New York Chlorofluorocarbons Lose To Sounders 3-1.

Posted: May 6th, 2015 | Filed under: The Bronx

The MLS NYCFC vs. Seattle Sounders at Yankee Stadium on May 3:

NYCFC vs. Seattle Sounders, Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, May 3, 2015

The cadence of the “NYC-FC!” chant sort of sounds like “NY CFC!” You think people are rooting for New York Chlorofluorocarbons.

The layout of the field (pitch?) is odd, and they actually add sod to the infield for each game:

NYCFC vs. Seattle Sounders, Yankee Stadium, The Bronx, May 3, 2015

Then celebrating on River Avenue afterward — this was a loss, mind you, and one where the Sounders basically dismantled the defense — who knows what would it have looked like had they won:

River Avenue Between East 162nd Street and East 161st Street, The Bronx, May 3, 2015

Zoos And Aquariums Of The East Coast

Posted: March 17th, 2015 | Filed under: Out Of Town, Queens, Staten Island, The Bronx

At some point in your life you visit many, many zoos. Here are some recent visits to zoos and aquariums along the East Coast.

The Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest in the U.S. They have a wonderful primate facility where you can get real close and gawk:

Primate Reserve, Philadelphia Zoo, 34th Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 2013

Primate Reserve, Philadelphia Zoo, 34th Street and Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 18, 2013

Across the river in Camden is the Adventure Aquarium, which used to be owned by the state but which was unloaded to a private entity about ten years ago. There’s a fun shark tunnel there:

Shark Tunnel, Adventure Aquarium, Camden, New Jersey, July 3, 2014

Adventure Aquarium, Camden, New Jersey, July 3, 2014

In Sarasota, the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has a great manatee exhibit and a rarely-in-captivity dolphin (which is only there because it was injured and can’t be in the wild):

Manatees, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Sarasota, Florida, November 4, 2014

Dolphin Lagoon, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, Sarasota, Florida, November 4, 2014

Closer to home, there is the grand Bronx Zoo:

Congo Gorilla Forest, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, The Bronx, June 2, 2013

Wild Asia Monorail, Bronx Zoo, Bronx Park, The Bronx, June 2, 2013

The Queens Zoo is a great little zoo — and I don’t think “little” is a pejorative: there’s something to the idea that a visit to the zoo doesn’t have to be this exhausting day-long slog. The Queens Zoo focuses on animals of the Americas, as well, which is a cool curatorial take. The Buckminster Fuller dome/aviary is a hoot, too:

Aviary, Queens Zoo, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, September 21, 2013

Andean Bear, Queens Zoo, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, July 12, 2014

Finally, the Staten Island Zoo makes for a fun trip to the island. The nursery there is fun to see:

Animal Nursery, Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island, June 23, 2013

Also, Staten Island Chuck, who takes down mayors:

Staten Island Chuck, Staten Island Zoo, Staten Island, June 23, 2013

June 2011

Posted: May 2nd, 2012 | Filed under: Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx

If you stare deeply enough into your drink, messages appear:

Aldea, 31 West 17th Street, Midtown Manhattan

Custom House in Lower Manhattan:

Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, Lower Manhattan

Rotunda, Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, Lower Manhattan

Even though we missed the scheduled tour, one of the park ranger people let us into the ornate Collector’s Reception Room:

Collector's Reception Room, Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, Lower Manhattan

Back in June, the Freedom Tower was still short enough to fit into the camera frame:

World Trade Center Site, Financial District, Lower Manhattan, June 6, 2011

I already talked about visiting Yankee Stadium.

The awesome Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens:

Behind the Screen Exhibit, Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria, Queens

I could watch the exhibit showing how they produce a live baseball game for for hours:

Behind the Screen Exhibit, Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Avenue, Astoria, Queens

The 36th Avenue Subway Station in Astoria.

Block Drugs on Second Avenue:

Block Drug Store, 101 Second Avenue, East Village, Manhattan

The remnants of Mars Bar also on Second Avenue:

25 East 1st Street, East Village, Manhattan, June 16, 2011

We already talked about seeing the Phillies play the Cubs.

There’s a lot of stuff behind fences in the East Village. Albert’s Garden:

Albert's Garden, 18 East 2nd Street, East Village, Manhattan

And the New York Marble Cemetery:

New York Marble Cemetery, Second Avenue Between 2nd and 3rd Streets, East Village, Manhattan

They were even using St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery for some sort of film shoot.

Prince Street in Lower Manhattan:

Prince Street at West Broadway, SoHo, Lower Manhattan

Prince Street and Lafayette Street, SW Corner, SoHo, Lower Manhattan

(Funny detail: The Google Street View up right now is from right around when I went walking around there — theirs is from July 2011 — so all the billboards look the same . . .)

There’s a great view of Union Square from the Whole Foods cafe on the second floor. They also have a bathroom you can use:

Union Square From Whole Foods Union Square Store, 4 Union Square South, Manhattan, June 16, 2011

Astoria Park at dusk on the longest day of the year; this is at 8:40 in the evening (I knew there was a reason I took this but it took a while to remember):

Robert F. Kennedy Bridge From Astoria Park, Astoria, Queens, June 21, 2011

Hellgate Bridge From Astoria Park, Astoria, Queens, June 21, 2011

Staring out the front door at Coppelia on 14th Street:

Coppelia, 207 West 14th Street, Midtown Manhattan, June 22, 2011

There’s nothing more depressing than an emergency room entrance at an abandoned hospital:

St. Vincent's Hospital Manhattan, 12th Street and Seventh Avenue, NW Corner, West Village, Manhattan, June 22, 2011

Well, OK, maybe some things are less depressing . . .

I honestly don’t remember what interested me about 60 Spring Street:

60 Spring Street, Nolita, Lower Manhattan, June 25, 2011

Was it because it was a blue jean store or something? Who knows . . .

The Astoria Market at the Beer Garden:

Astoria Market, Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, 29-19 24th Avenue, Astoria, Queens, June 26, 2011

It took me two years to get two pictures of the San Antonio Abate Festival on Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria. Maybe in another year I’ll put a link up to the page:

San Antonio Abate Festival, Ditmars Boulevard, Astoria, Queens, June 26, 2011