that's more like it

Gramercy schmamercy -- I'll take this garden. The wedding I

went to was in Poughkeepsie, at Locust Grove, the home

of Samuel F.B. Morse. Ironically, he was very active in the anti-

Catholic and anti-immigrant movements. Ironic because this

wedding was performed by a Catholic priest, and the bride's

whole family are first-generation Americans who came here

from Poland. I hope that old bigot Sam was turning over in

his grave (which is in Brooklyn, btw).

let's get outta here!

Given the name of this blog, chosen before I really knew what it would be,

I"ve decided I should take you someplace else altogether every Friday (at least).

So guess where this is. It's McCall, Idaho.  Never understood why they call this part

of the U.S. "God's country" until I went there. Oh, right. Now I get it.

BTW, won't be here tomorrow, because like this fellow, I'll be up a creek w/o the

Internet. Unlike Eric (and Bibi and practically everyone else), I have no idea how

 to post ahead (duh). Have a great weekend, mes amis. See you Sunday.

tough decision

I hate the subway, I love the subway, I hate the subway,

I love ... well, you get the idea. It's crowded, noisy, and

annoying -- but it gets you where you're going (most

of the time), runs 24/7/365, and you do encounter

some interesting characters -- musicians, buskers,

preachers, and this guy, who's managed to boil it all

down to a simple choice.

let me in

Behind this locked gate is beautiful, peaceful

—and exclusive—Gramercy Park. Unless you

have a key (which you can buy if you live in one

of the buildings that face the park), you'll have

to admire it from outside the big iron fence.

And if you do have a key, leave the dog at home.

tallest

Had to run an errand yesterday, and just

before I went back down in the subway,

I happened to look up. Strange to think

you could forget this is here.

BBG

Brooklyn Botanic Garden, that is. Couldn't decide

what to put here tonight, so went first to Eric's PDP

post for inspiration—and found it. I'm lucky enough

to have this gorgeous place right around the corner.

This shot was taken about 2 months ago, when their

famous cherry blossoms were at their absolute

bright pink flowering peak!

we have one too

Not as big as the Arc de Triomphe, for sure,

but our arch, in Grand Army Plaza, is also

beautiful -- and it's two minutes from my

house. It does add to my yearning for Paris,

though (as if I needed any more help with that).

more music

Because it's the Fete de la Musique all 

over and, besides, Coltrane likes it.

This is the Lone Sharks -- guitar, bass, sax,

sometimes keyboard, and my brother on drums.

They play American roots music, and

I defy you to keep from dancing.

you and the night and the music

This is just a VERY FEW of the people who came

to Prospect Park tonight to have a picnic, drink

some wine, and be entertained by the NY

Philharmonic, The Metropolitan Opera Chorus,

and Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna

(who sang a random selection of just the really

good arias). The middle of the park is a very

long meadow, and they set up a big stage at

one end, but placed speakers and big screens

along almost the whole length of the meadow.

This was the most elaborate of all the free summer

concerts the Philharmonic is doing this year,

and of course they did it in Brooklyn.

Sometimes I really love this city.

Chinatown

The opinions of the fish are not necessarily those of the blogger.

Hey, maybe he thought I was going to buy him and

eat him, as he was in a big tank with lots of his friends,

for that express purpose. But I've never had a fish stick

its tongue out at me before, and I really liked this one's chutzpah.

Sunset over Red Hook

Red Hook is another part of Brooklyn that is becoming newly

gentrified. Ships dock there, and these cranes are used

to offload containers. This shot was taken by my daughter Lila.

I share it with you because it's amazing, and also because we

spent $100,000 plus for her to get a degree in Art History and

Photography at NYU, and I'd like to think that this photo is at

least partial proof of money well spent. What do you think?

I hate Times Square

But I love the Naked Cowboy, aka John Robert Burke,

originally from Cincinnati. He's out there literally

year-round in his whitie-tighties and not much else

-- strumming his guitar and singing (and posing for

photos with the tourists, of course). He once told one of my 

daughters that for some reason he just doesn't get cold.

Saddle up for Rush Hour

These people are headed into the south end

of Prospect Park, designed by the same fellow

(Frederic Law Olmsted) who designed Central Park in NYC.

Took this shot this afternoon. (I don't have a car, but my

wonderful West African friend, Diallo, does, thank goodness,

and I can call him whenever I need to get from here to there.)

I'm just saying -- we have it all in Brooklyn!

as it is, as it was

Also for Rahul, our famous view of lower 

Manhattan from Brooklyn—just wish 

it hadn't been such an overcast day.

vertigo

This is a view from the 32nd floor of the 

new Hearst Building, looking down at the 

intersection of Broadway and 57th Street.