Upper West Side, 86th Street Between West End Avenue and Broadway

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

Isn't this the kind of building you'd like to see continue undulating its way down the whole block? Best not to stare at it too long if you're feeling a bit queasy.

A new walk tomorrow.

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Upper West Side, 86th Street at Amsterdam Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2008 ……. click to enlarge
The West Park Presbyterian Church is on the corner of the block my therapist lives on and so I see it weekly and think about photographing it. Not because I like it but because it's there. Not liking it has been a stumbling block, but this photograph almost does it for me. I hasten to add that better people than I have great admiration for it:

Christopher Grey in The New York Times says " . . . its lush, reddish-brown stone is a rare work of rich color." Of course, that was in 1988. He may have changed his mind by now.

The AIA Guide calls it ". . . one of the West Side's loveliest landmarks."

I just can't get with these rough cold stone buildings. Especially if they're that reddish-brown color.

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Upper East Side, 86th Street at Lexington Avenue

Mary Sargent © 2008 ………. click to enlarge

Upper East Side, 86th Street at Lexington Avenue

Back at the Lucida. Sorry to be regressive, but I do like these two photos. And all we have to look forward to is Park Avenue.

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Upper East Side, 86th Street at Lexington Avenue

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

And here's the other side of the street. This will be opposite this.

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Upper East Side, 86th Street at Lexington Avenue

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

Today I went downtown to the old office to meet my buddy, Yvette, for lunch. She's still there toiling away, and every now and then, she needs to go out and have a good long lunch, complete with drinks. We went to Novita, seen here in October 2006. I hesitate to say the food wasn't very good because, after all Zagat's has raised its rating from 23 to 24 and Time Out says it's Italian food for grownups. But dammit, don't grownups disdain undersized wine glasses? Isn't that an automatic demerit? However, drawing on our inner resources, we managed to have a good time, in spite of the disappointing food (grilled salmon, pasta with lobster ragu) and small wine glasses.

Afterwards, I took the 6 train up to 86th Street, walked over to Park, then up to 96th Street. I chose this destination so I could tidy up my map, tie up some loose ends, NOT because Park Avenue is an exciting street to walk on.

But first, look here – it's the Lucida, which we saw last October.

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Upper East Side, 86th Street Between Lexington and Third Avenues

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

One of the sidewalk vendors I mentioned 2 nights ago.

Now about these Raw files. I have finally plunked down my $800 to take an Adobe Photoshop class at ICP (International Center for Photography), which is where I learned to print color film back when the class rooms were located on East 93rd Street. Or 92nd. Now it's time to get serious about this digital photography stuff. By the end of the class in December I should know how to print color digital.

Of course, I can print them now on my color printer without taking a class, but I want to do it the hard way.

All you people who have been clamoring for a print will soon be able to get one. Actually, I owe one for last year's Christmas present. It's coming soon!

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Upper East Side, 86th Street Between Lexington and Third Avenues

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

And now, last night's post this morning:

Farther down the block, The Lucida construction continues.

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Upper East Side, 86th Street Between Lexington and Third Avenues

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

On Monday I went for a lunchtime photowalk for the purpose of getting some Raw shots for my Photoshop class for Digital Imaging. You're looking at the first Raw shot I've posted. Time for some self-respect here. More about all this later.

I took the No. 6 subway to 86th Street and walked down Lexington Avenue to the 77th Street subway stop. First, however, I walked on 86th Street over to Third Avenue in the mistaken belief I was walking downtown. Bring on the compasses!

This block was busy. On the south side, construction; on the north side lots of sidewalk vendors and people; it reminded me of 125th Street in Harlem. I googled The Lucida, not expecting much, but look what's going in there! Does it seem a tad out of place? We'll see how long the sidewalk vendors last after that place opens.

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Upper West Side, 86th Street Between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

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

Yesterday I had the day off so after early morning therapy on 86th Street, I went around the block and walked 85th Street to the park and then up Central Park West to get the C train.

This is on 86th Street.

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Upper West Side, 86th Street at West End Avenue

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

I take photos of city dogs now and again, but never post them. But this one has a certain Upper West Side look to it, a certain 86th and West End look to it, don't you think? (And so CUTE.) No! I didn't say that.

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Upper West Side, 86th Street Between Broadway and West End Avenue

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

This is but a small section of the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrews United Methodist, which is an impressive, handsome building with a tall tower. But it's a pretty section, no? An urban wintry landscape.

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Upper West Side, 86th Street Between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway

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

Last Wednesday, my day off, I finally got out on a photo walk after seeing my therapist on West 86th Street. Pretty cold, I'd say, low 20's, and sunny. Luckily, the wind hadn't started up yet. I didn't stray far from a subway stop in case I began to freeze solid, only walked 86th west to Riverside and back on 85th.

This shot is at the beginning of the walk, between Amsterdam and Broadway. Seeing the primary colors always pleases me and I'm attracted to the visual stacking of cars and colors. That's a CVS store with the red windows on the gray building.

Upper West Side, 86th Street Between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues

Mary Sargent © 2006 …………………………………….. click to enlarge

Last Wednesday, my day off, I had therapy (psycho) early, then an MRA, with a 2 hour gap between. My head got a lot of attention that day. But I'm perfectly fine! Really. Anyway, the point being that I used the time to take a walk from my therapist's office on West 86th Street, up Columbus Ave to 97th Street and back down to 96th Street and the subway.

It was fairly cold, upper 40s, and bright sunshine. The first time I've had to deal with gloves while photographing. I admit to being apprehensive about cold weather ahead, being fairly weather wimpy.

So this photograph is across the street and down the block from my therapist's office. Not a memorable photograph, but when I look at it, I get a real sense of place and what that day was like. So I guess I'm doing it for me, not you. You can skip this one. Next one's for you.

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