Stupid Stunt

Queens Boulevard, one of the major roadways in New York City, is sometimes known as the Boulevard of Death due to the high number of accidents where pedestrians are run over and killed by speeding cars that careen down the freeway every day. The boulevard has anywhere from six to twelve lanes depending on where the street is located and it runs literally straight through some of the most populated residential areas in Queens.

So when I saw this person trying to cross Queens Boulevard on his Segway a couple weekends ago, all I could think was, "What the &$@%*# was he thinking?" [Excuse my language!] I was tempted to walk over and smack him over the head.

So have you done anything stupid in your life before?

Sur Empanadas

A new yuppie restaurant opened in my neighborhood recently called, Sur Empanadas where the meats are organic, the packaging is made from 100% recycled paper and the electricity is generated from wind energy. I stopped by for lunch yesterday and ordered the beef empanadas /salteña, which were delicious.

Sunnyside (my neighborhood) has a huge South American population so it is fairly easy to find cuisines from Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. There are also ample Irish bars and Korean eateries, which make up most of the businesses in the neighborhood.

So do you have a favorite cuisine?

Update: There are a few questions on how the restaurant generated wind energy. In NYC, we have the option of purchasing electricity generated from fossil fuel (petroleum) or wind energy (more expensive). Basically, the wind energy is generated upstate and sold to the utility company. The utility company turns around and sells the wind generated energy to consumers at a higher price. Now, how the utility company differentiate or partition the source of energy to the consumer is a whole different question altogether.

Someone Was Here First

My Fire Escape

This is the view I woke up to yesterday morning outside my bedroom window. What are you seeing is the fire escape from my apartment to the street down below. You can also see the fire escape for the building across the street (43rd Avenue) from me.

After a late lunch, I went to Central Park and took over 100 photos there but this initial shot taken first thing in the morning is the one I like best. I will post the Central Park photos (maybe) later this week.

So what did you have for lunch yesterday?

St. Patrick's Day Parade - Queens

We had our St. Patrick's Day Parade in Sunnyside, Queens yesterday afternoon. In this photo, you can see Michael Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City (the older gentleman with the blue tie) and Christine Quinn, Speaker of the City Council (the lady next to him). A few steps behind them is Mr. Bloomberg's main challenger in the mayoral election later this year, Anthony Weiner.

So are you politically involved? Do you go out and campaign for your candidate?

Theme Day: Glass

This photo was taken over two years ago when I first started taking photos for the blog. It was at one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants that has since closed due to tough economic times. I was playing with the camera while waiting for my dinner to arrive.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants.

How Cold Was It Yesterday?

So how cold was it yesterday? It felt as cold as this photo. No, we didn't have snow yesterday but we had pretty strong gusty wind that bites. This photo was taken last month after we had a snow storm.

So do you prefer to be cold or hot?

Ice Soccer

This photo was taken a couple of weeks ago when we had another snowstorm. I was walking to my local diner for brunch when I saw these guys playing soccer in the snow. The concrete park usually looks gray and depressing but the blanket of snow changed the entire scene.

So when was the last time you went out and play in the snow?

Snowy Tracks

No , it didn't snow today but it was cold enough to feel like it. This photo of the #7 subway track was taken a couple weeks ago after an overnight snow storm. Everything looked clean and white.

So how is your weekend going?

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

This Christmas tree was set up in the lobby of my apartment building. It belongs to everyone who lives here. So I'm going to share it with you all.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays

Someone Was Here

I saw these paw prints on a fresh coat of snow this morning on my way to brunch. Notice the two dark spots on the lower right corner? I wonder if those spots are what I think they are. And no, there wasn't a tree nor fire hydrant near by.

So what do you think those spots are?

Winter Snow

It snowed (again) this morning and here is the scene outside my living room window. Sorry for the blurry photo but this was the best one out of the bunch I took.

So what is your idea of a good breakfast when it is snowing outside?

Rainy Friday

I took this photo with my cell phone while waiting for the train to go to work yesterday morning. I apologize for the poor quality but I liked the colors in it. The splash of orange, yellow, pink and blue definitely cheered up an otherwise, dreary day.

So do you usually wear colors or are you a black-on-black kind of dresser?

Midmonth Theme: Subway Day

Today is September 15, which means it's mid-month subway theme day again. This photo was taken last week from the elevated subway train station (#7 train) on a surprising clear day. You can see the skyline of Manhattan quite clearly.

Three other cities are participating in the mid-month subway theme:

Budapest by Andrea Gerak - Peter's Paris - Stockholm by Pixel - New York City Daily Photo

Do Not Feed Stray Cats Here

I came across this interesting sign outside one of the buildings in my neighborhood. Apparently, someone had been feeding stray cats outside this resident's window and he/she isn't too happy about it. I can understand the sentiment because the smell of cat's pee is something that is almost impossible to eliminate, assuming that is the main reason of the resident's objection.

One person I know who feeds (or had fed) stray cats is fellow NYC blogger, Kitty of NY Portraits. I will have to ask her how she feels about the sign above.

So do you feed stray cats or dogs in your neighborhood?

Appetizers @ Natural Tofu

These appetizers are from a wonderful Korean restaurant called, Natural Tofu on Queens Boulevard between 40th and 41st Street. I love the place so much that I eat here about once a week. I usually get the spicy tofu soup (sondubu) with rice and these appetizers (panjan) are free.

So have you ever had Korean food?

Theme Photo: My Corner Local Shop

The closest shop to my apartment is this fabulous Irish grocery store called, The Butcher Block that is about half a block from me. It carries all the regular items found in a grocery store plus a wonderful hot deli counter (daily menu listed on the middle window) and a selection of European imported food products.

This month, 174 daily photo bloggers are participating in the theme photo. Here is the list: Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Afyonkarahisar, Turkey by afyonblog, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Avignon, France by Nathalie, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Belgrade, Serbia by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Cavite, Philippines by Steven Que, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chennai, India by Shantaram, Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Clare Unsworth, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gainesville (FL), USA by Leah, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hangzhou, China by Chanin, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Knoxville (TN), USA by Knoxville Girl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Los Angeles (CA), USA by Martha Perez, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monroe (GA), USA by Tanya, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Posadas, Argentina by Lega, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Reykjavik, Iceland by Vírgíll, Riga, Latvia by Fotos. Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, San Francisco (CA), USA by Louis la Vache, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Seoul, South Korea by Phil, Sequim (WA), USA by Norma, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Tel-Aviv, Israel by Olga, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torino, Italy by Fabrizio, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Urayasu, Japan by Zono, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn

Sunnyside Green Market

Here is a photo of the local green market in my neighborhood on Skillman Avenue between 41st and 42nd Street in Sunnyside. The mini-green market, which started last year, has less than 10 booths/tents but there are vendors selling almost everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, to baked goods and flowering plants.

Interestingly enough, Strangetastes of St. Louis, Missouri Daily Photo grew up on the same block as the one I live on now. In fact, the building where he used to live faces the green market pictured above.

So do you live near another member of the daily photo blogger?

Star Trek

This is the ceiling of the awning at old movie theater on Queens Boulevard and 43th Street in Sunnyside. The theater has seen better days and is in desperate need of an extensive renovation. However, it still retains that 1960s architecture, especially the awning that stretches out into the sidewalk.

So what kind of movies do you like best? Romantic comedies, science fiction, drama, foreign language or classic Hollywood movies?

Flowering Tree

I don't know the name of this flowering tree but it stands about 10 feet tall and is covered with these white palm sized blooms. It doesn't have any fragrance -- not that I could detect it. But I love the unusual green and white colors together.

Lately, I have been noticing (i.e. taking more than just a glance at) trees. I found that I love dwarf Japanese maples and fragrant peony shrubs. So do you have a favorite tree or plant?