Fading Sign

As I've mentioned before, I love to happen upon these old advertisements from the past. Unfortunately I couldn't get very close to this one, but I can see that it was an ad for "nippers" and other types of grooming devices. It makes me wonder what the buildings around it looked like back in the day when it was put up there. I'm glad they haven't covered it up yet.

Penny for your thoughts

I once read the amount of money they retrieve each year from the fountains in the Metropolitan Museum and of course I now I've completely forgotten. I wish I could remember because that would make this post more interesting! Anyway, I think there is someone who works there who's specialty is to take the money out of the fountains each week. I hope all your wishes come true today! :)

More flowers

Another flower shot today...this time it is some flowers that I pass often in Riverside Park. We are so lucky to have so many green places in New York. We'd go crazy otherwise! I think these flowers are echinacea, though feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I love to see the flowers in summertime, as I'm sure most people do!

Balloon Ride

I spotted this balloon over Central Park over the weekend. I have no idea why it was up there (an advertisement for something I suppose) or who they were taking for rides. I wouldn't mind going for a ride in a hot air balloon someday. Happy Monday!

Update: Both Wayne and Olivier tell me that the balloon is there to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Central Park. I think it will be taking people on rides for the next month. Thanks to them for finding this fact!

Flower power

Just a photo of a local flower stand today - nothing very descriptive to say about this one. I do love to pass by all of the flowers for sale in the markets. Maybe I'll buy some today! I wish you all a terrific weekend!

Stock Exchange

I hadn't walked by the New York Stock Exchange in quite some time until recently. It seems they've got it all decked out in flags. I'm not sure if that was for the 4th of July, which was around when I took the photo, or if it is a permanent fixture. Hopefully the patriotic theme will bring the stock market some luck these days!

Castle Williams

This is another photo that I took on Governor's Island. This is Castle Williams, constructed in 1807 and named after its designer Jonathan Williams. It was the first fort of its kind in the U.S. and its circular shape helped to deflect cannon balls. To test his design, Williams had Navy ships fire cannons into the fort, as he stood inside. Apparently it was very sturdy. During the civil war it was used as a holding facility for confederate prisoners. In 2001, the fort and its surroundings on Governor's Island became a national monument.

Random Street Scene #2

I'm always happy when I still see small buildings with character interspersed among the skyscrapers in New York. I came across this street downtown and these buildings seemed like a reminder of a different era and were nice to see. They had a very European look to them, I thought. Anyway, that's all I've got to say about this one.

Random Street Scene

This scene on the street caught my eye and I thought it would translate well in a photo. Unfortunately the whole thing turned out a little fuzzy. (I need to keep practicing!) I still liked the colors and the motion though. Hope you have a good start to the week.

David Byrne exhibit

I have a few more Governor's Island photos to show, but I think I'll show those next week. Today I felt like showing a picture I took at an exhibit called "Playing the Building" by the artist and musician David Byrne, which is at the Battery Maritime Terminal this summer. It was very cool and I can't describe it very well so here is a description excerpted from his website http://www.davidbyrne.com/.

Playing the Building is a sound installation in which the infrastructure, the physical plant of the building, is converted into a giant musical instrument. Devices are attached to the building structure — to the metal beams and pillars, the heating pipes, the water pipes — and are used to produce sound.

So if you visit the installation, you can even take a turn playing the building yourself. (It's operated by that console you see. Very cool!) Have a nice weekend everyone.