Tag Archives: Upper West Side

My Favorite Things – The Colorful Street Encounters of New York City

If I had to sum up what makes me the most happy about living in New York City, I’d say I love…

That walking is always a part of my day 

and

That the views are never boring!

Yesterday after 5 hours of orchestra rehearsals at the DiMenna Center, I decided to walk home.  With my viola strapped to my back and my camera in hand, I set off on the 60-block trek.

A few moments later I spotted Project Runway All-Stars/Season 1 designer (and inimitable character) Austen Scarlett.  

Austen Scarlett with arrow

(If he hadn’t been walking so fast in the opposite direction, I would have screwed up my courage to ask him to pose for the shot.)

A few blocks later, this wonderful patchwork of varied architectural styles caught my eye.

interesting skyscrapers

Meanwhile, the Chrysler Building seems to be perpetually photogenic.  Today was no different!

Chrysler Building (3)

I was also intrigued by the mish-mash of old and new on this busy street corner.

Busy NYC corner

(The Celtic Pub merited it’s own shot.)

Irish Pub

As a fitting bookend to my journey, I passed by this film crew filming outside a brownstone on the Upper West Side.  They were busy shooting takes for the upcoming ABC Pilot, Murder in Manhattan, starring Annie Potts.  

movie filming

(I can’t be sure, but it sure looks like the woman below is Bridget Regan, who will be playing the character Lex in the show.)

Lex

Just another day of life in Manhattan!

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Friday’s Thought – In Pursuit of Beauty

Red hooded walker
“The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.”
(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)

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My Favorite Things – Snowy Solitude On My Morning Walk

In the snowy solitude this morning, a curtain of quiet was drawn over the city.

Central Park West in the snow

Through the tree branches, Central Park South was barely visible in the distance.

looking south over the reservoir in the snow

The wind whipped through the rushes by the side of the reservoir…

Rushes by the side of the Jackie O Reservoir

Sending stinging ice crystals into my eyes and camera lens.

twig

Chilled to the bone, I put away my camera and made a beeline for home.

milky whiteness over the reservoir

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My Favorite Things – Being a Part of The Cultural Offerings at Lincoln Center

In my role as a freelance musician in New York City, I’ve been very fortunate to perform frequently at Lincoln Center.  Bustling almost every night with offerings of ballet, opera, classical symphonic music and film, this mecca of the arts is situated in the heart of the Upper West Side.

Last night, braving the frigid temperatures, I arrived a little earlier for my performance in the New York City Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Beauty so that I could capture the hustle and bustle of the theater-goers.

Taxis deposited patrons at the foot of the plaza steps…

Lincoln Center

Where they hurried across the square to attend either the opera Parsifal being performed at the Metropolitan Opera

Parsival at the Met

Or see New York City Ballet’s production of The Sleeping Beauty being offered at the David H. Koch Theater 

David H

Of course, some of the people gathered on the plaza were  just tourists braving the wind and chill for a little sight-seeing and photos ops by the fountain.

fountain at Lincoln Center

(What with the bitter cold, the water looked frozen in time.)

fountain

With numb fingers and only 25 minutes ’til curtain, I made my way to the Koch Theatre Stage door to warm up.

towards the stage door

There are still 5 more shows remaining of The Sleeping Beauty this week before New York City Ballet concludes its 2013 Winter Season.  

I’ll be there.  Will you?

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Friday’s Thought – Mirrors and Mirages

babylon

“It is the city of mirrors, the city of mirages,
at once solid and liquid, at once air and stone.”

(Erica Jong)

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Friday’s Thought – A Simple Act of Charity

Reservoir in the mid-winter

One kind word can warm three winter months.

(Japanese Proverb)

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Friday’s Thought – A Fairy Tale

Twilight over Central Park

“The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve; lovers to bed; ’tis almost fairy time.”

(William Shakespeare)

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December 28, 2012 · 11:25 pm

My Favorite Things – A Holiday Tea by Candlelight

My friends Tom and Don never do anything halfway.  Whether it’s adventures on the town, or an afternoon tea in their apartment, they throw themselves into every experience with gusto and an inimitable style.  In honor of Christmas, my husband and I were invited to a sumptuous afternoon tea chez Tom and Don.  I brought the cookies and chocolates, but the magnificent table complete with Tom’s licensed china, vintage toys, candles galore, tea samplers, and a bottle or two of divine liqueurs thrown in for good measure was all Tom’s doing.

It doesn’t get much better than this!

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My Favorite Things – The City Shrouded in Fog

As dusk falls on the skyscrapers of New York City, a magical transformation happens.  Add in a thick layer of fog and you have not only magic, but mystery as well!

On a recent evening walk with my husband, the fog was just rolling in…

skyscrapers in the fog

But it thickened as the light faded…

Time Warner Center in the fog

Erasing buildings…

disappearing building

Until all that was left was a skeleton of lights.

Chrysler building

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Friday’s Thought – The Season of Light

Photo of lanterns at Plaza Hotel entryway in New York City, taken by Joana Miranda

While I usually post a quote along with my “Friday’s Thought” photo, tonight I’ve decided to share a true story.

On my way home from teaching this evening, I decided to walk instead of taking the subway.  (Along the way I passed by the Plaza Hotel and took the photograph you see above.)  At around 70th Street my feet started to get tired – I had walked almost 2 miles – so I boarded a bus for the remaining twenty-some blocks home.  I was almost at my stop when the man sitting behind me asked if the case next to me contained a violin.  I responded “yes” and the following conversation followed:

Man: You must rock da violin!  I play da gitar.

Me: Oh, really?  Is it an electric guitar?

Man: Yah, I got it rigged to play both ‘coustic and ‘lectric.  A priest bought it for me.

Me: Oh?

Man: Yah.  I homeless.  Actually, I like to say apartment-less.  We’s all got a home.  This earth be our home…and we all goin’ back in it when we be done.

Me: Yes…We all start the same and end the same.

Man: You be an Angel and I gonna make you smile.  Ya know where da Goldfish keep his money?

Me: No.  Where?

Man: In da riverbank!

Me:  Hah!  That’s funny.  I’ve got one for you then.  Do you know where the King keeps his armies?

Man:  I heard that told ’bout Napoleon.  In his sleevies, of course!

Me: That’s right!

Man: And, I got ‘nother one for you.  Know why the witches wear name tags?

Me: No.  Why?

Man: So they’s can tell which witch which!

Me:  Hah!  I love it!

And with that, we were at my stop.

He waved at me as the bus drove off.  I smiled and waved back.  As the days grow darker and darker, it’s comforting to remember that this is the season of light.  It shone brightly on the bus tonight.

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