I could not stay in Strawberry Fields Forever: 2011

9/11/11

September 11th, 2011

I went down to Ground Zero on September 11th, 2011 to observe the visitors and events going on during the 10-year anniversary. Every year that I can, I go down to the World Trade Center site on the anniversary to capture these moments and reflect on the events. Despite the threats and worries surrounding this particular anniversary, the area was crowded and the usual ceremonies and rituals were all still going on. Most notable was the bagpipe ceremony in front of O'Haras Irish Pub at the foot of Ground Zero.

Just a few days before I had gotten a new camera lens as a birthday gift from my photo friend Joe. It was the 55-250 telephoto lens, so it lead me to take more intimate pictures of the people and places down there.

St. Paul's Chapel across from Ground Zero

Hardhat

News crews doing interviews

1 WTC

Ladder 10

More pics on my photostream.

7/15/11

Bryant Park Summer Movie with Marilyn Monroe

All summer long I have been meaning to get out and see one of the outdoor summer movies that have been taking place since June. Despite heat and exhaustion on Monday night, I made sure to attend the HBO Summer Film Festival in Bryant Park, showing the Marilyn Monroe movie 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.'

I'd never seen a Marilyn Monroe movie before, and I didn't understand the movie too well. I was there mainly for the experience though, and to have fun watching an outdoor movie with a thousand or so other people who were also attending!

Before it got too crowded...

"Diamonds are a girls best friend"

7/13/11

Manhattanhenge 2011 - July 13

Manhattanhenge - July 13, 2011 in Times Square.

Best Manhattanhenge ever.

Photographers:

Goodbye Manhattanhenge. See you next year!

7/12/11

Manhattanhenge 2011 - July 12

Since I missed the event in May, the Manhattanhenge that was set to take place on July 12th and 13th was all I've been able to think about.

I was lucky enough to see this rare sunset from 34th Street and 1st Avenue, and capture the "Peoplehenge" phenomenon that takes place too as photographers take over the intersection between green lights to get the best view.

Practice shot for Manhattanhenge, just minutes before it occurred!

Paparazzi waiting for Manhattanhenge, just minutes before it occured!

"Peoplehenge"

Close call with a cab

Scary bus traffic speeding by

Cell phone capture

More to come from tomorrow's Manhattanhenge viewing!

7/5/11

4th of July Fireworks - 2011

On the 4th of July, I was at a friend's roof top cook-out in the West Village (West 14th & 7th to be exact), waiting for the Macy's fireworks show to begin over the Hudson.

This was going to be my 4th time seeing the Macy's fireworks. I had always braved the crowds along the FDR Drive, by the East River, or along Chelsea Piers and the West Side Highway, overlooking the Hudson River.

This year I planned to do something low key and luckily I had the chance to view the show from the comfort of a roof top with snacks, drinks and good friends!

So here's how the night went...

The sky turned a bright orange

Night was falling

I had a cupcake

They started!

My friends got out a blanket

There were reds!

And golds!

And then I stopped taking pics just in time to actually SEE the finale, out from behind the camera lens...

7/4/11

Rainbow City at The High Line

"Rainbow City" is open in New York City! This large-scale installation of balloons or 'air-filled sculptures' as they're called, have taken over the grounds at the foot of the High Line. Set up near the 30th Street entrance to section 2 of the elevated park, and part of FriendsWithYou and AOL, these art objects were created to be an interactive playground. My friend and I stopped by on our way to explore the new extension of the High Line and enjoyed playing with these colorful sculptures and interacting with the kids and other visitors there.

More pictures from the site here.

The installation closes on July 5th, 2011.

6/24/11

Manhattanhenge 2011 Meet-up

Since I missed the May 30/31 Manhattanhenge (I was out seeing Bridesmaids one of the nights, and at home watching Bachelorette the other... shame on me for being a girl), I am making up for it with two meet-ups on the July 11th and 12th dates!

From NewYorkology -
The 2011 Manhattanhenge dates:

Full-sun on the grid:
Monday, July 11 at 8:25 p.m.

Half-sun on the grid:
Tuesday, July 12 at 8:25 p.m.

Monday, let's meet at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue at 7:30 pm. I know that's not the best viewing spot but it is next to Bryant Park and I am seeing Gentlemen Prefer Blondes there that night as part of their HBO Summer Film Festival. If you would like to move further East, then we can simply meet-up to say Hi, share tips and stories of past Manhattanhenge events, then go our separate ways!

Tuesday, let's meet at 34th Street and 1st Avenue at 7:30. There is a plaza on the northeast corner in front of the East 34th Street Heliport. The Express Bus M15 and Crosstown M34 both stop near here. We will have a great view of the Empire State Building in our shots. I will be taking pics from the middle of the street during red lights. Join me in the crazyness!

From my 2010 viewing of Manhattanhenge on July 11th from the Tudor City Bridge on East 42nd Street:

If you're interested in a far out view, go to Gantry State Plaza Park in Long Island City, Queens:

6/22/11

Bubble Battle 2011

Luckily, I have a friend with lots of bubble guns, wands and bottles. These items were called for at the 2011 Bubble Battle which took place out on Coney Island, the same day as the Mermaid Parade. So my friends and I watched the parade, got some franks, then prepared to duel.

But it wasn't so much a battle as a medium-sized crowd simply blowing bubbles and getting soapy water everywhere. Either way, we had a blast!

6/19/11

Scenes from the 2011 Mermaid Parade

The Coney Island Mermaid Parade... I go every year and I just love it! It felt so amazing to return to Coney Island on Saturday, June 18th, since my last visit in June 2010 for last year's parade. I used to go lay out on the beach every weekend with my friends back in the Summer of '08, but these same friends moved away and I haven't been back as much since. Then Astroland closed down in September of '08 and we all thought that would be the end of Coney Island. But it is still thriving, thanks to the new Luna Park and various flea markets occupying the former fair grounds.

It was vey crowded, but I didn't mind. This is a magical, historical place and it's important to me to try and visit every year that I live in New York. The only other day when it's this crowded is on the 4th of July during the hot-dog eating contest. Believe me, I've been!!

This year, I vowed to walk in the parade for next year (maybe as a Hula Girl?) and to also return to the park again this summer to ride some of the new Luna Park amusement rides. But not on July 4th...

Golden Girl