Blogging In New York

Mosaic

2006-07-12T19:02:00.000-07:00

More subway art these two lions grace a wall at Penn Station

Music

2006-07-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

Street performer in Central Park filling the park with his music.

Central Park

2006-07-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

Some Central Park residents enjoying a Friday afternoon at the pond.

Manhattan floral

2006-07-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

Sidewalk Art

2006-06-27T13:21:00.000-07:00

Bowling Green in Bloom

2006-06-18T17:36:00.000-07:00

Lighthouse

2006-06-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

A Healing Celebration

2006-05-25T17:44:00.000-07:00

This information came in an e-mail today and I want to share this great opportunity with you...

Sharing Light...

A Healing Celebration
with Peter Goldbeck and YJ Lee

Happy Spring!
You're invited on May 28, Sunday at 2:00 PM to participate in a continuing Healing Group facilitated by Peter Goldbeck and YJ Lee.

There will be a guided Group Meditation, Chakra balancing and Grounding. These techniques will help center, balance and unify one's sense of well-being as well as open up one's awareness for the 2nd part of the workshop.

This experience will also include a group healing as well as individual healings kinda like a personalized elixir on an energetic level..."Joy Juice", topped off with a energy activation which will self empower ones own healing abilities.

For those who already received an activation, they will receive a booster activation (a level 2 attunement) resulting in increased sensitivity and healing ability.

There will be a 3rd component of the workshop which includes an interactive "hands on/off" participation allowing everyone to practice healing techniques with each other as well as themselves.

All in all, a whole lot of fun... A Continuing Healing Celebration !!
Children are our future...please bring them along ( age 5+ )

When: May 28, Sunday 2:00PM

Where: A.R.E. 241 W. 30th St. 2nd fl. Suite 102 (bell) NYC
(Btw 7th and 8th Ave. Take #1 train to 28th St and 7th Ave.)

Love Donation: $15
No one will be turned away for lack of funds! Tell your friends!!

See you there!!
Namaste.
Peter Goldbeck and YJ Lee

***Next Workshop: June 16th Friday at 6:45 pm at A.R.E.***

Harmoniously,
YJ Lee

Springtime in New York

2006-05-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

New Yorkers out for a Sunday Stroll

Dancing in the Street

2006-05-18T16:32:00.000-07:00

The sidewalks were elbow to elbow with watching spectators as normal 12 o’clock Wall St traffic was replaced with dancing in the street today.

Poetry

2006-05-18T02:07:00.000-07:00

On Spring Street in Manhattan is the Poets House at 72 Spring Street its on the Second Floor
its a meeting place for poets and a wonderful libary of poetry. You can visit their web site at http://www.poetshouse.org/ where they list upcoming poetry events, lectures, Seminars, workshops and other progams.
On the web there is more poetry at Poetry Thursday

Its Spring In Central Park

2006-05-08T19:06:00.000-07:00

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is

the most perfect refreshment. ~Jane Austen

Central Park
Central Park NYC
NYC Tourist Central Park

Red

2006-05-08T17:26:00.000-07:00

East 15th StreetEast 15th Street

Bowling Green

Central Park

2006-05-07T17:20:00.000-07:00

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden,

but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it.

~Minnie Aumonier

One of New York's Book Stores

2006-05-05T12:00:00.000-07:00

Strand Books 95 Fulton Street in Manhattan.

Springtime in Bowling Green

2006-05-03T21:10:00.000-07:00

New Yorkers Protest

2006-05-02T11:57:00.000-07:00

On May first,at Union Square,
New Yorkers protest the anti-immigrant bills in Congress.

Do You Dream of Jeannie

2006-03-08T15:53:00.000-08:00

Do you remember watching I dream of Jeannie? I loved to watch I Dream Of Jeannie after school. I loved being wrapped in a world of magic and astronauts, where Jeannie used a little magic to make her problems disappear. Of course instead of fixing her problems, magic just gave her more problems. I watched an episode a few weeks ago and I was appalled at the chauvinism

Which one would you want to be an Astronaut or a genie?

DVD signing
Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman
Wednesday March 15th 4:00 pm
675 Sixth Avenue @ 22nd Street
Chelsea
(212) 727-1227
(I Dream of Jeannie: The Complete First Season is the ONLY DVD that they will be signing at this event.)

More About Sound Healing

2006-02-02T08:16:00.000-08:00

“I love the work I’m doing now as a musician and a sound healing practitioner because it uses all the skills that I have worked on throughout my life: singing, flute playing, keyboard, harp as well as spiritual practices that I have engaged in for many years. I create music live for individual clients and workshops, reiki circles, yoga classes and massage. When I work with people, I encourage them to use music more consciously and especially to use their own voices as a tool for transformation, healing and connection to spirit. Music, sound and vibration are amazing tools and I think in times to come, people will realize more and more what a powerful gift they are for both healing ourselves and the planet.” – Ruth Cunningham

Sound Healing Group

will explore sound and music as tools for relaxation, stress reduction and enriching creativity.

St Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, O'Toole Building

203 West 12th Street, 6th Floor(Between 7th and Greenwich Avenues)

Tuesday February 14, 2006 from 5:00-6:00 (no late admittance)

Sound healer Ruth Cunningham will perform live improvisational music especially for this group.

Space is limited pre-registration required 212-604-7956

http://www.ruthcunningham.com/

Riding the Bus? Beware

2006-01-27T16:10:00.000-08:00

Round and About Town public transportation, the bus, the ferry, the train and the subway are part of everyday life… But this week it seems as if something has gotten into the bus drivers. Wonder if it is the stress they feel over their contract negotiations that is keeping them from paying attention to their driving?

No sooner did we get back into the City than one of the big city buses nearly wiped out several cars by pulling into a traffic lane that was already occupied. Two cars and a taxi were forced to squeeze into the vehicles in the next lane when the driver of the bus abruptly pulled away from the curb and into heavy traffic, apparently without looking and giving no signal of any kind that he was about to move.

While riding the Staten Island Ferry this week, a fellow passenger told me that she did not normally take the ferry to work and then she shared her story. The day before a bus driver had lost control of his vehicle and crashed into eight cars. Her car was one of the vehicles damaged. Wonder if it will ever be on the road again. At any rate she is now using public transportation whether she likes it or not.

This evening I watched a bus pull out from the curb again with total disregarded for the fact that he was pulling into space already occupied by cars. It wasn't the bus driver’s fault that he didn't sideswipe the car next to him. He certainly gave it a good shot.

The last time I rode on a Staten Island bus. The driver seemed to be in a big hurry; with no warning the woman who was driving the bus slammed the bus doors shut on a passenger who was getting off. After catching the passenger in the doors the driver proceeded to yell at the woman for getting the door slammed shut on her. Wonder what she had in her coffee?

New York Scenes

2006-01-26T20:38:00.000-08:00

Manhattan Skyline

Empire State Building taken from West 34th and 8th Avenue

Reflections

Light Post

Evening clouds over Staten Island

A Birds Life

2006-01-25T13:24:00.000-08:00

Pennsylvania Station Subway Art (34th Street/Penn Station

at the 7th Avenue IRT west side line)
A Birds Life by Elizabeth Grajales

These Crows decorate handmade relief Terracotta tiles

Artist Elizabeth Grajales says the beauty of the Superstition Mountains of Arizona where she studied drawing and painting has influenced her work. Additional examples of her work appear in a number of places in New York City. She has produced some delightful base relief tiles depicting animals in What a Wonderful World decorating the walls P.S. 14 as well as Who Else Shares our World? at P.S. 92 A Birds Life was commissioned by Metropolitan Transportation Authority – Arts for Transit and MTA New York City Transit

Another Great Bargain

2006-01-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

The Staten Island Ferry has been a municipal service since 1905, and currently carries over 19 million passengers annually on a 5.2-mile run between the St. George Terminal in Staten Island and the Whitehall Terminal in lower Manhattan. Service is provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The Staten Island Ferry is the most reliable form of mass transit, with an on-time performance of over 96 percent.

http://www.ferrytime.com/

Sound Healing

2006-01-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

Some of the Best Things in Manhattan
are actually free of charge.

I had never heard of sound healing until a short time ago. I have found this to be a fascinating subject. Are you interested?

Sound Healing Group
will explore sound and music as tools for relaxation, stress reduction and enriching creativity.
St Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, O'Toole Building
203 West 12th Street, 6th Floor
(Between 7th and Greenwich Avenues)
Next Tuesday January 24th, 2006 from 5:00-6:00 (no late admittance)
Sound healer Ruth Cunningham will perform live improvisational music especially for this group.

Space is limited pre-registration required 212-604-7956

Connie says: "be sure to stay for the accupuncture afterwards."

World Trade Center Healing Services are part of the response to 9/11

Photo of Memorial Sculpture damaged during 9/11

Sculpture was moved to Battery Park after the events of 9/11

Coney Island

2006-01-16T11:29:00.000-08:00

The clear sky is a intense undiluted cobalt.
In spite of my long johns, long coat, scarf, hat and gloves I am feeling extremely cold. The beach is almost empty; there is a man walking his Weimaraner and on the rocks at the shoreline stands a heavily bundled figure. A flock of seagulls swarm after the crumbs of my son’s cookie. The sunlight makes a valiant attempt to fight the cold, kissing everything with a golden glow. I shiver on the beach surrounded by beauty.
I long to spend more time soaking up the beauty of the ocean and the beach but the intense cold chases me to the shelter of the subway station.

Farmers Market

2006-01-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

One of New York’s many Farmers’ Markets is at Bowling Green on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When I am in the city I often stop here to pick up my lunch. I can always count on fresh produce and baked things such as cookies, pie, bread and some quick lunch items. On Mondays Wednesdays and Fridays it changes to a market place for street vendors where you can find such things as scarves and gloves in the winter, sandals and hats, dresses and jewelry or music in the summer.

More Subway Art

2006-01-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

Mosaics - Subway station stop for Natural History Museum

Subway Art

2006-01-12T19:29:00.000-08:00

These mosaics are on the subway walls at the 81 st subway stop

New York Aquarium

2006-01-11T16:10:00.000-08:00

It was a cold and stormy Wednesday
There were no crowds at the aquarium. The refrigerator-like quality of the day made other choices such as the Natural History Museum and the Science Museums more appealing; however, I had asked Sam what he wanted to do. He wanted to ride around touring the city in the top of one of the open Gray-line buses or visit the aquarium. The cold air made it an easy choice; I felt no enthusiasm for shivering on the bus so we took the Subway to the New York Aquarium at Coney Island for the afternoon. Once inside we discovered large tanks with fish, corals, and rays. The rays swim in repetitive circles around and around the tank. Some of them seem to be so bored that they spent their time somewhat curiously peering back at us. As we moved on past other exhibits and found our way further inside, there were several tanks of endangered fish species.

The aquarium could have been more enjoyable; it seems to have begun deteriorating. What bothered me most was something that looked like rust or sediment across the window of the tide exhibit. In spite of its slightly shabby appearance Sam found it a lot of fun. As we moved from room to room and building to building we found a variety of both indoor and outdoor exhibits.

The sea turtles, penguins and walruses were high points for Sam. We braved the cold at the outdoor exhibits watching the walrus eating ice. Sam fascinated himself with taking a number of photos of the penguins. We watched the sea otter feeding. Sam thought the otters looked fat. We missed the shark feeding but the tank of large sea hunters was impressive nevertheless. Sam was also impressed with the red-belled piranha but they just sat still, not moving, as if just suspended in mid-air, or we would have to say “mid-water”.

As we left the aquarium, the sunset was a beautiful climax to an interesting day.

Coney Island

2006-01-04T19:42:00.000-08:00

One more sunset

Wisdom

2006-01-03T03:02:00.000-08:00

It is always nice to be thought to be wise... Now you can have an opportunity to create your own Einstein scribbles here.

Chinatown

2006-01-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

Its been a quiet day today I was tired after traveling yesterday and slept in very late.
This evening I ordered a large eggplant pizza feed my son and sent him with my brother and sister-in-law to see Chronicles of Narnia. After they left I was looking through some photos I took last summer and found these picures that I took last summer during a parade in Chinatown a very warm summer day

Charging Bull

2006-01-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

Symbol of Wall Street, the 7,000 pound bronze statue of the “Charging Bull” stands in Bowling Green near Wall Street and the New York Stock Exchange.

The sculptor, Arturo DiModica created the bull after Black Monday, October 19, 1987, when the stock market collapsed. This creation was to be a statement of his belief in the unceasing vitality of American capitalism and hopefully an encouragement.

In the early morning hours of December 15, 1989, Arturo Di Modica, rented a crane and with of about thirty friends moved the bull onto a flatbed truck, drove to a site directly in front of the New York Stock Exchange and placed the sculpture on the sidewalk.

However, Arturo had placed the bull in the precise spot intended for the Wall Street Christmas tree. The bull became a cause celebre when police wanted it removed and it soon found a home in Bowling Green Park.

The bull with its massive horns and flaring nostrils was an immediate success and his nose is rubbed for good luck by many traders as they pass each morning.

Bowling Green Park, just north of Battery Park, two blocks south of Wall Street on Broadway, is New York’s earliest park.

Off to a Good Start

2006-01-01T22:05:00.000-08:00

Beautiful morning, Great start to the new year. We are going to leave our friends out here in the country and head back for the city before the next storm hits.

Greetings

2005-12-31T19:45:00.000-08:00

Have a Happy New Year

and

Keep warm and cosy

Snow

2005-12-31T19:40:00.000-08:00

We are upstate New York today. It’s snowing huge fluffy drifting flakes. Then a short time later, down come fast blown flakes that cover everything with white. They are falling so rapidly that we can scarcely see the brilliant red of a cardinal just a short distance across the yard from our window. The air is chill. We are staying indoors keeping warm. I opened the window wide and leaned out to get these snow filled photos. The wind driven air is plenty crisp out there. This is a night for a roof and walls, even a good fire. I am eating a popcorn ball as I write. This has been a good day for hot drinks, popcorn balls and staying warm.

Exotic Pets

2005-12-30T20:47:00.000-08:00

New York is a good place to find whatever you might be looking for…While we were out trying to learn more about digital cameras, we had an opportunity to visit a father and son team who are raising constrictors… In Upstate New York They are beautiful creatures. The snake’s skin is silky and soft. As Philip held the snake for me to see, the snake flicked his tongue inquisitively smelling the air. His coloring was exquisite. I can see why they make popular pets I would have liked to take him home with me. He was even for sale, but I lack a good place to care for him and the five thousand dollar price tag for the gorgeous albino that caught my eye is more than my pocket will accommodate. Perhaps next year… The adult snakes were quite large as they grow to about ten feet in length and can weigh about fifty pounds… That’s a lot of snake.

Find out more about them at http://crittersltd.com/

sunrise

2005-12-28T20:50:00.000-08:00

These photos were taken in upstate New York near were the Mongaup river mets the Delaware river.

Only in New York

2005-12-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

Newcomers to New York,

we were not used to the rapid weather changes or humidity.

We were walking along the beach on a sizzling July day hoping to find a cooling breeze.

Hot sand slid into our sandals and between our toes.

I bent to shake the sand out of my shoe.

Just as I got my foot back into my shoe ---

My eye caught a climpse of the edge of something white sticking out of the sand.

I reached out, picked it up.

Brushing off the sand, I discovered a large creamy white, rose lined conch shell ---

the kind that hold the sounds of the sea buried deep in their hearts.

Remembering listening to the sounds when I was a child,

I reised my hand and put the shell to my ear,

only to hear

"I'm sorry but this line is busy, please try again later."

haystacks

2005-12-26T19:46:00.000-08:00

This rural scene was photographed Christmas eve while travling between Staten Island and Sullivan County New York.

happy holidays

2005-12-25T17:11:00.000-08:00

Ice

2005-12-24T18:55:00.000-08:00

Ice hanging from cliff at Hawk's Nest in Orange county above the Delaware River.

Around and About

2005-12-23T15:23:00.000-08:00

New York's 3-Day Transit Strike Ends

2005-12-22T16:18:00.000-08:00

We don't think about what we have until it is gone for a period of time.

Strike

2005-12-20T06:27:00.000-08:00

The nice thing about watching birds is they never go on strike.

New York skyline

2005-12-19T20:17:00.000-08:00

Images

2005-12-18T17:52:00.000-08:00

Beyond the Freeway

2005-12-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

Diversity

2005-12-16T19:11:00.000-08:00

Life for us is divided between the city and the country
Skyscrapers rising on the skyline; commuters jostling for sidewalk space, then for subway space or a bus seat, rushing to catch the ferry or headed off to freeways that have turned into parking lots. Carried along by the tide of the exodus and at the same time pressing to rush past the congestion, squeezing across the two-lane Gothels bridge, finally emerging onto the free flow of the Interstate as it drains traffic away from the city and into the countryside. Maybe on a Friday afternoon or in a bad storm it is hours but on a good day it is only minutes from the blast of icy winds streaking down concrete and asphalt canyons, past hoards of rushing city dwellers to the quieter countryside where the transition mixed woodlands buffer the shared living space of suburban families with wild turkeys, white tailed deer, woodchucks, gray squirrels and blue jays. Even here the contamination of the urban jungle survives as the drivers rush along at 10 or 15 miles per hour over the speed limit but move on a few more miles, slip off the freeway onto a winding country road and the transition is more complete. Now cows and horses graze along the roadsides, vultures, eagles or hawks circle gracefully overhead, cars may even slow to a halt as a black bear scrambles across the road. Finally I pull into my driveway; the rush of civilization is screened by the oaks hemlocks and white pines surrounding my yard. Instead of yapping dogs defending their territory, starling flocks soaring around in search of a fly-in fast food stop and chanelized concrete storm drains carrying away petroleum laced mud of storm runoff, now I see dozens of chickadees and goldfinches gathering seeds from the feeders around my yard, clear, cascading streams tumbling cheerfully down natural streambeds and, if it is late, perhaps a family of raccoons or possums searching through roadside culverts for the next course of their all-night meal.

New York is many things in many places. In Manhattan mankind and its creations dominate with the natural world confined to a few spots of landscaping and colonies of pigeons or English sparrows foraging through curbside flotsam but minutes away mankind is the marginalized species and nature holds sway. Perhaps she is waging a restoration campaign in re-growth of abandoned farmlands or perhaps holding absolute sway in the Catskill or Adirondack wilderness.

Inspirations

2005-12-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

New York is a wonderful place to wander… You can find nearly anything you ever dreamed of wanting and --- quite a number of things you never thought of… For the artist The City is continual opportunity and enchantment. Even the wet sidewalks reflect artistic inspiration New York – a place of inspiration for the street artist or the aficionado of fine arts. There is opportunity for the artist and the appreciator of the arts, at every turn --- whether at the Frick http://www.frick.org/; The Guggenheim http://www.guggenheim.org/; or Metropolitan Museum of Art http://www.metmuseum.org/; The Museum of Modern Art http://www.moma.org/; where you can be inspired by the masters or sketching on the subway, wandering through Brooklyn Botanic Gardens http://www.bbg.org/; the New York Botanical Garden http://www.nybg.org/; Central Park http://www.centralpark.org/; or even the masterpieces produced by snow melting on the city sidewalk, art is all around us. By the way --- we don’t think this is an exhaustive list of museums or gardens, simply a sampling of places where we have found inspiration --- more later.

Reflections

2005-12-14T15:39:00.000-08:00

Reflections from the sidewalk bordering Central Park.

"Normally, we do not so much look at things as overlook them.” --- Alan Watts

subway

2005-12-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

How often have you hear the words “We want people to use the subway ---every time someone is using the subway, they’re not driving on the street.”

It improves both traffic and air quality; reduces parking problems… So why are prices continually increasing? Why do subway staffers seem to feel like people who want to ride on the subway are an inconvenience that keeps them from getting on with their work? Why is it impossible for a person with disabilities to safely utilize the subway? It has become nearly impossible to feel safe on the subway. We are told to contact a conductor if we need to change cars… How often have you seen a conductor who could hear you if you needed any kind of help? They don’t even seem to notice when people are actually boarding and it is a frequent occurrence for people to be completely unnerved by doors shutting between a mother and child or even pinching a person as they are entering or leaving a car. I agree that it doesn’t really hurt a lot. Another incident, even though he was one of the first people in line my son had the door catch his foot in the door and there appeared to be no interest in seeing that he was safe. I guess the conductor was concerned about a subway train coming behind him --- how could a passenger know that? Even a New Yorker wouldn’t know much less a person who isn’t familiar with our incomprehensible subway system. Have you ever watched the struggles of a person trying to board with a computer cart or even worse a baby carriage? What happened to "user friendly?

Have you ever tried to get subway personnel to tell you which line you should take to reach your hoped for destination? Even more, have you been able to find a subway map more than a couple of weeks after they are issued? Is this a clue that somewhere, someone doesn’t really want passengers on the subway?

Are you a visitor to our great city? If so, you should certainally experience our subway system… but be warned and be prepared… Precautions: wear stable walking shoes and durable clothing. Remember the song, “He rides forever ‘neath the streets of Boston --- He’s the man who never returned.” http://www.easyweigh.com/mta.htm
Think you can’t get to Boston from the New York subway system? Well it depends on how much advice you get from strangers. ---Of course you may end up in Hackensack…