Google Makes Driving Easy

The Google Self-Driving Car made a test drive in New York City on Thursday afternoon at around 5pm. I came across the car illegally parked (partially in the crosswalk) on 55th Street and Lexington Avenue. There was a guy crammed in the back seat and a driver in the front seat.

When I told him that he was cheating by sitting in the driver's seat he replied, "New York State law requires a driver in the car." I am sure Google's presumably trying to get this law changed. Some guy walking by told me that it was the "first test drive," but you can't believe everything a random stranger in New York City tells you or next thing you know you'll be driving off the Brooklyn Bridge.

Also no idea if the car parked itself or not or how it performs U-turns, illegal right hand turns, navigating potholes, running red lights, hitting bicyclists, or brushing up against pedestrians at crosswalks in the city, but judging from the scrapes on the side of car it will do just fine in our fair city.

Bruce Willis' Graffiti Truck

I spotted this amazing truck in very crowded rush hour traffic on Lexington Avenue in the 60s. Bruce Willis appeared to be making his way incognito down towards Bloomingdales. As hard as they try to go unnoticed, you can always spot the famous celebrities driving around town in graffiti trucks.

Family Owned and Operated

Yes, New York City has grocery stores that deliver. D'Agostino way up on the Upper East Side.

Art Collector, October 2009

It's always a good idea to be ready with your shopping cart for the unexpected Impressionist masterpiece that shows up curbside when Sotheby's can't seem to move it. Another terrific sign that we are slowly emerging from the recession is when you see the homeless guys on the Upper East Side busy reassembling their art collections again.

Just Watching The Cars

It looks like it must have been a blue day.

I kinda feel like making these. I don't think I can wait 36 hours though. I need to seek some professional help!

Thanks EMPTY

Life is good if you're in the parking business.

English Muffin Graffiti Truck

This looks to be the start of an awesome graffiti truck. I like how some enterprising young graffiti artist artfully tagged the unmelted butter.

I really like English Muffins, but I think they may be just way too crazy and unpredictable for me. All those nooks and crannies are enough to drive anyone nuts. I'm sticking with cinnamon toast for now.

Urban Geometry

Various angles of one of the more futuristic looking buildings in Midtown. Though I guess that since it's been around for over 25 years it's not so modern. Late 20th century modern perhaps. In case you didn't know, the building in front is the Citicorp Center. It's 59 stories and is 915 feet tall. This midtown landmark building has 1.3 million square feet of office space where Citicorp desperately tries not to lose all your money. The top of the building has a distinctive triangle shape and was designed to be a massive solar panel, but that never happened.

The round/curved building in the background is the Lipstick Building, best known now as the building where Bernie Madoff had his offices.

Sign of the Times

Storefront on Lexington Avenue. Everything must go.