Long Island City

This is a view of the waterfront in Long Island City where I took the photo of the United Nations building. Long Island City in Queens has been expanding like crazy lately with at least three new condonimiums sprouting up in the last year alone.

The photo above was taken using the 'stitch capability' on my camera, which basically combines three successive photographs together to make one long panaromic view. Click here to see the full size of the photo.

So what special camera capabilities have you used lately?

United Nations Building

The tall iridescent green building on the left is the United Nations building. It is located at the end of 42nd Street by the East River in Manhattan. This photo was taken from across the river in Long Island City, Queens.

So what is the up-and-coming area or neighborhood in your city?

Spike, the Bull Dog (Again)

We had our neighborhood St. Patrick's Day parade last Sunday and guess who I saw marching in the parade again this year. It's Spike, the Bulldog who lives in my building. Spike is quite the superstar in our neighborhood because his photo appeared in the New York Times newspaper last year.

So does anyone famous live in your neighborhood?

Gone To The Dogs

I have featured photos of my neighborhood dog walker twice already: Dog Walking 1 and Dog Walking 2. Here is a new photo of the dogs sans the dog walker this time. In fact, he was standing to the right of the photo telling the dogs to sit quietly for this photo shoot. And they all did!! Aren't they the most perfectly behaving dogs you have ever seen.

So were you a nice behaving kid when you were young?

Upper West Side Vista

This vista of Upper West Side was taken from Central Park. Upper West Side is considered one of the most desirable residential neighborhoods of New York City. It is also a family friendly neighborhood where young professional couples with children tend to stay.

So how many children do you have?

Theme Photo: Graffiti or Street Mural

The theme for March's photo is graffiti or street mural. This photo above was taken from the elevated #7 train in Long Island City and it shows the graffitis that are plastered all over the surfaces of various buildings in the area. They are part of a permanent art project for PS1, an alternative, avant garde museum.

This month, 144 bloggers are participating in the theme photo. Check them out.

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montréal, Canada by Douber, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, 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, Wrocław, Poland by Loompi, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn

Snow Day at Central Park

The evening news is reporting a snow storm approaching the city late tonight. So in anticipation of the storm, here is a photo of Central Park covered in snow. This photo was taken a couple months ago after a huge snow storm.

Aside from snow angels and snow men, what else can you do with snow on the floor?

N.B.: My friend, Brien showed me this YouTube video on Frozen Grand Central Station. It is an awesome stunt. Check it out!

Parking Garage

This type of outdoor parking garage is quite common in the city where space is a premium. To maximize the number of cars stored in the area, there are elevated parking spaces that are meant for longer term parking while short term parking are located on the street level.

So how many cars do you have? What kind of car do you drive?

Korean BBQ & Wine Bar

This new Korean BBQ and wine bar on 32nd Street between 5th and Madison Avenue, otherwise known as Koreatown, has an interesting structural design for its wall. It definitely caught my attention and I had to stop to take some photos. I also love the subtle colors from the back lit bar inside the restaurant.

So how has your week been so far?

Tables & Chairs

These tables and chairs are located at Bryant Park behind the New York City Public Library where many locals and tourists alike come to relax and enjoy the scenery or simply to access the free wi-fi connections available here. During the winter season, the park is converted into an ice skating rink and twice a year, giant tents are erected to host the New York Fashion Week.

Even though this is one of the more beautiful parks in the city, I rarely come here because it is not on my regular commuting route or near any place where I would normally shop or eat dinner.

Do you have a favorite park near your city? How often do you visit it?

Brooklyn Bridge After A Snow Storm II

Apparently, we weren't the only crazy ones to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge during a snow storm on Friday afternoon. After having the right side of our faces frozen by the howling wind, we stopped in at Ferrara in Little Italy for some cappuccino (me), hot chocolate (Carl & Emeline) and cookies.

So what is your favorite way to stay warm during a cold winter's day?

Brooklyn Bridge After A Snow Storm

We had a huge snow storm on Friday morning and as a result, my office was closed. So a couple of out-of-town friends and I decided to walk across the Brooklyn Bridge from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Why you ask? Because we could! This photo was taken as we got on the bridge from Brooklyn Heights. You can see the skyline of Manhattan in the background.

So what was the craziest thing you ever did during a snow storm?

Chinese Chess

I saw these old men playing Chinese chess at the Columbus Park in Chinatown last weekend. It resembles Western chess but is played on a different type of board. I remember playing this when I was a kid but I don't know how to play it now.

What kind of board games did you play as a kid?

Steam & Taxi

I thought this was a perfect New York City scene because of the steam coming off the pipe from beneath the street and the yellow cab driving by. The steam is a result of warm air from the underground shafts meeting the cold air above ground. The pipe was installed to help reduce pressure build-up underground, which can cause the manhole covers to explode up in the air and create serious damages.

No question today.

Thorn in Lion's Paw

This statue of a lion is one of two giant structures that sits in front of the New York City Public Library on 5th Avenue and 42nd Street. Instead of taking the regular head-on shot or side profile of the lion, I decided to take the photo from beneath the pedestal it was sitting on. When I got home and looked at the photo, it reminded me of the fairy tale of the lion with a thorn in his paw.

So what is your favorite fairy tale?

Filipino Dinner

Last Friday, I stopped in Woodside, Queens for a taste of some Filipino cuisine. Woodside, which is located on Roosevelt Avenue between 51st and 69th Street, has one of the largest Filipino populations in New York City and home to some wonderful ethnic restaurants.

This photo shows a giant appetizer of sweet potato fries with shrimp (left) and a wonderful tamarind stew of veggies and meat (right). The stew is served with rice.

So have you had Filipino cuisine before? What is the oddest food you've ever eaten?

Sunset in Queens

I took this photo when I was waiting for the bus to go home a couple weeks ago. The sky, for some reason, turned the most brilliant colors that day and it stretched for miles.

So how was your weekend?

The Savoy in SoHo

I have read wonderful things about The Savoy in London and dreamed of enjoying high tea there one day. In the meantime, I will have to content myself with drinking tea at The Savoy in SoHo.

So do you have a place you want to go for lunch that isn't necessarily convenient right now?

Fashionable Bike

This photo was taken a couple weeks ago during New York Fashion Week. It was one of a number of bikes that have been spray painted in neon orange and parked all over the city. What ai love about this one is that someone added a fringed scarf around the handle. How cute is that?

Do you remember your first bike?

These Little Piggies Went Wee Wee Wee...

I saw this delivery truck parked on the curb in Chinatown where dozens of restaurants line the street. Kitchen staff from different restaurants as well as a few of the delivery truck guys began to unload the merchandises and if you look closely enough, you will notice that the little suckling pigs were hung in the back of the truck.

So what is your your type of meat and how do you like it cooked?