The annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Balloon Inflation wasn’t always an event that drew tens of thousands of visitors to the Upper West Side. It used to be something semi-secret that took place in the dark and cold one night each year just around the corner from Central Park West. For decades the night before Thanksgiving on… Read more »
So I walk into the house, I’m 10, and the first thing I see is a pair of bare legs on the inside of a closed window and the rest of the body isn’t in the apartment. I’m praying to God whoever it is doesn’t fall, the soapy glass prevents a clean identification of the… Read more »
Sometimes when I am in Manhattan late, either for a work function or some other reason, I will treat myself to a meal at White Castle and a more luxurious ride home to Flushing, Queens on the Long Island Railroad. Not long ago I had another such night. White Castle holds a unique place in… Read more »
The 42nd Street Library is a treasure, not simply for New York, but for civilization. The palatial marble structure rising behind the two guardian lions is one of the most important repositories of literary archives in the history of humanity. The facility protects priceless treasures. It is an institution that draws world-class scholars and international… Read more »
Every generation must outdo the one before. Not only does everyone know this, everyone has lived it. We all experience the developmental stage of defiance and rebellion. The obsolete is abandoned so new ideas can arise and society is renewed. These are the rites of passage. Consider the “rite of passage” on the topic of… Read more »
On Friday, November 22, 1963, after lunch the St. Stephen of Hungary’s student body assembled in the auditorium for our once in a blue moon movie. That day our feature was “The Yearling.” A kid adopts a baby deer and his father played by Gregory Peck gives him the business. I was happy and not… Read more »
Japanese poet and filmmaker, Fukuma Kenji, visited New York City for a screening of his recent film, A Fairy Tale. The film is a blend of cinematographic and literary poetry. The movie tells the coming of age story of the heroine, Sasaki Yuki. In the story, Yuki interacts with a number of imaginary characters. These characters:… Read more »
Out of town visitors often remark on how lean and fit everyone in New York appears. Look waist down at most local residents and you will find a pair of legs that have been conditioned by sidewalk pounding, taxi chasing, Citibike borrowing and the lugging of groceries up and laundry bags down flights of apartment… Read more »
Only good part to getting older is how I pop up in the early morning like a Reverse Vampire. Makes it easy to get outside when the light’s right. This past Saturday, I rode my bicycle to Central Park and arrived at Bow Bridge on The Lake at 6:45. The colors in the park slowly… Read more »
The debate about art endlessly fascinates. Is it a means of communication or is it an end within itself? Is the creation of art the transformation of the artist? Or does the artist transform the medium? Is each work a labyrinth through which the audience may discover themselves anew, or is the work completely independent… Read more »
