Archive for the ‘Manhattan’ Category
thither wouldst, thither shouldst
Bah.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
My harbor chums invited your humble narrator along recently on a holiday event, one which involved the arrival of Santa Claus riding on a small tug called Sea Gus. The whole shebang was sponsored by Circle Line, specifically their World Yacht brand, and there were hundreds of people awaiting the arrival of the man in red on a chilly night at the Hudson River in Manhattan.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Paparazzi and hordes of fans mobbed the giver of gifts, and he was clearly overwhelmed by the attention. Probably, this is why he acts alone and at night, like assassins do.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The Circle Line folks filled up a couple of boats, served hot chocolate and cookies to the crowds, and conducted a short excursion down the Hudson. Santa stayed on land, and it was said that he had a meeting with the NYC EDC which he had to attend. Bike paths at the North Pole workshop will gobble up much needed parking spaces, and the elfs are being priced out of their apartments by development. The old fella was meant to submit a statement to them condemning the plan to build luxury condos with an “affordable housing” component at the pole, asking instead for simple dormitories.
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extended indefinitely
Manny hatty keeps on forcing me to visit.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
For someone who actually loathes visiting Manhattan, preferring the ruinations of western Queens and devastations of northern Brooklyn to the Shining City, I do seem to be spending an awful lot of time there of late. Another recent series of events demanded that I visit the Bloody Sixth Ward and Old St. Patrick’s Cathedral, so down the hole and into an electrically driven aluminum box of monkey meat did I go.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The visit to Old St. Patrick’s was all business, introducing a certain engenue to the Church’s resident historical hierophant. While on site, I snapped a few quick shots, all the while wishing that I had brought my tripod along with me. Unfortunately, the bulky tool is a bit of a carry, and unless I expressly know that I’m going to be utilizing the thing it gets left home. When I’m not on that rattling contraption that hurtles beneath the streets, I’m walking, after all.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
While doing some of that walking, on my way back to the underground monkey mover, this absolutely cliche “little italy” shot appeared before me. It looked so incredibly staged, couldn’t help but record it.
Note: A holiday schedule of single images will be presented here next week, although I’m going to be solidly ensconced in Queens as no one will have me. Time for a little break, and to mix things up a bit. You may have noticed that Maritime Sunday hasn’t splashed into port the last couple of weeks- which is mainly due to my inability to get out on the water during the cold months, precluding the gathering of fresh and or interesting content for the feature. It’ll return in the future, when I’m able to get out there again.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
especial region
Walking over rivers, that’s me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Recent occasion found me with several appointments in rapid succession, one of which carried me to the shining city of Manhattan. Having accomplished the pedantry which this obligation required a bit quicker than anticipated, a longer interval of time became available to me than originally planned, and it was decided to walk to my next appointment instead of using the subway. Off to Brooklyn went I, a scuttling over the venerable Manhattan Bridge.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s a visceral sense of menace to the pedestrian walkway on this bridge, unlike the other east river spans- you feel isolated and quite far from the ever watchful NYPD up here. The graffito covered cement confirms the availability of time and opportunity, and were there Nosferatu operating in the megalopolis, this surely would make an excellent hunting ground (in the evenings at least).
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The views of lower Manhattan, specifically that ancient section called Chinatown, are quite breathtaking from up here. Breathtaking in the sense that amongst the buildings closest to the bridge, one can observe a relict stock of 19th and 20th century buildings whose only commonality is that they were thrown against the sky in as inexpensive a manner as possible.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I’m always fascinated while observing these open and undraped windows visible only from the bridge. Questions arise in me, such as “if your window is so incredibly wide open to all of NY, wouldn’t you hang a curtain?”. Its weird though, peering in through the window of something that might accurately be described as a tenement window, like seeing a sociological ghost.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
There’s the longest possible history in this Manhattan neighborhood, which sits nearby the fabled five points at the edge of the so called Bloody Sixth Ward. There’s a series of apartments in New York City which I always wonder about, these that run alongside the Manhattan Bridge on the Chinatown side are amongst them, which I think must be the most onerous rentals available. Who lives here, with the subway and a possibly vampire infested pedestrian walkway right outside their window? What path has life carried the lessee to the wrong side of this window?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Brutal reality is best defined by the sweeping movements of a ticking clock, however, and despite having had a surprisingly long interval open up that allowed me the caprice of walking to Brooklyn- it was time to lean into it and get moving. Flatbush Avenue was awaiting, as was a meeting at the fabled Juniors, and it was time to kick my heels and get to DUMBO and infinite Brooklyn.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
wooded hollow
An old school MTA bus, spotted at Union Square.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Recent obligation, this time a consultation with and an examination by some the medical professionals who maintain that delicate homeostasis which forestalls my inevitable dissolution, brought one to the Shining City- specifically to the storied locale known as Union Square.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The MTA runs a museum program in December, rolling out so called “nostalgia” units from their vintage collection. The subway side of it runs along the M line and will be discussed later in the week.
There’s a bus program, which operates along 42nd street, so it was a surprise to find one of the legacy units at Union Square. Serendipity!
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Fond memories of this model of NYC bus clutter my memories.
The first time I had a gun pointed at me was on one of these, as was my first experience of getting caught up in one the race riots which Brooklyn regularly offered back in the 80’s.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
monstrous guilt
The farbissina hunt rides again.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Eschewing the behavioral requirements by which social graces are enforced amongst those who aspire, the qualities of polity and well mannered conviviality are not normally mentioned when the subject of discussion is your humble narrator. Oft has this lack of civilized manner called down unexpected storms- which offer, induce, and deliver personal angst and derision. The path I walk and life I’ve lived has been pedantic and painful at best, and many have volunteered that my personality is tolerable only in short doses. Vast physical inadequacies, and the social status of an ineluctably feckless quisling, demand that one such as myself retreats when trouble comes. There is no chance that a stand will be taken and instead to the shadows will I flee.
From my hermitage of shadows, lurking amongst the night, do I stab at and shun the world that surrounds. Humbug.
from wikipedia
Shunning can be the act of social rejection, or mental rejection. Social rejection is when a person or group deliberately avoids association with, and habitually keeps away from an individual or group. This can be a formal decision by a group, or a less formal group action which will spread to all members of the group as a form of solidarity. It is a sanction against association, often associated with religious groups and other tightly knit organizations and communities. Targets of shunning can include persons who have been labeled as apostates, whistleblowers, dissidents, strikebreakers, or anyone the group perceives as a threat or source of conflict.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
When this- your Newtown Pentacle- first appeared on the vast interwebs a few years ago, the accusations hurled my way were many and varied. Some said that I was some sort of shill for the real estate people, given the wonderment expressed about western Queens. Shortly thereafter, some said that I was a pompous windbag pontificating to a nearly empty room of slack jawed Hipsters. Next up, I was accused of being some sort of sleeper agent placed by deep pocketed and borough wide political gangs with shadowy goals. After that, a sudden wave of auto cthonic attention from the press caused some to characterize me as a careerist and carpet bagger. Can you see why I stick to the shadows and shun a world populated by crazy people? If I was any of the things above, wouldn’t I be able to afford to own a car?
It’s mostly night time in December anyway, and I’ve always hated being asked to drink any flavor of Kool-Aid. Back in the old neighborhood, in Brooklyn, we just called it bug juice.
from wikipedia
“Drinking the Kool-Aid” is a metaphor commonly used in the United States that refers to a person or group holding an unquestioned belief, argument, or philosophy without critical examination. It could also refer to knowingly going along with a doomed or dangerous idea because of peer pressure. The phrase typically carries a negative connotation when applied to an individual or group. The phrase derives from the November 1978 Jonestown Massacre, where members of the Peoples Temple, who were followers of the pro-Communist cult leader Reverend Jim Jones, committed suicide by drinking a mixture of a powdered soft drink flavoring agent laced with cyanide.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
What this little invective has to do with the photos presented in today’s post, captured nearby Manhattan’s Flat Iron district in the east 20’s, is surprisingly simple. These were the thoughts roiling and boiling between my ears while I was shooting. It has been a long, long time since I’ve allowed myself to feel anything at all- let alone allowing an old and familiar cauldron of hatred and bile to come to a simmer. Here’s the deal, lords and ladies, and I’m saying it for the umpteenth time: There is no hidden agenda, nor guiding principal, nor shadowed paymaster behind the scenes around these parts. I show you what Queens and the Creek show me, that’s it. I take shots of seemingly significant structures and locations out in the field. I go back to HQ, research to the best of my ability, and present them here. Sometimes, I’m wrong, and count on the wisdom of crowds to point me in the right direction when I am.
Meanwhile, I’m busy shunning the whole world for awhile. Bah.
from wikipedia
Green Infrastructure or Blue-green infrastructure is a network providing the “ingredients” for solving urban and climatic challenges by building with nature. The main components of this approach include stormwater management, climate adaptation, less heat stress, more biodiversity, food production, better air quality, sustainable energy production, clean water and healthy soils, as well as the more anthropocentric functions such as increased quality of life through recreation and providing shade and shelter in and around towns and cities.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
The Newtown Pentacle 