Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

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

An awfully pretty synagogue here on 34th Street.  It is the West Side Jewish Center.  I couldn't find out when it was built.  Its official site (above link) doesn't seem to know and Wikipedia's article is very short and fragmented.  Anyone?

But do go to Wikipedia to see its photograph of the synagogue from 2007, showing a huge movie poster for Angels and Demons on the side of the building.  Amusing, since the Vatican described the movie as "an offence against God."  Well, amusing to me, anyway.  The congregation was also okay with it and appreciated the extra income.

Looking at this photograph, it appears that the buildings next to it would cover the view of the side of the synagogue, but I have a wider view of it which shows that they are, in fact, back of the side of the building.  Believe it or not.  And you'll have to leave it there because I'm not going to drag that photo out and edit it and post it and copy it.  I know it's not that late, but I'm reforming.  Trying to.
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3/21/10 - Rita kindly points out that Emporis tells us the Center was constructed in 1924.  Thank you!

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street Between Eighth and Ninth Avenues

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






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

I thought you'd want to see this red tree courtesy of the Loews sign.

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street at Eighth Avenue

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

New walk, new month.  Only a week behind now.  Last Sunday, March 7th, I went downtown to meet up with the Booker Prize Book Club.  The book under discussion was The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid (short-listed, not a prize winner).  The main character is a Pakistani, and so we met at a Pakistani restaurant on Ninth Avenue.  Where else?

This photo was taken at 6:30 p.m.  One week later, it would still be daylight.  Let's hear it for Daylight Savings time!  It is a time when I am happy with my government.  It was George Bush (yes!) who extended DST by a month.  Three weeks earlier in the spring and 1 week later in the fall.  Way to go, George!  By the way, I just learned that it is not Daylight Savings Time; it is Daylight Saving Time.

And so, this is where I got off the A train at 34th and Eighth.


NOTE:  I shouldn't have to point this out, but a copyright notice means that you should NOT download any photographs.  It is an infringement of copyright law.  It is stealing.  Please stop.  You can always link to them but don't take them.

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street Between Eleventh and Tenth Avenues

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

And across the street from subtle lady is this rather more dramatic scene (relatively). Birches in New York? I didn't know.

See map.

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street Between Eleventh and Tenth Avenues

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

It's hard to make her out because she's cleverly camouflaged, but if you look very carefully, you'll be able to see a woman leaning against the stairs. Hint: her back is turned to us.

See map.

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street Between Eleventh and Tenth Avenues

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

Free of our burdens, we stolled across 34th Street and here, just off 11th Avenue, was this darling courtyard. How great to be able to keep your bike outside and protected. It's enough to make you want to live all the way over here.

The gate was ajar, so I stepped inside to get some bike shots ... ... . ......... And suddenly, a FLOCK of women swooped in and disappeared inside 545 West 34th Street.


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

Hell's Kitchen, 34th Street Between Eleventh and Twelfth Avenues

So we're pretty much caught up. These photos were taken less than a week ago, last Wednesday, when I went down to the Javits Convention Center to help Flying Lady pack up her booth in the National Stationery Show. She has a brand new company selling note cards and if you go to her website, you can see her photography and some of mine, as well (but you've already seen mine).

Her guy, Geoff, came to haul her stuff off, leaving us free to go in search of something to eat. These are taken at the side of the Center as we wait for him.



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

You can tell, just from the look of these guys, that it's a gorgeous day, can't you?


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

This is just one tiny corner of the Javits Center. That is one huge place.


See map.