New York Portraits

The View Above Park Avenue

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, on Park Avenue on the Upper East Side.

The view high above Park Avenue in the East 70's is an interesting one.

The distinctive layout of the street can be seen, below. Several lanes of traffic are separated by a green swath of plantings. All the yellow cabs were out delivering customers.

Across the street are terraced, pre-war apartment buildings. By zoning requirements, buildings must step back from the street on the upper floors. This allows for private terraces and gardens.

This photo was taken from the 11th Floor. Larger apartments cost tens of millions of dollars (!).

Related posts: Looking Up West End Avenue, Looking Down from the Upper East Side, and Hovering Above Park Avenue.

Greetings, from the West Coast

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Tue, 14 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself on Ocean Avenue, in Santa Monica.

The sunsets can be really lovely here, in Santa Monica.

Ocean Avenue is one of the main north-south streets, along the water. There is a huge drop of (at least) sixty feet to the beach below. The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as the PCH, runs alongside the beach out of view.

In the daytime, it is brightly sunny and breezy. Above, the view along the beach and the dozens of colorful, playful (and expensive) beach houses. There is a path for joggers and cyclists. To the left is the beach, with volleyball nets set up for public use.

During the week, a smattering of people enjoy the beach. On the weekends, it is a little more crowded, but there is so much beach that it's never as terribly crowded as it can be in the northeast (!).

I'm here for a few days, while my fiance Mark is working. I'm flying back to New York, Wednesday evening.

Related posts: The Hotel Shangri-La, in Santa Monica, Greetings, from Santa Monica, and Sunset, from the Hotel Shangri-La, LA.

Ready for the Bike Share, on 24th Street

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Mon, 13 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself around 24th Street and Broadway.

Hundreds of outdoor bike racks are being set up for the Citibike bike share, to be launched at the end of this month.

The bike share has been talked about for a while now, and it's finally happening. Similar programs adopted in London, Paris and Washington have been successful.

I was skeptical about the bike share until now. After reading more about the program, I am hopeful. This is more a practical program for commuters, than an amenity for sightseers who might not know where they are going.

People like my fiance Mark will benefit the most. His office is located on the edge of Manhattan, on Tenth Avenue, long blocks away from the subway. Having a bike for just those few blocks during the dead of winter will be life-altering.

Taxis and other drivers can be very aggressive here, with little patience for all the pedicabs, pedestrians, cyclists and skateboarders. Riding a bike here is not for casual fun!

The bike share starts on May 27th. For more about the Citibike program, click here.

Related posts: Summer Streets, on Park Avenue South, Pedaling Around Midtown, and On NY Bike Tours and Real Housewives.

Sample Sale, on Fifth Avenue

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Sun, 12 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, around 29th Street and Fifth Avenue in Midtown.

A line snaked down the sidewalk for a sample sale of designer clothing. A man in a suit acted as a bouncer.

Rebecca Minkoff ready-to-wear clothing and accessories were being sold 75% off list price. Often, designers rent ground floor spaces for a couple days to get rid of inventory.

It's a win-win scenario - the designers save money selling the items to the public directly, rather than going thru a third party. Landlords are paid for a couple days for spaces that would go un-rented. The public gets inexpensive designer clothing.

There are various on-line websites you can subscribe to, to find out when and where sample sales are.

Related posts: Fall Fashion Week, Bryant Park, Behind the Prada Store, in Soho, and Model Behavior, Downtown.

Mighty Balls, at Mad. Sq. Eats

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Sat, 11 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, around 24th Street and Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District.

Happily reunited with my Leica, I took a short walk to the Flatiron area.

Mad. Sq. Eats is shorthand for 'outside eateries near Madison Square Park'. People were outside sampling street food and enjoying the gorgeous Spring weather.

Some thirty stalls offer foods, drinks and desserts. Friday evening, people waited in line for oven-fired gourmet pizza, cannolis, chocolates, bbq, ice cream...the works.

Strangely, there were several people walking around carrying watermelon drinks...in watermelons. Whatever was in the drink must have been excellent because the drink-ers had big grins on their faces.

Mad. Sq. Eats is only open for the month of May.

For more information about Mad. Sq. Eats, click here.
--I'll be out in LA for several days. Posts will continue here!

Related posts: Mad. Sq. Eats, in the Flatiron District, Serving it up from the Back of a Truck, and Pizza Pizza.

From the Steps of the NYPL

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, around 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.

An event was held at the main branch of the New York Public Library, Thursday night.

A red carpet lay at the very top of the steps.

Related posts: Random Graffiti, on Second Avenue, Graffiti, Williamsburg, and Ruff Ride, in the East Village.

Graffiti, in Soho

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Tue, 07 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself in Soho, around Crosby Street and Broadway.

A photo from the stash. Yes, there is graffiti, even in gorgeous Soho.

I thought this was nice combination of old-timey signs and paste-ups. The old brick is nice, too.

Apologies again for the sporadic posts. It's been insanely busy, and there's no end in sight. I've also been without my little Leica camera for a couple months, now. It spontaneously decided to stop working.

Fortunately, it was still under warranty, and should be arriving any day now from the repair shop. Hooray!!!!

My big Canon camera must weigh over 2 lbs with the lens, and when carried with lunch, wallet, phone, pens and the occasional 25-foot measuring tape, I have become a lop-sided hunchback. So sad!

Related posts: Random Graffiti, on Second Avenue, Graffiti, Williamsburg, and Ruff Ride, in the East Village.

Outside Tea and Sympathy, in the Village

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Fri, 03 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself around Greenwich and 13th Street, in the Village.

A red car was conveniently parked outside an elevation with a lot of red in it, the other day.

Tea and Sympathy is a store carrying British goods. It looks incredibly cozy.

TGIF everyone!

Related posts: Outside Mamoun's, in the Village, Graff Attack, in the Meatpacking District, and The Urban Art Form, Downtown.

Graffiti, in Alphabet City

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, somewhere in Alphabet City.

Some of the graffiti you see around are works of art, with layers of spray paint and paste ups.

I caught this fellow passing by with his breakfast.

Related posts: Graffiti, in Soho, Graff Attack, in the Meatpacking District, and The Urban Art Form, Downtown.

Outside Casimir, on Avenue B

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself on Avenue B and 7th Street, in Alphabet City.

It used to be that you never ventured into Alphabet City, because it was dangerous and filled with homeless drug addicts. You might visit Avenues A and B in daylight, but people spoke of 'Avenue C and D' in hushed tones.

Now, near Tompkins Square Park, there are bars open to the street and little stores. There is a farmer's market outside the park every weekend, selling fresh produce from nearby farms.

I wouldn't say the area is totally spic and span. It's still rough around the edges. Mark, Rupert and I were there on Sunday, enjoying a sunny, breezy Spring day. It was quiet around 11am, with people still waking up.

I haven't been to Casimir, a small French restaurant, but Mark has and says it's great. It's gotten good reviews online. For their website, click here.

Related posts: Casimir, on Avenue B, A Quick Game, in Tompkins Square Park, and Waiting, in Alphabet City.

Last Night, in Bryant Park

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, in Bryant Park.

The lawn at Bryant Park is all set for the summer - all grown in and freshly mowed. The main branch of the New York Public Library sits at the east end of the lawn.

I took this photo last night. As you can see, this space is well lit. Several strong lights sit on top of a tall office building across the street on the west side, behind where I'm standing.

On Monday nights during the summer months, free movies are played outside. The lawn is packed with people. Usually people go very early to stake out their spots.

Edit: To my horror, I posted another very, very similar photo a month ago, before the grass had grown in. Egad. You can see it here.

Related posts: Dusk in Bryant Park, Under the Canopies in Bryant Park, and Free Flicks in Bryant Park.

Street Corner, in Midtown

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.

The street corners in the mornings can be crowded, with people waiting impatiently for the light to change.

People usually creep off the sidewalks and into the street, which is kind of dangerous. Thankfully, the only accidents I've seen involve cyclists, not cars.

The light is streaming down the street, as it does every morning. Ah, the canyons of the city.

Related posts: Street Crossing, on Fifth Avenue, Crosswalk, at Prince Street, Soho, and Waiting, in Times Square.

Big Bird, in the Flatiron District

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself around 23rd Street and Broadway, in the Flatiron District.

A giant bird made of giant nails stood near the Flatiron Building, the other day. He carried a giant flower in his giant mouth.

The bird is 12-feet high, though he looks much taller. He weighs a hefty five tons.

Occasionally there is art in the open area near the Flatiron Building. Most of the time, the space is filled with tables and chairs. The open triangle is formed by the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, which runs on a diagonal.

This photo is from the stash. The bird was removed a couple days ago (!). I think I took this photo from the car.

For more about the sculpture, click here.

Related posts: Giant Bird, on Broadway, Giant Head, in Madison Square Park, and Charging Through Wall Street.

Outside Cafe Cluny, in the West Village

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself on West 4th Street in the West Village.

A quaint view outside Cafe Cluny, in the Village.

All you need are a couple of wooden benches, an old-fashioned bicycle, and a flowering tree and there you have it.

Usually I don't like to include parked cars in my photos...or the ghostly blur of someone walking by. But this image fits my concept of living in the Village. Little streets. Little cafes and restaurants with awnings.

I was walking around there the other day and I've finally mastered the art of 'not getting lost' in that neighborhood. After more than 10 years of living here. There are random diagonal streets and having been brainwashed by the grid, you wind up going in circles.

I've never dined at Cafe Cluny, though I've heard of it. It's gotten good reviews online.

For the Cafe Cluny website, click here.

Related posts: Cozy Interior on Perry Street, in the West Village, Streetside, in the Village, and Outside a Smoke Shop, in the Village.

On West Fourth Street and a Rupert Update

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

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

Flowering trees are suddenly abloom, all over the city.

Cherry and magnolia trees are bursting, right now. A couple are located in front of these quaint brick rowhouses in the Village.

Rupert is doing fine. I haven't posted about him in a while, but it's been business as usual. He plays fetch constantly and is just enjoying life.

One of Rupert's favorite treats is yogurt (!). I often give him a taste of my Greek yogurt at breakfast. It is mildly hilarious because he usually gets some on his bottom lip...and because his lips are black, it's quite visible. He has no clue it's there.

Finally, everyone's been saturated by the news in Boston. We can now breathe easy, now that the last bomber has been captured. Thank goodness.

Apologies for the late post today!

Related posts: Back Home to the Brooklyn Bridge and a Boston Terrier, On Hipsters and Rupert, Downtown, and Roaming Free, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Getting Inked, in the Village

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

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

A man was getting a sleeve tattooed the other night, in full view of the sidewalk.

It was still light out, so unfortunately there is some reflection of the parked cars on the street. I think this would be eliminated with a polarizing lens.

Related posts: Working Under Bright Lights, at the Wooster Street Social Club, Tattooed Man, in Herald Square, and Daredevil Tattoo, on Ludlow Street.

The New York Times Building, All Lit Up

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, at 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, in Midtown.

New York Times Building was lit up, Tuesday night. The elegant tower is located just steps from Times Square.

This building is sheathed in white porcelain tubes, which create a screen. The real windows are set back behind the screen. All sunlight is indirect and the air conditioning doesn't need to work as hard.

We've been having really lovely weather these days - coolish and sunny. All the flowering trees in Central Park are heavy with blossoms. Spring has sprung!

Related posts: Dusk, in Bryant Park, Washington Square Park, at Dusk, and The Empire State, at Dusk.

The Freedom Tower, at Dusk

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue around Perry Street, in the Village.

Looking South down Sixth Avenue, you get a clear view of the Freedom Tower, at One World Trade Center.

The exterior is nearly done, and the building is scheduled to open later this year. Designed by the architectural office Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, it will be the tallest building in the US, at 104 stories.

In the foreground is the canopy for the Village Vanguard, a well-known venue for live jazz.
--At this writing, the bombings at the Boston Marathon finish line yesterday are still under investigation.

I grew up outside Boston and watched the marathon almost every year, since we lived a few streets away from the route. The race always marked Spring, and a welcome day off from school.

My thoughts are with New York's sister city. After hearing the news, I noticed that helicopters started circling Midtown. Boston is about five hours away by car.

Related posts: Remembrance at the World Trade Center Memorial, Remembrance at the World Trade Center, and At the Foot of the Freedom Tower.

Posing with the Statue of Liberty, in Midtown

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, somewhere in Midtown.

There are mini Statue of Liberties sprinkled throughout the city, for the occasional photo-op. This one stood outside a souvenir store in Midtown.

Related posts: Lady Liberty, in the Distance, Statues of Liberty, in Midtown, and Greetings from New York.

The Chrysler Building, on Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, on the Atlantic-Pacific Street subway platform, in Brooklyn.

Perhaps one of the coolest tattoos I've seen.

I noticed a young woman with her legs crossed on the commute into work, Thursday. She got out at Atlantic-Pacific to change trains, and for the split second that we were on the platform, I asked whether I could take a photo of her tattoo.

Of course, a moment later, the train arrived. And I completely forgot to ask what I really wanted to know - how long did the tattoo take to create? and...why that building?

Though I might not ask the second question, since I love the Chrysler Building, too.

Happy Friday, everyone!

Related posts: The View Down 42nd Street, in Midtown, 42nd Street, and Working Under Bright Lights, at the Wooster Street Social Club.

Signs on Third Avenue

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself, around 17th Street and Third Avenue, near Union Square.

Signs and old storefronts make up a lot of each street. Not everything is brand-spanking new here, thank goodness. You can get free newspapers in the colored plastic bins on the sidewalk.

Third Avenue is crowded with dry cleaners, grocery stores, specialty stores and the like. Most of the time, there are apartments on the upper floors.

Stores are usually located on the north-south running avenues, and the majority of brownstones and apartments are located on the narrower streets.

Related posts: Death Before Decaf, in Brooklyn, Seeking Help, on the Upper East Side, and Lit Up on Fifth Avenue.

Sunshine, 38th Street

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself around 38th Street and Eighth Avenue, on the West Side.

Don't be fooled by the glum faces and jackets. Spring has sprung!

We've had a blast of incredibly unseasonably warm weather in the last few days. It reached 73F (22C), Tuesday afternoon, which felt sultry.

People walked about wearing big silly grins. So. Not. New York.
-- Apologies once again for the sporadic posts.

Work has been demanding and my little Leica has been on the fritz. I've had to either lug around my Canon 40D with its huge lens, or use my little Canon point and shoot, which doesn't work so well.

The good news is, the Leica is getting repaired. I can't wait til it's back in my little hands!

Related posts: Street Crossing on Fifth Avenue, A Moment, on Fifth Avenue, and It's Fleet Week, on Sixth Avenue.

Thursday Morning, Below Ground

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself on the subway.

A fine illustration of a lion's head was on the underside of a skateboard. I saw this Thursday morning, on the way to work.

You'd think that commuting via skateboard would be the best thing ever in the city. You're free of the crowded sidewalks, and carry the board around easily.

But the percentage of skateboarders is surprisingly low. Most people hoof it to and from the subway. A small group bike to work, some live close enough to the office to walk, and a very, very lucky few take cabs. Or they don't work at all.

By the way, the Times wrote recently that many pedestrians and cyclists are hit by cars when they are using crosswalks, and when they have the right of way(!). It is a scary fact.

For the Times article, click here.
Happy Friday everyone!

Related posts: Daylight on the B Train to Manhattan, In the Darkness, Below Ground, and On the Morning Commute, Underground.

Night View on Fourth Avenue, in Park Slope

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself on Fourth Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

The graffiti, roll down doors and cars in desperate need of a wash. Home sweet home.

It's surprising that parts of Park Slope look this scruffy. Not all of it is filled with gentrified brownstones.

Coming back to the grind from sunny California and daily walks on the beach was not easy. It was a wonderful reunion though, with our little dog, Rupert.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

Related posts: Graff Attack, in the Meatpacking District, The Urban Art Form, Downtown, and Alarmed, in the East Village.

Knitting, on the Commute

noreply@blogger.com (Kitty) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 07:00:00 +0000

Photo by myself on the subway.

It's not terribly uncommon to see people knitting or crocheting on the subway.

Or putting on makeup. The great majority of riders have their noses in real and electronic media, or catch up with their sleep.

Rules prevent people from eating, but that doesn't mean you won't sit next to someone feasting on a chicken dinner. Ick.

This photo is from the stash. We're out in LA on vacation for the week, ~~where there is no subway~~. A great many people ride buses here for public transport. Posts will continue here, in the meantime.

Related posts: Upside Down, on the R Train, All Lit Up, on the D Train, and 6:24pm, Below Times Square.