Midmonth Subway Theme: Train to JFK Airport

It is possible to get from Manhattan to the three major airports in NYC (JFK and LaGuardia) and New Jersey (Newark) via public transportation for under $10. However, it would involve multiple train and bus changes and about 2 hours of commute time. A quicker way to the airports would be to use the yellow cab/taxi but it will cost anywhere from $35 to $50.

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

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

Summer is Here

I posted this photo for two reasons. The first one is pretty obvious! The second reason is that I was hoping you guys could tell me the name of this game he was playing. Each player takes a turn to kick a small non-bouncy ball up in the air and then try to catch it with his/her foot. This is repeated over and over again until the player drops the ball on the ground.

So what kind of games or sports do you like to play?

N.B.: When I take my shirt off, this is how I look like too. *ahem*

Hula Hoop Dancer

I was at Washington Square this weekend for a live concert by Buzzuniverse when I saw this girl dancing with a hula hoop to the music. Notice the fence on the right. There are major reconstructions going on at Union Square including the relocation of the famous fountain in the middle of the park. Local residents are up in arms over the move accusing the city of dubious intent.

So have you ever danced with a hula hoop?

Free Hugs

I saw this group of students offering free hugs to people at Union Square this weekend. The Free Hugs Campaign was started by Juan Mann in Sydney, Australia in 2004 [watch his YouTube video here] and now, it has grown into an international phenomenon with different groups all over the world, including New York City.

So who was the last person you hugged today?

Yellow Blooms

I don't know what type of blooms these are but they have beautiful intense yellow flowers and soft green buds on them. There was a table full of them at the green market at Union Square yesterday. This is a macro shot of the blooms.

I would like to wish all mothers out there a HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.

Upstairs, Downstairs

This photo was taken at the corner of Mercer and Prince Street in SoHo. The stairs below lead to the basement level restaurant called, The Lure and the stairs I'm standing on lead to the back door of the Prada store.

So do you usually take the stairs or the elevator? I'm the lazy one -- I take the elevator every chance I get.

Takashimaya Department Store

This photo was taken from the 6th floor atrium of the Takashimaya Departmental Store on 5th Avenue and 55th Street. My friend and I were there for afternoon tea last week and decided to shop around afterwards. Most of the stuff sold here are very expensive so I left without buying anything.

So what did you buy recently?

Join Me For Dinner?

Some coworkers and I went out to dinner after work on Tuesday night at an Italian restaurant in Queens. We ordered an antipasto that included (clockwise) prosciutto or salt cured Italian ham, sun dried tomatoes, parmigiano cheese slices, buffalo mozzarella, roasted peppers and grilled mushrooms. My favorite was the parmigiano cheese and proscuitto.

So do you have a favorite Italian dish?

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?

Pink Dogwood

Last week, I posted a photo of a white and green flowering tree and you guys wrote in and told me it was dogwood. Thanks everyone!! Some of you even mentioned that there are pink ones. This past weekend, I saw a pink dogwood tree and took a photo of it.

It's amazing how much I have learned since I started the NYC photoblog. So what have you learned from your blogging experience?

French Baguettes @ Vesuvio Bakery

These loaves of french baguettes were among the many offerings at Vesuvio Bakery in SoHo. I did not appreciate (nor enjoy) crusty bread like these until I was an adult because I grew up on those pillowy soft white bread, otherwise known as Wonderbread from the supermarket. Now I love these crusty baguettes as well as other breads like olive loaves and focaccia.

So do you like bread? What are you favorite kinds of bread or starch?

Beads

I love the colors and shapes of these beads. They were sold at the Union Square street fair for only $20 a piece so I doubt the turquoises are real.

So do you wear any jewelry?

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?

Theme Photo: Numbers

It's theme day again and this month, the theme is NUMBERS. This photo was taken on Spring Street and Thompson Street in SoHo. It's rare to see a house number with a half on it.

This month, 181 bloggers are participanting in the theme. Here are the list: Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Arradon, France by Alice, 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 Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Busan, Korea South by iamnbinb, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chesapeake Daily Photo (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Chicago (IL), USA by Focused Light, 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, Concordia Sagittaria, Italy by Patrizia, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Dallas (TX), USA by turtle, Darmstadt, Germany by Elsch, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Mary, 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, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hong Kong, Hong Kong by Rachel A., Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Ioannina, Greece by Christos-Ioanna, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, 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 Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Malaga, Spain by Paula, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Medan, Indonesia by KT, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Montpellier, France by Marie, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, North Hampton (NH), USA by Amy, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, 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, Penang, Malaysia by Maltelda, Perth, Australia by Elevation7, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Rabaul, Papua New Guinea by Jules, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Riga, Latvia by Riga Images, Rollag, Norway by Stormel, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, 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, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, 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, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vichy, France by Delphsnl, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn.

Korean Dumplings (Mandoo) Bar

This photo was taken at Mandoo Bar, a Korean dumpling restaurant in Koreatown on 32nd Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue. The dumplings are filled with a variety of meats and vegetables, including kimchi (fermented/pickled cabbage). I am a huge fan of Korean food and kimchi is an acquired taste for me.

So what taste have your acquired?

New Lawn at Bryant Park

This photo was taken a couple weeks ago after Bryant Park had laid down new sods on the ground. There were signs everywhere requesting the public to stay off the lawn. Everyone appeared to respect the signs because nobody was on the lawn.

So do you always obey the law? What kind of offenders annoy you most? I really despise litterbugs and people who deface public properties.

Roasted Corn on the Cob

Roasted corn on the cob is a street fair favorite of mine. At this vendor stand, each piece cost $1.50 and came with two different toppings: melted butter and/or sprinkles of parmigiana cheese. I like mine with parmigiana cheese.

Do you have a street fair favorite?

Gaucho Grill

This gaucho grill was one of the food ventors at the street fair on Greenpoint Avenue and 48th Street in Sunnyside, Queens. I believe these meats on the spit are skirt steaks and they are served with boiled potatoes covered in salt and plantains (fried green bananas).

I'm not a fan of grilled steak but I do love a good juicy burger. What is your meat of choice?

Librairie de France

This French bookstore, Librairie de France at the Rockefeller Center sells only French books and magazines. Even the logo for the store has that French street sign look. I hear Paris has a famous English language only bookstore called the Shakespeare & Co.

So do you have a favorite bookstore in your city?