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Dead Man Gawking

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Brian Dubé

Mention Ken Rockwell to photographers familiar with Ken’s website and pronouncements, and you will likely get mixed and strong reactions. He is seen by many as the master of misinformation. A tireless self-promoter. Some say a buffoon, but it matters not to him – his website gets enormous traffic, and Ken generates income from various forms of text-link ads and other sources. He is debated and critiqued on countless forums. The controversy, however, only fuels the traffic to his site.

Ken’s assertions are often dramatic. However, no one can be wrong all the time, and even experienced photographers enjoy his site from time to time, sorting the wheat from chaff, often looking, as I do, for validation for things they already know, but just presented more emphatically, passionately, and authoritatively.
On November 17, 2011, I wrote The Magic Hour, about that time of day that artists and photographers have also referred to as the Golden Hour, the hour before or after sunset when the character of the light is very unique, often bathing subjects in a spectacular golden/reddish light.

This has led Ken Rockwell to make a number of outlandish statements:

Glorious light only happens for 60 seconds or less any particular day, if it happens at all. If it happens at all, it usually happens sometime in a window 15 minutes before or after sunrise or sunset.

Glorious light doesn’t happen in the day. It happens at sunrise and sunset. We call this “magic hour” in Hollywood.

Most people sleep through sunrise. They lose half their potential shots. I have to get up at 3 AM, get out at 3:30 AM, get to the location at 4:30 AM, set up by 5 AM and wait for a 6 AM calculated sunrise. I’m crazy. Are you?

Sunset is as tough. Most people are eating dinner while I’m out shooting. I have to jerk around my schedule, as well as the schedule of normal people with whom I travel, to be out at sunset. Photographers have dinner at 4 PM so they can be shooting at 6 PM. A bunch of us were photographing at sunset, and I thought something interesting might happen. The rest of my photography group took off for dinner while I stayed around in the dark. I got this shot, one of my all time favorites, while they were having dinner.

If you sleep at sunrise and eat at sunset you’ll miss the only light that shows things the way I, and many others, like to see them. That’s why most people have never seen colors I show and think I’m making all this up in Photoshop. If I could get these results artificially I would, however one still has to trudge out and get this from nature the hard way.

These colors don’t happen every day. They may happen once a month, once a decade, or once in a lifetime. This shot got the orange color in the sky 20 minutes after the sun set because of ash in the upper atmosphere from the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991.

9 times out of 10 the sunrise is dull and a complete waste of time. While everyone else is eating dinner I’m out setting up hoping for great light at sunset, and again usually I get nothing. That’s why this takes patience.

You can’t predict nature, even 5 minutes before. I can try, but I never know what’s going to happen. I have to be out there and set up every time. Sometimes what I expect to be dull turns out to be explosive, and sometimes what I expect to be incredible never happens. Nature changes minute to minute.

You can’t expect God to create miraculous color any particular day just because you took that day off for vacation in Yosemite. You need to be out every single day.

You don’t need to be in Yosemite: most of my shots are from my own neighborhood. It’s all about the light and color, not the subject. Ansel just happened to live in Yosemite and waited for clearing storms. It’s not Yosemite; it’s that he was there every day.

Yesterday evening at about 8:15PM, I was walking the streets of the Village. It was a beautiful evening. As I gazed into the sky, I was startled by nature’s drama. Distant buildings both east and west were all aglow, virtually on fire, with the light of sunset. I knew from past experience that 6th Avenue looking south had virtually unobstructed views of the Freedom Tower. I hustled there, and sure enough, I witnessed the most spectacular evening light I have seen in this New York City vista. The Freedom Tower was in brilliant light, framed with Trump SoHo and, nearer by, the triangular shaped residential condominium building at 2 Cornelia Street, evocative of the Flatiron Building.

The photo opportunity could not be missed, and I planted myself in the center of oncoming traffic during red lights. My reckless behavior inspired others, and soon there were no less than 6 people taking photos in the middle of the street. It was reminiscent of my Dead Man Walking, however, on this night, in the sunset glow of the Golden Hour, I was Dead Man Gawking 🙂

More sunsets and spectacular sky views: Night on Bald Mountain, In a Fog, Moonrise Over Hernandez, Back to Our Main Feature, Fire and Ice, Who’s Getting Technical?, Mother Nature, Brooding

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in New York at Night, Scenic NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
Dick and Ferris

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Brian Dubé

Are you ever bored? I can guarantee that a night out with Dick and Ferris in New York City would never be boring. Unfortunately, I can not arrange it, but I can give you a taste.

I was an NYU student, and I, along with classmates, was becoming acquainted with the city with a friend, Dick, as a guide. He was a native New Yorker and an interloper at NYU – 25 years old and not a student. To us, he was much wiser and older. He had been a child actor. He knew everything about the world, or at least the world that was New York City. And to us, at 19 years old and a recent transplant, what other world was there? He showed us everything, particularly the underbelly of the city. His word was gospel.

Dick was wild, untamed, and a chain smoker. He was excessive. Like Thoreau, he wanted to live life to the fullest, suck the marrow out of it, and drive it into a corner. An outing with Dick was akin to one with Hunter S. Thompson.
Ferris Butler, on the other hand, was a bit askew. He was a friend of Dick’s, also an outsider and NYC native. He was decidedly a character, one that anyone who met him would not forget. Together, Dick and Ferris were a formidable pair.
Dick drove a taxi, which he saw fit to use for his own personal joy rides. However, his indulgence posed a problem – how do you party all night and also clock enough money to bring the taxi back to your employer with an acceptable amount of revenue?

One night, circa 1971, a number of us were in Dick’s cab, including Ferris. It was nearly 4AM, and the taxi was due back at the garage shortly. It was a very desperate situation. Dick had done no business at all and needed to bring the taxi back with at least $40 in fares to avoid being fired. He had the only solution – he would speed through the city streets as fast as possible with the meter running, clock $40, and pay out of pocket. However, as typical, he had no money. Ferris was the only rider with any money – he did not want to pay, but Dick extorted the money from him.

The ride felt like the car chase scene in the French Connection. The only thing I remember clearly was one leg of the journey where Dick turned onto the 59th Street Bridge outer lane. It was hair-raising as we careened across the bridge with Ferris in the front passenger seat screaming and begging for Dick to slow down, but to no avail. Time was really money now. We achieved our mission – by 4AM, the meter had been run up to $40 and all was well. A memorable night. This was to be one of many adventures in New York City with Dick and Ferris 🙂

Note: Watch my video as I drive the same outer roadway of the 59th Street Bridge that I did that night.

Posted on March 28, 2013 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in New York at Night, People, Videos, War Against Wheels. Bookmark the permalink.
Happy New Year – 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Brian Dubé

The Empire State Building all aglow with its new laser light show on New Year’s Eve.

Posted on January 1, 2013 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Holidays, New York at Night, Scenic NYC, Tourist Attractions. Bookmark the permalink.
This Hood is a Done Deal

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Brian Dubé

I recall a conversation many years ago with an artist who lived in Brooklyn and said that she found Manhattan over gentrified and fundamentally uninteresting. I was angry, defensive, and took this as sour grapes from someone who was not fortunate enough to live in Manhattan. After all, Manhattan was a mecca for so many human endeavors and the center of the universe, was it not?

Unlike the stereotypical Manhattan resident, I have visited Brooklyn and Queens often. And, over the course of the last six years that this website has been in existence, I have spent much more time in the outer boroughs, exploring and canvassing for subjects and potential stories. Now, in fairness, I must admit that the cultural brew in Brooklyn and Queens feels much richer than that of Manhattan, which has become more much more business and tourist oriented. If you seek an authentic New York and ethnic enclaves, the outer boroughs are where you must go. Neighborhoods such as Jackson Heights, Astoria, Richmond Hill, or Flushing in Queens and Borough Park, Sheepshead Bay, or Bay Ridge in Brooklyn have virtually no parallel in Manhattan, save Chinatown. In these neighborhoods, you will find a variety of merchants and restaurants catering to the local ethnic groups.

Regardless, Manhattan residents are a remarkably and classically xenophobic bunch, so you know things have changed when Manhattanites start traveling to Brooklyn and Queens for cultural and recreational activities. There are plenty of good reasons: the Brooklyn Museum, the Mermaid Parade, Coney Island, Dead Horse Bay, Floyd Bennett Field, the Queens Farm, the Queens Museum, Flushing Meadows – Corona Park, and perhaps one of the biggest draws and hottest neighborhoods in the five boroughs, Williamsburg.

You know things have really changed when, on a weekend, one Manhattanite runs across the dyed in the wool East Village icon, David Peel, in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, who both have crossed that river into another borough looking for a change of pace. Walking down Bedford Avenue, the main commercial artery of Williamsburg, I spotted David in a local pizza parlor, wearing his signature John Lennon-styled sunglasses.
The neighborhood has gone through remarkable transformations and even has a lively street scene with street performers, unusual outside of Manhattan. David knows me from our frequent meetings in Washington Square Park as well as the stories I have done including him as a subject. I spoke to him briefly about the irony of meeting in Brooklyn. He showed little surprise at all, knowing that Williamsburg was obviously the place to be. After all, New Yorkers love the hot new place and This Hood is a Done Deal 🙂

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Homes and 'Hoods, New York at Night, Only in New York, People. Bookmark the permalink.
Seeing Scenes Rarely Seen

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Brian Dubé

Nothing beats the drama of nature’s fury and nothing fuels it like anticipation, particularly when driven by the constant hammering of the media. The coming of hurricane Sandy has dominated conversation, thoughts, and television. Since yesterday, New York City has been a virtual ghost town, dead and eerily quiet. Streets are deserted, stores closed, extremely light vehicular traffic. Yet as I write this, 9:30AM on Monday morning, we have yet to see more than light rain and an occasional gust of wind. Of course, the weather forecasts must be taken seriously and authorities must err on the side of caution and preparation, with forced evacuations, shelters, and public warnings.

Last night, after spending the bulk of the weekend indoors, cabin fever finally drove me out for a late night walk. Parks were officially closed and the entire transit system shut down, forcing businesses to close since most employees rely on transit to commute to their workplace. I circumambulated through Washington Square Park, where a musician I know was playing guitar alone in the central fountain. I enjoyed the private concert and the absolute peace that one does not find here excepting times of extreme conditions – hurricanes, blizzards, or a rare event like 9/11.
The starkest contrasts are to be found where there is almost always perpetual activity – like on MacDougal Street or Sixth Avenue in the Village. It was there that I strolled, Seeing Scenes Rarely Seen…

More weather: Shifting Gears, In Like a Lion, Deep Freeze, Opportunity, Small Gestures, Weather Means Whether, Brooding

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Natural NYC, New York at Night. Bookmark the permalink.
Tanglewood Anyone?

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Brian Dubé

The same teacher who was the subject of my story Cello Class was also the woman who warned me one spring that there she would NOT be giving lessons over the summer because she refused to spend summers in New York City. Anyone here on a full time basis sees ample evidence of a mass exodus of many residents during the summer months, with benefits to those willing to stick it out. Restaurants that typically require reservations now have empty tables, streets now have readily available parking spots, tickets are available for shows normally sold out.

Of course, nothing comes without a price, and much as Vermont looks like paradise until one spends a winter there, New York City is quiet and easy during the summer for good reason. The relentless heat turns the city literally into a concrete jungle, now including steamy tropical weather, without any respite, save air-conditioned spaces. Nearly everyone on foot finds themselves making pit stops in cool shops, many nearly vacant with unusually attentive salespeople who well understand your reason for visiting – after all, they are also likely thinking the same thing – why I am in New York City during the summer heat? In this jungle, one will not find fruit hanging from trees but instead will find the waste of such foods littering the streets, where walking becomes a slalom between shoppers and mountains of garbage. The season that so many love can be a living hell in New York. After all, the best thing about summer is being outdoors, the very thing near impossible to enjoy here most days here until evening, if that. There are no cool mountains to ascend and no refreshing ocean breezes.

Summer music festivals, which combine the joys of the season outdoors with musical performance, can be found throughout the world. We do have such in the parks of New York – Central Park’s Summer Stage, Prospect Park’s Celebrate Brooklyn, Washington Square Park Music Festival, Tompkins Square Park Police Riot Concert, among the larger. There are also many many other music festivals as there are street fairs, parades, and a plethora of activities. The problem is that a blistering day makes these all but intolerable, and years of attending these makes one realize that although, as I have heard many a New Yorker extol, there are perks of summer festivities here, nonetheless, the environment leaves much to be desired. The seasoned New Yorker who has spent too many summers here begins to ruminate on where one would have, could have, and should have been, like Tanglewood.

If you have been to an outdoor concert like Tanglewood in the Massachusetts Berkshire mountains, you know what I mean. Here, one can lie on a clean lawn with a candlelit picnic, perhaps with wine, while lying under a black sky popping with stars on a summer evening and the sounds of world-class musicians wafting over, accompanied by cool evening breezes. On the other hand, for many, the urban equivalent will be lying on the hard, filthy asphalt ground of a well-lit park, trying to listen to musicians who compete with others in a small space as well as deflecting crusties, the homeless, drug addicts, and miscreants of every persuasion. Fights occasionally break out between many of the disenfranchised, understandably frustrated by their lot in life, only exacerbated by the unabated summer heat and humidity which lingers all night. The occasional police vehicle arrives to settle the differences of those who would be pointless to arrest, while at other times, an ambulance arrive to collect the maimed who will only be repaired and released to replay the same violent scenarios at another time. Tanglewood Anyone?

Posted on August 14, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in New York at Night, Parks, Rebels of NYC, Slings and Arrows of NYC, Street Performing. Bookmark the permalink.
Coney Island at Sunset

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Brian Dubé

Things look better or worse at different times of day or night, season or weather conditions, particularly New York City with its very uneven landscape. It is especially unattractive on hot, humid summer days when the dirt, litter, and grime become foreground and little beauty remains. When blizzards blanket the city, it can be seen with a rare pristine quality – everything unsightly is hidden from view, leaving a fresh, new, white wonderland where everything is enhanced. In the spring, we share the feeling of renewal with our country brethren. In the autumn, cool weather and clear skies provide a welcome respite from a hot summer in the city.

Recently, friends from Kansas were visiting the city. As is typically the case, their prior visits were dominated by the attractions in Manhattan. I volunteered my services and suggested a personal tour of Brooklyn. One member of the family had a long time interest in seeing Coney Island. Perfect – it was a beautiful summer evening, and I would time it for sunset. On the trip back, I would make certain to travel via the Belt Parkway, with vistas of the Verrazano Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and spectacular views of Manhattan from the promenade in Brooklyn Heights. We also toured Dumbo and returned via the Brooklyn Bridge. Such an itinerary is guaranteed to elate any visitor and affords prime photo opportunities.

Coney Island has been in decline since the 1950s. Recent efforts at revitalization has improved the area, however a seedy pall still hangs over the area, and depending on time and one’s mood, the amusement park can still be depressing. The boardwalk, abutting the Atlantic Ocean, is a constant positive, as are some of the historic rides, such as the Wonder Wheel and the Cyclone. We took a ride on the Wonder Wheel – always a joy with spectacular vistas of the ocean, boardwalk, the Manhattan skyline, and, of course, the amusement park itself.

This particular outing was my first in the evening, and we were blessed with a extremely spectacular sunset. The dimming light was just perfect to obscure the area’s blemishes while the bright lights of Nathan’s and the various attractions turned the entire environment into a menagerie of lights, all bathed in a red aura with deep blue sky and pink/orange highlights and clouds. We were all taken by Coney Island at Sunset 🙂

See my complete photo gallery here.

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in New York at Night, NYC's History, Scenic NYC, Tourist Attractions. Bookmark the permalink.
Culture Fix

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Brian Dubé

I grew up in a town where, regardless of the fact that it has a population of 61,000, THEY ROLL UP THE STREETS AT NIGHT. Even on Saturday, it is like visiting a ghost town of the West. There is virtually nowhere to eat other than fast food and nothing to do except cruise the streets in despair. No wonder the youth of America is bored out of their minds in suburban USA and turn to drugs and sex. And no wonder that places like New York City became a mecca for those who crave culture in all its variants. I understand that there are many options out of the city and also an inner world to explore – I was an avid reader and also extremely active and social. However, there are limits to how much blood one can extract from a stone, and many of our suburbs are virtually devoid of cultural activities.

So, in 1969, I, like many, made my way to a somewhat bigger town called New York City. Here, I found everything I had dreamed of and more. That young boy still lurks within, starry eyed and excitement bound, and, from time to time, I need a jolt of electric current and a culture fix. I rekindle those first moments when everything was ALIVE at any hour, day, or night and the feeling that anything is possible. Perhaps you even have a hankering to see a grown man dressed as a macaw, dancing about, while accompanied by a band called Moon Hooch, featuring a saxophonist with an enormous cardboard tube shoved into it.

I took a walk recently to Union Square, where, regardless of season, time, or weather, you are guaranteed to see humans in all manner of activities. Steps from street level to the park on the south side of Union Square provide impromptu stadium seating and is one of the best spots in New York City for people watching. The square is surrounded by merchants and is one of the city’s major transportation hubs. Historically it has also been a major meeting ground, a place to see and be seen and ideal for those with a political agenda or need to bring a message to the masses. The place is abuzz with people and energy.

It was here, on July 4th, 2012, at 12:17 AM that I found a grown man dancing in a macaw suit accompanied by a rock band. I was to learn that the performance was not spontaneous nor the product of birdbrains. It was a campaign on the part of Rock the Osa to raise awareness about the development threats facing Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula, home to the area’s last virgin rainforest and “the most biologically intense place on earth.” Marco Bollinger the Macaw and Eytan Elterman the Sea Turtle have nearly reached their target of $25,000 by dancing to produce the documentary project, 2.5 Percent, a film promoting conscious travel in Costa Rica.

Moon Hooch is a Bushwick, Brooklyn, based band which has played regularly in the NYC subway system. The three band members, James Muschler, Mike Wilbur, and Wenzl McGowen, met at the New School, where they studied music. Moon Hooch plays cave, a style of house music. After only a year, they have produced an album, toured nationally, and worked for a TV company.

As with everything else in New York City, things are often more than they seem. It’s where preconceived notions are best left in the checkroom. And all the better – it just means more opportunity for someone needing a Culture Fix 🙂

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Music and Concerts, New York at Night, Parks, People, Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
This entry has no title posted on July 26, 2012

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Brian Dubé

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Natural NYC, New York at Night, Scenic NYC. Bookmark the permalink.
Busy Busy

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Brian Dubé

You’ve met the type – the answer to “How are you doing?” is invariably a serious “Busy busy,” always said with a very serious sense of self-importance, akin to the demanding schedule of the CEO of a multinational corporation. Often, these types of individuals find idleness to be frightful and sinful. Constant motion and activity provides great comfort and obviates the need to feel, play, or further explain one’s life. I grew up like that.

In Devil’s Playground, I wrote: “And then there is the busy busy ethic, a defining characteristic of our culture and particularly a place like New York, an ethic that basically says any and all busyness is good and is sufficient to justify one’s existence.”

For those who hold this ethic dear and need validation that others share their compulsion, a trip to Times Square will satisfy nicely. Here, day or night, 24/7/365, we will find all manner of activity and industry. A place where everyone is Busy Busy 🙂

More on Times Square: Eye Candy, Branding Gone Wild, Work and Play, National Drama Queen, Devil Ups the Ante, Let’s Have a Parade, Wake Up Call , Full Circle, Times Square Ball Drop, Density and Intensity, The Naked Cowboy

Posted on July 11, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in New York at Night, Tourist Attractions, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
The French Connection

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Brian Dubé

I had read that it was the dream of many Parisians to retire in Aix-en-Provence in the south of France, sometimes referred to as the city of a thousand fountains. It is also a city known for its many educational institutions. Its idyllic Mediterranean climate befits the Cours Mirabeau, the central artery running through the town. The wide street is beautifully shaded with double rows of plane-trees and flanked by elegant mansions built by nobility in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.

This tunnel of greenery is accented by fountains and lined with cafes. It was here, on one visit to France, that I witnessed what I told was a tradition in town among students. A group of recent grads was cavorting along the Cours near a fountain. Soon it became a virtual water park, with boys grabbing girls, shrieking and writhing, and dowsing them in the fountain pool. I had mixed feelings about the entire happening, which tasted a bit like involuntary fraternity hazing. Were they really having fun or bending to peer pressure? But I make an effort to be as non-critical as I can of cultural differences when traveling, lest I become another ugly American, like the man I featured in So Where’s David?

The last two days have been intolerably hot, with daytime temperatures near 100 degrees. There is little escape from summer heat in the city – New Yorkers find themselves shopping or staying indoors until the heat passes. Many, whether owing to lack of air conditioning or cabin fever, take to the streets and parks, invariably gravitating towards water. Such was the case last night in Washington Square Park.

I was taken by surprise to see an enormous group of teenagers replaying the Aix tradition. Although cavorting in the fountain in Washington Square Park becomes de rigueur during heat waves, I have rarely seen instances of forced dunking and certainly not like Thursday night. Soon, dunked or not, virtually everyone was soaking wet. I was also surprised that in 2012, it was still a guy-gets-girl thing, owing perhaps to France’s greater tenacity to customs rather than cultural change.

I was intrigued at the grouping and asked a number where they were from. I was told Monaco. I learned, however, that this was said as a matter of convenience, since they expected few to know the smaller town they were actually from. I met Christophe Boule, a teacher of English, who was one of the four adults supervising this group of high school students. The students had finished their academic year and were on a class trip to New York City – an annual tradition for their school. They were staying at the youth hostel in Manhattan on the Upper West Side. They were in fact not from Monaco but from Menton, near the Italian border. Menton is a delightful small city on the coast which boasts the warmest climate in France. I had passed through it once and always wished to attend their annual lemon festival.

When I initially approached Christophe and the other adults, they were understandably reticent and suspect of a stranger in New York City asking many questions. Their fears became slowly assuaged – my business card did a lot to establish credibility as a writer and photographer. After all, these things are often claimed by miscreants looking to get over on the innocent. One adult noticed that my last name was French. I confirmed that heritage. Now the attitude was rapidly changing.Our discussion turned to my enthusiasms about France, particularly my obsessions with medieval perched villages in the south. Now I appeared to be sérieux and truly interested in French culture.

Soon, all was well. The Cours Mirabeau in Aix, the customary fountain dunkings, my passion for all things French, my obsession with French villages, my visit to Menton. How serendipitous and fortuitous. New York City is such a befitting set for a remake of The French Connection 🙂

Posted on June 22, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Curiosities of NYC, New York at Night, Parks, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
You Can’t Quit

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Brian Dubé

I was of conscription age during the Vietnam War. At the time, I was enrolled at NYU, a hotbed of political activism, radicalism, and antiwar protest. Everyone was terrified at the prospect of serving in a war that seemed to be a machine for taking boys, training them as soldiers, and returning them in body bags. The war and military defined the day and was first and foremost in everyone’s mind. A gruesome, disturbing poster hung on my dormitory room wall – the iconic color photograph of the My Lai massacre. At the top of the poster, the the question was posed: Q. And babies? At the bottom, the answer: A. And babies.

Many would say that it was a time of unparalleled cowardice. Perhaps it was. Certainly such an unpopular war gave the best ammunition in defense of draft avoidance and draft evasion. By the war’s end, few defended it. Sadly, even returning soldiers were shown disrespect. I recall the glee when it was heard that the on-campus military organization, ROTC, was removed and their office destroyed.

I had received a college deferment – common at the time for full-time students. However, in 1971, college deferments were terminated, and I was informed that I was now eligible for the draft. A lottery system had been instituted – numbers were assigned at random and then chosen for induction. The days of the year were represented by the numbers from 1 to 366. Numbers were then called in order – the higher the number, the more unlikely one was to be called. I, however, received number 37 – a virtual guarantee that I would be called. I was.

I recall the week before my Monday appointment for a pre-induction physical. I was on pins and needles, and through some miracle of divine intervention, on Friday, one business day before the appointment, I received a letter notifying me that the appointment was cancelled – the military draft had been ended, in lieu of a new all-volunteer system.

Given that history with Vietnam, the concept of volunteering for the military was inconceivable to me and my peers. Here, at the Times Square Armed Forces Recruitment center, we marveled at the audacity of such a presence, the choice of location, those willing to consider such an option, and the courage to enter its doors. I still am perplexed at who would choose to enter the center while at Times Square. Apparently, quite a few – historically, it has been the most active recruiting station in the United States. But it’s another time, and for many, the military is one of many career options, offering a paid education, employment, and benefits.

The U.S. Armed Forces Recruiting Station has been a fixture in Times Square since 1946. In 1950, it was replaced with a new structure. In 1998, it was upgraded for a look that was more apropos for the neon glitz of Times Square. The four branches of the military are represented, each with their own desk. The 520-square-foot building is situated in the traffic island bounded by 42nd Street, Broadway, and 7th Avenue, the busiest intersection in the United States.
There are many opportunities in New York City. If you want to enlist in the Armed Forces, for your convenience, you can join right amidst the theater district and neon extravaganza of Times Square. Just remember, do it while you’re sober and after careful consideration, because You Can’t Quit 🙂

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in New York at Night, NYC's History, Tourist Attractions. Bookmark the permalink.
Strike While the Music is Hot

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Brian Dubé

As I stood late night in Washington Square Park, the very faint sounds of violins began wafting over me and friends. Had I heard perhaps Ashokan Farewell, the haunting melody chosen by Ken Burns as the musical theme for his award-winning Civil War film series? I spotted two violinists across the park plaza and walked briskly in their direction. Here, late at night, one must strike while the music is hot. There are no guarantees how long anyone has played or will continue to play. If you like what you hear, better run and enjoy.

It was apparent that these were no ordinary musicians. I suspected that they were accomplished interlopers, on some mission in New York City, and, given some down time, had decided to grace us with their notes, as visitors are often apt to do. I was right, and I learned that the couple were a brother and sister who were in town to do a commercial recording gig. They had not played together in 20 years, so we were also privy to a family reunion.

I arrived as they were completing a song, and I asked if they knew Ashokan Farewell. Of course, they replied, and that they had just played it a moment before. They were, however, quite happy to play it again. I recorded a video:

I spoke to them and was surprised to learn that both were professional classically trained musicians and were in New York City only for some days for the recording session. They were leaving the next day. I learned their names, John and Rebecca Patek, and took their contact information. From John’s website:

John began playing the violin when he was two years old and hasn’t stopped since. Born and raised in Mequon, Wisconsin (a suburb of Milwaukee), John learned the art of performance at a young age through his involvement with both the Milwaukee Youth Symphony and the Homestead High School Orchestra.

John continues to perform actively in Switzerland, Italy and in the Midwestern United States. He also teaches several group and private lessons.

Rebecca Patek, from Wisconsin, began studying violin since she was 2 years old when she saw Itzhak Perlman playing violin on Sesame Street. She grew up playing classical violin and at 10 was playing with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra. She became hooked on old time and bluegrass in middle school when her mom took her to a bluegrass jam at a local bar. Patek went on to study jazz violin and has won the Wisconsin state fiddle championship several times.

From a recent correspondence with John:

I was born in Milwaukee, WI in 1981 and grew up just north of Milwaukee in Thiensville, WI.

I am lucky to be a musician. I have my own private studio in Mequon, WI with about 15 students and I also teach at Milwaukee Montessori School. Currently I am a freelance musician based in Milwaukee but I was a member of the Madison symphony, I work as violinist with two different orchestras in Switzerland and am an active recording artist. I have worked with television, film scores and various bands contributing violin and cello tracks. I have worked quite a few non musical jobs but they only make me appreciate my life as violinist even more. I suppose this is the story for so many musicians but whenever I get to play the violin in know I am one of the luckiest people in the world.

I did my bachelors degree at the University of Wisconsin as a student of the late Vartan Manoogian, and did my masters degree at the Conservatory of Neuchatel in Switzerland studying under Stefan Muhmenthaler.

I split my time between Milwaukee and Switzerland. I have not lived anywhere else. I have gotten to travel throughout Europe because of the violin touring with orchestras and studying.

My Mom and Dad made sure that I had the best teachers, an amazing violin that I still play and was able to attend any summer festival i ever wanted. They love music and art and made sure that my sister and I were able to develop our talents and have a great time. They took us to lessons before school, drove us across the summer camps across the country, to and from youth symphony rehearsals, got us on flights to Europe and made sure we practiced before we wasted time like we wanted to.

Joan Rooney, one of my first violin teachers and Vartan and Stefan my teachers in College really made me realize how challenging and amazing playing the violin can be. I have had great teachers in music and my other academic classes and I know that because of them I do a better job teaching. I am able to combine all of their great guidance and ideas and share them with my students. I only hope that I can inspire my students the way my great teachers inspired me.

I was so glad to have made their acquaintance and heard some of their playing. On the streets of New York City, things are in flux, whimsical and temporal. To experiences those serendipitous pockets of joy, don’t deliberate, but Strike While the Music is Hot 🙂

More music in Washington Square Park: Sirens of Culture, Mzuri Sings, Curse of the Mouth Trumpet, New York is Bluegrass Country, On the Road, Sieve of Darwin, Tune Out, Tune Up, Tune In, Delivery, Bluegrass Reunion, Fete de la Musique, New York State of Mind, Music Speaks for Itself

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Music and Concerts, New York at Night, Parks, Street Performing, Videos. Bookmark the permalink.
Night on Bald Mountain

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Brian Dubé

Fantasia was a highly controversial film for different reasons. Many objected to the strong imagery set to major pieces of classical music. They argued that imagery should be evoked by the music, not chosen and superimposed by a filmmaker, making indelible impressions and associations on the mind, particularly on those new to the music. Others argued, many of them well-seasoned classical musicians, that there is no great harm and that anything which brings the public and great music together is a good thing and worth the price.

I straddle both sides of this issue – certainly there are pieces of music that I now associate with imagery from that film, i.e. Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and the dark, brooding images in Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain. Whether these associations have damaged my appreciation of this music, I have no idea. But from time to time, dark stormy weather brings back those images from Mussorgsky’s work as interpreted by Disney.

There is no question that mother nature often plays second fiddle to the creations of men and women in New York City. Whether it is cultural or architectural, people do not come to this city for the climate. In Not Moving to Florida, I dismissed all four seasons in the city. In Weather Means Whether, I discussed how my friend from college, who had moved to California, made the observation that the East Coast has weather while the West Coast has climate.

Whether this is valid, meteorologically speaking or not, I do not know. However, certainly one of the West Coast’s biggest draws is its pleasant climate and nature’s bounty, whereas on the East Coast, particularly in New York City, weather may enhance or detract from enjoyment of some city attractions, but it is not the allure.

However, when dramatic natural events occur, their juxtaposition with the cityscape makes even the most resolute of New Yorkers pay attention. One is more likely to notice these events when in a natural setting, such as a public park, and where distraction from nature is at a minimum. When strolling the city streets, for most, it will take nothing short of Armageddon to take one’s eyes off the elements that make New York a great city. In July 2010, I was able to capture a spectacular bolt of lightning – you can see the photo below. In that story, Back to Our Main Feature, I wrote:

Last night, there was a brief lightning storm dramatic enough to make many of us look up and say wow. But unlike our country brethren, who may spend a pleasant evening watching shooting stars, we rarely indulge these natural phenomenon for very long. Glancing up to the sky, seeing a spectacular display of lightning complemented by a waxing moon, we acknowledge when nature has spoken. Yes, like any great commercial, we hear you, but now, back to our main feature.

Tuesday was another brooding New York City day. The sky was dark and heavy with well-defined storm clouds. Try as I may, images stormed my mind of Night on Bald Mountain 🙂

Posted on May 31, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Natural NYC, New York at Night, Parks. Bookmark the permalink.
In a Fog

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Brian Dubé

I have done numerous stories featuring nature’s impact on the city. In some cases, more prominent, in some, less. But always that the city is juxtaposed against nature. How the manmade contrasts the natural, but rarely mother nature on her own. On July 20, 2010, I wrote Back to Our Main Feature with a lucky capture of a spectacular thunderstorm and lightning bolt. In it, I said:

Please understand that I, like most New Yorkers, do love Mother Nature, but the gifts nature bestows and the power she wields often feel secondary in a city like New York.

Last night there was a brief lightning storm dramatic enough to make many of us look up and say wow. But unlike our country brethren, who may spend a pleasant evening watching shooting stars, we rarely indulge these natural phenomenon for very long. Glancing up to the sky, seeing a spectacular display of lightning complemented by a waxing moon, we acknowledge when nature has spoken. Yes, like any great commercial, we hear you, but now, Back to Our Main Feature.

Even on a foggy night, a spectacular fog is often more obstacle or at best backdrop to the city’s structures. Today’s photos were taken in Union Square during the ongoing Occupy Wall Street, now a daily social phenomenon. As I marveled at the beautiful effect of the various illuminated buildings filtered by the misty air, I surveyed the hundreds of park occupants and could see no eyes drawn to nature’s show. Surprising, because heavy fogs are rare and spectacular, the delight of many a filmmaker.

However, this is New York City, and from time to time, without knowing it, the average New Yorker will find himself or herself In a Fog…

More nature: Come Back for Jupiter, The Tide Pool, This Is Not New Mexico, We’ve Got Skiing Too, White Birch Canoe, Trapped in Paradise, Conflicted, Mother Nature, Brooding, Risk Not Living

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Brian Dubé

This entry was posted in Natural NYC, New York at Night, Scenic NYC. Bookmark the permalink.

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