East Village, Avenue C at 14th Street

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

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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

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I was taken by the rhythm of those cornices.




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Here's the straight-on shot.

See map.

East Village, 14th Street Between Avenues B and C

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

Use your time well.  Maybe browse the archives.


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

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A Hallmark card for you.

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

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

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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

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East Village, 14th Street at First Avenue

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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

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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

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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

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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

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

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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

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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

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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

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Chelsea, 19th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

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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.





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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

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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

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

Chelsea, 19th Street Between Sixth and Seventh Avenues

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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.




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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.



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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?



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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

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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

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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

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.


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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

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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.



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

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

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





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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.



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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

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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

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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.