Art Daze

There was an art opening this past Saturday night for a group photo exhibition, "Attachments," at The Hole Gallery on Bowery in the East Village. It features a wide selection of new work by Andrew Kuo, Asger Carlsen, Jason Nocito, Jessica Eaton, Jim Mangan, Kate Steciw, Peter Sutherland, Sandy Kim and Tim Barber. Sometimes the work is so captivating it puts you in a trance.

Preppy Afternoon

A couple of prepsters were out for an afternoon stroll headed down 6th Avenue on a cloudy afternoon.

Halloween Deli

The pumpkins are out in abundance in New York City for Halloween. A typical Korean corner deli on 57th Street and 9th Avenue.

Streetcorner Staredown

I ❤ NY umbrellas and waiting for the light to change on Madison Avenue in a light rain on Friday afternoon.

42nd Street Sprinkle

It rained on Friday and everyone in the city had their umbrellas out. Crossing 42nd Street at Madison Avenue is especially treacherous even when it isn't raining.

Uptown Kate Upton

At a New York Festival party on Friday night for the film "Casting By," I was lucky that I had my camera because it's not often that you capture the exact moment that Sports Illustrated cover model Kate Upton falls in love with you.

Central Park Breakfast

There's really not that much better than a homemade breakfast above Central Park on a beautiful morning.

City Camping

I know it is completely illegal to go camping in Central Park, but a silly regulation like that won't stop New Yorkers who feel the need to be at one with the Great Outdoors.

All you have to do is just plop down your sleeping bag on the sidewalk next to a busy subway stop, snuggle up comfortably inside, and take a mid-afternoon siesta. What's even more amazing is that there are hundreds of people assembled only one block away yelling and screaming all day long to protest against the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who is staying at the Warwick Hotel this week. Did I also mention the dozens of heavily armed policemen stationed outside the hotel as well?

If these sorts of things don't bother you then you have what it takes to be an urban camper. You'll also quickly learn to ignore things like taxi cab exhaust, curbside trash, cigarette smokers, and the thousands of people that trample by your camp site as they walk on by in Midtown Manhattan on a typical Monday afternoon.

Under the Streets

Did you ever wonder what's under the bustling streets of New York City? It's no wonder the streets are getting ripped up all the time. What a mess down there.

Jumping for Joy

Not entirely sure what prompted this high flying split on 56th Street, but I just happened to be walking by and caught it at exactly the right moment. Tryouts for the US Olympic Street Gymnastic team perhaps.

Super Summer Stylish

Random skater girl looking super summer stylish in Midtown.

Rainy Oysters

Another rainy night in Midtown Manhattan.

I love the neon of the Famous Oyster Bar, but I've never been there. It's been around forever and about the only thing I can think to recommend about it beside the neon is the location. It always gets uniformly negative reviews on Citysearch and Yelp.

If you are from out of town and are looking for a place to go for oysters, go to the Grand Central Oyster Bar. It's located in the basement of Grand Central Terminal and and I highly recommend it. It's definitely not to be missed if you visit New York City.

Birthday Nap

After a great day of celebrating your birthday, it's perfectly okay to take a nap on the long subway ride home.

Summer at the Guggenheim

A view of some museum goers on a recent Saturday night after the Guggenheim Museum closed for the evening.

The best day and time to visit the Guggenheim is Saturday night from 5:45PM to 7:45PM. The museum is open late (though not late enough in my opinion) and the admission fee is reduced from $22 for adults to the very reasonable "Pay What You Wish." If you're on a budget or traveling or otherwise aren't swimming in $22 bills, it's a great time to get uptown and experience a wonderful museum for a nickle or a dime or a dollar or whatever you think is appropriate. There's usually a line, but don't worry it moves quickly.

On a recent evening, I went to see the retrospective of the Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra. It was exceptionally well-curated and is a highly recommended photography show.

Saturday Smashup

I was replacing a lightbulb in my kitchen on Saturday morning and I heard a long, loud screeching of brakes out the window. I raced over to look out and there at the intersection of 55th Street and 6th Avenue was a fairly major accident judging from the condition of the car sitting in the middle of the street. Luckily, everyone seemed unhurt although the car appears totally demolished. I'm not entirely sure what happened, but someone was obviously speeding or ran a red light or something. This sort of thing will certainly screw up your Saturday afternoon.

The Age of Miracles

If I'm lucky I can usually find one or two books every summer that I really enjoy. This summer it's been "The Age of Miracles" by Karen Thompson Walker. I've been reading it in Central Park on the weekends and I am really enjoying it.

She gave a reading and book signing last week at Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side and even though I missed the reading, I arrived just in time to be the very last person to get their book signed. There's nothing better than a signed first edition hardcover of an author's first book.

Polka Dot Balls

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is having a massive resurgence in popularity this summer with a retrospective at the Whitney Museum which runs from July 12 through September 30th. There is also a collaboration with Louis Vuitton for clothes, handbags and mores that is being promoted with the entire storefront and outside walls on 57th and 5th.

Passing by the restaurant at the Whitney on Saturday night, I saw that it is decorated with these oversize and festive polka dot balls.

Hustler Highway

From time to time, I see this truck driving around midtown Manhattan. It's obviously just advertising for men to go to the Hustler club, but I can't help but think they are missing out on an enormous business opportunity here. A mobile strip club.

Here'e the idea. Pick the business guys up in the Hustler truck down on Wall Street after trading closes at set times (4:15PM, 4:30PM, 4:45PM etc.) and offer free shuttle service home to the Upper East Side, Greenwich, Westchester. Not so sure their housewives will appreciate seeing their husbands getting dropped off at home in this sort of truck, but they're probably going to go there anyway and it sure beats taking Metro West or the subway.

Are mobile strip clubs even legal?

More Minutes, Please

Today was one of the hottest days of the year and there seemed to be an abundance of homeless people staked out on 5th Avenue in the 50s.

File this one in the Liz Smith "Only in New York" category because here's something you don't see every day. In New York City, even the homeless people soliciting for money on 5th Avenue have cell phone plans. Who gives money to a homeless guy talking on a cell phone?

I didn't notice until later when I took a look at my photos from today that he gave me the finger for taking his picture. He didn't get off his call though. That made me laugh.

Adult Toys

Just a random Monday night south of Times Square on 8th Avenue. The area still retains some of its seediness despite the efforts of Disney and others to wipe it clean. Also the police still walk the streets looking for criminals.

Ghosts in the Machine

Getting ready for a Saturday night of performing in Times Square. Obviously they don't have makeup booths for this sort of thing.

Sold Out Show

The Artist was sold out last week at The Paris before it won five Academy Awards on Sunday night. Yes, I finally ended up seeing it. It costs $13 to see a movie in Manhattan.

To Hell With The Devil

After receiving some really encouraging and super nice emails from around the world, it looks like there are some people that actually do enjoy my blog and photos. So consider my arm twisted and I'm starting it up again.

Here's a picture from an opening of Jonas Mekas film strips at the Agnes B. store in Soho about a week and a half ago.

Expect more regular updates and photos from now on. Thanks for all the notes.

Where's Quite All Right?

I used to post nearly every day or at least once a day. But I lost my inspiration. I don't actually think my photographs are really all that good either so I stopped posted very regularly. If I change my mind I'll post again, but for now I don't have anything to post.

Ready or Not

Ready or not here comes Hurricane Irene.

No bread in NYC

There is seriously NO BREAD in New York City. All the panic-stricken New Yorkers scooped it up in a frenzy last night.

Bergdorf Closed!!!

Sorry girls, no shopping today!

Cigarettes, Please

Please have your ID ready.

Night in New York City

A beautiful spring evening in the city.

French Sneakers

I should have bought these sneakers in Paris. I figured I'd go back to the store (somewhere on Rue St.-Honore), but then I didn't and now I'm wishing I did. That's something I am trying to do more of, just do it when you think of it rather than waiting until later. What are you waiting for? To find a better pair of sneakers somewhere else? Now it's too late, but it's never too late. Good thing to keep in mind for the future.

Anyone going to Paris anytime soon?

Actress for Hire

Oh Kristin Elliott, what were you thinking when you plastered your headshots all over Williamsburg? Did you imagine that the casting gods would shine a light on you and give you a role in the next Woody Allen movie? While that may still happen, at least some bearded, fixed-gear riding, skinny jean wearing, Whole Foods shopping hipster got an excellent opportunity to make a funny drawing on a random lamp post.

Easter Ears

Somewhere in the West Village on a cloudy Saturday afternoon before Easter.

Here Comes the Tax Man

The door is wide open. No time like the present.

Magic Cupcake

These are mostly magical after you eat about six of them in a row. Magic Cupcakes at the Duane Park Patisserie.

Chambers Street

Waiting for the subway at the Chambers Street stop on Sunday afternoon.

National Debt Clock

I never noticed this before, but the other day I saw that the infamous National Debt Clock is located right above the Internal Revenue Service office on 44th Street near 6th Avenue. How ironic, right? Better get your taxes done, you only have 9 more days!

This clock is a must visit for any tourist visiting New York (at least it's on my list of tourist sites.) I know all the best places in New York City. Anyone want a tour?

"Tip" "Wow" Tank You

One of the local deli's in the neighborhood. I like how worn out the counter top is.

Sew Buttons

New York City has something for everyone and can truly be an oasis of unexplored treasures if you ever get around to looking for them. I have been needing to find a store filled with nothing but buttons for months! I need a few replacement buttons for two shirts that I love wearing and yesterday I finally decided to venture out to cross this one off of my ever expanding list of things to do. A button store of this sort has to exist somewhere in Manhattan, right?

Luckily, I found just such a store conveniently open on Saturday afternoon called Lou Lou Buttons (212-398-5498). They're located at 69 East 38th Street right near 6th Avenue and they're open from 10am to 6pm on Monday through Friday and from 11am to 5pm on Saturday. They have loads of buttons! It's a slender little drawer of a shop filled with nothing but buttons. Row after row after row of all sorts of magical little shapes in every color and size you can possibly imagine. It's neatly organized and the guys working there were super friendly.

I showed the salesman exactly what I needed and in less than 5 minutes he expertly pulled out a few boxes of buttons until he found the exact buttons I needed. He filled them into two little plastic bags and I was on my way. Now I just need to find a girl who will sew them all on for me.

All Books Must Go

There's a huge sale this week at the 57th Street and Park Avenue location of Borders which is totally going out of business. They filed for bankruptcy last week. Other better performing branches of Borders are staying open, but the company is struggling with the massive changes rocking the book industry and hasn't been able to meet its debts or pay publishers and landlords.

Random Crap

She asked me directions to a bar in the neighborhood. I pointed her in the right direction. Isn't gambling illegal?

East River Dreaming

The Roosevelt Island tram sails high above the East River and brings people back and forth to the city all day long. This would not be a fun place to get stuck on a cold winter day, but the view is nice. I've never taken it before, but it looks like a fun ride. It was closed for most of last year for repairs and remodeling, but it's recently back in service.

Help Us Help You

The truly awesome thing about living in New York City is you never know what you are going to get hit over the head with from one day to the next.

For example, a random heavy set Hispanic dude in his mid-thirties with an ace bandage (or a cast) on his right arm might just come up behind you while you are reading the subway map and assault you.... w/ Hammer. Then he'll flee on the subway to an unknown destination. Watch your back!

Late Night Snow

It snowed on Tuesday night. Unfortunately it didn't really last very long, but it was good while it lasted. I pretty much want it to snow all the time in the winter.

Above the Star 2

All new commentary free blog. Make up your own witty and snarky comments.

Above The Star

A view down on the Crystal Snowflake on 57th Street from the windows of Bergdorf Goodman. This is a nice view of the Bulgari and Tiffany stores that you don't see very often from this perspective. It's actually the UNICEF Snowflake and was designed by Ingo Maurer and features over 16,000 Baccarat crystals. UNICEF's marketing department does a totally crap job of promoting the snowflake because everyone knows about it cause it hangs in the middle of the city for six to eight weeks every year at the corner of one of the busiest intersections in the world, but no one has any clue that it's put up by UNICEF. Where's Audrey Hepburn when you need her?

Pee-wee Herman on Broadway

Pee-wee Herman outside the Steven Sondheim Theater on Sunday after a rainy evening performance. His show plays on Broadway until early next month. My six word review: "It was very entertaining and funny."

It's Like Halloween Never Ended

I was out in midtown Manhattan earlier this evening and I saw an interesting guy crossing 2nd Avenue at 53rd street. Normally you don't see anything out of the ordinary in this neighborhood, but when you see someone dressed in 8" silver boots and a full length fur coat and feathers it makes you stop and stare. Of course, this being NYC, no one really stops to give this much of a second thought. It's as if nothing was all that unusual about this sort of look. I stopped and waited for him to come out of Walgreen's. I was actually wondering what he purchased,

Anyway, I don't know quite know how to explain the face paint or the rest of his look, but it certainly makes a pretty good statement and I appreciate that. When I asked him to take his picture, he was more than happy to stop for a portrait. Beautiful.

Rainy Day

A standard rainy day in New York City. Energy levels are low today. December 1st too.

What a Racquet!

I spotted this enormous racquet on 6th Avenue and 40th Street. He gives private lessons too and if you need to improve your game you probably won't miss many shots with this one.

Late Night Skittles

Cool girls from the Bronx know that the only acceptable late night candy is Skittles. They really don't get any cooler than this. No fake ID required.