St. Patrick's Cathedral & Atlas

This photo was taken from behind Atlas (installed in 1937) and looking upwards across 5th Avenue at St. Patrick's Cathedral (completed in 1878). The two glass buildings on both sides of the statue is part of Rockefeller Center.

So what did you have for dinner last night?

Midtown Grand Army Plaza

This photo was taken on Saturday afternoon at the Grand Army Plaza on 5th Avenue and 60th Street in midtown. I have posted a photo of this statue before but from a totally different angle. The snow on the ground is slowly melting away but you can still see them here.

So can you identify the all the flags at the Plaza Hotel on the right?

Postcard from Florence

Of all the magnificient statues I've seen in Rome and Florence this week, I have to say this is one of the most impressive ones. The expressions on the faces are simply spectacular, as are the details of the muscle tones and arches of the bodies.

Entitled, Rape (Abduction) of the Sabine Women by Giovann Da Bologna, this statue sits on a pubic space in Piazza della Signora in Florence.

Virgin Mummy by Damien Hirst

Last year, I posted a photo of the Virgin Mother by Damien Hirst that was located outside the Lever House on Park Avenue and 50th Street. Earlier this week, I saw the statue again but it was wrapped in plastic and tape, looking very much like a mummy. I assume it was being prepped to be moved to a new location.

So when did you move to your current home?

Golden Angel

This statue of a golden angel is located on a 10 feet tall pedestal at the corner of Central Park South and 5th Avenue, which is also known as the Grand Army Plaza. Obscured from view behind the angel's wing is a statue of General William Sherman on a horse.

This is one of my favorite statues in New York City because it sits high up on a pedestal in an open area, uncluttered by buildings and/or trees. It also reminds me of the Winged Victory at the Louvre in Paris.

So what and where is your favorite piece of art?

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?

Upper East Side Statue

I saw this statue of a woman and a little girl tugged in a tight corner between two huge buildings on the Upper East Side recently. As you can see, the space behind the statue was used as a trash collection area and the statue looks neglected and unappreciated.

I wish I had taken a close-up photo of the scroll that the little girl is holding to get more information about it. Maybe next time I'm in the area, I will stop by and get more information about the statue.

Have you ever felt neglected? How did you deal with it?

Puck Building

This little golden statue stands on top of the front entrance to the Puck Building in SoHo and Nolita. The red brick building is probably most famous for being the site of Grace Adler's office in the TV-series, Will & Grace.

We are experiencing our first fall (autumn) like weather this weekend after two weeks of hot humid temperatures. I am really excited about the cool weather coming because I like temperatures below 60 degrees.

So at what temperatures are you most comfortable?

Hermès Rooftop Statue

About two months ago, Peter in Paris posted a photo of the statue of Napolean on a horse on top of the Hermès store in the french capital. He mentioned in his blog that Natalie of Sydney Daily Snap had also posted a similar photo from Australia. So I told Peter I would go and take a picture of the statue at the New York City store on Madison Avenue and 62nd Street.

Here is a list of bloggers who have posted photos of the Hermès statue around the world:

1. Eric of Paris

2. Peter of Paris

3. Natalie of Sydney

4. Ming of NYC

Let me know if here are any more Hermès statue photos so I can add on to the list.

When was the last time you bought something obscenely expensive?

Maine Monument II

Here is another photo of the Maine Monument that I posted about two weeks ago. This photo, unlike the earlier photo that just showed the boy doing the "I'm the King of the World" pose, includes the entire cast of the scene.

There is a lady flanked by two near naked men on each side of her. This postures are fairly common in maritime statues from the 1800s. Does anyone know the significance of the posturing?

Reflections

This photo was taken in front of the General Motors (GM) Building between 58th and 59th Street, and 5th Avenue, otherwise known as Central Park Southeast. The vertical lines on the top half of the photo are marble pillars or columns that hold up the three-storey tall lobby entrance. The smooth surface on the bottom half is actually a highly polish marble bench located on the promenade of the building. This photo was taken late in the evening, which make the lights and reflection so clear and visible. Here is another view of the lobby entrance to the GM Building.

Central Park Southeast boasts an enviable list of well-known attractions including the Apple Cube Store (you can see the GM Building in the background), the Statue of Victory, and the Statue of Pomona, the Plaza Hotel (now known as the Plaza Residence, and the Bergdorf Goodman Departmental Store.

Freezing Mary

Here is another photo of the snow storm that hit New York City last Friday.

This photo was taken in front of a church in my neighborhood. I like the picture a lot because the statue of Mary, who was holding Jesus, looked like it was really cold. The blanket of snow in the background looked pristine and beautiful.