its own distinctive street signs and maps.
The 34th Street area has internally lit street signs. The differences are subtle from neighborhood to neighborhood, but if you look closely, you will notice that each neighborhood has its own identity.
When open park areas are kept well-planted and maintained, people use these areas. Nice public spaces means more foot traffic for businesses, and so on.
BIDs are located in all five boroughs of New York City, not just Manhattan. There are 64 BIDs in all, which include everything from Union Square and Times Square, to Long Island City, Queens and Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
For more about the Business Improvement Districts and links to each of them, click here.
Thanks for the nice comments regarding yesterday's post. It's been nice seeing my family, though I wish the circumstances were better.
Related posts: The Curse of the First Born, Texting, Schmexting and People Watching, Union Square.
Read more...
Friday, March 25, 2011
Outside Madame Tussaud's, in Times Square
Photo by myself outside the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum on 42nd Street and Broadway.
Larger than life portraits adorn service doors at the Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum in Times Square. The Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum is right next door.
Times Square is no longer the seedy street it used to be. It's now part amusement park, part mall. A couple multi-story movie theaters are located on the street, as well as many fast food joints.
As a New Yorker I recommend not spending too much time along 42nd Street, though Times Square can be pretty cool at night. There are so many neighborhoods in Manhattan and the outer boroughs that represent New York City, its people and history much better.
I'm in Boston for the weekend. My grandfather passed away a few days ago at the incredible age of
He was feisty and intelligent, always in good humor and grateful for his life. I grew up with him and my grandmother around me, and their voices resonate in my head. To the very end, my grandfather insisted that he was only 98 years old.
Just Thursday night, my brother welcomed a baby girl. I am officially an aunt! What a happy and reflective time it is for my family.
Posts will continue here each day as usual.
Related posts: Now Playing at the Booth Theater, Madge + Macy's = Mayhem and Faces in Fashion, in Bryant Park.
Read more...
Thursday, March 24, 2011
At the Foot of the Freedom Tower
Photo by myself at the foot of the Freedom Tower, along the West Side Highway.
The Freedom Tower (seen above, right) and several of the other buildings at the World Trade Center are well underway. Construction is slow, but every time I manage to pass by, I see progress.
Enormous trusses span vertically for several floors, as you can see. The Freedom Tower is located near some older buildings, and the contrast is obvious.
By the way, Mark pointed out to me that I had another inadvertent celebrity sighting in yesterday's photo, at the 59th Street subway station.
N.J. Burkett is a television celebrity here, at ABC news. He is a news correspondent, and the ABC headquarters is located at 66th Street and Broadway.
For my other inadvertent celeb sighting was of Chris Kimball, of America's Test Kitchen, here.
Related posts: On the World Trade Center and My Big Toe, Night View, at the World Trade Center and Salvaged from the World Trade Center.
Read more...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Across the Platform, at 59th Street
Photo by myself at the 59th Street subway station.
Two strangers were framed by columns at the 59th Street subway station Tuesday night.
Mark noticed that the fellow above is NJ Burkett, a correspondent for ABC News. The ABC headquarters is a few blocks away from this subway station.
NJ Burkett, photo from the internet.
By the way, the latest incident on the subway in the news involves a fight induced by spaghetti (!).
Eating and drinking is not allowed on the subway, though a little snack now and again might be okay. A full-blown meal like spaghetti and sauce is a different story.
Routinely you see women putting on their makeup on the train. Once I saw a man shaving on the subway platform with a battery powered buzzer.
The fight involved three women and eventually half the subway car was standing up. And it was all caught on video.
You can read about and see the argument on the Daily News site here.
Related posts: On the Platform, 34th Street, Seen, Below Ground and Commuting in the Hood on the Atlantic/Pacific Platform. Read more...
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
On the View of Midtown West and Dining In Brooklyn
Photo by myself around 52nd Street and 12th Avenue, on the West Side.
The view from a parking garage on the far west side, looking southwest.
Ahead, the glass towers along Midtown West. The W Hotel is located at 47th Street and Broadway. The building on the very right with the spiky top is the New York Times tower at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue.
The building just above the 'G' in Guess is the Westin Hotel at 43rd Street and Eighth Avenue. The Westin is recognizable for its colored vertical stripes.
By the way, on the other side of Manhattan, it's Restaurant Week in Brooklyn.
Restaurants in neighborhoods all over Brooklyn are offering special menus until the end of March. You can enjoy prix fixe lunches for $20.11 and three-course dinners for $25. Every cuisine imaginable is represented.
Some of our favorite restaurants are included, like The Smoke Joint in Fort Greene (bbq) and Anthony's in Park Slope (Italian, great thin crust pizza).
For a map and list of all participating restaurants, click here.
Related posts: Sunset from Brooklyn Bridge Beach, Different Vistas and The East River at Dusk.
Read more...
Monday, March 21, 2011
Handcrafted Objects at the Architectural Digest Design Show
Photo by myself at the 2011 Architectural Digest Home Design Show, at 55th and 12th Avenue on the Upper West Side.
Above, the work of Mark A. Perry, a folk artist who lives in Rhode Island. His fanciful works in wood seemed to be imbued with hidden meaning.
My fiance Mark and I attended the Architectural Digest Home Design Show held at Pier 94, this Sunday. The show started last Thursday and ended yesterday.
This was the 10th year of the show, sponsored by the magazine Architectural Digest, or AD for those in the biz. The magazine publishes high end residential work by architects and decorators.
Over 300 exhibitors showed home furnishings, such as custom furniture, hand-blown glass lights and textiles. There was also a separate section devoted entirely to art. We encountered innovative and beautiful objects at every turn.
The delicate work of Jedediah Morfit. A bas-relief in plaster was suspended in front of a painted surface.
The themes of much of the work seemed to be reclaimed or natural materials. There was a good deal of furniture made of beautiful rare wood and glass objects in earthy colors.
Custom made wood pieces by Patrick Weder Design, a craftsman working out of Brooklyn.
Burled end tables, lamps and handmade earthenware by dbO Home.
Playful cast iron coat hooks resemble hands in different poses, by Nick Davis.
The above images are just a smattering of what we saw. Mark and I walked away with our heads full of ideas for our apartment.
What was especially refreshing was how open the exhibitors were to having their work photographed. Thankfully, there is the understanding that photographs can be less about stealing ideas than promotion on a large scale.
For more information on the AD Show and to sign up for their mailing list for next year's event, click here.
Faux aquariums created by Samantha Freeman. Fish were painted on layers of clear glass, creating a sense of depth.
Related posts: Now on Display, at the Annual Winter Antiques Show, At the Brooklyn Museum - The Dizzying World of Murakami and East (Side) Versus West (Side).
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Morning on 42nd Street
Photo by myself on 42nd Street near Broadway, in Midtown.
The reflection off a modern glass building was lighting up the facade of an older building.
The building ahead is French-inspired and very ornate. Though it looks like a hotel or residence, I think it's used as an office building.
Related posts: The Flatiron Building in Detail, Going Postal in Midtown and Details, Details.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Windswept, in SoHo
Photo by myself at Lafayette and Spring Streets, in SoHo.
A group of women looked windswept and a little SATC-like* on a popular street corner in SoHo.
Squint a little, and the woman on the left would be Miranda. The woman on the right would be Carrie, who is underdressed as usual. They've run into an old friend of theirs after an expensive brunch.
It's been a bit more Spring-like in the last week. Miraculously, as you can see, there is no more snow.
*SATC = Sex and the City
Related posts: On a Stoop, in SoHo, Down Broadway and Watch Where You're Going, In SoHo.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Film Shoot, in Midtown
Photo by myself in Midtown.
A film shoot of some kind was in progress, Thursday night.
The film crew, mostly guys wearing blue jeans, occupied the sidewalk below. On a platform was a cameraman, getting a view through an open window.
By the way, it was St. Patrick's Day here. I tried very hard to get a photo of happy people dressed in green, but nothing turned out very well!
The St. Patrick's Day parade took place on Fifth Avenue Thursday, from 44th Street to 86th Street. Traffic was a mess.
Happy Friday, everyone!
Related posts: Movie in the Making, in Alphabet City, Lights, Camera, Action! and Portrait of a Film Shoot, in Brooklyn Heights.
Read more...
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Passing the Time on the Sidewalk
Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.
A very sad sight on the sidewalk. Unfortunately, homelessness is common in major cities.
To pass the time, he or she was doing crossword puzzles.
Related posts: On Lost Icons and The Dakota, Walking the Walk, in Midtown and Copping a Feel on the Subway.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The Look Outside The Dakota
Photo by myself at 72nd Street and Central Park West.
The Dakota is a landmarked apartment building that spans from 72nd to 73rd Street on Central Park West.
This was once the home of John Lennon. Lennon was shot on the sidewalk outside the building one December night, while walking home with his wife, Yoko Ono.
I was near The Dakota briefly, Monday morning. An entire tour bus had just stopped there. I overheard a fellow at a newsstand who said the tourists come by constantly, every single day.
Related posts: On Lost Icons and The Dakota, Walking the Walk, in Midtown and Copping a Feel on the Subway.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Empire State at Dusk
Photo by myself around 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue.
The Empire State Building is located at 35th and 5th Avenues. This shot was taken at 23rd Street, where Fifth Avenue and Broadway merge. The streets open up for a nice vista. I was in the neighborhood on an errand, Monday night.
The Empire State Building bathed for the next few days in white light. The lights will turn green for St. Patrick's Day on Thursday, the 17th.
White is the default setting. The colors are for special occasions and include the colors of the rainbow.
Holidays are recognized, like Christmas, Thanksgiving and Valentine's Day. Non-holidays are recognized too, like the Westminster Dog Show (!), the Superbowl and the New York City Marathon.
Now that the lights on the building are programmable LED lights, changing colors is easy. For the building's lighting schedule click here.
The Empire State Building, or ESB, is currently the third-tallest building in the US, behind the Willis and Trump Towers in Chicago.
Related posts: The Empire State on St. Patrick's Day, Skating Under the Empire State and All Decked Out Below the Empire State.
Monday, March 14, 2011
Sunday, on Canal Street
Photo by myself along Canal Street, in Chinatown.
The goings on here in New York pale in contrast to what's going on in Japan.
On Canal Street, it's business as usual. In the daytime, this street is nearly always crowded with people looking for bargains. At night, the street is close to empty.
Canal Street is lined with many jewelry and gift stores. There are some grocery stores, too. Restaurants are generally located on the side streets.
Related posts: En Masse, on Canal Street, On a Hot Night in Chinatown and From Under the Banner, in Chinatown.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
What's Hoppin', in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Photo by myself at 7th Avenue and 9th Street in Park Slope.
A random moment this weekend, while walking around the neighborhood in Brooklyn.
We had a glimmer of Spring on Saturday. The sun was out, and it was a little warmer than usual.
Many families and giant bunny rabbits were strolling around outside. Ha.
Related posts: Big Green Monster, in Midtown, Cow Appreciation Day, Fifth Avenue and Big Red Monster, in Herald Square.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Kiosk at Night
Photo by myself around 23rd Street and Park Avenue.
Kiosks and newsstands only need to be deep enough to fit one person. This one sells magazines, gum, cigarettes, lottery tickets and drinks.
You can tell that people feel generally safe in the city - supplies were unattended to the side, waiting to be stocked.
Plastic covered piles of newspapers in the front because it just rained.
Related posts: On the Pricelessness of New York Delis, Shacking it up in the City and Holy Smokes in the East Village.
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