Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Amsterdam and Convent Avenues

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Across the street from those charming town houses are apartment houses, along with a couple of red doors that I wanted to photograph, but the shadows were so obtrusive and the contrast so great that nothing worked until I got this shot. The shadows and washed out quality make it kind of noirish, if a photo with red and yellow in it can be called noirish. I guess the shadowy man also has something to do with it.

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Amsterdam and Convent Avenues

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Farther down the block is the red columned Baton Rouge (link highly recommended), which gets good ratings on menupages.com. In fact, Mae Jackson says "You will stomp your feet and wave your hand in the air after one bite of the food."



Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

And here's a group leaving the Baton Rouge. Although they probably had a good time, I don't think they had as good a time as the folks on the restaurant web site did. After all, it's the middle of the day.

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Amsterdam and Convent Avenues

On to the next block, a shorter block, all residential on the south side. Of the two photographs below, I was torn between showing the closeup with a link to the long shot, or showing the long shot with a link to the closeup. Finally, and since I don't trust you to follow the link, I came to this sensible decision. And of course you know, on this blog, I am the decider.



Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

I urge you to enlarge the above photo so you can see the pretty grillwork on the doors.



Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Right across the street from the library McKim, Mead and White designed to look like an Italian palazzo is El Puerto. And that's what I like about New York.

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

This is the doorway to the Hamilton Grange Branch of the NY Public Library. The building was designed by McKim, Mead & White, opened in 1907, and designated a landmark in 1970. Inside, it's up to date with all the stuff they’ve put in libraries since I last used one. I should get a library card.

Here's a photograph of the façade, but it doesn't give you an impression of the weightiness of the building. For that, take a look at the small ugly photo on this web page.

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

There are many, many food carts on the streets in Manhattan, but this is the first one I've seen with a cold weather enclosure at the window. I imagine it was more for the guy at the window than for the customers; those guys get very cold standing in there all day. They were selling tacos.

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

I could say that I'm showing this photograph because of the poignant contrast between the hopeful message of the Boys & Girls Club sign and the decrepit surroundings, but really I just like the way it looks.

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Here's one of those shots I have a weakness for: flat with squares and rectangles fitting together, color (though not necessary), doesn't hurt, and a little detail, as in the delicate iron work, is always nice.

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street at Broadway

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

And here is McDonald's at Broadway. I was kind of hoping to find a Taco Bell so I could talk about all the sensational videos of rats running around in a Taco Bell in Greenwich Village, but this'll have to do.

And anyway, don't you think this is the best photo of McDonald's you've ever seen?

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Hamilton Heights, 145th Street Between Riverside Drive and Broadway

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

When I got off the subway at 145th Street, I first walked west one block to Riverside Drive where we saw the bridge. Now this is on my way back to Broadway. For a long shot of the street go here. You will see a faint red rectangle at the far right, which is the back of McDonald's on Broadway.

Above is a close up of some of those row houses. I love the white one with its columns and second story verandah. Next door, two small stone lions, somewhat eroded by the urban elements, look haughtily down at the street. I'm not imagining this, I walked right by them on my way down.

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Hamilton Heights, Riverside Drive at 145th Street

Mary Sargent © 2007 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Well, just look at this pretty little bridge all color coordinated. It doesn’t go across the river but seems to lead to the Riverbank State Park.

Did you know we had a State Park right here in Manhattan? This is the park that was built on top of a sewage treatment plant, (the first in the western hemisphere!), apparently to placate Harlem residents who were outraged that the plant was being built in their back yard. It had originally been planned for 72nd Street, but you know what happens when wealthy, influential folks are threatened with a sewage treatment plant. Yep, it gets moved. In Harlem, they weren't wealthy enough or influential enough to get it moved, but they did get this park.

Now, after all, or most of, the trouble with bad smells has been resolved, it seems to be a great success; New York Magazine gives it a glowing review. Of course, there is an expensive restaurant, The River Room, with spectacular view, atop.

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