Rosenwach Wood Tanks

On my recent visit to Williamsburg, Brooklyn, while circumambulating the neighborhood, a sign jumped out from the corner of my eye: Rosenwach Wood Tanks. I realized that this must be the very same manufacturer of wooden water tanks I wrote about in a story Tank Worship, one of only two companies in New York City that manufactures wood water tanks - see the September 15, 2006 article here.
I nearly shrieked to my companion who was driving and asked to please indulge me, circle the block so that I might be able to verify it this was the place, and if so, I could perhaps go inside and do some photography.
'Twas done in a jiffy, however, upon arrival at the Wythe Avenue entrance, something looked amiss. Charred, blackened wood was everywhere and areas were secured with safety tape. Yes, a man confirmed that this was that company. However, coincidentally, I had arrived only some days after a major fire. The two-alarm fire occurred on the 4th of July - the Fire Department of New York said the cause of the fire was illegal fireworks. The gentleman in the yard said I was welcome to return at a later date, get a tour and do some photography. However, at that time, fire marshalls were everywhere and it was not the time for a factory tour and photo shoot.
This location at 87 North 9th Street at Wythe Avenue, a former stable, is the wood mill for the company where the planks are prepared using equipment dating back to the 1930s. The tanks themselves are assembled at the customer location.
Rosenwach Tank was started on the Lower East Side in 1866 by barrel maker William Dalton. In 1894, Dalton hired Polish immigrant Harris Rosenwach - the company is currently under the watch of fourth-generation business owner Andy Rosenwach.
I am looking forward to going back and touring the place when the dust clears ...

Roots of Pizza

The variations in the human food palate is remarkable. I perused the 241 reviews on John's Pizzeria at the Yelp.com website which ranged from 1 to 5 stars. You will find every permutation of good, mediocre and bad for both service and food. If you don't agree with any given reviews, you could dismiss them as being written by people who have limited experience with pizza or have not tasted better. However, a closer examination of the reviewers will reveal many long time NYC pizza aficionados who actually have sampled the wares from iconic places like DiFara's, Lombardi's, Grimaldi's, Totonno's or Nunzio.
One problem with a place like John's that makes such a large volume of pizza and serves so many people, is that it is possible to have genuinely different experiences either with the food or service. Combine an off night for both with high expectations and the range of reviews become more understandable.
John's Pizzeria, at 278 Bleecker Street in the West Village, was started in 1929 by John Sasso. Current proprietor Bob Vittoria, is a relative of the original owner. John's is one of the few pizzerias in New York City to use a coal-fired brick oven, introduced to the city by Gennaro Lombardi. Anthracite coal is still shoveled daily from the basement to pizzeria's oven. A coal oven can reach temperatures in excess of 800 degrees F. John's is a thin, crispy crust. According to an article in The Villager:

Vittoria attributes the restaurant’s steadfast popularity to the special brick oven that reaches over 800 degrees and crisps the homemade crust to perfection, and the fresh, high-quality meats, produce and cheese. He buys his meat from down the street at Faicco’s Pork Store, open since 1927 at 260 Bleecker St.

You will never get a consensus on a place like this - pizza is one of the most contentious food subjects in New York City. Like sushi, every one seems to have a favorite or know the best place. The styles and ingredients vary substantially - very cheesy, thinner or thicker crusts, crispy or chewy, oily or dry, ovens used, classic red sauce, white sauce, and non-traditional styles with toppings like pesto.
I had not been to John's in many many years. My recollection was that I had found it overrated and somewhat disappointing. Since that time, I have primarily frequented places that serve gourmet or non-traditional styles like that of Two Boots or Ray's on Prince Street. On my recent visit to John's, however, I found the classic red sauce a refreshing change. Like going back to the roots of pizza ...

Note: John's virtually always has huge lines, although they do more fairly quickly. They do not serve slices (only whole pies) and do not take credit cards.

More Photos - See Here.

Williamsburg

If you live in New York City, Williamsburg, Brooklyn and its resurgence as a vibrant community, comes as no secret. The press/media as well as its readers, love stories about the next SoHo, the Next Neighborhood, the American version of Le Marais and other analogies intended to drive sales of newspapers, magazines and real estate properties. 

Many changing neighborhoods have been over-hyped, later to miss the mark on the predicted trajectory. Williamsburg, however, appears to living up to its expectations. Domination of conversation about these new burgeoning neighborhoods should not be interpreted to mean that prime real estate in New York City's finest neighborhoods are now out of favor and can be had for a pittance. There's just little excitement and buzz about neighborhoods whose future have long been a fait accompli and where prices are now stratospheric. Everyone is looking for the next new place.

It would be difficult to overstate Williamsburg's importance - its history is quite remarkable. The neighborhood was once home to Corning Glass, Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Esquire Shoe Polish and the iconic Domino Sugar factory. 

From 1827 to 1855, Williamsburgh became its own incorporated town/village/city, later annexed into the city of Brooklyn. It was home to mansions owned by Vanderbuit, Fisk and James Pratt who founded Pratt Institute. The area became an American industrial powerhouse and at one time in the 19th century it had 10 percent of the wealth in the United States. This is an enormous subject - read more here.

The area is also very ethnically diverse with many groups including hispanic, Italian and Hasidic Jews - over 70,000 Satmar Hasidic Jews live in Williamsburg.

Since the 1970s, as rents escalated in SoHo and the East Village, Williamsburg became a magnet for a growing community of artists and musicians. The trend has continued but as to be expected, the cost of real estate has forced those shopping for less expensive alternatives to look further afield. According to a New York Times article, Old Europe and New Brooklyn in Williamsburg, there has been an enormous influx of Europeans to the neighborhood with shops to service their needs.

One feature of the neighborhood has always been convenience - Bedford Avenue (the heart of the area) is only one subway stop from Manhattan. However it should be noted that this stop is serviced by the L train which only travels crosstown on 14th Street in Manhattan.

There is a enormous number of shops, clubs, cafes, restaurants and galleries catering to the wave of newcomers in the last few decades. To anyone unfamiliar with this neighborhood, I would highly recommend a visit to Williamsburg ...

The Conductor

Meet Benjamen Denham, conductor. This man has, for 11 years, shown up in Washington Square Park and silently conducted many planned and unplanned musical gatherings. However, he is in fact conducting no one. Because Mr. Denham, armed with two drinking straws with paper intact, conducts for his own enjoyment.

This man has been an enigma for as long as he has been frequenting the park. Seen as extremely eccentric but quite benign, he is largely ignored as are many other unusual characters in this city. He, like others, just becomes part of the tapestry of New York City, woven from some individuals from every walk of life imaginable. Upon meeting and conversing with people over the years, I have found that many are extremely remarkable and I have been pleasantly shocked more often than I have had any misgivings confirmed. 

I have met so many individuals in this city with extraordinary backgrounds and histories both past and present disguised as ordinary mortals - editors of prestigious magazines, internationally known musicians, academics with degrees from Ivy League schools, engineers with multiple degrees, attorneys (one who  argued a case in the U.S. Supreme Court), grads from Wharton School, scientists, politicians in NYC government, prominent real estate developers, actors and former corporate execs.

In the 1970s I met a man who had left a position as mechanical engineer for Farberware to work in a leather shop on Bleecker Street. Why? To escape the rat race and "let his hair down." Although less true now that the Village has severely gentrified, this was at one time the reason that many ended up in Greenwich Village after a productive career. 

Rumor had it that any attempts to engage our conductor Benjamen in conversation was met with indifference - apparently no one had ever had any substantial conversation with him in all the years he frequented the park. When I decided to approach him, for some inexplicable reason, he was quite forthcoming. We spoke for some time - he seemed eager to share details of his life. 

I learned that he loved music and he felt he could learn any instrument easily. He said he wanted to author 100 books and showed me a notebook filled with coupons and rebate offers - his current project is a book on the subject. When asked if he had ever had a story done about him, he said there was and showed me an old article from the New Haven Register, which I did not have the opportunity to read. Regarding his livelihood, he told me he had operated 13 shops in his lifetime, each one ending in bankruptcy - he attributed his 13 failures to various cyclical recessions. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York. Upon returning to my seat, I was greeted with excitement by others who saw the conversation as a watershed event.

Our little girl in the photo was accompanying a group of musicians that Ben was conducting. When on a break, she at times looked at her mother for approval and at other times shared our wonderment with The Conductor :)

Mad as Hell

Episode Two (Final)

Life does imitate art - the end of this story was remarkably like the classic scene in the Academy Award winning 1976 film Network, where news anchor Howard Beale is so angry he persuades TV viewers across the nation to stick their heads out of a window and scream "I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take this anymore!" If you are not familiar with it, I suggest you see it here before you continue this story.

Trust me when I tell you that in all the decades I have lived in this city, I have seen many hostile interventions during street performers' acts. Very belligerent heckling, some nearly stopping the show. But I have never seen anything like this. 

An older woman appeared with her dog in tow and stood prominently in the center of the group and began screaming SHUT UP repeatedly to the audience and the singers. The group, not to be upstaged, continued singing.

This woman was SCREAMING at the top of her lungs - shrieking, clenching her fists and shaking. I was genuinely concerned that she would have a heart attack and her next battle with noise would be with an ambulance siren.

She would not stop and when audience members began responding that they were enjoying a quality performance, she screamed - "Take them home with you." She vehemently stated that she was a neighborhood resident living across the street, facing the area where the singers and crowd were located. She further claimed they had been singing for at least 6 hours per day for three days in a row and she was at wits end - apparently she was mad as hell and was not gonna take it anymore. 

After some time, one of the singers apologized to her and the audience, stating that her wishes should be respected. Another one of the singers told her to calm down assured her "you win". 

I spoke for a short time to this woman. I expressed my understanding of the dilemma and told her that I also was a long time neighborhood resident living over a park and have had my own issues with noise. I, along with others, pointed out that this is New York City. Worse, it was Greenwich Village on Bleecker Street. If she lived on the Upper East Side on a side street, I am sure she would have the quiet enjoyment she is entitled to. But this is Greenwich Village and I would guess she chose this neighborhood for its iconoclastic nature - with that comes a price. It is a mecca for culture, the arts and entertainment with clubs, restaurants, theaters, galleries, shops and plenty of street life. This environment will attract both tourists and performers. There is also a lot of noise and a greater tolerance by all including the police. I asked if she ever called the police. She said she had and nothing happens. My own personal solution is to plan around noisy events - i often will just leave my home. Principle and rights are one thing, but city hall opens on Monday morning and this is Saturday night. Accuse me of resignation or being a man unwilling to fight for his rights. I'm a pragmatist and being mad as hell will get me nowhere.

Note: For Episode One, see Soap Opera.

Soap Opera

Episode One

Occasionally you can have it all and Sunday was one of those days - perfect weather, a dinner better than expected (with no line where there usually is one) and then free, first class entertainment on the street on a summer evening. Spontaneous and varied street life is one of the perks of living in New York City and what many visitors have heard about and anticipate in their meanderings around the streets. Clear evidence that You're Not in Kansas  anymore. 

The group of singers in today's photo, calling themselves Select Blendz, was performing on Bleecker Street, accompanied by one acoustic guitarist. The songs were primarily 50s, 60s, doo-wop and soul - all classics immediately recognized by the audience. Little encouragement was needed for any type of audience participation, whether rhythmic clapping or singing choruses. The crowd flowed off the sidewalk into the heavily trafficked thoroughfare. The vibe was absolutely infectious and there literally was dancing in the street. At one point, one of the singers took a highly animated woman for a dance - see here. Others were moved to shake, rattle and roll. The tip bucket was brimming with bills - I saw one five dollar and even a $20 dollar tip being given. If the public votes with its dollars, these guys were clearly the consumer's choice.

I couldn't help thinking about a juice bar I used to frequent on my way to the office on Houston Street called Lucky's. A place just brimming with youthful enthusiasm, positive feelings and a great affirmation scrawled on a chalkboard above the menu items which explained the name of the store: Lucky to be Alive.

But not every story has a happy ending and there was rain on this parade - stay tuned tomorrow when I explain why in the second and final shocking episode of this real life mini soap opera ...

Big Bang

I had not been to a Fourth of July celebration in New York City for many, many years, generally opting for seeing them on TV. This year, however, I was with a friend who had never been to a live fireworks display at all, so it seemed criminal not to take a short stroll to the river and let her witness the Big Bang, New York City style. The display, sponsored by Macy's since 1958, was originally over the Hudson River. Since 1976, Macy's fireworks became a tradition over the East River. This year's display was back over the Hudson and better than ever. The display lasted 26 minutes, with 40,000 shells fired from six barges, located opposite 23rd to 50th Streets in Manhattan, where the West Side Highway was closed to pedestrians for the event. A Hudson River display also affords views from New Jersey, with the added eye candy of the Manhattan skyline as backdrop.

However, getting a viewing location was not as leisurely as one would hope. Police barricades restricted entry to just a handful of crosstown streets - frustrated crowds were directed to streets which in turn had also been closed. We paced up and down 10th Avenue to find entry to the West Side Highway, at last getting in at 24th Street. After a little jockeying for a good position for viewing/photography, we settled in for a spectacular display, on time as always. At the conclusion, traffic was snarled beyond belief - masochism by auto. I recommend seeing the NYC Independence Day fireworks in person, however the only way it makes sense to see any event of this size is by using a combination of subways and walking ... 

Brooklyn Heights

What is more inviting than a neighborhood with street names like Orange, Pineapple, Cranberry, Willow, Poplar, Grace Court, Garden Place or Love Lane? Brooklyn Heights is truly a special enclave, buffered from the world on 4 sides by the Brooklyn Bridge to the North, Cadman Plaza to the East, Atlantic Avenue to the South and the promenade/esplanade abutting the East River to the West. The promenade is a huge feature here and one that has brought me back many times. Flanking the entire length of the neighborhood, it affords magnificent views of Manhattan, the East River, the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge. Both daytime and nighttime views are worth a trip. See more photos here.

This is New York City's first historic district, established in 1965 - a product of opposition to a Robert Moses plan to run the Brooklyn Queens Expressway through the center of the neighborhood. The rerouting of the expressway to the Western edge of the neighborhood (which sits on a bluff), permitted the building of the esplanade. The neighborhood has virtually no tall buildings and is characterized by blocks of row houses of Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Italianate brownstones and some mansions.

Brooklyn Heights has also been known for its stable of renowned writers who have lived there - Truman Capote, Norman Mailer, Hart Crane, Andrea Dworkin, Arthur Miller, Walt Whitman and Thomas Wolfe. 

Genteel, pristine, picturesque, bucolic, charming - hard to imagine that this area was considered somewhat unsafe and undesirable at one time.

There is essentially no through traffic in the neighborhood, so it is extremely quiet and peaceful. Street scenes as shown in my photos typify day to day life here. Yet, it is incredibly convenient location - one subway stop from Manhattan and immediate access to bridges or the expressway. As you most likely guessed, inexpensive is not one of the features here :)

i'm lovin' it

I thought I had a very special photo opportunity when I caught this squirrel enjoying a french fry. Upon reflection, however, it occurred to me that this my observation might not be a particularly unique phenomenon, New York City or otherwise. A little searching turned up other photos on Flickr and videos on YouTube.

Everything about this city conspires to make it a haven for scavengers. The population density along with the waste so conveniently available makes it a veritable smorgasbord for those creatures who find the city hospitable. It is estimated that there are more rats than people in New York. 

Squirrels are a curious phenomenon. As rodents, they share a family (technically an Order) with rats and mice but are looked on more fondly. They scavenge but yet are still fed, watched and even doted over. The attraction is understandable - they are not as furtive in their behavior - they don't slink through the darkness of subways. And, they are arguably much more attractive than other rodents - many would say beautiful. I'm not sure why, but I see many visitors to the city stop and interact with squirrels with a look of extreme fascination - I'm not sure whether it is the relative rarity of squirrels in their home locale or perhaps the emboldened character of a city squirrel and how easily and closely they can be approached.

I've looked over the list of slogans used by McDonalds over the years, beginning in 1961, to see what might be an adequate caption for this photo if the golden arches were to use it for their advertising. How about their 2003 slogan based on Justin Timberlake's song - "i'm lovin' it" ?

Entombed

Either you wear shoes without socks or you don't. We had quite a discussion about this in my office. Some fine the prospect disgusting, others love it. I enjoyed reading a long forum online where opinions ranged the gamut. There is not only the practical/convenience issue of wearing no socks, but the no sock look is also seen favorably as a style.

I am not talking about sandals or flip-flops - there we have aeration and more likely candidates for hand cleaning. I am talking about regular closed shoes, including deck shoes or top siders. The blackened soles of your feet from the accumulation of soot and grime after a good day's walk sockless in New York City should be a clear warning.

There are many solutions - for those who prefer to go au naturel - Odor Eaters and foot powder. There are other options. For the style driven, no-show or low rise socks are available. 

But the habits of the wearer are all unknowns with someone else's shoes - buying used shoes in New York City requires some thought and a reputable dealer.  

East Village Shoe Repair is located at 1 St. Marks Place. This tiny place, crammed with goods, has been a cobbler’s shop since 1985. Boris Zuborev took it over with his nephew, Eugene Finkelberg, 14 years ago. Both hail from Belarus. They sell used footwear, customize sneakers and make shoes. From an article in The Villager: 

They also make cowboy boots, sandals and high heels. They’ll dye your pumps hot pink, spray-paint pictures on your sneakers or raise your heels up 17 inches. In the ’90s, one could witness Zuborev’s creations on the feet of certain well-known musicians and dancers. In his platform shoes, clubbers he designed for rose above others.

It’s a hole in the wall, the place itself showing little evidence of fine design. The yellow awning has been spray-painted green and white, and signs hang by old shoelaces. Graffiti surrounds the door. Industrial metal shelving stuffed with thick-soled boots, multicolored pumps, sneakers and roughed-up ballet slippers obscures the entrance.

The place gets rave reviews from customers who have purchased shoes or had customizations or repairs done. Perhaps one day I will try them for repair. I have purchased used/vintage clothing before, but as far as buying used shoes go, I'll pass for now. I can't help but think about the perspiration which may be entombed :)

Buzz and Bling

In France, I have seen lines to get into small restaurants which look empty. The first time I saw this I was quite puzzled. A little examination, however, revealed what every seasoned restaurant goer already knows - they were waiting for tables outside. Al fresco dining and the search for pleasant garden space is a quest made by diners around the world. In New York City, we are not blessed with very many pleasant streetside cafe spaces - see my posting here - Insult to Injury and this great New York Times article - Curbside, We'll Never Have Paris.
This is the time of year where many relish being outdoors, so, if you want a really pleasant al fresco meal insulated from the elements of urban assault, a back garden is the place to find. Often, these places are completely hidden from view - a front sign may or may not be present announcing the garden's existence. So for those of us who like urban adventure and the process of discovery, this is not the technique best employed. Better to do a bit of research prior to meal time.
In the case of The Waverly Inn and Garden, at 16 Bank Street, the garden has a side entrance visible from Waverly Street. The location is in the heart of prime West Village - one of the most charming and bucolic areas in the entire city of New York. I have written of this neighborhood several times before (see the links below).
Regarding the restaurant itself, I have not eaten there, but I enjoyed reading the reviews which range from 1 to 5 stars. If you want to have fun, read some of the 74 reviews here at Yelp.com. Apparently, this place is a magnet for the rich and famous and many of the very negative reviews reflect customer experiences with snobbery, service and attitude. On August 12, 2008, the New York times wrote an article - An Insiders’ Clubhouse (Apply at the Door). One of the owners is Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter - some have referred to the establishment as "Graydon’s private club."
The article speaks of the "combination of billionaires, movie stars, intellectuals and fashion designers, with a rock icon or sports legend thrown in" who frequent there. "There are still powerful folk who would rather dine uptown at the Four Seasons, Michael’s or Le Cirque. But for celebrity power deep enough to lure paparazzi night after night, few outposts in New York today rival the Waverly Inn."
This historic place exudes charm inside and out - for now it appears it's the got the buzz and bling :)

Related Posts: 121Charles, Grove Court, Cherry Lane Theater, The Garden at St. Lukes, 17 Grove Street, Paris In New York.

Time Has Come

Although there are some very outrageous participants in the annual Gay Pride Parade, most New Yorkers realize that like any other parade, the dress and manner of the paraders does not typify their everyday life they only represent a small number of the huge LGBT community - many members of the gay community do not participate at all.  Certainly there are members of any group who are flamboyant, but I always point out to those new to the parade that this is their day to act out, just like revelers on many other occasions. As the photos indicate, this is literally and figuratively a rainbow coalition.

The parade is enormous at this point in time - hundreds of thousands attend. The parade begins at 52nd Street and works its way down Fifth Avenue, ending in the West Village. There are floats, groups representing teachers, other professionals, civil servants, and politicians - members of the gay community or those with a strong support for their causes. Apart from the serious agenda, the event has an extremely festive character - it could easily be mistaken for a dance parade. The event is part of Gay Pride week - some of the photos are from Friday's Dyke Parade.

With much of the road already paved after decades of struggles, same sex marriage is one of the last important hurdles to the gay movement. The push for same sex marriage shows a serious interest in committed relationships - the passing of such laws should do much to stabilizing lifestyles and gaining greater acceptance by societies at large - the gay community's ultimate goal. 

Six states have already legalized same sex marriages (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire,Vermont) some currently being performed, others to begin in the near future. Ironically, New York State which is liberal with one of the largest numbers of gays in the United States, is lagging in passing its own legislation.  But I am sure it is just a question of how long for legislation whose time has come ...

Related Posts: Steal the Show, Dyke March, Rubyfruit Bar and Grill, Gay Liberation Monument, Pride March 2007, Gay Pride Parade 2006.

Michael Jackson

By now most of the world knows that the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, died yesterday afternoon in Los Angeles. By evening in New York City, spontaneous memorial music jams and sing-a-longs were everywhere.
At 10 PM I suggested to a few companions we make a trip to Union Square - always a mecca for events of this nature and magnitude. As expected, hundreds of fans had gathered - a boombox supplied music while a group sang Michael Jackson songs together. At one point, a white glove with sequins was passed through the group to one of the prominent singers.
Fans waved illuminated cellphones and candles. Here and there, some initiated small vigils. A similar but smaller scene could be found in Washington Square Park. On Laguardia Place and Bleecker Street there was crowd of singers that could be heard two blocks away. I was informed last night that a huge crowd gathered at the Apollo Theater in Harlem (confirmed by the press today), where Michael had performed many times as a member of the Jackson Five. I am sure in the coming days and weeks there will be numerous tributes and memorials, both planned and unplanned, in the theaters, streets and parks of New York City
With over 750 million records sold, Michael Jackson was the best selling solo pop artist of all time. Of course, anyone who looms larger than life as Jackson did will have his life under a microscope. Jackson was both lionized and demonized by the media, with his later life plagued and darkened by scandal. However, I think his work will outshine any darkness, leaving a legacy brighter than than shadow of his final years ...

Cosmetics

What is more unsettling than contact with a crustie? How about a crustie wearing a pet rat? (If you are not familiar with crusties, see my previous posting here). Take a close look at the photo and you will see that this girl is sporting a white rat under her hair on the back of her neck. A crustie's dreadlocks typically goes unwashed, so I imagine her hair provides not only a secluded spot for her companion but also a nesting ground for a variety of flora, fauna and other edibles. 

You expect many strange things in New York City - it is a magnet for the fringe elements of society. But there are things that shock even a seasoned New Yorker - for me, a crustie with a rat around her neck was one of them. 

People know the city is extremely liberal and most of all tolerant. There are individuals involved in all manner of activities in public - frequently, authorities and law enforcement just turn a blind eye. Two nights ago, two mounted police officers observed the onset of a fight with one individual wielding a guitar as a weapon. The officers left - no one knows why. The fight escalated and one individual was knocked unconscious, required an ambulance and was taken to a hospital. Those of us who witnessed the occurrence are convinced that in any other locale, there is no way someone that menacing would have been left unchecked.

One issue is, of course, that many activities that are disturbing or distasteful are technically not against the law and individuals here are brazen enough to have tested the law many times, risking arrest. Many criminals are quite street savvy and know exactly what is required to be arrested. Even those who are technically engaging in activities for which they can be arrested is a problem - most are released the next day and are back out on the street. My contact with crusties has been rather benign, but they have been a serious problem - see this New York Times article here.

But what to do with the "undesirables" or homeless? It would seem outreach programs would make sense, but I rarely see or hear of any efforts like this anymore. Many homeless prefer the freedom of the streets to shelters or programs, so there is resistance to being helped. 

New York City is a center of fashion and even the homeless often have a sense of style, putting together an outfit from whatever is available. I like our crustie's earpiece made from a small twig and flower ... 

Note: One posting that many readers commented on was about Stephanie, a young homeless woman who lived on Spring Street for quite some time. See the original article and photo here. I saw Stephanie using makeup a number of times - somewhat repellent to watch and sad but in another way heartening to see the girl still had human dignity and enough pride to make an effort using cosmetics.

New Yawk Style

I enjoy observing New Yorkers I see in public who make a strong presence - whether brash, eccentric or unusual in some way. However, drawing conclusions based on a few pieces of information can be dangerous - see my posting on Walid Soroor or Facts and Fiction.

There is a New York style and a New Yawk accent. This has been depicted in numerous characters of film and television. John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever is classic New York attitude and accent (in this case Brooklyn Italian) as are others like Fran Drescher (Queens) or journalist Jimmy Breslin.

The classic New York style is characterized by someone who is confident, tough, blase, brave, street smart, aggressive. Fierce borough pride. Regardless of gentrification or any other talk of improving conditions and reduction of crime, New York City is still a rough place. For a woman (or a man) who makes her way here - working, traveling the trains and walking the streets requires a certain intestinal fortitude and stoicism just learning to navigate and survive. 

On my trip to Coney Island Mermaid Parade, this woman and her friend caught my eye. She had a dash of all the classic elements of New Yawk style - her posture and attitude on the train speaks volumes. A real New Yawker's gotta have chutzpah ...

Note about the New Yawk accent: Also known as Brooklynese or New Yorkese, the accent consists of dropping r's (fatha for father), adding oi (like the classic Toidy Toid for Thirty Third), adding r's where they don't belong (erster for oyster), pronouncing "th" like "d" or "t" (through as trew or the as da). From the New York Times: "Tawk to a young New Yawkuh dese days and de foist ting you may notice is dat he aw she don't tawk like dis no maw." 

Many say the accent along with Yiddishisms (like shlemiel or oy-vay) is disappearing. 

Others say it is moving to the suburbs of New Jersey or Long Island. Some believe that NYC police officers are keeping it alive as a badge of honor. 

Related Postings: Out There, Spike, Narcissism Gone Wild, Superheroes, Snake Charmer, Circus Amok, Fashion Forward, Piercing Al Fresco.

Mermaid Parade 2009

This is the 2009 annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade. The weather was chilly and rainy, however the turnout was good and fun was had by all. This annual parade is one of the most enjoyable in New York City. The parade route includes the Coney Island boardwalk. The Atlantic ocean is a wonderful locale to view the creative costuming with a mermaid and start of summer theme. See the full gallery of photos here.

Photo Note: Make sure to click on photo to enlarge for detailed view!

Related Posts: Mermaid Parade 2006, Mermaid Parade 2007.

Summer

I have attended the annual Coney Island Mermaid Parade in 2006 and 2007, however I have missed the start of summer ritual. This is easy to miss, given all the festivities and lack of itemized agenda. The Mermaid Parade, this year on Saturday June 20, is a celebration ushering the summer season.
The ribbon cutting ceremony is an unannounced event occurring after the parade's completion. I always assumed it took place first. Wandering in the parade's aftermath along 10th street (abutting the Cyclone) I fortuitously bumped into the small procession headed to the beach led by Harvey Keitel playing King Neptune (seen in the center of the photo) and Queen Mermaid, bearers of fruit, a small entourage of followers, photographers and security. Excited by my good fortune, I quickly joined the party.
Four ribbons, each symbolizing a season, are setup and cut in sequence - Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer. The final cutting of the Summer ribbon starts the season. Baskets of fruit are thrown into the ocean to appease the gods. A mechanical thermometer was placed in the ocean showing a rise in temperature of 110 degrees. The hearty members in the crowd entered the ocean - particularly daunting this year - Saturday's weather was uncooperative, cool and raining on and off all day. The previous two years were bright and sunny. From a photographer's perspective, however, cloudy days actually provide better lighting conditions - harsh shadows are greatly reduced and colors really pop.
But the Parade and festivities for this event march on rain or shine - the summer solstice or Mermaids are not daunted by a little rain :)

NOTE: Tomorrow I will feature the parade itself with a full gallery of photos with video.

Related Posts: Mermaid Parade 2006, Mermaid Parade 2007.

Sheepshead Bay

The problem is simple - I have spent too much time looking for the Manhattan in Brooklyn. My travels there focused on neighborhoods like Park Slope or Brooklyn Heights - historic enclaves with row houses most similar to those in Manhattan.  

One will often hear a Brooklynite use the phrase "going into the city" - one of the prime examples of a city which is Manhattan-centric. In many ways, Manhattan does drive the city as an economic engine and is a mecca for culture and the arts. It is center of the financial world and many other industries for which New York City is known. However, Manhattan is not the only place on earth, with Brooklyn playing second fiddle - an attitude many Manhattanites share as I did for most of my life here.

Welcome to Sheepshead Bay, both a neighborhood and a bay separating the mainland of Brooklyn from the peninsula Manhattan Beach (see my previous article here). Sheepshead Bay is named for the sheepshead, an edible fish once found in the bay. Read more about the neighborhood here.

On my recent excursion to the area, I crossed the footbridge (Ocean Beach Bridge) which spans the bay and connects Manhattan Beach to Sheepshead Bay's commercial strip - Emmons Avenue. It is here that I also found Stella Maris, the last fishing and tackle shop in the area. The bridge is a must do - it affords great vistas of the bay, both neighborhoods and the maritime activities. See my gallery of photos here.

I think differently now. Brooklyn is steeped in character and history. Brooklyn has its own style and attitude. I am disappointed that I didn't take better advantage of Brooklyn and really explore it when younger and I had a few good friends there. 

But I am doing makeup work, busy discovering the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and learning things every Brooklynite always knew - Brooklyn is its own world.

Chefs and Plumbers

Trades in America are largely devalued, however, as big an advocate as I am of higher education, not every one is suited for white collar jobs and someone has to do the plumbing. Clerks, drivers, and service jobs cannot all be filled with college students and immigrants, and I am not sure such a world would be desirable. And these jobs cannot be outsourced or automated.
In New York City, complaints have been made about taxi drivers for time immemorial. The problem is that this job there is no serious training for this job. The test for a taxi license is laughable - virtually anyone that can drive can get a license. In London, for example, a cabdriver candidate must complete two years of full-time study. I am fascinated by Les Compagnons, French trade guilds dating back to the Middle Ages. See a New York Times article on the Compagnons here.
Many find the level of craftsmanship in the New York deplorable - stories abound regarding the poor workmanship in jobs done. Many have horror stories of their own. The problem is that many individuals doing blue collar work are not trained or poorly trained. The workers are not professionals, as is the case with many waiters, where the work is done by those who are pursuing other life goals, careers or perhaps feel they have no better options.
None of this is the case at the French Culinary Institute, located in SoHo at 462 Broadway. This extraordinary school provides an intense training in the culinary arts on a par with schools in Europe - many of the faculty and deans are European trained, renowned chefs. The school offers a very broad spectrum of classes - see a short video overview of the school at their website here.
Employment needs are often cyclical. As need develops for a given skill set, people train for those opportunities. Often, an over supply develops with shortages in other fields. I often speculated that skill tradespeople may see their time come in a world where manual labor is looked down upon and everyone trains for white collar work. I have often joked that in a world full of web developers, plumbers may rule.
I love the scene in the film Moonstruck, where we have revenge of the tradesman. A couple, needing bathroom work done and lacking knowledge about construction, are persuaded by contractor Cosmo Castorini to buy the most expensive solution:

"There are three kinds of pipe. There's aluminum, which is garbage. There's bronze, which is pretty good, unless something goes wrong. And something always goes wrong. Then, there's copper, which is the only pipe I use. It costs money. It costs money because it saves money."

The future of technology rapidly evolves - who knows what future generations will need and where the jobs may lie? But most likely, there will always be a need for chefs and plumbers :)

Photo Note: This shot was taken on Grand Street where French Culinary students are on a break from classes. The site of so many chefs in classic white uniforms on this street is quite startling. The school also runs a highly regarded restaurant - L'Ecole, located at street level at the same address.

Makes Me Stronger

Generally speaking, steps are a means to an end, not an end in itself. But this is New York City, where the minutiae of life are often elevated to iconic status. New York is the most densely populated city in the United States, and Manhattan, being an island, is a place where every square inch is examined, coveted, utilized and maximized. So when you have a place as important as the Metropolitan Museum of Art that occupies so much space, you know it will loom much larger than life in every way. 

The Met is the largest museum in the Western Hemisphere with over 5 million visitors per year - that's a lot of foot traffic. Add to the formula one of the best locations in the city (Fifth Avenue and Central Park) with an enormous set of steps and what you get is the stoop of all stoops - the ideal perch or porch for relaxing and/or the watching of people and performers. The steps are legendary and a sunny Sunday afternoon here is a classic way for a New Yorker or visitor to pass some very enjoyable time.

For the performing artist, the streets are an ideal venue to hone his or her skills. Many well known entertainers have worked the streets and these steps early in their career. The streets, subways and parks are ready for immediate work - no agents or bookings required. Of course it is rough and tumble battling the competition, weather, ambient noise, hecklers, property owners, neighborhood residents and law enforcement. Those who can weather these elements become much stronger performers - they have learned to earn and hold spectators against adverse conditions - no captive audience here.

I once introduced a much younger coworker to a variety of country music including some very old recordings of Roy Acuff from the 1930s. This coworker was a very open minded and tolerant musician, but I feared this genre, particularly Acuff, might be trying his patience, so I asked him if listening to this music was too irritating. He responded with a smile: "Don't worry, it just makes me stronger." So it is with the steps of the Met - for museum patrons or stoop sitters, it can be a stairway to heaven; for performers it is a place that just makes them stronger :)

Related articles: Street Magic, Artiste Extraordinaire.

Krishna Festival 2009

Saturday was the annual Krishna festival. See my gallery of photos here. For complete information regarding the religious movement and its origins. see my 2007 article and photos here. Whether you are an adherent to Gaudiya Vaishnavism or a believer in Krishna or Vishnu, it is no matter - you can still enjoy this festival. The recruitment efforts by the members of the Krishna organization is extremely low key.
The pageantry is big here - colors, dress and chariots. There is also food and entertainment. The music and chanting reaches a fervor - members of the group becoming highly animated.
The event is part of the Festival of India North American tour - see their website here. In New York City, the chariot parade works its way down Fifth Avenue, terminating in Washington Square Park where a stage and the various booths are set up for the afternoon. It is a festival of color ...

Math Midway

A Math Midway - what a wonderful concept - "an interactive, hands-on tour of a variety of exciting and surprising mathematical ideas, principles, games, and activities. The individual exhibits within the show will will be presented with a midway/carnival style, and generally concern mathematics related to an event or activity you can find in a typical carnival, fair, or circus setting."

The exhibits had clever names and tag lines such as the Mysterious Harmonigraph - be hypnotized by "Harmonics; Organ Function Grinder - Make Math the Most of your mind"; "Universal Wheel of Chance - Do you think the odds are even?"; "Ring of Fire - Illuminate the secret shapes within"; "Mathematical Monkey Mat - It's so great to tessellate"; and the huge centerpiece to the street midway - "Pedal on the Petals - There's a road for every wheel!", where children rode tricycles with square wheels on a circular track with catenary curves - the combination giving a smooth ride. See a video of it here. With the Organ Function Grinder you "Grab a number ticket, set the three dials, and create your own function. Each step of the function transforms your number. Can you hear the transformations in the music, too? Turn the crank to compute your value and hear your tune."

The Math Midway was beautifully put together in a weaving of colors, demonstrations, performances, signs, brochures, ideas and people.

The Math Midway was part of the World Science Festival Street Fair, which was held Sunday, June 14 around Washington Square. This was the last day of the 2nd annual World Science Festival, a five-day science extravaganza with programs scheduled throughout the city. The festival was an immediate success its first year, with sold out events. Participants not only included science luminaries and Nobel laureates, but also stars of theatre, music, dance, film, journalism and the media. The opening gala at Lincoln Center featured the likes of YoYo Ma, Joshua Bell, Alan Alda, Michael Hogan and Glenn Close. Co-founder Brian Greene is a Professor of Physics and Mathematics at Columbia University. He is recognized for a number of groundbreaking discoveries in superstring theory. His books are widely read: The Elegant Universe, was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. 

Our mission is to cultivate and sustain a general public informed by the content of science, inspired by its wonder, convinced of its value, and prepared to engage with its implications for the future. From the WSF website:

The World Science Festival, an unprecedented annual tribute to imagination, ingenuity and inventiveness, takes science out of the laboratory and into the streets, theaters, museums, and public halls of New York City, making the esoteric understandable and the familiar fascinating.

This was a huge event - for more information, see their website here and the Math Midway website here.

I would suggest putting this on your calendar for next year and getting tickets for ... well in advance. 

Full Disclosure - Much like the investment advisor who must disclose their holdings, I must confess a love of science and particularly math, which was my favorite subject in school :)

Manhattan Beach

This is New York City, not colonial Virginia. I was astounded on my recent excursion to the Manhattan Beach section of Brooklyn, which I had never really explored. This stately home is typical of many of the large residences in the area, most detached single family homes with lawns and garages, some even with swimming pools. See my gallery of photos here. The environment feels more suburban than urban - atypical of New York City and unlike most of Brooklyn itself.
Surrounded by water on three sides, the neighborhood is very much an enclave and one of the most expensive in New York City. Many residents are Jewish and/or Russian immigrants. There is very little shopping in the neighborhood and on weekends and holidays during the summer season (May 15 to Sept. 15), parking is prohibited on nearly all Manhattan Beach streets, owing to the attraction of the beach. I found the expanse of rocky beach reminiscent of the Maine coast, certainly not New York.
Manhattan Beach Park offers a baseball field, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball and handball courts, picnic areas and rest rooms. Snacks are available from concession stands and pushcarts.
Another very unique aspect of the neighborhood is that Kingsborough Community College, with a 70 acre campus and their own private beach, occupies the Easternmost tip of the peninsula. The school, established in 1963, is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system and has 30,000 students.
I recommend a visit of the area, perhaps with Sheepshead Bay as a base for your explorations (subject of a future post). A footbridge crosses the bay, providing nice vistas and a connection to Manhattan Beach ...

The Guggenheim

What I find most fascinating about a place like the Guggenheim Museum is that it stands as a supreme example of how virtually anything can be defended, praised or condemned intelligently with words. Conflicting arguments abound about works of architecture, art, film, music, dance etc. I once asked an architect after seeing a particularly hideous structure, what she would make of a building which every lay person hated but was lauded by architecture critics? The answer she gave - "then architecture is a failure." 

I have cited examples in this blog of things which have become iconic in spite of their being considered an abomination by many at the time of completion, such as the Eiffel Tower. The Guggenheim is one of those places - time has softened those aspects that perhaps have offended many.

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1959 is considered one of the city's major architectural landmarks. It is located on in Manhattan's Upper East Side at 89th Street and Fifth Avenue, overlooking Central Park. Second photo here. It houses Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, early Modern, and contemporary art. The collection was seeded by Solomon Guggenheim, an art collector whose foundation funded the establishment of the museum.

The building, which looks like a stacked white ribbon, was extremely controversial at the time of its completion. Inside, the main gallery is a helical spiral, rising from the ground level to the top, crowned with a skylit rotunda. Here are some of the conflicting reviews as reported in Time Magazine in 1959:

"A war between architecture and painting, in which both come out badly maimed," declared Art Critic John Canaday on Page One of the New York Times; "The most beautiful building in America," retorted Critic Emily Genauer in the New York Herald Tribune. "A building that should be put in a museum to show how mad the 20th Century is," editorialized the New York Daily Mirror. "Mr. Wright's greatest building, New York's greatest building." said Architect Philip Johnson, "one of the greatest rooms of the 20th century." "Frank has really done it," snapped one artist. "He has made painting absolutely unimportant." 

The criticisms revolve around several aspects of the building. One is that the museum design is a distraction from the art itself. The sloping ramp provides no level base for a viewer's reference. The small exhibition rooms off the main spiral are small and windowless - the walls are angled and make hanging paintings difficult. Prior to its opening, twenty-one artists, including Willem de Kooning signed a letter protesting the display of their work in the museum. Wright replied that the old rectilinear frame of reference was "a coffin for the spirit" and admonished them to wait and see. Paintings were to be tilted backward, "as on the artist's easel." Wright had proposed "one great space on a continuous floor." "An atmosphere of the unbroken wave—no meeting of the eye with angular or abrupt changes of form."

When the building opened, Robert Moses said that it looked like "an inverted oatmeal dish." Wright retorted: "It's going to make the Metropolitan Museum look like a Protestant barn." Others referred to it as a "snail," "an indigestible hot cross bun" or "a washing machine."

Snails, barns, coffins, oatmeal dishes, washing machines, ribbons, unbroken waves - The Guggenheim. 

Secret Discovery

On my first trip alone to New York City with a friend, I recall some mutual back patting of how in traveling without a group, we were able to avoid the touristy and eat in a place which was our own secret discovery. The place? Nathan's at Times Square. Rather hilarious looking back on it, but being older has not entirely eliminated naivete.

I "discovered" this unique building standing alone like a haunted mansion on a hill at 3rd Street and 3rd Avenue in Brooklyn. Silly in retrospect - how could anyone miss this anomaly on a major thoroughfare? No one has. I have read no less than two dozen articles on this building which not only stands as a beacon to passersby but also is the center of controversy. 

The surrounding property (but not the building itself) was purchased in 2005 by Whole Foods Market from Richard Kowalski who still owns the 2 1/2 story Italianate building at 360 Third Avenue Street near the Gowanus Canal. The Whole Foods project has been stalled for a number of reasons, including discovery that the property, a floodplain, had toxic ...

I found a tremendous amount of misinformation about this property as bits and pieces of facts were cobbled together over the recent years. I believe its history has at last been clarified.

The building, built by Edwin Clark Litchfield in 1872-3, became important as the part of the history of concrete in America. The New York and Long Island Coignet Stone Company Building was landmarked in 2006. 

François Coignet was a pioneer in development of structural and reinforced concrete. In the late 1860s, A group of Americans trained in Coignet’s techniques in France brought his patents to Brooklyn. From the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission website in 2006:

The building originally was part of the New York and Long Island Coignet Stone Company, a five-acre factory complex near the Gowanus Canal that manufactured Coignet -- or artificial --stone, a type of concrete invented by Francois Coignet in Paris in the 1850s. The factory supplied the arches and clerestory windows in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, the ornamental details for the Cleft Ridge Span in Prospect Park and the building materials for the first stages of construction at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History.

Made entirely of concrete, the 25-by-40 foot rectangular structure was built to showcase the durability and versatility of Coignet’s inventive product, also known as “Béton (French for concrete) Coignet.” The company was reorganized and renamed the New York Stone Contracting Company in the mid-1870s, and continued to manufacture Coignet stone until 1882. Shortly after, the building housed the office of the Brooklyn Improvement Company, which was instrumental in Brooklyn’s residential and commercial development during the 19th and 20th centuries.

I hope you get a chance to make a secret discovery of this property yourself, if you get a chance to pass by :)

Note: The building has often been referred to as the Pippin building - it once housed offices for Pippin, a radiator distribution company.

Please Be Gentle

Yesterday, June 8, 2009 was the highly awaited grand opening of the High Line. All the top officials in city government were there for the ribbon cutting - Mayor Bloomberg; Amanda M. Burden, the city planning commissioner; Adrian Benepe, the parks commissioner; Scott M. Stringer, Manhattan borough president and City Council speaker, Christine C. Quinn.

This project was in the making for 20 years. The idea to save and restore the abandoned elevated freight railroad was first conceived in 1999 by Joshua David, a writer, and Robert Hammond, a painter. The project, named the High Line, broke ground in 2006 and is now an elevated park, converted from a section of the West Side Line, built in the 1930s by the New York Central Railroad and unused since 1980. The railroad actually passed through several buildings - evidence of this still exists. See my entire photo collection here.

The greenway is similar to the Promenade Plantée in Paris, a 4.5 km-long elevated park in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, France, constructed on an abandoned 19th-century railway viaduct. The High Line consists of three sections - the southernmost currently open runs from Gansevoort Street in the West Village to 20th Street. Upon completion, the entire park will extend to 34th Street.

Over 30 projects are planned along its route, such as a new branch of the Whitney Museum of American Art, designed by Renzo Piano.

The design itself is the most artfully created public space I have seen in New York City. The High Line was designed by landscape firm Field Operations and architects Diller Scofidio and Renfro. 

Yesterday's "soft" opening was pleasant with a small number of visitors. Once its opening is generally know, there is a concern of overuse - the design work is beautiful but delicate and rather fragile. The parkway is only 30 to 60 feet wide. If necessary, entry to the park maybe limited. I recommend visiting - please be gentle ...

Urban Mitts

Cats have been known to fall from as high as a 32 story building and survive in a phenomenon known as high-rise syndrome. I can't say that this is the reason for the broken glass in the photo, but it does afford an opportunity to introduce this to this website. I don't anticipate being at the exact moment in time to photograph an event like this and I do not intend to post photos of maimed or dead cats.
Cats love high places. Factor in their curious nature and inevitably you will end up with cats, as astute and agile as they are, falling from apartment buildings for one reason or another.
Remarkably, cats do routinely survive enormous drops. One factor is cat righting reflex, an innate ability which allows a cat that has fallen to reorient itself in order to land on its feet. Popular lore has it that cats actually do better from falls of over 6 stories. It has been proposed that this is the case because cats reach terminal velocity after 5 stories and relax and flatten themselves, much like a flying squirrel, thereby minimizing injury.
One study often cited is from the Animal Medical Center in 1987. There were 132 cases of high-rise syndrome (average height of fall was 5.5 stories) with a 90 percent survival rate.
However romantically attractive the notion of cats faring better from higher falls is, as Cecil Adams points out in the Straight Dope, the big flaw in all of this is that cats that don't survive are not reported or brought into a veterinarian's office or animal hospital. His thinking was confirmed by a conversation with Dr. Michael Garvey - head of the medical department and current expert on "high-rise syndrome" at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. A study from Croatia from 1998 to 2001 confirms that cats falling from greater heights suffered more severe injuries.
So much for urban mitts :)

A Personal Experience: I once came home to a note on my building that my cat had jumped and been taken to the vet in my absence. I have many birds who frequent my windows and I had seen him highly animated on numerous occasions - my theory is that my cat was able to force open a window left slightly open to get to the bird, attacked and flew off the A/C unit. He was taken the the Animal Medical Center and he did survive.

Comin Up Comin Up

Before the hegemony of the Korean green grocers, there were far fewer dealers of produce in New York City. And then, as now, many immigrants did the heavy lifting in this city. This was the case in the 1970s on Greenwich Avenue near Avenue of the Americas where there was a very prominent fruit and vegetable store run by Arabic men. As immigrants are inclined to do, these men had acquired a smattering of American colloquialisms, patched together to make what they thought was the salesman's perfect proverbial call to action. So a passerby was often subjected to their pitch: "Comin up Comin up. Strawberry. Three for a dollar. Who can believe it." Hear my impression here. Ironic, because of course nothing was being prepared and hence nothing really was really "comin up." And often, given the quality of the strawberries, three for a dollar was easy to believe.

Their intonation and sense of urgency was a great source of amusement for many of us at the time and I have recounted this story to many close friends who now find opportunity at every moment possible to inject "comin up comin up" or "who can believe it" into any situation where it can possibly be justified - there are many, many moments in daily life where either phrase can be easily worked in.

But where to use such a story for a photoblog of New York? These men and their fruit stand will not be resurrected. So this experience has been filed away in the recesses of my mind, waiting for an opportunity.

Fast forward one week ago to a street fair on Waverly Place. As I walked by a seller of watermelon in cups, the man behind the table barked "Watermelon. Two dollar. Helloooooo!" Hear my version here. The use of Hello with an elongated "o" is recent slang, similar in meaning to "wake up and smell the coffee."

So there it was - the perfect analog in our time and place to "comin up comin up." And as I pulled out my camera, the vendor happily obliged and volunteered a smile with two fingers for two dollars.

So if you think you recognize me around town and see me walking towards you, you now have the secret password. Just say "commin up commin up" and I'll be sure to respond "Who can believe it!" :)

Free Laura and Euna

Last night I unexpectedly encountered this scene under Washington Square Park's arch. Something important was obviously afoot with the small crowd standing in the rain and speakers making statements from a small impromptu stage. Major networks were present filming and conducting interviews.

The flyers, speakers, posters and sign "Free Laura and Euna" quickly illuminated the reason for the gathering. This was New York City's vigil to bring attention to two American journalist who have been detained in North Korea since March 17, 2009 and stand trial today, June 4th.

The two journalists, Chinese American Laura Ling and Korean American Euna Lee, were captured by the North Korean government and charged with illegal entry of North Korea with "hostile intent." Working for Current TV (a network co-founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore), the women had entered China to interview North Korean refugees along the Tumen River, separating China and North Korea. Little is known about the precise details regarding their activities and alleged crossing into North Korea - the two women have been in solitary confinement since their arrest and have not been permitted contact with the outside world.

If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison doing hard labor. Some say North Korea will use the women's release as a bargaining chip. The incident is particularly frightening as North Korean prisons have a reputation for torture and brutal treatment of inmates. Families, friends, government officials and the public remain hopeful for the release of Laura and Euna Lee and their return to the United States ...

Five Dollars

As far as money goes, New Yorker's are like most other Americans - they like a deal and FREE screams loudest to them. 

People at trade shows collect enormous numbers of brochures they will never read or wait in huge lines for premiums and freebees worth virtually nothing. I have seen adult men and women practically brawl over free T-Shirts thrown into an audience at a Macworld convention.

With free food it is even worse. At the Japan Festival in Central Park on Sunday, people were in lines hundreds deep, waiting in the hot sun for free noodles or a free dumpling. 

When it comes to tunnels, bridges and other roadway tolls, many seasoned New Yorkers consider it a matter of principle and a source of pride to avoid paying a toll. Ironically, in most other ways, New Yorkers spend huge amounts of money for conveniences - prices for items at a green grocer can be substantially more for identical items at a supermarket a few extra steps away. There are endless examples of this behavior. Yet put the same people behind the wheel of a car and give them the option to wait in horrendous traffic to avoid paying a toll and they will. 

If you are coming from the outlying neighborhoods of Brooklyn by car, you will most likely use the Belt Parkway or Prospect Expressway and then a leg of the Gowanus Expressway. If you are heading to Manhattan, you have a big life altering decision to make - do you take the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel for FIVE DOLLARS or cram into the bumper to bumper traffic on the BQE (Brooklyn Queens Expressway) and take one of the bridges for FREE?

By now the answer is obvious, n'est-ce pas? Any self respecting New Yorker takes the free road and save five dollars (perhaps to spend it whimsically soon after at Starbucks). Admittedly, five dollars is quite a bit of money for a short tunnel ride, however anyone driving a car into Manhattan is already indulging in a luxury that most can not afford, so why not spend five dollars and go in style?

These were my thoughts on Saturday evening when, coming back from my adventures in Brooklyn after an exhausting day of driving, I decided to do the unthinkable and spend five dollars for the tunnel experience. It was extraordinary. The highway spur to the tunnel (top photo) and the tunnel itself (bottom photo) were virtually empty. 

I was back in Manhattan in a few short minutes, while thousands jammed onto the BQE. Of course, many of these travelers were not headed to Manhattan, but trust me on this - if there were no toll for that tunnel, I would have had plenty of company. And, of course, an extra five dollars ...

Photo note: Against better judgement, these photos were taken one-handed while driving. Camera shake, shutter speed, aperture - no time for these considerations. After spending $5, I was feeling rather reckless anyway :)

Cello Class

Some years ago I fancied to learn the cello. New York City has some of the finest music schools in the country and they all offer alumni lists of musicians ready, willing and able to teach (at very reasonable prices). So, it was with this in mind that I found a great teacher/professional cellist, walking distance from my home to teach me. This woman was both a Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music graduate and had extensive performing and teaching experience, both privately and in a well respected school for children.
I was, however, somewhat remiss in my studies, barely getting through the lesson material each week. Learning a classical stringed instrument as an adult is a daunting task - practicing as I did at night after a day's work. On one particular lesson, my instructor was getting rather frustrated with me. She asked what a particular note was as she placed a finger one of her strings. I said I did not know. She then asked, if one knew a note on one string (she gave an example), what was the note on a neighboring string? I did not know. Backtracking further, she then asked what was the interval between the strings on a cello? Embarrassed and panicked I just said I did not know that either (answer - one fifth apart).
At this point she said - "If you were one of my student children, I would insist that you learn this material. However, being that you are an adult, I strongly recommend you learn it, unless you would rather pay me $25 per hour to learn in class what you should be doing at home."
This story came to mind on Sunday afternoon, as I strolled down the tree-canopied sidewalk on Fifth Avenue, flanked on one side by some of the finest residential buildings in the world and abutting Central Park on the other side - a walk here is one of the most extraordinarily beautiful, bucolic, genteel experiences you will ever have in this city. The extra-wide pathway is shaded by mature trees, arching overhead to form a tunnel of green. Dappled light falls on the cobblestone and hexagonal pavers.
If you were one of my children, I would insist that on the next warm sunny day you accompany me as we promenade down Fifth Avenue. But since you are not one of my children, but an adult, I strongly recommend that you do this, unless you just want to read about this now, when you should be doing your life lessons outside of class :)

Photo Note: The photo was taken between 94th and 95th Street. The stretch between 96th and 89th Streets is one of the quietest on Fifth Avenue. Parades do not go north of 86th Street. It becomes much busier starting at 89th Street (location of the Guggenheim Museum) followed by the Metropolitan Museum of Art at 82nd Street.

Related Postings: Free Lunch, Cello, Bargemusic.