Famous Ankles

Friday’s snowfall affected Union Square on Saturday, at least to some extent.  On weekends, even in the dead of winter, there’s always something going on there.  But when I walked through there on Saturday, I got the definite feeling that very little was happening.

Just wet and slushy.  There was just the tiniest hint of current snow in the air, so I expected that the artists wouldn’t be out peddling their wares.  And for the most part, that was correct.  The guys below were just about the only ones there.

But the dogs were there (as you would expect).

And the farmers market was going strong.

The prettiest part of the walk through was the actual park.  There was still plenty of snow on the ground.

But the interesting part was right smack in the middle of the square itself.  Just a plaintive little display showing that hope for a better tomorrow lurks just beneath the surface.

It’s an ad for lifeguards for this summer.  It’s looking for “whistle worthy” East Coast versions of David Hasslehoff and Pamela Lee.

-H

I recently posted on the Tompkins Square Park dog run and how it was considered one of the top dog runs around.  I made the comment that I’ve never seen a dog run with any grass in it and decided I’d go ahead and post on the one dog run that I see on a regular basis:  in Union Square.

Actually, it’s in the park connected to the square.

Generally, the place is jammed, but the one time I decided to take some pictures, there were just a couple of dogs in the whole place.

The place is small…and not a blade of grass.

-H

As it is the day of the New Hampshire primary, I thought I’d do my little bit of election posting regarding something I watched in Union Square on Sunday.

I haven’t seen any of the presidential ads yet, probably because NYC isn’t on their radar yet or maybe because they think that it’s a gimmee for Hillary.  But, for the first time this cycle, I have spotted a group pushing their candidate:  Barack Obama.

As you can see, it’s sparsely attended.  Hey, it’s cold and we don’t have an immediate primary on the horizon.  Also, it’s just a table in the square.  I just noted it as the first I’ve seen.

But what I loved was a vignette going on behind the table.  There was a small film crew (reporter and cameraman) interviewing one of the staff.  I never heard a word.  I don’t know if it was a news reporter or a campaign reporter.

But I loved the contortions.

The interviewer was apparently trying everything she could to keep out of the frame but have the mic close to the speaker.  The speaker was game and never seemed to blink as the reported kept changing stances.  Although, on close inspection she is cracking a smile on the third picture.

-H