Photo of the night: I WAS JUST IMMORTALIZED AT 5POINTZ ! ! !
My birthday wishes at 5Pointz
I WAS JUST IMMORTALIZED AT 5POINTZ ! ! !
This is by far – the coolest, most unexpected, AWESOME birthday present EVER!! Created by my friend Anthony SpinChenzo (he’s a hugger!), thank you so much ♥ ! Jonathan Meres Cohen – thank you for my disco party, you rock!
Photo of the day: IT WAS 72° TODAY – THE BAD SIDE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING
Photo of the day: THE BAD SIDE EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING: . . . is this.
It was 72 degrees (22.2 Celsius) today in New York City! And what does that result in – one of the older ‘regulars*’ in Times Square, still wearing winter mittens and a pair of Uggs. Of course the Christmas velvet reindeer antlers with a Statue of Liberty crown to hold them in place. The pink wig matches his pink bike and matching pink streamers. Since it was so warm today that rest of his outfit was shed to reveal tiny polka dot bikini.
But . . . don’t you just hate it – when you realize, after you’ve left the house, that your bikini top doesn’t match your bikini bottom? I hate when that happens!
* We have several ‘regulars’ – the naked cowboy, the naked cowgirl, the naked Indian and the naked candy man.
THANK YOU !
THANK YOU ! – for the over 200+ (I lost count) international happy birthday wishes on Facebook and here on my blog! I am truly overwhelmed 🙂
I tried answering many of you but couldn’t personally answer all, it was just a matter of time and logistics. So – I’ve put up this road sign to say THANK YOU and VIELEN DANK to all of my international friends. You have made me feel so special. (Mom says: “Over 175?! You got that many cards?” “No mom, they’re email wishes.” “Oh, I guess that how things are done nowadays.” “Yes, mom.” Mom thought a little bit – “Let me see them!”)
My personal thanks to my neighborhood friends Marie and Meres for giving me an extra special local birthday celebration. And of course a very special thanks to Ursula/mom, who at 87 still makes the best home cooked German birthday dinner in New York ❤ !
Photo of the day: NOT BAD FOR 58?!
Photo of the day: NOT BAD FOR 58?! –
Hans Von Rittern, born December 21, 1955. Happy Birthday to me!
Photo of the day: WHAT HAS 72 LEGS AND MOVES WITH PRECISION?
Photo of the day: WHAT HAS 72 LEGS AND MOVES WITH PRECISION? – The New York Radio City Music Hall Rockettes ! !
The Christmas Spectacular is the single most popular show in New York at Christmastime. 5,931 seats available for each show!! Five shows a day!
There are two sets each of 36 dancers in each New York show. There are 80 Rockettes (4 understudies), and they split the casts into 40 and 40. On the days with five shows, one cast will do two shows, the other will do three. On six-show days they divide it by three and three. So they can get a break, during the week they give each other a day off. The most they would do is four shows in a day.
A little known fact, if you are from Missouri (ironically the “show me” state) – you can be proud! The group was founded in St. Louis, Missouri by Russell Markert in 1925, originally performing as the “Missouri Rockets.” Markert had been inspired by the John Tiller Girls in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1922, and was convinced that “If I ever got a chance to get a group of American girls who would be taller and have longer legs and could do really complicated tap routines and eye-high kicks… they’d knock your socks off!” The group was brought to New York City by Samuel Roxy Rothafel to perform at his Roxy Theater and renamed the “Roxyettes.” When Rothafel left the Roxy Theatre to open Radio City Music Hall, the dance troupe followed and later became known as the Rockettes. The group performed as part of opening night at Radio City Music Hall on December 27, 1932. In 1936, the troupe won the grand prize at the “Paris Exposition de Dance”…the rest – is history !
Photo of the day: “YOU GOTTA HAVE FREUNDE/FRIENDS”
Photo of the day: “YOU GOTTA HAVE FREUNDE/FRIENDS” – Meet 40 more of my new friends from all over Germany! This was “group #2” that I took all over town for the Christmas holidaze.
Isn’t funny how in every tour group there are always certain types: the ones who HAVE to sit up front in the bus “or I’ll get sick”, the permanently befuddled, your instant best friend, the camera buff, the person who constantly sez “I saw this when I was here last time”, the note taker, the spendthrift, the shopaholic and of course – the know it all. I will not reveal who is who . . . but they’re all there, and I love ’em all.
FRÖHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN !
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
♫♪ “There’s a light over at the 5 Pointz Place” ♫♪
5 Pointz Dec. 14, 2013
In the velvet darkness of the blackest night
Burning bright, there’s a guiding star
No matter what or who you are.
There’s a light over at the 5 Pointz Place
There’s a light burning in the artist’s space
There’s a light, light in the darkness of every artist’s life.
I can see the tags through the white, I can see through the hate
Just the same, there has got to be
Some place better here for you and me to create.
There’s a light over at the 5 Pointz Place
There’s a light burning in the artist’s space
There’s a light, light in the darkness of every artist’s life.
The darkness must go down the river of nightmares dreaming
Flow paint slow, let the colors and light again come streaming
Into our lives, into our lives.
There’s a light over at the 5 Pointz Place
There’s a light burning in the artist’s space
There’s a light, light in the darkness of every artist’s life.
Photo of the day: “COMMON LET’S GO HOME, MY PAWS ARE COLD!”
Photo of the day: “COMMON LET’S GO HOME, MY PAWS ARE COLD!” – Another snow day for my dog ‘Noel’. She loves sniffing all the new snow, and making paw prints in the snow. But, after a while when her paws are too cold, she grabs my handle of the leash and pulls me to let me know “common let’s go home, my paws are cold!”
Photo of the day: FRIDAY THE 13th SPECIAL $31 TATTOOS
Photo of the day: FRIDAY THE 13th SPECIAL $31 TATTOOS – Rushing along St. Mark’s Place this past Friday, I came across this colorful tranquil scene in the window of Whatever Tattoo. It reminded me immediately of the many old master paintings of reclining nudes I have seen in museums and books. This handsome tall hunk was just in the perfect classic pose, eyes closed, so peaceful and at rest while getting a giant tattoo on his back.
Now some people if they suffer from triskaidekaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th) they stay indoors, away from ladders, avoid making decisions and all possible harm – others go to tattoo parlors. I think though, that this tattoo will cost more than the $31 advertised Friday the 13th special.
17 St. Mark’s Pl, New York, NY 10003 (212) 777-2430
Modigliani’s ‘Reclining Nude’ 1917
Photo of the day: I’M NOT DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS AT 5 POINTZ
5 Pointz International Graffiti Museum. December 14, 2013.
Photo of the day: I’M NOT DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS – With the horrific heartless vandalizing of the 5 Pointz international graffiti art museum by owner Gerry Wolkoff by smearing white paint over 1,000’s of pieces of incredible breath taking art, I thought it would be sadly ironic to photograph the remains of the museum in tonight’s first blizzard of the season. The loading dock has now been cordoned off with a tall chain link fence with mesh netting so you cannot ‘see’ through, god forbid scrooge let’s you have a glimpse. (I squeezed my camera through an opening in the gate). The two gates are kept closed with a big steel chain link and lock. As the wind whipped the snow around, the gates rattled back and forth with the only sound to be heard of the chain links and the lock rattling, eerily like that of a ghost in an old movie haunting his final resting place. It felt like a cold place of death as the wind howled, the chains rattled with not a sign of life except for the occasional rats wondering where all the food has gone. Perhaps the rats will find good company with the despicable owner Gerry Wolkoff since misery loves company.
I just stood there for about an hour and watched the snow envelope the now ghostly white building in a graveyard of snow. In this particular case, I am not dreaming of a white Christmas.
(More photos to follow.)
Photo of the day: A LEG UP ON CHRISTMAS
Photo of the day: A LEG UP ON CHRISTMAS – So I’m sitting in cozy Da Gennaro restaurant on Mulberry Street in Little Italy, enjoying a lunch by myself, feeling a little like Rose Castorini (Olympia Dukakis), Cher’s mother in “Moonstruck.” My corner window seat had a perfect view of the intersection of Hester and Mulberry Streets. As the snow flurries danced about, I watched the people scurrying by. Most were tourists wondering where to eat or find that Dean Martin cd. Then I saw this guy crossing the street and I noticed something rather unusual sticking out of his backpack. Let’s hope it was a mannequin’s leg and not a real one. Maybe he was taking it home to create another ‘leg lamp’ from the 1983 movie “A Christmas Story”, let’s hope . . .
“A Christmas Story” 1983 film
Photo of the day: MEET 35 OF MY NEW FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER GERMANY
Photo of the day: MEET 35 OF MY NEW FRIENDS FROM ALL OVER GERMANY – I spent 5 days showing them New York through my eyes. From picking them up at the airport and showing them Manhattan for the first time as we drove down Fifth Avenue, to my full up and downtown tours including, of course, a visit to the Empire State Building. Their last full day is spent shopping. I chose either uptown Macy*s or downtown SOHO. I felt like Santa – so many had their special requests: “Where can I find a wooden train?” “I need Levis jeans.” “Where is the Harley Davidson store?” “Does Tiffany carry charm bracelets?” Hansanta answered all thier wishes.
I went with the SOHO group and those who weren’t so eager to shop got a walking tour with me of the Brooklyn Bridge, the stock market on Wall Street, the Trade Center and St. Paul’s Church. Topped off by a subway ride back to SOHO. German’s on their first New Yawk subway ride is a hoot – like little kiddies in an amusement park!
Here we are on our last day, all big smiles on our way to the airport. The next group is just 4 days away….
FRÖHLICHE WEIHNACHTEN !
Photo of the day: 121212 CONCERT, WHERE IS THE HELP NOW?
Photo of the day: 121212 WHERE IS THE HELP NOW? – One year ago today there was a monumental concert effort to help the victims of our hurricane Sandy. While a valiant effort it was, there are still today thousands of people without homes in New York and New Jersey, miles and miles of seashore destroyed.
One year later, there are thousands of people suffering in the Philippines from Super Typhoon Haiyan. The destruction was catastrophic. Storm clouds covered the entire Philippines, stretching 1,120 miles — equal to a distance between Florida and Canada. The deadly wind field, or tropical storm force winds, covered an area the size of Montana or Germany. Winds gusted an unequaled 195 to 235 mph! Over 10,000 are dead, most of the poor population is homeless. 80% of the structures are flattened.
One year later: Where is the 121213 concert?
Photo of the day: THE NEW DEFINITION OF ‘HOT POCKET’
Photo of the day: THE NEW DEFINITION OF ‘HOT POCKET’ – Seen in Chinatown, New York – a woman in one of the open air markets straddling an electric heater between her legs to keep warm. That’s some intense heat – ouch !
Photo of the day: NUNS ON STATEN ISLAND FERRY – a few of my favorite things!
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favorite things.
Dreamy desserts with bright colored berries,
Nuns back and forth on Staten Island ferries,
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings,
These are a few of my favorite things!
(I think this nun’s name might be Maria)
Photo of the day: THE APOLLO THEATER in HARLEM MOURNS MANDELA
Apollo Theater, 125th Street Harlem. 12-6-2013
| “The Apollo Theater mourns the loss of civil rights leader, educator and revolutionary politician Nelson Mandela. In 1990, Nelson and Winnie Mandela visited Harlem, New York shortly after his South African prison release. His triumphant story of fighting against the South African government for their racist policies resonated deeply with the Harlem community. It was an honor to have Mr. Mandela visit us in Harlem and we send our condolences to Mr. Mandela’s family, friends and supporters around the world.” |
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© 2013 Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. All Rights Reserved.  Apollo Theater, June 27, 2009 |
NELSON MANDELA mural in Harlem on 125th Street. R.I.P.
Nelson Mandela mural 125th Street Harlem
Nelson Mandela 1918 – 2013. Thank you for changing the world peacefully. May you now rest peacefully.
(Harlem mural by Franco Gaskin, seen on 125th Street. Malcom X, Obama, Mandela, Dr. King)
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: HANS CRUISES NEW YORK
Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises
Photo of the day: HANS CRUISES NEW YORK – I spent five days taking 35 Germans and one American on a total sightseeing tour of New York City! They saw the whole big apple from top (Harlem) to bottom (Battery Park/World Trade). The minuses: getting up at 4:30 am to travel from Queens so I can meet them at their hotel in Seacaucus, Jersey at 8:00am. Dropping them off in Jersey at night and that long, long cold mass transit bus ride back. The pluses: The wonderment in their eyes seeing Times Square for the first time. Taking the famed Circle Line Manhattan boat cruise at sunset. Their eagerness to walk along Fifth Avenue decorated for the holidays. The giddy Empire State building visit. The look in their eyes the next morning after they visited the places I had recommended. The hugs and German home made cookie I got at the airport as they sadly said goodbye…makes all worth while 🙂
Can you tell it was cold?
Photo of the day: SEEN AT MY SUBWAY BOOTH ~ A LESSON IN MANNERS
#7 train subway booth, Sunnyside, Queens
Photo of the day: SEEN AT MY SUBWAY BOOTH ~ A LESSON IN MANNERS: “Excuse me please, can you, can I have, thank you have a nice day.”
Photo of the day: FLASH MOB SINGS HAPPY 103rd BIRTHDAY/THANKSGIVING TO ETHEL OF SUNNYSIDE ♫♪ !
Photo of the day: FLASH MOB SINGS HAPPY 103rd BIRTHDAY/THANKSGIVING TO ETHEL OF SUNNYSIDE ♫♪ ! – My neighbor and art patron Ethel Plimack celebrates her 103rd birthday today!! Thanksgiving + Hanukkah + 103 years! WOW! Fellow neighbor Patricia Dorfman and member of the Sunnyside Artist League organized a flash mob for 11:59am today when neighbors and their children appeared on Ethel’s doorstep and sang a special “Happy Birthday” to her! What a special day !
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#
NEW YORK CITY - IN THE WIT OF AN EYE 