Photo of the day: I FOUND I COULD SAY THINGS WITH COLOR…
by Meres One Cohen
Photo of the day: I FOUND I COULD SAY THINGS WITH COLOR… – “I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way, things I had no words for” is a quote by famed American iconic painter Georgia O’Keefe (1887 – 1986) and used here in a painting by 5 Pointz curator and “Whitewash” artist Meres One Cohen. It is haunting to think that her words from a long ago generation would apply so well to today’s generation of street, graffiti and mural artists today.
If you would like to see more expressions by great artists on canvas and in photographs (mine included) come to the Jeffrey Leder Gallery this weekend and view the brilliant art brilliantly curated by Marie Cecile Flaguel!
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, L.I.C.
#7/G Court Street subway stop. One block away from 5 Pointz and PS1 Moma. Admission is free, open 12-6.
Leder Gallery: http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
PhotoS of the day: 5 OF MY 5 POINTZ PHOTOS HAVE SOLD!
PhotoS of the day: 5 OF MY PHOTOS HAVE SOLD! – I had the best Easter surprise yesterday I could ever dream of. I stopped by the “Whitewash” exhibit at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery to say hello and was shown that I have 5 red dots – meaning 5 of my photos have sold. OMG! I was speechless (a rare occasion!). 5 photos/5 Pointz! Thanks to my dear friends Marie Flageul and Meres Cohen you are making a dream come true. I am so proud of the fantastic, stirring, emotional and historically significant show – come see the amazing art work of artists Auks, Cortes, Jerms, Just One, Meres One, Orestes Gonzalez, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Hunt Rodriguez, Topaz and Zimad documenting a piece of art history destroyed forever. The burning passion of 5 Pointz lives on!
The Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, Long Island City. #7/G train Court Street stop. One block from PS1 MOMA and 5 Pointz. Wednesday – Sundays 12noon to 6pm. Admission free. Art priceless. http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
Photo of the day: JESUS ‘CROSSES’ THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE
JESUS ‘CROSSES’ THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE: (Re-post from Good Friday 2013) I was conducting a walking tour across the Brooklyn Bridge this Good Friday and wondered why I was hearing this mass amount of voices singing up ahead of us. When we got to the center of the bridge there was Jesus and his followers crossing the bridge. Hundreds of people recalled the suffering and death of Jesus with a procession over the bridge in observance of Good Friday.
Called The Way of the Cross, the traditional Catholic pilgrimage began at St. James Cathedral in Downtown Brooklyn where Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio presided over a short service. Observers then spilled out of the church doors to follow the Rev. Richard Veras, who carried a large wooden cross over the bridge.
The Way of the Cross procession in Brooklyn began in 1996 with a small group of friends. Participants visit five symbolic stations of the cross at St. James Cathedral, a point on the Brooklyn Bridge, City Hall Park, Ground Zero, and finally ending at St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street in Manhattan.
People of all ages followed the somber Friday morning procession — some praying and singing out loud while others stayed silent. My Swiss guests were astounded to see so many people in the procession. I told them, “Having once lived at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, I have seen all sorts of people cross the bridge, from racers, protestors, 9/11 survivors and politicians – now I have seen Jesus crossing too.”
Photo of the day: LILIES OF THE FIELD
Photo of the day: LILIES OF THE FIELD – Fun facts about the Easter Lily:
| HOUGHTON LEAVES A RYUKYU – Louis Houghton, a soldier during World War I, is responsible for the popularity of the Bermuda lily, better known as the Easter lily, here in the U.S. In 1919, he brought hybrid bulbs home with him to the southern coast of Oregon and gave them to family and friends to plant.
Today, ten growers, most located along the California-Oregon border, in an area known as the “Easter Lily Capital of the World,” produce 95 percent of all bulbs grown commercially in the world. They produced almost 11.5 million bulbs last year for commercial greenhouses in the U.S. and Canada. Easter lilies are the fourth largest crop in wholesale value in the U.S. potted plant market despite a sales window of only two weeks. The Easter lily is native to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan. The cultivar “Nellie White” is the most popular form of Easter lily in the U.S. To prolong the life of an Easter lily’s blossoms, remove the yellow anthers (pollen-bearing pods) found in the center of each flower. |
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Photo of the day: YOU CAN’T WHITEWASH US! “WHITEWASH” EXHIBIT HUGE SUCCESS!
“WHITEWASH” featured artists group photo: “FIVE POINTZ!”
Photo of the day: 12 ARTISTS PROVE – YOU CAN’T WHITEWASH US! – I sold 3 pieces right away! ! People from all walks of life, from all over town and from around the world came to see the great works of artists who had painted at the (now destroyed) graffiti mecca 5 Pointz and the photographers who captured it. Every major web site and paper in town is covering the exhibit and getting radio and TV coverage as well. It was jam packed last night with mixed feeling of sadness, closure and perseverance. Artists Auks, Cortes, Jerms, Just One, Meres, Orestes Gonzalez, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad, Hunt Rodriguez and myself proved ART IS FOREVER !
Many more photos to come. $20 catalog signed by me available.
Come see the exhibit till June 8 at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, 1/2 block away from the #7 & G Court Street subway station. http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
Phot of the day: TWO DAYS TILL “WHITEWASH” April 5, 6-9pm !
Photo of the day: TWO DAYS TILL WHITEWASH! – April 5, Saturday, 6-9pm. The Jeffrey Leder Gallery is 1/2 a block down from the Court Street Station on the 7 Train, one train stop away from Queensboro Plaza. I am inviting all my friends to come to see my photos and enjoy a unique New York experience!
Jeffrey Leder Gallery: 2137 45th Road, 2 blocks from 5 Pointz and PSI MOMA.
Long Island City, New York 11101
Gallery 212-924-8944
Directional map: http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/contact.php
Photo of the day: DESTROYED WITH PRIDE – 4 days still “Whitewash” !
Photo of the day: DESTROYED WITH PRIDE – A perverse irony greeted us on the morning of November 19 as the painter’s lifts were still on site that had white washed the building, with – “pride”.
FOUR DAYS TILL THE “WHITEWASH’ EXHIBIT!
Opening reception April 5, 6-9pm! Come join me – you’re invited!!
Curated by Marie Cecile-Flageul. April 5 – June 8, 2014
Contributing Artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Meres One, Orestes Gonzalez, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad.
Contributing Artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Meres One, Orestes Gonzalez, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad.
You can currently catch my photos on exhibit at The Gold Coast Arts Center “PHO-TO-GRAFFS exhibit
Photo of the day: THE LAST PICTURE SHOW – Sunday November 17, 2013, 8:24pm
Photo of the day: THE LAST PICTURE SHOW – Sunday November 17, 2013, 8:24pm is the last time I saw 5 Pointz as it was in it’s glory. In the night of November 18th, owner Jerry “I love graffiti” Wolkoff whitewashed the building to the horror of the art world. Well – we’re BACK with a vengeance! Come to the “Whitewash” art exhibit at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery to mourn the loss and celebrating the perseverance of art.
Curated by Marie Cecile-Flageul. April 5 – June 8, 2014
Opening reception April 5, 6-9pm! Come join me – you’re invited!!
Opening reception April 5, 6-9pm! Come join me – you’re invited!!
Contributing Artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Meres One, Orestes Gonzalez, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad.
FIVE DAYS TO GO TILL 5 POINTZ EXHIBIT OPENING !
http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
You can currently catch my photos on exhibit at The Gold Coast Arts Center “PHO-TO-GRAFFS exhibit
Photo of the day: LAZY SUNDAY AFTERNOON 2011 AT 5 POINTZ – 6 DAYS STILL “WHITEWASH” EXHIBIT
Photo of the day: LAZY SUNDAY AFTERNOON 2011 AT 5 POINTZ – 6 DAYS STILL “WHITEWASH” EXHIBIT – Sundays was a day where people from all walks of life would meet a 5 Pointz and stroll around and marvel at phantasmagorical artwork, then go to the art deco dinner across the street enjoy brunch and then perhaps stroll to the waters edge. The waters edge is now built up with glass high rises and 5 Pointz is no more.
5 Pointz will be mourned and celebrated at the ‘Whitewash” exhibit at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery April 5, 2014. Contributing Artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Meres One, Orestes Gonzalez, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad.SIX DAYS TO GO TILL OPENING !
http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
http://www.jeffreyledergallery.com/whitewash.php
You can currently catch my photos on exhibit at The Gold Coast Arts Center “PHO-TO-GRAFFS exhibit
Photo of the day: TOXIC – 7 days till “Whitewash”
Photo of the day:TOXIC – From an oasis of creativity to one of the most (literally) toxic places in New York City, 5 Pointz will be mourned and celebrated at the ‘Whitewash” exhibit at the Jeffrey Leder Gallery April 5, 2014. Contributing Artists: Auks, Cortes, Hans Von Rittern, Jerms, Meres One, Orestes Gonzalez, Poem, Shiro, See TF, Topaz, Zimad.
7 days to go!
Photo of the day: MEET MAYOR BILL DeBLASIO !
Photo of the day: MEET THE MAYOR! – The mayor’s office finally released the official photos the lucky few of us had taken with him inside Gracie Mansion on January 5th this year. This Federal Style mansion was built in 1799 as a private home and since 1942 was used as the official residence of all of New York’s mayors. The symbolism being allowed back inside was huge since the mayor’s residence had been closed off to the public for the past 20 years. Mayor Giuliani wasn’t allowed to live there since he wasn’t married (yes you read that right.) Elitist Bloomberg refused to lower himself to live in the ‘people’s house’ choosing his luxe double town home instead. Finally on this day, Gracie Mansion belonged to the people of New York again. I was one of the few 5,000 lucky ticket holders who gladly waited in line for the rare opportunity – see my post of January 6, 2014. Whether you like Bill DeBlasio or not (he’s already in some hot messes), it was still pretty damn cool to be inside this restored historic house and to be able to put my arms around New York’s mayor and say “thank you”.
Photo of the day: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON – THE NO PANTS SUBWAY RIDE CONTINUES . . .
The family that drops trow together, stays together.
Photo of the day: LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON – THE NO PANTS SUBWAY RIDE CONTINUES . . . – Keeping in the glorious 13 year tradition of dropping your pants in the public subway system while pretending nothing is wrong continues. Here dad and mom see to it that there little one is indoctrinated at an early age at Union Square.
What started out as a prank by 6 college buddies, is now a international flash mob event taking place in for it’s twelfth annual No Pants Subway Ride, over 4,000 people participated in New York with tens of thousands more participating in 60 cities all over the world, including debut rides in Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Photo of the day: SHANNON POT AT 5 POINTZ SERVES IT’S LAST FROZEN DRINK
The Shannon Pot, 14 years at 45-16 Davis Street/Jackson Avenue
Photo of the day: SHANNON POT AT 5 POINTZ SERVES IT’S LAST FROZEN DRINK – Friday January 3rd, 2014, was yet another nail in the coffin of what was a vibrant neighborhood block. After the destructive whitewashing of the art work at 5 Pointz by greedy owner Gerry Wolkoff, it was also the final night of the neighborhood hangout bar The Shannon Pot.
The New Years Eve balloons were still hung…
The bar
♫♪ “Who’s Zat Girl?” ♫♪
The extremely cold 10°F degree weather added to the morbid feeling in the air. Only a few of the die hard regulars showed up including Meres One and Marie Flageul to join co-owners Maureen and Salah for a final round of drinks. To my surprise, as I arrived I was greeted by water dripping down from the ceiling. The frigid temperatures had burst the pipes and was flooding the bar. The water had been shut off but it was still ‘raining’ inside the bar. The water from above had damaged the juke box with Meres’ disco favorites causing the sound to go from high to low every few seconds only adding to the eerie feel of the night.
Gin Sin shot $2.00
Final shots
So there we were, with our coats and jackets on in the cold bar and no water except for what was coming from the ceiling, which made for slippery dangerous last dance. Instead of dancing the walls were tagged, good times and future times were discussed as 14 years of Maureen’s and Salah’s ‘home’ were coming to an end. How to remove the wonderful old hand carved wood bar and all it’s contents were strategized. “They don’t do woodwork like this anymore” said Salah proudly. I looked behind the bar itself and at the ancient wall paper on the wall which seems to be of impressed plaster work painted gold. No one knows just the exact history of the bar but if these walls could talk, we would have 100 years of Long Island City history to tell. All the 5 Pointz events the had been held here, the celebrations of hip hop and street art add so much more history to this little Irish style pub. (My awesome surprise birthday was just celebrated here a few weeks ago.) Another beloved place gone in the era of mass destruction of New York’s past.
The loyal group
Maureen, Salah and friends
A final Shannon kiss
During the evening Marie stepped out for her usual cigarette, as she stood in front of the bar she observed a pigeon flying towards the building to seek refuge form the cold, and seconds before it could reach the building, it simply fell out of the sky succumbing to hypothermia. Marie’s mission was to rescue the bird. We got a box, lined it with tissue paper and gently placed it in the box. It did not even resist. We placed it in the back hoping it would warm up. (It was in desperate need of sleep as well.) Every so often we would check to see if Marie’s pigeon was reviving, it barely was, but towards the end of the night was fluffing itself up, a hopeful sign. As a final act of kindness, Meres and Marie took the pigeon to their garage to let it warm up and revive. Two days later it flew off to join the world again.
The last round
Giving Gerry the finger
A bitter cold ending . . .
Keep on burnin’
The man with a mission
Meres and Marie and all the fantastic 5 Pointz crew are greatly symbolized by our little pigeon – we may be down, but with a little help from our friends – we are not out. Maureen and Salah will reopen at a new nearby location at 21-59 44th Drive, off of 21st Street soon. 5 Pointz will rise again like a phoenix (or our pigeon) and with the creative force of the artists and minds behind Meres and Marie, look out for a brighter and bolder future for Pointz! !
Final exit – (with the pigeon).
Song of the day: “BYE BYE BLOOMIE!” Good riddance to mayor Bloomberg
Bye Bye Bloomie
Kiss your rich ass goodbye;
Bye Bye Bloomie,
Why don’t you go and die?
Finally sunshine,
All the gloom is gone away;
I won’t cry Bloomie,
DeBlassio is here to save the day.
I’ll miss your mean Grinch grins,
As tho’ it’s kicking me in the shins;
And each and ev’ry night,
I’ll thank God faithfully!
Bye Bye Bloomie,
Why don’t you take Quinn with you too;
Bye Bye Bloomie
Guess you never cared,
Guess you never cared,
Guess you never cared!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bye Bye Bloomie
Hope the Bermuda triangle’s got you now!
I’ll try Bloomie
To forget some how
No more destroying
Neighborhoods we’ve grown to love
No more lying
When you twist those zoning laws
Your graft and your payola ways
Your super-duper rich class
There’s nothing left to say
You can all kiss my ASS!
Bye Bye Bloomie
Ta ta oh sweetie-pie
Bye Bye Bloomie
Time for you to die
Time for you to die
Time to say goodbye
Bye now!
The true Bloomie at DeBlassio’s inauguration
Photo of the day: HANS’ PERSON OF THE YEAR – WHO WILL IT BE?
Photo of the day: HANS’ PERSON OF THE YEAR – WHO WILL IT BE? In 2010 I chose my Glasgow guest Bethany Martin for turning me on to Facebook – and look to where it has led!, 834 friends later!
In 2011 I chose my then new friend Paul Ker who had been a total… stranger, friended me on Facebook because he liked my photos and volunteered his time to help me choose my new camera and equipment which resulted in the photos you see.
For 2012 I broke with tradition from choosing a Facebook ‘friend’ and chose my mom, for supporting me through some rough times in early 2012. I am doubly blessed! I have a loving ‘family of friends’ here on my blog and on Facebook. Some of you I have never even met and I feel so close to and owe so many of you a nice long phone call. But you are “there”, showing me love and support when I need it, for that I thank you all greatly. Thank you und vielen Dank! But when we are lucky enough to always have a loving mother to turn to, we are the most lucky person in the world. Isn’t true…we always turn to mom. So for all the comfort and support and the security of knowing no matter how awful it got and gets, she would be and is there . . . mom was the 2012 Person of the Year.
This year again I will choose a person that had the most affect or influence on my life in 2013. I’ve met so many wonderful people and have had so many amazing incredible experiences, but I will choose one. Which one of the absolutely terrific people in my life will it be? STAY TUNED 🙂 !
Photo of the day: BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS
Photo of the day: BELIEVE IN THE MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS – Believe in flying reindeer, believe in wishes coming true, believe that a sleigh can fly, believe that there is a wondrous place at the North Pole (not a factory in China), believe that Santa can deliver toys to all the boys and girls in one magical night, believe that he knows if you’ve been good or bad, believe that all things are possible, believe in love, believe in miracles and above all, believe in yourself.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !
Foto des Tages: GLAUBEN SIE AN DIE MAGIE VON WEIHNACHTEN – Glauben an fliegende Renntiere, glauben an sich erfüllende Wünsche, glauben, dass ein Schlitten fliegen kann, glauben, dass es einen erstaunlichen Platz am Nordpol (nicht eine Fabrik in China) gibt, glauben, dass der Weihnachtsman Spielsachen an alle Jungen und Mädchen in einer magischer Nacht liefern kann, glauben, dass er weiß ob Sie artig oder bös gewesen sind, glauben Sie, dass alle Dinge möglich sind, glauben an der Liebe, an Wunder und vor allem glauben, an sich selbst glauben. FRÖHLICHES WEIHNACHTEN ALLE!
Photo of the day: HOW ARE YOU BRINGING HOME YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE?
Photo of the day: HOW ARE YOU BRINGING HOME YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE? – Despite the fact that you see endless traffic in New York City, most New Yorkers don’t have cars nor even know how to drive. (I didn’t learn till my move to Tucson, Arizona at age 38.) The cars you see are from the far reaches of the outer boroughs, from tourists and rentals.
So we have to be a little more inventive when we bring home our Christmas trees. I have seen Christmas trees rolled home on skateboards, pushed in shopping carts, taken on the subway (a 7 footer!), by sleds in the snow, in taxi cabs and even in baby carriages. So, how are you bringing home your Christmas tree?
Mine came home via mom’s mint green Floridian shopping cart
Photo of the day: BENT OUTTA SHAPE
Photo of the day: BENT OUTTA SHAPE – Dinosaurs of a (not so long ago) bygone era. A fire call box. When was the last time you saw someone use one? In today’s era of cell phones (what happens if there’s a blackout and you can’t recharge??) and the national 911 system, the corner fire alarm call boxes are ceasing to exist here in New York along will public telephone booths. This casualty was seen in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn at the corner of 7th Avenue and 86th Street.
The next dinosaur to go into extinction are the gas stations, they are being sold off rapidly in Manhattan for the valuable land. Next…?
Photo of the day: THANKSGIVING WINTER STORM IS COMING, HAVE YOU DONATED TO YOUR LOCAL HOMELESS SHELTER OR FOOD BANK?
Photo of the day: THANKSGIVING WINTER STORM IS COMING, HAVE YOU DONATED TO YOUR LOCAL HOMELESS SHELTER OR FOOD BANK? – A nasty nor-easter storm is barreling up the coast. High winds, rains and snow expected. While we rush to get our last minute Thanksgiving trimmings and desserts for the table – New York City’s homeless population is at it’s highest since the great depression! Under the greedy dictatorship of emperor mayor Bloomberg the “let them eat cake/go to the theatah” era is at it’s worst.
As you are rushing to run your errands before the storm arrives, deciding pumpkin or apple pie, others decide which is the least moldy. As you see that homeless person in the subway station, can you look in their hollow eye and do nothing? Give them your coffee, a muffin, an apple, a dollar, a pair of gloves or a scarf. If not, take a few extra minutes at home to donate on line to The Red Cross, your local food bank or homeless shelter. The time it took to read this post, is the same time it takes to donate to those who have fallen on hard times. Remember: There but for the grace of God go I . . . it could be you one day. Stay warm.
RED CROSS: http://www.redcross.org/charitable-donations
FIND YOUR LOCAL FOOD BANK: http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx#
Photo of the day: CELEBRATING THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAWN = MAYOR BILL (74%) DeBLASIO
Photo of the day: CELEBRATING THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAWN = MAYOR BILL (74%) DeBLASIO – Last night in Chelsea’s Mustang Sally’s bar, dedicated animal rights activists, anti-Quinn and staunch pro DeBlasio supporters were uncharacteristically quiet as we listened to the uplifting speech given by our new mayor. Tears on the faces of the supporters glistened from the light of the 5 giant TV screens surrounding us, Bill’s voice filling the room. The 12 year reign of oppression, dictatorial rule and genocide of the middle class and our buildings and old establishments has finally ended. It may have been 10:30pm at night, but it was as if there was bright sunshine in the room, we were all beaming so much. We had done it!! We have all worked so passionately and hard, no one more hard than Donny Moss and Allie Feldman who started the ball rolling by getting rid of Christine Quinn with the help of animal rights groups. Our little rag tag group conquered with spirit and heart the billionaire dollars spent by the Koch brothers (sound Romney-like familiar??), the power of Bloomberg and the republican cash heavy war chests. Instead these grass roots groups and many more fought Goliath and won: NYCLASS, ABQ, Outer Boroughs Against Christine Quinn, Queers Against Quinn, Kittens Against Joe Lhota, Stopping NYC Horse Abuse, GoosewatchNYC, Bill DeBlasio for Mayor, and of course Donny Moss’s Defeat Christine Quinn. A landslide 74% victory, HA !
The dark, racist, oppressive cloud over our lives and this city is being lifted. A ‘mensch’, a caring human being is taking over, with a heart and not ice in his monied veins.
I am so DAMN proud of each and every one of them, and my mom who even at age 87 went out and campaigned and handed out Anti Quinn, then pro DeBlasio flyers every day she left the house to go grocery shopping or walk the dog. She was known as the “you have to vote for Bill DeBlasio!” lady here in Queens. Well mom, Donny, Allie, Daniela Knoppik, Natasha, Brian and Jeanne Gari, Andy Sydor and ALL you wonderful friends and supporters = WE DID IT!
Mrs. DeBlasio, Cynthia Nixon, our next mayor Bill DeBlasio and Susan Sarandon.
Photo of the future: HELP SAVE NEW YORK, VOTE BILL DeBLASIO !
Photo of the future: VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE DeBLASIO! – GO out there and vote! I want a real human being in City Hall. A man whose family looks like the rest of us. A man with feelings and a heart. Not ice in his veins. I don’t care if all his promises can’t be reached, or if he will screw up and falter – I want a mensch, a human being I can approach and relate to. I want my city back! I got rid of Christine Quinn, one of the most cold calculating, selfish, power mad, destructive politicians of modern times, lets make sure MTA-thief Joe Lohta losses by a huge margin!
YOU can make history and get rid of the elite detached nanny-rule of this Bloomberg tyranny. In my born and raised 57 years as a New Yorker I have never seen a mayor do as much to destroy and harm my beloved city as bastard Bloomberg. We have NEVER lost as many long time established stores, restaurants, entertainment venues, historical neighborhoods and places and business places as with his greedy rule of allowing quadruple rent increases to squeeze (in some cases) 100 year old businesses out of business so he could build yet another mirror glass ivory tower for his billionaire friends. He has done more damage than 9/11 and hurricane Sandy combined, both of which we are rebuilding from. You cannot rebuild from the onslaught over priced glass ivory towers, the destruction of historic neighborhoods, the squeezing out of the middle class, the invasion of chain stores in even the most historical of neighborhoods, the racial and socioeconomic division of this city, the genocide of the middle class as what has occurred in the last 12 years of Bloombergistan.
Bloomberg is a thief. Oddly enough he went from being the 18th richest man in the country to 10th richest man as the zoning laws, historic district laws and street patterns changed and Citi-bikes have invaded and devoured our city. All those deals went into his back pocket. The zoning commission is working around the clock to cram through all of Bloomberg’s excessive destructive plans such as encircling Grand Central Terminal and the iconic Chrysler building with glass super towers!
I am tired of the little dwarf who is about as much a part of the rest of us as a cold rock from outer space. His Napoleonic syndrome of dominant power over every little aspect of New York went too far.
DON’T “ASS-U-ME” DeBlassio will win or win big: May I remind you , that is how bastard Bloomberg got this third term because of the anger and apathy that let everyone assume he would win his bought third term. Apathy and laziness looses you your city. VOTE! – Take 15 extra minutes before or after work, take the dog on a voting walk, turn off the TV, grab a warm coat, take your children with you and let them know they are a part of something great, take someone you love and share this exhilarating chance, but most of all, know that this vote is one of the most crucial votes you will cast in the last 100 years of this city’s glorious history and certainly determine our next 100 years.
HELP SAVE NEW YORK – VOTE BILL DeBLASIO ! ! !
Photo of the day: ALL CONEY ISLANDERS HAVE SAND IN THEIR SHOES
Photo of the day: ALL CONEY ISLANDERS HAVE SAND IN THEIR SHOES – Yesterday was my last 5 hour German tour of Brooklyn for the season. From the Fulton Ferry Landing at the Brooklyn Bridge, to bagels in Park Slope to Nathan’s hot dogs on the Coney Island boardwalk. The amusement rides had been shut down and it was now a quieter tranquil place where the sound of the wind took over rather then the music blaring from the boardwalk concession stands. Nathan’s of course was still open and drawing a crowd – they always do.
The beach in the summer is joy, the smell of sun tan lotion, the sounds of little kids laughing, teens splashing in the water and girls who just want to tan. But, in the winter months the beaches of New York offer another treasure = contemplative tranquility as the sound of the wind whisks about the thoughts in your head. On Sundays you may contemplate in church, I prefer to contemplate in one of god’s most wonderful churches – the beach.
Photo of the day: THE CALM AFTER THE STORM AT CONEY ISLAND
Photo of the day: THE CALM AFTER THE STORM – One year later after hurricane Sandy, the scene yesterday on Coney Island Beach was so serene, one would never know there had been chaos and destruction all along our coastline just a year before. Just a few strollers shell hunting on the windy beach. Most of the strollers were enjoying the sun on the boardwalk, sunning themselves while enjoying a Nathan’s hot dog. In November the rides will shut down awaiting the children’s laughter again in the spring of 2014. Hopefully time will heal the wounds of the heart and finances so that Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, as well as Ellis Island will be able to return to their former glory.
Photo of the day: REASSURING THE SHORE AT CONEY ISLAND
Photo of the day: REASSURING THE SHORE – I am taking my German tourist guests on my 5 hour long tour of Brooklyn today, via Harlem Spirituals Tours. From the Fulton Ferry landing at the Brooklyn Bridge allllllll the way to Coney Island for a Nathan’s hot dog lunch – wunderbar! Our last and final stop will be the 5 Pointz Graffiti museum as a surprise ending 🙂
At Coney Island for the past few weeks we have been met by this long pipe snaking along the beach. Early in September the $7.2 million Army Corps of Engineer’s project to pump 600,000 cubic yards of sand along Coney Island’s shore began. Although the beach closed for the summer after Labor Day and red flags indicated no lifeguards were on duty, there were a few sunbathers and swimmers adjacent to the area where the work is getting underway.
While restoration work is going on, there were rolling closures of roughly 1,000 foot wide sections of the beach where construction work is active, according to the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE). The beach nourishment project extends from West 37th Street to Brighton Beach, and is expected to be completed in the fall.
Coney Island was hit hard by Super-storm Sandy and soon, its beaches will be well on their way to being protected against future flooding. There’s a ship out on the horizon pumping the sand from the ocean’s floor (and surprising a few startled crabs I bet) and pumping it methodically onto the beach where it is sifted and raked. You can hear the rumbling of the stones and shells as they go whizzing by inside the large rusty pipes lining the beach. Soon we will be enjoying pristine sand to stick our toes into! Join us?!
Harlem Spirituals: http://www.harlemspirituals.com/
NEW YORK CITY - IN THE WIT OF AN EYE 