...AND SOME MORE SNOW...

Usually full of traffic, Park Avenue is a Winter-land today

We got snowed in! No fun if you have to go to the office today. Much better situation for those who could work from home or just took a day off.  Central Park is full of kids, and there are snowmen of all possible shapes and styles everywhere. 

And it seems that everybody had a sled ready!

LET IT SNOW...

I know, I know – many of you in Europe got to witness a rather damaging and disruptive side of it lately. But for New York it is the first real snow of the season.

It has started in the early afternoon today. That's when I took this picture in Central Park, right behind the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The “Beatles” group with umbrellas are obviously tourists. I hope they went promptly to change - they would be in a bad shape promenading in Central Park in heels under this snowfall.

 For those of us who have either children or dogs (or both) the first snow is a special sort of joy. You all know what I am talking about.

 I want to use this very appropriate picture and sort of appropriate day (ok, a bit late) to wish you all a very happy Christmas. I had a really wonderful celebration, so I have a good excuse for posting my holiday wishes late. But the wishes are still the same – for you and your loved ones to live in peace, in love, in joy and in a constant discovery of many wonderful sides of each other. Happy Christmas!

SANTA , DEFINE NAUGHTY…

They see you when you are sleeping; they know when you are awake…

I bet you had no idea there is a Santa Claus Convention… But there is one, and very appropriately it is happening in New York. Voilà!

Do you have more than one Christmas wish? Not a problem (and welcome to the club!). Many Santas are willing to help.

OK, I am a horrible blogger. I travel way too much to keep my finger on the pulse of only one (even if the most exciting one) city. But I love New York with all my heart, and whenever I am lucky to get back home, I am thrilled to share the energy of this city with those who love it from afar. I will do my best to be more consistent (it looks like I've just decided on my New Year resolution!!) :)

Wonderful to be back – to NY and its people, to my camera and the blog, and to those who are still checking in – THANK YOU!

MAX ROACH IN THE MAKING

This kid was so much into the whole thing - the play, the show, the attention... So fun to watch!

September/October are full of business travels. It makes me appreciate even more every time I get to spend several days at my "base" - my Manhattan island.

Have a great week everybody!

Washington Square Park

WORLD PEACE DAY

LOVE IS THE ANSWER

I took this picture yesterday on my way to a meeting. It is from the West 4th Street in the West Village. This morning I realized that today is the World Peace Day. Very appropriately, and with a great timing, this picture says it all. Love is the answer.

Wishing you a day… week… month … make it LIFE! - full of love:)

BOYS OF SUMMER

Sun is back:)

Wishing you a great week, everybody!

EAST VILLAGE

BLOOMBERG'S HEADQUARTERS.

Taking a day off after a super-charged week, I found myself in the midtown.

 Despite its central location, I don’t get to pass this building often. This is Bloomberg’s Headquarters.

 Michael Bloomberg is the mayor of New York. He is also a talented and successful businessman. And I happen to like him a great deal. Whether you are his fan or not, you would be for sure impressed with this building. Here and here are the links to some information about it.

The building has a clean, modern, light, even elegant vibe. The openness of it apparently creates a positive and collaborative feel among the employees. Can’t say anything about that, but it definitely an interesting architectural sight. In any case if you have to spend the whole day in the office, this looks quite inspiring!

IN THE EYE OF A STORM.

This is a crazy busy week. I am sure many of you feel the same once (twice?) in a while: stretching to the max in all the possible directions.

This morning I just HAD to get some peace. Ah, thankfully I live in just the right place. I took my favorite partner in crime (my dog of course) for the longest walk in the Park.

Can I just tell you? It was the best possible thing I could do for myself (and my dog of course)!
Central Park was so quiet, serene and so breathtakingly beautiful!

And then the day went absolutely insane. We even had a deadly storm (hurricane?) in Manhattan! Yep. The only reason I was able to maintain myself on a sane side is because I took time to breath this morning.

The moral of this story: get a dog, of course!

MINI ME

After seeing this, I am so tempted to spend a day in the World Financial Center building, taking pictures of whoever sits down with this huge photograph on the background. The results that I have seen were quite comical!

WHITE GHOST

The gloomy colors of rainy weather made this sculpture to stand out even more.

This is White Ghost by Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara. The Ghost has found its temporarily home on Park Avenue and 67^th street. There is another one on Park and 70^th.  

The locations are not accidental – there is Yoshitomo Nara’s retrospective at the Asia Society  (Park and 70^th) and the open studio residency of the artist at the Park Avenue Armory at the 67^th street. While in New York, you can also see his work in the MOMA museum.

END OF RUNWAY

The New York Fashion Week continues. And I have decided to give it another post.

We are so used to seeing pictures of models walking the runway at the fashion shows. But here is the look at how those pictures are taken.

ENGINE COMPANY 22. LADDER COMPANY 13.

It’s been nine years. It is so incredibly sad and it still hurts. What do I even write today? I feel like I should say all or nothing. So I leave you with a vision that tells more than any words would.

Every district in Manhattan has its own fire department. The closest to where I live is 10th Battalion (Engine 22. Ladder13). I have a special place in my heart for the brave people who work there.

On September 11th of 2001 they lost 9 firemen. They, and those who lost their lives to save others, deserve to be known, appreciated and never forgotten.

There was a time when the world asked ordinary men to do extraordinary things

SPRING STARTS HERE

According to Mayor Bloomberg, fashion industry is the second-largest in New York. It supports 175,000 jobs and $10 billion in wages. Apparently, New York has twice as many companies related to fashion than any other city in the world.

September 9th is the first official day of fashion week in New York. This is when we find out what the world will be trying to wear in the spring. It is THE craziest time for thousands of people involved – from designers, to production, to media people, to retailers, to models – and of course, for those aspiring to be any of the above. I saw so many model-looking girls on the streets this afternoon that finally I gave up and got out my camera.

Whether these two girls are walking runway this week or just playing wishful thinking, doesn’t really matter. They contribute to a special mood in Manhattan, a very particular to the Fashion Week. It is the mood of celebration, of anticipation, of looking into the future and of appreciation for all the hard work that goes into every little detail of this frivolous on the outside business.

THIS WEEK

From the 41st street and 7th Avenue

This is a loaded week when it comes to important dates and events. Manhattan is busy acknowledging them.

It is a week of the Rosh Hashanah and of the ending of Ramadan. It is the 9th anniversary of the September 11th . And it is the beginning of New York Fashion Week – which to some might seem to be a frivolous thing, but if you consider its role in the economy and the boost it gives to the fashion industry, this is something that deserves a great respect and support. Whatever can give people work, income, and zest for life – yes, please!

So in order to honor the joyful side of this week, today’s picture is of a festive side of Manhattan. It is what you want to see when you come for your first visit – Time Square!!!

Yes, it is just like you imagine it to be – lights, people, action, sounds, pictures, colors, police … and did I mention LIGHTS?!?!?

This picture and the one below is taken from the 41 Street and Seventh Avenue 

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This picture is taken from the 42nd Street and Broadway

HERE WE MEET AGAIN…

It is a small place, New York.

So often, while trying to organize some time together and fit into each other’s schedule with close friends, we are bumping into each other randomly on the street.

The same is with this old-fashioned yellow taxi-cab – I saw it for the first time on Mott Street in Nolita a while ago. After that I always look for it! And today I came face to face with this cab again – on the Upper East Side this time! I was planning to post on my blog something about upcoming fashion week here in New York, but the cab won. As you can see from the pictures, I am not the only one taking out my camera for a close up. I think next time I see this old cab, I will interview the driver. He should be a character. It must be fun to be a part of the glimpse into the past!

It has been a hot day in New York, but the evening is breezy. You should plan a visit! It is really the most beautiful time of the year to be in Manhattan!

Keeping up with "younger generation";)

LA RENTREE.

Washington Square Park Fountain
Greenwich Village

The summer is over. As adventurous and full of surprises and discoveries as it was, it feels so good to be back to New York and to the routines of “back to work” life. I embrace the beginning of my favorite season – the autumn. Ah! Diving right into the daily grind feels so much better when the air is finally cooling down, and even the summer-hot days turn into breezy evenings. Seasons are suddenly appreciated that much more.

To whoever is reading this – I hope your summer was as joyful as mine. I hope you are finding pleasure in getting back to your life and to the city where your home is, the one that was patiently waiting for your return. In my case it is the best city of all – hello, New York, I have missed you!

Last splashes of summer.

PS. No, the kids are not mine:).  

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE NY MEMORY?

Most of the street vendors sell the same pictures, same paintings, same fun and funny mementos of the city they represent. Once in a while you would stumble across something unique. SoHo in my opinion has the most diversity in the choice of the artistic expressions. However, just because I live nearby, this is the vendors outside of the Metropolitan Museum of Art that I am the most familiar with. Today, passing by the familiar row of vendors, I saw somebody new. The thing is it was impossible to pass him without stopping. His choice of art that is meant to keep your memories alive about New York, is to paint it on a t-shirt. On the spot he creates what is the most dear to you. You got smitten by the Brooklyn Bridge, fell under the spell of Central Park, got mesmerized by the Guggenheim, or just had a stroll with your love in the Village? You have a chance to take it with you – on your t-shirt.

His name is Soheil Tavakoli. And please do follow the link – you will be amazed by his story. He is an architect and an artist-painter from Tehran, Iran. He’s been living in US for the past several years, not too long in New York. Whenever he has time for this, he enjoys making his drawings on T-shirts on the spot. It is an artistic expression, and an immediate appreciation. And he is really good! The drawings he makes for the t-shirts capture the mood and the pace of the city, giving a snapshot of little details so particular to New York. The one that you see on the picture is made for a lovely young woman from Canada. She was patiently waiting for it to be done – it takes Soheil about 40 minutes to finish one t-shirt. And I have to say – this is very much the Guggenheim I know! And I see it all the time. There were other drawings – including of women with dogs on a NY street (I know, very close to my heart subject; only the dogs were really little, and mine of course is huge).

 Well, I am always curious about the art of the street vendors, but this is the first time I am tempted. I know a number of people who would be happy to get a small present – a t-shirt with their favorite part of our beloved city;). Hm… The possibilities are endless!

PEEK-A-BOO

It’s been very hot in New York lately, and especially today! By nighttime it felt like everything went into the slow motion. And moon, almost full, added to the leisurely pace. It was so beautiful, peeking out from behind the lavender clouds!

AND THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER...

At first I thought I got lucky – to spot this old-fashioned taxicab is indeed a bit of a miracle. But then I realized there was a reason this rare cab was parked on Mott Street, right outside the church. There was a wedding! I am not sure if the cab was to be the newlyweds’ transportation for the day, but it would make sense – a quintessential New York moment!

Beautiful bride, lovely day, amazing city, the whole life to look forward to… Ah…


Imagine the possibilities!:)

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

It’s Father’s Day today! To every man who happens to be somebody’s dad – happy Father’s Day!

Yes, true, there is a big commercial part in this sort of “days”, but it doesn’t take away from the real meaning.

 The subjects of my post today are a father and his two sons doing a weekend shopping. The boys were full of energy and couldn’t stop prancing around carrying their part of grocery bags. Three of them have created a procession, stretching along the street. This shopping trip was obviously a fun thing rather than a boring domestic chore for them. And this, I think, is the art of being a great father – turning a routine into a festive event. At least that’s what my Dad was known for, and immensely loved as a father. He just knew what the joy of life was about. And that without losing a bit in being “all that” – successful, responsible, strong – as society demands.

 I happen to know a number of wonderful dads. For their children they are not only loving, caring and incredibly supportive, but also are fun, silly, playful and great examples of taking life as an adventure. To them and especially to the one who is my kid’s dad - you are the best, darling:) – happy Father’s Day!!!

LEGS.

I mentioned before that unless you drive a motorcycle, the fastest way to cross Manhattan is subway.

Today I was running really late and had to get to the downtown from the Upper East Side really fast. The wise choice for me was the subway. And so the picture for today’s post is from there.

The dress code for the hot days (it was+30C!) is non-existent in NYC. It is up to your heat tolerance and your social limitations. But I have to say – you will definitely see much more daring approach to fashion on a hot day in NY than let’s say on a hot day in Paris or London … well, maybe not in Rome or Barcelona. But definitely compared to the one in Genève!

Taking a subway ride you should expect parade of bare legs, shoulders and an incredibly confident attitude that puts everything into the right places. And here I will just quote Meg Ryan from “You’ve got mail”:

“Don’t you just LOVE New York?”

36 GRAMERCY PARK EAST

This area gets its name from the Gramercy Park - the only private park remaining in Manhattan, which dates back to 1831, and is accessible only to the residents of the 39 buildings surrounding this park. The area is peaceful and slow-paced, and would have a bit old-fashioned charm if it wasn’t for the fact that it is also one of the trendiest and most prized places in Manhattan.

The building number 36 is a stand-out even among the prestigious real estate of Gramercy. It is well-known both for its beauty and history. Interestingly, it was a rental building and just recently got converted into condominium.

NAUGHTY AND NICE.

This dog must have a comfortable place next to the window – I stopped by a café across the street and, for about an hour, whenever I looked up he was there, watching life pass by. This is a bull terrier – a breed with a controversial reputation. Many people find them scary. This one looked quite sweet – with expressive face and ears!:) So I found the name of the store right underneath “his” window to be very appropriate: “Naughty and Nice”.

Can you spot the doggy on a street picture? This is in the West Village by the way. 

BIG BAMBU.

When I went to the Metropolitan Museum couple of days ago (see the previous post), I took several pictures of the new exhibition on the roof – Big Bambú by Doug and Mike Starn.

For those not familiar with this, the Met’s Roof serves very often as an extension of the museum, providing space for some very interesting shows. This one is really unusual. Instead of sculptures there is a … forest! Densely “growing” bamboo makes you find your way in this hand-made jungle. The cool part is that this whole structure is actually “growing”! It is constantly in the process of development. Every Monday, when museum is closed, the “bamboo” team works on the expansion of the structure. The exhibition has opened at the end of April, and by the time of its closing on October 31st it is going to be a completely different vision.

If you are in NY during this time, don’t miss the Bambú! You can actually climb on top of the structure (see the picture with “stairs”?), but not by yourself. It is a guided tour for which you should reserve a space. No, I didn’t go up yet.

 Let me know if you need more information about the tours and the Big Bambú, and I will be happy to send you all the links.

ANOTHER KIND OF SKYLINE.

A view from the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art - one of the most romantic spots in Manhattan. Come up, have a drink, and enjoy the Central Park skyline, along with the most magnificent sunset (if you come on Friday or Saturday when Met has late hours).