Weekend Reflections

Park Avenue reflected in the façade of the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where the
president stays when he's in town—also
a fun place to cut through when
it's very cold or rainy (or if you're looking 
for a high-class public loo).

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

Just a little souvenir

I work near the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel
(where U.S. presidents always stay when they're
in NYC).  Whenever I have to walk past it, I
usually opt to walk through it instead.  This is
one of the shops in the lobby.  The W-A is a very
high-class establishment and I wouldn't expect to find
a souvenir shop there, with little plastic yellow cabs
and foam Statue of Liberty crowns.  On the other hand,
this is not the kind of stuff you take home in
your carry-on—so I always wonder who shops here.

[To see more Blue Monday posts, visit Smiling Sally's meme.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

Probably the most famous NYC meeting spot was

"under the clock at the Biltmore." It's where J.D. Salinger 

used to meet New Yorker editor Wallace Shawn 

(and he took Holden Caulfield there too). But

since the Biltmore is no more—gutted in 1981 despite

its landmark status—we'll just have to meet here in the

Center Lobby of the Waldorf Astoria, under this beautiful clock,

 instead. It was created for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, 

stands 9 feet tall, and weighs two tons. Around the

base are likenesses of Washington, Cleveland, Harrison,

Lincoln, Grant, Franklin, Jackson, and Queen Victoria. Every

quarter hour, the clock sounds the Westminster Chimes.

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]