Woke up to light snow, but by the time we left for the day, it was drizzly and mostly slush. The wind was fierce and the sky was menacing and it was the perfect day to visit Coney Island. The wind stung and the clouds loomed, but it was totally worth it.
Who doesn't love the wind-blown look?
Snowy beach. So serene:
Kinda put a damper on the day...
But I just shrugged it off.
The pier where they filmed Requiem For A Dream:
Remember to keep Coney clean:
Oh, and then there was this. Uh...what?
I wish the Cyclone was running. Oh well.
We headed back to the West Village and walked for a good while taking in the quaint neighborhoods and hipster residents. If there were any area I'd want to reside, it'd be here. The fire escapes, the people, and Wicked Willy's on Bleecker and Thompson. The atmosphere is comforting, the staff is amazing, and the owners are top shelf, if I do say so. All-in-all tonight was awesome.
On the way back to Queens I had to stop and take a picture of Queens Blvd (or at least the street sign). Entourage anyone?
And so we continued on the train into the night. Oh the subway, how I'll miss you the most.
Finally got up early enough to see Manhattan in the daylight. This included 30 Rockefeller and Central Park, but only after the most delicious salmon burger I've ever had (at the most upscale restaurant I've ever been to) at Oceana. There were homemade kettle chips. Yup. So, today was a tourist day.
Then I ran across this, a sculpture recognized and reproduced around the world. Love.
We then walked two and a half miles to Central Park. The brisk stroll was awesome, but the views when we got there were epic:
Duck duck water:
Thinkthinkthink:
Contemplate:
Reflect:
I needed this bench by the end pf the day, dogs bark loudly:
via Belvedere Castle:
Sometimes I pose. Sometimes I don't. I hate it.
The we walked back to our subway stop via Park Ave. Oh my, the traffic and pretentiousness abounds. No joke. I got a photo of the traffic, but the arrogance would have broken the lens.
And finally I revisited 30 Rock at night and witnessed the amazingness. The video I got from this last week will confirm: New York really is the place for me. Closing photo not submitted into evidence.
Woke up a little later than hoped to (damn PST), so rescheduled Central Park for tomorrow. Headed to Manhattan anyway to see Broadway, Times Square, and the like.
I was confronted with a question: Since when does a creepy baby reaching out for a hug represent "love"? And since when does it belong on a billboard?
Anyway, I further fell in love with the hustle and bustle of the city. "The City That Never Sleeps" is an understatement. The abundance of cabs taking pleiads and peasants to and fro. So many opportunities to be and not to be. Pretentiously vague? Possibly. Where are you?
I also fell in love with the architecture. My passion for the art still exists and I want to design structures such as these:
Oh, and I want a garden like this one day:
After having amazing falafel at Lucky Star Cafe, we strolled over to Zerofriends NYC on 9th (at the Giant Robot spot featuring David Choe, Takashi Murakami, and Dehara through March 24th).
I've always loved Alex Pardee's work and it definitely helps that when I met him at the Cage video shoot, he was super cool. He'll be at a signing at the shop on the 27th. I'll be back.
Sean "The Sales Rep" and I:
Curious story about Sean: He also works with David Stanworth (who runs Snafu Comics and who lived in Fresno for about a year). Through a mutual acquaintance (those who know me know who I'm talking about) I hung around Dave a lot and got to know him and what he's about. I really like him and his business mindset. The two other guys that work with/for him are Shawn (the original) and Layne, who I hope to see again, as they all moved back to Utah at the end of last year. Still, it's a small world even at the opposite end of the country. Oh, and Sean also knows the Rademacher guys, another welcome reminder of home in a strange land.
We got picked up by John's dad and Ryan and rode back to his place in Queens, passing Cypress Hill Cemetery which was breath-taking and immense, in that order. We joked, we riffed, and dropped off Evan at his Brooklyn apartment. His neighborhood:
We then went to Flying Machines' practice studio to pick up the remaining gear before they leave for tour tomorrow. Their gear included a megaphone (which I will be using to promote merch sales) and Ryan's new microKORG. But first, took some awesome pictures of the studio entrance, East River, and myself:
Oh, and then there was this posted on the inside door:
Then we had a drink at The Delancy and a slice of pizza at New Roma. I must say... shhh... Pizza My Heart has my heart. Moving on... We then met up with Ryan's friend Nate on the Lower East Side and took a cab (whose driver's last name was Butt, no joke) to Wicked Willy's (owned by Camryn and her husband - can you say free drinks?) on Bleecker and Thompson where I met a guy who had been voted off American Idol for singing a Josh Grobin song (he sang it for karaoke and I can see why he got kicked off). Anyway, this bar just so happened to be owned and operated by a friend of ours from high school's husband. We drank, we laughed, Ryan sang A-Ha. A very nice time was had:
On the walk to the subway came across two very well known venues. First was the Blue Note, home of jazz:
Second was Village Underground, where Velvet Underground played many a time:
I then came across IFC Center (I'm going back this week).
We then went to catch the F back to the hotel, but when it took too long, we decided to split a cab. Now, there's a language barrier and a language wall. Ryan tried to convey (through subtle hints) that he was a local and that the cabbie shouldn't screw us on the fair. This was taken badly. When we got to our stop and it came time to Ryan to pay, he pulled out a hundred-dollar-bill. The cabbie felt it, looked at hit, and held it up to the light, at which point Ryan asked, "Will that be suitable to pay?" The cabbie replied "Fuck you! Fuck you!" He then threw the legitimate bill back at him. I then leaned in through the passenger window and handed him a hundred only to have him promptly and accurately provide change and a smile.
If only this next week will provide as much good fortune and amusement.
