Monday, June 11, 2007

Fire Escape 4

Here is another photo of a fire escape in front of an industrial loft in SoHo. The architecture of the building is classic SoHo style -- large windows, original crown moldings and detailings, super high ceilings, and large expanse of floor spaces with minimal wall partitions.

Originally, SoHo (South of Houston Stree) was considered an undesirable area zoned for industrial and warehousing activities. Over the years, it has become one of the most expensive and hip areas to live, shop and eat in New York City. Many famous celebrities live here including David Bowie and Iman, Claire Danes, Sofia Coppola, and Boy George. If you are curious about where the celebrities in NYC live, here is a Star Map of Manhattan.

Have you ever met a famous person before? Which famous person would you like to meet most? What would you say to him/her/them?

21 comments:

Bel said...

Ming - I love your Fire Escape series. It's an image that epitomises New York and one that is completely foreign to us here in Australia, what with our sprawling suburban homes.

I've "met" (gawked at) a few famous faces but never had anything decent to say to them :o(

My list includes:
Boy George and Debbie Harry (Blondie)in Rome; Models Karen Mulder (stunning) and Tyra Banks also in Rome; Jessica and Ashlee Simpson & Nick Lachey in New York;
Brittany Murphy in Sydney...that's all I can think of right now!

I enjoy people watching in general, and occasionally a celeb slips by during my travels, which is fine by me ;o)

Who have you encountered?

Ming the Merciless said...

I volunteered for a soup kitchen in SoHo for 5 years so I am in the area a lot.

Celebrities I have seen in SoHo include Claire Danes, Meg Ryan, Iman, Daniela Pestova (Victoria Secret model), Lauren Hutton, Nate Berkus (Oprah's frequent guest/interior decorator), Kim Cattrall (Samantha on Sex & the City) and Masaharu Morimoto (Iron Chef Japanese).

Marcin said...

I love to look photos of NY, for photos like this. :D

alice said...

Again the same question: how do they do not to be burglarized each week...?
In New York, I've seen Yoko Ono (at the Blue Men show), in Paris Nina Hagen (Ming, you're very young, do you know her?) and near Vannes Jacques Chirac.

Sally said...

It would be fabulous living in one of those with the fabulous large windows.

I often see Nicole Kidman when I go to the theatre in Sydney - not with her on stage, but in the audience. Somehow we seem go to the same session!

I also saw Dawn French and Lenny Henry at Sydney Theatre Co.

My work shares a building with the Office of Film and Literature Classification, and there are often actors in the lift goign to screenings. I always stare ahead and don't notice. Actually I am BAD at recognising famous people!

Who would I like to meet? Nelson Mandela. I wouldn't know what to say but would be wanting something inspirational!

Anonymous said...

I think it is nice how the sunlight has changed the color on the building to a soft yellow while the shade is a muted grey.

As far as celebrities go, I don't know any and never saw one. I did see the first President Bush once and wasn't impressed.

Baby raccoons. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Brookville Daily Photo

Bel said...

Maroon 5 are playing at The Bowery Ballroom in New York tonight - 11 June. Are you going?????

lv2scpbk said...

I love how you captured this photo. I like the way it looks looking up on it. It would have a different feel looking down, but this one is really neat.

I've "seen" (which means I was either at a fair and seen them on stage or at a concert) "Festus" from Gunsmoke, Roy Clark, Tina Turner, Rascal Flatts, Bon Jovi and can't think of anyone else at the moment.

I've actually met (got to talk to) Richard Simmons. The exercise guru. He signed a book of mine.

I have a few other authors who signed their books for me also. If you've read "Back Roads" or "Coal Run" from Tawni O'Dell. I have all three of her books signed and have met her in person. She was on Oprah and was Oprah's book pick. She maybe having a movie coming out on one of her books from what I've heard. (Not positive though). I have several other books signed but at the moment it escapes me.

Olivier said...

c'est toujours aussi beau ces escaliers. Sympathique cette carte des celebrites, je suppose qu'il doit exister des tours de NYC des celebrites ;o)

it is always also beautiful these staircases. Sympathetic nerve this chart of the celebrities, I suppose that it must exist turns of NYC of the celebrities ;O)

Shammickite said...

I like the upward perspective in this photo, and the oblique lines of the fire escapes.

Celebrities? Well, I'm not really into film stars so if I saw one I probably wouldn't recognise him/her, but I did attend a performance of "Les Miserables" the same night as Princess Diana, and she was stunning! Even had to walk into the theatre on the Red Carpet.... my one and only time, it was just like the Oscars!

Bob Crowe said...

Hi, Ming. Your photos make me yearn for my home town. Around 1966, I went on a high school trip to the New York State Theater in Lincoln Center to see a ballet performance. Jacqueline Kennedy and her children were there. Security was nothing compared to what it is now. I was just ahead of them leaving the theater and held the door open for them. No personal contact but a big thrill.

My wife and I were once in London in February and decided to go out for a really nice Valentine's day lunch. We went to a snooty restaurant in a very snooty hotel in Mayfair. We looked at the menus and realized that the prices were far higher than anything we'd ever paid for dinner in our lives. I was about to tell the staff that we had made a mistake when Margaret Thatcher came in with another woman. We decided that was worth the cover charge.

Bob

St. Louis Missouri Daily Photo Blog

Craftymoose Crafts said...

The only celebrity I ever met was Stephen King--many years ago at a book signing.

Awesome fire escape!

Missy,Mrs and Mum said...

umm famous people? well i saw Rod Stewart coming out of harrods once but there was a massive crowd so couldn't say hello. my friend and i saw Nicky Clarke the hairdresser in Prada on Bond Street in London.
My mum saw the queen when she came to Norwich and took a wonderful picture of her. I've also met Art Malic and Nigel Havers.
Ofcourse the dream would be to meet Kylie.
Love the fire escapes, so New York!

Todd HellsKitchen said...

It looks like it was built yesterday. Somebody is taking real good care of this building!

Dsole said...

Uhm... I've met an spanish actress last saturday in a shop near my house.. .And i used to met a lot of Real Madrid football (soccer?) players because they trained near my neighborhood... even I'm not a fan!

Dsole said...

By the way... interesting link!

Lavenderlady said...

This reminds me of my fantasy images of West side story...great shot. I wass trying to think if I had ever met anyone famous...and it isn't coming to me. I guess you could say I have led a dull life in many respects. If I had an opportunity to meet someone, I think it would be Al Gore. He cares about things I do too.

sonia a. mascaro said...

What a wonderful photo, Ming! I love your fire escape series.

About world celebrity, here it is my answer: as I am a journalist, many times ago (1968) I interviewed to the Claudia Magazine (Editora Abril) Pierre Cardin. I also saw at a party in São Paulo, Alain Delon, Omar Sharif and Charles Aznavour. And I also saw many Brazilian's celebrities.

kuanyin333 said...

Yes...met many! The only time I was thrown off balance with a celebrity was when I was standing in line in a bank in Manhattan....and a famous actor in front of me turned around to stare at me. I wasn't expecting anyone famous to be in a bank line.

Fabrizio Zanelli said...

first of all i love the photo because, as said, I love those stairs so tipically NYC(ish).

Unfortunately I am not able to put in mind names and events but I was lucky to meet and to spend some our talking about... Photo (photos that a friend took her) with Maria Callas. A for ever myth.

Anonymous said...

Ming, a great photo! Too bad, we don't have the fire escapes in Europe!