Some duds and a Patty...

You never know what folks will be wearing. The wide variance in fashion, from the hipsters in their hats and tats and skinny jeans to the basic Manhattan black to the many just craving individuality, you'll see anything and everything. Here are a couple of interesting glimpses. Okay, I'm cheating at an attempt at wacky fashion, but above is one of the ubiquitous Times Square costumed persons. Even Minnie Mouse has to take a call now and then.


And I'm not sure if this fellow is headed to a gig or if he's just trying to give a tip o' the hat to the dear departed Rainbow & Stars.

And finally, here's a little graffiti tag I found deep below 8th Avenue. At the 50th Street E train stop, someone is professing their devotion to the amazing gospel artist Sandy Patti. I think I agree...

The leaves, they are a-changin'...

The leaves are a little brittle all over the place and you can tell the big change is around the bend, but in Central Park today, the big elms were flashing little hints of yellow. I snapped a shot that turned out to capture the vibe pretty well. Come on autumn!

A bean feast...

I'm realizing that I should adjust the title of this blog to reflect its regular Hipstamatic leanings. Oh well. I really love how they look! So there.


As this blog entry's title suggests, here are some little discoveries made while in or near Boston. First of all... it's a good thing to notice milestones. I'm a born-and-raised west coast guy. We vacationed on the Pacific Ocean which was about an hour from home. This picture shows my first steps in the Atlantic. Some observations: The sand is coarser and richer in color. The plant life washing ashore is more grassy than kelpy. On this particular beach (near Provincetown) there was a wealth of pretty stones, agates, etc. Unfortunately near our haunts on the Pacific, the agates seem to have been mostly depleted. I still prefer the Pacific coastline hands down, but it's fun to see a different beauty of the shoreline across the country.


Some sidewalks around Boston's green market have been inlaid with brass impressions of things that might litter said market during shopping times (cabbage leaves, scraps, etc.). Someone has taken advantage of a couple embedded nails and has carved out a little addition.


In the courtyard of the Old North Church (you know... one if by land, two if by sea) is a display created by kids in the Sunday School. There's a dog tag representing and honoring each American who has lost their life in the Iraq war. It's quite a sobering display.


There were so many more wonderful discoveries on this trip to Massachusetts – and I've documented a lot of them on my other blog (click here) – but I'll end this entry with this observation. There's a subway line in Boston called the Wonderland-bound blue line. Wonderland was an amusement park built near the turn of the 20th century. It's not there any more, but the train still bears its name. I think it's such a lovely idea to take a train to Wonderland, as if we all jump into this immense rabbit hole. In NYC, I often feel like I regularly ride a magical traveling wardrobe which yields many diverse magical adventures as I push through the coats each time. Anyway... some whimsical thoughts for the brink of autumn.

Keep those eyes and ears open, y'all.

A rabble of noticed things...

I'm often intrigued by the names of groups of animals... colony of ants, cloud of bats, rabble of butterflies, etc. Since I've not been updating regularly, here is a bunch of little things that have caught my eye. Sort of defeats the purpose to have a bunch of 'em coming at you at once, but then again it's sort of fun...

New York City is absolutely chock full of mosaic art. There are large mosaic murals everywhere and there's the renowned Strawberry Fields in Central Park. And you can always find inspiring bits in pretty much any subway station you encounter.

On a recent meandering from East Village to Greenwich Village, I was getting inspired by colors... the red & green of an Italian restaurant and a green bakery, a rainbow colored "Hell Yes!" on the New Museum, a blue Vespa, a pink apartment building.

I absolutely love establishments where you can just feel the weight of history in the walls. Here in NYC, I'm constantly noticing this in Broadway theatres, bars like McSorleys and the sadly departed Chumley's, music venues like the Vanguard. I recently experienced another heavy place. Katz's Delicatessen has been on the LES since the 1880s and has served millions its comfort food. It has appeared in movies... most notably the "I'll have what she's having" scene in When Harry Met Sally. So much to notice here. You don't even have to keep your eyes open that wide.

Here's random mix of interesting tidbits. Well, interesting to me: A mailbox high up in a tree in Union Square, a mannequin and scythe on mailboxes outside a prop/curiosities shop in the East Village, Spiderman trying to offset the megacosts of his upcoming Broadway show, that amazing orange-glazed brick in many train stations, an old Lite Brite in a window and a Fun neon sign just down the street from Katz's.

And lastly, here's a wee video featuring amazing musicians and arts advocates, the Asphalt Orchestra in their recent free outdoor concert at Lincoln Center. This march branched off of a performance of "Precious Lord, Take My Hand" and led the crowd through the courtyards. They're fun.

That's quite a murder of tidbits. Hope you didn't get overwhelmed. Until next time... keep those eyes and ears open.

Odds & ends...

Economy Candy on Rivington. NYC. Wonderful, nostalgic, sweet place. Purchased a few packs of baseball cards from 1989-1991. Here are a couple of my favorites... and a card marked by a 20 year old gum stain.


Henry Miller's Theatre on W. 43rd. This theatre will soon be renamed the Stephen Sondheim Theatre which I'm thrilled about, but Mr. Miller's legacy will also forever live on here. Here's a sort of photo sculpture which I'm not sure I got remotely near the correct angle, but it combines to show Henry's face.

And a couple from the hinterlands of Queens (my neighorhood)...


This is the Catholic church a couple blocks from my place. The carillon in the tower plays the most beautiful tunes. And it's far enough into the distance that it becomes a sort of soothing part of the fabric of sound around the place. Love it!


And here's the Astoria-Kaufman Studios, a mere 15 minute walk from my place. They shoot Sesame Street here. I really want to try to visit the set one of these days. It would be a wonderful fulfillment of a dream.

After some time away...

[I've been a busy bee and I took ten days to visit family and friends on the west coast, but I'm back!] Here are a couple shots I've taken on walkabouts around town:


A sculpture at Fordham University near Lincoln Center.







The back of St. Patrick's Cathedral from within an arch on Madison Avenue.

Collegiate sculpture and found words...

Columbus Circle. I think it's an architecture joke and a math joke. Both.







A few shots of sculpture around the Columbia University campus.


And, finally... An old storefront sign near the Broadway N/W train stop. I'm particularly intrigued by the juxtaposition of products advertised.