All's Well That Ends Well

I've been partnering with a friend in tearing down the West Village's Sushi Mambo (seen in the last season of Curb Your Enthusiasm) to build an upcoming Mexican restaurant. On Friday, I grabbed a sledgehammer, and went to town. While wrecking the joint, a sealed bag falls from the ceiling, to help end this project with a photo to rival the first entry: someone's hidden porn stash (mainly foot fetish stuff) literally bonked me on the head.

Oh, and my orchid bloomed again!

Rained Down Quite A Surprise

Went to breakfast with a friend, and I was the first there for this sight.

It Shocked Me

On my This Hidden City blog, I posted about Nikola Tesla's stay at the New Yorker Hotel for the last 10 years of his life, mentioning how you could only see the plaques on the rooms he occupied if you were a guest at the hotel.

About an hour after I posted the story, I received a call from the hotel's historian and archivist, Mr. Kinney, who asked if I wanted to personally see the plaques.

I was there within the hour; camera ready.

You can view the whole post here, and when this blog project is finished, feel free to drop by the This Hidden City blog often to keep up with what I find around town.

Spring Has Sprung

While this post is still something unexpected, it's not actually something I found.
I've been working in SoHo for the past few weeks, and have lunch sitting outdoors, basking in the sun. After about 10 minutes, I'm done with eating, and get a little bored sitting around for another 20 before going back to work. As I stared at the cobblestone street, an idea popped into my head, and I walked to Canal Street to find a store selling school supplies. I returned with a box of colored chalk, and made a lot of the locals smile.

I think I may do this more often, whenever (and wherever) I can.

Poor Marilyn

He's Got My Vote

I was walking on Canal towards the Hudson River, and took a right up West when I spotted this "ad campaign" for a presidential run no one, but you and I, will ever hear of.

If you're interested in finding out more about Jeff, and his platform, visit his website.

What the Hell, MTA!?

Looks like the new subway rate hikes weren't enough, and New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority will take money from anywhere they can get it.
It wasn't bad enough kids who ride the rails are subject to advertising from cults (like Scientology and Philosophy Works), anti-Muslim hate speech (see here), and alcohol, but now they have to have body-image issues, too.

Wanna Fight About It?

While walking the West Village (taking for photos for This Hidden City, and the Forgotten Rides blogs), I happened to come across New York's Largest Pillow Fight, which I later learned donates most of the pillows to New York's homeless. This was held in Washington Square Park, and I wondered how many would feel if they knew they were doing this over one of the city's largest potter's fields.

As I stood around, I heard many say the event was the "World's Largest Pillow Fight". This is untrue, as that title is carried by Brookings, South Dakota, which had it out on November 22, 2014, with 4201 participants at a South Dakota State University football game. The crown was previously held by students of the University of California, Irvine (who still hold the record for World's Largest Water Pistol Fight). UPDATE!
Anyhow, as I walked east, I came upon 101 Astor Place, which - in my opinion - currently holds the record for having New York City's Ugliest Public Art on display.

It's so god-awful, and pains me to know it's a Keith Haring rip off.

Pinching Calcified Pennies

Seeing how the weather had improved, I took a walk along the shore of Shell Bank Creek.
After about two hours of finding nothing interesting (beside a whole lot of dead horseshoe crabs), I decided to head back to the car.
Almost immediately after turning around, I looked down to find a penny.

I tried to clean it off, but to no avail. That stuff is caked on for the life of it.

I'm Speechless

Seriously... what the hell is this!?

A Portal Through Time

Around the corner from where I live in Bed-Stuy is Boys High School, which was built in 1891, and was designed by James W. Naughton, Superintendent of Buildings for the Board of Education of the (then) City of Brooklyn.
It is currently being used as the backdrop for some show on HBO, and, every so often, my neighborhood is thrown into a time warp, Old Tyme style.

What A Facade

Maybe it's to prevent car theft, but a few folks in my neighborhood will cover expensive equipment with cheap junk.
It doesn't fool anyone.

Pizza!

I think I found all the local pizza place's favorite customer a few houses down from me.

He eats like I wish I had the guts to.

Polystyrene Jungle

I'm learning that less and less of this place is concrete, as most of it is replaced by Styrofoam.

Winter Bloom

Last year, I was leaving a hardware franchise in my neighborhood, when I saw they were throwing out a few damaged orchid plants.
I walked up to the guy tossing them out, and asked, "Can I take any of these?"
He replied, "I ain't seen nothing," which I took as my cue to have at it.
Knowing how cold it gets in the winter, I had my doubts they would grow well indoors. I certainly did not foresee that one would bloom, so I got a nice surprise this week.

Took A Wrong Turn, Somewhere

Went to Plumb Beach Channel, in south Brooklyn, on one of the last days before winter really hit, and not only discovered another abandoned vehicle, but got a good shot out of it.