Chelsea, 19th Street at Seventh Avenue

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

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

Chelsea, 19th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.





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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

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

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

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

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

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.

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Ninth and Tenth Avenues

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




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







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


Pretty nice, huh?

Chelsea, 16th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

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

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.