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Empty Park Avenue???
It is Memorial Day today.
And this is Park Avenue, usually bustling with hectic traffic typical for Manhattan. Not today though. The feel actually is surreal. I was choosing between this and an identical picture without the dog. Without, it could look like I just caught a rare moment of emptiness. But no, this is a general mood on the Upper East Side this morning. Everybody left. Well, speaking relatively of course.
The Memorial Day marks the start of summer. This is a “long” weekend (3 days) around which many choose to add days off, turning it into a mini-vacation. This is the weekend when the beaches are officially declared open and many families make their first long trip to summer houses, emptying the streets of residential parts of Manhattan. The summer mood installs itself all over, and this is a welcomed change. I personally love New York during summer.
If you click on the picture, you will see on the background the MetLife Building which is located 40-something blocks away – it towers over the Grand Central on 42nd street.
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service and dates back to 1868. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. Soon it was picked up by all states. Since 1971 Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May. And since 2000 on this day at 3 in the afternoon all Americans are asked “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence”.
It doesn’t matter if your journey takes you away to some beautiful places. Coming back home and seeing THIS – priceless. That’s what makes New York so special – returning from a long trip I would not choose any other spot on the planet to be landing to in order to get home. It is hot, it is smelly, it is loud and often dirty, yet it is so … alive!
A trip to a lovely place, a meal of fresh (????) oysters, and then being horribly sick from them forever – ah là là là! That’s why I will not tell where I went;). To knock somebody out for almost three weeks… that was one angry oyster I’d say!
So good to be back.
This little boy was on the way from a toy shop with his dad. The subway car was somewhat crowded and all the eyes were on him. The basketball and soccer ball (European football) were not the only choices: his father also had a baseball, still in its original package. The little kid was absolutely overwhelmed with so many temptations!
The good thing is that all three games are not only popular to watch, but also to be involved in. Starting from a very young age boys and girls get into some sport, and these three – soccer, basketball and baseball – are among the most popular choices. So for this kid the road is open! In a couple of years he will make a choice what ball he wants to play with the most.
Yep, that’s the name of this white cute fluff - Lola.
This couple (and Lola of course!) represents a typical weekend mood on a warm sunny morning in Manhattan. Yes, during the week the dress code is restricted (although not as it is in some other countries) and the pace is … well, fast. The weekends though are relaxed, both in the appearance and in the choice of activities.
Weekend brunch (a late breakfast flowing slowly into lunch) at a table outside on a sidewalk is very often the best time to catch up with friends and family. I definitely prefer sitting outside: yes, my giant dog issue:). My favorite neighborhoods for this are West Village and Nolita. These areas are completely different from what we all are used to whenever we imagine Manhattan – no skyscrapers, no wide avenues. On the contrary, buildings are low, the ambiance is more “neighborhoody”, the cafés are plenty, and the little boutiques tend to have a name on them rather than the title of some behemoth fashion chain. Love it! Would I prefer to live there? No! My aforementioned giant dog needs her “backyard” – Central Park. We are happy though that we have downtown for such needed doze of calming bliss.
“Making the decision to have a child - It's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”- Elizabeth Stone
This Sunday, May 9th, is Mother’s Day in many countries of the world.
Happy Mother’s Day! - to you, to your mum, and to a special mum you know.
This picture is from Café Gitane in the West Village on Jane street.
The home to some grand American financial institutions like American Express and Merrill Lynch. The offices of the Wall Street Journal are also there.
Time Square Subway station.
The name of the K-9 dog is Maddux. Born in 2007, he has been “in service” for more than a year now, working side by side with his human partner Stephen. Their team – a dog and a man - is specializing in patrol, tracking, evidence recovery and criminal apprehension.
Stephen and Maddux have been assigned to this area long before the last week’s events. They are monitoring the Time Square along with other Dog Patrol teams. Whenever I pass by, somebody is always there.
When I was passing the Metropolitan Museum of Art on my way to work this morning, I saw this scene: a crew of cleaners was hard at work, washing the steps of the Met and the surrounding area. It felt very much like bringing back in order your own place after some eventful party.
Last night there was a big celebration in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Costume Institute Gala, an equivalent of the Oscar for the fashion world, is an annual event, and attracts all sorts of famous personalities, not only those who are in fashion. You can read about the festivities in many newspapers. A lot of them are placing the pictures from the event on their front pages.
North Park in Battery Park City, next to the Hudson River.
Minutes from where the towers of World Trade Center once stood.
The mornings on beautiful days like this are in particular special here, in Manhattan. Early, before it gets busy, the doormen are coming out to wash the sidewalks. The sunny streets are sparkling clean, and there is a very distinct smell of the wet asphalt, the smell of the city. Manhattan is waking up to another amazing day. I wish I could bottle this happy feel!
On the picture is Gabriel – a lovely doorman who has been working in the same building for more than 30 years. He is a sweet , caring and dignified man. He too, loves this kind of mornings – he treats his part of beautifying his city with pride, and enjoys the “washing” routine, which he worked out to perfection. It is always fun to watch him. And when he sees you, the kindest smile lights up his whole face. Good morning! And your dog gets a treat;). Ah, life is beautiful!
If you walk just half a block pass Gabriel, there will be Fifth Avenue, Central Park and Metropolitan Museum of Art. So this is Upper East Side, between Madison and Fifth Ave.
…and her Romeo.
They are forever in each other’s embrace. Lovers’ dream.
Today is the 1st, which means it is a Theme Day. Here you will see the pictures from all the participants.The theme of today is "Statues".
Standing right outside Delacorte Theatre in Central Park, this statue is a tribute to Shakespeare, whose plays are performed here every summer. And this picture is my tribute to the dear to my heart Verona and to all Romeos and Juliets.
Sculpted in 1977 by Milton Hebald, it was a gift to the Central Park from George Delacorte.
