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.

Mighty Balls, at Mad. Sq. Eats

Photo by myself, around 24th Street and Fifth Avenue in the Flatiron District.

Happily reunited with my Leica, I took a short walk to the Flatiron area.

Mad. Sq. Eats is shorthand for 'outside eateries near Madison Square Park'. People were outside sampling street food and enjoying the gorgeous Spring weather.

Some thirty stalls offer foods, drinks and desserts. Friday evening, people waited in line for oven-fired gourmet pizza, cannolis, chocolates, bbq, ice cream...the works.



Strangely, there were several people walking around carrying watermelon drinks...in watermelons. Whatever was in the drink must have been excellent because the drink-ers had big grins on their faces.





Mad. Sq. Eats is only open for the month of May.

For more information about Mad. Sq. Eats, click here.
--I'll be out in LA for several days. Posts will continue here!

Related posts: Mad. Sq. Eats, in the Flatiron District, Serving it up from the Back of a Truck, and Pizza Pizza.

Big Bird, in the Flatiron District

Photo by myself around 23rd Street and Broadway, in the Flatiron District.

A giant bird made of giant nails stood near the Flatiron Building, the other day. He carried a giant flower in his giant mouth.

The bird is 12-feet high, though he looks much taller. He weighs a hefty five tons.

Occasionally there is art in the open area near the Flatiron Building. Most of the time, the space is filled with tables and chairs. The open triangle is formed by the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway, which runs on a diagonal.

This photo is from the stash. The bird was removed a couple days ago (!). I think I took this photo from the car.

For more about the sculpture, click here.

Related posts: Giant Bird, on Broadway, Giant Head, in Madison Square Park, and Charging Through Wall Street.

After Hurricane Sandy, Outside the Ace Hotel

Photo by a friend, at Broadway and 29th Street in the Flatiron District.

My friend Christine took the photo above, Tuesday night, outside the Ace Hotel. At this point, she is the Manhattan correspondent for this blog (!). She took the photo on her iphone after charging it up outside.

This one lone block had electricity, post-Hurricane Sandy. All of Manhattan south of 39th Street has been without power, since the storm on Monday.

Folks were sitting outside, recharging their devices with a shared surge protector that was plugged into an exterior outlet.

Mark and I spent almost the entire day Tuesday, watching the news. We have been so lucky here in Park Slope, Brooklyn, having nothing of the terrible flooding that others are experiencing elsewhere in New York and New Jersey.

Christine lives in Murray Hill and is one of the thousands of people without electricity. She sent me a couple other photos from her wanderings:

Another view of the hotel exterior and people plugged in.


A tree had toppled onto a car around 31st and Third Avenue, in Murray Hill. Ouch.


The fruit section in this deli was picked clean. I'm sure there are zombies loitering in the back room.

I am so tempted to venture into the city, but...we'll see. Our Mayor Bloomberg has requested that people NOT to go into the city and increase traffic.

At this writing, all tunnels to and from Manhattan, except the Lincoln Tunnel, are closed. Bridges are open. Subways are not running.

The Times has an incredible series of photos of the hurricane aftermath. You can see it here.

Related posts: On Man V. Nature and the Gowanus Canal, On the Opera Collective and Hurricane Irene, and Wet and Not-So-Wonderful, Downtown.

The Lights on Broadway, in the Perfume District

Photo by myself around Broadway and 28th Street.

Broadway around 28th Street is lined with stores selling fragrances, wigs and beauty supplies.

Alas, we had a grey-ish, chilly weekend, here. This photo is from the stash.

Happy Monday, everyone!

Related posts: You Looking at Me? in the Perfume District, Kiosk at Night, and Shining Bright at Live Bait.

Peeping in, on 28th Street

Photo by myself around 28th Street and Broadway, in the Flatiron District.

When looking up from the sidewalk, it's sometimes easier to notice how different the buildings are that wind up next to each other.

A relatively new apartment tower stands on the far left. The building second from the right seems to have loft-like apartments, with high ceilings. The building in the middle looks to be a walk-up.
--Whenever we get back from traveling, I have renewed interest in taking photos of New York.

Part of this is because when you're traveling, you're traveling...and you have all day to enjoy yourself and take photos. Not so in daily life.

The other part is that looking out at different cities and cultures makes me appreciate home, and makes me want to invest the same energy into really looking at it. I'm looking forward to walking around the city streets very soon.

Today is Labor Day, which marks the un-official end of summer!

Related posts: The Ghostly Glow of Times Square, All Lit Up, at 72nd Street, and Peeping In, on the Upper West Side.

The Look, Outside the Flatiron Building

Photo by myself outside the Flatiron Building at 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue.

A tour bus stopped for a nanosecond in front of the detailed facade of the Flatiron Building.

You can see all the gorgeous stonework beyond. Meanwhile, a man gave me 'a look'.
--More apologies are in order on my part for missing yet another day on this blog.

Yes, it's been insanely busy as usual. I'm also off to LA on Thursday to visit Mark, who is working there on a project. Photos will continue here, as usual!

Related posts: The Look, in Times Square, Mid-Bite at Joe's Pizza, in the Village, and The Look on Greene Street, in Soho.

Maitre D's, on Broadway

Photo by myself on Broadway and 26th Street.

A little dog and some young ladies welcomed guests to Toshi's Living Room, in the Flatiron District. The little dog looks to be a Schnauzer and belongs to the bar's owner.

Toshi's Living Room features live music almost every night. The day I walked by, a jazz quartet was setting up.

For the bar's website, which includes a list of scheduled events, click here.

Related posts: Bright Lights, at the Beacon Theater, Twinkly Lights, at the Breslin, and What's Playing Around Town and at Home.