September 9, 2013: The last day of South Street Seaport’s Pier 17
Photo of the day: ENJOYING THE LAST DAY OF SOUTH STREET SEAPORT’S PIER 17 – Due to the destructive re-zoning laws that have blanketed New York, today is the last day to enjoy the rustic building that was built to blend in with the charm of what once was South Street Seaport. The gabled roofs, the cast iron railings designed with industrial wire, the rustic red paint on the wavy (mirroring the ocean) sheet metal walls, the wooden decks from which you can promenade along, the weathered gray wooden deck chairs that silently sit awaiting for you to put your feet up and relax and watch the world go by.
Perhaps you’ll eat your Nathan’s fries and hot dog while strolling around the three decks, or go the Beekman Bear Garden Beach Club to watch the sunset on the North Side of the pier. Today will be the last sunset from Pier 17. The last hot dog from the food court, the last souvenir bought by the myriad of shops and the last beer at sunset.
You can thank our despicable greedy Mayor Bloomberg and his councilwoman Christine Quinn who re-zoned the South Street Seaport area and have given the greedy callous go-ahead to have it all torn down in favor of a glass box mall.
R.I.P S.S.S.
ANYBODY BUT QUINN FOR MAYOR !
September 8, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: ANYBODY BUT QUINN ABQ, Beekman Bear Garden Beach club, Brooklyn Bridge, Councilwoman Christine Quinn, East River, gray wooden deck chairs, Hans Von Rittern, Last day at South Street Seaport, Manhattan, Manhattan Bridge, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Nathan's hot dogs, New York City, New York harbor views, Photo of the day, Pier 17, re-zoning laws, Seaport closing September 9 2013, South Street Seaport | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: MILLION YOUTH MARCH FOR TRAYVON MARTIN SEPT. 7 HARLEM –
Sept. 7 is the 15th anniversary of the Million Youth March. This year, the march is being held in Harlem in front of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building on the corner of Adam Clayton Powell St. and 125th Street. The National Black Family Convention is also being held from Sept. 5-8 in Harlem. This year’s march will honor the memory of Trayvon Martin.
September 6, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Street, Hans Von Rittern, Harlem, Manhattan, MILLION YOUTH MARCH FOR TRAYVON MARTIN SEPT. 7 HARLEM, New York City, New York photo, old African woman holding sign, Photo of the day, proud African face, The National Black Family Convention, Trayvon Martin, Trayvon Martin rally | Leave a comment
South Street Seaport 2013
Photo of the day: THE DESTRUCTION OF SOUTH STREET SEAPORT – The ever changing skyline of Manhattan is about to change again, the beloved South Street Seaport also known as Pier 17, thanks to the ever greedy Mayor Michael Bloomberg, is about to be torn down at the end of September. FINAL DAY OPEN IS THIS MONDAY SEPT. 9th.
What will replace it? A big soulless glass box (mall) with a red letter sign atop of it “South Street Seaport”. You wouldn’t need big lit red letters screaming “Seaport” to remind people of where you are if you have removed any vestige of our once great seaport’s history. One of our old sailing ships the Peking will soon cease to exist for lack of funds to repair it, that will leave us with on single solitary ship in what once was the greatest and busiest harbor in the world. Our Mayor Bloomberg and his cohort councilwoman Christine Quinn should be tarred and feathered and drummed out of New York for destroying our seaport’s heritage.
Anyone But Quinn for mayor!
September 5, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 8 Spruce Street, ANYBODY BUT QUINN ABQ, Beekman Tower, Christine Quinn, Councilwoman Christine Quinn, destruction of South Street Seaport, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, Manhattan skyline, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, mayoral 2013 campaign, New York by Gehry, New York City, New York photo, old sailing ships, Photo of the day, political greed, South Street Seaport, The Peking, Woolworth Building, World Trade Center | Leave a comment
HANS VON RITTERN 10,000 HITS 9-3-13 at 12:00PM
10,000 VIEWS ON MY WEB SITE! I
t happened at precisely 12:00 noon today
THANK YOU, THANK YOU ONE AND ALL !
September 3, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Hans Von Rittern, New York City, New York City - In the Wit of an Eye, New York photo, NYC New York photography, Photo of the day, photography web site | 2 Comments
Heath Ledger as The Joker, Batman 2008
Photo of the day: THE HIDDEN ART TREASURES OF TIJUANA, MEXICO – (Part of my new ‘Tijuana Tuesday’ series). Most tourists know Tijuana, Mexico for it’s allure of inexpensive souvenirs, leather goods, bountiful food & drink, the colorful streets and the bargain ready store keepers. Most tourists arrive after the stores officially open at 10 am, which, since it’s Mexico…means 10:30, 10:45, 11:00 in the land of ‘mañana’. Other tourists choose to arrive at sundown just for a night of drinking and partying. But what happens if you arrive early in the morning instead?
Last week on my visit to Tijuana, I decided to visit the main shopping thoroughfare Revolution Avenue (or Avenida Revolución) early, taking advantage of my body clock being three hours ahead on New York time to photograph the colorful buildings. Believe me, they don’t ‘do mornings’ – I was practically the only one on the main street. But, being so early reveals a hidden treasure most tourists don’t get to see – the wonderful murals painted on the steel gates of the closed store fronts! Just as New York’s Harlem 125th Street has painted murals of African history and heritage done by 85 year old artist Franco the Great only to be seen before the stores open at 10am and lift and hide the gates.
The same wonderful hidden treasures are revealed here in Tijuana in the early morning hours too. The art styles on the steel gates range from pop culture references, traditional Mexican folk lore to street graffiti. As I wondered down the sunny avenue in wonderment at all the wonderful colors, old architecture and design, I didn’t even realize I was photographing a recurring theme of the steel gates so I didn’t get to photograph them all, but these are some that just fascinated me. There is such beauty in the rustic old buildings, you never really see their old age, rust or need of care. The imaginative designs, the vintage signs, the brightly colored walls, the charming old cast iron gates and the swaying palm trees create a colorful illusion of charming perfection. How wonderful to see no chain stores and glaring modern electronic billboards, instead just “art”, however you interpret “art” to be – it is all around you. Then as 10:30-ish rolls around, you start to hear the clankering of the metal gates, one by one, being lifted up as the stores keepers prepare their shops for the day, only to reveal more colorful treasures inside!
“Tijuana makes me happy.”
September 3, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Tijuana Tuesday", art in Tijuana Mexico, Avenida Revolución, commerical art, early morning walking tour in Tijuana, folk lore art, Franco the Great, graffiti art, Hans Von Rittern, Harlem, Harlem 125th Street murals, Heath Ledger The Joker Batman, hidden art reasures of Tijuana, New York City, painted steel gates, painted store gates, Photo of the day, photography, pop culture art, Revolution Avenue, shopping district of Tijuana, street graffiti, Tijuana Mexico, tourism in Tijuana Mexico | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: HAPPY LABOR DAY! – from your local Tijuana hooker !
September 2, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: fat hooker, Hans Von Rittern, Happy Labor Day!, life in Tijuana Mexico, Mexican hooker, Mexican prostitute, Photo of the day, saguaro cactus, South of the Border, Tijuana hooker, Tijuana Mexico, Tijuana prostitue with saguaro cactus, Tijuana tourism, tourism, travel | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: BULL FIGHTS SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 1, TIJUANA, MEXICO – I passed by the soccer stadium in Tijuana, and these fliers were being handed out. Luckily I wasn’t there to see this. As famous as bullfights are, it would horrify me to witness 21,000 people in Estadio Caliente cheering the death of an animal.
September 1, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: bull fights, Bull fights in Mexico, bullfight ad, Estadio Caliente, Hans Von Rittern, Mexico, Photo of the day, soccer stadium, Tijuana Mexico, Tijuana soccer stadium, travel | Leave a comment
el Campanario Shop: Ave Revolucion No. 952, Tijuana, Mexico
Photo of the week: TIJUANA + TOURISM + TEQUILA! – I spent the last few days in one of my favorite fun places in the world = Tijuana, Mexico! It’s is a photographer’s feast of colors, architecture, stark contrasts and vibrant life. Wednesday was spent walking the streets from 9am till 9pm with camera in hand! I just got back home and am exhausted and exhilarated from having such a good time, eating superb meals, photographing and shopping. I took well over 1,000 photos between San Diego and Mexico. There are many blogs with many stories to come (including one about the dog who wanted to go to church!) about this much maligned city. I’m thinking of starting a “Tijuana Tuesday” blog to tell the stories of this curious and fascinating place, the people and their daily lives.
Oh, btw – this is my new friend Carlos with whom I shared tequila shots – why not . . . it was noon 🙂 !
August 30, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Tijuana Tuesday", Avenue Revolucion, el Campanario shop Ave Revolucion No. 952, Hans Von Rittern, life in Tijuana Mexico, Mexican tourism, Photo of the day, photographers Mexican paradise, San Diego California, tequila, Tijuana Mexico, Tijuana safe, Tijuana tourism | Leave a comment
Brooklyn Bridge 1980
Mondays on Memory Lane – MY DAILY WALK OVER THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE IN 1980 – In the spring of 1980 I moved into the newly rennovated Brooklyn Eagle Warehouse at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge. I was 24 years old and shared the 1,200 square foot apartment for a mere $700 a month, $350 each…yes $350! The Brooklyn Waterfront was still undeveloped and actually dangerous at night.
Eagle Warehouse
Eagle entrance at night
DUMBO didn’t exist, what did exist was a dumping ground for unwanted animals, dead animals and an occasional dead human being. In 1983, I got a job at Dancker, Sellew & Douglas Design Firm on the 102nd floor of the World Trade Center. Each morning, to save to cost of the .75¢ subway fare, I headed out over then 100 year old Brooklyn Bridge by foot towards Manhattan, across the steps of City Hall (there was no security in those days), through unrenovated downtown Manhattan, to the Trade Center South Tower elevators which carried me up to my desk on the 102nd floor in the clouds. How much more of a quintessential New York daily routine could one have?! It was a wonderful time.
The view from my desk at World Trade, south tower
August 26, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1980, Brooklyn Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge 1980, brooklyn eagle, Brooklyn waterfront, Dancker, downtown manhattan, DUMBO, Eagle Warehouse, Eagle Warehouse and Storage Company, Fulton Ferry Landing, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, Manhattan City Hall, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, quintessential New York daily routine, Sellew & Douglas, subway fare, World Trade Center | Leave a comment
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SEAN CONERY – the only Bond !
August 25, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 007 New York license plate, BMW Bond car, BMW car, celebrities, Hans Von Rittern, James Bond 007, James Bond license plate, Manhattan, New York City, New York license plate, New York photo, NYC Bond license plate, Photo of the day, Sean Connery, vanity plate | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: I HAVE A DREAM – 50 years and still dreaming . . .
August 24, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: "I have a dream", African American celebrities, African American figure buttons, Americana, Black entertainers, black political figures, Black politicians, Dr. Martin Luther King, Hans Von Rittern, Harlem, March on Washington, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: WHAT DO YOU DO WITH A GIANT OIL SPILL? – apparently use paper towels. Seen today at the corner of Astor Place and Broadway, these men had just finished delivering oil to the David Barton Gym when they were a little too eager to remove the nozel from building’s underground connection which resulted in a big oil spill on the side walk. They looked at it bewildered not knowing what to do . . . until one of the workers found the solution = paper towels!
August 23, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Astor Place, Broadway, David Barton Gym, Greenwich Village, Hans Von Rittern, heating oil delivery spill, New York City, New York photo, oil spill, paper towels, Photo of the day | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL – When I saw this homeless woman on the front steps of a 42nd Street Church, reading a book with the title “Zadie Smith On Beauty” I thought, ‘now there’s positive thinking!’ But – it turns out the book is a smoldering novel of bi-racial love and the clash between liberal and conservative academic values in the United States! A good page turner always intrigues and passes the time:)
On Beauty is a 2005
novel by British author
Zadie Smith. It takes its title from an essay by
Elaine Scarry (
On Beauty and Being Just). The story follows the lives of a mixed-race British/American family living in the United States.
On Beauty addresses ethnic and cultural differences in both the USA and the UK, the nature of beauty, . A short article in the
Guardian has described it as a “transatlantic comic saga.”
August 23, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: bi-racial love, Hans Von Rittern, homeless, homeless woman, homeless woman reading book, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, west 42nd street, Zadie Smith On Beauty | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: GATEWAY TO LIBERTY – When in Paris – you have to go to see the Eiffel Tower. When in New York – you have to go to see the Statue of Liberty. Every portion of the grounds are a treat for the eye! Whether you have crown access tickets (sold out till November 2013) or pedestal/museum access or just tour the grounds, it is an experience you won’t forget.
If you have access passes to the pedestal you will see the lobby yields many treasures, such as this awe inspiring view from the second floor balcony.
The Statue of Liberty exhibit, which opened in July 1986 and is located on the second floor in the pedestal of the Statue, traces the history and symbolism of the Statue of Liberty through museum objects, photographs, prints, videos and oral histories. In addition to historical artifacts and descriptive text, full scale replicas of the Statue’s face and foot are also on display. The main historical sections include: From Idea to Image, Fabricating the Statue, Stretching Technology, Fundraising in France, The Pedestal, Fundraising in America, and Complete at Last. The next area focuses on the symbolism of Liberty with sections titled Mother of Exiles, Becoming the Statue of America, Century of Souvenirs, The Image Exploited and The Statue in Popular Culture.
August 22, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Hans Von Rittern, inside the Liberty pedestal lobby, Liberty statue, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, Statue cruises, Statue of Liberty, Statue of Liberty face, Statue of Liberty head, Statue of Liberty Museum, Statue of Liberty pedestal | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: IT’S MY BLOG’S 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
I hope all of you have and are enjoying sharing my New York with me through my camera’s lens and my memories! 356 posts! Thank you all! If you like this blog please share it with your friends.
My book (3 of them!) is still in the works ! !
(Like’s are a wonderful feeling
)
August 20, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1 year blog's anniversary, Hans Von Rittern, I love New York, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, New York themed birthday cake, Photo of the day, Queens, Sunnyside | 4 Comments
CYNTHIA NIXON, HARRY BELAFONTE, SUSAN SARANDON
Photo of the day: ACTIVISM IS BEAUTIFUL FOR CYNTHIA NIXON, HARRY BELAFONTE AND SUSAN SARANDON – Since we have lived under the greedy dictatorship of Mayor Bloomberg and councilwoman Christine Quinn – we have lost
TWELVE, possibly 14 hospital since they have been in office for the last 12 years!! St. John’s hospital on Queens Blvd, where I was born – closed. St. Vincent’s Hospital, founded in 1849, took in the only survivors of the Titanic in 1912. It was at the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic in Greenwich Village, was first in line to take in the 9/11 victims and lastly took in the passengers from ‘the miracle on the Hudson’ in 2009.
With the voracious greedy appetite and financial payoffs from the real estate Goliaths, the Rudin family, Quinn eased the hospital into becoming luxury condos. She tore down the hospital, the church and the 911 memorial with it so that all memory is gone!
Mayor Bloomberg who acts as the über nanny in not allowing 16 oz sodas to be consumed by New Yorkers, controls what New Yorkers eat under the guise of being concerned for our health, has looked the other way as 12-14 hospital have been shut, turned into condos or are not admitting new patients. This is the reality of our mayor – the city of Bloombergistan.
Councilwoman Christine Quinn wields single handed power to control our laws and see to it that Bloomberg gets his way, if, as a fellow councilmember you vote against her, the funding for your district is cut off or reduced. I could go on.
There is one mayoral candidate who has been at all the protests, getting arrested and is speaking up for the inequality of the Bloomberg greedy years – Bill DeBlasio. In the last few months we have literally been in danger of loosing one hospital a week! This genocide of the middle class is alarming. If New York City were to have another hurricane Sandy or another terror attack – where are the ambulances and hospitals for us to go to?! This is a ticking time bomb. There are some who have the passion to speak out and say ‘enough is enough.’ These are the wonderful New Yorkers such as Cynthia Nixon, Susan Sarandon, Harry Belafonte and mayoral candidate Bill DeBlassio.
On Monday August 19, we all rallied outside the remains of St. Vincent’s hospital in hopes that under a new leadership, the rape of our citizens and it’s hospitals will stop.
ANYBODY BUT QUINN!
BILL DeBLASSIO FOR MAYOR!
SUSAN SARANDON
When Cynthia Nixon speaks – Susan Sarandon listens!
TWO PROUD MEN
WHAT THE FUCK?!
SARANDON THUMBS UP
SAVE OUR HOSPITALS
PROUD CYNTHIA NIXON
NURSES AID
LOOKING AT ST. VINCENT’S
CYNTHIA NIXON PROTESTS
DEBLASIO AND BELAFONTE
August 20, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 2013 New York maoral race, 9/11 memorial, AIDS epidemic, ANYBODY BUT QUINN ABQ, Bill DeBlasio, Bloombergistan, Christine Quinn, Councilwoman Christine Quinn, Cynthia Nixon, Defeat Christine Quinn, Greenwich Village, Hans Von Rittern, Harry Belafonte, hospital closings, Hospital closures, hospital rally 8-19-13, luxury condos, Manhattan, Mayor Bloomberg, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Mike Bloomberg, New York photo, Photo of the day, politics, rudin family, St. Vincent's church, St. Vincent's Hospital, survivors of the Titanic, Susan Sarandon | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: HARRY BELAFONTE AND BILL DeBLASIO FIGHT FOR OUR HOSPITALS – Today at 12 noon there was a rally held to stem the epidemic of hospitals closing at the rate of one every few weeks. The rally was held across the street from the biggest scandal in NYC’s history, the recently demolished St. Vincent’s Hospital. The powerhouse of stars to speak out in this crisis were fellow New Yorkers Harry Belafonte, Susan Sarandon, Chirlane McCray (DeBlasio’s wife) and Cynthia Nixon. More photos to follow.
August 19, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Bill DeBlasio, Chirlane McCray, Cynthia Nixon, Greenwich Village, Hans Von Rittern, Harry Belafonte, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, St. Vincent's Hospital, Susan Sarandon | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: WONDER WHEEL GOT TO GO ‘ROUND ~
What goes up must come down
Wonder wheel got to go ’round
Talkin’ ’bout your troubles it’s a cryin’ sin
Ride a painted pony let the Wonder wheel spin
You got no money and you got no home
Wonder wheel all alone
Talkin’ ’bout your troubles and you never learn
Ride a painted pony let the Wonder wheel turn
Did you find the directing sign on the
Straight and narrow highway
Would you mind a reflecting sign
Just let it shine within your mind
And show you the colors that are real
Someone is waiting just for you
Wonder wheel, spinnin’ true
lyrics by Blood, Sweat and Tears 1968
* * * * * * * * * * *
The Coney Island Wonder Wheel is a 45.7-metre (150 ft) tall eccentric Ferris wheel located at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, in the Coney Island neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, US.
Eccentric wheels differ from conventional Ferris wheels in that some of the passenger cars are not fixed directly to the rim of the wheel, but instead slide on rails between the hub and the rim as the wheel rotates.
Built in 1918 and opened in 1920 by the Eccentric Ferris Wheel Company, Wonder Wheel has 24 fully enclosed passenger cars, each able to carry 6 people, giving a total capacity of 144 passengers. 16 of the cars slide inward and outward as the wheel rotates, the remainder are fixed to the rim. The whole wheel weighs 200 tons.
The only time the wheel stopped while not under the control of the operator was during the New York City blackout of 1977 on July 13, 1977. Wonder Wheel operates on electricity, however, the passengers were not stuck on the wheel, as the owners cranked the wheel around to get them off.
August 18, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 1968, blood sweat and tears, Blood Sweat Tears Spinnin' Wheel, Brooklyn, Coney Island, Coney Island amusement park, Coney Island beach, Coney Island boardwalk, Coney Island rides, Coney Island Wonder Ferris Wheel, Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, eccentric Ferris wheel, eccentric wheels, girl sunbather in bikini, Hans Von Rittern, New York beaches, New York City, New York City blackout of 1977, New York photo, Photo of the day, Spinning Wheel lyrics | 2 Comments
Photo of the day: CROWN HEIGHTS – From 265 feet (80.77 meters) above ground, there are 25 windows in the crown of the Statue of Liberty, some of which are open slightly giving you the opportunity to try to take the most amazing photographs of the iconic symbol of freedom. The seven spikes in her crown, just above the windows, represent the seven seas. To look out of these windows, one can truly use the expression “breathtaking.”
Crown tickets are usually sold out months in advance (till October 2013), but if can plan your trip in advance, reserve a ticket and take a lifetime climb and experience this magnificent ‘breathtaking’ view!
August 16, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: breathtaking view, climbing inside Statue of Liberty, Hans Von Rittern, Inside crown of Satue of Liberty, Lady Liberty, Liberty crown, Liberty Island, Liberty spikes, Liberty statue, Manhattan, New York City, New York City harbor view, Photo of the day, Statue of Liberty, the seven seas, view from Statue of Liberty crown, windows in Liberty crown | 2 Comments
Photo of the day: COME INSIDE – Take it to mean whatever you want, but this mural ad certainly draws your attention for the Station Restaurant & Bar at 166 North 7th Street and Bedford Avenue in hotter than hot Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Just take the “L” train to the Bedford Avenue stop.
Located at the heart of the bustling Williamsburg scene at Bedford Avenue, Station brings the feel of an old-world European train station café and restaurant in a contemporary setting. Amazing dining and drinking in a casual atmosphere, serving a premier selection of curated foods in a comfortable and friendly environment where guests are old friends. The food is Bistro Cuisine on vacation in Brooklyn, an eclectic mix of cultures and flavors emerging from the traditions of Europe.
Come to Brooklyn where old world New York still thrives!
STATION: 166 N. 7th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211. Tel: 718-599-1596
August 15, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: 166 N. 7th Street, Bedford Avenue, Bistro Cuisine, Brooklyn, Brooklyn dining, Hans Von Rittern, New York City, New York photo, old-world European train station café, Photo of the day, policewoman, Station Restaurant and Bar, street art, street mural, subway, subway mural, Williamsburg Brooklyn | 2 Comments
Vintage Photo of the day: WHERE WERE YOU WHEN THE LIGHTS WENT OUT? – Today is the 10 year anniversary of the 2003 massive, long lasting blackout.
The Northeast blackout of 2003 was a widespread power outage that occurred throughout parts of the Northeastern and Midwestern United States and the Canadian province of Ontario on Thursday, August 14, 2003, just before 4:10 p.m. EDT. While some power was restored by 11 p.m., many did not get power back until two days later.At the time, it was the second most widespread blackout in history, after the 1999 southern Brazil blackout. The blackout affected an estimated 10 million people in Ontario and 45 million people in eight U.S. states.
But, in 2006 Queens was hit by the worst blackout in NYC history, it lasted five days during a scorching heat wave. Sunnyside, Queens where I live, was effected the longest out of any neighborhood in the city and our power remained out for an entire week. Two dogs died on my block from heat exhaustion. My mother slept sitting upright by the window. No food was to be bought or had. Water was being handed out by the red cross. Mayor Bloomberg deemed to go to Queens not until the 5th day.
Where were ~you~ when the lights went out?
The film:
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? is a 1968 comedy film with
Doris Day, directed by
Hy Averback. It is set in New York City during the infamous
Northeast Blackout of 1965, in which 25 million people scattered throughout seven states lost electricity for several hours
August 14, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: "Where Were You When The Lights Went Out?" 1968 moive, Backout of 2003, blackout of 1965, blackout of 2003, blackout of 2006, comedy film, Doris Day, Hans Von Rittern, Hy Averback, Manhattan, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York City, New York photo, Northeast blackout 2003, Ontario Canada, Photo of the day, Queens, Robert Morse, second worst blackout ever, southern brazil, Sunnyside, Sunnyside Gardens, Terry Thomas | 1 Comment
Photo of the day: “THEY’RE HAVING A 2 FOR 1 SALE!” – Sometimes people just go overboard at these BOGO (Buy one, get one) sales! Seems whatever it was they were selling – he was more interest in the “2” and the “1” ! 
August 14, 2013 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: 1 and 2, 2 for 1 sale, BOGO sale, Broadway, Hans Von Rittern, Jujamcyn Theaters, man grabbing large numerals, Manhattan, New York City, New York photo, Photo of the day, shopaholic, shopping, Times Square | Leave a comment
Photo of the day: “THEY GAVE ME A FUCKING CHIHUAHUA?!” – The classic Bette Midler joke…
Two women go for a walk with their dogs one day.
One had a Doberman; The other a Chihuahua.
“Look, there’s a bar open. Let’s go in. Have a drink,”
Doberwoman said.
“We can’t. We’ve got dogs,” Chihuahuawoman said.
“Just watch me. Do as I do,” Doberwoman said.
She put on her D&G shades, Walked boldly to the door
Where a bouncer said, “Sorry lady. No dogs. It’s the law.”
“You don’t understand!” Doberwoman said, “This is my seeing-eye dog.”
“A Doberman?” The bouncer asked.
“Yes, they’re using them now. They’re very good!”
Doberwoman said.
The bouncer shrugged And opened the door. Across the street,
Chihuahuawoman thought Convincing bouncer Chihuahua was seeing-eye dog may be a stretch But whatheheck—
Wearing her DKNY shades Strolled warily to the door— “Oops!” The bouncer said,
“No pets. Sorry.” “You don’t understand,” Chihuahuawoman said, “This is my seeing-eye dog.”
“A Chihuahua?” the bouncer asked Shaking his head.
“A Chihuahua??” Wailed Chihuahuawoman. “THEY GAVE ME A FUCKING CHIHUAHUA?!?!?”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_eQk_MeTBU
August 13, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Bette Midler, blind person with Boston Terrier, blind person with dog, Boston terrier, Boston terrier seeing eye dog, Chihuahua joke, classic Bette Midler joke, Clementine, Dobberman pincher, doberman, dog, dog joke, Hans Von Rittern, Manhattan, New York photo, Photo of the day, seeing eye dog, seeing eye dogs, Sophie Tucker | Leave a comment
Mondays on Memory Lane: I REMEMBER SUBWAYS WHEN . . . – They had rattan seats – when the rattan came loose, it would pinch you in the ass – all you needed was a nickel and a dime to ride the subway, 15¢ – they gave out paper transfers – porcelain handles that squeaked – the subways were so noisy you had to wait till the next stop so that you could talk – they had vending machines on the platforms: assorted gums like Chicklets for 1¢, Dole orange juice machines with separate spigots for water and juice concentrate – there was still a Miss Subways – there were large paper ads shellacked onto the walls instead of the peel and stick kind today – the stations were dimly lit with simple household light bulbs – we still had token booth attendants – those thick wooden turnstiles – there was a dusty/musty smell in all the stations – garbage was piled high on the tracks – ladies wore white gloves on the subways (this helped keep your fingers from not getting black from reading The New York Times) – all businessmen read their cleverly triple vertically folded NY Times, it was an art – there were wonderful square cardboard ads on the car walls advertising the movies with a show at Radio City Music Hall – when (I Love) Lucy got the loving cub stuck on her head and takes the subway disguised as a beekeeper – there were no musical performers on the trains – that vertical emergency brake pole that was on one end in every car, that would clank as the train rattled – trains shook, rattled and rolled – going from car to car while the trains sped through the tunnels was really dangerous and scary – men gave ladies their seats – porcelain ceiling fans – those teeny tiny tokens! – you could open the windows at your desire – the conductor changing the route signs at the end of every station – you got dressed nicely simply because you were taking the New York City subway, wondering if you might sit next to an actual ‘miss Subways!’ . . .
Radio City movie & show – 1974 subway ad
August 12, 2013 | Categories: DAILY PHOTOS WITH STORIES OF NEW YORK CITY | Tags: Hans Von Rittern, I Love Lucy, Julie Andrews, Manhattan, Miss Subways, MTA, New York City, new york city subway, New York photo, old New York subways, Omar Shariff, porcelain ceilng fans, porcelain subway handles, Radio City Music Hall, rattan subway seats, subway, subway nostalgia, subway tokens, The Tamarind Seed, transportation, vintage subway ad | Leave a comment
NEW YORK CITY - IN THE WIT OF AN EYE 