Thursday, July 31, 2014

Cloudy


I was trying to find a sunset on the river but the weather was not cooperating!

Happy August!


Morning temperature: 73 degrees
Steps: 14,600


At the Friends Meeting House


A sign on the 1860 Friends Meeting House. Quakers have long been non-violent and active in humanitarian movements.

Morning temperature: 68 degrees

Steps: 10,122

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Boutique on Wheels



...because there are not enough clothing stores in Manhattan!

Morning temperature: 63 degrees

Steps: 10,480

Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Subway Art




Morning temperature: 64 degrees It has felt so nice in the morning although the humidity is high enough that it feels warmer than the temperature indicates.

Steps: 10,116

Monday, July 28, 2014

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Sculpture


"The Immigrants" by Luis Sanguino
Located in Battery Park

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Security



This is one of the street barricades in the Wall Street area to prevent vehicles getting near some of the high security buildings. It's not up 24 hours a day but it's an easily movable protection.

Friday, July 25, 2014

High Heel Chair


A must have chair...the zebra high heel shoe chair.

This one had to be put on top of the beds to prevent wear from everyone who stopped to sit on it.

Morning temperature: 67 degrees

Steps: 10,362

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Big Flowers






Morning temperature: 75 degrees, feels like 82,  humidity - 87

Walk Up



You gotta love a walk up window at McDonald's. It was too nasty humid to stand outside in line, though.

Morning temperature: 72 degrees, humidity: 87

Shelter


Is this a shelter for homeless baby carriages?

Last night the subway stop was classic New York subway life. There were people in their Sunday go-to-meeting clothes standing by their signs hanging on the wall suggesting we repent. There was a group of musicians (mainly drummers) playing a number with a definite African beat to a crowd of appreciative onlookers. There was a group of Hare Krishna's playing their finger cymbals while a homeless man danced to the music.
 
And there were tons of people walking through the steamy heat on their way home from work!


Morning temperature: 73 degrees
Steps: 10,519

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Squirrel Post


It's nice for the squirrels and birds to be able to receive mail at their local mail tree.

Morning temperature: 73 degrees

Steps: 10,667

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Flowers





Morning temperature: 71 degrees but it's going to be a hot one!

Steps: 9179
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, July 21, 2014

Tombstone Humor


I don't often wander through cemeteries but when I do it's a treat to see a humorous epitaph. Ms. Dummett seems to have been in the entertainment business. The curtain and comedy tragedy masks are generally theatre references but "It's a wrap" is more traditionally used at the end of filming.

Rest in Peace, Audrey Dummett.

Morning temperature: 68 degrees
Steps: 7139

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Michaels - Chelsea



The new Michaels in Chelsea is officially open today! The ball of yarn and the crayon didn't really want to pose but I might not be ready for my Kodak moment if I was dressed like that either!

The aisles are narrow but everything is clean and well stocked. There were free totebags for all and some special prices too. Glad to have them in the neighborhood!

Saturday, July 19, 2014

King Manor






A little trip to Jamaica, Queens today to look for some history. It was about an hour ride on the subway and only a short walk from the stop.

The original farmhouse at what is now called the Rufus King Manor was built in 1750. Rufus King bought it in 1805 and made some additions to it. His farm grew to 150 acres.

Rufus King graduated from Harvard in 1777 and served in the Revolutionary War. He helped write - and he signed the Constitution. He was ambassador to Great Britain from 1796 to 1803 and was a senator of New York.

After his death, his son, John Alsop King lived in the house. He served in the New York Assembly and the US Congress and a term as governor of New York.

Only a few rooms are open for viewing. The dining room had 2 interesting curved corners that were closets...a feature I haven't seen before in a home this old. The guides mentioned that the dining table would be moved to the side so that the room could be used as a ballroom. What's a farmhouse without a ballroom???

Friday, July 18, 2014

Subway Art



Morning temperature: 65 degrees (Yay!)

Yesterday's steps: 8445

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Wimpy's


A new restaurant try. That darn Wimpy still can't spell chicken!

Morning temperature: 69 degrees
Yesterday's steps:  11, 586

Monday, July 14, 2014

Lounging


These are some of the famous chaise lounges on the High Line. They are very popular...not that you can tell from this photo. They have wheels and can be moved along the railroad tracks though it's not easy. I made a lot of visits to the High Line before I ever had a chance to sit on one of these. I was surprised that the angle of the back is really uncomfortable for me. Now I don't envy the people who get there first and get to sit on one of them!


Morning temperature: 72 degrees, felt like 82 degrees, 100% humidity
Morning steps: 7041

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Full Moon



I don't have very good luck photographing the moon. It would probably help if I took a tripod and planned my photography.

Last night there was a huge full moon. The kind where you can see all the darker areas on the moon and like I say...it was huge. I saw it while I was walking home. It was a perfect sight as I walked up my street and I stopped several times just to stare at it.

Then I went upstairs to my apartment and dropped off the stuff I was carrying. By the time I got downstairs to the street again (I swear it was only 10 to 15 minutes)...the moon was no longer visible on my street. It makes me dizzy just thinking about the earth turning that fast!

I had to walk 3 blocks to get another view of it. This is the only somewhat decent photo I was able to get although it comes nowhere close to capturing what I was seeing...and I feel like it also got smaller by the time I found it again!

Seems like I'm always caught between the moon and New York City. I know it's crazy but it's true... (song lyrics).

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Manhattanhenge 2014 Part 2

A crowd of photographers in the street

I didn't do too well at catching the sun before it dipped behind buildings

Looking the other way you could see the moonrise (pay no attention to the cab in the foreground!)
Last night it was Manhattanhenge all over again.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Art in the Grass

These colorful chunks of plastic are multi-use. They are chairs, tables and art!
I lost track of time in the park today. I was reading. The humidity was lower and the breeze felt good.  The time flew by.

I saw a group of little kids tethered together with their little matching shirts on the way to the playground.

I've noticed lately in the dog run that several dog parents sit on benches with their dogs next to them or at their feet. Do they understand what a "run" is?

I may or may not have been in the background of a college film project. There was a dramatic scene where a man bumps into a woman causing her coffee to spill all over.

But I had to get going. There were errands to run!

Morning temperature: 73 degrees
Morning steps: 9081

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Flowers

I'm never quite sure what kind of flowers I'm seeing.


Morning temperature: 72 degrees
Morning steps: 6794

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Garbage & Flowers


This always makes me smile when I walk past. Here's this ugly Department of Sanitation building which has, shall we say, a distinctive odor....and there are all these pretty flowers planted out front!

Morning temperature: 72 degrees
Morning steps: 5875

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Monday, July 7, 2014

Another Monday morning

A serpent car tattoo
It was a nice morning for a walk but the heat and humidity is kicking in again later today. It seemed slightly quiet out there like a lot of people are on vacation although the park had lots of early morning visitors.

Morning temperature: 72 degrees
Morning steps: 6294

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Red & Blue



A shot from the street around the corner. The Empire State Building uses variable lights for a constant little light show. Makes it even harder to get a nice shot of the lights however! Just when you think you have a focus...the lights change and they are not as dramatic! I thought it would be easier than taking photos of fireworks! Oh, well...

Friday, July 4, 2014

Happy Fourth of July

He must be a tourist!


Morning temperature: 71 degrees, 89% humidity
Morning steps: 7103

Thursday, July 3, 2014

A Snowflake's Chance in Hell...


The scene: It's July...90 degrees...the heat index is 105...the humidity is choking me and the sun is scorching me on the city streets. I look down next to a tree and see a snowflake! Just for a second an image of a snowy street pops in my head...but it doesn't quite last long enough to lower my body temperature!


Morning temperature: 73 degrees, feels like 85, 91% humidity
Morning steps: 7106

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Tall Flowers

These are TALL flowers...I'm guessing they are about 7 feet tall although I didn't include the entire stalk in the photo.


Morning temperature: 77 degrees, 79% humidity
Morning steps: 6226

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Chasing Butterflies


 
 
Happy July! There were lots of people on the High Line this morning but I was chasing butterflies. This Monarch led me on quite a chase. It flew among pink, red, purple, yellow and orange flowers but only seemed to land (briefly) on the orange flowers. I kept hoping for a little more contrast.

Now that I look at the photo I can only see those leaves with the holes in them!


Morning temperature: 72 degrees, 81% humidity
Morning steps: 7434