City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York on June 6, a date that has great historic resonance.

Seeing the group portrait of international representatives arranged for today's Normandy portrait does make me wonder about how far we have come.  How far have we come?

Having posed that question, let me skip merrily along to offering you all some city views from New York.

A week ago, I put on my multi-colored leafy shetland wool cardigan, knit many, many years ago from a Susan Duckworth design, and met my friend Elizabeth at the Union Square farmers market.

Possible rain was in the forecast, but I bravely left my umbrella at home.  If you visit Elizabeth's About New York post, you'll get an idea of how we found shelter, and info about uses for chive flowers.  As the shower got gentler, we made our way to a favorite cafe for tea.  And a catch up conversation.

The rain had returned by the time we left the cafe, and so we said our farewells and I scampered into the nearest subway station to return back up to the West Side.

When I got back to my neighborhood the streets were still wet, but the sun was back.  I wished to see a rainbow, but was disappointed.

I'm sure that I've shown you a view of the Ansonia building a time or three in past posts.  It is rather grand rising above Broadway, and its halls are filled with ghosts of many famous actors and singers who lived there.  It's possible that some famed folks still manage to live there in its current status.  I have known some folks whose tenancy status fell afoul of fierce and determined real estate interests.

Looking south, or downtown on Broadway, you can see some evidence of the unromantic real estate encouraged architecture that, though tall, does not really measure up to the beauty of the Ansonia.

Back in the last century the little area that adjoined the 72nd Street subway station was known as Needle Park.  The young Al Pacino starred in a movie that had scenes set this this area.

Nowadays, many folks who pass through this area know it only as Verdi Park.  There are roses there. 

There are now two 72nd Street subway station houses.  The following photo shows a view of the uptown exit (at 73rd Street) of the newer station house.  Dogwood tree branches shade benches available to subway riders or neighborhood folks wishing to rest their feet.

You can see that the pavement around the station is still damp from the showers.  The following photograph shows the statue of Verdi that graces part of the little park.

On that afternoon, as I stood on 72nd Street, between the uptown and downtown subway station buildings, I liked the vantage point of the view down Broadway.

You all can see the various recycling rubbish binds, the police car parked in front of the downtown station house, a city bus making its way up Broadway, and some uninspired architecture lining Broadway in the West 70's and 60's.

Here is another view.  The tall building just to the right of the center of the photograph is from an earlier era.  The Sleepy sign shows the way to a mattress store.

I keep wishing for more spare time, and truly hope to be able to report soon that I will have more spare time to get around New York City, sharing more pictures with you all.

Today was a lovely day, and I made another visit to the Union Square farmers market.  Although I myself cannot quite spot it now, I know that when I took the following photo, it was because a translucent winged dragonfly was nestling amongst these shiny green leaves.

Today's greenmarket visit was a quick one, and I returned to my neighborhood to complete some errands, before getting back home for some knitting.

As I walked towards my favorite grocery store, The Fairway Market, I noticed the marquee on the Beacon Theater, just across Broadway.  How blase I have become.  

Over the years I have seen many fine performances at the Beacon.  Notably, many shows by The Kinks.  The Beacon was once an elaborately decorated cinema.  It's been through many eras.  Nowadays, the seats don't have springs that spring through threadbare upholstery.

The ticket booth is pretty, but you'd be wise to book your tickets ahead via the internet.  Do stay clear of the sidewalk scalpers.

Back home this afternoon, I managed to add some more rows to my Gudrun Johnston lacy shetland shawl.  It's growing slowly, but steadily.

Here's a closer view.

And here's an even closer view with the pattern stretched out a bit to show the diamond design.  It's fun to knit with the Madelinetosh yarn.

And, still indoors, here's another close up view.  While at today's farmers market I bought some brilliantly fresh asparagus, and as a visual treat, also brought home this pretty upright fuchsia plant.  I so hope that I will be able to keep it flowering for quite a few weeks.  I even consulted a Martha Stewart website for care information. 

Dear readers, please wish this lovely plant luck on my windowsill.

Thank you all for your visits and comments.  I am delighted to have a new follower.  Returning to my opening paragraph on this June 6, I would venture that the global community that our blogging makes possible is something that gives positive hope for the future of our actual physical global community.

Best wishes to you all.