Sunday, August 31, 2008

the party's over



But it was rockin' while it lasted!  It was held in this barn
(owned by the Lone Sharks' bass player, and set up as the
perfect funky party space).  Those guys play all the time,
and when they don't have another gig—they play anyway!
No wonder they're so good.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

the north shore



Came out to the north fork of Long Island to see
The Lone Sharks (my brother's band) play.  Hoping to get
to the beach too.  The ones on the south shore (Hamptons, etc.)
are soft and sandy.  The ones on the north shore, like this
one (in Greenport), are rocky and littered with huge boulders.
That's because the glaciers stopped at the north shore of 
Long Island at the end of the last Ice Age (or so I'm told),
 and deposited all that.

you wanna buy a bridge?



Not the picture I wanted to post, but I'm lucky to
be able to put anything up! (*^$%@ computer).
You fellow PDPers will appreciate that phx-cdg and
I met this evening (that's the photo I wanted to post)
—and the first thing we did was walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.
PHX (aka Lynn) is terrific and we had so much fun together.
Thanks, Eric—look what you started!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

surf's up!


This is a famous surfers' beach out in Montauk.
One of my brothers used to literally live on this beach
40 or 50 years ago, before there were so many people
out there and they had to tell them how to 
behave on a surfboard!

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Montauk . . .


. . . is where I am for a couple of days. This is
the Montauk Light, out at the very tip of
Long Island.  It's been there since 1796, and
was used as a guide by the members of the
slave ship Amistad to come ashore nearby.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

bonding



This morning on the subway, everyone was
cranky—I actually had to physically stop
the two guys on either side of me from
coming to blows!  But a couple of days ago,
I witnessed a very different scene.  The
ladies on either end of this subway
bench were talking about their similar
black-and-white outfits.  When the third one
got on and joined them, we all had a nice laugh.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Lincoln Center . . .



. . . is a total construction zone right now.  But the
Met goes on.  I'm not the biggest opera fan ever,
but I sure would love to be at the 125th Anniversary
Gala next March (and—gift givers, take note— it takes
place on the eve of my birthday).  Yeah, that'll happen.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

park slope food coop



Where it's all-organic all the time*—and the price
is right!  This is only a small part of the selection.
There's LOTS more. I'm so grateful to have 
this place right in my neighborhood.

*or if not, then at least minimally treated

so where are the bride and groom?

Take a closer look—this is a Quinceanera.
There seem to be two birthday girls, so must be twins.
And they were all that and in charge! But they did
manage the requisite sweet smile when the
photographer said "Say cheese."


There was a huge streeeetch limo waiting to whisk
them off to the party venue, and I don't even want
to think what this cost their parents.
Happy Birthday, girls!

Friday, August 22, 2008

yet more free music!


Last night in Damrosch Park, we were treated to 
a performance by Toshi Reagon's band, BIG Lovely.
This is her mom, Bernice Johnson Reagon,
cofounder of Sweet Honey in the Rock, who 
sang with her (big thrill for me).

Thursday, August 21, 2008

look at the moon



Took this at 6 this morning, then felt
compelled to sing a verse or two of "Good
Morning Starshine" from Hair (which I'm still
hoping to see for free in Central Park).

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

fromage!



Just a small part of the excellent but unaffordable
selection at the market in Grand Central Terminal.
There's also meat, fish, veggies, bread, spices,
sweets . . . (now I'm getting hungry).

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

do you recognize this?


Eric's great photo and all that train talk on
Paris Daily Photo yesterday inspired this post.
I love trains, maybe because both grandfathers
and several uncles worked for the railroad.


Monday, August 18, 2008

obsolete?



Used to be you had to stand in line for one
of these. I don't even know what it costs
to make a call at a public phone anymore.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

global warming



Had a big discussion about it today, and thought
of this photo—taken by my daughter Katie in
Greenland. This is part of the glacier, i.e., THE glacier—
the one that if it melts, my house will be sitting on the
seabed.  Katie said they stood there and watched 
all that ice fall off in just an hour or so.
So how's YOUR carbon imprint?

Saturday, August 16, 2008

nice puppy!




I thought these five dogs were all
related to the hound of the Baskervilles,
but the kids in the park came running
as if the dogs' owner was the Pied Piper.
(including my daughter Katie, who says
"If you're gonna get a dog, get a DOG!").

Friday, August 15, 2008

skywatch Friday*



Seen from the north ferry to Shelter Island (which,
for those who don't know, is between the 
two forks at the end of Long Island).
* Because I'm having issues with the laptop, where
most of the photos live. Fingers crossed that 
I don't lose them!

Thursday, August 14, 2008

how rude!


I wanted to talk to this guy about a) putting his
big feet on the bench and b) taking up two seats
during rush hour (and, no, he wasn't sleeping).
But at the end of a long day I just couldn't be
bothered—and neither could anyone else, so he
lives to be a jerk another day.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The first time ever . . .


. . . I heard Roberta Flack sing the song she's
about to sing (especially for me, it would seem),
I thought it was the most beautiful thing I'd
ever heard.  She sang it tonight at a memorial/tribute
concert for Joel Dorn, the guy who produced her records.
(There will probably be more—it was quite a lineup.)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

for the Roses



aka from cali and Rose from Canterbury, who
have both reached out and drawn me in even
deeper into this fascinating and friendly blogger
community. (And this IS a New York rose—in the
Conservatory Garden in Central Park. Learn more
about this beautiful garden, a favorite of 
Manhattan brides, here).

Monday, August 11, 2008

my fave subway musician


This guy is good! Well, he's actually ONE of
my favorites, because there's also the guitarist
at my local stop and the drummer at Penn Station . . .

Sunday, August 10, 2008

fire escape


Never saw one this color. It's probably the
anti-rust coating and they'll paint it black soon.
But if I lived here, I'd lobby to leave it like this.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Gung hei, May & Eddie!



Okay, it's not the best picture and I don't
know May and Eddie, but I couldn't resist. Had
some fabulous dim sum at this place today,
and the sign was still there from M and E's
wedding yesterday. I heard that tens of
thousands of Chinese couples wanted
to get married on 8/8/08.

Friday, August 8, 2008

This new store . . .



. . . in my neighborhood is run by some lovely Tibetans.
They sell beautiful things, and I give them my custom as
much as possible.  Hope they're successful with this venture.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Me & Julio



I love the real NY neighborhoods, where the guys
come down to the schoolyard after dinner for a
friendly game of b-ball.  This is the West Village
(where all the neighbors who aren't part of this
pick-up game are the A-list movie stars who've
come to roost in this part of town.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

waiting for the uptown express


She knew those killer shoes would turn out to
be exactly that—and she was prepared! (I know
women who never go anywhere without 
their safety flip-flops.)

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

party on, car 2226!



This is one of a looong line of police cars
parked outside Grand Central. There were
even more around the corner, on 42nd Street,
lined up along 2 or 3 blocks and all with
emergency lights flashing. They do this from 
time to time. Why? No idea, but it's a little freaky.

Monday, August 4, 2008

the GW


Went to New Jersey; crossed this swell bridge, the
4th-largest suspension bridge in the country. Two
levels, no waiting (a total lie—you never just sail
across this one, especially during rush hour).

Sunday, August 3, 2008

it's a living



No, seriously. I'm really impressed with the quantity
of cans and bottles this guy has amassed; even at 
cents apiece, that's a decent chunk of change. 
 And if he can do this every day . . .

Saturday, August 2, 2008

long lens



Felt a bit voyeuristic, so—sorry. 
 But it was such a good opportunity 
to test the new 15X zoom.

Let's go to Venice



If only it were that easy. I read that as of May 1, you're no
longer allowed to feed the pigeons in Piazza San Marco,
and you risk a fine of 50 to 500 euros if you do. Apparently, the
city officials have come to the conclusion that the 40,000
or so pigeons are a health risk and a nuisance. Gee, you think??