On this dreary Wednesday

At subterranean Grassroots on St Mark's Place, where it's always dark but never gloomy.

Somewhere over the rainbow

Giuseppi Logan in Tompkins Square Park, playing his signature song...

The red wheelbarrow

Someone on Avenue C is a William Carlos Williams fan...



I like to think he's spending his after-life walking the streets of the Lower East Side.

Hear WCW himself recite The Red Wheelbarrow in his own voice:

Hawk vs pigeon

We're back in Tompkins Square Park, where the featured entree of the day is Pigeon.

And our star diner of the day is Hawk...

 

The hawk had spent the previous 2-3 hours studying a flock of pigeons on the ground before finally selecting one and going for it.  After catching the pigeon, the hawk showed it off to a small crowd of admirers that had gathered to watch.



Then, this happened.

 

The hawk was scared off the bench and was forced to abandon the pigeon.  If it hadn't had the pigeon in its talons already, I'm sure it would have gouged this guy's eyes out.

Having lost that meal, the hawk made several attempts to catch another pigeon.  Here, it struggles with one it tried to snatch out of a tree, but the feisty pigeon puts up a good fight...

 

...and escapes! 

 

So, it's back to the original meal, which is still lying on the ground where it was dropped 2-3 hours before. 



See many more hawk photos here.

Previously.

Reverie

If a thing loves, it is infinite.  --William Blake

Sunday Brunch

Sunday brunch is all the rage in the East Village these days.  Everyone who is Anyone must be seen on the Scene, sporting their trendiest couture, sipping the finest Bloody Mary and nibbling at the most authenticallylocalorganicartisanalfarmtotable small plates.

Today's special is locally raised Rat, hand-fed in Tompkins Square Park on a free-wheeling diet of pizza, fried rice, onion rings, macaroons and hot dog buns.  Served whole and in its natural juices, and seasoned with a light dusting of road salt...

Zombie alert!

Someone is jealous...get your own!

Mmmmm, delish!

Nom nom nom nom...

See more hawk photos here.

Previously.

After the storm

Just a few hours after last night's snow storm, the Tompkins Square Park hawks put on another spectacular show.  Three birds dove, frolicked and soared over the park, often racing around so fast, I couldn't capture the action.  Here are a few outtakes.







See more photos here.

Previously.

Waiting for Nemo

This afternoon in the East Village, the snows of nor'easter Nemo began to fall.

Outside Ray's Candy on Avenue A...



Down the block at the Pyramid Club...



And across the street at the now-shuttered East Village Farms grocery...



Here it is in action:

It's been over two years since we had this much snowy excitement.

Stay warm and have fun, everyone!

Canal Plastics

While we're still on Canal Street, here is another favorite storefront:



Previously.

Canal Rubber

So, we meet again...

Sunday afternoon in Tompkins Square...



Striking a pose...



This gracious celebrity gives everyone a chance to get that superstar shot...



See more hawk photos here.

For some really spectacular shots of the Tompkins Square hawks in action, check out François Portmann's photography site.

Previously.