Shopping Collages

Manhattan browsing can be a treat for the eyes,  like this collage of costume jewelry and scarves for sale at the Theatre District Shopping Court near Times Square. The prices weren’t as excessive as I would have expected, given the popular location.

Like any other travel destination, New York has abundant opportunities to overpay for silly things. I would suggest that, in general, you shop where the locals shop.

My New York: Bridges

New York is a city of five counties divided by water. We rely on our bridges and tunnels to get out of our home boroughs to, well, everywhere else.

The Delta Musings

So I don’t know all the words after all.

I just learned that “delta” means, according to Merriam-Webster, “a piece of land shaped like a triangle that is formed when a river splits into smaller rivers before it flows into the ocean.” I’m picturing a lazy river spilling into the Pacific Ocean, gentle waters turned wild.

Or a playful winter weekend with a dear pal in balmy Florida, then returning to the cold and seriousness of New York City.

Remsen Cemetery: A Reminder Of Our Transience

When Jeromus Remsen went off to fight in the Revolutionary War, could he have imagined his remains would rest in what would become a busy little urban triangle, in sight of Trader Joe’s, Staples, Bob’s Discount Furniture and a car wash ?

I Tried to Bokeh a Bouquet

Bokeh is such a pretty photographic style: one item is clearly visible and everything else is softly out of focus. How hard could it be, I thought, to set my camera’s aperture as wide as possible, with a fast shutter speed?

New York In My Rear View Mirror?

Just as our ancestors followed water and wildlife for sustenance, I am not opposed leaving New York for a new job.

New York City is my birthplace and my home. I live in the neighborhood I dreamed of living in back when I was in college. It is fun and friendly, safe and pretty by New York standards.

The Dense Lights of the New York Skyline

The best way to appreciate the New York City skyline is from across one of the rivers, where you can get the panoramic view reflected off the water.

A brief subway ride under the East River from what we call “The City” takes you to Gantry Plaza State Park, a strip of shoreline facing Manhattan’s East Side. I rarely go to the neighborhood without a visit to this park. The sensible, walkable design and the beauty it presents remind me why I still live here.

A Wish for Spring on a Raw Day

The blizzard that was forecast for New York City turned out to be strong winds, some snow and icy rain.  Whew! I used this stay-inside day to complete a final exam and to block a newly-discovered air leak in the apartment. Strong winds will do that. In one class we had to copyedit a tomato recipe that looked so good that I plan to make it for tonight’s dinner.

A Good Match for New Life

One of the small, fun benefits of taking classes is the implied permission to collect supplies. Promotional pens and pencils, colorful clips, happy highlighters and a pencil sharpener that I forgot I even owned!

In the Shade of a Shadow Tree

A snowy day is the perfect day to browse the archives for a shadowy Photo Challenge picture.

And what better than a tree looming over a normally busy street that was closed to accommodate a nearby summer street fair!

Shoreline Solitude in Atlantic City

Atlantic City ‘s  Art Walk is well worth a visit.

The mile-long path borders marshland in the Marina District, crosstown from the Boardwalk that we usually associate with AC. On one side of the path is beautiful shoreline, which is desolate in the winter. The paved path undulates like the shoreline it follows.

Repurposing and Presenting Bubble Wrap

In honor of Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, here are two bottles of wine gift wrapped with repurposed bubble-wrap.

The Light At The End…

I’ve been trying to write a sweet post about decorating with light for the past week. But the inauguration had me too sad for pretty word pictures.

I wanted to show how I used a combination of tealight candles, battery-operated candles and battery-operated Christmas lights to transform the dark end of my living room. I wrapped bright lights around the top of my decorative lighthouse and I like it so much, it will stay that way all year long. It seemed appropriate to create my own personal beacon.  Light is safety; it prevents bumps and bruises.  Light shows what things really look like; a truly lit object will show its details and flaws. 

Naming In New York

New York City is five counties of unique areas that need names, as well as addresses, to locate. They are worth the hunt.

They are so wholesome that they opened this shop immediately after last year’s blizzard. The hearty lamb meat pie was delicious.

The Rise of the Snowflakes

There is a pattern in social media political discourse: abrasive comments using “snowflake and “safe space” as pejorative terms in an attempt to weaken opponents.

Winter Resilience And Fun

It’s been a mild winter so far here in New York, but we all know the snow is inevitable.

Anticipating Christmas and The End Of Renovations

Christmas is eagerly anticipated worldwide right now. In my corner of the planet, I am also looking forward to the results of renovations on my apartment building.

The modernization started about a year ago and I see beautiful new workmanship every day. Dated pink wallpaper was replaced with serene, sensible beige. Moldings were added with drops a few inches from the ceiling to hide cable wires. The elevators were replaced with taller, safer ones. Marble flooring is being installed, which actually worries me: the inevitable icy winter weather will cause wet, slick floors. And you really don’t want to slip on marble.

New Horizons: Things Are Looking Up

Midlife is a strange and exciting time to be job-eliminated.

I had a lifetime of caring for other people (I am the oldest of five so the responsibilities started early.) I can now sensibly think of shifting gears and earning a living at work that I love. But what?

Cheerful Little Apples

Distracting myself from 24/7 news coverage of the U.S. presidential election with this picture of apples and a pear. I couldn’t resist the tiny ones at the farmer’s market; they were so cute!

The Artful Parking Lot

On a bright day with shiny blue skies, an ordinary office building becomes a grid for the surrounding trees and parking lot.

From the third floor, those cars look like art: