Took this photo in Central Park yesterday morning.
I think everyone needs a bit of that calm today.
Posted in Life, Nature, Photography, Walking
Tagged Central Park, life, nature, New York City, peace, photography, quiet, walking
Today was the first really warm day of spring, so Rory and I headed to Central Park before dinner.
That’s when we saw the film crew.
I’m pretty sure they are students, based on their youth and minimal equipment. But they were very focused on their talent, who appeared to be writing in a notebook.
Clearly, it is a period piece.
Rory and I loitered for a bit, trying to overhear any dialogue, but no luck. Perhaps the camera was zoomed in tight on the words he was writing…something like:
Where the heck did I put my iPad??
The mystery has been solved.
Back in August, I posted this picture of a number on a path that Rory Dog and I frequent in Central Park.
Although I was told it probably just referenced a date, I wanted it to mean something cryptic and symbolic and unfathomable.
I watch a lot of Castle.
And what did I find today across the fence line from the aforementioned mystery number?
A brand new lamp post.
It wasn’t there the last time Rory and I walked that way, which was about three days ago.
So now we just have to wait and see if the number is removed.
Or changes.
Or is joined by a new set of numbers…and then Castle and Beckett are sure to appear to solve the mystery.
Now, that would be awesome.
Posted in Blogs, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Television, Walking
Tagged Beckett, Castle tv show, Central Park, cryptic, dog walking, entertainment, Humor, lamp post, life, mystery, mystery number, New York City, Richard Castle, symbol, Television, TV, walking, walking path
It is a cold, incredibly windy day in New York City.
I had appointments this morning, which meant two hours walking around outside in the bitter cold. I was dressed for it, but was still feeling a bit sorry for myself.
Then I saw these guys.
Can you imagine having to do your job, hanging on the side of a Manhattan skyscraper, with the cold winds whipping you around?
I suddenly felt a whole lot warmer there on the ground.
Posted in Business, Humor, Life, Walking, Weather
Tagged bitter cold, Business, grounded, Manhattan, New York City, skyscrapers, walking, weather, wind, window washers
I know dogs and people look at many things with different eyes –
Trees. Trash. Other dogs’ bottoms.
But I am particularly amused by my dog’s fascination with scaffolding.
Being a ‘city dog,’ he passes it almost every day on our way to the park. And he will pull the leash, wanting to cross the street to get to it.
Nothing is more fun, apparently, then sniffin’ and peein’ on scaffolding.
People who live in the city don’t pay much attention to it; we see it come and go with construction projects large and small. I dare say some tourists may cross the street to avoid it.
But not my dog.
Scaffolding is the best place in town to check his pee-mail.
I don’t have that many walls in my New York City apartment, but I am willing to make room for these beauties.
This set of minimalist posters — a tribute to the films of Pixar — was created by Wonchan Lee, an Australian designer.
I love the color palette, and the way Lee was able to reference each film with simple yet brilliant icons.
Can you imagine his take on this year’s nine Oscar-nominated films? Or the TV series nominated for Emmy awards? I mean, what would a poster for Downton Abbey look like from Lee’s point of view?
I’d buy that poster. I’d buy these posters.
I need some more walls.
Posted in Art, Commentary, Design, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, TV
Tagged art, Australia, color palette, commentary, design, Downton Abbey, Emmys, entertainment, Humor, icons, less is more, life, minimalism, Movies, New York City, Oscars, Pixar, posters, TV, Wonchan Lee
As many of you know, I live in New York City, land of the ‘Outlawed Big Soda’ — courtesy of Mayor Bloomberg.
The man hates sugary drinks.
I get it. And I know that when people want 32 ounces of ‘sugary drink,’ they probably buy two 16 ounce sodas…if they can do the math, that is.
But has Mayor Bloomberg gotten wind of Starbuck’s new coffee cup size — the Trenta?
It holds 31 ounces — or roughly 900 ml — of coffee and whatever mixings rock your world.
I don’t drink coffee myself, but I know some people put as much flavoring in the cup as they do coffee.
How many calories is that, Mr. Mayor?
Are we gonna go after the coffee drinkers of New York now…and one of the most prolific franchises in our city? I mean, that new coffee cup size can hold an entire bottle of wine. That’s how huge it is.
To be honest, I’m not even sure who’s side I’m on in this fight –
I just feel like starting it.
Posted in Commentary, Foods, Humor, Life, News, Restaurants
Tagged 32 ounce sodas, bottle of wine, coffee, coffee cup size, coffee drinkers, coffee flavorings, Foods, had too much caffeine, Humor, life, Mayor Bloomberg, New York City, outlawed big soda, restaurants, Starbucks, Starbucks franchises, starting a fight, sugary sodas, trenta cup
How far will you go to suffer for fashion?
In the winter? In the bitter cold?
I know New York City is the fashion capital of the world, and I should be used to trends that are cutting edge. But this winter, I’ve seen so many people — men and women — who refuse to close their coats.
In the coldest weather, with wind chills at zero or below, folks are walking through the streets of Manhattan with their overcoats flapping open in the wind.
I just don’t get it.
Sure, the rest of us do get a glimpse of your outfit when you choose not to zip or button up. And if you are particularly pleased with your ensemble that day, that works to your advantage. But if you lose a limb or a couple of fingers or toes to frostbite due to your peacocking, well –
That hardly seems like a fair trade, does it?
Close your coats, folks, and keep your extremities — and your ego — nice and warm en route. I trust you’ll get lots of props about your person when you arrive at your destination.
Posted in Commentary, Fashion, Humor, Life, Walking, Weather
Tagged coats, commentary, Fashion, fashion capital of the world, frostbite, Humor, life, Manhattan, New York City, open coats, overcoats, suffer for fashion, walking, weather, wind chill
When I arrived home last night, light snow was falling on New York City. The street was quiet. My footprints (and luggage tracks) were the first to disturb the sidewalk snow. It was a welcome scene.
This morning’s cityscape was very different.
Building superintendents and doormen had arisen early to litter the sidewalks with salt, which burns the paws of dogs and can make them sick if they lick it. Plus, the chemicals in the melting ice can contaminate the soil and ground water.
And yet building owners continue to spread it quite liberally, every snowy morning.
I’m not saying leave sidewalks untreated — simply use a safer melting alternative.
Our good friends at Morton Salt make an ice melt that is salt free, chloride free, and organic. It doesn’t irritate dog paws or tummies and melts below 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does it cost a bit more? Like most green-friendly products, it is a bit more expensive. But stacked against the high price our pets and the environment pay, I’d say it’s well worth it.
I’m going to talk to my building super today.
“You say traction; I say corrosive chemicals. Let’s call the whole thing off!”
Posted in Commentary, Dogs, Environment, Green, Home, Life, Weather
Tagged building super, contaminated ground water, dog paws, Dogs, doorman, environment, friends, green, home, ice, ice melt, life, Morton Salt, New York City, pets, sidewalk salt, snow, weather
Sheep schtick
It has been 22 years since The Silence of the Lambs won the Oscar for Best Picture.
Feeling old?
Clarisse is there…Dr. Lector, too. And the wannabe transgender, his little dog and the senator’s daughter, ‘putting the lotion in the basket.’
But the lambs?
Well, they aren’t so silent in this version. They sing. They dance. They move set pieces.
Just off-Broadway.
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Posted in Academy Awards, Broadway, Comedy, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Movies
Tagged Academy Awards, Best Picture, Broadway, Clarisse Starling, comedy, commentary, entertainment, Hannibal Lector, horror story, Humor, Kansas City, lambs, Martin City Melodrama & Vaudeville Company, Movies, musical number, New York City, Oscars, parody, put the lotion in the basket, sheep, Silence: The Musical, The Silence of the Lambs, transgender