Happy Festivus for the Rest of Us

Holidays can be as good as your mood and the company you keep. I find that this time around xmas, many people are just too stressed going through the cultural motions, many of which are obligations really--conforming to norms. For me, this season has been stressful and not because I've been trying to fit in and follow the "holiday spirit" but rather due to work and other personal matters.

I haven't posted anything in about a month, though I have taken a good number of pictures. I'll post them in a few days, as a collage of the days & nights around the winter solstice of 2010.

Below, a classic. Snowman. Music by Howard Blake, and I believe the singer is Aled Jones.



One of my favorite songs is "Walking in the Air" by Nightwish.

Well, be in touch soon. Enjoy!

May You Have Plenty of Reasons to Be Thankful on this Thanksgiving Day.

Everybody, at some point, has had this kind of bird on Thanksgiving.

I hope your meat of choice, your tofuturkey, or anything you happen to have on your Thanksgiving table is enjoyed in great company, interesting banter, and uplifting spirits of all kinds.

Maybe one of these days you'll experience New York City on Thanksgiving Thursday, because it's the only day of the year that is at its most quiet, fun to walk around, and not have the usual rush-rush, hectic pace. Avoid the Macy's balloon parade's route, unless you have little children who will enjoy the huge balloons and the other hoopla of the season.

Traditionally, the xmas holiday shopping, er, the holiday season begins the day after Thanksgiving, but they're pushing it earlier and earlier. It was on a early November day that I popped in a store to buy a necktie and I was greeted by xmas music!  Com'on people, two months of lame xmas music/carols is waaaaay tooooooo much!

I hope to walk in Central Park a bit before the rain arrives later today. It's becoming a tradition in the last 5 year that I spend Thanksgiving in NYC and taking a long walk in this beautiful park.

I may return with some pictures...

Halloween Village Parade 2010

This year's parade had the theme, Memento Mori. Yes, I know, it's morbid, but in a fun kinda way. Besides, not all participants stuck to this theme as you can see below. Everyone had lots of fun.

This year was much better than last year, when it rained heavily. It was windy and chilly but it was totally worth it. Having the parade on the weekend makes it easier for people to participate.

I took hundreds of pictures. I'm just posting a few here. I uploaded almost 100 more to the official Halloween Parade site

Glorious Autumn of 2010

Croton Dam

Housatonic River in CT

In a Westchester park

I would be remiss if I didn't post something about the beautiful autumnal show we're experiencing here in the northeastern US.  I've taken tons of pictures all over, from NYC, to Westchester, to the Hudson valley and Connecticut.

From New Paltz looking west

 The weather turned to seasonal today, after a brief warm spell. But, it has been awesome to be outdoors this time of the season. The air is crisp and the views are breathtaking.

Somewhere in the Hudson valley

The Hudson river, looking north, on the Bear Mt. bridge

Blazing Pumpkins Nicely Put Together

Every year in the past few, this event is getting bigger and bigger, but so do the crowds.... and, this is the problem, for me. On the Saturday I visited--on the first day of the 2010 season--there were too many people. Not that the tour has to be completed by a certain time, but if you're in a long line of people, you feel others on your back... not to mention the stroller that keep attacking your feet.

Those of you who do night photography know how important it is to have a steady camera without being nudged by other bodies. No tripods allowed and there aren't flat surfaces where you can place your camera to take proper long-exposure pictures. Most of my pictures from this night are better suited for the Museum of Modern Art.

This old house dates back to 18th century. Allegedly ghosts still haunt it.

But, overall it was a great night to be out and see pumpkins carved and arranged in such a creative way.

Spider Web, a little heavier than usual

The expert carvers are doing several hundred pumpkins every week while the show is on--which is about a month. However, you have to ask in order to find out that the 5,000+ lighted pumpkins on display aren't all real. They do have real ones--those that have candles burning inside, but most of the displays are styrofoam with a shelf life of 5 years; those have miniature electric lights.

Nailed to a tree

With the weather being unpredictable as autumn rolls in, we got lucky to visit on a great night. In the several days prior, we had storms with heavy downpours in the tri-state area. This wouldn't be a problem if you could just go when the weather is good, but they only sell a limited number of tickets and for specific times; ours was the 9 pm slot. The tickets have to be purchased well in advance as they sell out quickly.

It looked more impressive when I saw this

Exploring the Finger Lakes Region in New York

These pictures don't do justice to the real experience and the size of these these gorges/canyons. The Watkins Glen park, by Seneca Lake, NY, has one of the most interesting hikes along the gorge. It's 1.5 miles long, about a thousand steps up, plus walking on paths along the cascading river.

One of the many waterfalls at Watkins Glen Park

Taughannock Falls, near Ithaca, NY

Rainbow Falls and bridge

Deep gorge(ous) canyon

American Woman, Picasso, and a Bamboo Structure

Perhaps, this scene was quite ordinary back in the old days. Did you notice the parrot?

Ah, a good dose of art on Sunday. The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Ave in Manhattan is a must-see destination.  It's so immense that you can't really see it on one visit. I'm not kidding. If you go, wear comfortable shoes (you'll walk miles) and make some strategic decisions as to what to see.

I visit several times a year, because there are special exhibits that are on display only for a few months. Right now, there's a big Picasso exhibit, American Woman [see video below], a big bamboo structure on the roof garden (with views of Central Park and midtown), a special photography collection, and King Tut's funeral--a smallish collection of items pertaining to his last trip down the Nile.  I saw all these exhibits, and more. The Picasso and AW end their run on August 15th, so hurry up if you want to see them.

Yeah, he's fine. All of his painting look great! [for those who don't know, a few months ago, someone had fallen into a painting tearing it!]

No spike heels, please!

No smoking, please!

During the suffragette era, when American Women fought for their rights. It's amazing that it took a Constitutional Amendment (the 19th, in 1920) to give women equal rights, like voting.

Oh, the Bohemian era of the early 20th century. Scandalous. Corset-less, looser, more sexual, practical fashion. And, an attitude to match!  [I wish I had more pictures, but the guards didn't allow it]

Is this a bit too much for my bedroom?

Who's this guy?!

These two (I mean the 2 pictures above) are related. Can you guess?...

Stone, metal, glass

Even sons of God must die someday

This is a huge atrium on the west wing of the museum connecting several themed exhibits. Nice place to relax. There are a few others that offer respite, some are a lot more quiet. This atrium can get loud.

Entry to the Picasso rooms, next to the American Wing

One Saturday in Late July 2010

Even though Liberty Island is near GI, the haze makes it hard to take a very clear shot from a distance. This is actually one of my better pictures from afar.

This past weekend the weather was perfect as we had a respite of the high humidity. Riding a bicycle in NYC was fun. First came Governor's Island. I hadn't explored the southernmost part because it wasn't accessible when I was there last time.  Great views of Brooklyn, Liberty Island, New Jersey, and the NY harbor.

There are many sculptures and other modern design stuff, like these artistic bungalows all over GI now.

On the western edge of GI looking north into the financial district.

Looking SW on GI

There was a Black & White concert later in the day. I didn't know what B&W was... I guess it's a genre. Not everyone arrived dressed like these persons but they did wear black and white. The music flavor was House/Techno. Not bad if you're into this stuff.

Yeah, it is what you see. Open to the public to try it out!

Above, by Wall Street. Lots of pubs and restaurants on this old, stone-paved alley, are trying European style al fresco!  Below, Shakespeare in the Park, literally. Professional actors perform outside, moving around followed by the audience! (Pictures were not allowed, but I snapped a couple. After all, it was a public space). I think they rotate using city venues. This one at Battery Park/Clinton Castle, and the play was Much Ado About Nothing. Very interesting experience.

Much Ado About Nothing at Battery Park, NYC.

I like this picture even though there's "noise" in it.  Very high ISO in low light. I was playing with the camera. Not every picture has to be perfect as long as it captures what I want.

At one point, the theater troupe performed with this background--the Goldman Sacks tower across the river in NJ during sunset! [They were watching me so I couldn't take a picture of the actors at this point]

At Pier 17, Fulton Market. These views of the 3 bridges (looking north) the wharf with the financial district behind it, and looking south into the NY harbor at night.


PS> In order for the page to load faster on slower connections, the pictures are medium-sized. However, if you click on them, they open up much bigger.