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 9, 2015
Colorful Ships, on Sixth Avenue
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Husband's Resting Area, on Sixth Avenue
Photo by myself, on Sixth Avenue in Midtown.
A sign outside a jewelry store in Midtown called out the 'Husband's Resting Area'. Below it, some open seats. Ha.
I suppose this could be considered sexist? Or simply honest, since all the jewelry inside is for women.
There are several little jewelry and beading stores on Sixth Avenue, close to the Garment District. This one is fortunate to have some shaded space.
Related posts: Cat Specialists, on the Upper West Side, Outside a Creperie, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and Vent Your Annoyance, for a Buck.
Monday, July 7, 2014
On Shore Leave, in Midtown
Photo by myself around Fifth Avenue and 38th Street, in Midtown.
Much of Manhattan is inward-looking (in more ways that one), so it's sometimes hard to remember that it is an island and one that is visited by ships!
Above, two sailors in uniform looked through some postcards on the sidewalk. I took this recently, that is, not around Memorial Day weekend, when we are visited by many ships. During that time of year, we see many, many sailors in their white uniforms walking around, enjoying themselves.
Happy Monday, everyone!
Related posts: It's Fleet Week, on Sixth Avenue, Ahoy, Matey!, and Saluting Heroes, Along Fifth Avenue, Part Two.
Saturday, December 14, 2013
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.
Friday, November 22, 2013
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.
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. Read more...
Friday, August 30, 2013
Ice Cream in Midtown
Photo by myself at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.
You'd never think of an ice cream truck in the middle of the city, but it happens all the time. Here, one was parked just steps away from Macy's and the Empire State Building.
This area has changed a bit, since part of Sixth Avenue has been closed off to car traffic. Now there are tables and umbrellas for people to sit outside and rest after their grueling shopping. Just about every popular store can be found on 34th Street - the Gap, Zara, Uniqlo, Forever 21, Steve Madden, etc. etc.
Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone! All offices will be closed on Monday. The last couple weeks, the city has felt empty. It's been a good time to get away. Mark and I will be staying in town.
Related posts: Queuing for Ice Cream in the Cold, Summer Ice, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and On Line for Cream Cakes, Outside.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Outside House of Oldies, in the Village
Photo by myself on Carmine and Bleecker Streets, in the Village.
The House of Oldies is a record store in the Village. As you can see, not every storefront in Manhattan is brand-shiny new. It was shuttered closed on Sunday but it is open during the week.
Founded in 1968, the storefront must not have changed a bit. There are supposedly over a million vinyl (yes, vinyl) records inside.
As with any store or restaurant, please do a little research beforehand. For the store's website, click here.
In late May, the magazine published 'The Ultimate Apartment', a story about a gorgeous apartment on 20th Street in Chelsea. A successful fashion photographer lived there and advertised the apartment as a sublet on Craigslist.
It just goes to show, however, that if anything is too good to be true, it is. People were lining up outside the door to live there. And the story only gets more interesting.
The article is available online, but only for subscribers. Click here for the synopsis on the New Yorker website.
Related posts: Genesis Mural, Soho, Mural, in Red Hook, Brooklyn, and 'Zodiac Heads', Outside the Plaza Hotel. Read more...
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sample Sale, on Fifth Avenue
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.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Art and Furnishings at the Winter Antiques Show, Uptown
Photo by myself at the Park Avenue Armory, on the Upper East Side.
This weekend, we went to the Amory on the Upper East Side to the annual winter Antiques Show.
There were loads of booths showing furniture, artwork, tapestries and even autographs. This was our second year seeing the show. It was a treat.
I'm not sure whether it's because I love older American art and furnishings, or whether there were lots of booths showing Americana?
I came away from the show thinking there is tons of American art out there. And that they all use the color red.
If you have a chance to see this show, I'd say, try it out. Many of the items are much too expensive for the regular person. Mark fell in love with a painting with a $900k price tag (!). But it was just fun to walk around and ooh and aah at it all.
Related posts: Now on Display at the Annual Winter Antiques Show, Handcrafted Objects at the Architectural Digest Design Show, and Store Closing, on Fifth Avenue.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Open 24/7 on 14th Street
Photo by myself around 14th Street and First Avenue, in the East Village.
A photo from the stash, at a slightly warmer time.
Older storefronts are more hodge podge than new ones, usually just a huge number of different signs. Obviously this store has an ATM!
Related posts: Holy Smokes, in the East Village, Signs of Old Times, on the Lower East Side, and A Glimpse of 42nd Street, Times Square.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Unhate, on Fifth Avenue
Photo by myself at Fifth Avenue and 48th Street, in Midtown.
Happy New Year, Everyone!
Just a snapshot from Fifth Avenue from a little while ago. The 'Unhate' ad campaign by Benneton caused a stir, showing various political leaders kissing one another.
Above, a two-story high Obama is shown with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
It's hard to believe it's 2013. Wowee. I wish everyone a happy and healthy new year!
Related posts: Bikini-Clad, on Prince Street, Our Commander and Chief, Above 7th Avenue, and It All Ends, Above Chelsea.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
On the Crowds in Herald Square and Walking in the City
Photo by myself at 35th Street and Sixth Avenue, Herald Square.
The hoards of crowds swarming in the streets during the holidays can be a little overwhelming.
Especially when you're trying to head in the opposite direction.
If you've ever read about the 'pulse' of a city, this is it - where your body is so minutely timed with the chaos that you can zip through intersections without so much as a hiccup.
I'm sure one day I will smash into someone. With my luck, that someone will be carrying a huge white cake, dozens of prickly roses or an armload of marbles.
Last week, the receptionist at our office was standing at a crosswalk in this area and a man punched her in the stomach (!). She was just standing there, waiting for the light to change, and someone just walked up and punched her for no good reason.
Fortunately, she was all right. She called the police, gave her description of the elderly man who had done this, and was told that she was not alone. There have been multiple reports recently of older people acting out on strangers for whatever reason (!).
So yes, DO expect crowds in this area if you ever find yourself here. And DO give older people their space.
Related posts: Fighting the Crowds, in Midtown, Crowd Crossing, at 34th Street, and Tuned Out, in Herald Square. Read more...
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Bright Stalls at the Union Square Holiday Market
Photo by myself in Union Square.
The holiday market in Union Square was in full swing, Friday night.
Brightly lit stalls are selling jewelry, lamps, hats, scarves, art and everything else you could think of. People were browsing around and enjoying the festive atmosphere.
It was a chilly night, but loads of people were out, enjoying the end of the work week. The market has been a recurring fixture for the last 18 years! They will be open every night til 8pm through Dec. 24th.
For a little bit more about the market, see their website here.
One of many stalls selling ethnic art.
These days, people are under the impression that architects just press a button and things are done. Not so! And in the world of real estate every day means a lot of money. So the anxiety level is very high.
I am incredibly excited to soon be working on an apartment on Fifth Avenue, near the Met (Metropolitan Museum of Art, at 86th Street). We just finished up an apartment at 83rd and Madison, nearby. Stay tuned for more photos from that neighborhood (!).
Related posts: This Season at the Union Square Holiday Market, It's Christmas All Year, at the Grand Central Market, and Holiday Cheer, Already in Bryant Park. Read more...
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Holiday Windows at Bergdorf Goodman
Photo by myself outside Bergdorf Goodman, at 58th Street and Fifth Avenue.
The windows at Bergdorf Goodman have to be the most sumptious of all store windows during the holidays. Above, a woman is surrounded by white peacocks, their feathers and a pair of ornate chandeliers.
I'm sure the larger windows costs tens of thousands of dollars each for their designs. I try to see these displays every year, which are always elaborate and fanciful. They're less dependent on gizmos and are more like intricate set designs.
It was a little chilly the other night, but that didn't stop onlookers from oohing and aahing in front of each window, which were rimmed with large decorated frames.
In one window, a woman is shown with dozens of little white dogs performing tricks.
One stunning window showed an aerial view of a musical party in progress.
Related posts: Lost in Thought, Outside Lord and Taylor in Midtown, Holiday Displays, on Fifth Avenue, and Christmas Windows to Warm the Heart.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Wrapped Around the Bulgari Store, on Fifth Avenue
Photo by myself around 56th Street and FIfth Avenue.
A giant two-headed snake encrusted with LED lights wound around the corner of the Bulgari store on Fifth Avenue.
The lights in the eyes of the snakes flicker on and off. The lights are very, very bright.
I'd see this thing whenever I passed by in a cab, so I went over Monday night to take a photo up close.
Related posts: The New York Public Library, Awash in Blue, Sparkly Lights, in Rockefeller Center, and Holiday Under the Stars, at Columbus Circle.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
It's Holiday Time, on Display at Macy's
Photo by myself outside Macy's, at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue in Midtown.
Christmas in New York means tons of shopping, lights and store displays. The windows at Macy's are always dressed to the nines, with colorful and fantastic displays.
It's early in the season yet. Usually it's hard to get a look at the windows, with all the crowds. Above, a cool cutaway scene showing a family in an Upper West Side apartment watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade balloons floating down Central Park West.
The inscription at the top of the window reads 'The Magic of Christmas'. Text is printed on the window too, so there are layers of things to look at.
Related posts: Windows Onto Another World, at Macy's, Peering into Another World at Macy's, and Christmas Windows to Warm the Heart.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Bracing for Hurricane Sandy, in Brooklyn
Photo by myself at the local supermarket in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
The canned soup section at my supermarket looked like it'd been raided, this morning. I'm sure it will be completely desolate later today.
It was a mob scene, with people running around with shopping baskets, looking very stressed. Then they got in line and stood there, for a long, long time.
We are all preparing for Hurricane Sandy, which is due to hit us later tonight and tomorrow. Very heavy rain and tropical-force winds are in the forecast.
New York is not typically hurricane territory, but it's become that way in the last couple years. Most New Yorkers are not 'home owners' in the typical sense. Since most of us live in apartment buildings, we don't clean out gutters or rake leaves. And so we're a little clueless when it comes to forces of nature.
This morning, I fielded questions from neighbors about what utilities go out if the power went out. Will we have cold water? Will the stove work? The intercom system? That kind of thing.
I'll be sure to post 'After' photos on Tuesday.
Lines for each cash register snaked down the aisles, Sunday afternoon.
Related posts: Goodbye Irene, from Park Slope, Brooklyn, On Taking Snaps, and More on Irene, and An Early Snowfall, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
Friday, October 26, 2012
In Sequins, in Midtown
Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue around 35th Street, in Midtown.
A store selling sequin dresses had mannequins at the front window. Each mannequin wore a fur hat in a different color.
There are a number of stores in Midtown that sell to wholesale buyers only. Many of the stores are located near the Garment District.
Happy Friday, everyone!
Related posts: Hats Anyone?, NY Attitude for Sale, and I Heart NY, in Midtown.
Monday, October 8, 2012
The Lights on Broadway, in the Perfume District
Photo by myself around Broadway and 28th Street.
Broadway around 28th Street is lined with stores selling fragrances, wigs and beauty supplies.
Alas, we had a grey-ish, chilly weekend, here. This photo is from the stash.
Happy Monday, everyone!
Related posts: You Looking at Me? in the Perfume District, Kiosk at Night, and Shining Bright at Live Bait.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Riding the Escalator with Groceries, on the Upper West Side
Photo by myself at Trader Joe's, on the Upper West Side.
In cities, floor area is limited. So one option for more space is to go up or down.
At many supermarkets and drugstores, escalators take people and their shopping carts to other levels. The street level might have an entrance and a small display area, but larger lower floors provide more area for shopping.
It's a win-win situation: windows aren't necessary for stores, and buildings can rent out large underground expanses in one fell swoop.
At Trader Joe's on the Upper West Side, an escalator brings shoppers down to a larger basement floor. Their shopping carts ride on a separate escalator alongside.
There are two basement levels at this store, one for produce and the checkout lines, another for frozen foods and other items. The store was packed as usual, Tuesday night.
Trader Joe's is known for its grass roots aesthetic, reasonable prices and interesting foodstuffs. There are many grocery store chains here, each with their own personality.
