The Society for Ethical Culture

Posted May 17, 2008 by Famous Ankles
Categories: Manhattan, Upper West Side, Wanderings

Ever wonder where the Trancendentalists went? Me neither. But it turns out that they are still around, this time in the guise of “The Society for Ethical Culture“. It’s been around since 1878. They’ve got a huge place right outside Central Park at Central Park West and 64th Street.

Apparently, there’s a school right next to this place that is rated very, very highly. It is no longer associated with the Society, but that’s might be just a formality. The school is named something like the Ethical Culture School, so I presume there is some crossover.

From what I understand, they take on a distinctly religious sort of view, but without any bedrock of ultimate truth or of God.  They just want, according to the plaque below, to practice and love doing the right.

Of course, when I see something like this, my cantankerous nature says I need to find those organizations dedicated against ethical culture and hear their arguments, but that’s a rather thin viewpoint.

The plaque below states that the building is designed in the Austrian form of Art Nouveau and was built in 1909. The designer was a close friend of the founder of the Society, Felix Adler, and he served as the Society’s president from 1921 to 1944.

 Not pictured (it was really out of focus) is a standard sort of Church bulletin board that posts the Sunday services at 11:15. At least according to the Wikipedia article, the Society has taken on a distinctly Christian look and feel in its attempts to reach out to the public. It takes no stand on the existence of God, but wants to act as a religious brotherhood to bring about a better culture and community.

I can’t fault the goal.

-H

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A Post of Three Delis

Posted May 16, 2008 by Famous Ankles
Categories: Food, Manhattan, Mid-town, Times Square, Wanderings

If you wander down Seventh Avenue, starting around 57th Street, you will eventually run into three delis: Carnegie’s, The Stage, and Roxy’s.

You will also see about 40 other places calling themselves “delis”, and a few are no doubt very good; but they aren’t in this company.

First, it’s Carnegie’s. I’ve eaten there once and was overwhelmed by the sandwich. Really, really good. And there’s always a line. In the picture below, the van blocks the view of maybe five to eight people waiting to get in. Once in, the accommodations are pretty bad, but the food is wonderful.

Next, it’s the Stage Deli. I haven’t eaten there, but it always appears about as jammed as Carnegie’s. I saw this sign on the window and knew I’d have to post it as my picture.

Finally, Roxy’s. A purest will note that it is actually on Broadway, but it is where 7th Avenue and Broadway come together. That’s Times Square for those of you who didn’t make the connection.

Roxy’s has a pretty fair amount of seating despite being dwarfed by its neighbors and the neighbor’s signs. I’ve eaten there about four times and the sandwiches are great.

There are lots of other terrific delis in NYC. But these are the three I ran into that day.

And I didn’t eat at any of them.

-H

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Pentanque in Bryant Park

Posted May 15, 2008 by Famous Ankles
Categories: Manhattan, Mid-town, Wanderings

The other day, I wandered by the eastern edge of Bryant Park and was confronted with the sight of people throwing large steel balls around. Not a problem, it’s called Petanque (pronounced, I’m told, as “pay-tonk”).

I have seen this small space in Bryant Park many times, but this was the first time I saw anyone using it.

The game is originally from France (where it was named “boules”) and appears to be the predecessor of lawn bowling.

Note the little orange object in the middle of the steel balls.  That’s the target.  The players throw the balls to see how close they get to this object.  …at least I think that’s the goal.

There are actually free lessons given in this spot between 11:30am and 2pm Mondays through Fridays.  I was there on a Saturday, and it was obvious that these people were also giving/taking lessons.  Either that or the games were really, really lopsided.  Some of those guys could throw those balls really well. 


 As you can tell, it was a pretty popular spectator sport. There were, I think, three games or lessons going on simultaneously. The area appears to hold up to four separate games simultaneously.
 
-H

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Central Park in Spring

Posted May 14, 2008 by Famous Ankles
Categories: Uncategorized

Over the weekend, I realized I hadn’t been to Central Park since February. That’s a long time for me.

And it is most definitely Springtime in the park. What’s not to love about Central Park in Spring?

I was only around the southern part of the Park, just avoiding going up to the Sheep Meadow and the Great Lawn. They may not be open yet, simply to give the grass a chance to grow and get anchored in for the hordes of New Yorkers later in the season.

But, as you can tell, this part of the park is nicely wooded and has a lot of schist outcrops.  That’s the rock on which all of the skyscapers are are set. 

And, as I love to point out, even with all the trees, there is a rather unsubtle reminder that you are in NYC.

-H

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Central Synagogue on Lexington Avenue

Posted May 13, 2008 by Famous Ankles
Categories: Manhattan, Mid-town, Uncategorized, Wanderings

Located on 55th Street and Lexington Avenue, NYC’s Central Synagogue is very distinctive and really stands out from the nearby buildings.

The building style is noted as “Moorish” and that seems absolutely appropriate to the structure. It’s pretty cool looking.

But you know the one thing that really caught my eye?  Not the style (although that helped).  Instead, it has the most absolutely perfect announcement/services sign that I have ever seen on any house of worship. I am just so used to the ones that some poor deacon has to go out and put up the plastic lettering on. For Central Synagogue, it is just a nice standard digital display.

It’s such a minor thing, but just something I don’t know that I’ve seen before.  Well, I’ve seen Churches with the scrolling letter signs, but not something as simple and as nice as the above.

Incidentally, despite its old-style appearance, it is a Reform synagogue.

-H

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