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Just a stones throw away from Grant's Tomb is the Riverside Church. An interracial, interdenominational, international institution that is usually in the forefront of Peace and Civil rights movements in NY. Many great speakers have orated in its halls from Jame Forman interrupting services to call on all white churches and synagogues to pay $500 million dollars in reparations to Bill Clinton promoting liberal causes during the last election.
During the mid 1970s someone added these mosaic tiled sclulptures around Grant's Tomb. At the time I thought them incongruous with the monument. It seemed like an attempt to include the community in caring for this historic monument. Grafitti was on the increase and the monument was in need of repair. Since then it appears to have been restored to its original state and the sculptures have become a permanent part of the site. There's an attendant that monitors the Tomb 24 hrs a day and access to the walls are restricted by guardrails at night. Not that it would stop anyone who is determined to tag it. I'm glad it is being respected. For a look inside check out Manyhighways photoblog.
Working in the cold is challenging to say the least, but I love what the frigid temps do to the air in NYC. Its like a freezer scrub. Everything drops out of it.
From these shores was the last time I swam in the Hudson River. We use to call it the 158 St. Park. It wasn't much of a park then but its much improved now and heavily utilized in the summer by the Fort W. residents and some diehard ballplayers. I grew up looking at the Palisades everyday and it was as pristine as the north side of the GW except for Palisades Amusement Park. I wonder if the people in all those buildings consider themselves NYer or Jerseyites.
Here are two ways to make use of of a ridge. The first is in Yonkers. The rest are at the River Ridge Riding Stables in Eastchester. They are separated by less than 3 miles
This massive structure in Rye Brook befits the size of the mega corporation that built it. I remember when it was being constructed, thinking that it might be a secret missle silo. A lot a construction went on before progress was made above ground level. The lake is also man made. The rear is an unimaginative block of what looks like aluminum siding. It was too bright with all the snow and most of my shots came out washed out. Completed in 1983 it marked the beginning of large corporations (IBM, Pepsi) leaving the City. The other shots were taken today in White Plains on a very overcast day.
Okay so I lied. I wasn't going anywhere on Championship Sunday. I did pullout the minolta and took a couple of shots on my way to pick up some takeout. The snowy benches were boring but the digital zoom on the S414 reminded me why I like it so much. No way I get the man on the moon with the 18-70 Nikon.
I like living in Yonkers. It offers me the best of both worlds. Quiet, clean and spacious and in close proximity to the city I love. But during storms like this I might as well be in a different state. Hopefully I can make my way to the city tommorrow. In the meantime check out some storm shots from joesnyc, rion.nu, meccapixel, Overshadowed, 990000, and a nice set from our sister city by dragonballyee.
Sunset at Tappan Zee. Even though there was very little wind, any exposed skin instantly turned the same color as the ice.
At first glance this tiny hamlet along the MetroNorth corridor seems like all the other stops along the way, Tuckahoe, Hartsdale, Bronxville. But a short stroll around the center of town and you know your definitely not in Kansas any more. The price on second real estate shot is $1,195,000.00 and its not much to look at. The wild life is plentiful... foxes and minks have the run of the town.
If your'e ever in Phonecia you must stop at Sweet Sue's for breakfast. The pancakes are to die for. I don't care what kind of diet you are on, its worth cheating for a day. You can enjoy this delight all year round since this area is so multiseasonal. Belleayre Mountain Lodge is a great ski place. It's as challenging as Hunter but not as crowded and the intermediates are fun. During the summer there's tubing on the Esopus and world class trout fishing. The Fall is exquisite and inspires an art community that second to none.
