Taxi of Tomorrow, Coming Soon

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue in Midtown.

A 'taxi of tomorrow' coasted down Sixth Avenue, the other day. It was out for a test drive and was not available for hire.

I frankly cannot keep up with the different taxi models! For the longest time, taxis all looked alike. They were the sedan-type models, with a plastic sheet separating the front row seats from the back seats. There was a little hinged thing where you passed money to the driver.

Now, there are minivan type cabs with a couple rows of seats and doors that slide open. There are hybrid green cabs (though still painted the familiar orangey-yellow). There are cabs with the plastic sheets encasing just the driver, so you can sit in the passenger's seat.

These new taxis are designed to be wheelchair accessible; the bottom of the sliding door is about curb-height. They have charging stations in the back seat for recharging cell phones. But they aren't hybrids, which can run twice as far for each gallon of gas.

I've talked at length with cabbies about their hybrid cabs. The trouble is the parts are so expensive, when they break down, any cost savings they get from good gas mileage goes down the tube.

The new cabs are due out in a few months' time.
For more about the taxis of tomorrow, click here.

Related posts: Fixing Flats, in the Streets, Colorful Cab, in Midtown, and Evening, on Sixth Avenue.

The Crowds on 34th Street, in Midtown

Photo by myself, at 34th Street and Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

There are people, people, everywhere, especially on this street corner in Midtown.

34th Street is just round the bend from the Empire State Building and steps away from Times Square. There are many, many clothing stores in this area, including the Macy's department store.

All the very popular chains like Uniqlo, the Gap and Zara have outposts here. It is a shopper's delight.

Related posts: The Crowds on Lower Broadway, A Glimpse of 42nd Street, Times Square, and Across the Crowded Sidewalk, in Midtown.

A Brief Glimpse of Woodstock, New York

Photo by myself, in Woodstock, New York.

The main streets of the lovely little town of Woodstock, New York, are lined with wood guitars, each one with a distinct personality. Some are decorated with childrens' wood blocks, buttons or graphics. I liked the one above the most, with its artistic collage.

We thought that further north would be a good escape from the summer heat for a few days, but NO. It is just as hot and humid, with temperatures hovering around 90F. Fortunately, there are many little streams and lakes in Woodstock, which are perfect for humans and dogs to cool off.

People have been very laid back and friendly. Like typical city slickers, we completely forgot that things close earlier outside the city (!) and were almost stuck on July 4th without dinner.


A photo of one of the main streets, lined with little shops and restaurants.


Outside The Old Forge, one of the many antiques stores, which sells all sorts of music and psychedelic memorabilia.


A cardboard cut out of Jimmi Hendrix standing with his drummer, Mitch Mitchell. The town's main street is in the background, beyond.

The above photos were taken with my iphone. We'll be heading back to Brooklyn on Monday.
Happy weekend, everyone!

Related posts: A Last Look at Beijing, China, The Hotel Shangri-La, in Santa Monica, and Highlights from Japan, Part Two.

Summer Days, in Park Slope, Brooklyn

Photo by myself in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

It is July 4th weekend, and everyone in the States is enjoying the long weekend. A peaceful chocolate lab in our neighborhood looked like he was thinking fondly of summers gone by. He often naps on his front stoop.

Many folks took the whole week prior to this weekend off. We are spending a few days in Woodstock, New York, about 2.5 hours north of Manhattan by car. Woodstock is a very charming town in the woods, filled with art, music and old hippies.

It is just as hot here as it is in the city, with temps in the 90s and high humidity. In our rush to leave, I forgot to pack the little gizmo that downloads photos from my camera. Drat.

I posted a photo of the same dog a couple years ago in black and white, here.

Related posts: Dog Days of Summer, at Prospect Park, Brooklyn, Four-Legged Co-Pilot, on Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, and The Spray of Summer, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Below Times Square and a Rupert Update

Photo by myself, below Times Square.

Big posters about the musical 'Kinky Boots' decorated the walls below Times Square.

Most of the time, this space is packed to the gills with people. Very often, the posters here have people in them, so you get the effect of there being...even MORE people here.
--We had a hot and humid weekend.

To cool off, our dog Rupert swam in the dog pond in Prospect Park. Boston Terriers aren't known to swim, because they don't have much fur or fat to keep them buoyant. But he loves the water.

Here he is, still damp, with ball in mouth.



Related posts: Mimes, Below Times Square, The End is Near, in Times Square, and On Times Square and Our Rupert.

Outside a Deli, in Brooklyn

Photo by myself on Fifth Avenue, in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

A fellow wearing a Yankees cap stood outside a deli in Brooklyn.

This photo was taken from the car from the passenger's seat, while stopped at a red light. I had Mark roll down his window.

I thought I was being stealthy but now I think the guy could see me. So much for my career as an undercover agent!
--Apologies for the on-again, and very off-again posting. Life has been busy but not crazy, thank goodness. Things have been really good. Clients are strangely happy, which is an odd and welcomed thing. Ha.

Falling into a little slump with taking photos is to be expected, I suppose. Taking photos means finding something special in the everyday. After a while when experiencing the same 'everyday' (the same commute to work, the same project location), it is a challenge to find those special moments.

Anyway, that is the challenge, and though this post sounds like a complaint, it isn't! I am glad for it. With every challenge, one must dig deeper and get on with it. Bear with me!

Related posts: Typical Streetscape, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Outside a Neighborhood Deli, Downtown, and A Dollar and a Dream.

Wine Tasting Outdoors, in Midtown

Photo by myself, around 35th Street and Broadway, in Midtown.

A fellow representing the Robibero Winery beckoned passersby to try free samples of their wine during lunch hour. He wore a funny shirt decorated with wine bottles at an outdoor market, in Midtown.

The Robibero family vineyards are located in New Paltz, New York, 85 miles north of Manhattan. They produce many different white and red wines.

As with any business, please do some research first. I had serious work to do in the afternoon, so I sadly could not enjoy a taste.

For the Robibero website, click here.

Related posts: Outside a Creperie, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, Outside Pinisi Bakery, on East 4th Street, and On the Price of a Slice, Downtown.

Handing out the News, on the Upper East Side

Photo by myself around 103rd Street and Lexington, on the Upper East Side.

A fellow was handing out free papers on the street corner, Thursday morning.

The headline can be seen on the paper on the back of his vest - 'Sopranos' Star Dies'. We've been startled by the news of James Gandolfini's sudden passing, while on vacation in Europe. Gandolfini was the star of the hit tv show 'The Sopranos'.

For whatever reason, Gandolfini always struck me as being a nice guy, regardless of the sometimes very violent character he played. My fiance Mark and I saw him once outside a restaurant and kept a respectful distance.

By the way, free papers are often handed out in subway stations or just nearby. This one is called AM New York.

Related posts: Get Your Paper Here, at Union Square, Kiosk at Night, and The Day After.

Making Change, on Fifth Avenue

Photo by myself at 50th Street and Fifth Avenue.

I wish I could say this fellow was presenting me with money, but alas, it was not the case. He was making change for a customer, out of frame.

There are loads of visitors right now in the city, and street food carts on the sidewalks at all hours. This cart sold large pretzels, hot dogs and drinks. In the wintertime, many carts also sell hot chestnuts.

Related posts: All Lit Up on Fifth Avenue, Street Meats on Seventh Avenue, and Pizza Truck, Only a Buck.

Batter Up, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Photo by myself, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Summer is in full swing (excuse the pun)!

Prospect Park is littered with baseball games every weekend. Some of the teams are made up of tiny little kids who can barely hold the bat upright. There are more serious teams, too.

All the teams are coached by parents, and neighborhood businesses help sponsor the cost of uniforms.

We've been having some really glorious weather, interspersed with heavy rain storms. As a result, the vegetation looks more suited to a tropical island than the northeast.

Happy weekend, everyone!

Related posts: Shooting Hoops at West 4th Street, in the Village, A Quick Game, in Tompkins Square Park, and Fierce Competition, in Bryant Park.

Work in Progress, at the Plaza Hotel

Photo by myself around 59th Street and Fifth Avenue.

There is some major renovation work going on on the exterior of the Plaza Hotel, near Central Park South.

The entire east side of the building is covered with an architectural drawing showing what the building should look like. The drawing is printed on a fine mesh, so that people inside the building can still look out their windows.

Behind the drawing must be a whole wall of scaffolding, keeping the mesh in place. The Plaza Hotel is part hotel, part condominiums.

I think people who live there full time have use of room service too, so they can be pampered year-round. There are separate entrances for guests and residents. The hotel entrance is on this side.

I took this photo while passing by in a cab. (Just tell a cab driver to go to 'the Plaza', and they'll know what you mean.)

Related posts: On a Winter Day, at the Plaza Hotel, Deck the Halls of the Plaza Hotel, and The View from New York and the Plaza Hotel.

Yoga, in the Rain

Photo by myself in Bryant Park, in Midtown.

Scores of yoga enthusiasts were on their mats and stretching, in Bryant Park. In the rain, no less!

Apparently this public yoga has been going on for ten years now, on Thursday evenings. It's one of the many free events going on in this relatively small park.

The yoga instructor had a microphone, so everyone could hear his instructions broadcast on large speakers.

For a schedule of events, click here.

Related posts: Striking a Pose, in Central Park, Get Your Zumba on for Free, in Herald Square, and Skating in Line, in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

Protest, on the Steps of the New York Public Library

Photo by myself, at the main branch of the New York Public Library.

Protesters occupied the steps of the main branch of the public library, Monday night. People held signs and handed out flyers to passersby.

The story I got from the protesters was that budget cuts will mean that some library branches will be eliminated.

Budget cuts also mean job losses, fewer books available for researchers and fewer library branches. At the same time, the buildings that once housed libraries would be available for developers. Developers mean tax money and future hotels or high-end real estate.

Ah yes, it's all about money.

There are many are very happy that New York withstood the recession for the most part. But there are also those who look around at the huge stores and very expensive apartments and long for 'Old New York', a city that was shabbier around the edges but that was filled with unique nooks and crannies.

For more about the libraries from the protesters point of view, visit their Save NYC Libraries website, here.



Related posts: Women in Black, Against War, Portrait of a Picket Line, in Hell's Kitchen, and Occupying Wall Street, One Day at a Time.

Business as Usual, on the Q Train

Photo by myself on the subway.

It was business as usual on the subway the other day as we crossed the East River. There is the usual glimmer of sunshine as we crawled across the Manhattan Bridge.

TGIF everyone!

Related posts: Morning Ride, on the D Train, Commute Home, on the D Train, and Sunset Ride, on the Ride to Brooklyn.

Pedicab, on Sixth Avenue

Photo by myself on Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

A pedicab driver posed for me the other day. Behind him, was a slew of regular yellow cabs.

I asked him about his mock license plate on the front of his bike. He doesn't actually own a taxi license, which costs hundreds of thousands of dollars and are bolted down to the hoods of yellow cabs.

As you can see, it's been raining on and off recently, but this pedicab is equipped for the weather. He asked whether he could give me a ride.

I laughed and said I was going to Brooklyn. A long trip!

Related posts: Pedalling Around Columbus Circle, Before a Tour, Pedicab Style, and Working It.

Outside the Dakota, on the Upper West Side

Photo by myself, around 72nd Street and Central Park West.

Two doormen stood outside the Dakota, a high-end apartment building on the Upper West Side.

Beyond the wrought iron gates is the central courtyard. The little doorman's booth has a little red light at the top to help hail passing taxis.

This building is known for many things. John Lennon lived here until his death in 1980. He was shot outside on the sidewalk. The building was also featured in the movie 'Rosemary's Baby'.

Not all apartment buildings have names. And not all apartment buildings that have names are remembered for their names. But a choice few have names and are memorable enough buildings to be known by their names!

Related posts: The Look Outside the Dakota, On Lost Icons and the Dakota, and Night View, Near the Dakota.

Cat Specialists, on the Upper West Side

Photo by myself, around 76th Street and Broadway, on the Upper West Side.

Yes, there are cat specialists here.

Manhattan Cat Specialists focus on everything cat - they board cats, groom cats, and look to their special medical needs. They even make house calls and had a couple brand new (adorable) kittens in their window for adoption.

I'm not sure whether New Yorkers own more cats than dogs. Some apartments don't allow pets at all, but they are the exception rather than the norm.

As with any business, please check them out before using them. By the way, the free pick and delivery canopy was for a dry cleaners next door, not for the cats!

Related posts: Cat on a Leash, in Midtown, Beware of Cat, East Village, and Cats on Leashes.

The View Above Park Avenue

Photo by myself, on Park Avenue on the Upper East Side.

The view high above Park Avenue in the East 70's is an interesting one.

The distinctive layout of the street can be seen, below. Several lanes of traffic are separated by a green swath of plantings. All the yellow cabs were out delivering customers.

Across the street are terraced, pre-war apartment buildings. By zoning requirements, buildings must step back from the street on the upper floors. This allows for private terraces and gardens.

This photo was taken from the 11th Floor. Larger apartments cost tens of millions of dollars (!).

Related posts: Looking Up West End Avenue, Looking Down from the Upper East Side, and Hovering Above Park Avenue.

Greetings, from the West Coast

Photo by myself on Ocean Avenue, in Santa Monica.

The sunsets can be really lovely here, in Santa Monica.

Ocean Avenue is one of the main north-south streets, along the water. There is a huge drop of (at least) sixty feet to the beach below. The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as the PCH, runs alongside the beach out of view.



In the daytime, it is brightly sunny and breezy. Above, the view along the beach and the dozens of colorful, playful (and expensive) beach houses. There is a path for joggers and cyclists. To the left is the beach, with volleyball nets set up for public use.

During the week, a smattering of people enjoy the beach. On the weekends, it is a little more crowded, but there is so much beach that it's never as terribly crowded as it can be in the northeast (!).

I'm here for a few days, while my fiance Mark is working. I'm flying back to New York, Wednesday evening.

Related posts: The Hotel Shangri-La, in Santa Monica, Greetings, from Santa Monica, and Sunset, from the Hotel Shangri-La, LA.

Ready for the Bike Share, on 24th Street

Photo by myself around 24th Street and Broadway.

Hundreds of outdoor bike racks are being set up for the Citibike bike share, to be launched at the end of this month.

The bike share has been talked about for a while now, and it's finally happening. Similar programs adopted in London, Paris and Washington have been successful.

I was skeptical about the bike share until now. After reading more about the program, I am hopeful. This is more a practical program for commuters, than an amenity for sightseers who might not know where they are going.

People like my fiance Mark will benefit the most. His office is located on the edge of Manhattan, on Tenth Avenue, long blocks away from the subway. Having a bike for just those few blocks during the dead of winter will be life-altering.

Taxis and other drivers can be very aggressive here, with little patience for all the pedicabs, pedestrians, cyclists and skateboarders. Riding a bike here is not for casual fun!

The bike share starts on May 27th. For more about the Citibike program, click here.

Related posts: Summer Streets, on Park Avenue South, Pedaling Around Midtown, and On NY Bike Tours and Real Housewives.