Schillers on Rivington Street

This is Schiller's on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side. It is a really nice restaurant that has been around for many year and now, most of its clientelles are mostly young hipsters and tourists.

The reason I took this photo was the flower boxes on the 2nd floor windows of the building. It is quite rare to see something like this in NYC because most buildings have strict rules about what you can and cannot do with the windows, especially if they are condo or a co-op buildings. The rule was instituted to precent flower boxes from falling and hitting someone on the street. In addition, the buildings prefer all their windows to look the same.

So do you have similar rules where you live?

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

Stairwell

I have started taking photos again but it was a slow start. Yesterday, I took about 15 shots of 5 different sceneries/sites but only one came out satisfactory. This is the one satisfactory photo. It is the stairwell of the ABC Carpets & Homes on Broadway between 19th and 20th Street. I was on the 4th floor of the store and decided to take the stairs instead of the elevator and that was when discovered these interesting lines and colors.

Why was I at this furniture store, I hear some of you ask! Well, it has some of the cleanest bathrooms in New York City. :-) One of the things you learn about living here is that you know where the nicest bathrooms are in the city.

So where is the nicest bathroom in your city (aside from your own bathroom, of course)?

The Peninsula Hotel

This shiny plaque on the corner of 5th Avenue and 55th Street belongs to the The Peninsula Hotel. The photo was taken sometime in April when the weather was still a little nippy. That is why you see the people in the reflection wearing their jackets.

I haven't been taking any new photos lately because I don't feel inspired. I still carry my little camera around with me but for some reason, I don't "see" anything worth photographing. Normally, I would be shooting at anything that catches my eye. Do I have a photographer's block?

Has this ever happened to you? What did you do to get inspired again?

Tree Trunk

This is a macro shot of a tree trunk bordering Central Park on 5th Avenue on the Upper East Side. I don't know what kind of tree it is but every tree here has this interesting eruption of bark that gives it an interesting character. It makes it look old and wrinkled.

So if someone were to label you with an adjective or two (or three), what word(s) would that be?

5 Ninth Restaurant

I was on my way to meet a friend for brunch at the Meatpacking District (ie. Ninth Avenue below 14th Street) in Lower Manhattan on Monday afternoon when I walked passed this beautiful looking restaurant called, 5 Ninth. We didn't eat here because we were meeting up at a restaurant a block away. But you can check out the menu by clicking on the link above.

So what is the name of your favorite restaurant?

Apartment Buzzer

This photo shows a somewhat antiquated apartment door buzzer at an apartment building in SoHo. Most newer security systems have either a camera above the buzzer for guest identification or a nice looking panel with clearly labeled names on it.

My building has double door buzzer and a two-way intercom system. But I only respond to the buzzer when I am expecting someone to visit. This is because sometime, people would ring all the buzzers hoping someone in the building would open the door downstairs without identifying who is the visitor.

So what kind of door bell or buzzer do you have in your home?

Sunflower

This sunflower design is part of a huge iron gate in front a 5th Avenue store in midtown Manhattan. I am posting an old photo from my archive because I have not been out and about taking new photos this week due to work related issues.

And this weekend, I was in New Jersey (again) visiting an old college buddy and her boyfriend. They have just bought a karaoke machine and we spent the entire weekend singing and catching up on old times.

So have you ever sang at a karaoke bar before? What song did you (or would you) sing?

Purple Blooms

Does anyone know the name of these flowers? I think they are garlic blossoms but I'm not 100% certain. It is definitely a perfect flower for the vase because of the tall, thin stalk and gorgeous bloom on top.

So what are you doing for the long weekend (in the US)?

Flower Power

I saw this elaborate mural outside a Mexican restaurant in the Lower East Side a couple weeks ago. It looked like the artist put a lot of time and effort into it and it's quite lovely. Sometimes, I wish I can draw but unfortunately, I'm still struggling with stick figure drawings.

What skills or talent do you wish you have?

Ramps at the Green Market

Ramps are wild leeks from the onion family that grow for only a short period of time each Spring. When they arrive at the green market, people either look at them curiously wondering what they are or buy them up immediately. I had them once in a soup at a restaurant and they do taste a lot like leeks.

So what is the weirdest vegetable you've ever eaten?

Bruschetteria

My friend and I had dinner at this cute little restaurant called, Bruschetteria on Rivington Street in the Lower East Side before we went to an outdoor movie last weekend. I ordered the bruschetta with goat cheese & olive tapenade and the smoked salmon & arugula salad that were quite delicious.

So do you have a favorite cheese? I love almost all kinds of cheese but my favorite has to be brie and goat cheese.

Caterpillar

When I was in Weehawken, New Jersey last weekend, I saw this little fellow crawling down the concrete steps near the grass. Although this photo was taken in New Jersey, I'm going to sneak it into this New York City blog.

When I was a kid, my parents told me not to touch caterpillars because the hair on their backs can cause severe skin allergies and blisters. So I never did. Now as an adult, I'm curious if this is true. Does anyone know or is it just another myth my parents told me.

So what myths did your parents tell you when you were a kid?

Paris at the Lower East Side

Cafe Charbon and the Tabac store, located on the corner of Rue de Orchard and Rue de Stanton, are actually not in France. They are on the Lower East Side (L.E.S.) of Manhattan, which is one of the last districts in the city to be gentrified. But as you can see, it is slowly getting there. Some of the areas are beginning to look like SoHo with its European vibe.

So how is the weather in your city? My brother in Los Angeles said it was almost 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) there. But it is a cool 50 degrees here in NYC.

West Side Vista

This photo showing the west side of midtown Manhattan was taken from the waterfront of Weehawken in New Jersey. The river in the middle is the Hudson River that separates New York State from New Jersey. You can also see the ferry that runs from Weehawken, NJ to Pier 39 in Manhattan.

So when was the last time you were on a ferry?

Crossing Delancy @ L.E.S.

A good friend of mine invited me to a free outdoor screening of the 1988 movie called, Crossing Delancey at the Lower East Side (L.E.S.) last night. The screening, sponsored by the Lower East Side Business Improvement District, was almost cancelled due to bad weather conditions but we stuck it out and the mild drizzling stopped about 5 minutes into the movie.

The photo above was taken a couple of minutes before the movie started and right before the rain drops began to fall. As you can see, the movie was projected against the side of a building next to a parking lot filled with chairs. The movie was excellent and the outdoor setting was exhilarating.

So how many of you have been to an outdoor screening of a movie?

No Sushi

I saw this sign posted outside a Japanese tea cafe on Thompson between Spring and Bloome Street in SoHo. Apparently the manager of the cafe was tired of telling diners that they don't serve sushi there. I thought it was hilarious.

So do you eat sushi or do you prefer your food cooked?

Mangia Alfresco

The weather last Saturday was perfect and Mulberry Street in Little Italy was closed off to automobile traffic -- only pedestrians were allowed. The restaurants lining the street took full advantage of the situation and moved all their tables out to the street. As you can see, everyone was having a great time dining al fresco. Even I got into the mood and had dinner here (but not at Ristorante da Gennaro). I had penne pasta with Italian sausage and meatballs.

So when was the last time you ate a meal outdoors?

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