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.