take the subway to a spooky spectacular

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This morning, I shared my commute with a super excited Spiderman, Elmo, a little pink princess and an angel. On my way back from work, a little Superman was crying and a pilgrim was sulking. Aaah, all that sugar....

Meanwhile, super excited disguised adults were heading to the West Village for the parade. I did not share their subway ride back home but I am pretty sure one of them was crying and another one must have been sulking. Aaah, all those beers...

But the picture I really wanted to snap for you was this one: the Empire State Building all dressed up in orange lights for Halloween. The picture below is from the ESB website where you can also take a virtual tour, play with the webcam and much more.


NB: The MTA poster reads "Take the subway to a spooky spectacular! The Greenwich Village... Halloween Parade. Vampires, witches and hobgoblins are welcome. And MTA New York City Transis has lots of trains to take you to all the fun! [follows the list of trains and directions].

chair in an unusual place - update

I know some of you are wondering what may have happened since this breaking news, so here it is.
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30oct2007 - 7:53pm
Status: still there

update: if this does not make any sense, click on the hyperlink I posted here above. ;)

week 44 - lesson # 309: pretzel

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From the venerable American Heritage Dictionary:
Pretzel:
n. A glazed, brittle biscuit that is usually salted on the outside and baked in the form of a loose knot or a stick.
Word History: The German word Brezel or Pretzel, which was borrowed into English (being first recorded in American English in 1856) goes back to the assumed Medieval Latin word *brāchitellum. This would accord with the story that a monk living in France or northern Italy first created the knotted shape of a pretzel, even though this type of biscuit had been enjoyed by the Romans. The monk wanted to symbolize arms folded in prayer, hence the name derived from Latin bracchiātus, "having branches," itself from bracchium, "branch, arm."

From the très vénérable Petit Larousse:
Bretzel:
n.m. ou n.f. (all. Brezel)
1. Biscuit sec alsacien en forme de huit, saupoudré de sel et de graines de cumin.
2. Suisse. Sorte de craquelin.

From babylon.com:
Pretzel:
Un pretzel es un tipo de galleta o bocadillo horneado, y retorcido en forma de lazo. Su origen es alemán (Brezel), y es bastante popular en Alsacia, América del Norte y Australia. Su nombre proviene de la palabra alemana bretzel, derivada del latín bracellus, brazo pequeño. Este nombre se debe a que su forma recuerda a dos brazos entrelazados. Básicamente existen dos categorías: los pretzels "quebradizos" y los pretzels de una consistencia más suave, por decirlo, como de pan. El segundo género puede ser preparado con una gran variedad de sabores, que incluyen almendra, o ajo, etcétera.

so much to see, so little time

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The Metropolitan Museum attracts more visitors than any other attraction in New York City. About 5 million per year! But where to start? There is so much to see! It is impossible to see the entire collection in one day, or even in a few days, so I recommend you choose an area or two of interest, or take the Museum Highlights Tour which occurs throughout the day, starting around 10:15 a.m. Tours are free with the museum ticket. Most of them are given by (friendly) volunteers trained by the museum. Some of them may be even Belgian... imagine that! And they are all different, as each tour is a selection of artworks chosen by the guide giving it.

I'll let you in a little less-known fact to non New Yorkers: admission prices are recommended: any donation will gain you access to the Museum. Indeed the Met does not require you to pay an admission fee: you can donate a dollar or a few coins (or nothing at all) and you will still get in. Art should be accessible to all, shouldn't it? On the other hand, if you come often, why not becoming a member? A $50 membership will give you access to the museum, whenever you want. Your donation is tax deductible and you can call yourself a patron of the arts. And that is very cool, she says waiving her membership card. ;)

Check out this link for a list of museums with suggested donations policy and museums with free hours.

i could not resist...

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Our friend Ming announced today that he plans to "go out and photograph as many of these covers as possible to see if there is a consistency in design or if it is all random". So when I spotted these ones on the sidewalk in front of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I had to snap that shot. I just had to.

Don't forget to visit my fellow New York bloggers - so many different eyes for such an ecclectic city! See my personal favorites on the right hand side section. Enjoy!

zum zum zum

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For some reason, that tree reminds me of Six Feet Under, the series on HBO. It had a wonderful tree in its opening credits.
This was taken from the window of the Acela, the high-speed train running from Boston to Washington DC. I took it earlier this week for a business trip and snapped this picture on my way back to New York. I have no clue where it was exactly and it is probably not technically New York City. But, as this is one of the things you can easily do from NYC (hop on a train in Penn Station and head to DC or Boston), I'll include it here.

er... happy birthday, girl!

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I was intrigued by the TV trucks and all the paparazzi on my way home. Well somebody was having a birthday bash at the Beacon Theater.

"Almost 4,000 guests turned out Thursday night to celebrate Hillary Clinton turning 60. Even the stars shelled out big bucks for the birthday bash at New York's historic Beacon Theatre -- and funneled over $1.5 million into her campaign coffers.", I read in der Spiegel . And you can read more about it here.

I hope one of you will be kind enough to throw me a birthday bash when I turn 60 and run for president.

urban mosaic

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This is the Condé Nast building as seen from my office window. Yesterday I showed you its reflection into another Times Square tower. It is one of my favorite buildings to look at in midtown Manhattan. Whenever I need a break, I love watching all the reflections playing on its façade. It is like an urban living mosaic. It reflects so much of the city. Here we can see the buildings to its South reflected into it. But on the corner, slightly below in the curve (not pictured), you can see the taxis of Times Square moving on the little windows. It is like a game: spotting a reflection on the façade and finding which buidling it is. I love it!

deep reflection

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I have a soft spot for building reflections. The building reflected on this tower in Times Square, The Condé Nast building, is one of my favorites. And I'll show you why tomorrow.

beautification

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So many people are working hard at maintaining this crazy city and keeping the parks that we enjoy so pretty pretty pretty...
This gentleman is doing just that in Bryant Park And with a huge smile. His green clothes blending into the landscape.

nypd blue

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Last Sunday the Hispanic Day Parade took over Fifth Avenue. Well, that's what I learned when I saw these familiar blue barricades blocking my usual way to the museum. You did not exactly expect me to wait for the parade and report back, did you?

Uhoh,as I post this I just realized that November theme is something blue... Uhoh... Ah well...

heads are rolling

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Flea markets are dangerous places where body parts are easily available. I took you there last weekend and found a forearm, remember? Today, two little heads. Cute and decorative I must say. The little one on the left seems to wonder what it did to deserve this. While I wished the one on the right would stop staring at me like that.

If you're going for a wilder decoration look, what about something like this to welcome your guests as they enter your appartment?

mixology

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Amédée, the French celeb from Evry, was in New York today. I caught him at The Pegu Club in SoHo where he started the evening with an Earl Grey MarTEAni (pictured above). I had a sip, it was delicious. But after some bloggastic conversation, this was quickly gone:


He then had another drink! (and Lori will have all the details for you shortly)


And another one! (check out Ming's post)


It was then wise to stop the libations and find something to eat. As you can see from the below picture, Amédée was immediatley assaulted by the paparazzi.


I'll take this opportunity to thank Olivier for introducing us to the star of the evening and let him preside this blogger gathering.

Have fun in New York and ... à l'année prochaine!

bling bling

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I am taking you to one of the most fascinating block of the city: 47th St. between Fifth and Sixth Aves, known officially as the Diamond and Jewelry Way, but more commonly referred to as The Diamond District. At either end of the block, two enormous diamond-shaped pylons serve as a gateway to the district. The one pictured above stands on Sixth Avenue.

The district represents 60,000 jobs: 35,000 jobs on the block itsef and 25,000 jobs deriving from its activity (security companies, delivery services, nearby restaurants, gemological institutes,...). Did you know that 95% of the diamonds imported into the United States pass through New York? And that most of them are handled and cut on this block?

This is the place to go for bargains on diamonds, precious gems, gold and other fine jewelry. The block is jammed with stores, exhanges and booths. Generally, the quality of the jewelry decreases as you approach Sixth Avenue, with the higher-end stores on Fifth Avenue.

Most dealers are Hasidic Jews for whom diamonds are the family business. And business deals between dealers are still made following ancient traditions and Talmud laws. A handshake between two gentlemen in the street accompanied by the words "mazel and broche" (good luck and blessing, in Yiddish) can seal a hundreds of thousands dollars deal worth of diamonds. Ironically, retail transactions are backed up by extensive legal paperwork (appraisals, receipts, gemological certifications, insurance forms, etc.).

times flies

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Times Square Mural, 1994 (installed 2002)
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997) - porcelain enamel on steel

This is only a portion of Roy Lichtenstein's 6-foot-high, 53-foot-long mural which you can find in the Times Square subway station. It is a gift of the artist, a native New Yorker, to the city of New York. And it is more than just a kitschy picture. This bright, faux-comic pop art style panel represents a skyline view of a "retro-futuristic" New York City. If you click on the picture, you'll discover a space cowboy looking at the city skyline. But for better (and complete) pictures of the mural, check out www.nycsubway.org. And to learn more about it, visit www.lichtensteinfoundation.org.

guess the building

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Well, I am sure you all guessed what the tallest building in the picture is. If ensure, just check the tags associated with this post.
We are looking east towards downtown and Brooklyn.

pure poetry

With the last beautiful days, what better way to end a day than to savour a delicious gelato?

I am taking this reporter job very seriously and testing for you cassata siciliana and marrons glacés. Both absolutely delicious. Ah the sacrifices we do in the name of blogging...

If you want to know where to sample the best gelato in the city and have an idea of the queue you will be dealing with, read my post here.

forget-me-knot

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In French, when you want to make sure not to forget something, you are advised to "faire un noeud à ton mouchoir" (make a knot in your handkerchief).

In English you make sure to "tie a string around your finger". Which can be painful.

Well not anymore, with this object found for you at the flea market. Now, all you need to remember is... er... why did I tie a string around my finger again?

to the flea market we go

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Ever wondered about the etymology of the term "flea market" ? Let's find out!

There are two theories about the origin of the term "flea market".

According to etymologist Christine Ammer, the first "flea market" may have been New York's raucous Fly Market, a fixture in Lower Manhattan from before the American Revolution until around 1816. The "Fly" came from the Dutch name for the market, "Vly" or "Vlie," which meant "valley," and was pronounced, you guessed it, "flea."

However, while the Fly Market certainly existed, and its name was evidently indeed pronounced "flea market," the actual origin of the term most probably lies in Paris, where le marché aux puces (literally: "the market with fleas") was a popular shopping venue. Le marché aux puces took its name from the semi-humorous popular perception that some of the used clothes and furniture might be flea-infested.

The term "flea market" first appeared in English in the 1920's and is most likely a simple translation of the French market's name. Find out more here.

the kitchen is closed

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Just come back tomorrow and it will be back in business.

subway artist - the next generation

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... looking for inspiration ...

... artist at work ...

You may remember that I did showcase the work of a subway artist not so long ago. Today, let me introduce you to a more contemporary artist from the new generation. Unfortunately I was not able to capture those creations so I will have to describe them from memory and you will just have to picture them for yourself.

First work on paper consisted in a abstract composition with large, flat, geometric shapes: a series of triangles and a big sunny circle on the top corner for good balance.

The second piece, also abstract, was much more dynamic and lyrical: a series of happy, strongly drawn loops, swirling all over the page. A powerful drawing displaying the artist's forceful yet controlled handling of the medium.

Between drawing sessions, the artist was not shy about explaining her creative process to her gallery manager sitting nearby. This is going to be an exciting fridge exhibition.

a passionate player

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This dude was playing chess by himself, standing while waiting for the subway in Times Square. When we all hopped in the shuttle to Grand Station, he calmly continued his game, unperturbed, right in the middle of all the chaos of the car.

three little chairs

three little chairs... in the park... on a rainy day...

stop right here

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This picture has really no interest whatsoever. I just thought the sign would somehow illustrate my little ramble.

When you click to comment today, you will notice something new. Yes, I am having you enter those annoying cabbalistic signs in order to post your comment. You guessed it: I just got my first spam comment. The fact that it is charmingly written in Portuguese will not change my mind - I simply don't want my humble little blog to become a free advertising channel for broadband internet, Viagra, anti-wrinkle cream and the likes.

Blogger offers several options for comment posting. So let's debate them.
• approval of the owner or not.
I opted for a free forum. Why? No need to be a control freak here. I think that comments that post right away encourages people to post them, to come back and read others' comments. While the approval process does not.
• Pop up window or not.
At first I went for the no pop-up option. But after commenting myself on a few blogs, I realized that the pop-ip is much more comfortable: it allows you to comment on a picture while you can still see it in the next window.
• Cabbalistic code or not.
Well, that's the object of this post: I just changed my mind thanks to the great folks at Cresnet. And I hate it.

So what about you? Which options did you opt for and why? How do you police your blog? Any comment or abuse story to share? Do you get spam on your blog?

met holiday monday

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Ugolino and His Sons, modeled ca. 1860-61, executed in marble 1865-67 - Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (French, 1827-1875)

As part of the Museum's popular "Holiday Mondays" program, the Museum, which has been closed to the public on Mondays for some 30 years, now opens its doors on major Monday holidays. This new tradition began last year. Met Holiday Mondays are sponsored by Bloomberg (this blog is not, although anyone willing to sponsor it is more than welcome!).

So since it is Columbus Day and it is Monday, I am taking you to the Met again. Let's stay in Petrie Court and have a closer look.

That tormented gentleman is Ugolino dell Gheradesca, whose story is told in Dante's Divine Comedy. He was an Italian nobleman living in Pisa in 1284. In a conspiracy, he was accused of having betrayed his town by being negligent in battle. He was condemned and locked up in a tower with his sons and grandsons. The entire male line was therefore left to starve to death. French sculptor Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux depicts here the moment when Ugolino, condemned to die of starvation, considers the temptation of devouring his children and grandchildren who offered to sacrifice their bodies to keep their father alive. Brrrr...

But those museum folks have a sense of humour! See, just to the left of the sculpture at the back of the court, there is a lovely European-style café set against the backdrop of Central Park: Petrie Court Café. There you can enjoy a well deserved snack and a drink while the good count, starving, contemplating cannibalism, stands not too far from you. Ah those secret curatorial jokes, gotta love them!

no Petit Poucet in Central Park

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No need to scatter bread crumbs along your walk to find your way back home.

Every lamppost in the park has a number printed on it. The numbers refer to the cross street you are near, and how far into the park you are, in terms of the number of posts from the street. In addition to the cross street, some of them also bear a W, C, or E, corresponding, respectively, to the western, central or eastern part of the park.

So, the lamppost above is located where East 86th Street would be. And it tells you that you are 2 posts in from 5th Avenue.

do come in for a cup of tea

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"This is Best Society’s favorite form of invitation. It is used on nearly every occasion whether there is to be music or a distinguished visitor, or whether a hostess has merely an inclination to see her friends. She writes on her personal visiting card: “Do come in on Friday for a cup of tea and hear Ellwin play, or Farrish sing, or to meet Senator West, or Lady X.” Or even more informally: “I have not seen you for so long.”
[...] If the tea is of any size, from twenty upwards, the table is set in the dining-room and two intimate friends of the hostess “pour” tea at one end, and chocolate at the other. The ladies who “pour” are always especially invited beforehand and always wear afternoon dresses, with hats, of course, as distinguished from the street clothes of other guests. As soon as a hostess decides to give a tea, she selects two friends for this duty who are, in her opinion, decorative in appearance and also who (this is very important) can be counted on for gracious manners to everyone and under all circumstances." - Teas and Other Afternoon Parties, Emily Post (1873–1960). Etiquette. 1922.

So there you have it, pictures of an afternoon tea at The Rotunda at The Pierre with two friends of mine, positively decorative in appearance and displaying gracious manners under all circumstances.

the 10 foot tall cop

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NYPD commissioner Ray Kelly refers to the mounted unit as the "10 foot tall cops" because they are able to see a distance of 5 city blocks from the backs of their horses. Police horses are used for crowd control, as well as for routine patrol in areas where people and vehicles are highly concentrated.

New York's police horses are either donated or purchased with donations. They are rigorously trained to feel comfortable in the craziness of the Big Apple. Once accepted, they are trained for 3 or 4 months – 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, by day and night, and in all weather conditions. Their training program starts in the ring. "Here, trainers expose the horse to stimuli that might jolt him. They pop open umbrellas, flash lights, sound sirens, shake newspapers, fire gunshots, wave placards and ignite smoke bombs, all in an effort to replicate the atmosphere on the street. They gauge his reactions, and they ultimately help him to "rein in" his responses. Next, the horse is asked to perform forward, backward and even the far more intricate lateral movements on quiet side streets. Finally, he is ridden on busy streets, amid people, taxicabs and general chaos."

Only 25%t of the horses make the final cut. The rest are either reclaimed by their original owners or sent to a retirement farm.

The NYPD's Mounted Unit consists of some 160 police officers and 120 horses. You can learn more about them here: /www.petplace.com

stripes are hot

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Stripes are hot!!! At least that's what I understood from the last Fashion Week that took place in New York in early September and from a short stroll in Lower Manhattan. Spring will be all about pink and black, black and white with pops of color. Very classic and lovely. As a friend who works the fashion industry puts it: "Think Royal Ascot with hats for all! Lots of striped vests, blouses and jackets."

You can already have a peak at those happy stripes and colors in Battery Park, where they replace the usual boring blue construction walls. What these striped walls hide or protect from the viewers rather, is a archaeological excavation site. Read more about it here.

working late...

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Remember this one? Well, this was taken the same day, a little earlier at 7ish pm.

From left to right: a glimse at the Condé Nast builing - the new Bank of America headquarters (which claims it will be one of the greenest building in the city) - the white one is the Grace building (you can see it here too) - behind it with the little square light is the Metlife building (the one that sits on top of Grand Central) - the cutest and most elegant of all, the Chrysler building - and just in front with the touch of orange is another construction building (well, not exactly. It used to be the Verizon builing. They are changing its façade into a green glass one.)

All those little lights they left on the building in construction, gives it a Christmassy look. A little poetry in the Manhattan skyline.

chair in an unusual place

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This chair has been part of the landscape for months now. It stands outside of the 79th street subway station on Broadway. I have never seen anybody sitting on it. But someone must be very fond of it. If you look closely, you will see that it is securely attached to the subway entrance with a padlock.

let us have peace

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October theme day is incredibly uplifting: cemetry / tombstone!!
So I am taking you to the Morningside Heights neighborhood of upper Manhattan to Grant's Tomb. For more exotic destinations, check out the other participating blogs at the bottom of this post.

Located in Riverside Park in Manhattan West Site, this granite and marble monument is the final resting place of President Grant (1822–1885) and his wife, Julia Dent Grant (1826–1902). It stands on the edges of the Columbia University campus and across the street from the Riverside Church.

Ulysses S. Grant was one of the great figures in American history. "In war and in peace, his extraordinary leadership saved the Union and worked to insure a new era of peace and equality for all Americans. His death was followed by one of the largest outpourings of public grief in history. And Grant's Tomb was for many years among the most popular American landmarks."(1) It attracts 100,000 visitors annually.

Designed by architect John Duncan, the granite and marble structure was completed in 1897. A huge public subscription paid for it. Over a million people attended Grant's funeral parade in 1885. New York City was chosen as the burial site so that Mrs. Grant could visit frequently, and because Grant was grateful to New Yorkers for their outpouring of affection during his later years.

Over the entrance of the mausoleum, which is said to be the largest in North America, are carved words from Grant's 1885 memoirs: "Let us have peace".

For a quick peak inside, follow me:



You can read more about what to expect by visiting www.nyc-architecture.com


(1) from www.grantstomb.org


Other blogs participating in the monthly theme day:

St. Louis (MO), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Mainz, Germany - Hyde, UK - Arlington (VA), USA - Cape Town, South Africa - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Toulouse, France - Arradon, France - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Joplin (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Seattle (WA), USA - Baziège, France - Baltimore (MD), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Anderson (SC), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Nashville (TN), USA - Tenerife, Spain - Manila, Philippines - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Jacksonville (FL), USA - River Falls (WI), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - Lubbock (TX), USA - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Moscow, Russia - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Minneapolis (MN), USA - New Orleans (LA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Christchurch, New Zealand - London, England - Paderborn, Germany - The Hague, Netherlands - Selma (AL), USA - Sunderland, UK - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Stavanger, Norway - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Forks (WA), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Boston (MA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Wellington, New Zealand - Montpellier, France - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Evry, France - Saarbrücken, Germany - New York City (NY), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - North Bay (ON), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cypress (TX), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Paris, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Wichita (Ks), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Prague, Czech Republic - Zurich, Switzerland - Budapest, Hungary - Paris, France - Saigon, Vietnam - Grenoble, France - Zurich, Switzerland - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Toronto (ON), Canada - Sequim (WA), USA - Chicago (IL), USA