Aaron & Nick

This was taken over the weekend at Union Square.

Sweating in the Burg

Nick and I went for a long walk around our hood today after breakfast. Everyone and their dog was out and about, enjoying the sun and relative warmth. The track at McCarren Park was full of walkers and runners. The handball courts, baseball diamonds and basketball courts were also full. We lost count of all the new condos nearing completion, including the three towers overlooking the field. On our way home we browsed at the local book store and I bought a $10 shirt at the vintage clothing store. We topped off the day with an hour at the gym, burritos from Senor Taco and watching "Empire of the Sun". Good flick.

East Village

There's never a shortage of interesting folks in the East Village on a Saturday night. I snapped this pic of a performer at a new party on East 3rd Street and Avenue C.

Union Square

Yesterday gave another reminder that NYC isn't always frigid, and that we won't always be wearing our coats and hats. Union Square was packed with locals and tourists selling, buying, drawing with sidewalk chalk and yelling about politics. Artists were out in force with interesting stuff for sale and the farmers' market was packed with shoppers. I don't think I saw a cloud all day. When evening arrived, Nick and I saw "Horton Hears a Who" with our friend Aaron. It was very funny; a must see.

Summer in NYC

I saw my old friend Summer yesterday for the first time over ten years, after getting in touch through Facebook. We had brunch at Smorgas Chef in the West Village.

Green Point

A late night in Green Point tonight has left me nearly too tired to blog. Here's a picture of me, Nick and Sara at the Pencil Factory.

Working in the Clouds

Although I don't work very high up in the Ivory Tower, I don't have far to go during fire drills. I snapped the pic after work today. I'm very excited that tomorrow is Friday!

Self Portrait

Here's one of the many self-portraits I've taken with my iPhone and sent to Nick while I'm at work. Yes, it's a little gross, but it entertains us while we work for the Man.

Math Teacher

My friend Sara is visiting NYC from Portland, Oregon. This is her at Radegast Hall & Biergarten (beer garden) on North 3rd Street and Berry Street in Williamsburg, where she threw one back with Nick and me. We later had dinner at Bonita on Bedford Avenue. Welcome back to NYC, Sara!

Clinton & Obama Framed!

The Chameleon antique store on 59th Street spruced up its display of old picture-frame lamps with images of everyone's favorite Bosnian-bullet-dodging Hillary Clinton and America-hating-preacher supporter Barack Obama. John McCain was there too, but I've seen enough of that old jerk.

Green's Back

NYC's obsession with the almighty dollar is never far away; especially if you're on the corner of 58th Street and 3rd Avenue. This ad for ING bank is just across the street from Bloomberg, and it covers every inch of a two-storey building. This was taken today on yet another freezing afternoon.

Chicago

I didn't take any photos today, so I'm posting this pic from last August of Nick and me in Chicago, where we attended Nick's friend's wedding. It was my first time in Chicago and I loved it. I can't wait to go back there.

It's About Freakin' Time

Finally, a sign of Spring. It's been so cold lately that today's sunshine and warmish weather was quite a relief. This was the first blossoming tree I've seen in 2008. It was at a theological center in Chelsea. No, I wasn't attending a church service.

Happy Easter?

Little baby Michael wasn't crying when we took this, but it's safe to say he wasn't having a very good time. What can you do, eh?

I See You!

Nick and I had a little fun with the security monitor tonight while waiting for the L train at 6th Avenue.

Brain Matter?

Oh, Eliot. You've exposed men for what we really are. The world never knew until now. I snapped this pic today at Oslo coffee shop in Williamsburg.

Gua Gua

Nick and I spotted this decorative vehicle on Berry Street on our way to meet friends Friday night. We went to the lounge at Chelsea Hotel and then to Sugarland in Williamsburg.

Super Friday

There was a Good Friday procession of religious-types from City Hall to Ground Zero. Why? Who cares. They obviously think that Easter and terrorists are somehow intertwined. Or maybe they just wanted the free press. I asked an Italian news crew why they thought this march was so important. They didn't have a very good answer.

Ground Zero Worker

Good Friday was sunny and cold in New York. I had the day off, so I went to the Financial District to see the latest construction at Ground Zero. There were nearly as many construction workers as tourists, which is a good sign. I used a telephoto lens to capture this worker securing a temporary railing.

London Might Disagree

Indeed. And you're doing a bang-up job! By the way, nice pant-suit! (My cousin Suzanne has pointed out that the term "pant-suit" is sexist and antiquated. There's no need to make a distinction for a suit with pants just because it's worn by a woman. Rather than just delete it though, I'm adding this update as a statement against further use world-wide of the term "pant-suit.")

Ground Zero is Fun Now?

Here's a tourist at Ground Zero getting her photo taken with "Lady" Liberty. The place is such a spectacle, I'm surprised you can't get your photo taken with someone dressed up as the World Trade Center.

BAM!

Nick and I attended a reading of the novel "His Illegal Self" by Australian author Peter Carey at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). This was my first visit to BAM, as well as to Brooklyn's Fort Greene neighborhood. I snapped these pics of an out-of-place new condo tower and BAM's flashy, spinning sign. Behind the sign is the 1929 art deco Williamsburgh Savings Bank building, which is being converted into 34 floors of condos. Carey was a real hoot. I will probably buy the book. The event was sponsored by Bloomberg (hence our free tickets, dinner and drinks) and the New York Times.

Fort Greene Condos