A single cloud and a watertower over the sight of the Atlantic Yards project, currently an MTA railyard, nicely conforming to the photography composition rule of thirds.

There’s a Diet Mountain Dew commercial on TV which is quite clever. It shows a police S.W.A.T. team raiding a building because there’s a guy putting on a puppet show in his window (I wish I could find a copy of the commercial!). The setup of the commercial is, “Fact: Window puppet shows are illegal in New York City” to which the promoter says something along the lines of, “Think that’s surprising? Get this, Diet Dew has great taste,” or something to that effect.

I thought this was an odd law if it was real, but not surprising, so I did some research. They were right. New York City Administrative code section 10-114 states:

Street shows.
a. It shall be unlawful to give any exhibition of climbing or scaling on the front or exterior of any house or building.
b. It shall likewise be unlawful for any person, from any window or open space of any house, or building, to exhibit to the public upon the street, or the sidewalk thereof, any performance of puppet or other figures, ballet or other dancing, comedy, farce, show with moving figures, play or other entertainment.
c. Violations. Any person who shall violate any provision of this
section, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not
more than twenty-five dollars, or imprisonment for thirty days, or both.

Darn. I guess that puppet show I was planning will have to be put on hold.

I love this weather. I hear winter’s coming back midweek, but for now summer’s here. And that means I can enjoy my favorite lunch place: Battery Park.

I had never actually visited Battery Park before working in the Financial District. Now, when the weather coorperates, my work friends and I grab a lunch at some local deli like Cafe Exchange or Bento Nouveau, and take it to the park. There’s an area that usually has tables out, overlooking the water with a view of the Statue of Liberty (and the Circle Line).

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We went to Central Park yesterday. Being that it was 80 degrees we wanted some cold water before we headed into the heat. Not having any cash and not having seen any of the ATMs nearby, we walked into a deli. You know the kind that shelves everything from pepto bismol to gourmet cheese.

This one was called Manhattan Gourmet Deli or something right off of the F stop on 57th street. They had a spread of dubious oily buffets which I guess was the gourmet part of it. Filled with items a vegetarian like myself cannot do anything with but stare at and wonder at the abundance of these types of buffets in Manhattan.

So we need 2 waters, we go to the counter, pull out a credit card. We’re hit with the “Sorry. $10 minimum required.”

Actually, jerks, it’s NOT required. You are not allowed to have minimums as stipulated by the contract you signed with the credit card companies to enable you to accept payments.
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Not Balboa, but Rocky Horror Picture Show may have a rival for cult entertainment. Midnight screenings of Buffy the Musical (an episode from its 6th season) have been popping up around the city. In traditional Rocky Horror fashion, these screenings involve actors portraying the scenes in front of the movie screen and audience participation, props and all.

I went to see one such screening last night at the IFC Center in the West Village. The place was packed. As a fan of both Buffy and musicals, I fell in love with this episode when it came out years ago, so I was very psyched. The night’s events started with several Buffy mashups, including a collection of Buffy sex scenes, a montage involving Riley and the song Coin-Operated Boy, and a hilarious 5-minute Buffy Abridged. These mashups were followed by a Buffy trivia game, which my friend nearly won. After that, the lights dimmed and the musical began.
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A few years ago I went to Japan. Before I left I spoke to a friend who was Japanese and asked her what one thing she could tell me that would make my life easier while I was there. Her response was to teach me the formal phrase for “please.” She said it was universally useful, by pointing at something and saying it I was indicating that I want to buy it. By saying it to a stranger I’d be asking for help. By saying it formally I’d be showing proper respect for everyone. With the word “please” it seems all problems could be stripped away.

Spring is here. Tourist season has begun. That magical time of year when any New York resident dreads going to the area between 8th Ave. and 5th Ave. from 34th to about 50th. Those streets become the sole domain of the tourist, to be avoided at all cost.

So in the spirit of my Japanese friend I offer this advice to tourists, the one thing that I would tell any stranger coming to NYC that will make their lives easier, it’s very simple: Move to the side. Need to look at a map? Move to the side. Want to gawk at the architecture? Move to the side. Need to talk to the rest of your party? Move to the side. Trying to see who is on TRL? Move to the side. Basically if you have to stop… Move. To. The Side. You’ll annoy far fewer New Yorkers, you’ll get shoved and hip-checked far less, and everyone will be generally happier.

Remember: Cully says: “Move to the side.” What short sweet advice would you give to tourists?

Recently I’ve realized that my life in New York is like living in a bubble. Most national news events do not concern me, unless they happen in New York. That includes the recent
tragic event at Virginia Tech. I’m not heartless by any means, but I really wasn’t all that affected by it. It’s horrible, yes, but I am not in a state of bereavement, much like I imagine many New Yorkers felt after 9-11. On Thursday I wrote in my personal blog:
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The 2nd day of the Green Apple Festivaltakes place today! It will be filled with live music and takes place at Grand Central terminal.

What better way to celebrate Earth day than taking public transportation and walking in the afternoon to some live music & fun? I can’t think of any other way. See you there!

With such beautiful weather, I spent as much time outside today as I could with a more than full-time job. Everywhere I went, New Yorkers were enjoying the weather.

I walked to Vietnam Veterans Plaza at lunch, past Stone Street where lunchers were enjoying the outdoor tables. I like this plaza since it’s unexpected. It has a unique memorial to New York Vietnam Veterans, which you can actually walk through. There’s a fountain and cherry trees. A peaceful place, although it does overlook a helicopter pad along the water which can get a bit loud.
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Goddamnit. I wish I had a digital camera with me to take a photo of these two ingenious dudes. There I was admiring the clear beautiful night after one of the sunniest and most gorgeous days we have seen to date. And there underneath the stars, clear blue eve in front of me was a basketball court. A basketball court most likely commissioned by the city itself. And it was a granite filled court with a baseball homeplate. Above the home plate was a fence and on top of that fence, facing the sky lay these two adventurers. They enjoyed the evening, hands behind the backs of their heads, as if the cabs, cars, pedestrians, tourists, and bloggers didn’t even exist.

What a wonderful thing it is when you can find solace in the middle of everything; especially when it is on top of a batting cage on Houston Street.