There are two Indian restaurants, Milon Bangladesh and Panna II on 1st Avenue in the East Village, around the corner from the Sixth Street Indian row of restaurants. They share the same address and are virtual mirrors of each other. They have very aggressive tactics to get you inside and are intensely rivalrous, with two guys vying with each other in front, shouting deals to the passersby (which are not always to be taken too seriously). Usually we just keep our heads down and hurry by, but we decided to go upstairs to look inside this evening and found a festival of lights in the shape of chili peppers and Christmas lights and a packed house full of birthday parties – an incredibly festive atmosphere. See here for more photos…
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Chili Pepper Lights Meet Christmas Lights
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The Sun Never Sets
The sun never set on the British Empire – what this handsome golden fellow symbolizes. He is an intaglio carving by Lee Laurie, cut into the face of the British Empire Building (which is across the long garden concourse from the French Building, which has its own beauties) over the doorways of 620 Fifth Avenue, one of the four main buildings in Rockefeller Center. Mercury is the god of commerce and speed, a messenger, and even the patron of thievery.When built in the thirties, this building served as the off shore center for British commerce and trade while they were under tremendous siege at home. His appearance of forward movement is a reminder, if we need one, to hurry about our business….
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Washington Square North
One of the doorways of “the Row” on Washington Square North, once a center of gentility in NYC in the 1830s and a good example of one of our best eras for architecture and decorative arts, now remains one of the last survivors of that era and is still in constant use. It is considered one of the finest rows of Greek Revival houses in the country. Romanticized in novels such as Washington Square by Henry James and Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, this row started out as the home of the wealthiest and later became inhabited by Village bohemians and many legendary artists, such as Edward Hopper and Albert Pinkham Ryder, who were inspired by the environs.In 1939, the row of townhouses numbered 7-13 were gutted and converted to an apartment house, retaining the facades, with a common entrance on Fifth Avenue around the corner. They are now NYU residences. Number 8 in the photo was once the former residence of the mayor. You can see these doorways from the park, and it is peaceful to look on such a strong reminder of the past still vibrant in the present.
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Migration
There were very large demonstrations across the country today, which seem to have taken everyone by surprise, about the status of illegal aliens and immigrants. This has come to a head because there have been proposals for federal laws that would make life much harsher for such people, as well as counter proposals which would have the opposite effect. NYC has benefited greatly from newcomers and is very supportive of them. However, many across the country feel that not enough is being done to stop illegal immigration and that it makes for unfair competition between citizens and illegal workers.The march in NYC had a very diverse flavor, sometimes party-like in atmosphere. There was music and food, and the local government representatives came out and spoke in support of their quest for legitimization. Since most who live in NYC (and most Americans) have immigrant roots, it would be surprising if we were not supportive. It’s the first time people from this group have done anything publicly or politically because generally they have been afraid to call attention to themselves, for obvious reasons.
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You Don’t Say
Ironically, while on my way to a juggling festival in Brooklyn, I caught this massive assemblage of mimes in a fenced playground out of the corner of my eye. I was inclined to just keep driving – after all, this kind of unpredictable insanity is not uncommon in the city. But then it occurred to me that hundreds of mimes gathered at 11:15 on a Sunday morning was a VERY uncommon site and that I should share it. So I made a split second decision to circle the block, park illegally in a bus stop, and snap a few quick photos through the openings in the fence, hoping I would get something usable (more photos here). I had no time to make inquiries, so I have no idea what this mysterious silent event was about – audition, filming ?
Brian
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New York Survivor
This young Planetree was so green with new bark this cold, wet, spring day, so we thought it deserved the honor of being featured as a posting. The London Planetree is a naturally occurring hybrid between the Chinese and American Sycamore. It is one of the hardiest trees and very resistant to pollution, adapting well to New York, where it borders the streets, is rampant in Central Park (one of them is believed to be the oldest tree in the city), is our tallest tree, and is the most numerous tree in Brooklyn. We are surrounded by them almost everywhere we go. They grow very quickly and shed their bark in a decorative way – when they expand, the older tan and grey bark peels off, revealing the new green bark. It stands out vividly against other trees, even in wooded areas of the parks, for its bark, rather than its flowering or unusual fruit. This one is obviously experiencing an intense spurt of new growth.
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Too Many Choices?
Not really. This is NYC, so it has to be three in one to really hit you and draw you in. Nationwide fast-food chains have restaurants clustered in certain parts of the city, mostly near tourist and some office areas, evidence that we have more than our share of bad restaurants along with the rest of the country.
American out-of-towners can feel more comfortable visiting or working here – they can get a meal with no surprises and not have to deal with scarier, authentic ethnic foods available all over the city. Around the corner from this place is a row of Korean restaurants that are very reasonably priced but probably way too unfamiliar in taste for people who want to keep one foot out the door while they are in this cosmopolitan city.
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Lights, Camera, Action!
In the past few years, the filming of television and movies has turned NYC into a giant set. This has become big industry for New York, and although it can be somewhat disruptive, basically we all enjoy it, especially seeing our neighborhoods on the big screen when it comes out. I am fortunate to live in the Washington Square area, which, with its extraordinary row houses, makes it one of the most used sets. Filming in the city is so common that one can be strolling about and unexpectedly come upon the making of a major film, which is what happened to me this evening.The actual filming was being done on the roofs of Washington Square North (see photo). This film will be called “August Rush,” starring Robin Williams, Keri Russell, and Jonathan Rhys Meyers. You can find a synopsis of the plot here.
Brian
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Go for a ride?
There are parts of the city that have not been completely gentrified, and there you will find pockets of detritus, the things that people can’t really bring themselves to throw away completely, that have grown themselves into inexplicable constructions.Here, an empty lot is sheltering an abandoned car on Delancey Street on the Lower East Side, a residential neighborhood which has both vestiges of its bohemian and economic refugee past living side by side with its renovated upmarket present in very close quarters. Someone has placed some rather unsuccessful potted house plants on the car – it seems they can’t quite bear to throw them away either, and as the ground rises up to bury the car, the plants and the surrounding weeds are taking root and adding an ornamental touch, turning it all into some kind of archeological ruin/garden furniture of the neighborhood. See this view of the chicken wire window treatment.
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Metal Ferns
More on Rockefeller Center, the Art Deco extravaganza. Here is a detail of a bronze statue, one of a symmetrically placed pair, which have giant fern fronds graciously presenting the central area in front of the main building, presently occupied by an ice skating rink. Must be the last few days for the skaters – winter came back today for a little while, but it’s fighting a losing battle. Very soon, as every spring, the ice thaws and then there are cafe tables with umbrellas to protect us from the sun…
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Rock Floor
The 30 Rockefeller Center lobby has very highly polished black terrazzo floors inlaid with brass designs and dramatically lit sepia murals that go on for acres throughout a number of interconnected buildings. It is the ultimate NYC Art Deco atmosphere and is meticulously maintained – the golden lighting reflects off the black floors. I often feel like I am an extra in a film set as I rush across these dark polished surfaces, with Ira Gershwin playing the background score, “Rhapsody in Blue.”You can walk quite a distance underground to avoid bad weather, and there are also many shops and restaurants, as well as a TV station. We are looking forward to getting up to the recently reopened and restored observatory on the top floor, which is said to have the best views of the city. We will be doing more postings about this quintessentially glamorous part of midtown Manhattan. Here’s a link to a lot more about this landmark…
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Extreme Cadillac
The great weather today brought crowds of people out to the streets, and everyone was showing off what they had, especially the owner of this customized Cadillac parked in front of a Mexican restaurant (with its themed taxicab) in the West Village. Many stopped, looked, and took photos, but no one seemed to know who the owner was or anything about it. No luxury was spared. When something so garish is executed with such care, it sometimes achieves a certain beauty. Note the fur-covered dashboard!
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Gandhi in Union Square
It was appropriate on this magnificent spring day that someone had placed a flower in Gandhi’s left hand. This bronze of Mohandas Gandhi by Kantilal B. Patel was installed on a traffic island on the southwest corner of Union Square Park in 1986, one year after a major renovation of the park. I have always been moved by Gandhi, and this statue always brings his life to mind. A reminder of his calm and resolve in the face of adversity is perfect for one of the busiest areas in New York City. Visit this small sanctuary should you get a chance…
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The Naked Cowboy
Have you heard of the Naked Cowboy? He certainly doesn’t need any more promotion – Robert John Burck now has an international career. He has been a fixture for some time as a New York City street performer, working Times Square, as seen above, earning as much as $1000 per day. His routine consists of playing guitar dressed only in briefs and cowboy boots. Read an interview here. What’s next, a Naked Cowgirl? Too late – I understand someone is already doing it.
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Magnolias
Finally, spring has truly arrived in NYC. These crossing branches of magnolia overlay the busy streets and seem to culminate in an emphasis, a concentration of energy, which are the buds about to open, like the people going by beneath them, about to shed their coats and emerge into the light and air.Magnolia is a tree native to North America and is a heavily used ornamental for city street planting throughout most of the USA. There is a court full of old magnolia trees in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden which all bloom at once – you have to make the time to catch it at just the right day, and then it’s like visiting a medieval painting of paradise…
