Charles Gwathmey's ameoba-shaped luxury apartment building at Astor Place.
July 31, 2008
Still Smoking
Smoking is perfectly legal on the streets of New York City. Here is a woman in perfect form leisurely enjoying a smoke on the corner of 57th and 5th. A study from Scotland that was released today shows that smoking bans work and have enormous health benefits. Smoking in enclosed public places is totally banned in Scotland. In San Francisco, an ordinance passed this week bans the sale of cigarettes at pharmacies.There are lots of great photographs of smokers. One of my favorites is from the long out of print book "Almost Grown" by Joseph Szabo. This image also is on the cover of the classic DinosaurJr. album "Green Mind."
The artist Ed Templeton published a great book of photographs entitled "Teenage Smokers" a few years ago.
July 29, 2008
Trump Tower
Possibly one of the lamest skyscrapers in Manhattan. Presenting Donald Trump's architectural masterpiece, Trump Tower.To me, this photograph recalls Hiroshi Sugimoto's architecture series. "Sugimoto's blurred forms evoke the passage of time, muting any architectural detail, and leaving only the essence of the building in his final prints. In this way Sugimoto’s process is suggestive of the way in which our memories both preserve and distort images."
Schoooooooooool Bus
A renegade schoolbus accelerating furiously somewhere on Madison Avenue in the 70's. Not exactly sure how this happened since it wasn't planned, but I like the way it came out. The actual shot was a restaurant I was aiming at across the street. All of a sudden this bus zoomed into the frame just as I clicked. Don't they have speeding laws in Manhattan?
July 28, 2008
Chinatown Ice Cream Factory
Delicious ice cream in Chinatown. The regular flavors include: Almond Cookie, Black Sesame, Chocolate Pandan, Durian, Ginger, Green Tea, Lychee, Passion Fruit, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Red Bean, Taro, and Zen Butter. The exotic flavors are totally out of the ordinary. Mint Chip, Oreo, Coffee, Rocky Road, Strawberry, Vanilla and other even more bizarre flavors are available for adventurous ice cream eaters.
Grafitti Truck on Lafayette Street
The city is filled with trucks just like this. Paradise for graffiti artists. Come to New York City and cover our trucks in spray paint. Please.
Union Square Twins
Consulting a map in the Union Square subway station. It's pretty clear they are mourning the death of the cassette. 80's style to the max.
July 27, 2008
Just Don't Knock Me Off Of My Bike, Hey!
Impeccably stylish bike rider on a late Saturday afternoon in Midtown across from The Plaza Hotel. (Click on middle picture for more detail.) The white tires and sneakers are very 2008. Multi-colored streamers are a great touch too. All the cool kids are sporting them.
July 24, 2008
Comparison Shoppers
There are bargains if you look for them. Turns out the cashier overcharged them by .50 on an item that was mispriced. Oldsters are savvy like that in NYC. "Shiloh Meets The Twins" too.
The Reg at Woody Allen's Latest
Regis Philbin getting into his car tonight on 3rd Avenue and 60th Street after a private screening of the new Woody Allen movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."
The movie is about two young American women, Vicky and Cristina (played by Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson) who are spending the summer in Barcelona. Vicky is sensible and engaged to be married; while Cristina is emotionally and sexually adventurous. They’re drawn into a series of complicated romantic and sexual entanglements with Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), a charismatic painter, who is still very much involved with his impassioned ex-wife Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz). Yes, there is a lengthy lesbian kiss between Johansson and Cruz. Highly recommended.
Not said by Regis, but overheard while leaving the theater: "I would definitely go see that again."
UPDATE: Another review from a blogger at the exact same screening.
July 18, 2008
All Star Game Red Carpet Parade
A view out the window at 3AM on Monday night/Tuesday morning.The red carpet laid down on the street was for the fourth annual All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade that headed up 6th Avenue in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon. The parade stretched from 40th street all the way up to 58th Street and lasted about two hours.
The members of both All-Star teams were joined by 49 members of the Hall of Fame including baseball greats Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Wade Boggs, Rod Carew, Dennis Eckersley, Rollie Fingers, Whitey Ford, Goose Gossage, Tony Gwynn, Reggie Jackson, Tommy Lasorda, Willie Mays, Jim Palmer, Don Sutton, and many others.
Buses were diverted.
July 16, 2008
July 11, 2008
Rincon Latino (Spanish Food)
Oscar's Arepas, best in New York City. "Can you please hold a second while I flip these damn things?"Extra points for most sanitary cell phone usage in the city.
July 10, 2008
Big Band Big City
Throwing down on Astor Place on a Sunday afternoon. Watch the video here. They made a ton of money and sold a bunch of CD's too. You can usually find this ensemble in the Union Square subway making a musical racket for the commuters.
Smoothie
Portrait of a teenager with fierce attitude in a brand new "I Love NY" t-shirt. 6th Avenue Street Fair.
July 8, 2008
The 57th Street Lean
One glove, a collection of bottles and cans, a large boombox, two umbrellas, and a sick pair of New Balance sneakers.
