Join Me!

At the Ear Inn....

or McGovern's..

Or we can break into the Long Island Restaurant...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Goodbye P&G

Located on Amsterdam near 75th on the Upper West Side, P&G Cafe is quintessential old New York. But it's going down soon, reports the New York Times, moving a few blocks away with none of its 1940s charm intact.  "The future P&G is three times as large as the old 860-square-foot bar. A rusticated structural wall will be an ornament, instead of the kitschy Austrian castle and forest fantasy mural signed in 1943 by a rye-drinking artist who executed the scene to pay his bar tab. “'I’ll feel out the new place,' said Patrick Duffy, a stagehand who has been a regular for more than a decade. 'But we don’t know if the new place is for us--we’re old school.'” Thanks to Jeremiah's Vanishing New York.

Beautiful bar tab mural...

Barkeep, I'll have a Dewars...straight...

The mural extends well above the barroom floor...

But soon the P&G will be no more....

Coney Island Pt. II

Nathan's Famous

Astroland, slated for demolition

Cyclone

Stillwell Avenue, Coney Island

Visiting Coney Island, Pt. 1

Brooklyn's Coney Island is an amusement park (one of the nation's first) that reached its peak in the early 20th century. Though located on the Atlantic Ocean, it declined in popularity after World War II and endured years of neglect (I prefer to call this “beautiful blight”) though fun seekers still visit year round.  Like so much of New York, Coney is currently under threat, with many rides, architectural gems and memories slated to fall to developer's greed and a general lack of imagination among the populace (who needs "amusement" when you've got iPods and videogames?).  Luckily, landmark status protects several rides.  A walk through Coney on a Saturday afternoon is a study in Russian accents;  immigrant-filled Brighton Beach is right down Stillwell Avenue.  

Serious Thrills...

How "Swee" it is! The Cyclone rollercoaster, completely constructed of wood. 

1940's hotel rooms anyone?

The famous, spooky parachute jump surrounded by fog.   

Drinking Again

To quote the Sinatra song. At the Blarney Cove, East 14th Street...

King of Kings, Lord of Lords

Houston Street Nativity

They waited and waited...
Some brought gifts..
Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Ystad Daily Photo Pooch!

This is not my picture. This is not my dog. I stole this poochie pic from Fredrik Ekblad's excellent blog, Ystad Daily Photo. This happy lil fella belongs to Fredrik's neighbor. I just thought he is so cute, so lovable and full of life, that I had to post him. You could say he is the spirit of 2009, that old man out/new baby in thing. Funny, eh?

At Vandam and Varrick

Christmas Cheer on Houston

Witches Fingers

At Washington Square Park....

Minetta Lane

Snowy City

It snowed briefly last night. A shot from my window, facing south to the financial district in the distance.
Weird fact: See the upper left hand corner window in the building to the right? For years a light has come on in that apartment window, but there is never anyone actually in there....ever...never...  

Soho window shopping #2

dog mannequins...and it gets weirder...

The evil children and the $200 sweater

Trendoids in space

Santa shills for iPod 

Why are these rain boots fashionable? Can someone tell me? And the black plastic milk crate? Wha the -----?

Feeling Cooped Up?

I shot this on 42nd Streetin 1990, the day New York announced it would "revitalize" Times Square. The large background sign dates from the '50s, "Video Peeps" and "Calculators Typewriters" is of the '80s variety. 

William F Miller

Bill Miller, the Editor in Chief of Modern Drummer magazine, passed away December 12, 2008. One of my first real writing gigs in New York came from Modern Drummer, the world's preeminent percussion publication, back in 1990. Along the way Bill gave me more work than I can ever thank him for. Bill was an exceptionally gracious and trusting editor, a great drummer and a true friend. He will be greatly missed. Here's Bill (right) at the 2008 Modern Drummer Festival with renowned Cuban drummer, Dafnis Prieto.

Perhaps this is an odd forum for an obit, but as friends we share in the good times and the bad.

Washington Mews

Near Washington Square Park. 

Soho Silver

More window peeping... 

Celebrating Leaves of Grass

Today, I visited one of my favorite blogs, Leaves of Grass, only to discover that one of my favorite bloggers, Sonia Mascaro of Sao Paolo, Brazil, is taking an extended, indefinite leave from her fabulous site. Oh No! Sonia's gentle spirit, love of life, keen interest in everything around her, and her sweet dog, Flora (!), have become an essential part of my blogging experience.  I will miss her very much. Join me as I revisit some of Sonia's most beloved photos. So here's to Sonia and Flora -- SALUTE! 

Sonia's house.

Sonia's grandmother 

Flora the wonderpooch!

From Sonia: This is a photo of the wedding of my grandparents, from my mother's family, The Marmo family. (Mascaro is the name of my husband's family.)  

Sonia's mom at Carnival. 

Mora Flora.. 

Brasilia..

Flora in flight..

Flora in contemplation..    

Soho Window Shopping

Christmas Op Art. 

Traditional. 

KIDROBOT!

Magic Flume. 

S&M.....do you enjoy window shopping this time of year?