very simple

For some reason (probably because they’re short trains) they only do this on the shuttle between Grand Central and Times Square – they wrap the entire train in an advertisement for something. usually it’s some sort of product like the Microsoft Surface tablet or Tropicana Orange Juice, but today we got an advertisement to entice us to go golfing in scottsdale, arizona. It wasn’t particularly tempting, but if these seats had actually been tufted, rather than just the disappointing image of tufting, I might have been intrigued.

Wandered around the upper west side greenmarket today with my parents. I didn’t buy anything, but I did take a picture of this really odd-looking mushroom so that’s…something.

Yesterday, there was a giant watermain break right in front of the flatiron building. This is the aftermath.

Tomorrow (saturday) is the 100th anniversary of the actual opening of Grand Central Terminal. However, in their infinite wisdom, the powers that control events at the station decided that today (friday) would be a much better day to screw up the commutes of as many people as possible by having all of their events, including store and line-clogging 1913 prices at the restaurants (if only that held true for the apple store) and setting up a roped off stage (and seating that you can’t see here due to the crowd) in the middle of the concourse. during morning and evening rush hour.

(Today is the 100th anniversary of the day that the builders gave the stationmaster the key – but they didn’t actually open the doors until February 2nd).

In any event, it’s still one of my favorite places in the world, so despite the crowds, I still enjoy the fact that every one of my days for the past two years has involved passing through here at least once.

The last post was of an angry sea-god, so I might as well counterbalance with one of my favorite (and most-photographed) spots in the city – Bethesda Fountain, featuring the angel of the waters, a tribute to the naval war dead after the Civil War, and one of the most beautiful, well-placed fountains around (even without water in the wintertime). According to “New York, A Documentary History” (which I have watched in its 14-hour entirety multiple times), there was controversy when she was installed, due to the fact that she looked like a peasant with wings rather than some lofty creature, but the people loved that she was, well, one of them.

A belated 365 post – I admit to totally falling down on the job yesterday, so this is the first of two today. This is neptune. or poseidon. One of many scary sea-god heads defending the Dakota from interlopers (I admit the doormen do a better job on that score!).

It’s not the first snow this winter, but it’s looking like it might be the first one to stick around. And, of course, a quarter-inch of the stuff on the ground completely bollixes up all modes of transportation.

Today I had to spend most of the day at another office, but the place actually afforded a pretty great view of the Helmsley Building, which is where I normally go when I go to work these days.

And back to the grind after a 3-day weekend. Another night waiting for the bus on 6th Avenue. I think this spire is part of the (relatively) new Bank of America Tower.

Just a few more pics from my stroll down houston street today. A little disconcerted by the fact that it was, yet again, in the 50s in January, but I’ll take advantage of it while it lasts.