red bowl

A couple of days before Christmas, I met up with
my friend Conrad (aka Ming the Merciless,
former NYC blogger who now lives up in Maine
where he has learned to live at a much
saner pace).  It was great to catch up with him
while strolling around Dumbo and
Brooklyn Heights (where we enjoyed a yummy bowl
of café (and more) at Le Pain Quotidien.

[Linking back to Ruby Tuesday
and Our World Tuesday.]

Weekend Reflections

Was headed back home after a stroll through
Dumbo (Down Under the Manhattan 
Bridge Overpass) when I spotted the bridge 
reflected (twice!) in this bright red Honda.
Thanks for giving me a place to post it, James.


[To see more Weekend Reflections, visit James's meme.]

early morning

I loved this view of the Manhattan Bridge 
(looking past Dumbo from the Brooklyn Bridge),
before the East River fog had lifted.

[To see more of The Weekend in Black and White,
visit Dragonstar's meme.  Also linking
back to the B and W Photography Project at PODcast.]

Was this really necessary?

How long does it take to spoil a world-class view?
Fewer than five months—as I watched this 17-story
building go up beside the Brooklyn Bridge.  You
can still walk out on the bridge and look over to the
Manhattan Bridge upriver, of course, so the view
is not entirely gone.  What really ticks me off is that—
with the exception of a small percentage of
apartments on the lower floors—this will be yet
more luxury housing for the few who can afford it.

[Linking back to Mandarin Orange Monday and Mosaic Monday.]

abc wednesday —J is for "Jane's Carousel"

This beautiful carousel was originally built in 1922, and was the first carousel
to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It was purchased in 1984 by Brooklyn artist Jane Walentas and her
husband, David.  Jane has been carefully restoring it since then.

Finally, after 27 years' work, it's up and running again—in its new home
between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. The carousel—
and its glass pavilion designed by French architect Jean Nouvel—are
a gift from the the Walentas family to the people of NYC. 

Jane's painstaking renovation
was truly a labor of love.

Maybe you'd like to see it in motion:

To see more abc Wednesday, go here: http://abcwednesday-mrsnesbitt.blogspot.com/

abc wednesday —T is for "trolley tracks"

Not a lot of cobblestone streets left around here—
and you definitely won't find a lot of trolley tracks.
This is Dumbo, and that's the Manhattan Bridge up ahead.
[To see more takes on the letter T, go here.]

Thursday Challenge: Play

Took this at the great little park in DUMBO,

between the Manhattan and Brooklyn bridges.

This little guy was having the best time

kicking a soccer ball around with his dad—the boys 

of Manchester United should only

have such enthusiasm!

[See more "play" here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

Oh boy—stinky tofu!

Came across a street fair under the

Manhattan Bridge, where they seemed

to be featuring Taiwanese street food.

I'd never tried stinky tofu (and still

haven't!). What's the strangest thing

you ever ate?

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Thursday Challenge: Water

These little girls are playing at the edge of

the East River, at a wonderful new(ish) park

situated between the Brooklyn and Manhattan

Bridges, in DUMBO.  It really wasn't that long

ago that this neighborhood was a wasteland.

Now the joint is jumpin'—with galleries and

stores and parks and restaurants and,

 of course, expensive real estate 

( this place is in DUMBO, btw).

[See more Thursday Challenge shots here.]

apartment envy

I've had my beady little eye on this place in

DUMBO for a looong time. The top three floors 

of the building are one apartment—

with slammin' views of lower Manhattan, and 

the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges.

Someone told me that the current owner

paid $12 million.  If true: a bargain!