Sunday, July 26, 2015

City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.

Yesterday, while out doing my Saturday morning errands, I noticed that another phase of the neighborhood street repaving was underway.


As the approaching midday sun began to heat up Broadway's surfacing, a team of yellow-green vested workers were freshening up the markings that we pedestrians are encouraged to use while crossing intersections.


While this fascinating striping was underway, the crosswalk path was barricaded, so we pedestrians had to take our chances, hoping that oncoming vehicles had drivers familiar with their vehicles' brakes.


In the above photograph you can see the delicate yellow caution tape that was stretched across the work site.

I was able to safely cross the street and continue on my way home.

This morning, I set out for a little neighborhood Sunday farmers market.  It was great to see the fruits of yesterday's laborers, indicating a safe pathway across Broadway.


Although I did not take a photograph of myself, let the record show that I was wearing a linen sweater featuring broad horizontal black and white stripes.


Perhaps I have always had a fondness for graphic design.  The next photo shows a view of the giant faux boulders and stony flower pots placed to protect pedestrians from danger while they wait for the flashing green Walk sign.


Having reached the safer side of the boulders, I took a photograph of a southern view, looking downtown at the space where Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue briefly mesh.  You can see that those stripe-painting fellows still have more cross walks to add.

I like the graphic design of the traffic sign posted on the traffic light.  It's definitely a tricky intersection that will benefit from fresh stripes.


I glanced down to see a charming chalk sign drawn on Broadway...presumably during a very quiet time of the day or evening.


Continuing on my way to the farmers market, I passed by an entrance way to the 72nd Street subway station, and was struck by the mix, or even jumble, of architecture on display.  You might also notice the stainless steel (perhaps) sculpture that resembles a room divider.


Here's a closer view of that sculpture.  I admit that I did not stop to read the little sign on the metal fencing.  The sign names the sculptor.  Perhaps I will take the time another time.


Passing by the other entrance way to the same subway station, I encounter Verdi Square.


This little patch of greenery is now very, very overgrown.  All the same, it's always good to have some shade trees.


The branches of these trees, surrounding the Museum of Natural History, were whooshing about in a welcome breeze.


Lots of hydrangeas, lilies and shrubbery are part of the plantings around the Museum.


Indeed, this green space is a designated city park.


There are lots of benches, and a dog walking space, too.


Finally reaching the farmers market, I glanced up to see more trees catching the breeze from the rooftop of a nearby building.


Most of the farmers seemed to be offering summer fruits, but at last I found a stand that also featured some vegetables.  I found perfectly ripe tomatoes, tender green beans and some beautiful zucchini.


Although I was tempted to buy some ears of corn, on this visit I was content to take a photograph of the ample supply of available corn.  You can also see the bushel baskets of corn waiting for ... I am not sure what ... at the curbside.


Perhaps those baskets had been set aside for a neighborhood restaurant that was going to send along a cab to pick them up.

There are often these sorts of little mysteries to be found amid daily city views.  Thank you all for your visits and comments.  It's a true pleasure to share a bit of this city with you, week by week.  
How is it possible that we have almost reached the end of July?

28 comments:

  1. I admire the unseen linen striped sweater but mostly came here to say: a Bezos brother AND Julie Andrews AND Lucille: you certainly mix in the highest milieus, dear Frances.

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  2. Mise, I am glad to have you setting a witty tone for the milieu. Hoping to actually serve you that cup of tea, and a biscuit, one of these days. xo

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  3. Wow, Frances, you sure get around some wonderful places. Is that or what part of town is that? Just so I can visualize where you live and walk.

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  4. Donna, these photographs were taken on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, from Broadway eastward over to Columbus Avenue, between West 72nd Street and West 81st Street. Of course, the Upper West Side truly stretches many more block uptown, too. The main entrance to the Museum of Natural History, not pictured here, faces Central Park West.

    xo

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  5. Another fascinating amble around your neighbourhood, it's great to get a glimpse of the activity and the green shady places too.
    xx

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    1. Thanks Celia, I like being able to show a bit of New York at work and at play, midway through the summer. xo

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  6. Always lovely to enjoy one of your walks, Frances. I love the thought of you in your stripes, crossing more stripes!
    Farmers markets are such good places to buy 'real ' food, aren't they?

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    1. Funny to think of stripes on stripes! The farmers markets, held all over the city ... some are quite small markets, some like the one shown here are medium sized, all allow us to purchase wonderfully fresh seasonal produce. Summertime is the very best time!

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  7. I am wondering how you manage to carry your groceries on what looks to be a long walk? Do you have to limit your shopping accordingly? I am guessing salads and berries would be easier than potatoes and bananas, unless you have a basket on wheels or very strong arms.

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    1. Ahhh Val, here's the solution to that puzzle. I never buy more than I can carry. For example, if I need a half-gallon of orange juice, I won't also be buying a bottle of olive oil. No basket on wheels for me, I just take along a reclycled bag and stop when it's getting heavy. It also helps to anticipate how much produce I can actually eat before my next possible visit to the farmers market. I pretend I'm in Paris. xo

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  8. How lovely to have discovered a New Yorkers blog. I have only visited NY once so far but fell deeply in love with it. My next trip is being avidly saved for and until I can book it your blog will be fabulous to read...........I am going right back to the beginning.
    Sheila (UK)

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    1. Sheila, thanks so much for you visit and for leaving a comment. I still remember very well my first trip to New York as a teenager. I knew that someday I wanted to live there/here.

      Best wishes...see you here again soon.

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  9. Lovely pictures, interesting to see the contrasts of busy streets and quiet green spaces in your neighbourhood. The stripe painting was very impressive....and I am glad to say I am wearing a black and white striped top too today, so perfect for joining you and reading this post :)
    Happy new week, Frances.
    Helen xox

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    1. Helen, I'm glad you liked this post...and that you were wearing stripes! It is fortunate for those of us who try to stay out of the bright sun to be able to find a shady side of most streets, even around midday. xo

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  10. I love seeing where you live - you are very lucky to have such amazing architecture as well as green spaces around you. Hope you enjoyed the veg.

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    1. Su, you are very right about the mixture of sights around the Upper West Side. It's changed quite a bit in the 27 years I've been in the area.
      Delicious tomatoes are my favorites at this time of the year! xo

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  11. I enjoyed the tour and it was fun to think of you in your no-doubt-stylish striped sweater matching the new zebra crossing! You seem to be having really warm summer weather still, unlike London and much of Europe which have become suddenly stormy and rain-drenched.
    Warm greetings from the soggy isle! xx

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    1. Thank you Karen. NYC continues its little heat wave this week. What we are experiencing seems very different from what I've been reading and seeing in blogs from across the Pond. Surely we would prefer weather somehow averaging out the two extremes? xo

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  12. Always lovely to visit your city. I'm hoping to have some home grown corn ready for us by the time I get back from Missenden.

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    1. Gina, I appreciate your visits and comments. Perhaps I'll also be buying some corn this week...first of the season for me. xo

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  13. As ever, a fascinating trip round your neighborhood.
    So glad you co-ordinated with the zebra crossing!

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    1. Elizabeth, isn't it funny that road repair work can inspire a blog?

      Looking forward to seeing you this week. Corn is on my little list for the farmers market. xo

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  14. Your journey to the farmers' market is fascinating and totally different to mine - several miles by car across Suffolk farmland to the nearby small town, where it is held in the village hall.

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  15. Yes, I am lucky to have this Sunday market only a short walk away...when I am not at work myself on Sundays.

    The larger Union Square farmers market operates Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday...not exactly the same farmers each day...and requires a subway ride. Worth the trip, though.

    I think I would enjoy the market you visit in the village hall, too. xo

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  16. What a beautiful little park! And I love the mysterious message in chalk.

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  17. Vicki, there are lots of these little parks around the city. Some of them exist as a result of a transfer of air rights given to the developers of an adjacent tall tower.

    Chalk drawings also become a trend every so often. Back in the 1970s when I lived in the SoHo neighborhood, you would come upon wonderful overnight chalk drawings by Basquiat or Haring. It lightened the day to encounter these gems, done well before those artists rose to fame, before their untimely deaths.

    xo

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  18. I just love to see how you live in the city! It´s so far from my countrylife here in Sweden...
    Love,
    Titti

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    1. Titti, isn't it fun, via blogging, to have these windows into how life is lived around the world? I think you know how much I enjoy "visiting" your own beautiful Sweden. Happy weekend. xo

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