very simple

I had to get a haircut today, on top of everything else I’ve got going on, so I hopped on the subway to go downtown to my hairdresser. Wherein I noticed this pair of sneakers sitting in the middle of the railbed. presumably someone’s feet are not happy about this development.

Post haircut, I wandered up to Madison Square for a manicure and some dinner at Eataly. It’s the first time I’ve noticed this sign, even though I lived around the corner for six years, and find it kind of hard to believe that it’s new. Plus, a cliche shot of the flatiron building – I was just struck by the magic hour light that was happening at the moment.

I know I’ve taken pictures of the helmsley building before, but I’m stuck late again in that office that is not my own but which affords me such a great view.

By the way – we’re three days from spring, and it’s snowing.

Missed yesterday, so you get two today to catch up. Ended up having to go in to work this afternoon (it happens), but we weren’t in our office – we were back at another office down the street with great views. Here’s the bounty.

Not fun: getting stuck at work all day Sunday.
Fun: neon radio city music hall signage without a giant touristy crowd in the way because it’s late on Sunday night.

My most recent engagement has me working in the Helmsley Building. Otherwise known as the classic building that sits astride Park Avenue north of Grand Central Terminal that is NOT the horrendously ugly MetLife Building. While I have no view to speak of (sitting in an internal cube), I sometimes sneak into one of the offices to take this view in.

One of my favorite things to note about the grid plan in NYC (and something I learned watching New York: A Documentary History by Ric Burns), is that, despite the tall buildings, we almost never feel claustrophobic in Manhattan because you can stand at almost any intersection and see for miles in at least three, if not all four directions. The prescience of such a decision made over 150 years ago, when few could have foreseen the elevator, much less the skyscraper, is astounding.

Tomorrow (saturday) is the 100th anniversary of the actual opening of Grand Central Terminal. However, in their infinite wisdom, the powers that control events at the station decided that today (friday) would be a much better day to screw up the commutes of as many people as possible by having all of their events, including store and line-clogging 1913 prices at the restaurants (if only that held true for the apple store) and setting up a roped off stage (and seating that you can’t see here due to the crowd) in the middle of the concourse. during morning and evening rush hour.

(Today is the 100th anniversary of the day that the builders gave the stationmaster the key – but they didn’t actually open the doors until February 2nd).

In any event, it’s still one of my favorite places in the world, so despite the crowds, I still enjoy the fact that every one of my days for the past two years has involved passing through here at least once.

A belated 365 post – I admit to totally falling down on the job yesterday, so this is the first of two today. This is neptune. or poseidon. One of many scary sea-god heads defending the Dakota from interlopers (I admit the doormen do a better job on that score!).

Today I had to spend most of the day at another office, but the place actually afforded a pretty great view of the Helmsley Building, which is where I normally go when I go to work these days.

And back to the grind after a 3-day weekend. Another night waiting for the bus on 6th Avenue. I think this spire is part of the (relatively) new Bank of America Tower.

I’m still trying to find the erector set Eiffel Tower, but for now the empire state building will have to suffice. Erector sets were my favorite toy as a child.