photographs and random miscellaney from my brain
Even as Columbus Avenue gets further overrun by shiny glass-fronted banks and “cute” shops that pretend to have character but really don’t, there are still a few holdouts from the old days. I particularly like the modesty of this coffee shop, what with only assigning itself 3 stars.
In addition to the giant parks throughout the city, there are also a lot of vest pocket parks wedged in between buildings, built on what would otherwise be empty lots or alleyways.
I discovered this one when I decided to take a slight detour from my normal walk around the neighborhood. I think I may have to return to take more pictures, and also to just sit for varying lengths of time, because it’s just so…inviting.
I think my favorite part is that, according to the sign, a few years ago they decided to fancy up the place by giving it a latinate name. Before? it was called “seventy-first street plot”.
Whereas most neighborhoods in new york city have zoning requirements designed (at least in theory) for the comfort and stability of their residents, Times Square’s zoning rules actually require buildings to put a minimum amount of lighted or neon signage on their exterior in order to stay in keeping with the character of the neighborhood. A few of my favorites, most of which are not even commercial enterprises (in order: subway entrance, NYPD station, US Armed Forces recruiting station, and the Paramount Theater//Hard Rock Cafe).
sometimes it’s the little details that make it interesting.
After getting curious as to why this building only a few blocks from me was labeled “telephone building”, I did a little digging online and found (via google books), volume 54 of the book “Architecture and Building” published in 1922, which featured this photo of the New York Telephone Co. building.
Same building, 90 years ago.
I wouldn’t want anyone to think that the Chrysler building is the only one I find camera worthy. A perusal through my architecture category would disabuse you of that opinion quite quickly.
In fact, just yesterday, I was compelled to take pics of two more architectural classics.
First, the flatiron building, but from a different side than what most people are used to seeing (hint – it’s the back):
Second, the building that knocked the Chrysler out of contention for the tallest building in the world (at the time of course):
There will never be a time when I get tired of taking (and posting) pictures of the Chrysler Building. I know it’s cliche, but to me, this is, hands down, the most beautiful piece of architecture in this city, and helps define the city in innumerable ways.
Sometimes, deciding to take a different route home from the river (just one block over from where I normally walk!) can lead to stumbling across something absolutely beautiful wedged in between the high-rises and brownstones.
In November, I went over to London to visit my brother (who is attending the London School of Economics), and my trip was documented by my posting a handful of photos while I was over there. And then the rest of my photos have been sitting on my computer for the last 4 months waiting for me to sit down for an hour and given them a good pass-through. I took hundreds, but here are the 40 or so that I thought were worth posting. Full images and descriptions when you click on the thumbnail.
Sometimes you really have to make sure to look up when you’re wandering around the city. The Chrysler building is my favorite piece of architecture in NYC, and tonight I took a different exit out of GCT and saw this.
