New Years Eve, on Sixth Avenue

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

The Empire State Building is bathed in red and green, to celebrate the holiday season.

Across the street, you can barely see that the crosswalk and sidewalks are mobbed with shoppers carrying big bags of stuff. End-of-year sales are going on at every store.

--Can it be the eve of 2014 already?!! Holy cow.

My best wishes to everyone for a happy and healthy new year.

Related posts: The Empire State, on St. Patrick's Day, The Empire State, at Dusk, and The Empire State Building, Bathed in White.

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Holiday Festivities at the Lotos Club, on the Upper East Side

Photo by myself at the Lotos Club, at 66th Street and Fifth Avenue.

The stunning interiors of the Lotos Club, a private literary club, were decorated for the holidays. I was lucky to have been invited to a party held there, last week.

The Club is located inside a building constructed in 1900. One can just imagine how it was when first built, with people walking about in historic dress.

The floors were oak in a herringbone pattern. The fireplace was ablaze. There were waitstaff milling about with champagne flutes, wine and hors d'oeuvres. Tables were set up, laden with cheeses, oysters, shrimp and all else. Needless to say I felt underdressed!


The immense fireplace in the library was festooned with garlands. Books line the walls and are accessed by rolling ladders.


A bar was set up below a stunning staircase. 

To visit the Lotos Club website, click here.

Related posts: Filming Outside Grand Prospect Hall, in Brooklyn, Inside the Park Avenue Armory, and City Portraits - The Williamsburgh Bank, in Brooklyn.

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Outside Tiffany's, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street, in Midtown.

One of the best holiday displays at the moment must be the exterior of Tiffany's.

The usually sober granite storefront has been decorated for the season with vinyl graphics, showing a pretty streetfront. Here and there in windows and on stoops are those signature blue Tiffany gift boxes.

It started snowing this morning and it's due to snow all day. Stay warm, everyone!

Related posts: The Holiday Windows, at Bergdorf Goodman, West 10th Street, at Night, and It's Holiday Time, on Display at Macy's.

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Townhouse, in the Village

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

Many of the townhouses around West 4th Street are well kept, with ornamental metal work and pretty stoops. The townhouse above had a pretty, wreath on its door, suited for the season.

--It's still been crazy busy for me, with no end in sight. Now for the mad dash til the end of the year! Whee!!!

As for the city, it's been flooded with tourists. Any drive down Fifth Avenue is lined with sidewalks filled with people looking up and about.

Related posts: Living Large, on the Upper East Side, Browsing Around, in the Village, and A Dash of Charm, in the Village.

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Kebab Cart, in Midtown

Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.

A street cart vendor added charcoal to his continuous fire, Friday night, causing a moment of excess smoke. The sidewalks were crowded, and it was just warm enough to walk around comfortably with a light jacket.

This cart sells pretzels, kebabs, hotdogs and drinks. The meats are 'halal', which means they can be eaten by Muslims. There is no shortage of quick on-the-go food in our fair city.

Related posts: On the Soup Station, and Snow, Pizza Truck, Only a Buck, and On Line for Breakfast, in Midtown.

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Night View, in Soho

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

At night, the streets in Soho are windswept with trash.

Broadway, a long, major north-south street, is pretty empty at night, since the stores there are closed up for the night. Restaurants and bars are located on the smaller east-west streets in this neighborhood.

-- Alas, it's been a series of late nights for me. I took the photo from a ride home in a cab.

You might be happy to know that the Christmas tree is behind an enormous yellow curtain at Rockefeller Center, and all the decorations are out on Fifth Avenue, already. New York is prepared for the holidays.

TGIF, everyone!

Related posts: Twilight, in Soho, Last Night, in Bryant Park, and Night View, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

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The Morning Commute, on the B Train

Photo by myself on the B train, underground.

The commute on Tuesday morning was business as usual. We've been having chilly weather lately, so everyone is bundled up accordingly.

From this vantage point, it looks like we're a cheerless bunch. You would think that we eat gruel for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Followed by the occasional gruel biscuit for dessert. Ha.

The couple on the far left seem to be husband and wife, (ie; she seems to be speaking to him, and he's not listening!). Many couples commute together, myself and Mark included.

Related posts: Daylight, on the D Train to Brooklyn, The Morning Commute, Underground, and Bundled Up, on the Ride Home.

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Saluting Veterans, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself along Fifth Avenue, in Midtown.

The Veteran's Day parade marched along Fifth Avenue, Monday. Above, members of the US Air Force in their stunning dress uniforms. We had chilly weather and bright sun.

The parade is perhaps the most subdued of all our parades. There are a few floats blaring music from the 1940's, some marching bands, and the occasional sound of bagpipes.

Most of the parade is unaccompanied by music. Respectful spectators applaud and call out their thanks, while veterans from each generation march by.

I am always very moved on this day. Our applause and cheers are tiny gestures compared to the sacrifice of these heroes. Since the parade is held on a Monday and many people are working, the sidelines are sadly sparsely attended.


A veteran of the Korean war saluted onlookers.


An older man held a sign that read 'thank you'. Many people in the crowd shouted their thanks, as well.



Related posts: The 2011 Veterans Day Parade, The Veterans Day Parade, on Fifth Avenue, and Saluting Heroes Along Fifth Avenue, Part One.

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I *Heart* NY, on the Sidewalk

Photo by myself, on the street.

This photo is from the recent stash. I am embarrassed to say I don't remember where this was taken.

It could be anywhere. The Upper West Side? Somewhere in Brooklyn? The Lower East Side? These tiny-ish convenience stores are everywhere and they share the same sensibility: ATM inside, lottery tickets posted on the window. random stuff outside.

The 'I *heart* NY' drawn in chalk rings true for all the above neighborhoods. It is all New York, through and through.

It's been up and down here recently. I've been swamped at work. The weather has gone from bone-chillingly cold to nicely autumnal. We have a new mayor. There was a marathon.

Anyhoo, Happy Thursday everyone!

Related posts: Cost was Here, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, On the Rise, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and Graffiti, Soho.

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Human Drive-Thru, in Midtown

Photo by myself, in Midtown.

Behold, a line outside Dunkin Donuts, a very popular chain. There are 30-some locations in Manhattan, most of them south of City Hall.

As you can see, New Yorkers are such a picky bunch that they will undergo public humiliation to get a 'good' cup of coffee. Along this stretch of Midtown, the only coffee purveyors are carts parked along the sidewalk and the occasional deli.

[Disclaimer: Use of the word 'good' in this case is debatable. I'm not a fan of Dunkin Donuts, but that doesn't mean anything!]

Related posts: Death Before Decaf, in Brooklyn, On Line, in Midtown, and Waiting, in Alphabet City.

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A Rupert Update, with Friend

Photo by myself in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Rupert, our Boston Terrier (right) stands knee deep in leaves. Beside him is his smaller and sprite-lier sidekick, Penelope.

Sorry this photo is a little blurry around the animals! They kept moving around so much, it's a wonder any photos came out well at all.

(Fashion note: Penelope is wearing a Darth Vader one-piece outfit).

--It's noticeably cooler these days, as we're heading toward November. Life has been very, very busy at work and home.

All this time, too, I thought that something was going on with my big camera. I'd put my eyeball to the viewfinder but nothing seemed to be in focus.

It turns out though that it's my eyeball that's not in focus. Argh! So now I cannot tell what's good or bad until I get home, which keeps things interesting.

Related posts: Boston Terriers Gone Mad, at the Mad, Dog Run, On NYC Slogans, and a Rupert Update, and Back Home to the Brooklyn Bridge and a Boston Terrier.

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Dancer, On the Ride Home

Photo by myself on the Q Train.

A young man performed on the subway, to the usual crowd commuting home to Brooklyn.

He was part of a whole troupe of young kids, dancing to loud music. Much of his routine highlighted his incredible flexibility.



Related posts: Cartwheel, on the Q Train Home, Mimes, Below Times Square, and Flipping Out, on the B Train.

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A Moment, in Union Square

Photo by myself in Union Square, at 14th Street and Fifth Avenue.

A man wearing a Chicago Bulls uniform and hat of feathers sat alongside the subway entrance at Union Square. In his hand he carried some sort of voodoo cane decorated with bones.

Meanwhile in the background, another man did push ups.

I was a little worried about taking this photo, since the man wearing the feathers seemed very upset. He was muttering angrily to himself about the Hare Krishna group dancing about, some 20 paces away.

Related posts: Crochet Lady, in Midtown, Green Man, in Washington Square Park, and Funky Chicken, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

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Swimming for Relief, in Herald Square

Photo by myself in Herald Square, at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

Diana Nyad, the long distance swimmer, was midway through her swim for her charity 'Swim for Relief', Wednesday morning.

A makeshift lap pool was set up right outside the entrance to Macy's. There were two lanes set up, so Nyad could have companions join her during the 48-hour swim. I was there around 10 am, and the clock was at the 25-hour mark.

There were grandstand seats, and cameras, and a narrow walkway where people could stand and take photos. Once you stood on the raised walkway, the pool was about the level of your chest.

At this writing, Swim for Relief has raised $70k, with funds going to victims of Hurricane Sandy. Their website has a webcam showing the pool (!) so you can tune into see Nyad go back and forth, and back and forth. It's a little chilly now in the city, but nothing like what it must be at sea.

For the Swim for Relief website, click here.



Related posts: A Quick Game, in Tompkins Square Park, On the Ice, in Midtown, and Badminton in Burqas, in Brooklyn.

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Out for a Walk, in Santa Monica, California

Photo by myself at the Third Avenue Promenade, in Santa Monica, California.

Just a moment from my recent visit to California, at 'the Promenade', the main attraction in Santa Monica.

A woman chatted with passersby, while carrying her pet pig in her arms. The pig, (I assume a girl pig) wore a little halter. So I guess the pig had been out for a stroll.

The promenade in Santa Monica is a very popular outdoor pedestrian mall, lined with stores on both sides. There are fountains and musicians and eateries, too.

Oh....and farm animals.

Related posts: A Four-Legged Co-Pilot, on Flatbush Avenue, Walking the Dog, While Pedalling, and The Sign of the Rat, in Midtown.

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On Window Bays and Shopfronts, Around the City

Photo by myself, on the Upper West Side.

At one of the many townhouses on the upper West Side, a pretty bay window is decorated with a Greek key pattern along the lower edge and a scalloped underside. Even the protective window grilles are ornamental.

--If you have a spare moment, check out this incredible slideshow currently on the New York Times website.

The Times showcases several small scale dioramas made by Randy Hage, a craftsman who works on movie and television props. Hage takes photos of historic, well-loved New York storefronts, then builds 1/12th scale models of them, then takes photos of the models.

The results are pretty astonishing - the uneven brickwork, painterly metal roll down doors and old timey signs are breathtakingly represented. You would never think you were looking at a replica made by hand.

Seeing these images, for me, was like looking through a time capsule. The best photo of the series shows Hage looming over the Nick's Lucheonette, and exposing the real scale of the model. (I promise the image above is a real photo of a real building!)

To see the Times slideshow, click here.

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Too Cool, on 42nd Street

Photo by myself on 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

Yes, another one of those 'people crossing the street ' photos. I just can't help myself.

Some folks are fashionably dressed. Others are tuned out. All are in a rush.

Apologies for the big break from posting. I went out to LA to see my family and enjoyed a few days in the sun.

Going to the West Coast is always a bit of culture shock. Not just the driving but the absence of walking. And the absence of being in a crowd all the time, with another crowd walking toward you.

Now back in town, It seems I'm the only person in this city still wearing flip flops. It is decidedly Fall and everyone is wearing proper shoes. It's been about 70F every day (21 degrees Celsius)....perfect Fall days.

Related posts: On the Crowds in Herald Square and Walking in the City, On Crossing the Street and the Ban on Sugary Drinks, and People, People, Everywhere in the Village.

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The Neon Lights, Outside Radio City Music Hall

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

The large wrap-around sign at Radio City Music Hall stubbornly resists the urge to scroll or flash.

The neon signage is as distinctive as ever. The upcoming shows are displayed in smaller font, below. This view was taken on the side street Thursday night.

The nice thing about this landmark is that its location is very 'current', with tall buildings all around. You might go see the Rockettes one night, a taste of history, but on the way over you'll pass crowds of businessmen and women streaming out of the office.

Happy Friday everyone!

Related posts: Outside Radio City Music hall, on Sixth Avenue, On Radio City, and the Whitney Museum, and The Bright Lights at BAM.

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Morning Commute, from Roosevelt Island

Photo by myself around 60th Street and 2nd Avenue, on the Upper East Side.

On Wednesday morning, I was on the Upper East Side near the Queensborough Bridge. The tram was coming over from Roosevelt Island, filled to the hilt with passengers.

Roosevelt Island is a sliver of land in the East River. There are hospitals, apartment buildings, stores and schools there. One way to commute to and fro is the tram, the other is the subway. Cars are allowed access as well.

As you can see, the sun was out and it was very hot and humid. I had a routine doctor's appointment, then did a little grocery shopping. All the time, the 9/11 remembrance ceremony was being conducted in the background.

Everyone was tuned into the ceremony. Even if you weren't actively watching, you were probably thinking about it.

Related posts: The View from Roosevelt Island, The View from Downstream, and The Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges, at Sunset.

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Subway Conductor, on the Job

Photo by myself at the 81st Street subway station on the Upper West Side.

A subway conductor stuck her head out to check whether all was clear before the train moved. This is routine business on every train - they look in one direction, then the other, then back to the first direction.

Just after I took this photo, the conductor looked right at me and gave me a big smile, which was nice.

Related posts: Stealing a Nap, Below Ground, Napping in Midtown, and A Much Needed Nap.

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