Don't Use Cash!

The sign on this coffee shop window says: Don't Use Cash! Save 5% of all purchases using any form of payment (credit, debit) or Just Roasted Coffee Card. That is strange indeed as most stores prefer cash over credit or debit payments.

So do you think this is just another publicity stunt by the coffee shop OR do they really benefit from credit and debit purchases?

Installation in Progress

I saw this young fellow installing an advertising print on the window of a clothing store on Mercer and Howard Street in SoHo last weekend. It was a quick snapshot so I wasn't expecting anything special to come out of it. But when I saw the photo on my laptop, I found the most amazing reflection of the building behind him in the window.

The horizontal ladder in the reflection is actually the end/bottom part of the fire escape. In times of emergency, the ladder can be pull down until it becomes vertical so people can climb down to escape the building.

So how is the weather in your neighborhood?

Flower Box

I saw this flower in front of a window of a church on Christopher Street in the Village. The basement window situation at floor level on the outside of the building but located high up near the ceiling from the inside of the building. This is fairly common in basement apartments to allow light exposure into the otherwise, windowless room.

So do you have a basement in your house/apartment?

Beware of Pickpockets and Loose Women

I saw this sign on the window of an apartment in the Lower East Side recently and thought it was a hoot. Apparently, the person (most like a man) has a message to share with everyone.

If you could put a sign outside your window, what would it say?

Collage

This is a collage of scenes from the window of the subway train that I take to and from work every day. As you can see, it is an elevated train that travels above the ground, instead of underground. I purposefully chose a window with graffitis to give the photos some depth and contrast.

I started this project after reading about Todd of Postcards from Hell's Kitchen's post on his 'walk to work photo' project. But he has a more interesting commute to work than I do.

So how interesting is your commute to work every day?

Outside My Window: The Next Morning

This is what I woke up to on Wednesday morning. The snow continued to fall until late in the afternoon. By the evening, the snow had turned into ice, which made the roads slippery and dangerous for drivers. Some above ground trains were delayed due to circuit problems from icing on the tracks. Many schools and some businesses were closed early.

The snow storm was not all bad for New Yorkers. Some entrepreneurial youngsters were charging $10 to $15 per hour to clear snow from the sidewalks and driveways.

Why do private homeowners have to shovel snow from the public sidewalks, you ask? Well, there is a New York City law that requires private homeowners and businesses to clear snow from the sidewalks abutting their properties within a reasonable time or risk getting a $50 fine. In addition, the public sidewalks have to be properly cleared because homeowners can be liable for a slip and fall suit if it was established that the sidewalks were poorly maintained.

So what do you think of all these?

Outside My Window: Tuesday Night

We had our first major snow storm of the season last Tuesday night. Despite below freezing temperature for over two weeks, we have not had much precipitation until recently.

On Tuesday night, the snow began to fall. By Wednesday morning, most schools and some businesses were closed for the day. The amount of snow we received in New York City was nothing compared to upstate New York, where areas near Lake Ontario were the worst hit, receiving over 12 feet of snow and resulted in over a dozen deaths.

This photo taken on Tuesday night from my living room window shows the beginning of the snow storm. I had the camera sitting on the tripod set on top of the window ledge. Tomorrow, I will post a photo taken 10 hours later from the same position.

I hope everyone has a warm and enjoyable weekend