Shadow Shot Sunday

Road trip! I don't drive myself (like De Niro, I'm

a native New Yorker—I heard that the first time he had 

to drive in a film it quickly became clear

that he didn't know how. When they asked him

if he had a driver's license he said, "What for?  

I live in New York.").  But I love tooling down a

beautiful country road, with Syrius Radio tuned to the 

Sixties station and everyone singing along

at top volume. With any luck, the other people in the 

car won't care that I can't sing to save my life!

[See more shadow shots here.]

photo Hunter — "spotted"

Oh, why did I already post a picture of our

new snow leopards?  Oh well, this will have to do.  

This is the Puck Building, in Soho.

I love these cool cast iron steps, inset with

glass, that are lit from below. BTW, if you

ever watched the show Will and Grace, you'll

recognize the Puck Bldg. as the one where

Grace supposedly had her office.

[See more spots here.]

skywatch Friday

It was frigid when I took this shot, and there was

snow on the ground. But I feel like you'd know 

that even if I didn't tell you—somehow, this picture 

just says "winter" to me.

[See more Skywatch pix here.]

who shops here?

There are stores like this one all over 

midtown and I always wonder

who buys this stuff. Oh, wait—maybe

that's why they're going out of business.

(Except that these places are always "going

out of business" but somehow never do.)

abc wednesday - B is for "berries"

When I was down in Virginia recently, it was

VERY cold—which made waking up to the sight 

of this beautiful little holly tree 

right outside my window even more special.

[See how others interpreted "B" here.]

got knives?

When I was a kid (waaay back in the mid-20th

century), there was a guy who came around our

neighborhood in a truck just like this one, and

all the moms would go out with their knives and

scissors to get them sharpened. I really thought

this kind of business no longer existed anywhere

in NYC—but apparently I was wrong! 

 Is there anything like this where you are?

[See more of That's My World Tuesday here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

The Nom Wah Tea Parlor (opened in 1920) 

was the first dim sum restaurant

in Chinatown.  I have fond memories of coming

 here with my father when I was a kid. 

 He always made me figure out what the bill 

would be, since you pay by the plate.

Back in the fifties, it was 25 cents for a small

plate, 50 cents for a large one!

These days this place is constantly being shut down 

by the Dept. of Health. Hope they get

(and keep) their act together. Yes, it's a bit funky—

but you can't eat off my floors either

(except when my mom is coming for a visit).

shadow Shot Sunday

While flying over the foothills of the

Blue Ridge mountains, I looked down and saw nothing

 but . . . shadows! (It really is an obsession.)

[See the work of more obsessed shadow shooters here.]

photo Hunter — "balanced"

My idea of a balanced meal: fried oysters

and a bloody Mary. Oysters for protein,

and they're breaded so you have carbs.

And tomato juice is a vegetable right?

(Oh wait, tomatoes are a fruit. But

there is a celery stalk, so there you go!)

[See how others interpreted "balanced" here.]

Skywatch Friday

This is the Sherry Netherland Hotel, at 5th

and 59th. My high-school French teacher's

parents actually lived here. Wonder if they'd

be able to afford it now.

BTW, this place has pretty much the 

same view as Tuesday's terrace.

[Check out more Skywatch pix here.]

Happy Birthday, Eric!

Eric of Paris Daily Photo (aka our hero and the

man who invented the daily photo blog) is

having a big birthday today. In his honor, I've

chosen a photo taken from "the famous Tenin

perspective." Eric, this is the road that leads to

the rest of your life—see how long and straight

and free of obstacles it is! Merci bien for your

inspiration and your friendship. Have a very bon

anniversaire and many many more, mon capitain!

abc wednesday - A is for "arches"

Specifically, l'arc du Carrousel and l'Arc

de Triomphe, with the Luxor Obelisk at place 

de la Concorde in between.  Maybe

if I was a lot taller you'd be able to see the arch 

at la Défense, which lines up with these two.

[See how others interpreted this one here.]

more terrace envy

Spotted this one recently. It's right on 5th

Avenue overlooking Central Park, and I might

ever be able to afford it (but just maybe)

if I won the lottery.

Mellow Yellow Monday

This is the famous Palm Court at the

Plaza Hotel. Apparently it's closed until early 

2010 (so sometime soon). I can

definitely recommend the afternoon tea

service here—you'll feel just like Eloise.

[See more Mellow Yellow here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

I've shown this to you before, but I came

by here recently; it was cold and the

 kids who usually climb on this statue were

probably in school. Still, there was 

quite a photo op going on—and 

I couldn't resist joining in!

[See more Shadow Shots here.]

photo Hunter — "jiggly"

Should have shot the last batch of 

Jell-O I made!  But since I didn't . . .

The obvious solution would have been to 

post a photo of a specific part of my anatomy. 

 Wait, maybe not. So, before they get put away 

today until next year: a selection of Santas 

(who, as we all know, "had a broad face

 and a round little belly, that shook when he 

laughed like a bowl full of jelly").

[See other interpretations of "jiggly" here.]

Skywatch Friday

The sky's IN this photo, but I took it FROM the

sky too.  (Yes, I'm afraid I took a couple of photos when 

I wasn't exactly supposed to.)  That's New

Jersey, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, Staten

Island on the right, and Manhattan, Brooklyn,

Governor's Island on the left—and right up the middle, the 

Hudson River, where Capt. Sullenberger

brought his plane down safely a year ago today.

[See more Skywatch here.]

walkin' the dog

Saw a professional dog walker the other

day and didn't get the shot. (I hate it when

that happens, don't you?) But I had this

one in the archives. This guy's job could

definitely be tougher.

abc wednesday - Z is for "zoo"

These are the charming sea lions that

put on a show for the folks at the

Central Park Zoo a couple of times a day. 

When I was a kid, for a long while

I wanted to be one of the keepers. Still

think that would be a really cool job.

[Wonder how many others chose "zoo"—

check it out here.]

Checkmate

This place on Thompson St. in the Village

is a bit of an institution. I haven't played in so 

long I'd have to learn all over again,

but I love the chess sets they 

sell here.  Do you play?

[See more That's My World shots here.]

Mellow Yellow Monday

This photo was taken by my daughter Kate
on a trip to Greenland.  To make up for the lack of light
much of the year, the houses are painted in bright colors.
To make up for the lack of trees, grass must
be planted wherever it can be (or so Kate was told).

[To see more Mellow Yellows, go here.]

Shadow Shot Sunday

Found this young couple entertaining

a pretty decent crowd one warm evening last 

month under the Washington Square

arch. My guess? They're either poor kids 

trying to keep a roof over their

heads, or NYU students hoping to get

a Starbucks latte without dipping

into their allowance.

[Catch more Shadow Shots here.]

photo Hunter — "bulky"

Okay, this is Nino and he's pretty bulky!

This shot is compliments of my daughter Lila, 

who was a guest at the bridal shower

where this male stripper showed up and both

amused and embarrassed the bride-to-be.

P.S.: I never had a bridal shower—thank God.

[You can see more bulkiness here.]

Skywatch Friday

I took this from an alleyway downtown,

between Police Plaza and the U.S. Courthouse.

Note to self:  Never walk through here after

dusk again.  One word—rats!

[See more Skywatch here.]

country roads revisited

I showed you this in the summer, but

here it is again, seen through the slats of the

old fence—and just as beautiful 

in the cold, I think.

abc wednesday - Y is for "yoga"

Everything a yogi needs (well, a 

New York yogi—in India they make 

do with nothing, literally).

[See more abc here.]

oh, deer!

Just got back from visiting family in Virginia,

where this herd of deer likes to share the

paddock (and the feed) with the horses next

door—then they jump through or over the fence. 

 The little one by the tree is an orphan,

and one of the local horse trainers has been

leaving horse feed for her by that tree. 

Don't know why the rest of the herd doesn't "adopt"

her, but she's always alone, poor thing.

Mellow Yellow Monday

Might as well stay in the same neighborhood as 

yesterday. That church (Santa Maria Sopra

Minerva) is right behind the Pantheon. I love

walking up this street (via Seminario) toward the 

Pantheon very early in the morning when

the bulk of the tourists are still asleep.

[Find more Mellow Yellow here.]

shadow Shot Sunday

Seems sort of appropriate since some of

us just celebrated this child's birthday.

This is in the church of Santa Maria

Sopra Minerva, in Rome. There's a lot

of art and sculpture in that church

that's much more interesting than this—

but I actually took this picture for the shadows. 

[and that was long before I discovered SSS]

Photo Hunter — "lick"

Looked through the archives for a good

shot of some Italian gelato—no luck, though

I can't imagine why I wouldn't have lots and lots 

of shots of something I've consumed SO 

much of! Instead, here are two of my

favorite friends. In this case, I guess you'd have 

to say that lick=kiss (at least one step

above even the most delish Italian gelato).

Skywatch Friday

Happy New Year!

I'm down in Virginia, home of

the homemade fireworks

extravaganza.  You all made

my year in 2009—here's wishing

you the very best for 2010.