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Archive for the ‘Wanderings’ category

Movie Shoot in Greenwich Village

March 18, 2008

If you’re in NYC for any length of time, you start to see these sorts of signs all over the place. And the prettier/grittier the place, the more often you see them.

It’s a notice that, if you had parked on this street (Greenwich Street) on Sunday, March 16th, you’d have been towed away. They’re making a movie called “New York, I Love You”.

Hey, I sympathize with the sentiment. I checked IMDB and they have this. At this time, the entry is pretty bare, but it says that 12 filmmakers are making an anthology based on the title’s premise. The directors and actors seem like a pretty first-rate crew, too. But, then, I don’t go to movies that often so I only recognized about a third of the names.

But, like I said, I like the sentiment of the title.

I still have a problem with the sentiment of the notice, though. NYC really lets the movie/TV industry have their way on everything. I don’t know if I really like giving these guys the right to block off entire streets for hours/days. But, it does let people see NYC in its best light.

I don’t know where they’re filming, as these signs go up not only next to the location of the shots, but to areas they are going to be parking all of the vehicles used in carrying cameras and food and actors and all. But, I did see some photogenic looking buildings here.

Yeah, that’s the same sign.

-H

Categories: Celebrity Points, Events, Greenwich Village, Manhattan, Wanderings

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Bellevue South Park

March 14, 2008

Across from Bellevue Hospital is a very pleasant little park: Bellevue South Park.

It was cold and windy the day I went by there, but you can see that NYC has done a nice little job with the place. And they’ve done one of their great little tricks: lots of places to sit.

The seating doesn’t show up particularly well in the pictures, but it’s there. I imagine it’s one of those places that visitors to Bellevue can escape to on occasion to smoke a cigarette (rapidly becoming illegal anywhere in NYC) or to avoid the hospital atmosphere.

-H

Categories: Gramercy, Manhattan, Mid-town, Wanderings

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Bellevue Hospital

March 13, 2008

Long before I set foot in NYC, I had heard of Bellevue. It seemed to be a staple element of detective novels and crime dramas and the occasional biography that I read. It was always associated with the worst-of-the-worst sorts of situations: shootings, stabbings, rape, the homeless and their afflictions, and often psychiatric disorders.

Bellevue is apparently the oldest public hospital in the US (founded 1736), and I can say this: it is big. And, amazingly enough, located right next door to another huge hospital center: NYU Medical.

And it is located very close to where I live. It’s around 29th Street and 1st Avenue.

When I saw this sign, all I could think about is that it looked somewhat gothic and cool.

But it isn’t the main building or the main gate or anything in particular. The main building seems pretty modern.

Not what I would have expected from such an old institution with its gritty past. But the front is just a facade. Inside has to be one of the coolest entrances to a hospital that I’ve ever seen. I’m not sure of it, but the glass exterior in the picture above is sort of an add-on and they’ve restored (or seemed to) the old hospital front in a sort of mall-like setting.

And I, idiot that I am, forgot to take a picture. Actually, they prohibit pictures in there, and they’ve got plenty of security. However, I could have snuck an easy picture without really violating anything as I’d technically be outside of the real entrance area. However, I was concerned about the light and my flash and didn’t want to bring myself to their attention.

But it gives me an excuse to go back at a better time.

Anyway, this is only one of many buildings in the complex. They, too, give me a reason to go back, but I don’t know that I’d be able to wander amongst the buildings. I guess I’ll find out.

-H

Categories: Gramercy, Manhattan, Mid-town, Wanderings

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The Love Bike

March 12, 2008

You see a post with a name like “The Love Bike” and it makes me wonder what you think you’re going to see.

Is it a Harley? Some sort of huge motorcycle?

How about a Honda? They used to have one of the great slogans: “You meet the nicest people on a Honda”. That was before they did cars and mowers and all.

Perhaps a tandem bike. You know, a bicycle built for two.

Nah. Nothing so exotic.

It’s too late for Valentines, so this must be a year-round Love Bike.

Actually, there was a clue to it in the basket. There was a pamplet for a “Bike Lane Liberation Clown Ride” for March 15 (a Saturday). They’re planning on having clown makeup and everything.

I know people who fear clowns. I hope they aren’t wandering around Manhattan and run across a mess o’ clowns dedicated to protecting their turf.

-H

Categories: Manhattan, Wanderings

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La Plaza Cultural in Alphabet City

March 10, 2008

I was recently back in Alphabet City in the Lower East Side (AKA, the East Village), and ran into another of the small parks that have sprung up in the area. These are associated with NYC’s Green Thumb program. But just being a park ain’t enough to make me take a picture of it; instead, I need something a hair different in some way.

And I think having strange and bizarre stuff on the top of the fence does qualify.

It’s La Plaza Cultural, located on East 9th Street and Avenue C. Their website doesn’t seem to say a word about the fence, so maybe they don’t think it’s worthy of comment.

I think it is.