Little Man Handprint

The Little Man leaves his handprint at the intersection of Union Avenue and Ten Eyck Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Under BQE

Just after 2 PM under the BQE in Williamsburg, Brooklyn...As you know, "BQE" stands for Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

Sidewalk Snow

Okay, CAT, you ratted me out! Over the last couple of weeks, NYC received a few token snowfalls but I was too jaded to take a photo of such a trifle. Well, last night, it snowed another trace amount. With all of the underground urban infrastructure here, snow doesn't stick around so well and this little bit we got overnight mostly melted except for on sidewalks and grassy areas, especially in the shade.

Here's a happy scene on Leonard Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn at around 2 PM EST.

Black Flag

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. You know, with all of the Life "things" going on, work gets in the way, and so it goes.

But, thankfully, Beauty keeps itself in front of my eyes. Here we see a late afternoon scene in midtown Manhattan, very near Rockefeller Center.

42nd Street Shuffle

The wild architecture of 42nd Street may be unrecognizable to those who have not been to NYC since the mid 1990's. Come and enjoy it!

Construction Elevates

Construction elevators on a side street just off 5th Avenue in Manhattan...I tell you, I am in the wrong business. Anywhere you go, you see buildings going up or getting reworked et cetera.

All of the construction work adds a lot of visual elements to the already target rich environment of NYC. I'm thankful for it, though I don't benefit monetarily. Of course, the money in the pockets of the workers helps them and other parts of the economy. So, one could say that construction has elevated our fair city. Keep up the good work, guys and gals!

One Times Square

"The Crossroads of the World", Times Square in Manhattan, where the many colors of lights can make you forget the cold...

Hole Machine

The gloomy scene reminds me of some kind of creepy machinery. In this case, it rips holes in the cloud cover. That might turn into a good thing, I suppose. You be the judge.

Found

A sidewalk composition: Still Life with Debris...

Window Dress

I walked today on Madison Avenue in Manhattan--no, that OTHER Madison Avenue, LOL [insert rolls eyes smiley]...The windows offer plenty to look at and through and back again.

Little Man Hardware

The Little Man takes a stroll down 7th Avenue in Manhattan. Though he doesn't have time to stop in, he appreciates old, small, local hardware stores like this one at 21st Street. He knows that bigger chains may have everything in one store but the "little guys" have all the charm.

Red Light

Late, late afternoon on 23rd Street and 6th Avenue in Manhattan helps you see the red light on top of this signpost better than during the day.

[Hey, I hear that the Little Man is coming for tomorrow.]

Abstract Monday

30 Rock ESB

The Empire State Building as seen from the top of Rockefeller Center--Top of the Rock.

ESB Tip

It doesn't have to be your birthday but you might feel happy to see little glimpses of your favorite NYC icon through various breaks between Manhattan's buildings. This view of the tip of the Empire State Building comes from 23rd Street near 7th Avenue.
You might walk down the block a bit to see ANOTHER view.

7th Avenue Coffee

Rainy cold days are a good time to have coffee indoors. Here we look out from a small but good coffee place on 7th Avenue in Manhattan. Nope not S*******s...

For Manuel

A peek at the Empire State Building during today's dreary late afternoon...
For one helluva guy--Manuel G. Good to have you back in town, sir!!

HBO ESB

On 42nd Street in Manhattan, a tree at Bryant Park seems to reach out and touch the reflection of the Empire State Building on the HBO building.

A Puddle

I don't know what you think but I like reflections on either glass or water. Puddles offer more than a lake or pond, since they often have stuff in them breaking the surface like this one that add to the surreality of the situation. Soon formed and soon gone, we must enjoy them when we can.

Celebrate Martin

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Ajar

When is a door not a door? Yes, when it's ajar (a jar). An old "joke" but it always cracks me up. Back in Alaska, when I was growing up, we didn't have doors like this one. Well, yes, we had them ajar but not so, er, decorated. Keep up the good work, Brooklyn! One person's vandalism can turn into another's blessing...

Broken Window

Sometimes one person's loss is another's gain. A broken window at the entrance to the Grove Street PATH station requires more of everyone's tax dollars to repair but makes for added visual interest to the hungry eyes out looking for compositions.

Little Man

The little man pops through a construction scaffold on Lafayette Street at Broome Street in Manhattan. Like all men, he has to satisfy the curiosity of how the work has progressed.

Stop

Greenpoint, Brooklyn...

St. Pat's Spires

The weather got better for a bit today and colder. Still no snow or anything like that. Here we see the spires of St. Patrick's Cathedral in midtown Manhattan framed by a tree and nearby buildings.

Little Man Luncheonette

The little man walks near the Park Luncheonette (est. 1931) in Greenpoint, Brooklyn under today's overcast sky. Later, he grew saddened to see the luncheonette's WEBSITE and learned of its no longer offering the signature egg cream drink. I guess hipsters prefer the looks of the past over the substance.

Last chance to nominate your favorite blogs for the Seventh Annual Weblog Awards: the 2007 bloggies. Until 10 PM EST today, you can nominate weblogs or "blogs" in several categories. If you wish to select me, may I suggest the Best Photography of a Weblog and Best-Kept Secret categories. Heck, even Weblog of the Year. LOL! There are many categories, so have fun.

Sammy's

Sammy's Restaurant on Bowery near Delancey in Manhattan...

Here's your chance to nominate your favorite blogs for the Seventh Annual Weblog Awards: the 2007 bloggies. Until 10 PM EST Wednesday January 10th, you can nominate weblogs or "blogs" in several categories. If you wish to select me, may I suggest the Best Photography of a Weblog and Best-Kept Secret categories. There are many categories, so have fun.

Tag Meter

Clean wall, tagged parking meter...go figure!

Aviators' Delight

One more from my trip out west for The Holidays. They keep the planes in outstanding condition at the Evergreen Aviation Museum near McMinnville, Oregon. Here a worker dusts a Black Bird while under one wing of the so-called "Spruce Goose".

What a great museum!! A sort of mini Smithsonian, the Evergreen Aviation Museum has actual planes from throughout aviation history hanging from the ceiling or resting on the floor of the huge hangar-like building. When in the area, it would be worth your while to make a visit.

Space Needle

January 2nd began miserably in Seattle. Raining and blowing made it a morning to drink coffee inside. Later that afternoon, however, the rain stopped long enough to get some shots of the famous Space Needle.

Hey, enjoy yourself a double venti, if you will.

Back for 2007

From a block or so north of the Flat Iron building, where both Broadway and Fifth Avenue cross 23rd Street. It's good to be back in NYC. Please stay tuned for 2007!

Guest Post: Bayonne Beam

"Bayonne Beam"
I fell in love with this one immediately. It was like a beacon of hope. For the longest time, I had it for a screen saver...but replaced it with another one of yours. But I will have to say of all your pictures of the lovely city of New York and surrounding areas, this is my favorite. It just somehow called to me...and I said "yes?"

Yellowdog Granny

[photo originally posted September 04, 2006]

Guest Post: Favorites

What I love about New York Nitty-Gritty is how, over and over again, Otilius captures the day to day absurdity found in New York City. A man poking his head into a huge vent? (Looking for God knows what?) You'll see all this and more, just by walking down the street on any given day.



A wrapped up Santa Claus? (Why not just bring him inside?)



A giant billboard of Moshiach? (Who is Moshiach? Why does he rate such space?)

There is also a great deal of beauty and unexpected color to be found just outside of NYC. I have always loved this "flood" photo from Pennsylvania, just because I think it's so beautiful.



Thank you, Otilius, for a year of great photos. I can't wait to see what 2007 will bring.

Lucia

Greenpoint Water Tower

This photo from Greenpoint, Brooklyn stands out in my mind when I think of New York Nitty-Gritty in 2006. I remember having to wait for the cloud to come into place behind the tower. It took a couple of minutes.

Sometimes, I love those moments of anticipation for the composition to materialize. This time I did for sure.
[originally posted February 8, 2006]

Happy New Year!

Guest Post: Nature's Way

Across the globe, there are some things that are common irrespective of the country, religion or community a person belongs to. One of many such things is the practice of using the title of "Mother" for nature. It is often said that a son can be a bad son, but a mother can never be a bad mother.

This photograph represents the fact that Mother Nature will never give up on us, her children. Though we have tried to hurt our chances on this planet by replacing the actual green forests with jungles of steel and concrete, the little plant growing out of the sidewalk tells us that we still have hope and not all is lost.

NeoBluePanter

[photo originally posted December 13, 2006]

Happy New Year!!!