Wanda

Today I was on the A train headed downtown for lunch with a client when somewhere in Harlem a woman stepped on wearing more rings than I'd ever seen on a person. She sat across from me and I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. Very confident and put together she was "grooving" to her music through headphones. The person sitting closest to her exited the train around 59th street so I immediately took that seat. I usually avoid talking to strangers but I felt compelled to speak to her. After a moment of self doubt I tapped her on the arm and asked her if I could take a photo of her rings. She was very nice and told me that she had always dressed differently than most people. I took a few snaps and gave her my card. Though I wanted to keep talking, my stop was coming up quickly. As the train pulled into the station we shook hands and with a big smile, she told me her name was Wanda. 

Post No ______

Construction sites often put up big blue walls marked "POST NO BILLS". Someone with a lot of time on their hands went to a lot of trouble to alter these. In Soho, a few days ago. 

Random Appropriated Wisdom

I didn't take any of these photos.... They were swiped from various blogs.

 Everyone thinks they're a photographer. She's got news for you.

 I look at this when I feel like tossing in the towel.

 The U.S. has over 700 military bases worldwide. Most doing nothing. "Protecting our freedom" is a joke. Our freedom is not threatened. This drives me batshit.

We're already unknowingly ingesting massive amounts of GMO product now, mostly soy and corn. Some people still don't believe it's harmful. The same people don't believe humans have any influence on global warming. Amazing the denial and stupidity of seemingly bright people. 

Random Curiosities

Walking down the street I found this odd sign in front of a restaurant. An opportunity to scribble an item from your own "bucket list".

People don't seem to have the capacity to abide by rules. I see people break rules on an hourly basis, especially on the subway. Nobody gives a shit. This idiot was 60 feet from a large dog run.

He was a powerful looking stocky man. Broad shoulders, shaved head, faded tattoos. Looked like a Russian fighter or bouncer, maybe a mob guy. His sweat pants had suede patches sewn into the crotch. And, a shirt that matched the patches.

As I snapped this photo I thought for a moment of him catching me and sticking my camera somewhere it shouldn't be.

Having a true appreciation for a nice guitar, there are few sights that'll make your heart skip a beat as you enter the outdoor flea market. Block sale on 44th Street. Turned out this old archtop needed a bit too much work. A few minutes later I scored a very desirable camera, a Yashica T4. When I asked the gentleman how much he wanted for it he said, "Seven dollars." When I paused, not believing what I'd heard, he followed with, "Okay then, five dollars."

Eighty-eight pianos are located around the city for people to play and enjoy. I found this one in Hudson River Park. The bike rider stopped, played a few tunes, and was on his way.

The Wing

I have neglected my duties as a blogger. Though active and doing interesting things, I haven't felt inspired to write anything. But, the other day I was about to hop on the uptown A train at West 4th street, north entrance. It was late in the afternoon and I was just about to go down the steps to the subway when I glanced down and noticed a large chicken wing on the top step. Undamaged, some poor soul unfortunately dropped the delicious snack. Just as I snapped a photo of the lone wing, a young guy in his early twenties wearing a dirty t-shirt asked me for some money. He looked healthy enough to work so I gave him my best, "Yeah right, get a friggin job" face. (Note: I have no problem giving money to someone who is very old, handicapped or missing an appendage.) Besides, this guy was far younger and in better shape than I. Another young and healthy derelict friend walked up, glanced down at the chicken wing and said, "Wow, a wing...you want it?" His friend declined and he turned to me asking, "Do you?" I said, "No man, it's got your name on it, have at it." The kid grabs the wing and heads down the steps. Ten minutes later, I'm on the platform and I see the guy licking his finger tips. He sees me and with a big smile says, "You missed out my man, that was an awesome wing." I smiled back with complete sincerity, happy he was happy. 

 Now you see it...

 ...Now you don't.

Yeeehooo!!!  The fountain is up and running at Washington Square Park. Full of kids, bums, NYU students and loads of bacteria. Get out your amoxicillin and let's party!!

 Tammy Wynette sighting

Kitchen help. I just liked the contrast and colors

Randomness

It's a toss up for me regarding favorite "cheap eats" in the city. These are my two favorites, hands down. Above, Hummus Fava and a small Health Salad from Hummus Place on Bleecker and 7th Ave. South, about $12.50. Below, two original Mexican tacos and a bowl of Yankee bean soup from a little corner diner on Kingsbridge Ave. and 231st Street in the Bronx, $8. Given this or some fancy-schmancy expensive place, I'll take this any day. So good, I'm never disappointed.

After having Chinese food with Katherine the other night on the Upper East Side, we both got the same fortune... We just looked at each other waiting to hear what the other's proposition would be. I'm not saying anything.

The San Remo

After dinner we walked through Central Park long after dark. She kept asking, "Are you sure it's safe to be here after dark? I don't see any people. Are we going to get killed?" I must admit on some of the darker trails it did get a bit spooky. Halfway across we ran into some interesting characters at Bethesda Fountain. A large group of people lined up with tripods taking a class on night photography, doing long exposures, as well as a smaller group practicing with their Star Wars lightsabers. Very nice people, though I didn't have the heart to tell them I've never seen a Star Wars movie in my life. They would probably have killed me. Katherine and I made it safely across the park and had pie in Columbus Circle. A lovely night.

Bethesda Fountain tunnel at night. Beautiful.

My Wonderful Week of Art

I went to a David Sedaris talk and book signing tonight. As I was walking up to the bookstore on Prince Street in Soho, I saw the HUGE line of people halfway around the block. Pal Rebecca sent me a message wondering where I was, she was already inside. I walked in and made my way through the crowd and there she was in the very front row, an empty chair saved next to her. It was like Christmas, from the perspective of getting a great seat. After signing books for an hour and a half Sedaris read from his latest book, Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls. He was hilarious. So warm and entertaining, and he stayed to sign a million more books afterwards. And, I spoke with him and gave him some photos of his sister Amy I had taken a few years ago.

A strange little man--he would occasionally reach into a tote bag after signing someone's book and give them a little bottle of lotion or shampoo taken from some random hotel he had recently stayed in, or maybe offer a little piece of chocolate from an open box lying on the desk in front of him. He's very engaging, speaking with everyone and seemingly interested in one's answers to his questions.

Rebecca and I left around 8:00 and walked to a local favorite Italian place and had Penne a la Vodka that was to die for, a huge caesar salad (split both) and a freezing cold beer. Even with the split I took home half--so much food. Walked out at only $22 each. Awesome. Going down the steps to the subway, it came almost immediately, I hopped on the A train and was home by 10:30ish. A perfect night.

Big sign as you walked into the event: "No Photos Allowed". Stealth snap...I could have been a spy.

The place was packed...upstairs and downstairs. Someone said it was the largest turnout for an author ever (there, not ever ever).

Thursday night was art night (as usual). First stop was the Jeff Koons opening. Standing in that line (20 minutes) I decided that when I die and go to heaven (fat chance), I'm going to ask Jesus how this happens. Guy makes giant sculptures that look like balloon animals and becomes the richest artist alive. And, he doesn't actually do anything, he just tells people to make them. Here's the number one star/artist Jeff Koons with the number one art dealer, Larry Gagosian.

 Getting closer... in line with the masses. No line cutting for me... moooooo.

Koons showing his 4-year-old daughter how daddy has become a multi-millionaire making phallic-looking balloon sculptures on a grand scale. 

This is the Dennis Hopper show I hit on Tuesday night at Gagosian's uptown gallery. Here's my take on this show: Dennis Hopper the actor (and sometimes amateur photographer) shoots a bunch of photographs from 1961-1967 with a Nikon his wife buys him for his birthday. At some point he tosses some 400 crappy, cheap, machine made prints into a box. Yes, a few are nice and a few are of famous people like Jane Fonda and Paul Newman but all the rest are nothing more than snapshots of daily life. Dennis Hopper dies in May 2010 and someone goes through his estate, finds the box of photos and decides this is genius and puts them up for sale. No frames, bent edges, flat lifeless prints. Go figure.

The scene at Gagosian's roof deck on 77th St. and Madison Ave. There were two shows that night, Cecily Brown and Hopper. I didn't enjoy either. I did however enjoy the atmosphere, the wine and the people watching. It was good for that.

More Odd Sights

 Nothing gets the breakfast conversation going like seeing a casket. "So, been to any good funerals lately?"

  Seems like an odd, uncomfortable place to hang out.

 "Please do not tap on the glass! The Puppies." What a weird sign. So I tapped lightly. The boxer was unresponsive. 

Art night Thursday... Two escapees showed up. Their outfits were more entertaining than the show. 

Hey, What Are You Looking At?

Occasionally I'll go stand on some random corner for 30 minutes or so and watch people go by. I usually do this after a meeting or dropping off images at Conde Nast in midtown. Last week I stopped on 42nd St. near Grand Central and then on the corner of 42nd and 5th Ave. I usually tuck myself into a corner and flip up the viewer on my tiny Lumix so my head is tilted down looking into my camera. The way older video camera viewers worked. If anyone happens to look at me, my eyes are looking towards my feet, camera at my chest level. Obviously I'm trying NOT to be obvious while watching them. I thought doing this it would make me more stealth-like. But, I soon realized that a good number of people look at me wondering what the hell I'm doing. Apparently people are so used to having devices aimed in their direction they don't pay any attention so I might as well just hold the camera up to my face from now on. So much for using the optional $200 flip-up viewer.