Arthur Avenue, Bronx

Arthur Avenue has been on my "to visit" list for a long time. I finally was able to stop by this past weekend (after the NYBG extravaganza) and regretted not visiting earlier. Luckily, I went the day before easter so there were plenty of people milling around and buying dead lambs to commemorate the death and coming-back-to-life of their dead lamb, the little baby Jesus.

Lambs were sawn in half from head to tail. Half a brain, half a tongue...


Close up. It's really quite amazing that they can do this.


A Korean Madonna!! Now that's a religion I can believe in.

NYBG, weird plant edition

One of the things I love the most about the NYBG is that they have so many weird plant beasties.

This plant had flower bud things that looked (and felt) like those wax candies you bit to get to the sweet gross syrup inside.

I've no idea what this thing is but it looks like something from another planet.

And perhaps not weird but out of context, this fern reminds me of octopus tentacles...though probably not as tasty.

Orchids at the NYBG

Last weekend I visited the NYBG to see their great orchid show. Orchids are easily my favorite type of flower...

Bronx winter

These pictures were taken about a month ago when I had to go to Fordham for some ridiculous recruiting event.

Hello Washington Heights!

I find myself in yet another temporary living situation...except this one feels like I'm running backwards into the past. It's strange to be back in the Heights after almost 3 years away and even stranger to feel like almost nothing has changed.

However, I do love Washington Heights...especially Fort Tryon Park and the Cloisters.


The esplanade is the best place to be on a hot summer day since it's always 10 degrees cooler here. During winter, it's quiet, stark and lovely.


My favorite little hidden bit of Fort Tyron Park. This used to be the supporting structure of a long curving driveway to the Billings mansion (that later burned down). If you keep on going, it ends right on the highway.

So long Brooklyn Heights!

I've left Brooklyn Heights and will definitely miss the short commute to work. However, I will not miss the neighborhood with it's fussy entitled residents. Nor will I miss the building I lived in with its generous share of loner middle-aged men who could only look at me out of the corner of their eye.

I leave with just one last parting thought...