Olde Good Things

You will find this truck from Olde Good Things parked across the street from Union Square, right where the shop is. The architectural antiques store specializes in rare and obscure vintage finds. Check them out at Olde Goode Things.

Remembering

Just after the terrorist attack on the WTC, British street artist Banksy painted this on one of the remaining walls across the street from the site. The world stood together in compassion. You can see more of his art here.

I was living in southern California when 9/11 happened. I remember crying, day after day, for weeks. The loss was just to painful to comprehend. If I wasn't crying because of the loss, I cried because the love and compassion of New Yorker's toward each other was so incredibly real and raw and genuine.

Here I am 10 years later, living in the heart of the city, and I can say I experience this love, compassion, and care every day. The people here are like no other. I am honored to call New York City my home.

Florios

Florio's is an authentic Italian restaurant and cigar shop that's been in Little Italy for over 40 years. It a local favorite.

Street Scene in Greenwich Village

When I first got to New York, it was street scenes like this that made me feel like I was on a movie set. This kind of street character is missing in Orange County, CA (except for the Orange Circle, in Old Town Orange).

Beautifully Lit Buildings

These were taken in Hells Kitchen on a summer night in July. I love the way the lights create color and shadow, giving the buildings an enchanting glow.

Double Reflections

I love the merging of two images creating by the reflection of glass. The chandelier on the inside of the restaurant is framed by the circle cutout of the building across the street. The glass reflects the colors and textures of the apartment building in front of it. You can see me taking the picture in the lower right. (Lower East Side, Bacaro Restaurant)

Another double reflection taken inside my friend's room, looking out onto the city. (Hells Kitchen, 4th of July)

In the Subway

Sunset Kayaking

Everyone is trying to squeeze the last bit of summertime out of August. Cooler temps are making sunset activities much more enjoyable. Taken near Chelsea Piers, looking out onto the Jersey shoreline.

Manhattan Mini Storage Ad in Chelsea

....and if you live in Chelsea, you get how funny this is.

A few more of their (brilliant) ads:
"Remember, if you leave the city, you'll have to live in America."
"If you store your stuff outside the city, it may come back Republican."
"Love means never having to say "I'm sorry my kickball trophy fell on the baby again."
"Storing your golf clubs outside NYC sounds a lot like quitting golf."
"The Rapture was pushed till October, so no more procrastinating."
"Nobody becomes famous in Des Moines."
"Why leave a city that has six professional sports teams, and the Mets?"

WWII Aircraft Carrier: The Intrepid

You can't even begin to imagine how absolutely MASSIVE this is. For instance, there are two jets sitting up top on the right. This is New York City's Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, stationed at Pier 86 on the Hudson River. The museum opened in 1982 at Pier 86 after Zachary Fisher, a prominent New York real estate developer and philanthropist, and journalist Michael Stern succeeded in saving the Intrepid from the scrap heap in 1978. The USS Intrepid became a National Historic Landmark in 1986. In September 2001, the Intrepid served as temporary field headquarters for the FBI as it began its investigation of the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. It is also used in the 2007 film I Am Legend, where Will Smith's character practices golf from the deck.

USS Growler (SSG-577), an early cruise missile submarine of the Grayback class, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the growler, a large-mouth black bass. Growler was laid down on February 15, 1955 by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard of Kittery, Maine. She was launched on April 5, 1958 sponsored by Mrs. Robert K. Byerts, widow of Commander Thomas B. Oakley, Jr., who commanded the third Growler on her 9th, 10th, and fatal 11th war patrols. After training exercises off the East Coast, Growler sailed south for her shakedown cruise, arriving at the Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Puerto Rico, on February 19, 1959. After a brief run back to Portsmouth, she returned to the Caribbean Sea in March to train in launching Regulus I and II guided missiles.

Last Hurrah Before Irene Hits

While most people were smart enough not to go kayaking last night during Hurricane Irene, some did head to Times Square to have a bit of fun. A ragtag group of participants in the NYC Police and Fireman World Games, whose games were all cancelled on Saturday and Sunday, gathered in Times Square just before the hurricane arrived to play a pick-up game of rugby. There was also some people playing hockey, and enjoying a makeshift slip 'n slide put down for Times Square revelers.

My neighbors and I bunkered down together and drank wine, ate appetizers, and played Scattegories all night....not a bad way to ride out the storm :)

Preparing for Irene

We're on Storm Watch here in Manhattan. Lines at the grocery store were 20-30 people deep down every aisle.

All the necessary supplies were snapped up: paper towels, trash bags, water. A lot of the ice cream was gone too. : )

Chick in back of me on the cell phone, "Don't preshah me Gino. I don't know if I'll be back in Joisey on Sunday. Let's see what happens with this blizzad."

Blizzard?

Prayer Brings Victory

These sweet ladies were protesting by praying. There was something about this little group that endeared me to them. I love that a truck with Victory painted on the side just happened to ramble past as I was taking the shot.

Artwork on Wheels

Manhattan bus heading out from the westside docks, taken on my run this morning along the Hudson.

Fake Flames

Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass

Shopping in SoHo

Double Doors

Our neighborhood fire station on the Upper West Side.

On the Waterfront

I took a run along the Hudson today, and I am constantly amazed by the natural beauty that is all over New York City.

Crinoline and Cupcakes

Near Radio City Music Hall, this is the Magnolia Bakery that Sarah J P and the gals made stratospherically famous in a Sex and the City episode. Umpteen years later, lines still snake out the door. I am resigned to never having a peanut butter chocolate cupcake from Magnolia Bakery. :( But I may break thru the glass and steal one of these aprons.