Monday, June 30, 2014

A Walk Through the Park

This is an art piece. I like the hammock but not the thing in the middle of it!


Different park. Different film shoot. I didn't know I had walked through a film shoot till I heard someone yell "Background Reset!" I don't actually think that command was due to me but rather the cue to get ready to shoot. Like last week's shoot, they didn't seem to care that random people were walking through the background of their scene.

It used to be that not only did they not want you in the scene but they also had to warn you about it. Maybe they think everyone is so used to being on security cameras that we aren't paranoid about showing up on TV.

As I walked through the GreenMarket to toss my compost I had noticed a strange little section of vendors in a different configuration than the usual booths. From the signs on the booths I had deduced that it might be a film set but didn't see any cameras.

This shoot was for the USA Network series, White Collar. I saw Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer) and Mozzie (Willie Garson) as they walked through their scene in the park several times.


Morning temperature: 69 degrees, 90% humidity
Morning steps: 6901

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Drinking Fountain


A set of drinking fountains hooked up to a fire hydrant to provide drinking water for passersby!

Friday, June 27, 2014

Pollination

I was chasing that bee in the center...he didn't make it easy to focus

A squirrel got up close and personal with me today in the park. One came close on the bench and another climbed on my knee. I don't bring food but apparently they thought I was worth a try.

Morning temperature: 70 degrees
Morning steps: 6913

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Purple Flowers


It was sticky HUMID this morning. You could see it in the mist and the fog shrouding the tall buildings and even the not so tall buildings. You could see it in the mirror which showed my hair sticking straight out like I had stuck my finger in an electric socket...or does that only happen in cartoons?

But it was good photo shooting weather. The colors of the flowers on the High Line looked rich and saturated. The landscaping staff has to spend a lot of time pruning now because the plants are lush and growing.


Morning temperature: 71 degrees
Morning steps: 9276

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Unforgettable TV Shoot

That's Al (Dylan Walsh) in the suit in the center of the photo getting his makeup touched up

Red headed Carrie (Poppy Montgomery) spent her downtime on the phone
My morning walk to Madison Square Park got me a glimpse of the cast shooting a scene for the TV show, Unforgettable. I didn't know what they were shooting at first as they did several rehearsals with stand-ins but it was fascinating (and exhausting) to watch.

I didn't have my bigger zoom lens with me and passersby messed up my photo opportunities but these photos are what I could get. The canopy thing you can see was carried over Al & Carrie as they walked and talked for the scene.

NYC - you just never know...!


Morning temperature: 69 degrees
Morning steps: 6893

Monday, June 23, 2014

Spelling Lesson


You never know when you are going to need some good Sprits!

Morning temperature: 68 degrees
Morning steps: 10,223

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Friday, June 20, 2014

Friday Morning - Solstice Eve


It was delightfully cool this morning after yesterday's muggy mess. Lots of people decided it was a good morning for a walk on the High Line. I kept thinking I must be later than usual because there were so many people. And those people kept hogging some of my favorite spots!

Morning temperature: 64 degrees
Morning steps: 6241

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Trees & Railroad Tracks



I especially like parts of the High Line where you can see the evidence of its former life as a railroad.
And I especially like birch trees.

This morning it was surprisingly cooler than yesterday...cloudy, humid and windy. Today's photo shoot appeared to be group shots of employees. All were dressed nicely...professionally. I saw some people getting a solo shot and then small groups that I imagined were different departments as well as a full group shot. Women were trying to prevent their skirts from being blown up in the wind but it was hopeless to try to prevent the windblown hair look.


Morning temperature: 73 degrees
Morning steps: 6939

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

The Heat is On


It made it to 88 degrees yesterday...officially. Today is supposed to be the same or a little hotter. What that means in the city is that high heat plus concrete and brick equals unbearable heat! After it has been hot for awhile the buildings absorb all that heat and even if it cools off at night...the buildings keep it warm! Breezes are hot breezes and bring little relief. Summer is on!

Morning temperature: 80 degrees
Morning steps: 6692

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Ups & Downs

One World Trade Center
I almost saw a bike accident today. I heard a scream and saw the head and shoulders of a woman go up and come down. It appears that the woman was riding a Citibike when the door of a parked big truck (meaning high up) opened. She tried to swerve to miss it but there was a car coming behind her. She ended up sort of jumping off the bike to avoid getting the door smacked into her head. Luckily the driver of the car was alert enough to stop before running over her.

The bike rider got up immediately and walked gingerly over to the sidewalk and sat down - leaving the rental bike in the street. The driver of the truck picked up the bike, apologized and offered her help along with two other passersby. Another guy who apparently hadn't seen much ran out to keep the car from leaving the scene. I guess he thought the driver was about to leave a hit and run...but the car had no part in the accident.

One block over was a street with a bike path...much safer for the rider. And that is why I don't dare try those rental bikes! There's too much to worry about from others on the street!



Morning temperature: 72 degrees
Morning steps: 6313

Monday, June 16, 2014

Friday, June 13, 2014

Need Some Rain?

Somewhere in there...there is actually a point that's in focus!
It was wet and drizzly when I headed out for a walk this morning. I hurried to get around a group of 20 or so late teen/20-something people who were getting a tour on the High Line...in French. All I could think of...was...I was glad I was not a chaperone of that group. They seemed interested and attentive but they were at a age that could be trouble on a trip to NYC!

By the time I made it to one of my favorite arbor spots the rain was coming down pretty good and then it was a deluge which lasted for the rest of my walk home...even though I tried to wait it out for awhile! When I got home there was only one item of clothing that wasn't wet!

Morning temperature: 65 degrees, 93% humidity
Morning steps: 5673

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Subway Art



Morning temperature: 61 degrees, drizzle
Morning steps: 6294

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Are Gray Skies Gonna Clear Up?

Looking green and leafy under a gray sky in Union Square park


Morning temperature: 62 degrees
Morning steps: 5695

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

To the Park

The three pieces pictured below comprise "Folly" by Rachel Feinstein. They will be in Madison Square Park till early September.




 
 


I sat in the park to read my email as usual. A man sat down on the next bench. I had seen out of the corner of my eye that he appeared to have a homeless appearance. He was having a conversation so I thought he might be on a phone. He would speak for a time and then listen and eventually respond to what he heard.
 
I was trying to block his voice and was partly successful. I heard him say, "My planet...my rules." He mentioned that he would send the Penguin Brothers to see whomever he was talking to. When he said if Gambino approached him he would kill him and his whole family...I decided it was time to move along.
 
It wasn't really a surprise to see there wasn't any phone.
 
Morning temperature: 64 degrees
Morning steps: 6203


Monday, June 9, 2014

In the Subway

Subway creatures


It was another rainy morning with heavy fog at times. It didn't take me long to get pretty soaked even with my umbrella and long raincoat.

Morning temperature: 62 degrees, 93% humidity
Morning steps: 5332

Sunday, June 8, 2014

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Creative Class

Jennie Hinchcliff aka Ms. Red Letter Day




Last night I took a class at The Ink Pad taught by San Francisco's Jennie Hinchcliff. We made the book pictured above. From the photos you probably can't get any concept of what it really looks like but it was a fun creative endeavor.

There were 10 of us who first created a small piece of art to trade with each other. These pieces later went inside the book we made next.

The book is an interesting keepsake but the process may have been the best part.

Friday, June 6, 2014

National Donut Day


Entenmann's was giving out free chocolate covered donuts to celebrate National Donut Day. I was able to resist the call to donut but probably only because these are not my favorite donuts! I would like to have gotten a good photo of the big donut in the background but it wasn't prepared for a better photo op.

I'm disappointed that they teamed up with The Salvation Army (which was giving out free coffee and water) this year. The Army may help many people but they are also a Christian organization with what I consider some un-Christian biases.


Morning temperature: 61 degrees, 53% humidity
Morning steps: 7377

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Gray & Damp

Gray clouds from the High Line

Another interesting tree


Morning temperature: 62 degrees, 93% humidity
Morning steps: 4447

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

Crime Scene



This morning's walk took me right by a crime scene. I kind of hate to mention it because NYC gets a bad reputation regarding crime when, in fact, there are many, many cities that have higher crime rates per capita.

This crime happened in the subway station and the victim managed to escape to the street. So far it seems an argument led to violence but the victim will survive the attack.

It's always interesting to see all the police officers milling around. I think most of them are gawkers too. When I returned from my walk and came by the same scene there were three times as many police officers as in the photo above. The suits had joined the uniforms too. Now you know they don't ALL have something to do there.



Morning temperature: 63 degrees, 90% humidity
Morning steps: 7760

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Monday, June 2, 2014

Bagless

A BIG barge on the river
I'm known for carrying one or two reusable totebags at all times. I have a huge collection of them though I stick to a few favorites. But still from time to time I acquire a plastic grocery bag. Sometimes it's not worth arguing with store clerks more than a couple times in one conversation and I end up taking one. I've taken groceries out of the plastic bag only to see the clerk throw the bag away. I can't have that! At least, the bag needs to be used several times before it is tossed or recycled!

And sometimes other people give me a plastic bag with some item they think I should have. I've been known to rescue bags that people were about to throw in the trash. The point is that I still accumulate plastic bags even though I do my best to avoid taking one. I use those bags when I need to protect something from rain, as a double layer leak protection and sometimes for trash bags...always trying to get several uses from it.

This weekend I achieved a major goal. I used up the last bag in my bag collection! I don't remember that EVER happening! Of course, that's good news bad news. When I wanted to double wrap my compost this morning for the trip to the compost drop off I was out of luck!

Morning temperature: 60 degrees
Morning steps: 6324