Sunday, June 12, 2016

City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.

There is a horrific story from Orlando, Florida, filling the news today.  Many lives were lost and others were changed.  Gun violence continues.

Earlier this afternoon, in order to also find some positive images, I chose to take a walk around the neighborhood to embrace the brilliantly sunny day and pleasant breeze.

As I crossed Amsterdam Avenue at 74th Street, I saw some heavy equipment and some white parked at the rear of the Beacon Theatre.


I was curious to see more equipment parked along West 74th Street between Amsterdam and Broadway.  (You can see the corner of the famous Ansonia Building peeking over the left side of those trees.)


I decided to investigate what was going on at the Beacon.  It's a grand old movie theatre that has been through several renovations over the decades.  Before the renovations I remember seeing the Kinks perform here many times.


Across 75th Street I saw a television sound truck.


Crossing 75th and Amsterdam, I spotted lots of stagehands taking a break, and more white tents.


These tents extended the full length of the north side of the Beacon.  I like this picture with the two policemen, the bright orange-red traffic cones, the barricades, the top of a fire hydrant, some trees and a yellow taxi.


This is a side entrance to the Beacon that leads right into the theatre.  Lots of security chaps were making sure only those supposed to enter were entering.  Have you all guessed which big show is going to start at 8 pm tonight?


It's the Tony Awards Show...where the best of Broadway gets their statuettes.  


Preparations take a long time.


The Beacon Theatre is part of the same building as the Beacon Hotel.  The red carpet for arriving starry invitees to walk upon stretched for several blocks.


Following the path of the carpet encouraged me to take some more photographs of Upper West Side architecture.  The building in the following photographs was originally a bank.


Its upper floors are now condominium apartments.


The architect was long ago inspired by Italy.  Apple Bank's logo really seems out of place.  It was not part of the original design.


Here is where the red carpet begins at 73rd Street and Broadway.


Here is a photograph of the southern end of the bank/condo building.


Just across 73rd Street is a little park that leads to the subway station.  This lady had a very good vantage point from which to watch the stars arrive, but she would have had to wait for several hours.


Easier just to show up next Thursday at the softball game!  

Something else was going on all along the western side of the tree-lined Broadway median strip. A street fair!


All sorts of delicacies and products were on sale.


Even though the weather was grand, the crowds were rather light.


This was probably because over on the East Side of town, the annual Puerto Rican Day parade was making its way up Fifth Avenue.


I hope that you all have enjoyed my neighborhood stroll.  If I had not noticed all the Tony goings on, I'd planned to show you all some flowers from yesterday's Union Square farmers market.

Here are just a few.


I have forgotten what the flowers in the following picture are, but I thought they were very dramatic.  Worthy of a Tony, perhaps.


Thank you all for your continuing visits and for taking time to leave comments, too.  Even when it can seem that many bad things are happening in our shared world, there is also much good to discover.

43 comments:

  1. Hoping that the link to the Tony's is working for you over in Wales. xo

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  2. WOW ! all this excitement going on in your neighborhood and right down the street to the Tonys.
    I am so envious of you being able to see the Kinks !
    Oh My Goodness. I loved that band.
    The flower photos are lovely. Are they Gerber Daisies ?

    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

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    1. Parsnip, there are always little, or not so little, pockets of interesting goings on in the city. I am sure that I'm unaware of most of them. It was fun to just encounter the Tony prep. Many years the award show is at Radio City or even one of the Broadway theatres. Of course, the Beacon is located on Broaday, just a bit uptown from the theatre district! xo

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    2. I think you are right about the gerber daisies. The Kinks are the best! xo

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  3. Thank you for sharing the normalities of life in your neighbourhood. London had it's own parade yesterday for the Queen's 90th Birthday - very British, with less razzamatazz than a NY parade! - we watched it on TV with my Mum, while we ate a cream tea.
    C xx

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    1. It was the juxtaposition of the street fair and the Tonys preparations that amused me, Celia.
      Having a cream tea while watching the London festivities sounds perfect! xo

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  4. I hope the good weather holds for the Tonys. Ours is not being very kind to people trying to enjoy themselves outside in their finery.

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    1. All went well for the Tony's show. I think you might be able to see some of the goings on via the link under the seventh photo (the side entrance picture) of my post. I used the link to watch the tv "red carpet" interviews which was funny since I knew what the scene really looked like. xo

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  5. Your beautiful pictures are the perfect antidote to the dreadful happenings in Orlando.
    I can't wait to be back in New York but we have had to postpone our trip this year and plan to come back next year.
    Hugs from The UK-x-

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    1. Thank you Sheila. Yes, I was going to just post a collection of flower pictures, but then thought sharing a positive neighborhood view or two would also be good. Horrible news from Florida.
      Sorry you've postponed your trip, but still hope to see you when you do visit. xo

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  6. Yes, sad times indeed!
    On a happy note Sophie's husband's show The Color Purple got a tony - for best actress. All very exciting.

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    1. I love watching the Tonys. Think it's the best of all the awards programs. I believe that actress had also performed the role in London. xo

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  7. They put on quite a show last night, didn't they?

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    1. There's no business like show business, and so forth. I watched the show right up to the final credits. xo

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  8. Hello, Frances! Just wanted to tell you, that I'm still very busy, but will find time to write here again soon... Have a lovely new week!x

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    1. Thank you, dear Rossichka, for leaving this message. See you again soon. xo

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  9. The Tony Awards went on beautifully and emotionally. How fortunate you were to come across the preparations during your walk.

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    1. Yes, the show was a good one with much heart and soul and talent on display. xo

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  10. What interesting things you find on your walks Frances.

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    1. I just never know what I might see...must remember to take my camera with me! xo

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  11. Hello Frances, I thought I commented last night but I don't see it. I looked through your pictures and enjoyed your walk. Maybe I just didn't feel up to leaving a comment. I miss visiting New York just as John does. Not all things are bad in the world. xx

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    1. Thanks so much, Rachel. It was reassuring to take my walk and see the Tony Show prep and then the show itself and be reminded of the joy that we can share. xo

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  12. Such a cheerful and interesting collection of pictures, and an antidote to those tragic events. The colourful flowers are beautiful and something to be glad of. Wishing you happy summer times, dear Frances.
    Helen xox

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    1. Dear Helen, I do appreciate your comment. When we are being made aware of terrible things that people can do to people, it is good remind ourselves of kindness. xo

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  13. Hi France's, just catching up after a prolonged absence from the blog world. I enjoyed seeing your knitting projects and colourful yarn combinations. I have been thinking a great deal about positive thinking and our reasons for keeping our blogs, sometimes world events are so incomprehensible it is hard to find good things to say. Good for you to share so many positive images of such a diverse city.

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    1. Thanks Val. I am reminded of something I read in a book by the Dalai Lama, that made very good sense to me. If positive thinking and meditation can be good for the world, it is important to realize that negative thoughts can also have power. As best as I can, I am going for the meditation and positive thought side of the street. Sometimes though, it really is difficult. Friends help. xo

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  14. Hello Frances,
    Friends help, indeed. My own positive antidote to this (latest, are they inevitable?) tragedy was indeed to watch the Tony Awards start to finish. As Arleen wrote above, they balanced the tragedy and its horror so emotionally perfectly with the joy & positivity of the creative life. I thought James Corden was spot on. Frank Langella and Barbra Streisand's words were just heartbreaking & apt. I love "Hamilton" and everything about it, including the diverse casting & the genius of.that Washington Heights "boy," Lin Manuel Miranda.
    If you ever travel north of Harlem to Hamilton Heights, I would love to see your photos of Hamilton's home, The Grange and perhaps some of the Jumel Mansion. Thank you.
    Keep on staying positive & open; I believe that keeps us healthy & mentally sound. Those are either GerberA daisies or Gazania daisies, I think. And aren't you glad you don't have to look at "that" Bankrupt's Tower every day, anymore?
    Cheers from Denver,
    Diane

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    1. Diane, thank you so much for this generous and thoughtful comment.
      I will surely take my camera up to Hamilton Heights, so please do continue to watch this space.
      True, not missing the Bankrupt's Tower. xo

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  15. We are all saddened by the news from Orlando so it is good to take time to focus on the good things in life. How beautiful are those flowers... Stunning!

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    1. Thanks Gina. I will soon be showing you all more flowers and fresh fruits and veg. xo

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  16. Dear Frances, You always take us on the most interesting walks. Here I am living in a little town of 500 and I am transported to the fabled city of New York. Thank you.

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    1. Dear Gina, I love the reports that you send from your own part of the world...and, of course, those gorgeous Italian views, too. xo

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  17. I always like to go on strolls with you. NYC with one of millions of people; it is enlightening.

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    1. Yes, Donna, there is always something new. Today, a former work colleague and I met for a long-postponed dim sum lunch in Chinatown. It was so delicious and great to have my friend who was raised in Malaysia do the ordering. xo

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  18. Those sunflowers are enough to cheer anybody up! I enjoy seeing all the activities going on in your city, it's always hopping. The only thing hopping around here are the rabbits!

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    1. There really is something about sunflowers...they do it for me, too.
      I'd like to see some of those rabbits hopping around your hollow! xo

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  19. Lovely photo's of your neighbourhood Frances. There is always so much going on in a town. I can imagine your interest in the activity around the theatre.

    So sad to hear the news of the Orlando shooting. I don't understand what got into the man...

    Have a lovely day!

    Madelief x

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    1. Thanks so much, Madelief. Taking that walk on Sunday afternoon really did provide a generous helping of optimism about people.

      xo

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  20. Glad to see you are still doing what you do so well: going out and about and enjoying everything you see and hear and then tell us about it!

    I have said before that you are fortunate to live here you do, I’d love to join you.

    I hope you sneaked a few steps on the red carpet? Perhaps you can dine out on: when I walked on the red carpet at the Tony Awards . . . . .

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    1. Dear Friko, I do feel fortunate to live where I do...and definite wish we could take some walks and have some talks together.

      No way we mere mortals were going to be allowed to step on the red carpet. There is a big multi-screen movie theatre in the neighborhood that's used for NYC movie premiers, and I have definitely walked on that red carpet a few times on my way to the Post Office. Not quite the same event, but the carpets look pretty identical.
      xo

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  21. Thank you for visiting and leaving such a lovely comment on my post, Frances. I haven't been reading as much as I like to but I steal some time now and then. I'm so glad I saw this post and had a chance to see your 'behind the scenes' photos. We watched the Tony's. I don't normally like award shows, but this one seemed different. I think it had to do with the inclusiveness. The stars really seemed to reflect a more real America than the Oscars do.

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    1. I appreciate your comment very much, dear Pondside.

      There is something about the Tony show that always touches my heart, but this year was particularly moving. (I wanted to go to today's softball game, but overnight and early morning showers have led to a rescheduling of the games...fields are wet and unsafe for play.)

      xo

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