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

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?