Manhattan Gas Prices

Roof With A View

After seeing the Alexander McQueen exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Saturday, Maddie suggested we check out the rooftop sculpture garden. We did, and DAMN - the views were spectacular. Click on the photos to embiggen.

The artist currently featured on the roof is modernist sculpture Anthony Caro and his industrial-esque steel creations.

But, honestly, the most breathtaking work of art up there is the fabulous view of Manhattan.

Manhattanhenge

Monday, May 30th, 2011 - Sunset - 42nd Street

From The Daily What:

Natural Occurrence of the Day: The semiannual solar phenomenon known as “Manhattanhenge” — wherein the sunset aligns with the east-west street grid of Midtown Manhattan — took place yesterday at precisely 8:17 PM.

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Bag Of Groceries Costs $60 In Manhattan

On of the (many) reasons I like living in Queens is the fact that a I'm only four subway stops from Manhattan - and yet everything here is so much cheaper.

Take, for instance, groceries. Every year the New York Post buys a dozen common grocery items at D'Agostinos, Food Emporium and Gristedes (the 3 major grocery store chains in Manhattan) to see how much they cost. This year's total came to a whopping $59.85 - up $9.11 from last year. Ouch. I would hate to see what those same 12 items cost at Whole Paycheck Foods!

If I had to venture a guess, those same items would probably be 25-30% cheaper at the Associated supermarket (below) around the corner from my apartment, or at the quirky Trade Fair a few blocks away.

I should have gotten out of Manhattan a long time ago...

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Sunday Inspiration: West Point Students Walk 22 Hours to Pay Respects at WTC

Andrew, Phil and Gary. Photo by Peter Shankman

Blogger Peter Shankman encountered 3 tired-looking young men yesterday in Manhattan carrying big backpacks. They looked so out-of-place that he ask them what they were doing...

“Well sir, we’re walking from West Point, where we go to school, to Ground Zero to pay our respects.”

I asked them how long they’d been walking, “About 22 hours” was the answer.

I asked them if they were going to do anything when they got there.

“We have an American flag we’d like to hang on one of the fences if we’re permitted to.”

What incredible young men! And damn - I hope they bought Metro-North tickets and took the train back to school - at least they'd be able to sleep!!

SOURCE (via Gawker)

Would You Like Some Testosterone Sprinkles On That?

People fight and argue over parking spaces in NYC all the time.  But when your parking space is going to determine how much money you take home that day, shizz gets SERIOUS.  Watch Mister Softee go up against the Softee Cream guy at Columbus Circle in Manhattan.  SPOILER ALERT: Mister Softee gets the banana boat beaten outta him by the tall, dark, handsome and psychotic (just my type!) Softee Cream guy.  Advance to 1:50 if you just want to see the fight...

Featured Model - Will Jimenez

Will Jimenez was born in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan - just like opera legend Maria Callas, former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, and NY Yankee Alex Rodriguez.  Wow - I wonder if being born in "The Heights" somehow helps you to become famous?

Anywhoo - Will has done countless photo shoots, runway jobs and even some "extra" work in movies.  He is looking to connect with photographers (and others) to achieve maximum exposure and obtain more paid gigs.

Check out his website HERE.


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This Might Be Worth Cheating On My Diet...

Midtown Manhattan has a new Ice Cream Man, and his name is Billy Gunnz.  Billy certainly doesn't look like a "Mister Softee" to me.  UPDATE:  Follow him on Twitter HERE.

Source via Towleroad

Manhattan's Gay Bar Graveyard

Next Magazine did a piece this week on all the Manhattan gay hotspots (and not-so-hotspots) which closed during the past 10 years.  Many of these shuttered bars/clubs were places I hung out - especially when I first moved to NYC in the 90's (Limelight, Roxy, Tunnel, etc.).  If those walls could talk...

But the one name which really hit home was Stella's (circled in red).  I have mentioned that bar many times, because it was simply a great place to hang out.  Not only was I friends with the owner, the staff, and half the customers - I became very "close" to some of the dancers as well.  EXTREMELY close.    :)

Good times...

Thanks to Kayce.

Macy's Herald Square Evacuated During Fire

According to Gothamist, Macy's flagship store in Manhattan was evacuated this afternoon because of a relatively minor fire.  I just watched a local TV news report, and a Macy's Sales Associate said that shoppers were still asking for price checks and gift boxes during the evacuation.  Only in New York...

A Tiny Apartment for a Tiny Gay

Eddie Rabon lives in my neighborhood - in a teeny-tiny 55-square-foot apartment which he pays $800 per month for - even in this economy. Welcome to Manhattan!! Hat tip to Joe.My.God.

The Christmas Tree People

When I lived in Pennsylvania, we got our Christmas tree from my Dad's friend "Doodle". I'm not sure what Doodle's real name was, but he was the go-to guy for Christmas trees in my hometown - selling them in a drug-store parking lot.

Here in Manhattan, the drug stores don't have parking lots - but we do have sidewalks. And sidewalks are where we buy our Christmas trees here in the city.

Beginning in November, these Christmas tree vendors start springing up in residential neighborhoods. The one pictured here is located on 8th Avenue between 50th and 51st Streets - and it's been in the same place for years. And yes, that is one of the sellers in the hooded coat - underneath the makeshift awning.

One of the interesting things about these vendors is the fact that they LIVE on the streets during the holiday season. They normally park a mini-van on the street - and take turns keeping warm and sleeping inside. They often also build little "shelters" (like the one above) - which they attach to their minivans.

Here is what the encampment in the picture above looks like from the street...

Hell, that's more square footage than many Manhattan apartments! However, I have no idea when/where/how they go to the bathroom or take a shower - and it's probably better that I don't know. I also don't know what these people do during the other 11 months of the year.

I want to know who in my neighborhood has an apartment big enough for these HUGE trees? Whoever these people are, I want to be invited to their Christmas party...

Finally, one of the traditions of the Christmas Tree Stands is a big, inflatable Santa Claus (or Elf). Don't ask me why ... I don't make the rules, it's just the way it is.

Where do YOU get your tree?

JCPenney - Four Shirts for $19.92!

I have blogged before about how happy I was for JCPenney to come to Manhattan - especially since they carry "Big Boy Sizes" at reasonable prices.

Yesterday I wandered through the store to see if anything was on sale, and lo and behold I found golf-style, short-sleeved polo shirts (which I can wear to work) for $4.98 each!!! I couldn't believe my eyes when I went over to the price scanner to check the final sale price. I immediately went back to the "Big Boy Department" and picked up three more. Total cost = $19.92 for FOUR SHIRTS!!!


Now I don't have to do laundry until the weekend. Yeah, me!!

JCPenney Opens In Manhattan

Manhattan's first JCPenney opened on Friday, and I stopped by to see what I could see.

I became a JCPenney's shopper through Mama Bunny. There was a JCPenney store in my town - and Mom always took me there to buy school clothes (she even worked in the Catalog Department during a few Christmas seasons). I liked that Penney's didn't have a "Husky" Department for boys per se, like that evil horrible OTHER store of my childhood - Montgomery Ward. I always HATED when Mom dragged me into "Wards" for husky-size pants and those cheap-ass sneakers they sold. JCPenney's always seemed like a better shopping experience for me as a child - so I've remained loyal.

Anywhore, the Manhattan branch of JCP was crowded on the first day - despite torrential downpours outside. They have taken over the lower two floors of the Manhattan Mall - completely erasing all remnants of the Food Court (and of Manhattan's only Arby's). Sniff ... sniff ... I promised myself I wouldn't cry ...

JCPenney's doesn't have delicious roast beef, but they DO have ...


... a men's "Big and Tall" section. Believe it or not, no other department store in Manhattan has a section for Fat Boy clothes (not Bloomindales, not Lord & Taylor, and not even the gigantic flagship Macy's one block away). I guess it's not cool to cater to lard asses.

I found this other section ....


... which also made me feel right at home. :)

The View From High Line Park

Yesterday I posted pictures taken during my first stroll along New York City's fabulous High Line Park. Today I'm sharing pictures of the VIEW from the High Line - which stands two stories above street level. The pics above and below are of the Hudson River - with New Jersey in the background.

The modern building (below) is InterActiveCorp Headquarters (designed by Frank Gehry). The low-rise building on the lower right is the late, lamented Roxy nightclub. If those walls could talk...

Views of the side streets...



Big Mama - the Empire State Building ...


Wildflowers on the High Line, and tenement buildings on the street...

NYC: The High Line

I have blogged before about New York City's High Line Park - which was created by transforming an abandoned elevated train trestle/tracks into a public park. Yesterday was a gorgeous day, and I planned on walking home anyway, so I decided to walk along The High Line for the very first time. So I sashayed my fat ass over the the Meat Packing District, and I ascended the High Line steps...

When I came up into the park, all I could think of was how AMAZING it was. It was so peaceful, so serene - and even though there were people, it didn't seem crowded at all ...

I loved how they kept the tracks (in parts) and used the wildflowers/plants that had sprung up naturally when the train tracks were abandoned ...

A few buildings "straddle" the high line. This is hotelier Andre Balazs' new Standard Hotel...


More pretty wildflowers...

This was one of the coolest parts of the High Line. It was an amphitheater, with the "show" being the city below - which you viewed through huge plate-glass windows ...

It was funny, I was supposed to be walking home (AKA exercising), but the entire High Line is so conducive to sitting and relaxing and taking your time that is was hard not to stop and sit ...

Before I descended the steps at 20th Street, I took one last look ...

I will definitely be back. And if you are ever in New York, you should definitely visit the High Line Park.

Tomorrow I'll share some more pictures ...