Happy Earth Day: Celebrate Early and Often

The beach in Diabat, Morocco.

The English countryside in Wiltshire, England.

Weeping Cherry in Chelsea, New York.

HAPPY EARTH DAY (Early. It is really the 22nd....)

Buster's blog here

From the Sublime to............

Preston had said there would be good nibbles at the art opening.

There probably had been before the ravening hoards of art

lovers descended. We were hungry.

In New York there are pizza parlors on every block.

(And nail parlors too. The twin delights of the city).

We order a white slice, a mushroom and olive slice and broccoli one for me.

All sorts of obscure sodas. I want tap water and they give me a little plastic

cup so I can get it out of the soda machine. I get an entire cup of ice by mistake.

PS. We think Lombardi's on Spring Street has the very best pizza.

Patsy's thin crust is pretty  good.

We are open to suggestions.

Buster's blog here

Preston Trombly at the National Arts Club

Preston Trombly with his recent piece Flow- Blue 2009

at the National Arts Club, a stunning example of old New York

in Gramercy Park. It would not be a great hardship

 for me to live in Gramercy Park.  Others share this view.

Like E.A.P above, flanked by T.R  and Woodrow Wilson......

Some enchanting nymphs in the hall.....

 

.... and a stolid burgher whose name escapes me.

There are even spring flowers.

The 18th Annual Roundtable Exhibition continues until April 17th. 10 am- 5pm

Greg and Marquis Galleries

The National Arts Club

15 Gramercy Park South (E.20th St.)

Buster's blog here

Abstract and Distractions

Monday morning. So easy to get distracted.

Drink tea. Walk dog.

Tidy up -- a little bit.

Vow to do work..... Hm........

Buster's blog here

Shadow Shot Sunday: Happy Easter

Easter morning dawned bright and clear.

Season's Greetings to all.

Tracy and all the other ShadowShotters here.

 

ps Buster's blog here.

Urban with a Hint of Spring

They are digging a hole outside Whole Foods on 7th Avenue.

They are digging up a great deal of 8th Avenue too.

Spring digging season is upon us. 

 

Thinking of Shadow Shot Sunday ( even though it was Friday),

I took artsy shots of a gym on 23rd Street where they have scaffolding inside.

On 22nd Street, swelling buds.

On 24th Street.

24th Street too.

Merry, Merry Spring . A joyful season indeed.

ps. Buster has his own blog now. Go here.

Astounding Moon and Canine Reflections

Went up to the roof to take pictures of the spectacular moon

 -- which came out horribly -- so looked downwards instead.

People like the proverbial ants.

Sunny day, so took the dog for walks to introduce him to life in these parts.

Showed him a man dressed up as a banana outside Jamba Juice.

Poor dog still doesn't have a name as Buster didn't quite stick.

He answers to PupPup, HeyYou, and GoodBoy.

We pointed out the close juxtaposition of Wall Street and Wicked on the bus shelter.

And the jolly homemade decorations in United Cerebral Palsy's Window.

Forced him to pose for photo-op with Easter Bunny outside Gristede's.

We told him about the lovely dog in India. (Above).

So he lay on our bed and tried to do the big paw thing.

 

Spring Maybe

It is trying to be spring in New York. Well, up to a point.

Yesterday it was sunny, and then mean, little black clouds appeared.

At first I thought it was bits of blossom being blown off trees,

but it was snow.

This is a tree doing its best.

And one doing better. 

But look at the color of the sky at 3pm.

 The people in hats and jackets.

Not a good day for a walk. What an alarming lobby.

Last puppy picture for a bit.

Babies and small animals utterly entrancing to their besotted owners

which is exactly as it should be. 

The rest of the world likely to expire from cuteness fatigue.

ps. Brief book report. 

 Winifred Holtby's The Crowded Street( 1924)

Made me remember a vanished world.....

Aunt Beatrice on her unmarried state: It's when you grow older and the people who needed you are dead. And you haven't a home nor anyone who really wants you  -- and you hate to stay too long in a house in case someone else should want to come -- and of course it's quite right.

Evening NYU

In the very few moments spent not entertaining this....

I try to do some writing.

 A group of us often get together to talk about writing.

Usually we meet in someone's home where the snacks are a bit better.

(But we don't often have saki).

This week we borrowed a room on Lafyette Street belonging to NYU.

It turned out to have a grand piano.  A jazz band practiced below us.

 Anna, like the room, was a study in black and white...

There were reflections both literal and metaphorical.

... and intriguing glimpses into the building opposite.

Bagels and Oranges

Bagels and cream cheese. The ideal New York lunch on a dreary, wet day.

The Brooklyn Bagel Company on 23rd Street has enormous bagels.

They are hot and delicious.

You can slice them into three bits.

The shop is fairly new and all the people who work there are cheerful. 

To my mind, the best bagels in Chelsea.

Can you guess I like lox (smoked salmon), or lox spread?

 Just add a squeeze of lemon juice and coarsely ground black pepper. 

Walking home, my mind full of salmon -- to make a contrast with the weather --I spy

 the meter-maid's raincoat...

and the bin with the give away paper.

Headline: Urban gardens grow

fed by lean economy.

Sounds good to me.