Oh, Mr. Met, you really are the hardest working mascot in baseball! I just wish you didn’t have to suffer through the bad days since October 19, 2006. You know, the night when Carlos Beltran never took the bat off his shoulders to end Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS. It’s been downhill since that night but you, sir, never let it bring you down; heck, you still have a smile on your baseball-shaped head all the time!
These photos were taken on July 25, 2006.
Every year, Macy’s has two window displays – the thematic one that changes with every year and, this, a depiction of “Miracle on 34th Street,” a display that’s the same year in, year out. If you’ve seen the movie before, then you’ll know what to expect from these windows. It may not have changed over the years but it’s that timeless quality that keeps bringing the crowds.
These photos were taken on December 10, 2010.
Back in October 2008, I went with Justin and Gordon to Denver for the Great American Beer Festival. It’s easily the largest beer festival in the country where just about every decent-sized brewery makes the trek out to. During our last day out there and at the fest, we bumped into beer media personality, Zane Lamprey, the host of Three Sheets, a TV show then on MOJO HD about, well, drinking. He was kind enough to oblige a few fans with some photos of him while he was busy promoting a party he was throwing that New Year’s Eve.
These photos were taken on October 11, 2008.
Without my trusty DSLR by my side, I hadn’t planned on taking any photos of this unique lunar eclipse. It’s unique in that it also occurred on the winter solstice. So why did I end up taking photos at 2:30 am? Well, that would be Con Ed’s fault. They sent a work crew to fix a mistake another crew made which necessitated the use of heavy equipment – heavy equipment that made a lot of noise. So, unable to sleep, I ended up arguing with Con Ed for a few minutes, taking a few photos of the lunar eclipse, and then back to bed for a terrible night of sleep. Bastards. Ah well, at least I got to see the eclipse. Yay.
These photos were taken on December 21, 2010.
While talking to The Hold Steady lead singer Craig Finn at Rachael’s holiday party last weekend, I was reminded of this photo I took some years back. At this point in time, they had yet to release their third album, Boys and Girls in America, the album that would catapult them into stardom. They were performing at Columbia University’s annual Concert on the Steps though it would be indoors this year due to rain. That worked out great because the lighting indoors was great and the concert shots came out beautifully. I managed to get this shot of the band just moments before they hit the stage.
This photo was taken on September 2, 2006.
Earlier this year – January, to be specific – Justin came down for the kind of weekend where we just basically eat and drink to our hearts’ content. On a night where we’d end up at Minetta Tavern for their $26 Black Label burger, we decided to go cheap during the day. That basically meant a food tour though Flushing with one of those stops being the $1 Peking Duck bun stand. Honestly, you’d be a fool not to stop here when you’re in Flushing – well, unless you don’t like duck. For $1, you get tasty duck meat and crispy, fatty duck skin wrapped in a steamed bun with scallions, cucumbers, and a smidgen of hoisin sauce. We were fortunate enough to stop by when they were just getting ready to carve and slice through a fresh duck. A total win for us!
This photo was taken on January 16, 2010.
Last holiday season, I took a long ride all the way down to Dyker Heights, Brooklyn. Why? Because I wanted to see what these folks who clearly have way too much disposable income had done with their holiday decorations that year. Sure, these are all really extravagant, lovely displays but isn’t it just a tad bit excessive? Especially last year when we were still in the throes of a massive recession. Ah, who am I kidding, you don’t own these sorts of home without the bankroll to be able to pay the electricity bills that come with these light shows.
These photos were taken on December 15, 2009.
There are some times where I think I’m a pretty good photographer. This photo, unfortunately, is not one that would lend credence to that thought. This was supposed to be a shot of a total lunar eclipse or at least the beginning of one but I just flat out Blaise-choked (Top Chef reference for all my TC watching friends). It came out okay but nowhere nearly as nice as what I had hoped for. My problem? No tripod. I tried shooting this by propping it an an angle on a fence but it just wasn’t steady enough for the shot I wanted. The next one’s in four days but that’s gonna do me no good since I’m presently DSLR-less. Goddamn.
This photo was taken on February 20, 2008.
Do you like hearing words of encouragement while taking care of business in the bathroom? On the go and need to find a bathroom post-haste? Stuck in the Times Square area? Well, then step right up and enter Charmin’s annual holiday pop-up bathroom! While you’re doing the deed, you’ll be serenaded by the strains of their official with no other discernible lyrics besides the cheerfully sung “enjoy the go!” Charmin – making your number two their number one priority this holiday season!
These photos were taken on December 15, 2010.
This is what you can see on the facade of Macy’s Herald Square – “Believe” in giant Christmas lights on the 34th Street side and the Christmas tree in lights on the Broadway side. I’m all for believing but I’m reminded of another kind of believing – the kind the New York Mets engaged in selling their fans last offseason. “We believe in comebacks” being chief among them. Last night was a gigantic gut punch for Mets fans – Cliff Lee spurned the New York Yankees only to run into the arms of his old flame, the Philadelphia Phillies. Even when Mets fans, they lose. Of course they do. Believe. Whatever.
These photos were taken on December 10, 2010.
