billyburg

around b'way & driggs ave - williamsburg, brooklyn - map it here [L]
Now that we have crossed the bridge, we can now look back and enjoy this iconic Williamsburg view.
If we turn around, here's the borough's tallest building: the Williamsburgh Savings Bank, now a branch of HSBC.

Hungry? This way to the king of steak, Peter Luger, le roi du steak. It is considered to be the best steakhouse in the city, maybe even in the country or, according to one-time customer Alfred Hitchcock, "the universe". And if Alfred said so...

(No, it's not Peter Luger's façade. There was an ugly van in front. So this is the closest that we've got.)

approaching williamsburg

williamsburg bridge - lower east side (entrance: clinton & delancey streets)/brooklyn - map it here [L]
The Williamsburg Bridge opened in 1903. Immigrants who were living in the crowded Lower East Side began crossing the bridge to fill tenements directly across the river. In the 1990's, artists who couldn't afford the East Village also crossed the river. And so today, Williamsburg is known as a hipster haven (Northside) as well as a Hasidic and Hispanic neighborhood (Southside).
As it is farthest north, compared to the Manhattan and Brooklyn brides, crossing the Williamsburg Bridge provides you with a closer view of Midtown Manhattan.

A warning though if you plan the crossing: you will be overwhelmed by all the of pink around you.

It is very pink.

this way to williamsburg

williamsburg bridge - lower east side (clinton & delancey streets) - map it here [L]
This is the pedestrian and bicyclist entrance to the Williamsburg Bridge, which will bring you from the Lower East Side to Williamsburg in Brooklyn.

mwaah!

near the central park precinct - map it here [L]
Another proof that Spring is really here: I found two little NYPD patrol cars romancing each others near the Central Park Precinct. Aaaww...

a typical new york breakfast

artie's delicatessen - broadway & 83rd - map it here [L]
A toasted bagel, a little cream cheese, some onion, good nova, capers and a watery coffee, that's what makes a quintessential New York breakfast. Well, there's also the slice of tomato, which I got rid of because I am picky like that.

And if you're eating at Artie's, they bring you a huge bowl of cole slaw and another one full of pickles. Which I don't eat, 'cause I am picky like that.

found: pair of yellow plastic legs!

red hook, brooklyn - map it here
Found in Red Hook, Brooklyn: pair of yellow plastic legs
• in perfectly good shape
• practically not used
• for indoor or outdoor use
• great decorative qualities
• waterproof
For exact location and direction, contact the owner of this blog - serious requests only please.

hook & ladder

nyc fire engine co. 74 - W77th between broadway and amsterdam - map it here
Today I'm showing you the local fire engine company, home of New York Bravest.

flowerhead

macy's - 151 w34th street - map it here [L]
If you planned to go the Macy's Flower Show, well, it's too late. The last day was yesterday. No worries, the good soul that I am took a few pictures for you.

It has the right level of tackiness to keep your eyes entertained. And if you take a second look, you'll see those pretty orchids chains on the pendant lamp.

The flowerhead in context...

Flowers planted above the merchandise...

spring street?

w82nd @ broadway - map it here
No, no, no! This is in my 'hood: W82nd and Broadway. Our friend Daryl will recognize the corner of Laytner's Linen Shop, where by the way, pillows and sheets are on sale. As for Spring Street, it's all the way down in SoHo.
Here's another view of the building where you can see the colombages (half-timbering?) on the façade.

going somewhere?

timetables @ penn station - midtown - map it here [L]
This is what happens when you decide you have to take a picture of something pretty at Penn Station. Hey, I always found those colorful little timetables quite cute. Penn Station is not exactly the best looking train station in the city but it is certainly the busiest, serving commuters to New Jersey and Long Island.

escalators in neon paradise

toys r us - times square - map it here [L]
These must be the most photogenic escalators in town. Usually not from that angle, but from this one: red & groovy - nov2008, remember?

the 11th hour

general post office - 380 w33rd street - map it here [L]
April 15th is synonym with Tax Day! in the U.S. If you haven't mailed your tax return yet, there's still a chance: run to the General Post Office on 33th Street and 8th Avenue. Hurry!!!
A couple of hours ago, this building was completely packed inside.

Not to worry, you can join those people outside.

The line is long but the weather is fine. And you're across from Madison Square Garden, so you can dream of the basketball game that you are missing.

See, they've added a mobile post office. And these folks behind the windows are the real rockstars of the day.

Oh and, while you're at it, keep a copy for your files. The good people at Staples offer you free copies of your returns. Sweet.

And next time, file it electronically! The scene is less exciting but it is super easy, fast and convenient. Seriously!

i love coffee, i love tea

cappuccino, the new yorker magazine - sarabeth's - upper west side [L]
The Smurfette is back on the blog after a little Easter break. A staycation, to be exact. See, I have a very special knack for taking days off on rainy days only. I hope you all had a great time and treated yourself to some good Belgian chocolates. Yes, I have to do my part to impact our balance of commerce positively. I am a good citizen that way.
A rainy day, the baby Leica, a capuccino and The New Yorker magazine, these were the factors that pushed me to partake in an extreme session of "testing the settings" this morning. I'm slowly starting to understand what all those little buttons do.
Demonstration!
Exhibit one (here above): The New Yorker Magazine article in question is titled A Fine Rage, by James Wood. I thought the illustration of the angry British author drinking tea was the perfect repartee to my cappucino.
Exhibit two: all eyes on the coffee bubbles!

Exhibit three: eyes on the angry dude!

Exhibit four: no more sugar.

As you can see, this is a great day: three successful close ups. Feel my joy.

where the smurfs go on vacation

howard e. and jessie jones house - bay ridge, brooklyn - map it here
Its nickname is the Gingerbread House, officially it is the Howard E. and Jessie Jones House, named after the original owners. It was built in 1916-17 by architect J. Sarsfield Kennedy for a successful shipping merchant and it is one of New York's rare example of the Arts and Crafts movement.

From The Brooklyn Paper:

"It’s not just beautiful from the outside. This candy-coated dreamhouse is sweet on the inside, too - [...] the house has a bowling alley in the basement and a revolving garage door. All they have to do is push a button, and the entire garage floor shifts so they never have to back out.”

and a much better view here:

photo credit: Jim in Times Square on Flickr

and spring sprung

80th St & colonial rd - bay ridge, brooklyn - map it here [L]
Another picture taken this weekend in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. I wanted to capture the first blooming trees, the hot pink against the azure sky and the naked lace-like tree in the background.
I took about a dozen of that same view, trying out the different settings of my camera. Although I like some parts of the picture, it not quite what I wanted. Ah well, we'll get there.

bicycling and daydreaming

american veteran memorial park - bay ridge, brooklyn - map it here [L]
Ah, Spring... already a distant memory. This was yesterday in Bay Ridge. Today, it's another story: Spring has decided to snob us big time. And that should be on the menu for the rest of the week: umbrella, umbrella, umbrella!!! So let's take a big breath and enjoy the view.

fishing and meditating

american veteran memorial park - bay ridge, brooklyn - map it here [L]
Spring is finally here! Today I am bringing you to Bay Ridge, a Brooklyn neighborhood. It is opposite to Staten Island and overlooks the New York Bay. It is one of the best places in Brooklyn to enjoy the water, bike, run and rollerblade.
The view above was taken at the American Veteran Memorial Park, a pier at the end of 69th St at Shore Rd, where you can see fishermen, kids running around, people using picnic tables for what they are intended for. The view of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is awesome but it is also a unique vantage point to the Hudson River (New Jersey to the west, Manhattan to its east, Miss Liberty is in the picture too).

conversation between monsters

lorimer st - greenpoint, brooklyn - map it here [i]
I am not sure what those two are arguing about but if it's their conversation transcript on the door it is damn serious and really not that pretty.
Is it just me or the monster on the right is super cute?

testing 1-2-3: salade niçoise two ways

homemade lunch: salade niçoise - office somewhere in the times square area [i]

salade niçoise - office somewhere in the times square area [L]
Today's homemade lunch was the subject of a little "compare and contrast" exercise.
The first picture was taken via the old good iPhone. Just one click. Not too bad.
The second and third were taken with the new baby Leica.
I still need to experiment of course. The image format is a bit bizarre (very rectangular) and the size astronomically huge. But it does look crispier. A bit like when you get your new contacts and everything looks a tad more fresh.
So, what do you think?

little poland

somewhere in greenpoint, brooklyn - map it here [i]
This weekend I explored Greenpoint, a Brooklyn neighborhood, also known as Little Poland. It used to be a working-class neighborhood were generation of hardworking immigrants were working in theoil refineries, glass factories and in the shipbuilding industry. Germans and Irish arrived in the mid-19th century and large numbers of Polish people began arriving before the turn of the century. So no wonder you can find your favorite Polish newspapers, restaurants were to induldge in potato pancakes, stuffed cabbage, kielbasa, pierogies, babka, ...
But if you are looking for kasety video, bilety lotnicze or ekspress paszporty dokumentow, no luck: the store seems to be closed.