Flatiron District, 22nd Street at Sixth Avenue

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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

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.