Manhattan Street Project

East Village, Avenue C at 14th Street

2010-08-31T23:03:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Standing on the eastern end of 14th Street at Avenue C, there's nowhere to go that makes sense but back where I came from.

Across the street is a view.of a corner of Stuyvesant Town, looking like any other housing project. There are 35 of these buildings, containing 8,757 apartments, making this development much larger than an Illinois town I once lived in with a population of 7,000. That was a grim two years of my life, and I imagine living here would be equally grim. For me, anyway. I know it has its fans.

Please enlarge the map below to get an idea of how truly huge it is. You have to click the View Larger Map link and then click the plus sign a few times. I know it's a few steps more than you want to take, but believe me, it's worth it.

View Larger Map

East Village, Avenue C at 14th Street

2010-08-31T01:36:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …..……………….. click to enlarge

My map shows 14th Street continuing to Avenue D and ending at the FDR Drive, so I was surprised to be stopped by the blue fence. I learned from a guard who stopped me from photographing behind the blue fence, that it was closed off for security reasons after 9/11.

East Village, 14th Street Between Avenues B and C

2010-08-27T02:38:00.000-04:00

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I was taken by the rhythm of those cornices.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Here's the straight-on shot.

See map.

East Village, 14th Street Between Avenues B and C

2010-08-25T01:57:00.000-04:00

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This is a small piece of Stuyvesant Town, much in the news lately.

East Village, 14th Street Between Avenues A and B

2010-08-20T00:31:00.000-04:00

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And sometimes it takes two people wearing turquoise shirts to make the picture.

East Village, 14th Street Between Avenues A and B

2010-08-19T01:18:00.001-04:00

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I didn't know until tonight that these two stores plus the three adjoining were destroyed by a fire in May. It seems someone was installing a fire door (see the irony?) when his welding torch "apparently set some grease on fire." And now the neighbors lament the loss of the only good pizza in the East Village.

East Village, 14th Street at Avenue A

2010-08-18T00:30:00.000-04:00

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Sometimes you just don't want people in a shot.

Back from Maine, and, you will not be surprised to hear, it was beautiful, the weather was blissful and the lobster was plentiful, cheap and good. We had boiled lobster, lobster salad, lobster rolls, lobster in a seafood pot pie, and lobster omelet. The last night, I had a steak and red wine. It was strangely satisfying.

East Village, 14th Street Between First Avenue and Avenue A

2010-08-12T11:48:00.004-04:00

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LAST POST UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY. IT'S VACATION TIME! MAINE AND LOBSTERS!

Use your time well. Maybe browse the archives.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …………........……….. click to enlarge

East Village, 14th Street Between First Avenue and Avenue A

2010-08-10T22:03:00.001-04:00

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A Hallmark card for you.

East Village, 14th Street Between First Avenue and Avenue A

2010-08-10T01:29:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

I apologize for the erratic postings lately. As soon as my life gets less erratic, so will my postings. Rest assured, this Project will be done (if I live long enough), and some day, maybe soon, I will get to that block you've been waiting for.

Meanwhile, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office is apparently badly run, if one can believe two complaints posted at Complaint.com. This is a fairly strange website, as it seems posting a complaint has no more effect than if you'd written it in your diary. Anyone up for submitting a complaint about Complaint.com?

East Village, 14th Street Between First Avenue and Avenue A

2010-08-06T00:51:00.000-04:00

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This church began life in 1896 as Grace Chapel and Hospital, an Episcopal mission for Grace Church in the West Village. In 1943,it became the Immaculate Conception Church, a Catholic church. Do you know what Immaculate Conception refers to? Wrong! It's not the Virgin birth. It's that Mary was born without original sin. If anyone desires to see a baptism in this very church, you can find one right here.

East Village, 14th Street Between First Avenue and Avenue A

2010-08-05T01:42:00.000-04:00

East Village, 14th Street at First Avenue

2010-08-04T02:16:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Sunday evening, I went downtown to East 14th Street to the Booker Prize Book Club where we were discussing The White Hotel, a most demanding book. But good. Afterwards, I walked 14th Street to the river, or so I thought. I was looking at an old map. Since my map was made in the 80's, 14th Street from Avenue C to D has been demapped.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. This is the corner of 14th Street and First Avenue.

The East Village is on the south side of 14th Street and Stuyvesant Town is on the north side. We'll be looking mostly at the south side.

I started at about 7:15 on a pleasant summer evening.

Flatiron District, 22nd Street Between Fifth And Sixth Avenues

2010-08-03T01:14:00.001-04:00

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Back to Allegretti. Yvette had survived and we proceeded to have an impressive dinner. In fact, this was probably the best Restaurant Week meal I had, in that there were no weak links. Asia de Cuba had a possibly more delicious entree and dessert, but the appetizer was not much good. This is what I had at Allegretti: We shared an extra appetizer of grilled octopus with some kind of delicious rice combination, umm good. Tuna tartar, 3 mounds on cucumber slices with something crispy, ummm, good. Risotto with crab and asparagus. After I finished, I realized I hadn't tasted much crab, but it was delicious all the same. Black cherry clafouti, ummm good. The food deserved a better room; it was a rectangle with small square tables scattered around. They serve the same prix fixe year round for $39. Or does it change daily, as website says?

Flatiron District, 22nd Street at Sixth Avenue

2010-07-29T02:59:00.001-04:00

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The sign says only "Pizza". No name. I was hardly paying attention to it. However, I was checking Songlines just to see what was on this block and discovered it's called Maffei Pizza and that the Village Voice called it a "culinary nirvana." Take a look at its web presence. You just never know.

Okay, so now I've come to the end of the block and I must run back to Allegretti before Yvette starts gnawing her knuckles.

Flatiron District, 22nd Street Between Fifth And Sixth Avenues

2010-07-27T23:59:00.000-04:00

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There at the red awning is Allegretti, where I'm to meet Yvette for our Restaurant Week dinner. I've already received a text from her saying, hurry up, I'm starving, I've been here since 6 (it's going on 7), but she's going to have to wait a few minutes longer while I photograph the rest of this street. I'm not late yet, after all.

Flatiron District, 22nd Street Between Fifth And Sixth Avenues

2010-07-27T00:42:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Right now, this is my favorite building in the city. I spent a lot of time with it today, looking at it, wondering about it. There was not much to discover about it on the web, just that it was built in 1904 and is residential. Don't you wonder what the apartments look like? One to a floor, two? Isn't that a remarkable entrance for such a narrow building? They've screwed around with it and someone really made a wrong move painting the columns halfway up, but it's still pretty impressive.

I didn't notice the ground floor restaurant when I shot it and I can't find out its current name, but whatever it is, I need to try it. And take a closer look at the building. And try to meet someone who lives there and make friends with them. And then visit them.

Flatiron District, Fifth Avenue Between 23rd and 22nd Streets

2010-07-26T01:13:00.001-04:00

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It wasn't until I turned around and saw this doorway that I realized I was standing by the great Flatiron Building, seen here on March 17, 2009.

New York City Landmarks describes the building as "clad in traditional Italian Renaissance ornament, most of it white terra cotta."

Flatiron District, Fifth Avenue Between 23rd and 22nd Streets

2010-07-24T02:36:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …...................……………….. click to enlarge

Tonight I offer you a whole block in one photograph, distorted though it is. I like seeing it as a unit.

This was shot last Tuesday as I was on my way to meet Yvette at Allegretti for a Restaurant Week dinner. As many of you know, Restaurant Week began in 1992 during the Democratic National Convention and was so successful that it has continued ever since, expanding and adding. Today I heard Restaurant Week has been extended through Labor Day, thus making its name irrelevant or maybe just plain wrong. But we should stick with it anyway, since Restaurant Summer just doesn't work.

Chelsea, 19th Street at Seventh Avenue

2010-07-23T00:35:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….………………….. click to enlarge

Finally we come to the end of the block. Tomorrow begins a new one-block walk. Some day this heat wave will end and it will once again be pleasant to spend time outdoors. Until then, it's one block at a time.

Chelsea, 19th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

2010-07-21T02:18:00.000-04:00

Chelsea, 19th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

2010-07-20T01:49:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Here's a long shot of the glass building we saw last night. I wanted you to see the 4 story tenement next to it.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Up close. Some day all of these tenements will be gone. Make sure to notice them now.

Chelsea, 19th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

2010-07-19T03:43:00.000-04:00

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This eye-catching glassy condo, which was built in 2006, was developed by the Clarett Group and designed by Randy Gerner of Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel. The updated price on a 3-bedroom apartment is from $2,375,000. Note the from. Almost seems affordable, doesn't it? To see an envy-inducing description of the apartments and amenities go to City Realty.

Chelsea, 19th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

2010-07-17T02:06:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …………...........……….. click to enlarge

What can I say? It's just too strange not to post.

Chelsea, 19th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

2010-07-16T03:03:00.000-04:00

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On the north corner is Apex Technical School. I wish they had consulted me when they were naming this school. I know that having your name start with A is advantageous for sales, but New York is better for search results. And if it must start with A, how about Abercrombie Technical School or Abbott Technical School or even Aaron Technical School, all of which sound so much less cheesy than Apex.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Street level view with students. The signs you can see through the windows say "Electrical and Advanced Electrical", "Construction Skills - Plumbing, Carpentry and Electrical" and "Auto Body Repair". I think I'd pick Electrical.

Chelsea, Sixth Avenue at 19th Street

2010-07-14T01:11:00.000-04:00

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My plan has been to hang out on the lower east side this summer, but damned if I'm going to do it in this heat. Until the weather gets more reasonable, I'm just doing little short convenient walks. So last night after my salsa class at Dance Manhattan, I photographed one block of 19th Street from Sixth to Seventh Avenue. Up ahead is that block. What awaits?

So salsa. It goes with learning Spanish, right? I don't have natural talent at either, but I try to live by that old adage, you know, if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. I will learn how to roll my rrs.

Chelsea, 30th Street Between Seventh and Sixth Avenues

2010-07-13T02:36:00.003-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Here is the landmarked building I promised. It is the Cass Gilbert, only recently named after its architect, upon being converted to condominiums. You may know Cass Gilbert as the architect of the Woolworth Building, at one time the world's tallest building. Also the U.S. Courthouse. This building, then, built in 1927-28, was unusual for him, in that it was really a manufacturing loft building, built for the fur industry which had recently begun developing in this area.

In 2003, the developer, Henry Justin, divided the building into 45 condominium units and it sold out within 60 days. He had received permission from the architect's grandson to use the name. According to the New York Times, Justin said that if the grandson had refused, he might have named it the "Beaver Pelt Building."

Had that occurred, it may have taken longer than 60 days to sell out.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Here's a close-up of one of the entrances showing terra cotta reliefs of chariots and roaring lions, part of the reason for its landmarked status. Those of you interested in stuff like this should go to the report of the Landmarks Preservation Commission. I love those reports; this one talks about the neighborhood, the architect, why it makes sense that he designed this building (it was a social connection), the design, what a loft building requires, the zoning law which required setbacks, architectural terra cotta, and finally, why they gave it landmark status. Every question I could possibly have, they answer.

By the way, this is right next to the also landmarked 23 Police Precinct Station House, seen here at the beginning of this walk on June 29.

Chelsea, 30th Street at Sixth Avenue

2010-07-12T00:07:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………..…….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Look familiar? There's that construction wall; yes, I'm walking back down the same block, and, as it happened, I discovered a landmarked building I'd missed before. I'll show it to you tomorrow.

Chelsea, 30th Street Between Sixth Avenue and Broadway

2010-07-11T00:27:00.001-04:00

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The luckiest thing about this happy accident of color and pattern is the blue bag. Try blocking it out and see what's missing. See? (Blue is the complement of orange; each intensifies the other.)

Chelsea, 30th Street Between Sixth Avenue and Broadway

2010-07-10T00:55:00.003-04:00

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Here's the end of the block at Broadway with the Umpire State Building in the back.

Chelsea, 30th Street Between Sixth Avenue and Broadway

2010-07-09T02:42:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ........………………….. click to enlarge

At last we've reached a new block, new territory. It's a short one. I was stuck in front of this awful looking building for a while trying to figure out how it got that way. I was speculating that an adjoining building had been torn down, but plans to build another skyscraper had fallen through and this bright low temporary building had been thrown up. Luckily I found a garage worker who set me straight.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Omar told me that a sign had been put there and then the sign owner stopped paying for it, so they ripped it off. This must stop.

While I was searching for the answer to how those signs are attached, I discovered they are called building banners or building wraps and are promoted as being attractive and spectacular, among other things. I didn't see any indication that they were attached with adhesive, so if Omar had the story right, I guess we can assume this was a low tech effort.

See map.

Chelsea, 30th Street Between Seventh and Sixth Avenues

2010-07-08T04:52:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

I really thought I was going to cross Sixth Avenue tonight and show you a brand new block, but then it became impossible to omit this nicely weird photo. I was interested in the decrepit old building back there and then that car drove by.

Chelsea, 30th Street at Sixth Avenue

2010-07-07T02:39:00.004-04:00

Had quite a time in Kansas City at my family reunion. I got home yesterday and slept 10 hours. Kansas City is an interesting and beautiful city from the little I saw. My only regret is that I didn't have a chance to get out for some barbecue. We did have some home grilled barbecue which was wonderful. But I think I'm going to have to make a return trip. I need to try some burnt ends.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………….......……….. click to enlarge

We're looking up at the northeast corner of 30th and Sixth from the southwest corner. We can see the Empire State Building on 34th Street. We kids in Arlington, Virginia knew it as the Umpire State Building.

Chelsea, 30th Street Between Seventh and Sixth Avenues

2010-07-02T03:39:00.001-04:00

Last post until Monday, or possibly, Tuesday. I'm going to Kansas City (Kansas City, here I come). For a family reunion. I've never been to Kansas City and I'm excited. I want some barbecue. I'll let you know if it's as good as they say. Or maybe you already know?

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………….......……….. click to enlarge

I leave you with this abstract painting serving as a construction wall. BTW, if you haven't enlarged a photo recently, please do. You'll see that it is now the perfect size, that is, it fills the screen but doesn't go beyond. I don't know how it happened, but I'm really happy.

Happy Fourth! Be careful with those firecrackers.

Chelsea, 30th Street Between Seventh and Sixth Avenues

2010-07-01T01:22:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ……….............………….. click to enlarge

So what was I doing on West 30th Street two Saturdays ago? Taking a Spanish class! Yes, finally! About time, you're saying and you're right.

Looking at my map before I left, I saw that there was one little piece of a block I could easily pick up, 30th Street between 6th ave and Broadway. So after class, I headed for 6th Avenue. And saw this trio. Should I have ignored them because I'd already photographed this block? Of course not!

And that's why this project will never end.

Chelsea, 30th Street Between Seventh and Sixth Avenues

2010-06-29T01:15:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………….......……….. click to enlarge

A week ago Saturday, I found myself on this block in front of this building that we first saw two years ago. With one important difference. This time I had a wide angle lens. And now you can see the whole thing. This is the former 23rd Police Precinct Station House and you can read all about it at the above link.

Lower East Side, Orchard Street at Delancey

2010-06-28T00:00:00.002-04:00

After walking two blocks, I stopped to look at my watch - I mean, cell phone - and realized this photowalk was over. The tour was starting soon, so I hustled over to, uh, Joe's Fabric Warehouse, and took one last photo.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….……………......... ………………….. click to enlarge

Even though it looks like these people are waiting to get into Joe's, they are actually waiting for a tour. The Tenement Museum Gift Shop is back there somewhere, and the tours start and end here.

Luka and I went on the "Getting By" Tour which took us to two apartments: the first restored to 1863, the second to the 1930's. It was so good, so interesting. They've really done a good job. Luka's father grew up on the Lower East Side, she thinks Rivington Street, so she has a special interest. But you don't need a special interest to find this fascinating. Please put this on your list before you forget about it.

Now, as to Joe's Fabric Warehouse, it opened in 1998. and according to The New York Times, was a harbinger of a new kind of Lower East Side. If you'd like to see a copy of the real thing on Joe's website, complete with photos, but absent 2 other fabric stores, click here.

Lower East Side, Chrystie Street Between Stanton and Rivington

2010-06-26T01:31:00.000-04:00

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Below are three photographs across the street from the park, showing the spread of Chinatown. This is pretty far north of any current boundaries.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

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Mary Sargent © 2010 ………...........................………….……………………….. click to enlarge

Perhaps someday we'll all be Chinese. Umm, good food.

Lower East Side, Chrystie Street Between Houston and Stanton Streets, Stanton and Rivington

2010-06-24T00:41:00.004-04:00

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Playing basketball surrounded by large trees seems kind of idyllic, don't you think?

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………................… ………………….. click to enlarge

On the other side of the court is this group of ball players, composed of those who wear long pants. It's hard to take them very seriously.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….......................…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

The park continues for seven blocks, to Canal Street, but here at Stanton, it almost looks like a different park. All business, no idylls.

Lower East Side, Chrystie Street at Houston

2010-06-22T01:00:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………....................................………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Okay, it's a dull photo, and you're wondering why I put it up and what you're supposed to see in it. It's strictly because of the Whole Foods Market across the street. I was surprised to see it here and I think my reaction was to kind of grumble to myself about how Whole Foods is everywhere now. I had no idea I was in the presence of the most wonderful Whole Foods in existence. Yelp has 203 reviewers, most of whom write at length about how much they love this particular Whole Foods. The dining area upstairs! The beer room! The spaciousness!

I'm sure stopping in next time I'm here.

Lower East Side, Houston Street at Chrystie

2010-06-21T01:34:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Last Wednesday, Luka and I were determined to go on a Tenement Museum tour, so we actually made reservations like normal people do. On my way to meet her at the museum, I did a short photowalk down Chrystie. Had to stop after two blocks because the tour was starting soon.

This is the entrance to the Sara D. Roosevelt Park on Houston Street. Not Eleanor, Sara. Franklin's mother. Why on earth would they name a park for the president's mother, I wondered. The Parks Department was there with the answer:

The park was named by Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia in 1934 for Sara Delano Roosevelt (1854-1941), President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's mother, as a way of currying favor with the new Roosevelt Administration. She held the distinction of being the only Presidential mother, after Mary Washington, to live to see her son take office.

This was from a recent press release about the ribbon cutting on a new and improved $5 million dollar renovation of the Hester Street Playground at the final block of the park between Hester and Canal. Can't wait to see it.

See map.

Lower East Side, Allen Street at Broome

2010-06-20T00:43:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………...………….. click to enlarge

For the last shot of this one-block photowalk, I give you Composition in Beige and Green.

Tomorrow, a two-block photowalk.

Lower East Side, Allen Street Between Broome and Delancey

2010-06-18T00:19:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

So this is the renovation that demonstrates "what could and might be done in the future with the Allen and Pike Street Malls." I must say, I'm underwhelmed. After pondering this for a while, I realized it is the walkway that's the problem. It's not integrated into the natural setting. It looks like a strip of linoleum laid down on top of an asphalt walkway. Do you agree?

Lower East Side, Allen Street Between Delancey and Broome

2010-06-17T01:41:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

You may remember the plan was to go to the Tenement Museum and take a tour, but the plan fell through. However, here right on Allen Street is a glimpse of the rear yard reconstruction of the tenement at 97 Orchard Street. Below is a view of the rear yard.

This building was a great find for the organizers of this museum because it had been boarded up for 50 years. The landlord couldn't or wouldn't pay for the mandated upgrades to the building, so he evicted the tenants and closed off the upper floors, using only the street level commercial space.

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It wasn't until 1895 that running water was provided to the building; before that, tenants come to the rear yard to get their water and to use the privies, shown here at the left. There were four stalls serving the entire building and the patrons of the bar downstairs.

Lower East Side, Allen Street Between Delancey and Broome

2010-06-15T23:34:00.000-04:00

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Last I heard, Chinatown ended at Grand Street, but it's looking mighty like Chinatown around the corner from Delancey. I did find one acknowledgment of this in a real estate site, NYBits, and I quote: Unlike neighboring Little Italy, Chinatown is continually expanding. The border between the two has all but disappeared and Chinatown now stretches from City Hall to Grand Street (by some accounts even further, to Delancey St).

I'm sure you remember that when I was last on the Lower East Side in January 2009, I was looking forward to visiting this block in the Spring. It took a little longer than that, but no matter. I had read about the redesign of the center mall. We'll see it close up in a few days.

See map.

Lower East Side, Delancey Street at Allen Street

2010-06-15T02:09:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

We have finally torn ourselves from the magnetic field of White Slab and made it to the streets once again. Please no rain.

Lower East Side, Delancey Street at Allen

2010-06-14T00:41:00.004-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …........……………….. click to enlarge

In due time, the food arrived, and once again, in the excitement of actual food in front of me, I forgot to take pictures. So picture this: a fish sandwich on a kind of thick powdery looking good bread, oozing with tartar sauce and sliced cornichons and greens, with salad and homemade potato chips on my side; on Luka's side, crunchy potato pancakes with ligonberries and bacon, no make that ham, we're out of bacon. But the ham was surprisingly good as a bacon substitute because it was fried crisp. The sandwich, though hard to eat, was quite good (the fish was pollock), the salad, not very, and the potato chips, fine. The potato pancakes were good once I got past the crunchiness factor. Luka had no problem. We shared, as you may have gathered. All in all, although I wouldn't say the food was great, it was good enough to be able to come back another time and be in this enchanting place.

But here's the thing. I was coming back from the bathroom and ran into the proprietor/chef/waitress, who looked at me, stricken, and said, we were shut down. Much disbelief, indignation and sadness ensued. According to her, it was a matter of saran wrap stored in the bathroom, some fruit flies and a little condensation, surely not enough to shut a restaurant down? A fine, maybe, but not shut down. We agreed wholeheartedly. It did seem mean. By this time, these people were our friends, our family, almost, and we hated to think of the lost money, the being out of work, and all that follows.

Thus the yellow notices on the doors. We're hoping for a speedy reopening.

Lower East Side, Delancey Street at Allen

2010-06-12T04:23:00.000-04:00

Now we're inside. This is one of two other people in the place.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Here's the other:

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Love those windows. Loved being there. I hope the food is good, I prayed. It will be, promised Luka. The proprietor/chef/waitress emerged from the basement and welcomed us but said we might have to wait a bit for food because there was an inspection going on. In the meantime, we could get drinks and some olives and bread.

Mary Sargent © 2010 …… ………………….. click to enlarge

It's a gin something with a nice bitter taste to counter the sweetness. Luka always gets pretty drinks.

I must stop now, though I'm not finished. I have to get up in 3 hours.

Lower East Side, Delancey Street at Allen

2010-06-11T02:27:00.004-04:00

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Luka and I had plans. We would meet at the 2nd Avenue subway stop on the Lower East Side, and do a photowalk down Chrystie Street to Delancey. Turn on Delancey and walk to Orchard to the Tenement Museum, and take a tour, if possible.

We did meet at the appointed time, having arrived on the same train, but it was raining on Chrystie Street and so there was no photowalk on Chrystie Street. Then we didn't want to take the last tour of the day, which is all that remained at the Tenement Museum, and so we took no tour. What to do? You already know the answer. Find a restaurant.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….………...................…… ………………….. click to enlarge

And so we did. This is White Slab Palace, this shot taken on our way out. We had arrived around 4 p.m. when it was almost empty and the doors and windows were closed, and there were no yellow notices on the doors. This is the Delancey side.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………….................................................……….………….. click to enlarge

And this is the Allen Street Side.

Midtown, Broadway at 59th Street

2010-06-09T20:19:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Here's the Time Warner Building seen in its entirety for the first time in this blog. It has appeared in previous posts in supporting roles.

I love this photo for its look of unreality. I feel like I'm a player on the board game, Candyland. Notice the two-dimensionality of the left tower. You may want to check the previous posts to reassure yourself that it is indeed a real tower.

Midtown, Broadway at 57th Street

2010-06-08T03:02:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

These walks are getting interminable; this one started on May 5th. Time to wind down, go home. So I've made it to Broadway, on my way to the 59th Street subway station. I took this shot because of the Hearst Building over on Eighth Avenue - the building with the triangles.

I've hated this building from the moment I set eyes on it - as it was being constructed. It has a lot to do with the building it sits atop, which is ludicrously incompatible. Imagine my bafflement when all the architectural critics loved it. I can only conclude they are drinking some funny Kool-aid. To see what I'm talking about, go to the Wikipedia article and look at the first image. Then scroll down to the 3 images and enlarge the third one. Is that coherent? Does it make any sense? NO, no, no. I will probably carry on some more when I do a photowalk closer up. Perhaps I should take an architecture class in the meantime.

Midtown, 56th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

2010-06-07T02:12:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ……....................…………….. click to enlarge

I shot this building because it is old and small and good looking. Then later I learned the sad story of the Joseph Patelson Music House. It has apparently been closed for over a year, victim of the economy and the internet. Sad, because it has been at this location since 1947, and being located across the street from Carnegie Hall's backstage entrance, has long been a hangout for visiting musicians as well as local music lovers. The Times has a good story, worth a look.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………..........…….………...............................…………….. click to enlarge

And here is the back of Carnegie Hall at Seventh Avenue. We saw the front in February 2008.

Midtown, 56th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

2010-06-06T03:21:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…….……… ……………..................…….. click to enlarge

Here's Topaz Thai, so Carnegie Hall must be nearby. I remember eating here a couple of times years ago, and liking it, but the last time, I ordered a dish I'd had before but this time it was so spicy, I couldn't eat it. And I haven't been back since. A little mistake like that and it's over.

Midtown, 56th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

2010-06-05T01:17:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…….……… ………………….. click to enlarge

Now in the next block, it's all big city. No more 3-story buildings. Don't you love that little WOW half way up the buildings?

Midtown, 56th Street Between Fifth and Sixth Avenues

2010-06-04T02:53:00.000-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…….……… ………………….. click to enlarge

56th Street between Fifth and Sixth looks back at big buildings to the east (see half of the broken pediment of the Sony Building on Madison), and forward to big buildings to the west, but here on this block, there are lots of old 3, 4 and 5 story buildings, as you can see here in this long shot.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…….……… ………………….. click to enlarge

And there's the uptown version of Joe's Shanghai, famed for its soup dumplings (the soup is inside the dumplings, and they are good, good, good). However, long before soup dumplings existed in Manhattan, Bill and I and FL and I made the arduous journey to Queens to try soup dumplings at Goody's, and my loyalties lie with Goody's as having the first and the better dumplings. Later, they opened a branch in Chinatown on East Broadway, and later than that, they closed. As far as I can tell, they no longer exist at all. Oh, it's so sad.

But back to 56th Street.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…….……… ………………….. click to enlarge

And these two cuties, one housing Sushiya. If you check out the link, you can read a review that mentions the line at Abercrombie and Fitch's. It seems to be an everyday thing.

Midtown, Fifth Avenue at 56th Street

2010-06-03T01:13:00.010-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…….……… ………………….. click to enlarge

A line! So exciting! What could it be about?

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They're standing in line for a store. The only time I ever stood on line for a store was at P.J. Wine the day before Thanksgiving. Cursing myself for waiting so late to get my holiday wine. So what's so great about Abercrombie & Fitch? I bet they just had some of their employees start a line and people couldn't resist joining in.

Midtown, 56th Street at Madison Avenue

2010-06-02T02:09:00.008-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …….....…………….. click to enlarge

I do want to talk about this notorious building with its Chippendale pediment, but I can't do it justice at this late hour. This is the Sony Building, formerly the AT&T building, of Philip Johnson, one of the leading architects of the modernist period. Come back tomorrow. It's worth getting into.
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6/3 - Okay, so Philip Johnson championed the International Style of architecture and introduced it to the United States in a show he helped organize at The Museum of Modern Art in 1932, featuring, among others, the European architects Le Corbusier and Mies Van der Rohe. The principles of the style, according to Johnson, were 1) emphasis of volume over mass, 2) asymmetry and 3) NO decoration. The Seagram Building is a perfect example of this style. See also the United Nations, designed by Le Corbusier. However, Johnson lived a long time (98 years) and there came a time when he got bored with the International Style. But you know how people get upset when you change. Just think of Bob Dylan. So when he built the AT&T Building and put a split pediment on top of it, looking like the top of a piece of furniture, some people carried on quite a bit about it. This was in 1984, a couple of years after I moved here, and I remember the complaints. Now, however, it is seen as one of the first expressions of postmodern architecture. A good thing. Witty and fun.

Note how I managed to get the pediment in the photo. But you'll get better views and lot of them at New York Architecture images.

Midtown, Park Avenue at 56th Street

2010-06-01T00:11:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …….........…………….. click to enlarge

This is Park Avenue from 56th Street, looking south. Boy, aren't you glad you don't live on Park Avenue? And if you do live on Park Avenue, I guess you have a fabulous apartment, but is it really worth it? Not a Korean deli to be seen. Where do you get your coffee?

Midtown, 56th Street Between Lexington and Park Avenues

2010-05-31T01:16:00.029-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………… ………….. click to enlarge

WOW, would you look at this! What I've wanted from the very beginning. I'll take it while I can because as we all know, the computer giveth and the computer taketh away and one never knows why or when. Of course I'm talking about the size of the photograph.

Now I want to redo all my photos.

This funny little building has Republic of Zimbabwe in letters above its door, so I assume it's the consulate, but I can't confirm it.

Midtown, Lexington Avenue at 56th Street

2010-05-30T02:18:00.003-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………………….. click to enlarge

Here you are, walking in midtown, seeing the everyday sights and suddenly you glance downtown and there's.a scene from a Russian fairy tale. Actually it's a synagogue. Central Synagogue. I was surprised. From the front, it's not so exotic; it's impressive, but not surprising. Go here, to learn everything there is to know about Central Synagogue.

Midtown, 56th Street Between Third and Lexington Avenues

2010-05-29T01:55:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………………….. click to enlarge

The same building in a less festive mood.

Midtown, 56th Street at Third Avenue

2010-05-27T01:21:00.009-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ….....……………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

I think of Johnny Rockets fondly because it was there in the DC train station that I accidentally had a scrambled egg cheese sandwich and knew it was good. I still think of it from time to time. After that, I tried the Egg McMuffin at McDonalds and I'm sorry to say, it was not in the same league. The DC Johnny Rockets also had a good juke box.

Hmm. I just checked their menu and breakfast is not on it.

Now I am confused. I just googled Egg McMuffin and discovered it's made with a fried egg. I could swear I had a scrambled egg McMuffin. I had to have or how could I compare them. Unless I had a fried egg at Johnny Rockets. No! It was scrambled!

Midtown, Third Avenue Between 57th and 56th Streets

2010-05-26T02:30:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………….. click to enlarge

Just the facts tonight. Can't keep eyes open.

1. Behind those 4 red awnings lie the famed textile company Scalamandre.
2. Bernice Abbott photographed this spot in 1936 when it was Sumner Healey Antiques.
3. Bernice Abbott was a famous American photographer who photographed New York extensively.

Midtown East, 57th Street Between Second and Third Avenues

2010-05-24T22:56:00.003-04:00

Midtown East, 57th Street Between Second and Third Avenues

2010-05-24T02:43:00.004-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………… ………………….. click to enlarge

This is a shot of 57th Street from Second Avenue looking west. Has a touch of the exotic, I think. I was imagining a sultan's palace back there. It must be the trees, they're not your typical New York City trees, they're foreign looking, they're, well, what the heck are they? If you type "flat topped tree" into Google, you'll discover that they are either acacia trees or they look exactly like them, and acacia trees are African. There you go.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………….. click to enlarge

Midtown East, Second Avenue Between 58th and 57th Streets

2010-05-23T00:14:00.003-04:00

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Now, turning down Second Avenue - Yikes, school's out! Teenagers one by one are great. I like em. It's probably because I still identify with rebellion and all that. But in packs, they lose all charm, doncha think?
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In other news, please take the time to view this beautiful short film. Up There, directed by Malcolm Murray. It's about 12 minutes long, interesting and poignant About the (dying) craft of painting signs. Filmed in New York.

Midtown East, 58th Street at Second Avenue

2010-05-21T20:00:00.003-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………….....….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Oh, if only I were Kate Lowenstein. This gal would go right in Public Eye.

Midtown East, 58th Street Between Third and Second Avenues

2010-05-20T01:50:00.003-04:00

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Farther down the block is Chola which turns out to be the best value dining of the block. Chola has Zagat ratings of 23 for food (as high as Dawat) and the lowest prices of all: $39. Check out the menu; it looks pretty interesting. Now I'm going to have to talk someone into going there for dinner.

Midtown East, 58th Street Between Third and Second Avenues

2010-05-19T01:30:00.003-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

And now in the next block, three restaurants in a row. Eenie, meenie, minie . . . No, I actually made a conscious choice. Dawat would've been the wisest choice because it had the highest Zagat ratings for food (23) and the lowest for price ($48 [for dinner]). And I have wanted to go there. But Indian food for lunch by myself didn't appeal. You need at least one other person, so you can try more than one main dish and you need to eat the wonderful bread and the pickles and other condiments. Save Dawat for dinner.

So then it's a choice between two Italian restaurants. I rejected Mia Dona, simply based on seeing a lot of guys standing around, I don't know why, it just didn't appeal to me at that moment, but it turns out maybe I should have tried it. Its Zagat ratings are 21 - $53.

So I picked Nino's 208, with ratings of 21 - $58. Way to go, Mary! Value oriented, you're not. Luckily, it was a wonderful lunch.

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………....……….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Midtown, 58th Street Between Lexington and Third Avenues

2010-05-17T23:58:00.003-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………………….. click to enlarge

Yes, we're still at One Beacon Court. I couldn't help it. It looks as if people and cars sort of mingle together in this court without worrying too much about it. If only we could all get along like this!

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………………….. click to enlarge

And here is Le Cirque, mentioned last night, complete with man on important call leaning against post. We know it's important because he's still clutching his napkin in his hand.

And speaking of lunch . . . It won't be at Le Cirque, so it's time to leave One Beacon Court and

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

get back to the street.

Midtown, 58th Street Between Lexington and Third Avenues

2010-05-17T02:08:00.004-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ....................................click to enlarge

There. Isn't this surprising and wonderful? A curved, glassy courtyard.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ....................................click to enlarge

While I was standing there photographing, an old lady approached me to talk about the building: what is it, anyway, and isn't it surprising, and wonderful. We were in agreement. Then the talk shifted to politics, because I mentioned Bloomberg, as being somehow connected to the building (see sign). She didn't approve of Bloomberg, but admired Giuliani and I respectfully disagreed. Then she said, but that President! I said Obama? I love him. You love him? He hates everybody, he hates Catholics, he hates . . . Then I accused her of listening to Fox News and then she said she listened to everything and stomped off.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ....................................click to enlarge

I should have been more diplomatic.

Bloomberg was the major tenant the developers needed. If you're interested in New York City development, go to The City Review for a pretty comprehensive outline with many photographs. As I mentioned last posting, this courtyard is just a small piece of the project, which covers the whole block, yes, including the awful Container Store. And by the way, the courtyard is a drive-through between 58th and 59th Streets. Also, by the way, Le Cirque has relocated here, a restaurant where if you're well-known, you're fawned over and if you're unknown, you're treated as if you shouldn't be there, as Ruth Reichl, the new New York Times Restaurant critic in 1993, proved by going there before she was known. Let's all boycott Le Cirque!

Midtown, 58th Street Between Lexington and Third Avenues

2010-05-14T01:55:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………………….. click to enlarge

I had hardly finished deploring The Container Store when this stunning sight caused me to stop in my tracks. What IS that, I said, but not out loud. As I later learned, this was only a small piece of a massive development designed by Cesar Pelli & Associates. But this small piece is my favorite part. There will be more to come; for now, it's bedtime.

Midtown, 58th Street at Lexington Avenue

2010-05-13T02:01:00.002-04:00

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I ask you, does this store belong on a Manhattan street? Right you are, it most certainly does not. It's big and bright and clunky and has no design sense - just look at the name on the metal thing over the door. It's just wrong. And the colors aren't bad, but they aren't used well. It's a store that wants to make an impact but doesn't want to pay for it. It belongs out on a highway far, far away.

I admit I was a little excited the first time I walked into one of their stores. A whole giant store devoted to containers! I thought I would see interesting, clever and beautiful containers. Containers that surprised. Adorable containers. Containers I couldn't live without. Instead, what I saw was rows of metal shelving filled with very ordinary plastic boxes.

This is a big box store.

Midtown, 58th Street Between Park and Lexington Avenues

2010-05-12T01:43:00.003-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………….. click to enlarge

And on the other side of the street - the downtown side - is one of the former locations of the New York Genealogical & Biographical Society, built in 1928. The Society has moved around a bit, and is now located on West 44th Street. Read all about it in Wikipedia.

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………….. click to enlarge

Next to that building is this building, providing some of that contrast so beloved by New Yorkers.

Midtown, 58th Street Between Park and Lexington Avenues

2010-05-10T01:53:00.005-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………....….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

You needed to see the lady with the pink socks. This is in front of a branch of the New York Public Library on East 58th Street.

In other news, remember Chow Bar? Tonight Luka and I went there to check out their Lucky Rice Restaurant Week offering. Too bad tonight was the last night. Twelve dollars for a plate of dim sum, which included their famous barbecued spare ribs, and was delicious. That and happy hour cocktails for $6 made for a beautifully affordable dinner. Or would have if I hadn't had a second cocktail, apparently after happy hour had ended, so it was $12, and Luka hadn't had a cup of tea, and then we hadn't had to try their chocolate fondue type dessert.

Midtown, 58th Street Between Park and Lexington Avenues

2010-05-09T05:10:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………….. click to enlarge

I've walked this block many times because my doctor's office is here, but somehow I've never seen it looking quite so festive as it does here. I was unable to find out anything about the sculpture. Anyone know?

Midtown, 58th Street at Park Avenue

2010-05-06T23:41:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

Yesterday the weather was perfect, sunny, warm and breezy, and I had to return some shoes to the Naturalizer store on Lexington Avenue. Great day for a photowalk and an opportunity to pick up a block left behind. After I returned the shoes, I started the walk. It was about 1:30. I walked back to 58th and Park and continued on 58th Street to Second Avenue. Down Second one block to 57th, over 57th one block to Third, down Third one block (the left behind block) to 56th and then 56th to Broadway, and back home.

I'm pretty sure no one is interested in that information, but that doesn't stop me. I have to say it.

See map.

West Village, 10th Street at West Street

2010-05-05T00:18:00.006-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………….....……….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Although this building is on the north side of West 10th, it has been included in the Weehawken Street Historic District Designation Report, and so we can know just about everything there is to know about it. You'll be happy to know I'm not going to tell you everything there is to know about it, but it's good to know it's there.

It was built in 1903-04 as a hotel, the Holland Hotel, and over the years it has been home to many businesses, including Peter Rabbit, a gay men's bar,* and, lately Uguale Restaurant, followed by the present tenant, Antica Venezia Ristorante.

I used to go here when it was Uguale, not that the food was more than pretty good, but the space was nice, with the big windows looking out over the sunset and the West Side Highway.

Now for architecture talk. The style is neo-Renaissance and the facade materials are buff brick which has been painted, terra cotta, and a pressed metal cornice. It features a round corner oriel. What the heck is an oriel, I wondered. Naturally, I googled. The definitions all came up "oriel window", and said it was a projecting window which does not extend to the ground. To me, the oriels in this building do not look like windows; they look like rounded spaces projecting from the building that have windows. BUT they do not extend to the gound. Anyway, I think we get the idea, and in the future, we will be able to impress our friends by throwing the term around. Try to be casual.

For an explanation of why the building was included in the historic district, here's a quote from the report:

Built during the third significant phase of the historic district’s development, when it continued to be improved with residential, industrial, and commercial structures after the turn of the 20th century, this handsome 3-story, neo-Renaissance hotel, one of the last surviving hotels located along the Hudson River waterfront, contributes to the historically-mixed architectural character and varied uses – much of it maritime-related – of the Weehawken Street Historic District.

There will be more about the District itself when I photograph Weehawken Street.

*For a story about Peter Rabbit, go to Bent, "the place where disability and queerness meet head-on."

West Village, 10th Street Between Weehawken and West Streets

2010-05-04T01:18:00.004-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………........….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Oops, here's another street. Weehawken is one block long and referred to as an alley by Forgotten New York (scroll way down the page to find Weehawken). It seems there was once a Weehawken Market which opened in 1834, where New Jersey farmers came to sell their produce. Uh, oh, I just found the Weehawken Street Historic District Designation Report, which will tell everything we need to know. But it's too late to start on it now. Yes, I should have started earlier. It will have to wait.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………………….. click to enlarge

This is the one block between Weehawken and West Streets.

West Village, 10th Street Between Washington and West Streets

2010-05-02T23:51:00.004-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………….. click to enlarge

Here is the last block of West 10th Street before we hit the highways and the river.

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And on the other side of the street, although lacking dramatic slanting sunlight, we have a cute little bike in front of a mini-storage building. Mini-storage or self-storage refers to a business that rents units to individuals in which to store their excess goods, like old term papers and baby carriages. There are many such buildings in New York with its notoriously small apartments. This is a fairly not bad-looking building, but go here to see some really ugly mini-storage buildings. Remember quonset huts? I think that's where it all started.

West Village, 10th Street Between Greenwich and Washington Streets

2010-05-02T11:09:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….……………... ………………….. click to enlarge

I must say this sounds like a wonderful school. It almost makes me want to get married and have another family so I could send my children there. There I go again, believing what I read. You read it and see what you think: Village Community School.

See map.

West Village, 10th Street Between Greenwich and Washington Streets

2010-04-30T23:49:00.003-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………….. click to enlarge

This is the art shot.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

And this is the documentary shot.

I was taken with the faded sign on the brick which says Horses and Trucks To Hire, and discovered that yes, this used to be a stable. The address is listed on the Corcoran Real Estate website as having been SOLD and the short history provided there tells us this 3 story building was built in 1911 and "originally used as a horse stable." Then in the 70s, the interior was redesigned to make it a residence. Since those papers attached to the door are work permits, I imagine that the exterior is due for a redesign and soon we will no longer be able to see the faded sign about Horses to Hire or the old stable door.

West Village, 10th Street at Greenwich Street

2010-04-29T23:33:00.003-04:00

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This is the other side of the street, the south side. Don't you love the way the street is shadowed but the sun catches the top of that slightly taller building?

West Village, 10th Street Between Greenwich and Washington Streets

2010-04-28T23:36:00.002-04:00

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What a week I'm having: working full time after having not worked for over two years. Getting up at 7:00 after getting up at noon for over two years. Being tired after having been rested for over two years. If it weren't for the money . . . This is for the Census and this week is training and the only full time week.

So I'm just posting this pretty little villagey shot and saying good night.

West Village, 10th Street Between Hudson and Greenwich Streets

2010-04-27T00:14:00.003-04:00

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According to New York Songlines, the Village Landmark is a a converted early 20th Century warehouse. A warehouse with arches and decorative brickwork is a beautiful thing to see. Now the aesthetics of warehouses are not considered important. At least I think that's true. It reminds me of the time my former boss happened to see the orchid exhibit at the World Trade Center. He said the exhibit was really beautiful. "What a waste of money!" he concluded.

West Village, Hudson Street at 10th Street

2010-04-26T00:31:00.002-04:00

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The Cowgirl Hall of Fame - restaurant and bar. Usually I walk by here on my way to the White Horse, and every now and then I wonder if I should walk on in. It looks a little too themey for my taste, but one never knows. I read somewhere about a good late afternoon drink special. However, reading in the New York Magazine review (not a critics' pick) that they serve their margaritas in mason jars has confirmed my original impression that I should just keep walking.

See map.

West Village, 10th Street Between Bleecker and Hudson Streets

2010-04-25T03:36:00.001-04:00

West Village, 10th Street Between 4th and Bleecker Streets

2010-04-24T00:16:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………….. click to enlarge

I was intrigued by the signs on the window of Westville. They say butterbeans, strawberries, collard greens, corn on the cob and bok choy. Each a separate one word sign, well not one word, but one item, you know what I mean. That's a pretty unusual looking produce store, I thought. Westville is not a produce store; it's a restaurant, and, it turns out, another New York Magazine Critics' Pick.

West Village, 10th Street Between 4th and Bleecker Streets

2010-04-23T02:21:00.004-04:00

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Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………...… ………………….. click to enlarge

So pretty, so charming.

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And a close-up. I want to come back in the summer and see what's here.

West Village, 10th Street Between 4th and Bleecker Streets

2010-04-22T02:26:00.001-04:00

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The weather on Sunday was breezy and cool, bracing, more like a fall day than spring, but very nice. Lots of clouds and slashes of sun hitting the tops of buildings and trees.

West Village, 4th Street at 10th Street

2010-04-21T01:03:00.002-04:00

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Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… .....………………….. click to enlarge

Here is the well-known intersection where 4th Street turns northish and crosses 10th Street. And if you pan down that building across the street

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………….......……….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

you will see Chow Bar, a place I dismissed as being of no interest as I assumed it was filled with college kids. It was the sign that made me think that, the appearance of it and the word Chow. But I was wrong. Chow is Chinese; it does not refer to chowing down. If you follow the Chow Bar link, you will see that it's a New York Magazine Critics' Pick, highly thought of for its honey plum glazed spareribs.
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See map.

West Village, 10th Street Between Seventh Avenue and 4th Street

2010-04-20T00:01:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

The door was locked and there was no buzzer and I knew it opened onto stairs leading down, so how was I ever going to get anyone to come let me in? All it took was a knock on the glass and a man appeared and went and got my phone. Impressive.

Then I turned my attention to other things.

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These three were having a great time, smiling and laughing. And then they saw me with my camera.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………….......….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

And said, oh, a photographer! Would you mind taking our picture? Not at all, says I. And I was able to do it without twisting my body into strange shapes. Maybe because I'm short. This man in the front is the woman's former history teacher. They were so happy to be together, the three of them.

West Village, 10th Street Between Seventh Avenue and 4th Street

2010-04-19T01:55:00.004-04:00

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I had had plans last night, but they were cancelled last minute, and rather than use the opportunity to stay home and do laundry, I decided to go downtown and hear some jazz at Smalls. Good decision. Except when I got home I had no cell phone. Today I called my phone and discovered it was at the bar at Smalls. Whew. So I decided to go get it and take the opportunity to do a photowalk on 10th Street from Seventh Avenue to the West Side Highway.

Now I'm not finished with the Chelsea walk but I'm tired of it. Aren't you? It's been going on for 4 weeks and showing no sign of ending. So I'm just ending it before its time, and moving on to the Village.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

Here's 10th Street at Seventh Avenue and that's Smalls over to the left, but since it's impossible to see it at this distance, below is a closer shot.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……….......………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Isn't it cute? It's a small basement room and instead of tables, they set up rows of folding chairs and people sit there like they're at a concert. For that reason, I prefer to sit at the bar. The music starts at 7:30 and goes on "all night" and $20 gets you in for the night.

I wasn't paying any attention to Cafe Condesa, but Googled it at the last minute and discovered it's a hidden gem, a place to put on the list. Take a look.

See map.

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Ninth and Tenth Avenues

2010-04-17T02:34:00.003-04:00

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This block has a different character and here are three photographs to illustrate it.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ……....…………….. click to enlarge

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… ……...…………….. click to enlarge

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …....……………….. click to enlarge

Pretty nice, huh?

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

2010-04-16T02:50:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………….....…….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

In 2003, the glamorous Maritime Hotel opened, with the well-regarded Japanese restaurant Matsuri tucked underneath and on the side. I must have been distracted in 2003, because I only learned this tonight. However, the chef, Tadashi Ono, somehow sounded familiar. Sure enough, he was the chef at Sono, where I had dinner one time only, years ago. The food was wonderful but I had no desire to return, something that puzzled me a little. I think it was too quiet. It subsequently closed, perhaps because it was too quiet. If you follow the Matsuri link, the first picture you see makes it clear that this restaurant is different. Here's another link that will confirm that. Oh, that Japanese sense of humor.

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

2010-04-13T02:19:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…..………… ………………….. click to enlarge

I shouldn't have been surprised to see this building of the School of Visual Arts; they have buildings scattered all over lower Manhattan, including Gramercy, the Lower East Side, and West Chelsea. This particular building houses the BFA (Batchelor of Fine Arts) Department. If you'd like to know more about their real estate holdings, go here. An interesting way to build a campus as compared to the NYU way and the Columbia way.

By the way, the SVA website linked to above is remarkably ugly and unpleasant to use. I would think twice about attending an art school with such a poor website.

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

2010-04-12T01:12:00.002-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………………….. click to enlarge

Why did I take this picture? Probably I was interested in the new glass building next to the old tenement. Why did I post this picture? The curiously hovering street cone was irresistible.

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

2010-04-10T02:39:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….……………... ………………….. click to enlarge

This is Atlantic Stage 2 of the Atlantic Theater Company. I'll say more about this tomorrow, but now I'm incoherent from exhaustion.

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

2010-04-08T01:10:00.003-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………….. click to enlarge

Looking across Eighth Avenue to the next block. What the heck is going on over there?

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……………………….. click to enlarge

Here's Joe, who stopped me from walking farther and then kindly explained what the heck was going on.

Mary Sargent © 2010 …………………….. click to enlarge

See that square object suspended in the background? Actually it's a cube and it's a transformer being lifted to the roof. Joe told me it weighs just a hell of a lot of tons. He did tell me the exact amount but I didn't write it down, so just know it weighs a lot.

This is a pretty good photograph so you might want to enlarge it and admire it.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….……………... ………………….. click to enlarge

See those red platelike things stacked on the truck bed? Those are weights to counterbalance the transformer. You would think the truck itself would be enough but no.

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………...…………….. click to enlarge

The transformer cleared the roof and we were allowed to walk on.

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Seventh and Eighth Avenues

2010-04-07T01:29:00.001-04:00

Mary Sargent © 2010 ………………….…………… …..……………….. click to enlarge

This is the only post for this block - these sweet little 4-story tenements, and

Mary Sargent © 2010 ……… ………………….. click to enlarge

this building, with The Grey Dog at the bottom. This is the third Grey Dog in the city and this Village Voice interview tries to explain why it has not become a chain.