Week 12
March 28, 2016
Tender Buttons
Roosevelt Island Tram
Train In/Out: Milford, CT
Camera: Olympus OM-D E-M1, m.Zuiko 17mm, m.Zuiko 60mm Macro
GUESS who's tired of Magic Mondays in the rain? This girl.
If you're a stickler for dates, then you'll notice I missed last Monday. The trip to Chintatown came with a price, the flu. My friend Rachel, who was with me for part of the Chinatown day, also caught the flu. It's been a rough couple of weeks, but fortunately this Monday was my first "back to normal day" in about 2 weeks. Onward.
The day starts with me being a bit more prepared for all day rain. I don't bring my big camera bag to the city (overkill) but I do have my trusty old (old!) Eddie Bauer backpack with me. I remembered my camera bag came with a rain cover so I used that and it worked out really well. Has some velcro tabs to hold it in place...off I went.
Thanks for summing it up, white coat lady. (I'm looking forward to the rooftop bar at The Roosevelt Hotel opening up in the spring, where this lady is standing. I hear the views are nice.)
After 11 trips into Manhattan you would think I would be able to find Lexington Avenue which is what I wanted to walk up as I headed to Tender Buttons on E. 62nd street. But I found myself on 5th Avenue in the cold rain so I made the best of it. Stopped by to say hello to the Easter Bunny who actually looks all cheerful and flowery in this pic. But reality can be found below:
It's been 2 weeks since I've been in the city, it was nice to see some flowers make an appearance.
As a matter of fact there is a guy - with a broom - pushing water off the sidewalk - in the pouring rain - next to a fountain. The description could be a page in a Dr. Suess book, or one of those Clue game descriptions on who the killer is. I say it was the custodian, by the fountain, with the broom...
Oh, you mean THIS building??
Destination #1 of the day, Tender Buttons. It's an old button store I saw mentioned on ScoutingNY.com I think. My mother sewed all while I was growing up so I was around lots of buttons, and button aisles at the fabric store. Thought I would check this place out, maybe do some macro photography. The lighting, as it turns out, was not so great for photography, and I don't carry a tripod, but I made the best of it.
I liked these boxes.
A lot going on here. We go from Goddess on the left to Slut on the right. Such a fine line us girls walk. ;)
I found the one rebel in the store.
I didn't look through the book, but I'm assuming Tender Buttons made the cut. I need to check out this book!
So here was a favorite button. I edited the image 2 different ways in Black & White. Let me know if you have a favorite (I added a comment box at the bottom of each week's page).
Edit 1.
Edit 2.
On to lunch. I'm not sure if Ray's is really that famous or not.
Ordered my usual mushroom slice of pizza. My first taste I thought it had 10 Ave. pizza beat. But the crust was rather fluffy/bready. Sauce was really good, though. The search for really good pizza continues...
Well I guess she commited to twins. There are all sorts of ads that say "Commit to Something" throughout the city. Most are quite disturbing.
Hello, Neuman.
My daughter and I have been saving worms for years. This was the first worm I saved in NYC, however. He was destined to be mushed by a stroller or shoe so I put him in the grassy area near the tram. Good luck, my friend. I was impressed that you were on your own in New York City. Not sure if I could do it.
Destination #2 of the day - The Roosevelt Island Tramway. It's independently operated, but you can use your Metro Card. For $2.75 you can take the tram over to Roosevelt Island. It runs right beside the Queensboro Bridge (first time seeing that, too).
Entrance on 3rd Ave near 59th.
Tram coming in to Manhattan.
Leaving Manhattan. I did not overthink this trip because I really don't like heights. But the tram was very benign and quiet.
Headed down.
A view from Roosevelt Island looking back to Manhattan. Such a cheerful day.
It was basically all residential on the island. And about half the population looks at this lovely facility in Queens.
This girl makes the cut because I have the exact same tote bag! Rachel (from Week 11) gave it to me for my birthday about 18 months ago. :)
Queensboro Bridge from Roosevelt Island.
Headed back on the tram. Take notice of the red structure on the right. It looks like it has a broken rollercoaster at the top of it.
Looking down on it from the tram. I looked it up and it's the remnants of the East River Pavilion which was apparently very nice. Perhaps Hurricane Sandy took it out? Article on it from 2012: http://www.livingthelist.com/2012/07/18/the-east-river-pavilion/
I started to make my way back to Grand Central when I stumbled upon this suburban gem in the middle of Manhattan.
A tad fancier than the entrance to the one in Derby, CT.
What was cool about it is that they had a lot of small space solutions which we don't see in McMansionville Connecticut.
Carts were several floors down.
Back to regular Manhattan shopping. This table was in the window of a high end furniture store. It was really stunning (not that it's my style). $8,900
So I heard about this project. They are reusing space where old phone booths were and making them some kind of a WiFi hotspots (with advertising, of course). You could apparently make a call from there as well as connect to WiFi. Not sure if I would want to stand around on the sidewalk linked up, but hey, it's an option! I could also make a free call from this thing. Another time...
Doggie of the day! His owner was so friendly and the dog was stunning with his black & white face and booties.
Word must be getting out because this guy went all out for my Interesting things... page. A copier!
What's funny is I have the exact same Dell tower sitting in my garage. It was the last Dell I will ever buy, I'm all Apple now. I know saying that is like announcing what political party I like (none), but seriously going all Apple has been so much easier. My last version of Windows was Vista. I seriously don't know how to use any of the newer versions. Weird since I was a PC girl most all my life.
So this blurry picture commemorates when the SD card in my camera failed. I got a lot of "card errors" throughout the day but then it finally gave up with a "Write Lock Error". I know I took a second picture of this doll to fix the focus but it didn't make it on the card. Grateful, however, that I did not lose the entire day's (dreary) pictures. And of course I carry a spare SD card...
So this was a "where the hell am I" picture. I came upon the Helmsley Building (to photograph another day) and finally saw where the cabs can go up to the second level that goes around Grand Central. I took the side passage through the building and saw an entrance for Grand Central which is what you are looking at above. Didn't know where I was but all hallways lead to GC, right?
Ah ha! I know this doorway, it's right by Track 30. So now I know where it goes. It's the little things in life that can make your day. :)
Why yes, that is a legit full size stick this guy is walking around with in Grand Central.
Until the next Magic Monday!
xo,
~MC
All images © 2016
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