Magnolia Bakery | Bleecker Street | NYC | 2013

Here we were approaching the infamous Magnolia Bakery at 11th and Bleecker Street (to the left in this photo).  The local rich and famous frequent this place, however we found it tiny, expensive and relatively boring. No one cared to revisit again.  I would have liked to visit the BookMarc across the street but no one was interested.

http://www.magnoliabakery.com/ 

http://www.marcjacobs.com/bookmarc/

Its hard to get good photos on a sunny, contrasty day.  Cloudy days are better for color and exposure.  I also need to upgrade my Nikon.

Bleecker Street and Bank | NYC | 2013

Just for reference, here is a photo of the corner of Bleecker and Bank Street where we began our walk all the way down Bleecker street (East) to see the beautiful people, the wealthy and other tourists. On our journey up West 4th Street before we got to Bank Street we did run into a NYC realtor who saw one of our t-shirts which read "Cincinnati Reds". The realtor was from Cincinnati as a youth and we talked to him for 20 minutes and about New Yorkers compared to Cincinnati-ins.  Some members of our group are from the Cincinnati area.

This photo shows the Bleecker playground which is very tiny. I liked the little dog carrying its master's paper!

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New York City | Greenwich Village | Wilfie and Nell

Here is another decent shot of Wilfie and Nell but looking back down West 4th Street toward 7th Avenue.

Wilfie and Nell | New York City | Greenwich Village West | 2013

This time in NYC we took the Staten Island Ferry over to  the Whitehall terminal at the tip of Manhattan, as we usually do. We picked up the number 1 subway train (Red line) right there at Battery Park and took it to Christopher Street/Sheridan Square. It is not hard to do so don't hesitate to take this method to reach the West Village.

Since it was Memorial Day the terminal parking was actually free on Staten Island!  That saved us 8 bucks. We were not aware of this so that caused some confusion when we parked.  I was trying to put money in the lot meter and it would not accept it.  I had no idea what was wrong.  Another group was in a panic as well wondering why they couldn't pay.  I asked a guard and he said it was free that day. This is not the best managed parking lot.

The subway stop at Christopher Street comes up at the corner of Christopher Street and West Forth Street and 7th Avenue. I have included a map below. We walked up 4th street toward 10th as planned and encountered the famous Irish bar, Wilfie and Nell, where several celebrities supposedly frequent. The plan was to head up 4th Street to Bank Street and then left (West) to Bleecker playground and then down Bleecker Street.

A famous Irish bar in Greenwich Village (The West Village)

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Jersey City | NYC | 2013

Once again we traveled to NYC aboard the Staten Island Ferry.  I shot this with my trusty Nikon D300s and Tokina 12-24 mm on the way over.  It seemed to have come out pretty good! This time in NYC we walked down Bleecker Street. Quite cool!  It was Memorial Day and so there were extra boats in the Hudson.  It was actually a good day to be there and the crowds were unexpectedly low. More photos coming......

Jersey City from the Staten Island Ferry. 2013

The Dakota | Scene of the Lennon Shooting | NYC

Here is a photo of the exact entrance where John Lennon was shot.  Ok, for people under, like, 30 you may not even know who John Lennon was! Google him if you don't know. This is a magnificent building even if you are just going to look at it for the architecture.

This photo was taken with my Nikon D300s and Tokina 12-24mm F/4 lens.  It was converted to black and white with Silver efex Pro (version 1).

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Columbus Circle Globe Part 2 | New York City | 2012

Here is another shot of the steal globe at Columbus Circle at the beginning of Central Park. I liked it in black and white, as well as the wide angle look.  Taken with my Nikon D300S and Tokina DX 12-24mm f/4 at 12mm. That seems to be my favorite NYC lens so far.  We had just gotten off the subway and were exiting up to the park.

Disney Store | New York City | 2012

I thought this was a unique closeup of the Disney Store in mid-town Manhattan. I liked the art deco feel. I was bored waiting for my people to shop at the typical tourist stores, and so took this photo. The store is on 7th Avenue between 45th and 46th.

One of the most exciting things about Manhattan is people watching.  Yes the stores are great and the noise is marvelous and the excitement intoxicating, but just watching people is the best! You see some of the most attractive people you have ever seen there passing by dirt poor homeless people puking in public.  Last time we were there some lady had two dressed up chickens walking with her and they were pretty tame for all the people that were around them.  Then she claimed one laid an egg as she proudly showed it (likely a slight of hand). You can also see some pretty good street dancing from make-shift groups, who seek donations of course.  There is usually a crowd of tourists gathered around. Its one of the strangest places to ever visit because for the most part it seems like most of the people are tourists with just a few real NYC employees walking past on occasion. The whole place seems like some kind of amusement to me and not a real place where people work. It is hard to feel that you are in a real working environment and the tourists are actually secondary to life there, because it really seems like its the other way around. It seems the people who live and work there are almost in the way of the tourists!

...oh and yes the Disney Store is a must see for any first or second timers who like Disney!

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Motorcycle Rally | FDR Drive| NYC | 2012

Not the most interesting picture but I liked it. It was the end of some huge motorcycle rally that day, coming down FDR drive near the South Ferry station, where we had just departed the ferry.  By the time I got to the location to take this photo it was the last guy passing. I believe it was a 9/11 rally.  Must have been a few thousand bikes pass, and that's not an exaggeration! But I was too busy watching before I decided to take a photo from this overpass.  Brooklyn bridge in the background. It was pretty cool! As usual taken with my Nikon D300s and Tokina 12-24mm f/4 DX lens.

Columbus Circle Globe | Central Park NYC | 2012

Here is a photo of the infamous steel globe that graces Columbus Circle at one of the entrances to Central Park. This photo was taken as we exited the number 1 subway train, which lets you off here as its closest stop to Central Park. I believe the building in the background is the Trump International Hotel and Tower, quite the swanky place. Taken with my Nikon D300s and Tokina DX 12-24 f/4 lens.

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