Thursday, April 30, 2009

Performance Artist @ Union Square

This photo was taken at Union Square in Manhattan. The girl in purple was balancing a ball on her palm while the girl in yellow was spinning some sort of balls with flags on them creating this interesting image. Performance artists usually congregate here to practice their art and meet like-minded people to hang out during the weekends.

So do you have any performance talent?

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Motorcycle @ Kiehl's Store

This is one of four or five motorcyckes inside the Kiehl's store in the East Village. Kiehl's is a NYC company that sells really nice hair care and body products.

So do you know how to ride a motorcycle? I don't but I hope to one day.

An Evening at Washing Square Park

This photo was taken two weekends ago at Washington Square Park when the weather was comfortably cool and dry. Then it turned hot last weekend and everyone changed into their shorts and t-shirts.

So are you looking forward to the summer?

Monday, April 27, 2009

Tulips at Central Park South

Spring flowers are blooming again. These tulips are planted around the square surrounding the Grand Army Plaza at Central Park South.

So how was your weekend?

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Bird in a Gilded Cage

This little bird is trapped inside a gilded cage, otherwise known as The Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan. The 4-storey high atrium/space has shops and restaurants and somehow, this bird got itself trapped inside it. A lady placed some bread crumbs on the railing and the bird swiftly flew down to gobble them up. I only managed to get one good shot of this event.

So have you ever been in a beautiful place but still felt trapped?

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Ranunculus Bloom

Here is a macro shot of a ranunculus bloom from one of the flower vendors at Union Square. Spring is finally here and there are rows and rows of flower vendors at the market now.

So do you have a favorite flower?

Friday, April 24, 2009

Ridiculous Men

I saw this interesting sign taped outside the window of a trendy bar on 18th Street between Broadway and Park Avenue South. It notice listed what makes a ridiculous man.

So do you agree?

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Cookie & Coffee @ The Mercury Dime

I met up with a friend for coffee at The Mercury Dime cafe in the East Village last week. Since I was early, I ordered the cappuccino first while I waited and read the newspaper, and when she arrived, I ordered a double french pressed coffee. Each order came with this cute little lace cookie. The coffee, unfortunately was not very good even though it was made fresh to order.

The best coffee in NYC, in my humble opinion, are found at La Colombe Cafe in Tribeca, Petal Belle in SoHo because they use the La Colombe brand of coffee, and Aubergine Cafe (in my neighborhood) that uses Irving Farm coffee. Irving Farm has its own cafes in the city but I have not visited one yet.

So what is your favorite brand of coffee or tea?

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Monster Alert

Another neighborhood, another mural! This one was taken in the East Village over the weekend. Some of the murals can be quite creative and funny. And this one is definitely one of the better ones.

So are you afraid of monsters? Do you believe in monsters?

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Old, New & In-Between

This is the view of the Chrysler Building from downtown East Village. I was standing on 13th Street and the Chrysler Building is on 42nd Street. In the foreground, is an old pre-war apartment building on the left and a new luxury condo on the right.

So do you prefer old or new?

Monday, April 20, 2009

Sunset at Washington Square

This was the view of the sunset from Washington Square Park in lower Manhattan last Friday. The weather has been so beautiful lately that I stayed out until the sun went down and was rewarded with this amazing sky view.

So when was the last time you sat outdoors until the sun came down?

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Broadway & 14th Street

The weather yesterday was absolutely beautiful -- it was probably our best weekend of the year so far. So you can imagine the number of people out and about on the street after hibernating indoors for the last 4 months. This shot was taken at the southern edge of Union Square looking down Broadway (Avenue).

So how was the weather at your neck of the woods?

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Wall in SoHo

I am running out of photos AGAIN. This one is from the archives and it was taken on Spring Street in SoHo. Surprisingly it looked fairly empty because this street is usually filled with shoppers and tourists.

So what are you plans for the weekend?

Friday, April 17, 2009

Sunrise Mart Japanese Supermarket

This is the exterior shot of Sunrise Mart, a Japanese supermarket in the East Village. East Village used to be a rough neighborhood but over the last decade, it has become a very hip and trendy outpost of all things Japanese.

So where do you usually get your groceries?

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Cherry Hill Fountain

This is the Cherry Hill Fountain on the west side of Central Park near Strawberry Field. The buildings in the background are mostly apartment buildings on Central Park West. The flowers in the background are cherry blossom, I think.

So do you have cherry blossoms in your city?

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Mid-Month Subway Theme

It is mid-month subway theme day again. This photo was taken at the Queensborough Plaza subway station a couple weeks ago. Notice the guy on the far right looking at his phone as the train snakes by? I wish I had a complete picture of him but this photo cannot be re-shot.

subway day is a mid-month theme shared by the following blogs:
Budapest - London - New York City - Paris - Stockholm - Sydney

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Spring is Blooming

I was at Central Park last weekend and flowers and trees were blooming everywhere. It's so refreshing to see colors again. It has been a long, cold winter for us in NYC.

So where would you go to see Spring flowers bloom?

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter Parade 2009

This lovely couple had one of the best outfits at the Easter Parade this weekend. The crowd who dressed up this year was somewhat smaller compared to the past two years that I was there. And it was really cold too.

So if you had an outfit, what would you wear to the Easter Parade?

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Easter Lily

This is a macro shot of the stamen and stigma of an Easter Lily bloom from the Rockefeller Center. There are hundred of Easter Lilies lining the flower beds at the Promenade there.

So what do you plan to eat for dinner tonight? Lamb chops?

Rickshaw Dumpling Truck

This Rickshaw Dumpling Truck was one of four food vendors I saw around East Village earlier this week. The other trucks included one selling Mister Softee ice cream, the Mud Truck that sells gourmet coffee, and one selling French-style crepes. I have also seen vendors at other times selling Belgian wafflers and gourmet ice creams from a truck around this area. So why are there so many of these vendors here? Well, they primarily serve the college crowd that tends to hang out in the East Village during week days.

So have you or would you eat someone sold from a truck like this?

Friday, April 10, 2009

Bottom Tip of Manhattan

I have out-of-town visitors this week so we went to the Staten Island Ferry Terminal to take the ferry to Staten Island, of course. This photo was taken a few minutes after the ferry lhad eft the Manhattan terminal. You can see the skyline of the bottom tip of Manhattan Island here.

So how has your week been?

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Carnivore

This is a carnivorous plant called Drosera or Sundew that I saw at the green market at Union Square last weekend. The tentacles at the edge of the leaves are super sensitive and can secrete enzymes to dissolve the preys that fall into their grasp.

So are you a carnivore or a vegetarian? What is your favorite meat product?

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Old & New

The older building in the foreground is the Saint Thomas Church and the newer building in the background is 666 5th Avenue, a retail and office complex.

No question today. Have a good Wednesday.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

illy cafe

We all know Starbucks in the US but have you heard of an illy cafe? There are a couple of them in NYC and they serve coffee from the Italian brand.

So what brand of coffee or tea do you drink every day?

Monday, April 6, 2009

Greenwich & Horatio

This photo was taken at the corner of Greenwich and Horatio Street in the Village. Notice the other two street signs? One way streets are very common in NYC and so is the street cleaning schedule sign.

So what street signs do you have in your city?

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Spring is Here

We've been having Spring-like weather during the last week or so although it was very windy yesterday when I went out to take photos. I walked from the Meatpacking District (14th Street and 8th Avenue) to the Greenwich Village and then east to SoHo before heading north to Nolita. Then I went home.

I took this photo of the entry way to a townhouse on Horatio Street between Greenwich and Washington Street in the Meatpacking District. The flowers reminded me that Spring is here, or is it?

So has Spring (Autumn for those living in the southern hemisphere) arrived for you yet?

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Venus de Milo

This may not be the original Venus de Milo but it is definitely a welcome sight on this stretch of generic looking high rise corporate offices on 6th Avenue and 52nd Street.

So what are your plans this weekend?

Friday, April 3, 2009

Ming's Best Friends

These are two of the things I cannot live without -- a good cup of coffee and my iPhone. This photo was taken at La Colombe Cafe in Tribeca.

Okay, I admit it. I'm running out of new photos so this is an old photo from my archives.

So what can't you live without?

Thursday, April 2, 2009

East Village Lamp Post

This interesting tile work plastered all over the lamp post is one of many such pieces in the East Village. I don't know the exact origin or purpose of the work but it definitely adds character to the neighborhood.

So what character does your neighborhood have?

Update: The artist of this work is Jim Power a.k.a. Mosaic Man.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Theme Photo: Yellow

It's the first day of the month again, which means it is theme day today. The theme this month is yellow. The photo I chose is this evening shot of the Plaza Hotel on 5th Avenue and 60th Street.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants in this theme day.