Upper West Side, 83rd Street at Central Park West

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….…………… ……..…………….. click to enlarge

Looking to the east there, at Central Park West, we see a slab of Manhattan schist, pronounced just as it's spelled, to rhyme with list.  To schist we owe our skyscrapers, because that's the foundation they stand on, and to schist we owe (when we take the time to acknowlege it) our connection with the real world.  That is, the world that would be here without us.  And was here before us. 

Well, I admit I watched the State of the Union address with a bottle of really good pinot noir, and so I'm perhaps a little more out there than usual.  Good speech, right?  I do like a good speech.

Here's a link to Rock Trails in Central Park which has an introductory paragraph on how New Yorkers don't know compass directions, and advises us to think uptown and downtown instead.  Keep going, though, and you'll find a good geological guide to rocks in Central Park.

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Upper West Side, 83rd Street Between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge


So I was walking along this typical Upper West Side side street with its brownstones and small apartment buildings when up ahead loomed this majestic, smooth, white, very large edifice.  It is the synagogue of the Congregation Rodeph Sholom, a Reform congregation.  You probably know that Reform Jews are the most liberal religious Jews, but maybe you'd like to know more exactly the differences between Reform, Orthodox and Conservative. Fortunately, there's Judaism 101 to help us out.  Or for a more succinct statement on Reform Judaism click here.

This congregation formed in 1842 on the Lower East Side, then moved to Lexington and 63rd Street in 1891, and finally to this location in 1930.  The building was designed by "renowned architect" Charles B. Meyers, although if he's not to be found in Wikipedia, how renowned could he be?

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Upper West Side, 83rd Street Between Columbus Avenue and Central Park West

I could've taken more photographs of this glossy crimson van parked in front of the dusty rose building, but I figured I could only justify posting about three.  Aren't they delicious?



Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….…………… ………..………….. click to enlarge







Mary Sargent © 2009 ……………………….. click to enlarge








Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………………….. click to enlarge

Upper West Side, 83rd and Columbus Ave.

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Here on the north-east corner of 83rd and Columbus, is West Side Wine, which I thought was just your regular old neighborhood wine store.  Un uh.  If I'd paid more attention, I would have seen books in the window with The Wine Guy on the front.  This is The Wine Guy's home!  Well, I'd never heard of The Wine Guy either, but I've now put his book on my wish list and the next time I'm in the neighborhood, I'm definitely stopping in.

Sorry I missed my post last night.  I had a fresh cold and, I don't know about you, but one of the first symptoms I get is an overpowering urge to go to bed.  So that's what I did.  Today it's just a regular cold.


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Upper West Side, 83rd Street at Columbus Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….. click to enlarge

There are a few benefits to shooting in winter.  Well, at least, one.  It's that trees are more interesting with bare branches.  And in this shot we also have contrast:  white branches against the dark building and dark branches against the sky.

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I just reedited the two photos I posted half-assed when Blogger was malfunctioning.  Now you can enlarge them and I recommend you do that now.  They're better that way.

Upper West Side, 83rd Street Between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….…………...… ………………….. click to enlarge

Isn't this a pretty door with its embellished crossbars?  Who makes them, anyway?  And why can't I find history for New York firehouses?  Oh, there's a kind of random history, but I want-- wait a minute, here's the NYgov website with history: 

ORGANIZED 207 W. 77th St. (Jun. 1, 1901)
PRESENT QUARTERS 120 W. 83rd St. (Oct. 5, 1992)

And that's it.  Well, at least we know it wasn't at this location until 1992.  Within our lifetimes.  Most of us.  So what did they do?  Take an existing building and insert this door into it?  I guess.  I wish I'd seen it.

Upper West Side, 83rd Street Between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues

Mary Sargent © 2009 ………………….…………… ………………….. click to enlarge

Well, look at this.  Blogger is broke for the moment, well, for the last two days, actually, and everyone is reporting they can't post their photos from Picasa in the usual way.  This one got here in a workaround and I can't format it as I usually do, with the text starting out underneath.  That's why last night's photo had no text.  Last night I was newly frustrated and finally just gave up.  But tonight I gave in.

New walk, at last! Blue skies! Mild weather! Well, it felt that way at first. After therapy on West 86th Street, I stopped by the post office on 83rd Street and mailed my last Christmas present. Done! Then I walked 83rd to Central Park West, up to 84th and back to Broadway, although I stopped photographing at Amsterdam and 84th. I was cold. Yes, I know it was in the 30's and people were walking around with their coats unbuttoned, but it was windy, and after you're out in it for a while, your bare fingers start feeling icy.

This shot was taken after I left the post office. That's the post office garage next to the school playground.

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1/22/10 - Yay, Blogger is fixed.  So I reformatted this post so it doesn't look all funny any more.

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Upper West Side, 83rd Street between Broadway and West End Avenue

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

How nice of Bank of America to brighten up this dull gray building.

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Upper West Side, 83rd Street at Broadway

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


To my surprise, there are numerous reviews for Harry's Shoes. None for the fruit stand, but I think they're overstocked with bananas. Draw your own conclusion.

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