A Loss of Garden Heroes

With the trade of Carmelo Anthony and company to the New York Knicks, that meant a bevy of players would be headed in the opposite direction to Denver. Among them were Raymond Felton, Wilson Chandler, and my favorite Knick Danilo Gallinari. I stopped by Madison Square Garden late afternoon yesterday and they’d already removed the banners for those three players. They sure are moving quickly to erase any reminder that these three had been with the team. Now it’s just a question as to when banners for Anthony, Chauncey Billups, and one other player will go up in those empty spots.

This photo was taken on February 22, 2011.

A Loss of Garden Heroes

Times Square Valentine 2011

Looking for a novel way to share your love this Black Monday?

The heart is a ten-foot diameter lightweight construction with an open weave fabric that allows wind to pass through, but still captures and reflects light. The main structure is constructed of aluminum elliptical loops radially arranged with rotating connections. The fabric skin integrates the cross-grain substructure of flexible ribs with the main loops.

Without volunteers, the heart lies flat on the ground. Only when the group lifts up the structure does it become a heart!

Basically, it’s an art installation comprised of red fabric stretched over elliptical steel loops that, when held up, looks like a heart. Happy Valentine’s Day indeed.

This photo was taken on February 11, 2011.

Times Square Valentine 2011

Papaya Dog

I’m reminded of a time when $2 at one of these Papaya places would get me two hot dogs and a soda. Sadly, these recession specials (at least at that low price) are few and far between. This one at the corner of 6th Avenue, Cornelia Street, and West 4th Street is a Papaya Dog, not to be confused with Gray’s Papaya or Papaya King or whatever else there is.

This photo was taken on January 22, 2011.

Papaya Dog

Halal Cart on 53rd and 6th

This Halal cart is easily the most popular one in Manhattan. Well, actually, there are five carts affiliated with these guys, three of which are at or around this intersection – one on the southwest corner, one on the southeast, and another on the northwest corner of 52nd and 6th. This one is the original late night cart at the southwest corner and it’s still the busiest one. Which makes no sense really since the one on the southeast corner has a much shorter line and the one on 52nd and 6th almost never has a line. It’s always an interesting mix of people waiting on line here. In the photo above, it’s mostly people fortifying their stomachs before heading off for a night of drinking but mixed in are some cabbies and just people looking for a cheap meal.

These photos were taken on January 29, 2011.