Photo by myself on Ocean Avenue, in Santa Monica, California.
The weather in California has been incredible as usual, with brightly sunny skies, breezy winds and temperatures in the high 70's (about 26 Celsius).
We've been spending the past week here visiting family. It's been a wonderful break from the long winter in the northeast. There are palm trees along the roads, which still takes me some getting used to.
Even though the vegetation here is incredible, California has been going through one of its worst droughts. The state is rumored to run out of water a year from now.
Related posts: Greetings from Casa del Mar, in Santa Monica, The Getty Villa, in Malibu, California, and California Dreamin'.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Sunny Skies, in Santa Monica
Monday, March 9, 2015
Colorful Ships, on Sixth Avenue
Photo by myself, around 25th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Chelsea.
A fleet of tiny three-dimensional schooners in various bright colors were on display in Chelsea, Sunday afternoon.
There were ferris wheels and fancy buildings, too, all in intricate detail. I cannot imagine what holds each of these precious creations together. Each one is glued to a card and pops up when the card is opened.
Wayne, a street vendor, told me he has a table on 40th Street and Madison Avenue in Midtown every weekday. He was working this weekend because the weather was so nice. We've had so many snow days recently, and such delicate items can't be subjected to bad weather.
Wayne referred me to the pop up card website, where you can see all their products. Check out their other items, from Big Ben to merry-go-rounds to butterflies, at www.popupcardny.com.
Wayne, a street vendor, was kind enough to pose for me. He apologized, saying that he was not photogenic, but I disagree. Thank you Wayne!
Related posts: New York's Bravest, on the Upper West Side, On Tenement Life, in the West Village, and Saluting the Flag, Downtown.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Fire, in Park Slope Brooklyn
Photo by myself, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
A fire occurred next door to our apartment building not long ago. Firemen took a ladder up to the roof and broke through a rear window to get inside. They also took a chain saw to parts of the roof.
Mark and I stood watched the whole thing from our apartment and were amazed that the firemen walked around on the roof without any fear of falling through. (I would have been a quivering mess).
Brooklyn is a densely settled area, and any fire has the chance to spread very easily. The owner was home at the time and escaped unharmed.
Related posts: New York's Bravest, on the Upper West Side, On Tenement Life, in the West Village, and Saluting the Flag, Downtown.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Waiting, in Park Slope, Brooklyn
Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
A little dog waited patiently outside a neighborhood cafe for his owner.
Related posts: A Bit of Nature, in New York, Boston Terriers Gone Made, at the Mad Dog Run, and Dogs in Costume, at Tompkins Square Park.
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Smushed, on the Subway
Photo by myself on the subway.
I'm sure we're not alone here, but it's been sooooooo cold..... this past weekend, especially, we had very low temps and brisk winds.
Of course, since we walk everywhere, people totter down the sidewalks wearing big furry hoods, and ear flaps and scarves wrapped around their heads, and clunky boots. Then they get on the subway and take out their reading materials (or tablets or phones or whatnot) from their large bags or backpacks.
Suddenly, there is even less room than usual.
Related posts: 9:25AM on the B Train, The Morning Commute, Below Ground, and Strangers, Below Ground.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Snowfall, in Midtown
Photo by myself in Midtown.
Warnings of the impending blizzard was all over the news this weekend. By 5pm yesterday, snow flurries had been coming down for several hours. People were leaving work early and a long line had formed at the bus stop.
Most stores were closed by this point, and there were rumors of the subway shutting down, too.
Nature is not our friend, in New York. Every time there is a large rain or snow storm, the subways get messed up.
Update: Here in Brooklyn, we got about 8-inches or so. My office, like many others, closed for the day. Hooray!
Related posts: Snow on Sixth Avenue, Yellow Cab, Under Snow, and Early Snowfall, in Prospect Park Brooklyn.
Friday, January 23, 2015
On Skates, in Bryant Park
Photo by myself in Bryant Park, around 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown.
What better exercise than skating around, with the Empire State Building in the background?
The outdoor rink in Bryant Park is open free to the public 8am-10pm every day, until March 1st. All you need to bring are your skates and fancy footwork.
Yes, it is kind of cold here, but it's not so terrible. People walk around in hats and scarves and long underwear, while knowing that in the grand scheme of things, 'it is not so bad'. That is, we're not suffering through hail, piles of snow or bitter winds. It could be worse.
For the Bryant Park ice rink website, click here.
Related posts: And the Crowd Roared, in Bryant Park, Skating, Under the Empire State, and Skating In-Line, in Prospect Park.
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Portrait of an Artist, on the Ride Home
Photo by myself below ground.
On a recent ride home, I spotted a young woman drawing diligently in a sketchbook. From where I sat, it looked to be an array of very detailed serpents.
It was late, much too late to be so focused after a long day of work. I learned that she is a textile designer and uses the ride home to escape the computer screen. 'Drawing by hand, you learn not to be so precious,' she told me, as the train lurched to one side.
She was so kind to pose for a photo. Alas, I regret not asking her name!
Related posts: Portrait of a Barber, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, Portrait of a Guy, on Sixth Avenue, and Portrait of a Bike Messenger, in Midtown.
The Portrait Series is a once-in-a-while installment, featuring New Yorkers encountered on the street.
Monday, January 19, 2015
Signs Galore, 32nd Street
Photo by myself, on 32nd Street and Fifth Avenue in Koreatown.
A very belated Happy New Year from the city! I hope everyone is warm, or at least, warmer than we are. :-)
I was out on lunch break the other day and snapped a photo in Koreatown, the smallest of neighborhoods with the most possible number of signs.
Related posts: Evening, on Sixth Avenue, Outside Sol Moscot, on the Lower East Side, and 32nd and Fifth, in Midtown.
Wednesday, October 29, 2014
The Morning Commute and a Rupert Update
Photo by myself, on the N Train.
Here we are in the midst of Fall, all bundled in light jackets and jeans. People were immersed in their apps and knitting and books, on the way into work.
Apologies for the spotty attendance. It's been very busy!
Meanwhile, here are a couple shots from a playdate Rupert had with a neighboring girl dog named Roxy. There were a lot of sidelong looks and waggling tongues. Rupert has been doing great. He is enjoying his favorite things - playing ball, taking long walks and snacking on chicken treats.
Roxy, in the red halter, gives Rupert a look.
Another look, haha.
Related posts: A Rupert Update, with Friend, On Hipsters and Rupert, Downtown, and Back Home to the Brooklyn Bridge and a Boston Terrier.
Monday, October 27, 2014
Dusk, on West End Avenue
Photo by myself around 77th Street and West End Avenue, on the Upper West Side.
Just a snapshot from West End Avenue. Tall, mostly pre-war apartment buildings line both sides of the street.
Like the buildings on Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue, almost all these apartment buildings have doormen. I've never seen a female doorman, by the way, so the term 'doorman' makes sense. Or you could call them 'porters'.
All the doormen I've met are super nice. They are helpful and genuinely caring people. They say hello to everybody coming and going. They know all the kids and all the dogs. At one building I watched a doorman carry an elderly woman down a short flight of stairs, because she was having trouble walking.
Related posts: Manchester House, on the Upper West Side, Glitzy Glam, Outside the Pierre, and Life on Park Avenue.
Friday, October 3, 2014
On Eighth Avenue, on the West Side
Photo by myself on Eighth Avenue around 39th Street.
You'd be surprised how homely some blocks still are, in New York.
Eighth Avenue is still decidedly un-fancy. There are x-rated video stores and peep shows still, some stores selling inexpensive clothing and pizza joints.
Up ahead on the left, is the hulking Port Authority Terminal, with gigantic green trusses on all sides. Buses leave there for New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and upstate New York.
Related posts: Puppy Dog Eyes, in Bryant Park, Walking the Dog, While Pedaling, and Maitre D's, on Broadway.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Seen, on the Upper West Side
Photo by myself around 72nd Street and Broadway, on the Upper West Side.
What looked like a seeing eye dog and a man stood outside the subway station Tuesday night.
After a moment, the man looked at me and asked, 'Is it real? I don't see it breathing.' Meaning was this a real dog? Alas, no. I'm not sure what it was, so I'm labeling it 'art'. There was no obvious sign of an artist.
The dog drew the attention of people walking by. There is a lot of foot traffic outside this subway station.
After a minute, the man took out his phone to take a photo.
Related posts: Manchester House, on the Upper West Side, Walking the Dog, While Pedaling, and Maitre D's, on Broadway.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Getting Around Traffic, in Midtown
Photo by myself, in Midtown.
There is so much traffic in the city these days, getting around town is very frustrating.
Just getting down the street can be torture. I've spent many a cab ride with the cab driver ranting and raving and shaking a fist at the sky. Ha.
The only good thing about gridlock? Cyclists can weave ahead of the traffic jam.
Related posts: Summer Streets, on Park Avenue, Custom Bikes in the Village, and On NY Bike Tours and Real Housewives.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Critters, Streetside
Photo by myself at 42nd Street and Vanderbilt Ave. in Midtown.
A man unloaded his companions, in front of Grand Central Station at rush hour.
From left to right: a black cat, three guinea pigs, a dog and another dog. The first dog is a little difficult to see because of the loud (animal-themed) prints.
My fiancé Mark pointed out that not all the animals in the photo are real. There is a stuffed animal on the bottom bunk, below the guinea pigs. No doubt that the top bunk is the preferred spot.
I have mixed feelings when I come across people who have pets or children with them on the sidewalk, but I stopped to give the man a couple dollars.
I was surprised by the proximity of guinea pigs to cat. The guinea pigs were nearly motionless, whether because they were afraid or just hanging out (they looked very relaxed to me). A few seconds later, the man reached into a carrier and brought out several parakeets (!).
Related posts: Cat on a Leash, in Midtown, Odd and Colorful Birds, in Bryant Park, and The Hua Mei Bird Garden, in Chinatown.
Saturday, August 30, 2014
Amid Tall Buildings, Near Bryant Park
Photo by myself, around 42nd Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown.
Above, the universal stance used when taking a picture of a tall building with one's phone.
There is a glut of tall, glass buildings along Sixth Avenue. Behind me, Bryant Park provides a welcomed relief from all the pavements and other hard surfaces. You can see some of the park trash cans, painted light green and resembling plant life.
There is no lack of food stuffs, food kiosks and food carts. You will never go hungry here, as long as you have a buck or twelve.
On the left, a kiosk for 'Wichcraft, a chain of restaurants owned by Tom Colicchio, one of the judges on Top Chef. The 'wich' part is from 'sandwich', as in 'high end sandwich with a mix of snazzy ingredients'.
It's Labor Day weekend, in the States. Everyone is enjoying an extra-long weekend. Hooray!
Related posts: Death Before Decaf, in Brooklyn, Casimir, on Avenue B, and Colorful Eats, at Kelley and Ping, in Soho.
Friday, August 29, 2014
Courtside, in Flushing Meadows, Queens
Photo by myself from Center Court at Flushing Meadows, Queens.
I had the good fortune of attending the US Open, Thursday night. Above, fans craned their necks to watch the match between Andy Murray (Great Britain) and Mattias Bachinger (Germany).
It was blustery and very cold up in the stands, but below on the courts, the players were sweating. The competitive play means you don't know who you will wind up watching until the day of the match. Murray, ranked eighth, wound up winning three straight sets. He will face Andrey Kuznetsov of Russia, next.
The men were followed by a game between Eugenie Bouchard (Canada) and Sorana Cirstea (Romania). Bouchard won the first set but lost in the second in a tie break. It was so cold by that time, we had to leave (along with about half of the crowd!). Very few people were physically or psychologically prepared to sit outside in what felt like 60 degree weather, with high winds.
I had an excellent time and will follow the remaining of the games on tv. Flushing Meadows is a relatively short train ride away from Manhattan. Ticket prices range from affordable to insane.
Check out the US Open website, here.
A snapshot from the Murray match. Murray is on the opposite side, in blue.
Dozens of tables are out for folks to enjoy all the different food vendors. In the background, the big screen cycles through matches being played on the various courts.
Related posts: Before the Rangers Game, at Madison Square Garden, The Knicks vs. the Suns, at Madison Square Garden, and Fierce Competition, in Bryant Park.
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Outside the Peninsula Hotel
Photo by myself on Fifth Avenue, around 55th Street on the Upper East Side.
The Peninsula Hotel on 55th Street is adorned with flags and some gorgeous, ornate architecture.
I took this photo from the back of a cab.
In New York, owners of buildings taller than six floors need to have the exteriors of their buildings professionally inspected every five years. It used to be that the inspectors would look at a building through binoculars, but after several accidents, they now have to go up to inspect facades firsthand.
Related posts: Glitzy Glam, Outside the Pierre, Fancy Living, on the Upper East Side, and Life on Park Avenue. Read more...
Monday, August 25, 2014
Spotted on the Sidewalk, in Sunset Park
Photo by myself around 55th Street and 8th Avenue, in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
An older man wheeled his grandson in a little shopping cart. (I'm just assuming he didn't purchase the little boy somewhere!)
Mark and I stopped by Sunset Park, for a dim sum lunch. Not the most comfortable ride, a shopping cart is a sensible choice in the city - it folds up nicely for apartment dwellers, and is very lightweight.
The southern part of this neighborhood is known as Chinatown, in Brooklyn. Restaurants are not limited to Chinese or Cantonese food - there are Malaysian and Vietnamese eateries, too. Meanwhile, the northern part of Sunset Park is home to a large Hispanic population.
Happy Monday everyone!
Related posts: Look Ma No Hands, in the East Village, Along for the Ride, in Columbus Circle, and Crossing Broadway, on Wheels.
Sunday, August 24, 2014
A Charge, Free of Charge
Photo by myself in Bryant Park.
An absolute no-brainer idea of the times - a solar-powered charging station that is free to use. Its solar panel is smartly angled south. I'm sure these exist in other cities too, though possibly not outside?
Currently there are only 45 of these in the five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Staten Island). I'm surprised there aren't more.
For a map of charging station locations in New York, click here.
ps: We've had the least humid August here, ever. Usually it is absolutely unbearable, but this year, August feels like how October 'should' feel.
Is it the same in your neck of the woods?
Related posts: Eco-Friendly, Cardboard Design, After Hurricane Sandy, Outside the Ace Hotel, and 9:25am, on the B Train.
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