Thursday, January 31, 2008

Jilly's Postcard

Jilly of Monte Carlo Daily Photo and Menton Daily Photo sent me a beautiful postcard earlier this week. This was the first postcard I have ever received from my blogger friends so now, it sits on a special place in my apartment -- my refrigerator door.

Notice the jar of papers on top left of the refrigerator? That's my collection of home-delivery/take-out restaurant menus from the neighborhood restaurants. Now the secret is out -- I don't cook.

So do you have a special place in your apartment?

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Chelsea Flower Market

This painting outside the Chelsea Market Building is what was left of the old wholesale flower market in the city. Now the building has been taken over and made into a television studio for The Food Network and NY1, a 24-hour local news channel. There are also numerous gourmet bakeries and grocery stores in the building.

So what is your favorite flower?

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Chelsea Townhouse

These townhouses on 22nd Street, near 9th Avenue, are some of the more attractive homes in Chelsea. The area is not known for its beauty because it was an industrial/manufacturing district in the early 1900s. Now, it is populated mostly by warehouse size clubs, bars and galleries.

I had problems with blogger last night because it won't load the photos. Does anyone else ever have the same problem?

Monday, January 28, 2008

Tribeca Street Scene

This is a street scene in Tribeca (Triangle Below Canal Street) on a week day evening around 6:00 PM. I was in the neighborhood for a meeting last week and decided to hang out in the area afterwards because I rarely come down this way.

So what do you usually do after work?

Sunday, January 27, 2008

BFF - Best Friend Forever

I was walking through Chelsea last weekend when I saw this vacant retail store. You can see part of a quickly written vacancy sign on the bottom left. Either the realtor had a couple giant plush toys lying around or this used to be a toy store. Nonetheless, I thought this was an excellent display of friendship, even if they were merely toys.

So who is your best friend(s) and how long have you known him/her/them?

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Succulents

This succulents were available for sale at the Green Market in Union Square last weekend. I love cacti because they do not need a lot of attention. However, my cacti start to grow tall and stringy after a couple of months instead of staying short and plump like these.

What kind of plants do you have at home?

Friday, January 25, 2008

Tapa Bar @ Boqueria

Small plate cuisines have taken over the New York City culinary scene. None is as original as the Spanish tapas which are extremely popular here. This photo, taken at Boqueria in Chelsea, shows a tapa chef preparing various dishes in front of the hungry diners.

So have you ever tried the Spanish tapas?

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Tree Silhouette

I saw this REAL tree at Union Square that looked somewhat similar to the STEEL tree by Roxy Paine that I posted last month. I also love the silhouette against the blue sky.

So do you usually look up towards the sky?

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Nuts Over Squirrels

The squirrels at Union Square are definitely well-fed. Notice the empty walnut, hazelnut and peanut shells scattered all over the ground? Someone has been feeding them the good stuff.

So what kind of nuts do you like?

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Resident Squirrels of Union Square

These two squirrels were among the dozens of squirrels that live in Union Square. They were socialized to humans hanging around them so they gladly posed for me and a number of other photographers at the park.

Do you have a pet or a favorite animal?

Monday, January 21, 2008

Empire State Building

I was at Koreatown (on 32nd Street and 5th Avenue) for dinner earlier last week and this was what I saw as I looked up above me. The triangular shapes on the upper right and lower left corners are store front awnings. The structure on the upper left corner is the building behind me. And right in the middle is the most celebrated building in New York City, if not the country.

I have a confession -- I have lived in NYC for almost 10 years and I have never been inside the Empire State Building.

Do tell us something that people won't have guessed about you.

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Open Sesame

Question: What is the proper etiquette for entering the subway train? Answer: Stand to the side and let the passengers exit first -- similar to entering an elevator.

So what etiquette faux pas annoys you most?

Saturday, January 19, 2008

The Plaza

The Plaza, which used to be a 4-star hotel, is now a luxury condominium. After almost 2 years of renovations, the landmark building is now open and a one-bedroom apartment costs about $1 million.

If you had $1 million, what would you do with it?

Friday, January 18, 2008

SoHo Lofts

SoHo (South of Houston Street) used to be a warehouse district but it has become a highly desirable residential area because of the abundance of huge loft spaces. Lofts are essentially living spaces that are open and bright due to lack of walls separating the rooms. The only enclosed spaces in lofts are usually the bathrooms and closets.

So would you like to live in a loft? Would you sacrifice privacy for lots of light and open space?

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Lobster Roll for Lunch

I was in SoHo last weekend and walked by Ed's Lobster Bar on Lafayette between Spring and Wooster Street. Since it was almost 2 PM and I haven't had lunch, I decided to stop in for a lobster roll, which is basically lobster meat dressed with a little mayonnaise and lemon juice, and served on a hot dog bun. It was delicious.

So have you ever had a lobster roll?

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Genius Bar @ Apple Store

On Monday, I told you about my trip to the Apple Store to get my friend's laptop analyzed and hopefully, fixed at the Genius Bar. Here is a photo of one of the genuises behind the bar. I believe "these kids" have to pass a certification program before they are allowed to work behind the bar. The Apple store also has a smaller iPod Bar on the corner to analyze and fix broken iPods.

So were you a smart kid at school?

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Mid-Month Theme: Subway Day

Today is January 15 so it is mid-month subway day again. This photo was taken at the Spring Street subway station. Subway day is shared by the following blogs:

Monday, January 14, 2008

Outside Looking In

My friend's Apple laptop died suddenly on Saturday so we went to the Genius Bar at the Apple Store on 5th Avenue and 59th Street to get a diagnosis of what was wrong with it. This photo was taken around 5 PM as it was beginning to get dark outside so the lights from inside the store really lit up the glass cube structure.

So has your computer ever acted weird or died suddenly?

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Tin Ceiling

Some of the older buildings in New York City still retain the original tin ceilings that were embossed with geometric designs. This photo, taken at an office in Tribeca, is a perfect example of the decorative tin ceiling .

What is the most decorative or beautiful item in your home?

Saturday, January 12, 2008

La Colombe Cafe 2

Here is an exterior shot of the La Colombe Cafe from yesterday. Right across the street is the Chinatown Post Office and a few blocks south is the Tribeca Grand Hotel.

So how do you take your coffee? Milk and sugar?

Friday, January 11, 2008

La Colombe Cafe

I was at Tribeca (short for Triangle Below Canal Street) in downtown Manhattan yesterday for a meeting. After the meeting, I came upon this beautiful cafe on the corner of Walker and Church Street called La Colombe. So I stopped in for a cup of coffee. Here is a photo of my coffee.

So do you have a favorite place to get your coffee? How many cups do you drink a day?

Thursday, January 10, 2008

5th Avenue & 59th Street

This is one of the busiest intersections in Manhattan, on 5th Avenue and 59th Street. On the upper left corner, you can see the beginning of Central Park and right behind me is the Apple Cube store.

So did you do any after-Christmas sale? What did you buy?

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Traffic on Queens Boulevard

This photo was taken from the elevated train station on Queens Boulevard near my apartment. This is the view of the north side of the street and we have a small movie theater, a couple of sushi restaurants, a number of 24-hour Korean grocery stores and a huge $1 store.

What is your favorite store in your neighborhood?

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Lafayatte & Canal

This traffic light post at the corner of Lafayatte and Canal is covered with numerous street signs. I thought the structure was interesting because the it resembles a fork on the road -- do you continue in the same direction, turn left or turn right?

So have you ever come upon a fork on the road in your career? What did you do?

Monday, January 7, 2008

Coffee Shop & Bar

This Brazilian restaurant simply known as Coffee Shop is located right next to Union Square on 16th Street. It is a favorite hangout of locals and tourists alike because the food is great and the atmosphere is eclectic. Most of the waiters and waitresses here are struggling actors and supposedly, Sandra Bullock was one of them, before she landed her first major movie role.

So do you know or are you related to anyone famous?

Sunday, January 6, 2008

Cold Wet Winter Night

I got back from Montreal last night to a cold wet winter weather like this. This photo was taken a couple weeks ago in SoHo.

So what is the weather like at your hometown?

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

January Theme Day: Best of 2007

There are so many photos to choose from but I chose this because (1) it is very New York City, (2) I love night photograhy, and (3) I just love this photo for its color and composition -- personal bias, of course.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Here are the 118 cities who participated in this month's theme: Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech RepublicNew Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USACottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Moscow, RussiaPhiladelphia (PA), USA - Evry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wrocław, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, SwedenSaint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, IndiaTerrell (TX), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - Delta (CO), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Saigon, Vietnam - San Diego (CA), USAAdelaide (SA), Australia - Belgrade, Serbia - Auckland, New Zealand - Seguin (TX), USA - Inverness (IL), USA - Oslo, Norway - Singapore, Singapore - Las Vegas (NV), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Torino, Italy - Susanville (CA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Sharon (CT), USAMelbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Memphis (Tennessee), USA