Central Park, Spring 2012

Midtown Backdrop


In the 'Children's District"


The Carousel


Spring Trees



Towards Strawberry Fields


The Imagine Mosaic


Toward Columbus Circle 

Beacon Court holiday tree

Every year around this time I notice the beautiful blue holiday tree inside Beacon Court between 58th & 59th Streets and Lexington and 3rd Avenue. Nearby is one of my favorite shopping areas as well as my old workplace. Within Beacon Court is a Starbucks, the restaurant Le Cirque, the Bloomberg offices and some residential condos. The tree is a nice touch to the amazing architecture of this block—and goes so well with the address and sign!

Close-ups of the holiday tree by Wall Street

The holiday tree outside the New York Stock Exchange

While braving the after-work rush of Wall Street to get some nighttime photos near the seaport, I came across the amazing holiday tree that is across the street from the New York Stock Exchange. I've seen it unlit before, so it wasn't so memorable, but after seeing the many bright lights this time around, I have to say it's a holiday tree I'll never forget!

It towers over the plaza/walkway of Broad Street and almost takes away from the very grandiose money market to its side (the Stock Exchange). The views, the space, the lighting and the crowds are all perfect photo opps here!

Tree Lighting in Bryant Park

The holiday tree in Bryant Park was lit ton Friday night with musical performances and synchronized skating on The Pond. Since I skipped the tree lighting ceremony at Rockefeller Center on Wednesday (went last year and couldn't find a good viewing spot), I figured the event in Bryant Park would be perfect because there's a lot more space along 42nd and 41st streets.

The event was great and I was joined by Amy while taking pictures of the wonderful holiday tree and its surroundings, which include the skating rink, referred to as "The Pond" and Celsius, a restaurant/lounge/bar overlooking everything in the park.

The holiday tree

Skaters on The Pond

Celsius restaurant

On the train in Astoria

There are so many inspirational things in New York and even in Queens, like the elevated subway line, the graffiti on sides of buildings and the random things you spot when walking along the sidewalk: decorative elements on a fence or an item that's been set out for recycling. All of these things have a relation to one another. Sometimes it's the color, the texture, the location, the item's purpose, the way the sunlight affects it, etc.

I made this video earlier in the summer because I was inspired by my regular walk to the gym in Astoria. Construction sites, poles, cars and parks are always nearby, and it always takes a quick subway ride to get there. Most of my ideas for this video came to me on the train, so you'll see a lot of interior and exterior shots of the subway as well:

Walk the "Cherry Walk"

Last year when I visited the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, it was a cold and windy May Day. This year, in late-April, it was as warm as can be. Rather than sweater and scarf weather, it was just plain sweat weather! It was so hot that I was even tempted to lay out and get a tan in the beautiful green fields among the famous Cherry Blossom trees.

It was great to revisit this plant-filled place because I got to see some familiar sights, discover some new spots, and gain a new experience in an old place.

The crowds came out to walk the Cherry Walk in its prime - the buds and petals were plentiful on these flowering Japanese trees. This is a wonderful place to visit with friends and family, from the hundreds of plant and flower species to the wildlife and of course, the cherry trees!

Check out my related guide on guidespot.com

Night is scary

It's February and I haven't posted any winter related pictures yet! What kind of New York City photos person am I? Last year it only snowed about three times and not one time did it last throughout the day. The sun came up and melted it all right away.

So far this year it has snowed nearly a dozen times and always at night while the city that never sleeps, sleeps. In the morning I put on my snow boots and long johns and grab an umbrella in case there is still a little bit of a snowfall. There usually is, but between carrying a purse, my bag lunch and umbrella while fumbling with gloves and scarves, it's pretty impossible to take a picture of the beautiful white snow.

So I don't have any cute pictures of the snow, but for now I have this scary image of a tree and pedestrian sign on 31st Street in Astoria, Queens.



look closely, there's a little bit of snow!

More Astoria

Astoria Park in Queens at sunset: Lookin' good!

Helicopters

When I was a kid visiting my Grandma in Upstate NY (Watertown), I would walk around her block and collect Helicopter leaf things on the sidewalk. They spin when they fall off the trees and have little seeds and butterfly like petals.

Fall is coming and these things are already falling in Astoria.

So cool.

The Wollman Rink

The Wollman Rink of Victoria Gardens in Central Park! Near the bottom of Central Park/ The Pond/ 59th Street. I once danced around the fairgrounds of this place like a maniac.

Magic

When you look at this picture you may see trees, a man, water, grass and/or darkness. When I look at this picture I see magic.

The Sex & The City movie says that women move to New York for the two L's: Labels & Love. That's not what I moved here for at all. I moved here because as a child I dreamed of seeing magic. To me the most magical thing in the world is to witness the way light lands on the leaf of a tree or along the surface of the water, allowing itself to be seen by almost anyone, even though it's not even supposed to exist.



"As a child I dreamed of posessing magical powers. I finally did so by becoming an artist." - Leonora Carrington

A tree grows in FiDi

Lean with me now

Good old Central Park, when will I visit you again??