Morningside Heights, 111th Street Between Broadway and Riverside Drive

Mary Sargent © 2008 ……….. click to enlarge

After the doctor visit on Thursday, I came back uptown to begin the official photowalk. I wanted to buy vitamins at 110th Street anyway, and it was an enchanting day for the park and there was this little piece of street on my map that was bothering me; I couldn't tell if it was walkable or not. Needed to find out.

This is what spring looks like on West 111th Street.

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Morningside Heights, 111th Street Between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue

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

Leafy.

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Morningside Heights, 111th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam

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

The only street, I mean block, I walked, on Sunday, was 111th Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. I used to live around the corner on 110th Street and I don't remember ever walking on this block – and therein lies its charm. There's no reason to walk there unless you live there. And hardly any reason to drive there because it ends at Amsterdam where the grounds of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine block it. So here's this lovely, leafy, quiet residential block right off Broadway where the action is and the subway is and, of course, where the Westside Supermarket is. Oh, if only I had millions.

Go here to see a couple of long shots, both looking east.

I'm showing you this shot because it's the only time I've ever seen razor wire look good.

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Spanish Harlem, 111th Street Between Second and First Avenues

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

Window guards are very common in New York, especially at street level, but I don't believe I've ever seen them painted pink before. And not only that, the metal covers in the sidewalk are pink. Truly inspired. And now I'm craving to come back at dusk when those globe lights come on.

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Spanish Harlem, 111th Street Between Third and Second Avenues

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

Now we're in Spanish Harlem which is part of East Harlem. Boundaries are 96th Street to 125th Street, Park Avenue to East River. All I can say is somewhere in Spanish Harlem is a genius colorist who put those two colors together.

For more evidence, view abstract photos one and two.

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Spanish Harlem, 111th Street Between Madison and Park Avenues

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

This is the side of last night's building. Behind the fence, what looks like a junk yard is actually the winter time look of a community garden. Obviously this would make a good summertime visit. Not all community gardens have such a good backdrop.

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Central Harlem, 111th Street Between Lenox and Fifth Avenues

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

I hope someone likes this is much as I do.

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Central Harlem, 111th Street Between Lenox and Fifth Avenues

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

And here is P.S. 185, the sister school to P.S. 208 from last night. I'm giving you two views of it, but they're both from the back. Someday, I'll get to the front on 112th Street. Remember, that unbelievably white stuff is snow.




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

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Central Harlem, 111th Street Between Lenox and Fifth Avenues

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

I've just been reading online about P.S. 208, fronting on 111th Street and P.S. 185 next to it, but fronting on 112th Street. They are called sister schools, with 185 having pre-K through 2nd grade and 208 having grades 3-5. There's something that seems so sweet about that. 185 is apparently one of only a few city schools limited to early childhood grades. I feel like going over to help out.

This is one of the walls of P.S. 208. See that white stuff? That's snow, snow white snow, a rare treat for us New Yorkers. The white part, I mean.

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Central Harlem, 111th Street Between Lenox and Fifth Avenues

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

And this is the side of the 2nd Canaan Baptist Church, toward the back of the building. If you enlarge this photo, you can see that the window with the air conditioner in it is a stained glass window.

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Central Harlem, 111th Street Looking Down Lenox Avenue

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

Bill came for a visit and on Saturday went with me on a photowalk in Spanish Harlem. When he comes with me, we make it a point to walk somewhere where we think we can find something good for lunch. We'd had our second snowstorm of the year on Friday, but Saturday it was sort of nice. Not too cold and the sun breaking through. This is where we got off the subway at 111th Street. We're looking down Lenox Avenue to the northern edge of Central Park.

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