You Don't Bring Me Flowers Anymore

This is a macro shot of some flowers I saw at Central Park this weekend. It would appear that Spring is here but then we had a burst of cold weather on Sunday and Monday.

So what is the weather like where you are at?

Grilled Octopus @ Philoxenia

In keeping with the National Greek Parade theme, here is a photo of a grilled octopus dish from Philoxenia, a Greek restaurant in Astoria, where my friend and I went for dinner last Saturday night. My friend wanted to go to Philoxenia because she read a review of the restaurant in the New York Times and I, on the other hand, was more than willing to tag along because I used to live in Astoria and I love Greek food.

So have you ever had grilled octopus or grilled calamari?

National Greek Parade

The National Greek Parade was held yesterday on 5th Avenue at Upper East Side. I was on my way to Central Park to take some photos and came upon the start of the parade. One of the most spectacular scenes at the parade was this gigantic Greek flag held up by a dozen or so marchers.

So have you been to Greece?

Central Park Lamp

This is one of many street lamps that light up the pedestrian path on the southern stretch of Central Park. Across the street from the park are some of the most expensive hotels in New York City.

So where is the most luxurious (or favorite) hotel you have ever stayed in?

Communal Table Dining

I had breakfast at the SoHo branch of Le Pain Quotidien a couple weeks ago. It is one of the many restaurants in New York City that offers communal table dining. I love the idea of sharing the table with total strangers, especially when I am eating alone, because I get to meet all sorts of people. But the restaurant does have smaller tables for those who do not want to dine with strangers.

So what is your opinion of communal table dining?

Ming the Peeping Tom

This photo is the result of one of many experiments I did with my little point-and-shoot camera. I love the movie In The Mood For Love, which was filmed to resemble someone watching a story unfold through open windows or behind street corners. So this was my attempt to explore that feeling of "peeping from behind the trees" via photography.

So what or who inspires you?

Disclaimer: This project was purely an artistic experiment. No trees or pets were harmed in the making of this photo.

Private Garden in Jackson Heights

Here is the photo of a private community garden tucked behind one of the co-op buildings in Jackson Heights, Queens. As you can see, only residents of these buildings have access to the garden. One of my co-workers live in one of these buildings. When the weather gets warmer, I will ask her to take me for a walk inside the garden.

So what is your most cherished possession?

Jackson Heights Co-ops

These are one of the numerous co-op (somewhat like condo) buildings I mentioned about yesterday. Majority of them were built around 1920's and fashioned to resemble the English garden apartments in London. Behind these buildings are elaborate private community gardens that are accessible to the residents only.

So do you have a garden in your building/house?

N.B.: I posted this yesterday but realized it was theme photo day so I had to "withdraw" this post and put up a new one to reflect the selected theme: water.

Theme Photo: Water

Today is April 1st so it is theme photo day again. This month's theme is WATER and this photo shows the southern most tip of Manhattan where the Staten Island docks. You can also see a ferry approaching from the ferry station.

Today, 177 other photo blogs are participating in the theme photo. Stop by the sites and check out their photos: Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, 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, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro 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, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, 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., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, 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, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, 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 Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, 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, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, 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, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, 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,

Jackson Heights Subway Station

This is the main subway and bus station in Jackson Heights, otherwise known as Little India, on 75th Street and Roosevelt Avenue in Queens. Parts of Jackson Heights, especially the areas a few blocks north of the business district, have some of the most beautiful pre-war residential buildings in the city. They were built around the time when New York City was the epicenter of the movie industry. However, most of that business has moved to Hollywood.

So what movies have you seen lately? Do you have any recommendations?

The Atrium at the MET 2

Here is another photo of the atrium at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Notice the terrance on the second floor on the upper left corner? That was where I was when I took a lot of photos posted here.

No question today. I hope everyone has a good Sunday.

The Atrium at the MET

This photo shows the ceiling of the atrium right at the entrance to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The photo was taken from the 2nd floor terrace.

So what are you plans for the weekend?

Metropolitan Museum of Art

This impressive staircase is the central entrance to the 2nd floor of the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side. The museum has a South Wing (Greek & Roman Art) and a North Wing (Egyptian Art). This central entrance leads directly from the front door of the museum to the back, where the American Art is located.

So when was the last time you visited a museum?

Bryant Park II

This photo was taken last weekend at around 7PM just as the sun has set and a dark glow was beginning to take over the city. I especially love to take photos at this time of the day because the photos always come out with a lovely blue hue. I read somewhere that the best time to take photos are an hour after the sun rises and an hour before the sun sets before the sun casts shadows on the floor.

When do you usually take your photos?

Bicycle for Spring

Spring weather is finally here and we should all be outside getting some fresh air and enjoying the beautiful weather. How about getting one of these bicycles from Bicycle Habitat in SoHo? I bet you will get a lot of attention riding these colorful bicycles.

I rented a bicycle at Central Park about four years ago and I went home walking a little funny. :-) So when was the last time you rode a bike?

Easter Parade & Easter Bonnets 2008 - Carrot Patch

Here is an adorable "carrot patch" family at the Easter Parade & Easter Bonnets Festival. The event, despite its name, is not really a parade. It is more of a street fair where anyone and everyone, regardless of religious or political affiliations, can dress up in costumes and come to 5th Avenue for the festival.

By the way, I had a pair of bunny ears on when I took these photos. So when was the last time you dressed up in a costume? What did you dress as?

Easter Parade & Easter Bonnets 2008

Last year, I posted my first collage of photos from the annual Easter Parade and Easter Bonnets Festival on 5th Avenue, between 45 and 55th Street in Manhattan This year's festivities was held earlier (yesterday) and there was a cold snap of weather in the air. Nonetheless, everyone was out in their finest and most creative attires and bonnets. Here are the photos from the festival.

After the parade, I met up with fellow blogger, CityGirl15 of Gramercy Cafe and Eliot for brunch. It was great meeting them. They are the sweetest couple.

The Mud Truck

The Mud Truck is an interesting twist to the regular lunch truck that we normally find parked outside construction sites. This truck, parked outside the Astor Place (4th Avenue & 8th Street) subway station, targets mainly the subway riders and the already over-caffeinated New Yorkers on the street. I'm one of those over-caffeinated New Yorkers who drink three to four cups of coffee a day, especially when I'm on vacation or cafe-hopping in the city on weekends.

So how much coffee do you drink a day? And what kind of coffee do you like best?

Spring Bloom

I was at the Union Square Green Market yesterday and saw this beautiful bloom at one of the booths selling flowers and fruits. I switched my camera into macro mode and managed to shoot about 12 photos. This was the most perfectly focused and composed photo of the lot.

So are you waiting for spring to arrive?

Self-Portrait at the MET

I was at the Metropolitan Museum of Art yesterday and I saw this fascinating artwork by Indian born British artist, Anish Kapur who created a concave shaped dish made entirely out of stainless steel. Upon seeing my images on the reflective surface, I quickly took out the camera and started taking photos of myself.

So when was the last time you took a photo of yourself?