Tag Archives: brooklyn

NYC Photo Journal: Holiday Wishes

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  Well, dear friends, I am here to wish you good cheer and good health during the Winter holidays and the months to follow. Pick a holiday, any holiday, and enjoy it. Find its true meaning and let it sparkle within you. Or just go and have a damned good corned beef sandwich on rye. As I sit here writing, I am at the tail-end of a scintillating scotoma. For want of a better description, it is that shape that takes over my vision when I least expect it. I was innocently having my split pea soup when this “thing” … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: I Guess I’ve Been Busy: BKLYN/OHNY/Kings Theatre, East Midwood

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This is me multitasking: notice how I can take a selfie of my selfies at the same time   So, kids during my hiatus I have been caring for my mother’s issues, caring for my own issues, taking a lot of iPhone photos, doing a little playing: I’ve watched up to Season 5 of Game of Thrones, and everything but the final six or so episodes of Season 7 of Mad Men; I’ll be sorry to see these series end. As for movies; I loved Learning to Drive, I liked 99 Homes, saw a few plays at MTC (Manhattan Theater … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: A Return to The Brooklyn Museum: Wiley, Basquiat

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  One of my favorite places is The Brooklyn Museum. I caught two current exhibits by black male artists. Kehinde Wiley (Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic, at the Brooklyn Museum) Born in 1977, Wiley studied the old master painters; he embedded black hip-hop portraiture into the framework of the old to create the new. The backgrounds, redolent of kitschy wallpaper backgrounds from old Catskill Mountain hotels, the culture of the past is imbibed with that of the present in huge works. Colors are bright, vibrant, somewhat garish. The subjects rarely look directly at the viewer, most are presented three-quarter face, … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: OHNY (Open House New York) Brooklyn Booze to the Dump

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This was the twelfth annual Open House New York weekend, where New Yorkers get to prowl around, crawl through and visit places in the city that are normally closed to the public. It’s a great way to see the behind the scenes operations of the city, see architects’ and artists’ studios and offices, tour incredible architecture, learn about history, see entrepreneurship in action. I spend a lot of time in Brooklyn and Saturday provided me with entré to: 1. The Brooklyn Navy Yard. Here we learned about some young folks who got together and started a distillary in a beautiful old … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: Part 2: Hot Shoes

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    Peppers were not the only things that were hot; meanwhile, next door at The Brooklyn Museum it’s time for the most incredible shoe exhibit ever. Last year I reported on the Gaultier exhibit. Now for shoes: the history of high heels. Not only did they elevate the rich and aristocracy, they were a necessity to keep their shoes and feet clean and dry. Initially they worn by male royals, then the ladies adopted them from Europe to Asia. The exhibit covered the most incredible specimens: if you ever dreamed of a pair of Manolo Blahniks or Christian Laboutins … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: Part 1: Feelin’ Hot, Hot, Hot!

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      Everything about yesterday was hot: the weather was redolent of August, the one that never really came, the fiery chile peppers, the music, the tasting. The annual Chile Pepper festival is a fun event. There was a massive crowd this year, forming lines, tasting the wares and hanging out on the lawns. First some local color:     Brooklyn, New York, one of the five boroughs of New York City has evidenced that more and more people want organic, healthy food; rooftop city farms are sprouting all over. I believe this is the wave of the future. … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: From 1887 to Modern Times

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Saturday, September 20, 2014   but …   eventually I was at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, for a luncheon, a celebration of alumni and tours of buildings. There had been a terrible fire in a building and the subsequent reconstruction of it was wonderful. A few photos. The fun and interesting thing about this well-renown institution of art and architecture that was founded in 1887, is that a myriad of stray cats live in the boiler room. The cats are cared for, fed, taken to the vet, and adored by students and faculty members, alike. They roam the … Continue reading →

New York City Photo Journal: Look Into My Eye

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  May 30, 2014 Wonderful, brilliant friends in from Chicago, just back from India on a Fulbright scholarship for almost five months. The most creative family I know.  Outside our favorite deli in Mill Basin, Brooklyn.   May 31, 2014 The New George Jam Theater, Chrystie Street, NYC Saw: “A Beautiful Day in November On The Great Banks Of The Greatest Of The Great Lakes” Excellent review in the New York Times       June 5, 2014 The Brooklyn Museum Exhibit: Ai WeiWei     The Brooklyn Museum Artist from Brooklyn: Swoon     The Brooklyn Historical Society: Hidden … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: Food in Brooklyn: Chocolate and Pastrami

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You see me write about Brooklyn frequently. For those of you who are not New Yorkers, Brooklyn, one of the five boroughs of New York City, is a treasure trove of neighborhoods, culture, people, and food. Today was a great day to take advantage of the Super Bowl Sunday offer at the Mill Basin Kosher Deli in Mill Basin, (Brooklyn, for their world-famous pastrami: buy a pound (it’s about $29.00) get one free. [5823 Avenue T, Brooklyn, NY 11234] Warning: Never come to New York City for a pastrami or corned beef sandwich and ask for it on any other … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: The Brooklyn Hot Dog Tour

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    On the way to Brooklyn       The Brooklyn hot dog tour, ” Hot Diggity Dog,” was run jointly by Green-Wood Cemetery, a national landmark, and The Brooklyn Historical Society, housed in another National landmark. But we’re not talking dogs, we are talking DOGS: frankfurters, if you will. We did not go to Nathan’s Famous in Coney Island which is THE home of the hot dog and of its founder, Charles Feltman. More about him later.   We met at the Brooklyn Historical Society, heard an intro and were oriented, then hopped on the Green-Wood trolley to … Continue reading →

NYC Photo Journal: The Brooklyn Museum: Designs by Jean Paul Gaultier

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Gaultier with Madonna He dressed her for several tours You might say his career began after he dressed his Teddy bear in a cone bra An amazing exhibit of fashion that is more costume and theater than haute couture, in my humble opinion. Gaultier, like so many of us, were influenced by a childhood event. He saw showgirls at the Follies Bregeres and was mesmerized, if not titillated by the costumes and lack of thereof. He was obsessed with the experience and began to doodle designs while in class. He got his knuckles rapped with a ruler for drawing a … Continue reading →

Part 29: Running Away to Brooklyn: Finding Solace in Art … and in Hot Pastrami

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1. Brilliant painting Time for a break from ringing phones, and sick pets. My break of choice is in Brooklyn: a little culture never hurt anyone and it was opening day for the John Singer Sargent watercolor exhibit  at the Brooklyn Museum. It  will travel to Boston and Houston. Some works by Sargent. His work in water colors with variation of translucence and opacity, some with the technique of wax resist creates wonderful texture and light.   2. Brilliant Photography In addition, the very haunting photography exhibit of La Toya Ruby Frazier should not be missed.   LaToya Ruby Frazier, … Continue reading →

Part 20b: Taking a Break: A Brooklyn Day: Rob Schwimmer in Concert

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Rob Schwimmer with theremin in the background (Cousin) Rob Schwimmer’s performance at the Stone House in Brooklyn, near Park Slope, was as brilliant as always. he is an accomplished pianist and composer and has played solo and with top performers worldwide. He is one of the most famous Thereminists as well, and is remarkable on the continuum. I am not sure if there is anything he doesn’t play. I heard him about three years ago at Caramoor accompany a symphony orchestra. One of the pieces was from Vertigo, the movie, and you can hear it here. Rob is also one … Continue reading →

20a. Taking a Break: A Day in Brooklyn: At the Brooklyn Museum

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This has nothing to do with my mother and everything to do with my mother. Exhaustion. Day in and day out I have been on the phone, for months, taking care of my mother from afar and observing by feel the decline of her health. And mine. So I was under orders from everyone around me and the people who take care of my mom, to go out and enjoy myself. Easier said than done. I tried. But wherever I go I carry a large trunk filled with memories from the past, concerns for the future, and angst for the … Continue reading →

293. NYC: From Brooklyn to Lower Manhattan: A visual essay and a prelude…

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Red Hook, Brooklyn. Labor Day, 2008. This area had been neglected, was run down, seedy, and not very visitable. It’s main landmark was a city housing project. And then something wonderful happened. The Swedish home furnishings company know as IKEA, stepped in and did wonders. In return for its waterfront property it created Erie Basin Park, a free water taxi service to lower Manhattan (to lure over Manhattan-ites). The great thing is, anyone can use the taxi service, and they do, to go to work or to get to Manhattan. Many people forget, including the city government, that New York … Continue reading →

299. Part 2: NYC: Brooklyn: Saturday photo album, 9/20/08 Pizza as art

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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 →

309. Weekend Photo Journal: Part 1. Brooklyn and Queens, NY

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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. Photos: a doggy waits for his masters to come out of the tour; … Continue reading →

298. NYC: Part 1. Brooklyn: Saturday photo album, 9/20/08

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Two famous Brooklyn, New York food places. Part 1 We started at The Orchard, located at 1367 Coney Island Avenue, because we “follow” the produce. The Orchard is an unusual fruit store in that it carries the finest and most unusual of produce. When the New York Times says that The Orchard is the only store that will carry the rare Indian Blood peach, we go! These peaches are available for 3 weeks… Part of the store’s caché is that owner, Mitchell, insists that the customer taste each fabulous fruit. That closes the deal. No place has anything juicier or … Continue reading →

389. Part 4C: Photo Journal: Babe The Blue Ox

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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 →

309. Weekend Photo Journal: Part 1. Brooklyn and Queens, NY

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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 →