tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-115405242011-09-08T04:07:55.131-04:00Random Things That Interest Me (by a Resident of NYC)annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.comBlogger1451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-59071077161520154122011-09-07T00:07:00.001-04:002011-09-07T00:07:52.761-04:00

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-2109342120585135902011-03-18T10:43:00.001-04:002011-03-18T10:43:01.377-04:00

Get a taste of the latest in fully loaded flavor efficiency. Just grab a bowl and hold onto your spoon, because this breakfast cereal will put you in the fast lane to fruit flavor! Sign up to taste drive a sample at Touch of Fruit.

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-47981188154223151452010-06-25T13:17:00.000-04:002010-06-25T13:17:26.957-04:00

I've read great reviews of the movie called, simply, Babies. I don't have any babies myself, but as a film fan, I can't wait to see it. Here are some of the comments: If you are one of my friends who enjoys entering contests and sweepstakes, you might want to take a look at the photo competition sponsored by the film.

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-21370806784270498542010-04-24T19:21:00.004-04:002010-04-24T19:25:58.480-04:00

The premiere of My Own Love Song was held at the Borough of Manhattan Community College Performing Arts Center. The curb was lined with limousines and police vehicles and a red carpet was at the entrance; so were the photographers, hundreds of them elbowing each other out of the way to get the perfect shot, all shouting out instructions to the stars who posed and smiled. "Forrest, this way!

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-19237065446297892442010-04-22T07:51:00.001-04:002010-04-22T07:52:05.293-04:00

The Tribeca Film Festival has started. Now in its ninth year, the Festival brings hundreds of films and thousands of film industry professionals (and wanna-bes) to New York City for two hectic weeks of screenings, special events and photo ops. If you are in New York at this time of year, it is hard to ignore the Festival: Banners are hung from lampposts, local newspapers feature it in front-page

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-46709576043348415082010-04-16T16:30:00.020-04:002010-04-16T21:21:17.178-04:00

Since I'm relaunching this as a different type of blog, I've decided to join the Ultimate Blog Party 2010. Yeah, as usual, I'm late to the party - but not too late (I hope). The Ultimate Blog Party 2010 is being hosted by Janice and Susan, the twin bloggers who run 5 Minutes for Mom, and is a virtual party celebrating online friendships. In case you are wondering, no, I am not a mother. But

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-10622302800868067092010-04-16T13:33:00.000-04:002010-04-16T13:33:20.060-04:00

This blog started out as Blather From Brooklyn. A couple of years ago I moved all the content to a different version of Blather From Brooklyn on WordPress and this little blog has been idle. Now it is time to give this blog a new title, a new purpose and a new life. Here's to new starts!

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-28801950004759864742009-11-17T09:23:00.002-05:002010-04-16T16:14:24.097-04:00

I never use it. Should I keep it or delete it? I'll have to ponder the question.

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1170632620640226752007-02-04T18:27:00.000-05:002007-02-05T08:58:17.423-05:00

For the past few weeks, I've been experiencing problems with blogger.com. Blogger.com is notorious for their lack of customer support and I've finally reached the point where enough is enough.Blather From Brooklyn is moving.Please visit my new home - http://blatherfrombrooklyn.wordpress.com/.If you have bookmarked this site, please update your links.Thanks for dropping by and I hope to see you

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1168538589164018662007-01-11T12:08:00.000-05:002007-02-05T08:43:09.036-05:00

In its newly published annual best-of-the-world guide, international travel expert Lonely Planet has named Brooklyn as a top tourist destination.Brooklyn? Honestly?Yep, to the astonishment of many native New Yorkers, Lonely Planet's "Blue List: The Best in Travel 2007" says, "Brooklyn's booming. Any New Yorker worth their street cred knows the new downtown lies just across the East River."The

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1168186445018677942007-01-06T22:18:00.000-05:002007-01-08T11:12:29.686-05:00

Some thought it was frightening, others found it delightful, but all agreed that a 72 degree (22 C) day in January was astonishing. On a date that normally demands hats, gloves, mufflers and heavy overcoats, New Yorkers ventured out in t-shirts, shorts and sandals. If not for the bare branches overhead, this could have been mistaken for a day in May. Since the unseasonably warm weather came on

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167963882942093272007-01-05T23:30:00.000-05:002007-01-08T11:30:19.733-05:00

It isn't just something your teachers said; in Brooklyn, even vandals know that correct spelling and punctuation are important.These notes appeared inside the Flushing Avenue IND subway station on a poster for Cedric the Entertainer's new movie, Code Name: The Cleaner.Thoe's are real "Those" - You can't spell Code Name: The CleanerNYC Subway: IND Crosstown, Flushing Avenue Station Reporter: G

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167969202836754342007-01-04T22:50:00.000-05:002007-01-05T15:16:11.103-05:00

Tonight they changed the sign on the marquee at the Brooklyn Heights Cinema. The hoiday season is now officially over. Happy Holidays - Watch More Movies Cinema Treasures: Brooklyn Heights Cinema

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167963836144048052007-01-03T21:22:00.000-05:002007-01-05T15:17:32.413-05:00

No one would ever mistake a New York City subway station for Rockefeller Center, but if you know where to look, seasonal decorations can be found underground.The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) doesn't decorate the subways (not that anyone would expect them to do so) but they don't forbid holiday decor, either. The only official policy is a prohibition against anything that would

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167714017608893622007-01-02T21:48:00.000-05:002007-01-02T21:16:25.860-05:00

I thought these New York Police Department officers on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street looked as though they were posing for photographs, so I took a few. These members of the NYPD are standing in front of the main branch of the New York Public Library. This would have been a very bad moment for anyone to try stealing a few books. NYPD at Fifth Avenue & 42nd Street  Police officers

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167568110569848522006-12-30T23:20:00.000-05:002007-01-04T00:44:22.173-05:00

Tonight, a minor commotion occurred outside the Burger King on 14th Street. A statuesque woman emerged from the restaurant and was immediately surrounded by people screaming, shouting and begging for autographs.Leaning against the front window, New York Liberty Guard Loree Moore graciously signed napkins, menus and scraps of paper and posed for photos with her fans. A star athlete eating burgers?

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167411920669323122006-12-26T22:00:00.000-05:002007-01-02T03:08:56.153-05:00

If you've spent any time in New York City, you know that clean, free public restrooms are almost nonexistent. And in midtown Manhattan, site of some of the busiest streets in the world, relief is frustratingly elusive.However, in a brilliant marriage of public service and promotion, on November 20th Procter & Gamble's Charmin brand toilet paper opened a public restroom in the heart of Times

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167411464265699662006-12-23T23:53:00.000-05:002007-01-02T03:04:15.083-05:00

European-style outdoor holiday markets are a relatively new phenomenon in New York City. In recent years these temporary marketplaces have appeared in several areas around Manhattan including Union Square (the oldest), Columbus Circle (the newest), the cafe at St. Bartholomew's Church (the smallest) and Bryant Park (the most centrally-located).Now in its fifth year, the holiday market at Bryant

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167321493745554052006-12-20T20:28:00.000-05:002006-12-29T02:07:22.356-05:00

"Look, it cannot be seen — it is beyond form. Listen, it cannot be heard — it is beyond sound. Grasp, it cannot be held — it is intangible. These three are indefinable; therefore they are joined in one."- Tao Te Ching, Chapter 14First identified by Chinese philosophers 3,000 years ago, Tao is "the infinitely powerful force containing the truth and existing before the world was created" —

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1167319593464904532006-12-19T23:22:00.000-05:002006-12-28T12:20:33.196-05:00

Over the past decade it has become a holiday tradition: late in November, the air is filled with the sounds of saws and hammers as red and white striped tents are hoisted, tiny lights and boughs of greenery are draped over fountains, lampposts and statues, and the southern section of Union Square is transformed into a bustling Holiday Marketplace. Now in its 11th year, Union Square Holiday Market

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1166990047843366432006-12-17T23:23:00.000-05:002006-12-24T15:09:15.266-05:00

Cadman Plaza is the closest thing to a "town square" in the borough of Brooklyn. Named for the Reverend Dr. Samuel Parkes Cadman, an early 20th-century Brooklyn minister, the Plaza is located on Court Street at the border of two historic neighborhoods: Brooklyn Heights and Downtown Brooklyn.If you live in Brooklyn for any length of time, you will surely have to pass through Cadman Plaza to take

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1166371565856576852006-12-16T20:05:00.000-05:002006-12-17T11:44:49.493-05:00

Today this sign was posted on the font doors of the Iglesia Antioquia, a Pentecostal church on Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue.Sign on church door  

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1166936712750656602006-12-14T19:58:00.000-05:002006-12-24T15:48:44.086-05:00

Originally known as the PamAm Building, the 58-story MetLife Building is adjacent to Grand Central Terminal. During the holiday season, the building hosts a series of free concerts by high schools from the surrounding region. I was passing through the lobby today when this group, which was visiting the city from Connecticut's Stamford High School, began a performance that included songs about

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1166134193603091162006-12-14T17:01:00.000-05:002006-12-16T13:24:45.736-05:00

This afternoon, on my way to catch the 1 train, I ducked into the Duane Reade drugstore at the corner of Broadway and 50th Street to buy a roll of tape.As I stepped through the entrance, I nearly tripped over a man who was fiddling with wires leading to a large speaker on the floor. The man adjusted the connection, shifted the speaker and a clear, high voice surged through.Going inside, I

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1165500335393264382006-12-04T23:35:00.000-05:002006-12-08T14:25:13.216-05:00

New York is filled with famous, glamorous people leading exciting, glittering lives. I'm not one of them. However, on rare occasions, I manage to find myself in their midst. This evening was one of those times.Tonight Marie Claire magazine held a cocktail reception and screening of the new adventure film "Blood Diamond." The screening was followed by a discussion featuring Brooklyn native and

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1165496009200745672006-12-03T19:50:00.000-05:002006-12-08T13:55:44.530-05:00

This weekend the Small Press Center, a non-profit educational organization for independent publishers, sponsored its 19th annual Independent and Small Press Book Fair. A program of the General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York, the Small Press Center serves those "driven primarily by a desire to publish what interests them, what they believe in" regardless of whether or

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1165374152814574302006-12-02T22:27:00.000-05:002006-12-06T15:32:30.986-05:00

At this time of year I'm always of two minds regarding midtown Manhattan: I'm anxious to see the fabulous, elaborate holiday decorations but I also want to stay far away from the hectic, bustling crowds that overflow the shops and stores and make the sidewalks impassable. This evening I was in midtown, only a few blocks from Rockefeller Center, when I decided to take a short detour and get a

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1164836100682114202006-11-29T23:27:00.000-05:002006-12-06T08:18:12.146-05:00

"If you'd come here five, ten years ago," said the old waitress, "you would have seen twice as many boats, three times as many restaurants and none of these great big places. Back then the tallest building was three stories high."She leaned on the counter, wiped her hands on her apron, and talked about the neighborhood's many vanished businesses. In recent years, dozens of mom and pop stores have

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1164608499117686882006-11-26T19:15:00.000-05:002006-12-01T17:15:50.323-05:00

Every day thousands of people pass the thick stone walls and tall iron gates but few step behind them. New York Marble Cemetery is open to the public only a handful of days each year; from March through November, the gates generally open (for a few hours) the last Sunday of each month. However, since the Cemetery lacks both staff and shelter, if the weather is inclement or no volunteer is

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1163079169957969432006-11-20T20:28:00.000-05:002006-11-27T17:21:00.266-05:00

Fourteen years ago the Society of Design Administration created CANstruction, a philanthropic competition for architects, designers and engineers. The challenge is deceptively simple: these creative professionals must transform cans of food into sculptures and constructions.The nutritious entries were assembled on site at the New York Design Center, a building devoted to interior designers and

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1164003113684521022006-11-19T23:39:00.000-05:002007-01-02T01:57:36.503-05:00

I love the theatre but rarely attend Broadway shows.Why? Well, have you seen the prices of tickets lately?Thinking about going to Beauty and the Beast? Orchestra and front mezzanine seats — if you can find them — will cost you about $132 each. Dying to watch the Lion King? One ticket now sells for $135. Want to see the award-winning Jersey Boys? You'll have to wait until March and pay about $150

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1164556357924221272006-11-19T09:02:00.000-05:002006-11-26T13:00:55.490-05:00

This sign is posted on the door of Miller's Famous Restaurant at the corner of New Utrecht Avenue and 56th Street in Brooklyn. I didn't see anyone littering, smoking, spitting or playing a radio near the entrance, so I guess the sign must be working.Sign on Miller's door Miller's Famous Restaurant

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1163815818057250632006-11-18T21:01:00.000-05:002006-11-20T19:47:00.816-05:00

Housed in a landmark brownstone in historic Brooklyn Heights, the Danish Seamen's Church is both a house of worship and cultural center for New York's Danish community. The church, which was founded in 1878 by Danish minister Rasmus Andersen, has been in its current location for nearly half a century. This Lutheran congregation's name comes from one of the church's primary missions: caring for

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1163204677071671082006-11-10T19:16:00.000-05:002006-11-18T15:56:52.910-05:00

"Most real New Yorkers wouldn't be caught dead on a tour bus or walking around with a group of tourists."-- Margot AdlerOnce upon a time I wanted to visit an historic spot located far outside the city. Although it was possible to make the trip using public transportation, doing so appeared to be extremely complicated and time consuming. With all the transfers and waiting involved, just getting

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1163172700195423782006-11-07T22:20:00.000-05:002006-11-17T12:37:04.123-05:00

I'm fairly diligent about voting. In fact, I can't remember the last time I missed a major election. Back in September, during New York's primary, I asked one of the people working at the polls how she got her job. She told me that it was simple; she went to the Board of Elections Web site, downloaded an application and mailed it in.It sounded easy enough and looked like an interesting way to

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1162537848302156482006-10-31T23:55:00.000-05:002006-11-13T21:33:44.383-05:00

In 1973, Greenwich Village mask maker and puppeteer Ralph Lee staged a house-to-house puppet show to entertain his neighbors, children and friends. Thirty-three years later, Lee's show has evolved into the nation's largest public Halloween celebration.This year more than two million people lined Sixth Avenue to watch the Village Halloween Parade while another four million watched a live broadcast

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1162147787397623512006-10-29T21:47:00.000-05:002006-11-02T16:36:16.543-05:00

On this crisp autumn day, canines from Brooklyn Heights and DUMBO gathered for the 2nd Annual Dog Halloween Parade and Costume Extravaganza. About 60 animals and their human companions assembled at the Remsen St. entrance to the Brooklyn Promenade, then scampered to the Harry Chapin Playground for judging. The event's sponsor, Perfect Paws, awarded dog-centric prizes for costumes in categories

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1162192722232998832006-10-28T20:15:00.000-04:002006-11-02T07:37:04.866-05:00

When it opened at the corner of Hanson Place and Ashland Place in 1928, this was the tallest structure in Brooklyn. Designed to house the Williamsburgh Savings Bank by architects Halsey, McCormack & Helmer, the profile of its distinctive clock tower and dome led this description in the AIA Guide to New York City:Inadvertently, this was New York's most exuberant phallic symbol ... its slender

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1162099012451180742006-10-15T19:46:00.000-04:002006-10-29T15:34:07.563-05:00

This weekend the 10th Annual Art Under the Bridge Festival turns the entire DUMBO neighborhood into an enormous art gallery. More than 1,500 artists with ties to this area are participating by showing their work in exhibitions or opening their studios to the public. Many of the artists are present to meet visitors, discuss their creations and explain their visions.Streets, shops, cafes and even

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160926219679522852006-10-14T22:29:00.000-04:002006-10-30T02:13:44.716-05:00

The powerHouse Arena, an enormous new party space on Brooklyn's Main Street, is owned and operated by avant-garde art publisher powerHouse Books. This weekend the Arena hosted its first event, No Sleep 'til Brooklyn: A Hip Hop Retrospective -- a celebration of 30 years of hip hop culture. Named for the Beastie Boys' 1986 hit and held in conjuction with VH1's 2006 Hip Hop Honors, No Sleep 'til

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1161799360697939112006-10-13T21:21:00.000-04:002007-01-09T16:26:20.376-05:00

Dere's no guy livin' dat knows Brooklyn t'roo an' t'roo, because it'd take a guy a lifetime just to find his way aroun' duh f_____ town.-- Thomas Wolfe, Only the Dead Know Brooklyn, 1935At the mouth of the alley near the corner of 43rd Street and 8th Avenue, between the bar and the plumbing supply store, stands a tall iron gate. Affixed to the front are two signs: the white one says that a garage

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1161018463240015972006-10-13T20:43:00.000-04:002006-10-25T10:02:21.450-04:00

You say you've been to Chinatown in New York? Which Chinatown?The fact is, New York City now has three separate Chinatowns. The oldest is in Manhattan. The largest is in Queens. And the smallest and newest is right here in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.Brooklyn's Chinatown is centered on 8th Avenue between 50th and 60th Streets. It is commonly believed that the Chinese moved here because they consider

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1161528140195539142006-10-13T18:16:00.000-04:002006-10-24T14:10:22.443-04:00

Sunset Park, one of the highest points in Brooklyn, stands at the corner of 43rd St. and 5th Ave. An essential resource for this crowded, working-class community, the hilly, tree-filled park boasts an art deco recreation center for indoor activities, an outdoor swimming pool (now closed for the season), handball and basketball courts, a baseball diamond and rows of game tables that are usually

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160408232437495092006-10-09T23:35:00.000-04:002006-10-16T11:19:35.083-04:00

Imagine there's no countriesIt isn't hard to doNothing to kill or die forAnd no religion tooImagine all the peopleLiving life in peaceYou may say I'm a dreamerBut I'm not the only oneI hope someday you'll join usAnd the world will be as one Had he not been killed by Mark David Chapman in 1980, this would have been his 66th birthday. Today his admirers gathered at Strawberry Fields, the

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160884896848474552006-10-09T15:28:00.000-04:002006-10-15T00:24:47.073-04:00

While walking past a house on Manhattan's Upper East side, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I stopped, went back and photographed this architectural detail. I think it looks as though the stone is smiling. What do you think?In front of 38 West 76th Street

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160373566232294482006-10-09T01:51:00.000-04:002006-10-14T15:29:44.500-04:00

Anish Kapoor's monumental Sky Mirror is now on display in the Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center. The massive, tilted piece, assembled from sections of highly polished stainless steel, stands three stories tall. The Indian-born artist describes the work as a "non-object," a work of art that suggests a window or void and seems to disappear into its surroundings.Despite its size, the combination

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160491952343405292006-10-08T17:52:00.000-04:002006-10-14T10:48:21.396-04:00

Yesterday I participated in the 4th Annual OpenHouseNewYork Weekend by taking a tour of the Wallabout section of Brooklyn. Today I took advantage of the weekend-long event to visit a legendary space that has been closed to the public for more than 60 years: the Rockefeller Center Rooftop Garden.Located atop the British Empire Building, this garden offers exceptional views of St. Patrick's

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160408129691087152006-10-08T14:35:00.000-04:002006-10-14T14:48:41.736-04:00

By definition, the word Hispanic refers to people from the Spanish-speaking areas of the Americas and the Caribbean.For 41 years, New York's United Hispanic-American Parade has brought together people whose origins are in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico,

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160254884869985292006-10-07T22:52:00.000-04:002006-11-17T12:40:10.790-05:00

OpenHouseNewYork (OHNY), a group focused on New York City's architecture and design, has organized this as the 4th Annual OpenHouseNewYork Weekend. Billed as "America's largest architect and design event," the Weekend offers free tours of dozens of sites around the city, many of them usually closed to the public.I was unaware of OHNY or the event, scheduled for today and tomorrow, until late last

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160405211026998352006-10-07T19:44:00.000-04:002006-10-09T23:02:34.426-04:00

Stencilled street art found on a sidewalk and standpipe near the corner of Flushing and Grand Avenues, directly across from the Brooklyn Navy Yard.Purple and orange scream Red and yellow stare Juke five  Gray and blue shapes

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1160010986943023072006-10-04T21:01:00.000-04:002006-10-06T09:27:17.500-04:00

Some people call it Koreatown, some say K-Town. But unlike the Koreatowns in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Manhattan's Korean enclave isn't much of a neighborhood; in fact, it is just a single block of 32nd Street between Broadway and Fifth Avenue.Few Koreans actually live here. There isn't much residential space on the block or in the surrounding area. But K-Town has become the cultural center

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1159840708357270582006-10-01T21:54:00.000-04:002006-10-14T21:13:27.380-04:00

Mission: To discover, interpret, and disseminate - through scientific research and education - knowledge about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe.In 1871 The American Museum of Natural History mounted its first exhibit in the Central Park Arsenal. Within one year, the institution had outgrown its home at the Arsenal and was busily engaged in building a bigger facility.One hundred

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1159583089132669672006-09-29T22:24:00.000-04:002006-10-04T21:01:19.713-04:00

The Silk Road is an ancient trading route that stretches over high mountains and arid deserts to connect Europe with China. Just the words Silk Road conjure up visions of fearless nomads, dauntless explorers, isolated villagers, exotic cities, extraordinary landscapes and rare treasures.It is still possible to follow the storied course; you can fly to Rome and go East, or start in Beijing and

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1158338802711809382006-09-17T23:46:00.000-04:002006-09-26T23:23:12.306-04:00

Another September, another Sunday devoted to the best, most diverse, most lively street fair in New York City. While many festivals and fairs have become homogenized and interchangeable, the Atlantic Antic retains the unique character of the street on which it is held.Atlanic Avenue is a broad boulevard that cuts a swath across Brooklyn, from the waterfront to the Queens border, and spans a wide

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1158338794569716162006-09-16T21:46:00.000-04:002006-09-19T13:32:32.110-04:00

For more than two decades Manhattan hosted New York is Book Country which grew to become one of the nation's largest, busiest and most beloved book fairs. Every autumn, starting in 1979, a long section of Fifth Avenue was closed to traffic while hundreds of thousands of readers spent the day strolling among exhibit booths, buying books, and attending panel discussions and author signings.In 2004,

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1158164737662459402006-09-11T23:58:00.000-04:002006-09-15T11:02:00.460-04:00

Candles, bulbs and beams stretching up to the heavens mark the ways we remember with lights. In 24 hours, when the lights have been melted away, turned off and burned out, still we will remember. The Empire State Building crowned in red, white & blue  Memorial candles on the Brooklyn Promenade  Lower Manhattan from the Brooklyn Promenade  

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1158164561701291442006-09-11T19:11:00.000-04:002006-09-17T03:44:23.496-04:00

It takes nearly four hours to read all the names one by one. Four hours in the bright sunlight, under a clear blue sky, as they are said in alphabetical order. Nearly 3,000 names — from Gordon Aamoth to Igor Zukelman — recited by voices that are firm with determination, shaking with fury, breaking into sobs.As the hours pass, the mourners make their way down the long, long ramp into the pit. They

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1158163837027442492006-09-10T23:56:00.000-04:002006-09-13T17:40:06.066-04:00

He who plants a treePlants a hope.~Lucy LarcomOn April 15, 1995, terrorists attacked the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The structure was destroyed and 168 people killed, many of them young children.Against all odds, an ancient elm tree growing near the building survived the blast. After the horror and wreckage was cleared away, fragile new growth emerged from its blackened, wounded

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1158113528241591782006-09-09T21:54:00.000-04:002006-09-13T03:55:53.100-04:00

Eleven silver strands of light,Eleven facets of a gleaming heart,Eleven tears, forever falling, onEleven names in a tranquil pool.While the government is still years away from constructing even the simplest memorial to the thousands who died on September 11, 2001, American Express commissioned a work of art to honor the 11 AMEX employees killed in the terrorist attack.Entitled 11 Tears, it

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1158077013895241782006-09-04T22:03:00.000-04:002006-09-13T04:00:21.673-04:00

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is considered the unofficial last day of summer in the US. Summer holidays are over; beaches close to swimmers, kids go back to school, temperatures start to drop and days begin to grow shorter.Coney Island, once known as America's Playground, is no longer the nation's preeminent amusement park; that honor has gone to sanitized, homogenized,

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1157438878701987262006-09-04T00:50:00.000-04:002006-09-12T17:45:36.483-04:00

Singing, dancing and playing, a group of musicians stood on the boardwalk enticing passersby to a live free show. The band, part of Circus Amok, led the crowd down Brooklyn's West 10th Street to watch Citizenship: An Immigrant Rights Fantasia in 10 Short Acts.Mixing acrobatics, juggling, twirling, clowning, jumping, dancing and general silliness with political messages, Cicus Amok has performed

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1157294380792605532006-09-01T22:30:00.000-04:002006-09-10T21:25:06.756-04:00

Most of the brownstone row houses in Carroll Gardens were built in the late 1800s, shortly after the American Civil War. The oldest homes in this section of Brooklyn have large front yards, allowing their residents to enjoy an aspect of outdoor living rare for New Yorkers -- the ability to create distinctive stoopside gardens, many of them featuring statuary, arbors, grottoes, plaques and

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1157031979042470112006-08-31T21:39:00.000-04:002006-09-19T10:16:26.423-04:00

The air is heady with the fragrance of cardamom, cumin, roses and incense. The markets are crowded with women clad in flowing saris and men wearing caftans and intricately-wound turbans. Shop windows display glittering gold jewelry, statues of Krishna and lacquered sitars. Sidewalk vendors proffer bunches of fresh herbs, sticky sweets and copies of the Koran.This is Jackson Heights, also known as

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1157126301997449502006-08-27T15:51:00.000-04:002006-09-03T07:51:24.573-04:00

Strolling through Dumbo one Sunday, I came across a wooden construction barrier painted with white flowers and took a few pictures. About a month later the New York Times published an article telling the story of this fence, the construction workers laboring behind it and Pasqualina Azzarello, the artist who made transformed bare boards into a garden down under the Manhattan bridge overpass.At

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1156769585730300762006-08-23T23:52:00.000-04:002006-09-02T18:30:39.146-04:00

In the decade or so since big developers "discovered" Brooklyn, sections of our community have changed radically. Right now, one company's building plans are generating the biggest political ruckus seen here in decades.Forest City Ratner Companies wants to erect Atlantic Yards, a 22 acre complex including offices, apartments and a professional basketball arena. If constructed, the $4.2 billion

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1156730532862846782006-08-22T21:50:00.000-04:002006-09-02T15:21:58.446-04:00

Borough Park is a neighborhood largely shaped and defined by its large population of Hassidic Jews. Last spring I visited on a Friday afternoon when the area's businesses shut down to prepare for Shabbos, the Jewish Sabbath (see Erev Shabbos in Borough Park).In sharp contrast to the stillness and quiet found here at Shabbos, during the business week Borough Park is bustling. The busiest street,

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1156702417890410662006-08-13T22:13:00.000-04:002006-09-03T10:40:45.163-04:00

More from the Garden of Delights show, these sculptures are in Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park. George Spencer's Gumball Machine actually works; insert two quarters, turn the lever and you'll receive a plastic dome containing a tiny clay building. Hurry over to the park and you, too, can own an authentic Brooklyn brownstone for only 50¢.Nielson Amon & Ruby Levesque: Shark Tooth Auxesis George

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1156687640652857652006-08-13T22:06:00.000-04:002006-08-27T16:25:58.033-04:00

Garden of Delights is the 24th annual outdoor sculpture show organized by the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition. About 25 artists from around the country contributed work that will remain on display in two adjoining public parks until October 13. These sculptures are in Brooklyn Bridge Park. The instructions on the back of Rodger Stevens' Public Sculpture and You say:1) Lift a door2) Put your

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1155477906645595702006-08-12T22:04:00.000-04:002006-08-27T14:12:42.156-04:00

High atop a hill at the northern tip of Manhattan Island stands the Cloisters, the branch of the Metropolitan Museum devoted to the art of the middle ages. Constructed in the early 20th century, the fortress-like building was inspired by medieval structures. The setting, structure and core of the collection were gifts from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to the people of

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1155840895154930922006-08-11T23:54:00.000-04:002006-08-21T17:37:46.390-04:00

Take the Q train to the Brighton Beach stop and exit directly into another country. This is "Little Russia," also known as "Little Odessa," the heart of Brooklyn's Russian community and the reputed home of the Russian Mafia.The Village Voice says, "No matter where you're from, it's likely that at first, Brighton will make you alienated, lonely, and even ... miserable." Perhaps not miserable, but

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1155484573785151042006-08-11T15:51:00.000-04:002006-08-13T13:21:52.143-04:00

Don't dare call the paintings on this Brooklyn truck graffiti; they are, in every meaning of the word, art.Art: The weapon of intelligence! He stay gettin bizy Way up in ya Maman The black leprakhan He has a good Russian wife Vel Crew * Ganoz 72 Brighton Ct - Bklyn, NY 11235 

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1155476574053783832006-08-11T14:37:00.000-04:002006-08-14T20:38:11.820-04:00

The news is filled with stories about a plant that bloomed late yesterday at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. Known as amorphophallus titanum and nicknamed "Baby," the species is remarkable for its rarity, its size and its aroma, which is said to smell like putrid, rotting meat.The amorphophallus titanum, popularly called the "corpse flower," takes decades to bloom (this is the first flowering in

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1154441967160210752006-07-29T10:16:00.000-04:002006-08-11T02:45:21.616-04:00

Most tourists think that New York's Little Italy is a few blocks in lower Manhattan filled with overpriced red-sauce spaghetti joints, tacky and vulgar t-shirts and knock-offs of designer duds. But knowledgeable New Yorkers know that the real Little Italy is in the Belmont section of the Bronx. Arthur Avenue is the main street of Little Italy, packed with family run food shops and restaurants.

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1154441750158828942006-07-26T22:10:00.000-04:002006-08-14T09:17:47.303-04:00

Students, to you 'tis given to scan the heightsAbove, to traverse the ethereal space,And mark the systems of revolving worlds--Phyllis Wheatley Although her poetry was once an international sensation, today Phyllis Wheatley is remembered more for her extraordinary life than her work.Born on the western coast of Africa in the mid-1700s and kidnapped by slave-traders, she was purchased by Bostonian

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1153429110314609922006-07-20T16:58:00.000-04:002006-07-21T08:34:45.973-04:00

In downtown Manhattan, someone carefully painted an alphabet on the wooden fence surrounding a construction site at the corner of Warren and Church Streets. There is no visible indication of why, when or by whom this alphabet was created.Apple � Boy Cat � Dog Egg � Fun Good � Hello Ink � Jam Krishna � Like Mom � No Ontology � Pencil  Quark � Robot  Silly � Tungsten Ulterior Motive � Vague Wet �

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1153201398940122382006-07-17T23:40:00.000-04:002006-07-21T20:29:45.136-04:00

Tonight, in an effort to stay cool and delay going down into the oppressively hot subways, I attended a book signing at the Borders Books store in Columbus Circle (stores in ritzy neighborhoods tend to keep their thermostats set at Arctic levels).The book signing (and reading) was by boxing trainer and commentator Teddy Atlas who, working with writer Peter Alson, has just published his

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1153201196974433652006-07-17T20:37:00.000-04:002006-08-01T09:51:05.896-04:00

As a student I learned that Dada was a short-lived, rather silly art movement of little significance. My professor snickered about a few European artists who became notorious in the 1920s and 1930s by treating porcelain urinals like fine art and filming each other slicing up cow's eyeballs. They knew how to get publicity, he told us, but they created nothing of lasting value or meaning.How little

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1153092335503621442006-07-16T19:24:00.000-04:002006-07-27T11:48:02.173-04:00

Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land.Our father's love is to the bastard EdmundAs to th' legitimate. Fine word — 'legitimate'!Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed,And my invention thrive, Edmund the baseShall top th' legitimate. I grow; I prosper.Now, gods, stand up for bastards!-- King Lear, Act I, Scene II.Today, in the space between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, a small audience

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1152908969344893572006-07-14T16:07:00.000-04:002006-07-19T17:29:58.520-04:00

Today is Bastille Day, the anniversary of 1789 uprising when the people of Paris rose up and stormed the Bastille prison. Their actions set in motion the overthrow of the monarchy and the birth of the modern French Republic.In France, Bastille Day is a national holiday that is celebrated (much like our Fourth of July) with parades, parties and fireworks. In the United States, festivities marking

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1153065428028094802006-07-13T19:57:00.000-04:002006-07-16T12:03:03.636-04:00

These handwritten signs, both addressed to pedestrians, caught my attention.Taped to fence on Monroe Place Taped to wall on Pineapple Street 

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1152451294987068422006-07-09T09:17:00.000-04:002006-07-16T00:35:58.250-04:00

Seventy Six TrombonesSeventy six trombones led the big paradeWith a hundred and ten cornets close at handThey were followed by rows and rows of the finest virtuososThe cream of every famous band-- Meredith Willson, 1957They call it Bridge Park, but usually the only thing growing behind the chain link fence - just below the Bronx-Queens Expressway - is a few weeds, some scruffy pigeons and a pile

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1152244622863081352006-07-07T23:52:00.000-04:002006-07-16T00:33:54.250-04:00

If you've spent any time in New York, you've probably seen Governors Island, but chances are you've never been there. This island in New York Harbor long served as a key defense base and access was restricted to authorized military personnel.In the period immediately following the revolution, the newly-formed United States fortified Governors Island. Fort Jay was built at the island's highest

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1152367632148584032006-06-28T10:06:00.000-04:002006-07-13T16:40:02.536-04:00

This evening, commuters emerging from busses and subways near Borough Hall were greeted by the sound of beating drums, shaking maracas and resonating gourds. It was an outdoor concert organized by the West Indian American Day Carnival Association, the folks responsible for the annual Labor Day parade on Brooklyn's Eastern Parkway.Dancer on stilts Two dancers on stilts kicking backwards in unison

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1152367569949669332006-06-25T10:04:00.000-04:002006-07-13T02:33:08.546-04:00

When it comes to homosexuality, most gay organizations are determined to project an image of normalcy in which all gay men are Will Truman and all lesbians Ellen DeGeneres.-- Riki WilchinsThis massive last-Sunday-in-June event has always been characterized by a mixture of flamboyance and defiance. Initially known as the "Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day March," it began as a way to

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1152367601831793752006-06-24T10:06:00.000-04:002006-07-12T13:31:54.206-04:00

The Northeast part of the United States has been pelted with rain for days, but regardless of the weather, local Mermaids were determined to hold their parade today on the streets of Coney Island.There were few drizzles during the 24th Annual Mermaid Parade, but the crowds in the streets were unusually sparse, the skies were gray, some of the floats were draped with tarpulins and more than one

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1150740637511253242006-06-19T14:00:00.000-04:002006-07-10T12:23:38.360-04:00

Astoria has always been the home to strivers and dreamers. In the early 1800s the village of Hallet's Cove was re-named Astoria in hopes that John Jacob Astor, the first millionaire in the United States, would invest there. Although he reportedly never set foot in Astoria, America's richest man eventually gave the village $500 and the name stuck.This northwestern section of Queens, where three

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1150721255156627022006-06-16T08:46:00.000-04:002006-07-20T16:10:32.483-04:00

Well we're movin' on upTo the East SideTo a dee-luxe apartment in the skyWe're movin' on upTo the East SideWe've finally got a piece of the pie-- Ja'net DuBois and Jeff BarryTheme song to "The Jeffersons"It wasn't that long ago that they were homeless and hopeless, scrounging around in garbage cans and sleeping in the streets. Now these cats are ensconced in a duplex apartment on one of the

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1150264316524962352006-06-13T23:50:00.000-04:002006-07-08T07:39:45.820-04:00

The second Tuesday of every June, as day turns to night, one of the most beautiful sections of the city hosts the Museum Mile Festival. The mile-long stretch of Fifth Avenue from 82nd Street to 104th Street is closed to traffic while nine of the cultural institutions that line its sides are open to the public, free of charge. For a few all-too-brief hours this evening, this normally quiet,

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1150120782772812722006-06-11T21:58:00.000-04:002006-06-21T17:48:04.140-04:00

OK, it isn't a typical block party; it is a heavily-promoted, big-time commerical enterprise featuring corporate sponsors and high-profile chefs. But there's no denying that this weekend the 4th Annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party attracted a crowd that included some of New York's most ravenous foodies.The event brought 10 pitmasters to Madison Square Park for two days of marinating, smoking,

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1150036939951570352006-06-11T10:39:00.000-04:002006-08-04T18:44:49.640-04:00

This section of the Lower East Side, Eldridge Street between Canal and Division, was once the home of a thriving community of Eastern European Jews. In 1887, they constructed the jewel of their block - the Eldridge Street Synagogue, an imposing Moorish-style building with a vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows, ornate brass fixtures, hand-painted murals and a velvet-lined ark.Over time, the

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1150001212427068582006-06-10T19:46:00.000-04:002006-06-11T11:12:26.770-04:00

Two brief encounters near the main branch of the New York Public Library today left me wondering about romance in this city.First, on the 42nd Street side of the library was a scene that should have been in a movie - an old Checker cab was parked in the right lane, blocking traffic, while a photographer hurriedly shot images of a gloriously gorgeous newlywed couple. At first glance they appeared

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1149561383990500172006-06-05T22:26:00.000-04:002006-07-19T17:47:08.986-04:00

For years, friends earnestly urged me to listen to public radio and for years, I ignored their suggestions. I suspected that the programs on something called "public radio" would be either educational (translation: dull and dry) or political (translation: dull and irritating).Then, one night, someone turned the radio dial and I heard a deep voice intone, "Welcome to Lake Woebegone, where all the

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1149205673038672122006-06-02T17:47:00.000-04:002006-07-21T20:45:13.110-04:00

This is a sunny day in one of the world's largest cities. It isn't a legal holiday; there isn't an emergency; the authorities haven't evacuated the neighborhood. Yet the shops are shuttered, the businesses are closed and the streets are empty of traffic.Question: What is going on and where is everybody?Answer: It's just another Friday afternoon in Borough Park.Borough Park (also spelled Boro Park

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1149165794968356052006-05-31T20:42:00.000-04:002006-06-03T18:23:39.820-04:00

Staten Island is one of the five boroughs of the city of New York (the others are Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan and Queens). It is located southwest of Manhattan Island, cut off from the rest of the city by a 5.2 mile stretch of New York Bay (also known as New York Harbor).Every day, 65,000 people travel between the Northernmost point of Staten Island and the Southern tip of Manhattan via the

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1149263399337823432006-05-25T22:49:00.000-04:002007-01-10T09:21:27.913-05:00

Tonight, in the offices of a small, local non-profit group, I attended the special invitation-only screening of a new film. In middle of a large, loft-like room, screens were erected, folding chairs arranged, a projector set up, and long tables covered with movie-fan-appropriate food (popcorn, soda, candy bars).Friends, fans and family of the cast and crew filled the seats and watched the sort of

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1148580194380939222006-05-25T14:03:00.000-04:002006-05-25T18:54:24.283-04:00

Yesterday marked the beginning of Fleet Week, when thousands of Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen from around the world descend on New York City in a celebration of all things nautical. This morning, the Blue Angels, the U.S. Navy's aerobatic flight squadron, flew over and around the city as part of the Fleet Week festivities. Unfortunately, their flight received little advance publicity. Many

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1148418742187240232006-05-23T17:12:00.000-04:002006-05-24T20:06:39.816-04:00

The first tenant moved in yesterday, but the grand opening of the building at 7 World Trade Center was delayed until noon today. The usual dignitaries spoke, a blue ribbon was cut, cameras flashed, reporters took notes and then the real welcome began with a free concert featuring what was billed as "seven downtown artists." The show started with famed Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, who performed in

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1148239565560846142006-05-21T15:25:00.000-04:002006-05-25T12:15:48.463-04:00

In 1986 the Gay Men’s Health Crisis held the first AIDS Walk in New York and 4,500 walkers raised $710,000. Today, the 21st AIDS Walk New York saw 47,000 walkers raise an estimated $6.47 million.The 10-kilometer walk began and ended at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street in Central Park, looping around the park and overflowing the streets. Three checkpoints along the route, staffed by volunteers,

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1148136358348227302006-05-19T22:43:00.000-04:002006-09-14T17:12:28.806-04:00

Today, at 6 p.m., the Apple Store at 767 Fifth Avenue & 58th Street had its grand opening. The sole part of the store visible from the street is the entrance, a 32 foot glass cube marked only with the Apple logo. The interior, which is below ground level, can be reached via a glass elevator or a glass spiral staircase (similar to I.M. Pei's pyramid entrance to the Louvre museum). One young man

annullahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12653591034892685511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11540524.post-1147963555611067892006-05-18T10:44:00.000-04:002006-05-20T14:08:04.940-04:00

What Wine Goes with That?Customer: I'm not really much of a meat eater. What would you recommend?Waiter: Another restaurant.— Overheard in Peter Luger Steakhouse, BrooklynOverheard in New YorkPeter Luger Steakhouse

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