Monday, May 27, 2013

Loisaida Festival

Scenes from the Loisaida Festival on Avenue C this last Saturday...

Welcome to Loisaida

Ponies!

Loisaida Festival

Loisaida Festival

A lot of happy music.

Loisaida Festival

Loisaida Festival

Here's some video of the musicians outside Casa Adela.  I liked how people would come and go, join in, sing, dance...



And a lovely version of Our Day Will Come...



See more festival photos here.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Without you

I am at a loss.

While doing laundry last night, I noticed something had gone missing.

Behold, Sock Mountain!



But something is not right.

And, here is the problem...a single purple sock.



I know it's a given to lose socks in the laundry.  That's one of the rules of the universe.  But, this particular sock (or, what should be a pair of socks) holds special significance.

This purple sock is 28 years old.

That's right, I received these socks as a Christmas gift in 1985 and have been wearing them continuously ever since.  That pair of black socks in the background of the photo above dates back to 1997, but they aren't holding up so well - the heels are developing holes.  But the purple sock is as good as the day it came into my life.

Which is why the loss of its mate has me so upset.

It's not that this is my favorite pair of socks because there are others I like more.  The fact that it is purple isn't that important, although I have never bought another purple pair because I always had this one.  But, at some point, maybe around the turn of the century, I began to appreciate how long these socks have lasted and how they have never left my side -- er, feet -- throughout many adventures.

These socks went to college with me.  We've lived together in eight cities and two countries. We've walked the floors of 13 jobs.  We've gone on countless trips and these socks have outlived every pair of boots they've ever met.

Maybe the mate is just taking a break and hiding under the bed. I dread the thought of it walking out of the laundromat in the basket of a stranger who might just throw it out, knowing nothing of its past.

So, if you're out there, Purple Sock, this is for you...




Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Yellow days

Sunnier times on Avenue A...

Taxi

Soon to be a memory on Orchard...

Sol Moscot

Annual daffodil explosion in Tompkins Square...

Spring in Tompkins Square

Celebrating the Triassic period on E 12th...

Dinosaurs

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Take a look at my window

I stare out of my window with my loneliness in bloom
I try to call you, I try to call you from the phone box down the hall
I’d like to see you and I’d like to meet you 
Won’t you please give me a call?
Ooo, take a look at my window

Untitled

I stare out of my window at the empty streets below
Behind the shades of fading glass I have nowhere else to go
So I take a look at my window
I take a look at my window
A look at my window 



- A Flock of Seagulls

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Things are looking green

It's that time of year when the community gardens open up, so I visited a few of my favorites in the East Village this weekend.

The 6th Street Community Garden is shaping up after losing their huge willow tree to Superstorm Sandy.

6th Street Community Garden

This garden is a great place for weirdness...

6th Street Community Garden

Turtles...

6th Street Community Garden

And birds.

6th Street Community Garden

Just down the block, the 6BC Garden is looking as beautiful as ever.

6BC garden

I'm loving the wisteria.

6BC garden

The gazebo in the Green Oasis Garden has a new paint job...

Green Oasis garden

And we are awaiting a new shipment of bees.

Green Oasis garden

See photos of all the East Village community gardens here.

Previously.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

2013 Cannabis Parade

At the annual Cannabis Peace Parade and Rally at Union Square...

2013 Cannabis Parade

2013 Cannabis Parade

2013 Cannabis Parade

2013 Cannabis Parade

2013 Cannabis Parade

The Ganja Granny speaks about the medical benefits of marijuana:



See more photos here.

See photos from last year's parade here.

Thursday, May 2, 2013