abc wednesday - K is for "key"

And this one is the key to the whole
Kingdom, apparently. This statue of
St. Peter, which stands in front of the
Vatican, was sculpted by Giuseppe di
Fabris in the mid-19th century.

"That's My World"—New York @ night (2)

This is prime Greenwich Village: Father
Demo Square, at the confluence of
Bleecker St., Carmine St., and 6th Ave.
(NYers never call it Avenue of the Americas).
They recently spent a couple of years
renovating this square (but didn't remove
its charm—thank you!).
Check out more That's My World pix here.

Mellow Yellow Monday

Just have to say: The NYFD is always on it!
NYC firefighters do a lot more than just
fight fires. Personally, I'm pretty much in
awe of the men and women who choose
to do that tough job.
See more MYM here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Took this in front of my daughter Lila's
place. The West Village used to be prime
Celebrity Central, now they're all flocking
to this beautiful Brooklyn neighborhood.
On this street alone you may run into author
Jonathan Lethem and actors Michelle
Williams and Emily Mortimer.
(Guess they've figured out what I've known
for a while: Brooklyn is the best borough!)
Catch more shadows here.

Photo Hunter — "Twisted"

This shot was taken in my "backyard,"
the Brooklyn Botanic Garden—I feel so
fortunate to have this beautiful oasis
just a few short blocks from my place!
(And the $40 yearly membership is the
best money I spent all year!)
Now, can anyone tell me what this
flower is? (Almost everything at the
BBG is labelled—almost).
See more PhotoHunter shots here.

Skywatch Friday

In some of the cities I love (Venice, Florence,
Paris in certain neighborhoods), I'd really be
aghast to find a juxtaposition like this. Here,
however, I mostly love it—though the tall tall
buildings downtown are getting out of hand.
For that, I blame Mayor Bloomberg (who will
probably get elected to an unprecedented
3rd term).
See more skywatch photos here.

subway art #2

Some subway stations have wonderful tile
art. From top to bottom, these are 66th St.
(Lincoln Center), Houston Street (only
explanation I can think of for this one is that
there is a public pool nearby), and 81st Street
(the Museum of Natural History).

abc wednesday - J is for "java"

And some of the best anywhere can
be found in Italy. If you want to enjoy
a cup of Joe at Italy's first coffeebar—
Florian, in Venice—don't do what
Casanova did and sit at a table. You'll
save a few euros if you stand (though
you don't really have to since there are
stools) at the bar. Italy is the only
place on the planet where I'll forgo
my usual decaf for the real thing
(but with milk, please!)—because it
really is that good.
See more abc wednesday here.

At the greenmarket

This is the big one, in Union Square,
where everything looks SO good.
Have you ever been in the throes of
bacon hypnosis?

Mellow Yellow Monday

Buttercup Bake Shop is on the Upper
West Side, conveniently located between
Central Park and the subway I need to
take to get home from this nabe. From clinical
psychologist to bakery owner, Jennifer Appel
wisely realized that cupcakes = good therapy.
Though, personally, I'm rather partial to the
banana pudding. What's your fave dessert?

Shadow Shot Sunday

This is the General Theological Seminary,
which takes up a whole block in Chelsea.
Clement Clarke Moore, author of the classic
'Twas the Night Before Christmas,' taught
here in the 1800s.
The buildings are built around a wonderful
green oasis in the center. We lived in this
neighborhood when the kids were little
and brought them here to play often.
See more shadow shots here.

photo hunter – "upside-down"

I absolutely love what can only be described
as "barf rides." However, I do think this
one, which is in Coney Island, only qualifies
as such if you're a real lightweight. Still, it
sure does look like fun, don't you think?
Find more PhotoHunter photos here.

skywatch Friday

Still can't quite leave the beach,
but can you blame me? Am still
envious of my daughter Lila, who
last month managed to visit four
different beach houses in the
space of one week! (But am even
more envious of the owners of
those beach houses.)
See more Skywatch here.

Bowery Mission

These good folks have been feeding the
hungry and homeless for 131 years. I
found them just outside Tomkins Square
Park, in the East Village. I love their
"street" paraphrasing of Matthew 4:19
on the hood of the truck (when I checked
this chapter and verse it read, "And he said
to them, 'Come, follow me, and I will make
you fishers of men.'").

abc wednesday - I is for "introspection"

This guy has been thinking for
more than a hundred years (what
do you call your sculpture when
your model looks bored?), and
if you're bored—I mean, if you're
feeling introspective—you
can join him (if you're also lucky) 
in  Rodin's garden.
See more ABCs here.

fortune teller

This woman has set up shop at Coney Island.
I've known a couple of people who really
could sense things that would happen in
others' lives. But they never took money,
and were somewhat reluctant to do
"readings," in case what they saw was
bad news. So are you a believer?

power to the (little) people

Okay, I have shopped at Barnes & Noble, but

I also try to frequent the small independent

bookstores in my neighborhood and around

the city—because I sure would hate to see

them disappear—wouldn't that be a shame?

Find more mellow yellow here.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Can't believe it's already the middle

of September.  We may have a few

decent beach days left (I hope), but

meanwhile here's something I found

on the beach at Montauk—to me it 

looks like modern art.

Find more shadow shots here.

photo hunter – "electric"

Here's a cool new (to me) meme, with a different

theme each Saturday.  And here's a vehicle

that uses electricity to charge its battery.

Even though I'm totally phobic about

driving, the Segway looks like a really

fun (and green) way to get around.

Spotted these up at the Campidoglio,

in Rome (where it takes a big dose of 

nerve even to cross the street on foot).

Skywatch Friday

Given the date of this post, I'm sure you
can guess what was once visible soaring
above the World Financial Center, where
now you can see only sky. Still miss them.
See more Skywatch posts here.

Evening Tide

That's the name of this hardworking
little tugboat. For a while when I was
a kid I fantasized about working on a
tug. These days I fantasize about living
on a tug that's been renovated and is
now a fabulous houseboat—moored
on the quai de la Tournelle, in Paris
(as long as we're fantasizing, might
as well just go for it!).

abc wednesday - H is for "home"

And this was my last one when I lived in Paris:
1, rue de l'Ecole Polytechnique, in the 5th—a
VERY narrow building (a bed just fit along the
end wall). My roommate and I lived on the 3rd
floor, and almost got in big trouble with the
concierge when our cat knocked a plant off the
windowsill (plante? chat? Je ne sais pas de
quoi vous parlez, Madame!) You can see in this
shot (taken 30 years later) that they've solved
that problem.

[Join ABC Wednesday here.]

get the party started!

Imagine my surprise when I was awakened at

around 3 a.m. Monday morning to what sounded

like dozens of steel drums—and that's just what

it was. Got up, got dressed, grabbed my camera,

and went to investigate what turned out to be

J'Ouvert (jour ouvert = daybreak), the

prelude to yesterday's annual Labor Day West

Indian Parade, which takes place one block from

my house.  Since this is an election year, every

politician in the 5 boroughs was on hand (but

sans costume, so much too dull to be shown here).

[Visit That's My World Tuesday here.]

at the Met

They've set up this big screen right on the

front of the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln

Center, and have been showing free screenings

of Met performances in HD. On Friday the

ex and I enjoyed a performance of La Boheme.

This is also my first post for a meme called

Mellow Yellow Monday (memes are so much

fun, and I think there's enough yellow here

to qualify for this one).

[Enjoy more Mellow yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Welcome to my "nest," the perfect place for

R and R—comfy chaise, my grandmother's antique

sleigh bed, mother-in-law's hope chest, and 

lots and lots of travel books.

[See more shadow shots here.]

NoHo

I hear there may be a problem with this building,
because some new golden "dancers" by sculptor
Bruce Williams were added recently—but since the
original ones were installed the building has been
given landmark status, which means you can't
change the facade in any way.  Hope they don't
remove them.  My own fire escape is pretty
boring in comparison—not so much as a dead
plant.  This building is also where photographer
Robert Mapplethorpe had his studio.

Skywatch Friday

I'm heading back to Manhattan

on the Staten Island Ferry,

with some gorgeous clouds

banked up over Brooklyn.

[See more Skywatch shots here.]

who lives here?

Based on the laundry drying on the fire escape,

if these garments are his everyday attire I'm

guessing this is not the home of a major

league ballplayer, Anglican bishop, or former

U.S. attorney general.  On the other hand, this

could be a strictly "after hours" wardrobe—in

which case, all bets are off (and what I wouldn't

give to see Ashcroft in these duds!).

abc wednesday - G is for "gondola"

A little rain didn't keep these (I'm guessing)

honeymooners from their romantic 

ride on the Grand Canal!

Personally, I wouldn't be caught dead—

but don't let me spoil YOUR fun.

[See more abc wednesday posts here.]

medieval Empire

While walking up on the High Line, I looked
to the northeast at just the right moment to
see this unusual lineup.