Sans Souci
376. NYC Photo Journal: The High Line: abandoned rail in the sky becomes a park–a little poetry for Wed.
Welcome back to New York City; here’s what’s happening: the first section of the High Line park has opened this week. In the 1930’s an elevated freight rail cut through parts of New York City’s west side as part of the manufacturing industry’s method of getting raw materials from factories and taking the finished products to their destinations. From the brochure:”The High Line delivered meat, milk, produce and raw and manufactured goods into upper floor loading docks of factories and warehouses. The last train ran on the High Line in 1980, carrying a trainload of turkeys.” The High Line sat … Continue reading →
394. NYC Photo Journal: From the Caribbean to India: Tribal Legacy to Dosa Hutt/Flushing, NY
Sunday Concert series at Flushing Town Hall, Flushing New York. This is the second in a concert series that we enjoyed. Impending storms kept us inside with the house rocking. Last concert (Doo-Wop), was held outside in the garden and gourmet catered food was available. Great music, great sound: Tribal Legacy. A high energy group that went on and on for 2 hours, sans break. Fabulous time. Dancing, dancing, dancing, hot, hot, hot… * Tricia Cooper – Vocals * Richard Burton – Vocals * Compton Lyken – Bass * Lester Hunte – Guitar * Ricardo – Steel Drums * … Continue reading →
379. NYC Photo Journal: Long Island City Part 1/ P.S.1
This is an area across the East River from Manhattan on the Queens side. It was once run-down and industrial but as years go by and areas become gentrified the face of the city changes. This area is soon to be unaffordable. I’ll start the tour at P.S. 1. (Public School) P.S. 1 was built in the 1800’s and is no longer used as a school. It has become a contemporary arts center where artists have their own studios in classrooms. P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center is one of the oldest and largest non-profit contemporary art institutions in the United States. … Continue reading →
380. NYC Photo Journal: Long Island City: Part 2: Gantry State Park
Not far from P.S. 1 (part 1 began here)(part 3 continues here) is the new Gantry State Park. The waterfront area just behind the landmark Pepsi-Cola sign now sports gorgeous high rise apartments with waterfront views of Manhattan. Long Island City is a Queens neighborhood that has been built up from a pocket focused on industry. So far, two and a half acres along the East River waterfront are the beginning of this development project. Enjoy the view with me. 8 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply instrumentalpavilion wrote on Jul 13, ’09 Beautiful pics…I was in NYC last week. … Continue reading →
381. NYC Photo Journal: Long Island City: Part 3: The Socrates Sculpture Garden
Our tour continues further up the waterfront at a 4.5 acre park now known as The Socrates Sculpture Garden. Once an illegal dump site, it is now an area that showcases art installations. It was created in 1977 by the sculptor Mark di Suvero to encourage the arts, to expand the culture and to create a space for the harmonious interaction of people and art. The current theme is “State Fair.” The exhibits are whimsical and ironic. The ones with the New York City themes—such as having to squeeze through the subway doors—are just plain urban fun. Notice how the … Continue reading →
393. Index to Photo Journal Posts, July 2009
Click on images to begin your journey: 8 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply instrumentalpavilion wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Thanks for sharing! 🙂 reply gapeach7355 wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Should have gotten a primer from you on NYC eateries (from the Battery to 53rd.) Had a great visit to Gotham last week…hope all that walking counteracted the NY Cheesecake! reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 27, ’09 HA!!! Nothing counteracts that!!!! I’m glad you had a good time, there’s really no way not to! eater’s paradise! Gimme some details/blogs. reply madisonpooface wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Food is definitely art. Great … Continue reading →
383. Part1. Photo Journal: The Connecticut River Valley: come hungry … the eat-a-thon begins
We enjoy this part of Massachusetts and have been coming here for years. We begin in the Connecticut River Valley, usually in Northampton. (This is the state of Massachusetts; Northampton is the red arrow in the lower center. The area is a hub of college towns: Smith, Amherst, U Mass, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke are the most well-known. This is the northwest corner of the state and it is close to the borders of New York, to the west and Vermont to the north. We will be heading northwest and end up in North Adams, the upper red arrow.)[photos©author/2009:click to enlarge] … Continue reading →
384 Part 2. Photo Journal: The National Yiddish Book Center on the campus of Hampshire College, Amherst, MA…more food and poetry
I have done several blogs on The National Yiddish Book Center; we are annual visitors and the place always amazes us. This is the place to go to learn about Yiddish culture. We attended 4 events; there is always something going on. The building has expanded and is visited by people from all over the world. The founder, Aaron Lansky who can be heard at this link, single-handedly set out to save as many Yiddish books as he could obtain when just a student. His book, “Outwitting History” is the story of how this incredible undertaking began and evolved. The … Continue reading →
385. Part 3a. Photo Journal: A pit stop at the Yankee Candle Company
Friday, 7/17/09 Over the Berkshires and through the woods… We are traveling northwest to the town of North Adams. (lower right arrow to upper left arrow) This is what happened along the way; a pit stop at THE Yankee Candle Store in South Deerfield. A bathroom stop ended up being an over an hour adventure. (Last year’s trip led us to The Vermont Country Store; once you go in you can’t get out! Former post) Room after room, theme after theme, shop after shop. Almost as good as Disney Land. Ha! I just linked this with an About article and … Continue reading →
386. Part 3b. Photo Journal: a stop at Ashfield: food calls
Friday 7/17/09 Ashfield, MA Countrypie Pizza By 2:00 pm we were starved and needed something to keep us going. We stumbled upon a pizzeria, embedded in a house and sharing its turf with a hardware store. Good stuff, Seth and Eli! These two young pizza cronies make their sauce from scratch and did a beautiful job on a salad and pizza lunch. [click to enlarge] 8 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply sousonne wrote on Jul 25, ’09 Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh……that looks SOOOOO good! What kind of soda is that? reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 25, ’09, edited on Jul 25, ’09 Correction: That’s … Continue reading →
387. Part 4a. Photo Journal: North Adams: The Porches~ from hovel to hotel
Then on to The Porches, where we stay each year when we go to North Adams and catch the latest doings at Mass MoCA, the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. North Adams was a factory town in the 1800’s, built on a canal. I am including history from the website because it will give you not only a background of the museum, but some insight into out country and manufacturing in our earlier years: The history of MASS MoCA’s site spans more than two hundred years of economic, industrial, and architectural development that traces the trajectory of industrialism in New … Continue reading →
388. Part 4b. Photo Journal: Mass MoCA, a cultural center in the Berkshires
The main exhibit is that of Sol Lewitt’s art; “A Wall Drawing Retro-Spective.” These are huge installations which were reproduced by artists and interns by what looks like architectural plans. They are colorful graphics, and the reproductions in such large spaces were an enormous undertaking. A quote that moved me: “The idea is the most important aspect of the work.” I attribute that to the fact that the work was not done by his hand, but by his design. Photos in and around the building The former factory as art space. I find it fascinating to dig … Continue reading →
389. Part 4C: Photo Journal: Babe The Blue Ox
Saturday, 7/18/09 We began the day at Mass MoCA; drove to Williamstown to catch a play: “True West” by Sam Shepard; Grabbed dinner at Café Latino in Mass MoCA; Caught the evening alternative cabaret: Babe The Blue Ox, an indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The Village Voice Review 6 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply sousonne wrote on Jul 25, ’09 LOL..the photos bring back some fond memories on the road… reply catfishred wrote on Jul 25, ’09 Sam Shepherd playwright and in his Western genre. Huh! Well, I liked him in ‘Lone Star’, and he looks like my … Continue reading →
390. Part 5a. Photo Journal: Williamstown, MA: The Clark, The Williams College Museum of Art
A current exhibit at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (“The Clark”) is Circles of Influence. It displays the intertwined influences between two great painters, Georgia O’Keeffe and Arthur Dove. Please read this fascinating blurb about two 20th century master painters and how they created a new wave of art. Clark Art Institute Circles of Influence: June 7 – September 7, 2009 Alfred Stieglitz, “Georgia O’Keeffe,” 1918. Palladiotype. The Art Institute of Chicago. Alfred Stieglitz Collection [© 2009 Georgia O’Keeffe Museum / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York] Alfred Stieglitz, “Arthur G. Dove,” 1923. Gelatin silver print. Philadelphia … Continue reading →
391. Part 5b. Photo Journal: Some favorite paintings at The Clark/permanent collection
Photography isn’t permitted at the major exhibits, but each year I gravitate back to my favorites. You can revisit them with me. (Below, right) I love the way the eyes lead your eye in a circular composition. The Four Seasons by Alfred Stevens 6 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply lonewolfwithin wrote on Jul 26, ’09, edited on Jul 26, ’09 i love the musical group and the 4 panels… thanks for letting me visit with you! reply sanssouciblogs wrote on Jul 26, ’09 Oh, those panelsl! They are something. They have them mounted in a small round room … Continue reading →
392. Part 6. Photo Journal: Eating our way home: Food as art
Dinner at Mezze. The Berry Patch, Stephentown, NY, a wonderful roadside farm stand. This is local color. Pies are from a later stop at McEnroe Farms where organic meats and veggies rule. 6 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded reply instrumentalpavilion wrote on Jul 27, ’09 This looks great…..thanks! : ) reply madisonpooface wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Oh, your killing me here. reply sousonne wrote on Jul 27, ’09 LOL….ok…I’m properly hungry now.. reply caffeinatedjo wrote on Jul 27, ’09 Yum,,,,um, since y’all are eating your way home, will you have to install a bigger door to get in your house??? 😉 … Continue reading →
309. Weekend Photo Journal: Part 1. Brooklyn and Queens, NY
New York City hosted hundreds of “open houses” over the weekend. The event was called, “Open House, New York.” One could take advantage of free tours buildings, landmarks, universities, gardens, some of which are normally closed to the public. We decided to visit Pratt Institute, Mr. Souci’s alma mater, (school of architecture) in Brooklyn, NY. There we found new buildings, toured several, and learned about the history of the school which was founded in the 1800’s, visited the incredible library (designed by Tiffany) and the sculpture gardens. Below is the Clinton area of Brooklyn, and like many areas, it is … Continue reading →
310. Week end Photo Journal: Part 2 Long island City: on the waterfront
Long Island City is an area of Queens that is in the process of gentrification. Once fairly run-down, this area on the East River is now a goldmine. It is a transit hub; the subway and the Long Island Railroad stop there, just built luxury condos and rentals are sprouting up all over. I thought this was a recession; apparently not here in NYC. And then there is the view. Nothing like it. The Pepsi-Cola sign is a landmark (I am behind it. See middle image below). Look for the 59th Street Bridge beyond ( Second row, third image from … Continue reading →
299. Part 2: NYC: Brooklyn: Saturday photo album, 9/20/08 Pizza as art
After purchasing a bag full of sweet treasures at The Orchard, hubby had Di Fara’s pizza on the brain. Di Fara’s is one of New York City’s allegedly best pizza. You have to understand that the city has thousands of pizzerias, but Di Fara’s is one of the inner circle of 3. Far from fancy, it sits on the corner of Avenue J and 15th Street in the Midwood section of Brooklyn. It is here that Domenico De Marco has been making pizza, by hand, for 40 years. All ingredients are imported from Italy; San Marzano tomatoes, spices, cheeses, olive … Continue reading →