Tag Archives: nyc

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 →

New York City Nostalgia: Meet Miss Subways/Exhibit at the New York Transit Museum

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Miss Subways was a beauty contest that was held in New York City from 1941-1976; the winner had her photo and bio posted for a month or two, in the subways. The Miss Subway exhibit is the project of a photographer, Fiona Gardner and a writer, Amy Zimmer, who were intrigued by the photographs that once hung between ads on subway trains; they managed to collect 147 of the original 200 posters and to track down 50 former Miss Subways and interview 41. The project turned into a lesson in history and sociology, not only mapping lives but our culture … Continue reading →

New York City Photo Journal: The New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show: 1/2012

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In my transition from multiply.com, I noticed that many of my photo journals and albums are missing. I am reconstructing last year’s holiday show at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, New York. One hundred forty electrified buildings and streets have been constructed and modeled after the real thing to provide an historic view of how things are and how they were–in miniature. But the most special thing about the exhibit is that the buildings and the like, are made of plantmaterial; seeds, pods, twigs, bark, stems, acorns. It is remarkable. Bridges and landmarks are amazing. Unfortunately I  … Continue reading →

314. Opera: Dr. Atomic: John Adams: The Metropolitan Opera, NYC

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Dr. Atomic premiered in San Francisco in 2005. From the Met Playbill: “This monumental contemporary opera is a riveting examination of one of the most significant episodes in world history: the events leading up to the testing of the first atomic bomb in New Mexico in 1945. Like composer John Adams’s previous operas Nixon in China and The Death of Klinghoffer, doctor Atomic not a reenactment of a historical moment but rather an exploration of the people, personalities, and issues involved in an epic incident. The focus of the piece is the title character, J. Robert Oppenheimer, the cultivated American … Continue reading →

465 TheaterThursday: Collected Stories: Donald Margulies

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Linda Lavin is known for her roles on television (remember “Alice”?) and theater. She is a wonderful comedienne but a superb dramatic actress. She is a four-time Tony nominee for her roles in “The Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” “The Diary of Anne Frank,” and “The Tales of the Allergist’s Wife.” Sarah Paulson has starred in “The Glass Menagerie” (opposite Jessica Lange), “The Sisters Rosenweig.” She has appeared in many off-Broadway plays and television: “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Cupid,” “Studio 60 on Sunset Strip,” “Deadwood,” “The D.A. Leap of Faith,” “Path to War,” “Jack & Jill,” “American Gothic.” “Collected Stories” is … Continue reading →

450. NYC Photo Journal: In search of culinary perfection: From arepas to donuts

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The other day I treated myself to a manicure in a place where there is a small high def television at every nail drying station. In addition, the salon has a huge screen; all televisions are tuned to The Food Network. There are a dozen or so lovely ladies with wet nails drooling over Paula Dean’s presentations, or Bobby Flay’s. I happened to hit Bobby on a good day: he was challenging the owner of Caracas Arepa Bar to a “Throwdown” challenge. Who can make the better arepas? Caracas won. Sorry, Mr. Bobby the Foodie Ego. You can’t beat this … Continue reading →

444. New York City Photo Journal: Grand Central Terminal: more food!

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The grandest of terminals has been renovated and its majesty is overwhelming. Beyond its two levels of trains that come down from New York State and Connecticut, there are links to the New York City subway. It is located on 42nd Street and Park Avenue. Beyond trains it is a shopper’s haven. In fact, it is so huge, one has to consult a map to fine one’s way around. The New York City Transit Museum Gift Shop has a branch there with a special train exhibit. All photos except the top right are property of the author; taken with 3.0 … 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 →

285. Photos:Thursday in the park with Al

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This is Al, the sweetest man on earth; secretly, I think of him as the father I never had. Kind, brilliant, loving, and still around in his late 80’s as spunky and adventurous as ever. Al was a friend of my late father-in-law and family. In the 70’s when Mr.Souci and I were traveling through Ireland, we met Al and his wife in Dublin, by coincidence, and had a few meals together. Al’s lovely wife passed away of cancer a number of years ago. My father-in-law died suddenly some years after. My step-mother-in-law and Al, the surviving spouses, became an … 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 →

310. Week end Photo Journal: Part 2: Long Island City: on the waterfront

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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.) Look for the 59th Street Bridge beyond. Feelin’ Groovy, yet?

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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 →

394. NYC Photo Journal: From the Caribbean to India: Tribal Legacy to Dosa Hutt/Flushing, NY

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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… We had an after concert (south) Indian dinner in Flushing near one of the Hindu temples at Dosa Hutt. Join me for medhu vada, onion rava masala … Continue reading →

381. NYC Photo Journal: Long Island City: Part 3: The Socrates Sculpture Garden

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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 →

380. NYC Photo Journal: Long Island City: Part 2: Gantry State Park

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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. Click photos to enlarge. Another blog completes the series

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377. NYC Photo Journal: A visit to Katz’s: Send a salami to your boy in the army OR I’ll have what she’s having

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After our visit to the new High Line park last week, we ended the day perfectly; got back in the car and went from the Lower West Side of Manhattan to the Lower East Side of Manhattan. This was the area where many immigrants (Jews, Irish, Italians) began their life in America. They found themselves living in cramped railroad-flat tenements with little air or light, but lots of street life. They shopped form pushcarts below, children played in the streets. When they had the money they moved “uptown” or left Manhattan for The Bronx or Brooklyn. [photos can be viewed … Continue reading →

376. NYC Photo Journal: The High Line: abandoned rail in the sky becomes a park–a little poetry for Wed

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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 →