deep blue with citrus patchwork

Any clue now? (see yesterday post)
Maybe this one is a better clue:

bye, bye, manhattan!

Today, I wave Manhattan goodbye and hop on a water taxi for some nice urban exploration. Can you guess where I am going? I'll give you one clue: it has something to do with the color of the water taxi.
Guided tour: We're on the Hudson River. Straight ahead, the old-fashioned boats you see is where South Street Seaport is located. If your eyes are good, you'll see it's on Pier 17. And you guessed it, that bridge is the Brooklyn Bridge.

staying late in the office (number two)

Another picture I took last night from our conference room.

I really like that time of day, when the sunset makes the buildings blush.
Do I really need to tell you what we are looking at? Well, if you insist.
We are now looking towards the south east of Manhattan. On your right, the iconic Empire State Building (blushing on its right cheek). In the background you can distinguish the East River and Brooklyn across it.

staying late in the office

midtown, 42nd Street - map it here

Today, I am staying a bit too late in the office. And I suddenly remembered that, oh horror and damnation, I had not posted any picture for the day yet. So I took a little break and headed to our kitchen where I snapped this one for you.

Guided tour: we're in midtown in the Times Square area, looking towards the East Side (you can imagine the East River behind the buildings and then Queens). That street going East is 42nd Street. The first building on the left is the new headquarters of Bank of America (known to be a very green building). Next is the Grace Building with its nice slope and crisp grid. At the very back you'll recognize the loveliest of all, the Chrysler Building. How gorgeous is it, with the sunset hitting its top? And that green stuff on the right is what used to be the Verizon building, which used to be a black box - it just got a new glass cover.

ghost runner

And one good shoe!!! (see yesterday's post)

there should be a law about this

Crocs - 270 Columbus Ave., NY 10079 - map it here

Seriously.
I have a very special aversion for those ugly shoes. I fiercefuly hate them. Yes, I do. If it were up to me, I would fine every person older than twelve who dares wearing Crocs. I would make them write two hundred times "I should never, ever, under absolutely no circumstance, wear such ugly plastic shoes in public". I would make sure they had no dessert. Crocs should simply be illegal. And no, the fact that Mario Batali wears them in flashy colors that match his oversized tshirts does make it acceptable. If anything, it should be a sign, people. Who's with me on voting to ban those ugly shoes off our streets? Hmm?

doubtful

New York Public Library - 5th Avenue @ 42nd Street - map it here

Doubtful (incertain). This is the word that you can read on the top right corner of the dictionary page from which I am taking this picture.
Doubtful. Like the weather that we experienced all day today. Will it rain? Maybe. Will it stop raining? Maybe. Will it rain again? Maybe. Will it continue raining tomorrow? Maybe. And the day after? Maybe.
Ah well, let's keep our noses in the pages of a good book!

ten empty chairs

, première mise en ligne par • Eliane •.

Another glimpse at that pool that nobody enjoyed.

liquid stairway

liquid stairway, première mise en ligne par • Eliane •.

Tempting?
Ok, not exactly New York City but still in NY State. I am taking you to Glen Cove (Long Island) where our company off-site takes place this year. A glimpse at a swimming pool that nobody will enjoy as we all are in meeting rooms for the entire day. Hence the trip out of the city. ;)

leaving the city

, première mise en ligne par • Eliane •.

This was taken from the car as we were leaving Manhattan to head to a company off-site this morning. I swear, I had the Sivercup Studio sign just a few seconds before. And it was perfect. Damn bridge.

Oh and the Silvercup Studios is where series like Sex and the City, The Sopranos, 30 Rock, Gossip Girl, Ugly Betty, ... are being shot. Many movies were shot there too (see list here).

tcha tcha tcha!

Hudson River & 70th Street - map it here

"Here we go: two! three! tcha tcha, one! ladies turn!
two! three! tcha tcha, one! men goes!
and remember, you must turn on your forward step!"

Aaah, the smell of summer, when you can learn how to salsa, swing and more on Sunday nights. Let's Dance! takes place at the 70th Street Pier Plaza in Riverside Park on the Upper West Side. Dance lessons are free and led by top instructors from Soho Dance Studio.

As you can see from the picture above and the two little ones below, it takes place under the West Side Hideway. But the view on the Hudson (last picture) is just so much better.

father's day

W39th St & 12th Ave.-map it here

This picture was taken a few hours ago as I was riding my bicycle on the bike path along the Hudson River. I was seduced by the warm tones of the buildings as the sun sets. I thought it was all clear until this little girl and her dad popped on my screen. Happy father's day!

groceries shopping

, première mise en ligne par • Eliane •.

Did you get your five servings of veggies and fruits today?

women's health community mural project

7th Avenue & W 125th Street, Harlem - map it here
This beautiful mural in Harlem promotes women's health in a wonderful and colorful way.

alive and kicking

Broadway @ W79th St - map it here
I know you do worry, hence the update.
And for those of you who have not followed this blog religiously, here is a trip through memory lane.

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.

famous deli

Broadway @ W109th St - map it here
So much so, that I had never heard of it before.
But I do like this declination of pinks, oranges, purples and reds.

tonight at the apollo

253 W125th St - map it here
And a walk in Harlem would not be complete without a picture of the iconic Apollo sign. Above is the view from the sign walking towards the east and below, towards the west side.
I cannot believe that I have never been to the Apollo yet. We shall have to remedy to that prontissimo.

welcome to harlem. harlem, usa.

235 W125 St - map it here

Ooops, I almost forgot to post something this Monday.
So here we go, a quick one: one famous sign on W125st in Harlem. Harlem, USA that is.

As for the Victoria Theater, the building this sign belongs to, it has been closed since the late 90ies. There is a whole controversy as developpers want to convert it into a luxurious condo tower while community activists want it restored to its former splendor and used for local artistic events.

welcome to harlem

W125st Street - map it here
"Eat what you want... then come see Puppy!" This is the humorous motto of Puppy's, this women clothes store in Harlem.
Aaah, if only what we want to eat would be good for us. Well, then Puppy's would be closed, wouldn't it? Oh, wait... it is closed. Or is it?

déjeuner sur l'herbe

Harlem Meer in Central Park North - map it here
This picture was taken during Memorial Day weekend in the North of Central Park. I am sure this photo is probably not great technically but I love how the sun contours these friends enjoying a late picnic. The balloon looks almost surreal.
When was the last time you picnic-ed on the grass? Exactly.

shoes off, please!

SoHo - map it here
I posted this picture of a doorstep somewhere in SoHo on my Flickr account and got a comment that amused me and which I thought was the perfect commentary for this picture:
I love this: 'We are edgy but fastidious people - our dream is to live in a hip, up-and-coming neighborhood but with really clean rugs. Shoes off please." - johnsfauxtos

laundromat

W79th & Broadway - map it here
Many New Yorkers do not have a washing machine at home. What to do? You either go to a laundromat like the one pictured above where you do your own laundry. Or, like me, you drop it in the morning at the Chinese laundry around the corner and you pickup your clothes washed and neatly folded when you return from work. I love it! First, I hate doing laundry (who doesn't?) and second, everything is so neatly folded in the same perfect size that I don't even need to iron anything. It's magic!

en cage

W80's - map it here
We stay in my 'hood where I've discovered a couple of brownstones that have those voluptuous ... how do we call this? ... balcony cages? Kind of a nice jail for those pretty flowers.

59

W80's - map it here
Somewhere in my 'hood, a typical brownstone with a nice flower pot. I just want to sit there, sip a coffee and read the newspaper. Pas vous?

balloon dog (yellow), 1994–2000

Metropolitan Museum of Arts - 1000 5th Avenue - map it here
One last stop on the roof to show you what must be one of the most photographed dog in the city these days. I nearly wanted to poke it and see if it would deflate. But I behaved.

june 2008 theme day: my local corner shop

zabar's - 2245 Broadway - map it here
Like 174 other City Daily Photo Blogs around the world, I am taking you shopping just around the corner. You can go on a (cheap) international shopping spree by browsing through these 174 posts on the portal here. Enjoy!
Until late yesterday, I was still undecided as to which corner shop to feature. See, the shops at both corners of my street are both New York institutions. On one corner, you have H&H Bagels ("like no other bagels in the world"). And on the other corner, you have Zabar's ("New York is Zabar's... Zabar's is New York").
I chose the later since Saul Zabar, its president and co-owner, is featured in today's New York Times:
• A Lifetime Amid the Lox and Rugelach
• Almost 80 and Still Zabar's Big Fish, a great audio slide show
Enjoy!