Friday, July 31, 2009

Skywatch Friday



Sunset at Emerald Isle, a beautiful
beach that I've shown you once before.
I'd like a real repeat visit, but next
time not during hurricane season.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

funky chicken



This is my cousin's yard ornament,
which is about as tall as I am.
I LOVE outsider art (and have one small 
piece of my own, but I'm still
pretty envious of this big beauty)!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

abc wednesday - B is for "brothers"



The little one was so endearing.
He followed his big brothers around 
constantly though they
barely gave him the time of day
and—good boy—while he did run a 
bit with that lollipop in his mouth, he 
never took off his water wings.
.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Renaissance singers



These people singing on the street in
Brooklyn Heights were good!  Must admit
that my new/old friend Bibi
(visiting here from Belgrade)
 got an even better shot.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Jet Ski!




Daughter Katie got talked into doing this 
(it wasn't too hard to convince her). 
 At some point she said to the driver "Faster!" 
and he told her, "We're going 104 mph!"
They got off to a rocky start, though, when they 
fell off twice (!) before they even got going. 
(Made Mama nervous.)
Have you ever ridden one of these?

Sunday, July 26, 2009

landing



Just discovered Harriet's shadow shot Sunday
perfect because I love them. 
 Thanks, Harriet!
This one's pretty much self-explanatory.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

gone fishin'



Most of the fishermen on the Coney Island pier 
were at least 25 years older than this little
guy. But he looked so intense; I was rooting 
for him to snag the catch of the day.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Skywatch Friday



This church is in Springs, an East Hampton
community with a thriving art scene.   In fact,
I was there for a gallery opening where 
the works of my talented friends 
Jim and Jana were showcased.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Midtown from above



Boy, was I ever sitting on the right side of the plane! 
 Turns out a digital camera is one of those 
electronic devices that you're supposed to turn off 
when they tell you to.  But, hey, could you resist
sneaking a picture of this?  I couldn't!

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

abc wednesday - A is for "artist"



Hard to choose one for this category!  In the end, 
I picked bad boy Michelangelo Merisi da CARAVAGGIO—
this is his "Calling of St. Matthew," one of three
 of his paintings in the church of San Luigi dei Francese, in
Rome.  (And one of 12 Caravaggios I saw on that trip to Italy, 
many of them in churches, where you don't have to pay
 to look and there aren't 30 other people 
sharing your viewing space.  Nice.)

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

TKTS



This is the "roof" of the new and improved
TKTS booth.  Here's what's available now.
So what do you want to see?

Monday, July 20, 2009

The White Horse



This tavern in the West Village was opened in 1880. 
 Dylan Thomas drank (and drank and drank) here, 
and supposedly Jack Kerouac was kicked out more than
once.  Other famous patrons included Thomas's 
namesake Bob, Jim Morrison, Norman Mailer, and 
James Baldwin.  When I went by on this summer Sunday,
it looked like a nice mix of locals and tourists, 
and the usual bridge-and-tunnel crowd.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Alice



Every small child's favorite statue (mine too)
 in Central Park— Alice and friends are 50 this year.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

kid food?



Monday I showed you a store on Sullivan Street in 
the Village that sells hookahs. And now for something
completely different: This place is right across the 
street from City Underground.   I'm not about to go in 
and order a $6 PBandJ, but I'm a bit sorry I didn't get a 
jar of their "The Heat Is On" peanut butter, blended 
with chili powder, cayenne, and crushed red peppers.
Move over, Peter Pan!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Skywatch Friday



A couple of years ago, to celebrate the
21st birthday of a very special young man who 
didn't make it quite that far, his family 
wrote messages of love on balloons and 
we sent them up to him.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Hot dog!



Must admit, I've never understood the appeal.
But it's a big deal here in Brooklyn. Last year's winner broke 
his own record at this year's 4th of July contest—go, Joey!
I stopped in at this flagship Nathan's the weekend 
before the contest and ate precisely ONE (1) hot dog. 
It did have sauerkraut on it, though.  They have to
post calories on the menu (more than 2,000 for a double 
cheeseburger!) and the hot dog has 309.  So at 68 dogs,
Joey consumed 21,012 calories (and 1,360 grams of fat) 
in 10 minutes!  (That's about how many calories I
consume in 2 weeks! How about you?)

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

abc wednesday - Z is for "zucchini blossoms"



These were for sale at the Mercato Centrale,
in Florence. Some people like them stuffed with 
rice or ricotta cheese. I prefer them on
their own, dipped in a light batter, fried, then 
sprinkled with a tiny bit of sugar.
How about you?

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Allons, enfants!



Happy Bastille Day to all français and 
fellow francophiles!  Here's my
Parisian offering for this special day!

Monday, July 13, 2009

one toke over the line



Have you ever smoked a hookah?  For me, it has certain 
(left over from the sixties) connotations, but for 
some it's a different kind of social thing.  I no longer smoke,
but my Azerbaijani son-in-law has a hookah and 
invited me to join him, so I did.  Lesson learned: DO NOT inhale
(but if you don't make that mistake, it's kinda nice in a way,
 like smoking a peace pipe with cherry-flavored tobacco—
though I'm SO glad I no longer smoke that I'm not at all 
tempted to try a hookah again any time soon, if ever).

Sunday, July 12, 2009

terrace envy



Yes, must admit I do suffer from it—
especially when it's a terrace as
fabulous as this beauty way up high
in the West Village.   Sigh.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

I found it!



—the elusive bluebird of happiness.  Or maybe not.
Actually, this is a fairy bluebird, native to the
southern Himalayas.  This gorgeous male now lives
(happily, I trust) in the Rain Forest 
at the Central Park Zoo.

Friday, July 10, 2009

skywatch Friday



Last Saturday I was promised a private
fireworks show in Virginia to rival the Macy's
extravaganza here in NYC.
Well . . . it came pretty darn close!  And not 
for nuthin', I didn't have to take the
subway and fight the crowds to enjoy it
—and the Macy's show never provides me with 
fabulous food and drink and the company of such FUN people.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

baby girl



This "cheeky," bright-eyed little Mouseketeer 
is my daughter Lila, who has grown into a beautiful
young woman, if I do say so.  She's celebrating 
a big birthday tomorrow, so Happy B-day, Sweetie!

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

abc wednesday - Y is for "yellow"



As in this beautiful rose (and its little visitor) 
that I found in (no, not Texas) the Cranford Rose
Garden at the Brooklyn Botanic.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

country roads



Three days ago:  A twilight walk along a 
peaceful country road in rural Virginia—you
don't get views like this in Brooklyn!

Monday, July 6, 2009

Pulitzer Fountain



Built with the $50,000 bequeathed by the publisher
 for a fountain like "those in the Place de la Concorde in Paris."
The bronze statue depicts Pomona, the Roman goddess
 of abundance. There are ram's heads and horns of plenty to
further emphasize the theme of wealth. So I suppose it's 
fitting that this fountain is located right in front of the Plaza Hotel.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Dakota detail


I love the Dakota, and would have liked to see
it like this.
But for me, the real beauty of this building
is in the details.

Saturday, July 4, 2009

Happy 4th!


Here I am down in Virginia, so missing
the amazing Macy's fireworks display.
Have been assured that the private
show put on by our friends down here
is every bit as spectacular. Must admit,
I'm a skeptical New Yorker—but will
let you know.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

skywatch Friday


Have come down to Smith Mountain Lake,
in southwest Virginia, for the July 4th
weekend. I liked the way the late-
afternoon sky was reflected in this
placid pool.
Happy Skywatch!

good news!


I hope Ben means it, don't you? This
is Times Square, of course, and that's
the ball that they drop (or rather "lower,"
since it might be a bad idea to drop
something that's made of Waterford
crystals!) on New Year's Eve.
[FYI, that geodesic ball weighs 11,875
pounds, and is covered with 2,668
crystals. The 32,256 LED lights make it
possible to create 16 million colors and
billions (!) of patterns.]
Off to Virginia tonight and may or may not
be able to comment—please feel free to do
so yourself, of course. And Happy 4th to all
you patriotic (or not) Americans!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

abc wednesday - X is for "x-rated"


Hey, X is kind of a tough one. This
solution seems a bit obvious, but I
couldn't resist using it.