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Post by nycgirl on Aug 10, 2011 18:26:03 GMT
I went through a bunch of photos my husband and I took while out and about in the city and decided to post a few. This is the Flatiron, an iconic NYC skyscraper. It attracted a lot of attention when it was completed in 1902, and not just because it was one of the tallest buildings in the city. Its position created powerful drafts, so a lot of men would hang around it to watch the wind blow up women's skirts. The sculpture seen here is from a 2010 public art exhibition. Anthony Gormley placed 31 forms (iron and fiberglass casts of himself) in and around Madison Square Park. Many of them were perched on building ledges. From far away, they looked a little ominous. A friend took this photo of my husband and me in DUMBO (acronym for Down Under Manhattan Bridge Overpass). This is a really iconic view of the Manhattan Bridge. Funny coincidence, earlier that day we had been discussing Spike Lee films, especially those set in New York such as Do the Right Thing. Later that same day, while we were strolling down this street, a car drove by with Spike Lee in the passenger's seat. No joke! Here is the same shot at night. I like the fact that you can see the Empire State Building peeking in between the bridge's legs. Here is Brooklyn Bridge Park, with great views of the Manhattan skyline, Brooklyn Bridge, and Manhattan Bridge. Manhattan at night. See the tall rectangular skyscraper? That's a new building called New York by Gehry. (Beautiful building, stupid name.) It's 76 stories, the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere. I gotta try to photograph it one of these days, the rippling waves of stainless steel play with light so well. (Update: the tallest residential is now 432 Park Ave.) This photo is my humble attempt to capture the Brooklyn Bridge, but it doesn't do it justice. This Neo-Gothic marvel was for 20 years the longest suspension bridge in the world. It spans nearly 1,600 ft (486 m). When it was first completed in 1863, there were fears from the public that it could collapse, but P.T. Barnum assuaged those fears (and shrewdly promoted his circus act in the process) by leading a parade of 21 elephants across its span. The view of traffic from the pedestrian path. The Empire State Building and Manhattan Bridge. More later!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 10, 2011 19:19:00 GMT
I love those photos, nycgirl. Of course it is unlikely that I will ever go to New York, because I saw The Day after Tomorrow, Godzilla and Cloverfield, and I know that bad things happen there. I was relieved to see from your photos that the damage seems to have been repaired. Oh, I just remembered that I might have been there once, because I have a receipt for a lot of clothes from Century 21.
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Post by frenchmystiquetour on Aug 10, 2011 20:52:53 GMT
NYC is so photogenic. I love these photos nycgirl.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 10, 2011 22:38:41 GMT
Absolutely delighted by these pics, NYCGirl! New York is a city that can't be photographed enough, in my humble, architecture-loving opinion. Your photos sum that up beautifully, capturing both the familiar images and your personal take on them. I love your sense of composition throughout, with the second photo being a particular favorite. Thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2011 0:21:16 GMT
Wonderful ,wonderful photos NYC girl!! I can't tell you how bittersweet and nostalgic you have just made me feel for my native stomping grounds. I would normally be making my annual trek (for the last 30 plus years) up there in just a couple of weeks,and,won't be doing it this year. I have lived in 2 primary neighborhoods in NYC. The West Village and Soho before it's huge gentrification of the late 1980-1990's when it was affordable. And the Upper East 90's right off of 2nd Avenue,also, when it was more affordable. When I go to visit,I have a studio apartment available to me on E 92nd,right where they're putting in the "new"subway line. My friend has a still quite good deal on the place as he has been in there since the early 1970's. I hope to get up there before it gets too cold again. September is my favorite month to be there. Thank you for these. (I think... )
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 11, 2011 1:26:11 GMT
Thanks, Casimira! Wow, you're lucky, you've lived in some great neighborhoods. I've lived in Brooklyn Heights and East Harlem. I'm on 78th and 1st now, but although my place is relatively affordable, I really need to hunt for something cheaper. That 2nd ave line will be great for me, if it ever finishes in my lifetime. Sorry to hear you can't make your annual trip. September is a fantastic month here. Btw, it looks like the 9/11 memorial will be finished in time for the 10 year anniversary of the attacks. I've seen photos and it's gonna be really beautiful. It will be such a wrenching and painful place to visit, though. It might be awhile before I can bring myself to pay my respects.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 11, 2011 20:17:20 GMT
Oh,I know your neighborhood somewhat. It's right below Yorkville,no? You must know Patsy's Pizzeria between 117 and 118th streets no???!!!! Are there any remnants that you are aware of ,of what was at one time called Spanish Harlem,in the upper E 90's? I used to haunt a few music clubs in the 1970's that had wonderful,wonderful music. Classic Salsa. Everyone told me I was crazy for going into that neighborhood,it was considered unsafe. I felt safer there than I ever have here in New Orleans. I used to traipse (my mother's word,not mine... ) the streets there at all hours. I did feel safe. I have not been in NYC on any of the 9/11 events,I have kind of made a point of going out to Bridgehampton on that date when I am up there and avoiding the anniversary. I have visited Ground Zero once. It was enough for me.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 12, 2011 2:24:39 GMT
Yes, I love Patsy's! I lived just a couple of doors down from it!
I don't really know about the Salsa dancing scene, but it seems to me the upper '90s has assimilated into the typical UES a little. A lot of the city has lost its character, I'm told. I've only been living here 10 years. Sounds like you had a lot of good times here.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 12, 2011 3:08:02 GMT
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 12, 2011 3:11:23 GMT
Of course it is unlikely that I will ever go to New York, because I saw The Day after Tomorrow, Godzilla and Cloverfield, and I know that bad things happen there. I was relieved to see from your photos that the damage seems to have been repaired. Ha, not to mention Independence Day and King Kong. How come aliens and large animals are only interested in trashing New York? What's wrong with Paris?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 13, 2011 14:17:58 GMT
Yes, I love Patsy's! I lived just a couple of doors down from it! I don't really know about the Salsa dancing scene, but it seems to me the upper '90s has assimilated into the typical UES a little. A lot of the city has lost its character, I'm told. I've only been living here 10 years. Sounds like you had a lot of good times here. Don't let Imec see this about Patsy's Pizza!! He'll be frothing at the mouth. We could really use some pics of real NYC pizza in the Pizza Thread down in the Galley section.,set some of these people straight!!! Yes, unfortunately,NYC has lost so many of it's old neighborhoods,all the 5 boroughs have. Manhattan in particular,and most certainly Brooklyn have become so gentrified and some places barely recognizable. A Starbuck's on almost every corner. Certainly not the gritty NYC I recall. Still and all,one of the most fabulous cities in the world,to be sure. I can certainly see why you're so smitten with living there and your pics are fabulous.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 14, 2011 20:32:44 GMT
More super pictures! How lovely to have that gantry preserved and incorporated into such a pleasant people space. I am completely in love with the night shot through the gantry, but all the pictures are knockouts.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Aug 16, 2011 16:53:34 GMT
Absolutely beautiful images ! makes me want to visit the place even more...I love the pic of you and your OH, very sweet. ;D and the night time pics are very atmospheric.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 16, 2011 17:33:32 GMT
Thanks, everyone! This is the view from the building where I work. The photo came out pretty good, considering I just used my iphone. Incidentally, that little green bell tower is the Church of St. Joseph, where Pope Benedict XVI chose to visit a few years ago due to its German heritage. The hoopla sure made it an odd day at work for me, with protesters shouting crazy things on the streets and sharpshooters roaming the rooftops. Ok, that's a lot of big buildings. I hope to get around to showing parks and neighborhoods soon.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2011 17:49:18 GMT
Oh, you even have an outdoor balcony?
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Post by sojoh on Aug 18, 2011 20:07:46 GMT
Thanks for sharing "your" city with us, nycgirl! I've started taking the Tappan Zee Bridge route during my road trips from the DC area to Boston to avoid NYC, but I may have to change my route again so that I can enjoy the sights of the city. I always love looking at the NYC skyline as the sun goes down. outandaboutinparis.blogspot.com/
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 18, 2011 21:53:49 GMT
I hope to get around to showing parks and neighborhoods soon. Parks and neighborhoods (& more big buildings ?) -- oh my! Bring it on, NYCGirl! These personal views of major cities are always so fascinating as each person's pictures and angles are always fresh and different, not to mention the lesser- or unknown nooks and features presented. I totally loved Casimira's presentation of the Brooklyn Bridge, and then was blown away by your glorious nighttime views of it -- two radically different depictions of the same thing, both completely wonderful.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 19, 2011 5:20:37 GMT
Thanks, everyone!
Kerouac, I work in a residential building, that's the view from my boss' high-rise. I wish it were my view!
I checked out Casimira's thread. Awesome photos! She perfectly captured the beautifully webbed cables, as well as the bustling atmosphere of the crowds.
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Post by nycgirl on Sept 14, 2011 16:51:33 GMT
Here are a few photos of Central Park, which I'll be adding to over time. With its fountains, lawns, lakes, and woodland rambles, it's hard to even scratch the surface of what the park has to offer. At 843 acres in size, it can easily fit the entire Principality of Monaco within its borders. Here you can see the prime real estate of the Upper West Side looming over the park edges. Rowboating on the lake is one of the most enjoyable things to do on lovely day. There are musicians, dancers, and other street performers scattered here and there. On this particular day, a couple of "bubble guys" entertained the kids for tips.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2011 17:23:09 GMT
Great! As just an occasional visitor, I have never been able to fully explore all of Central Park. Although, I must say that it is so vast that one used to feel uncomfortable in the completely isolated areas, either because of what was going on in the bushes or what might jump out at you from the bushes. I hope that it is not the case anymore.
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Post by nycgirl on Feb 19, 2012 16:51:02 GMT
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Post by lola on Feb 19, 2012 19:04:22 GMT
Ooh, nice, nycg. Thank you for those.
About Central Pk, Kerouac. There was an article in NYT in December discussing how much safer people felt using the park at all hours. They interviewed Upper East Side women who run at midnight, etc.
My daughter and I cut through from the Lincoln Center area diagonally to 72nd and 5th Ave. one Saturday last month after dark, quite unharrassed.
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 19, 2012 20:05:09 GMT
So beautiful and dreamlike, NYCGirl -- loved looking at those.
I was in NYC in February of 1989, shortly after all those reports of the wilding hit the news. I was walking from the hotel in Times Square to the Metropolitan Museum, goggling at everything on 5th Avenue, & sort of wandered into the park. Is there, or did there use to be a seal pond in the park? It was there that I approached a man with a kind face to ask directions. (yes, I can get lost going in a straight line)
He said he was going that way & would walk with me. He had a southern accent & was a musician, so I felt fine with him. As we walked along talking, it turned out we had a friend in common in New Orleans. I was absolutely tickled. It wasn't exactly the myth of standing on Broadway & eventually someone you know passing by, but close enough for me.
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Post by nycgirl on Feb 20, 2012 1:20:51 GMT
That's crazy, Bixa, what are the odds?!
Yes, there's a seal pond in the Central Park Zoo and you can get a pretty good view of it without having to enter. I've strolled by and enjoyed a free view of the seals a few times.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2012 2:42:10 GMT
Oh, I love visiting this thread. So many lovely photographs. Yes,fog is rare in NYC,and you captured it so beautifully NYCG!! Thank you!
(As an aside,and, I may have mentioned it before somewhere,but,I felt safer living in NYC than I have anywhere else. I was a single woman when I lived there in the 1970's,I used to walk all over,took the subway alone all hours of day and night. Always felt safe,and continue to feel that way whenever I visit.) .
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Post by nycgirl on Feb 20, 2012 15:29:58 GMT
Thanks, Casimira! The fog was a short-lived treat, it dissipated an hour later.
I always feel safe walking around in the city. I don't know if I would have felt the same if I was here in the 70s, though!
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Post by nycgirl on Sept 17, 2012 14:22:08 GMT
We've seen lots of photos of the Brooklyn Bridge, so I thought I'd post a few of her younger, less famous sister, the Williamsburg Bridge. Like the Brooklyn Bridge before it, the Williamsburg Bridge set the record for the longest suspension bridge in the world and held it for twenty years. And though not as iconic as the Brooklyn Bridge, it still gets its fair share of appearances in pop culture. It was recently the site of a daring rescue scene in The Amazing Spider-Man. There are lanes for pedestrians and bicyclists, and underneath, car lanes and railway tracks. Unlike the Brooklyn Bridge, which is kept in tip-top shape, the Williamsburg Bridge has a good amount of graffiti. Some of the taggers, while not necessarily witty, are quite daring. I have no idea how the person who did this managed to get past the fence and dangle above traffic to reach the camera. There weren't any tourists out and about on this particular afternoon, as far as I could tell. Only a couple of Hasidic Jewish families pushing strollers and some exercise bunnies. One reason, perhaps, that the bridge may not have much tourist appeal is because the view of the Manhattan skyline is somewhat obscured by fencing. But it's an enjoyable stroll on a sunny afternoon.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2012 14:33:25 GMT
Nice. It was one of Casimira's reports that made me realize that although I have been to New York at least 20 times, I have not yet ever crossed one of the bridges on foot.
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Post by nycgirl on Aug 9, 2015 6:09:59 GMT
This summer I saw Swan Lake at the Metropolitan Opera, something I've wanted to do for years. I had intended to take a bunch of pictures of the lovely Lincoln Center Plaza before the performance, but a rainstorm changed those plans. All I could do was quickly snap this photo and run inside. There is a fine restaurant by the windows overlooking the plaza and bars located throughout the place. I could hardly take a photo without people in the way, but I certainly understand that people are going to wander in my shot while they're sipping cocktails and admiring the lobby, bathed in the light of starburst chandeliers. The luxurious auditorium, with its gold leaf ceiling, twinkling chandeliers (raised right before the show starts), and plush red velvet seats, was the perfect setting for the ballet. The performance was absolutely wonderful. It was still raining when I left, but I took one more photo of the plaza's beloved fountain, where people milled around even during the nasty weather.
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Post by htmb on Aug 9, 2015 12:05:12 GMT
Beautiful, Nycgirl! I love the last photo especially. Lucky you to have seen Swan Lake.
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