It felt balmy...

It felt so balmy and warm and uplifting of spirits with it being brighter in the morning on the way to work.

On 118th Street

Love this building which is still being renovated- for the past 2 years but no idea what it was and what it is being used for.

On the streets of Harlem

These two men were talking outside, a yet unnoticed by me, church. Research as I might I cannot find anything about the church other than it is a baptist church of which there are a proliferation in Harlem.

Another rainy day

With my personal challenge of 100 days "What I Saw While I was Walking", rainy cold days prove a challenge not only forcing myself to go outside but juggling the umbrella and the camera. This time I sought shelter in a doorway and focused on an intersection to try to get some shots of rainy day life.

Memorials

I walked past these the other day, they had a photo and name attached to the wall above them. i think the wind and rain swept the sign away. 

A memorial to someone who perhaps died in this spot. 

It's not an unusual sight.

I told them...

I made an appointment with the "powers that be" and headed into midtown.
A dreary old day but it didn't bother me really as I was really starting the process of heading home.

Balmy out....

Prematurely warm and everyone is out and about. The police officers assisted the tourists in finding their way around the area.

Completed

I have finished the Sketchbook Project challenge.

I just need to post it.

Back in Harlem...

I'm not sure where this employee from the restaurant/bar "Chocolat"got the ice from and whether this is a daily occurrence but it's the first time I've seen this being done. It never occurred to me how they'd get their ice.
I presumed they'd have an ice maker  of some description.

In and around Hudson

It snowed overnight and our park over the road looked lovely/lovelier

 Sue cleared the snow off the car...

we wanted to travel over the Rip Van Winkle Bridge so headed off on a little trip...

 So we headed back to Hudson and had a lovely stroll around in the sun

A trip to Albany, NY

We hired a car and headed to Albany. By the time we made it to Albany we needed lunch and it was freezing cold. So we found Jack's Oyster Bar. Opened in 1913 by Jack Rosenstein, the restaurant has been continuously operated by the same family and is now under the direction of grandson, Brad. Joined by Brad is Executive Chef Larry Schepici. Together, they work to create the ultimate dining experience for you each and every time you visit.

And create a dining experience they did indeed. 

 

The main appeal for the trip was to have at least been to the capital city of New York State.

We drove through the Empire State Plaza and around to see the major buildings of the area. Having braved the icy blast the walk around was brisk.

We decided to head to the Watervleit Shaker Heritage Society. The Shaker Heritage Society is a non-profit organization that offers  educational programming about the Shakers, their innovative spirit and their influence on American culture.
The Society is actively concerned with preserving the integrity of the Watervliet Shaker National Historic District, site of America’s first Shaker settlement.
The Church Family site, where the Society’s offices are located, is the heart of the 770-acre Historic District. The property includes nine remaining Shaker buildings, herb garden, open fields, apple orchard, Ann Lee Pond nature preserve, and the Shaker cemetery where the founder, Ann Lee is buried. Visitors are welcome to picnic, hike, enjoy a concert or workshop or just relax and experience the atmosphere of this special place.They had some clothes to try on.

Goin' up the country...

A little sojourn up the country via Amtak to Hudson NY.
Hudson a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 6,713, the second-largest in the county, following the nearby town of Kinderhook. Located on the east side of the Hudson River and 120 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, it was named for the river and its namesake explorer Henry Hudson.

Our VRBO accommodation is just gorgeous- opposite a park in Warren Street and convenient to all the shops and restaurants in the area

Street shopping or Roadside treasures

Usually on Friday mornings or Sunday evenings in my neighborhood I can spot some sort of roadside treasure to street shop. Having done a little research here are some tips for what and when to do this fine art of shopping.

1) Embrace Your Inner Frugal Weirdo
The very nature of trash finding requires you to not care what other people think. The spendy-pants among us would rather rack up debt and squander their savings by purchasing brand new furniture, clothes, and custom hound coats. But we frugal weirdos know that frugality is the true key to freedom and that taking discarded stuff is a core element of our financially-savvy lifestyle.

2) Get A Greyhound
I suppose it doesn’t have to be a greyhound specifically, although I can only vouch for their efficacy in this process. A hound of any type provides an excuse to roam the streets scoping out trash piles to your heart’s content.
Plus, dogs are great trash find companions–you could outfit them with a doggy backpack and have them help you haul your goods!

3) Memorize Move-Out Dates
Make moving days your business. Investigate the common lease start dates for rentals in your area (it’s September 1st here in Cambridge) and the turnover dates for any local universities. Anything that equals lots of people moving will equal massive amounts of giveaways.

4) Learn Your Trash Find Locations
In general, Mr. FW and I eschew the concept of actually opening trash bins. We only quest after trash that’s been set out on the sidewalk in the style of a free box.
This type of giveaway method is very common here in Cambridge and in most large cities, but it may be less standard practice in suburban/rural areas.
However, if you’re not a city-dweller don’t despair just yet–both my mom and my sister report amazing trash finds in their quasi-rural area.

5) The Seasons of Trash
Depending on the climate of your region, it’s possible your trash will experience seasonal shifts. Here in the snowy northeast, trash finding is a non-starter from November to April.
Shockingly, no one sets out piles of giveaways while there are snowbanks as tall as Frugal Hound. Hence, summer and fall are our high seasons.
We’ve had a real dearth of trash finds this winter, making us pine for the languid days of summer when glorious trash finds are piled high and Frugal Hound frolics on her leash, finally feeling her paw pads warm against the sidewalk as opposed to frozen against the snowbanks.

6) Don’t Hunt On Actual Trash Nights
Saturdays and Sundays are prime trash find evenings. The weekdays when people set out their actual, stinky trash barrels aren’t usually optimal for the type of trash hunting we’re conducting.
No one wants to dig through actual trash barrels, so we find it far more efficacious to scope on the weekends when people are more likely to clean out their attics and leave the unwanted discoveries on the roadside.

7) Leave No Trash Unattended
If you encounter a sweet trash find, beware of leaving it alone to go retrieve your car. Best to use the buddy system and deputize one person to guard the prized trash. If you’re looking, you can bet other people are too.
I once sat on top of a free desk by the side of the road for the better part of an hour while I waited for Mr. FW to get off work and drive the car over to me. It was a tactical move, I had to think fast and leap atop the desk for fear of another hunter taking my treasure. I called Mr. FW to report that we had a desk and that he only needed to bring the car around. I’d forgotten he was working late that day, and underestimated just how long I’d have to sit there on that desk. But I had no worries, a good desk is worth waiting for.

8) Don’t Steal Stuff
Try not to inadvertently snatch items that aren’t actually being thrown out. This only happened to Mr. Frugalwoods and me once. We were out on an evening stroll and came upon a charming end table standing on the sidewalk with not a person in sight.
Being consummate frugal trash finders, we started to pick it up and walk off. Fortunately, its owner dashed out and asked us to cease and desist in stealing her table. In our defense, this table appeared to be abandoned next to the trash barrels on the curb. Let this be a lesson in not leaving your furniture unattended when Mr. FW and I are in the vicinity.
Now, if we’re in doubt about the provenance of a trash pile, we simply stand there for a few minutes to see if anyone comes to claim it. We thought for sure that Mr. FW’s best dress shirt wasn’t actually a trash find, so we waited by the side of road to see if anyone would come running out to chase us off. No one emerged and thus, Mr. FW is well outfitted.

9) Methods of Trash Collection: By Car or On Foot?
Both are valid means of securing your trash. A car is obviously superior for larger, more furniture-oriented items, but worse for small tidbits since it’s difficult to see what’s sitting on the curb when you’re driving past.
Trash finding on foot has the advantage of allowing you to closely examine each stack of giveaways you pass, but, has the obvious downside of limiting you to your natural carrying capacity. If on foot, prepare yourself with bags or backpacks. You never know what fiddly little items you might want to tote home, which is made vastly easier by the presence of a bag.

10) Assess Trash Piles First By Sight, Second By Hand
As you approach a potential trash bonanza, use your eyes before your paws. What sort of house is the pile in front of? Does it look clean and detritus free? What’s in the pile and do you want to touch it? Is there an odd mold or odor emanating from the pile? When in doubt, walk on.
Once you’ve rigorously inspected your intended trash pile by sight, it’s time to dig in. Take your time, don’t worry about what any passerby might think, and relish your newfound free possessions.

11) Don’t Take It All
Don’t fear leaving some trash finds behind. The goal of trash hunting is to find quality items that you’ll actually use. Allow yourself to pass up any trash that’s subpar or superfluous. Hoarding is not the trash find objective–don’t let yourself be duped into taking trash you don’t need!
The box that I left behind most recently contained cute skirts, shirts and dresses that I would’ve loved wearing… if I was still 22. Since I’m pretty obviously NOT 22, it was rather evident that I should leave that trash where it lay.

12) Seek Quality
Be discerning in the trash that you collect. After all, it is stuff and no one wants to be ruled by their stuff–which is almost guaranteed to happen if you have too much of it. With furniture in particular, think twice before grabbing that Ikea coffee table. Does it look like Frugal Hound assembled it? Will it even survive the trip home? Conversely, I always pounce on finely crafted wood furniture. Even if I don’t like the color, I can always refinish it myself.

To find great trash is a virtuous cycle. By taking an item destined for a landfill, you’re helping yourself by saving money and you’re helping the environment by reusing a discarded thing. You’re now armed with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to pursue the trash finds of your dreams. Go forth and may you turn to treasure what others have so carelessly tossed away!

(Source: Frugal Woods Blog)

Valentine's day NYC style

I'm posting a whole lot here about the history of Valentine's Day to help me understand the absolute proliferation of things that were available up to and beyond February 14.  I've included some of the things I saw...

So here goes...

Each year on February 14th, many people exchange cards, candy, gifts or flowers with their special “valentine.” The day of romance we call Valentine's Day is named for a Christian martyr and dates back to the 5th century, but has origins in the Roman holiday Lupercalia.

 

The ancient Romans may also be responsible for the name of our modern day of love. Emperor Claudius II executed two men — both named Valentine — on Feb. 14 of different years in the 3rd century A.D. Their martyrdom was honored by the Catholic Church with the celebration of St. Valentine's Day.

We do know that the ancient Romans celebrated the feast of Lupercalia, a spring festival, on the 15th of February. With the introduction of Christianity, the holiday moved to the 14th of February--the saint day that celebrated several early Christian martyrs named Valentine.

In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the 17th century. By the middle of the 18th, it was common for friends and lovers of all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes, and by 1900 printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. 

Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings.
Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began selling the first mass-produced valentines in America. Howland, known as the “Mother of the Valentine,” made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as “scrap.” Today, according to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.) Women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines. (Source: The History Channel)

UGC Eats

Apparently...

“UGC Eats features an eclectic mixture of snacks and beverages from organic Bronx hot sauce to Olive Oil from Greece!”

And another review...

"So happy to have stumbled upon this new place! Such a cool concept and a beautiful, laid-back space for meeting friends or getting work done. Most of the things in the store are sourced from the owner's travels and are for sale. I have my eye on the beautiful grandfather clock and model ship. Both items are sadly out of my budget, but I do hope they find a good home. :)

This cafe also sells unique imported and local food items, which I will certainly be making use of since I live just a few blocks away. Since they are still just a month old, they are working out a few kinks. They didn't have iced coffee when I came, and they don't have breakfast sandwiches yet. But I'm sure that they will find their bearings in no time. Long live UGC eats and long may they prosper!"

I'll have to give it a try :)

After the rain

It always intrigues me that after the rain and even during the heavy rain storms there are always discarded umbrellas around the city’s streets and in its "trash cans". It turns out one can, rather than throw out yet another umbrella after the next rain storm, "bring it to the Local Labels kiosk in the Graybar Passageway at Grand Central Terminal to be recycled into stylish bags and totes by fashion designer, Catherine Edouard-Charlot."

This also got me thinking of the NY1 ad that says how you know you're a New Yorker...among other things....when you know that $5 umbrella will only last 5 minutes...

So here is other ways to know one is a New Yorker...

• You've seen Woody Allen. [Note: or substitute whatever celebrity you see around your neighborhood.]
• 
  
• You've stolen a cab from someone who needs it more than you do.
• 
  
• You've cried on the subway and not given a damn what anyone thinks.
• 
  
• You've killed a cockroach with your bare hands.
• You don't pronounce Houston Street like the city in Texas.
• 
  
• You don't stare when you spot a celebrity.
• 
  
• You never tell a cab driver where you're going until you're inside the cab.
• 
  
• When you've been here at least five years (weeds out the college dilettantes) combined with when you start talking about the thing that used to be on that corner three stores ago. (Note: this comes from Garth Johnston, a born and bred New Yorker.)
• When you stop going out on Friday nights.
• When you start going out on Monday nights.
• When you stop giving money to homeless people.
• When you know better than to enter an empty subway car. 
• When you know how to walk around tourists. 
• You just want SantaCon and the No Pants Ride to end already.
• You can nap on the subway and play it cool when a rat scurries across your face.
• You don't even notice the pee smell in the subway system anymore.

Apollo Walk of Fane

My walk today took me along 125th Street on my way to Dick Blick's art store. 

The Apollo Theater’s Walk of Fame celebrates and honors the legendary performers who have helped to build the Theater’s legacy for over 80 years. The Walk of Fame inductees have had an enormous influence on generations of musicians and fans. 

Having recorded over 200 albums, selling more than 40 million records, and working with the greatest performers of the 20th century…Ella Fitzgerald was inducted into the Apollo Walk of Fame in 2006.

Between 1935 and 1947, Louis Armstrong performed at the Apollo with his big band many times. Thanks in part to the recognition he received at these shows, Louis Armstrong went on to star on Broadway, radio, television and in films and cartoons.

Saturday in NYC

Bouchon Bakery in Columbus Circle is where I choose to have lunch when I go for my haircut.

The view is great even on a wet old Saturday.
Experience a neighborhood that has it all. Located at the epicenter of New York City, Columbus Circle is a thriving, unrivaled destination for the best shopping, dining, entertainment, culture and parks.

Columbus Circle is located at the main entrance to Central Park where Broadway, 8th Avenue, Central Park South and Central Park West all intersect.

 

I saw these in a window on 59th street the advertising says...

EXPERIENCE THE HISTORY • THE FASHION • THE HOUSE
Downton Abbey: The Exhibition, based on the beloved television show, transports you to post-Edwardian England, where the characters and the iconic house come to life. You’ll be immersed in the fascinating social history, culture, and some of the most memorable moments from the show’s six-season run.
“You’ll find there’s never a dull moment in this house”-The Dowager Countess, Violet

 However ll I bothered to see was the window display.

Curious

Because of their resistance to oils and other harsh chemicals, disposable nitrile gloves are suited to a variety of tasks. The following are the top ten uses of disposable nitrile gloves:


Medical personnel: These gloves are perfect for the medical industry. Not only are they three times more puncture resistant than rubber, they also offer an impermeable barrier to dangerous viruses and other blood borne pathogens. Disposable nitrile gloves are stronger than latex, and offer protection when handling harsh chemotherapy drugs.

Laboratory technicians: For the same reasons, disposable nitrile gloves are very useful to those working in laboratories and exposed to needles and blood products.

Automotive workers: Resistant to petroleum and solvents, disposable nitrile gloves are also useful in the automotive industry. Whether changing the oil or handling strong de-greasers, these gloves provide protection.

Housekeepers: Hotels or cleaning services use strong chemicals to meet the standards of cleanliness of public places, and repetitive exposure can damage skin and hands. Disposable nitrile gloves can offer a measure of safety and cut down or eliminate rashes and other skin problems.

Tattoo artists: Disposable nitrile gloves are the gloves of choice for many tattoo artists because of their barrier to blood products, and also because of their comfortable fit and flexibility.

Food handlers: In the kitchen, wearing gloves is mandatory in many instances. Impervious to animal fats, disposable nitrile gloves are a great choice because of their durability, comfort, and pliability.

Furniture refinishers: Those working with polyurethanes, stains, or other solvents can find protection with disposable nitrile gloves.

Gardeners: Working with soil, pesticides, and fertilizers can wreak havoc on the hands. Disposable nitrile gloves can stand up to heavy usage while protecting the skin from hazardous materials used in landscaping and gardening.

Product inspectors: Product inspectors can be exposed to a variety of different substances that can pose a danger to the skin of the hands. Disposable nitrile gloves offer protection from a host of materials.

In the home: From picking up trash to washing dishes to cleaning the toilet and everything in between, disposable nitrile gloves provides protection from a host of household chores and are very useful in everyday activities.

Disposable nitrile gloves have a variety of uses. Offering protection from harsh elements, these gloves are latex-free, available in a variety of sizes and colors, and come in a powdered and non-powdered form for ease of use.




I am seeing lots of these on the street as I walk through the city- i query why they are there and what their use has been....my feeling is medical use and emergency services have been in the area.

Peculiar Assembly of Saints International Church

Here is the explantation of this "church" on East Tremont Ave... the ??? are their editorial choices or perhaps interpretation by the font in the website and the operating system.

Peculiar Assembly of Saints International Church also known as the Home of Miracles is a congregation of believers in Jesus Christ from different countries who worship God together in spirit and in truth. We truly love God and one another and the power of the Holy Spirit is in demonstration in our midst.
1? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  We believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired Word of God and is inerrant (without error) in the original writings?
2? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?  We believe that there is only one true and living God existing in three persons ?“ Father, Son and Holy Spirit?
3? ? ? ? ? ? ?  We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, shed His blood on the cross of Calvary in our place, was buried, rose again and ascended to the Father according to the Holy Scriptures.
4? ? ? ? ? ? ?  We believe that Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity, very God, co-existent with the Father and the Son

Snow...

Things

Hip Hop culture in the 1980s created a slew of new trends, one being the "fade" for men. The fade is a hairstyle worn predominantly by black men in which the hair starts off short at the bottom and lengthens as it reaches the top. This style afforded the wearer an opportunity for individuality, as people often cut designs into the back and sides or added different colors to the top

This is the hairstyle of a 4th grader at one of my Bronx schools

Gotta love kindergarteners snowdomes.

Bodega

Bodega is a Spanish word translating to "warehouse" or "cellar," in New York and other cities it's a colloquialism for a type of grocery/convenience store. While the bodegas are no longer exclusively associated with Spanish-speaking owners the name has stuck.

Still, a bodega is different from a deli, which revolves around a sandwich counter, and it's different from a corner grocer.

This one is in the Bronx and I was equally fascinated that it had hookahs for sale.

M.A.D.

The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) explores the value of making across all fields of contemporary creative practice. The Museum focuses on the ways in which artists and designers transform the world around us, through processes ranging from the artisanal to the digital. MAD’s exhibition program is dedicated to creativity and craftsmanship, and demonstrates the limitless potential of materials and techniques when used by gifted and innovative artists. The Museum’s permanent collection is global in scope and includes art, craft, and design from 1950 to the present day. At the center of the Museum's mission is education. The Museum houses classrooms and studios for master classes, seminars, and workshops for students, families, and adults. Three open studios engage visitors in the creative processes of artists at work and enhance the exhibition programs. Lectures, films, performances, and symposia related to the Museum’s collection and subjects across the full spectrum of making practices are held in a renovated 144-seat auditorium.

Sanctuary Exhibition

 Derrick Adams is a New York–based, multidisciplinary artist working in performance, video, sound, textile- and paper-based collage, and multimedia sculpture. His practice is rooted in deconstructivist philosophies such as the fragmentation and manipulation of structure and surface, and the marriage of complex and improbable forms. Through these techniques, Adams examines the force of popular culture and the media on the perception and construction of self-image.

Judith Schaechter (United States, b. 1961)

Seeing is Believing