The New York Skyline Keeps Changing (Midtown Manhattan)

I had a chance to visit the roof of my office building and was reminded that nearby the construction of skyscrapers in Hudson Yards continues apace. Buildings--especially large ones--always seem so permanent, and yet the massive project, which is taking place over 28 acres in Manhattan, reminds me that buildings come and go. If people are so good at creating cities that reach the sky, why can't we solve world hunger, end poverty, bring everlasting peace? Is it really a defect in human nature or is it just misdirected resources--i.e., if the $20 billion being invested in the Hudson Yards were spent on public health we might be able to, say, end malaria. 

Dead Mayors' Club, Dallas, TX

Working on a video in Dallas, I had a chance to interview Council Member Delia Jasso (being miked by Niki). That she's a woman is hardly remarkable--until you see the photos in a City Hall corridor of the OWM (old white men) who once served as Dallas' mayors. It wasn't until Adlene Harrison in 1976 that the city had a female mayor. Bottom right is just a sampling of their pale, dry faces. I found the dude at bottom left so intriguing--the visual embodiment of old-school politician--that I thought he deserved a separate image.

Twilight (SoHo, Manhattan)

Before dinner, a pretty sky; after dinner, a creepy mannequin.

Columbus Circle, Manhattan

Workers from Whole Foods gave away gift cards to passersby who correctly guessed the value of the five items (instant noodles, vitamin water, apple sauce & nut bar) on the tray. I guessed $5.25. The correct answer was $5, so no gift card for me.

Ditmas Park, Brooklyn

The Brooklyn sky, as seen from the garden of The Farm on Adderley, a restaurant on Cortelyou Road.

The houses in Ditmas Park are sooo cool, especially their roofs, including ones with fake Canadian geese grazing on the shingles.

The crumbling cornices reminded me that a home can be a pain to maintain.

What do dahlias and beer have in common? Sycamore Bar & Flowershop, also on Cortelyou Road.

No Show Earl (Upper West Side, Manhattan)

The only sign of Hurricane Earl in Manhattan was a gray sky in late afternoon. 

Riverside Park, Manhattan

I was with my son in Riverside Park today and started snapping photos of people passing. It's interesting to see some people are alone, some are obviously traveling together and still others end up in the frame together--the photo forever links them--but they are strangers and perhaps didn't even notice each other's presence. I also used a function on the camera to swap out the color of the sky for the color of the grass and the color of my pink Mexican shopping bag.