Bryant Park’s frozen fountain
It’s cold!
In case you’re wondering, yes, it is so cold in New York that Bryant Park’s water fountain is frozen.
Compact Disc safety sign in Times Square
A new warning sign in Times Square.
I guess the NYPD and the Times Square Alliance are sick of people getting scammed and coming to their precinct to file a report! These signs telling tourists (and locals!) about compact disc scams in Times Square are basically saying you can walk away with the discs if you’re dumb enough to open your hand to them. Honestly, this might cause more trouble than just handing it back and walking away. But I guess if you did end up holding one, now you know the NYPD has your back so you can just walk away with it…?
Fading Smile by Wes Knoll
Photographer Wes Knoll walking around in NYC.
Photographer Wes Knoll talks about a new book called Fading Smile in which he documents New York, the people of the streets, and his overall philosophy of life. I really admire photographers like him because of their ability to talk to strangers and really get a good enough conversation going to eventually leave with a photograph.
Unfortunately, his book is currently sold out at Printed Matter.
What’s happening at the Windmere at 57th St?
The building at 9th Avenue and 57th St.
Pretty much as long as I can remember, the huge apartment building on the corner of 9th Avenue and 57th St has stood abandoned and in severe neglect. That building, seen above in a recent photo, is the Windmere, an early apartment-style building complex built in 1880. The building has landmark status with historical significance in the late 19th century for housing young women and female artists at a time when housing for single women was not common.
The Windmere has quite a storied past with tenants fighting each other, cats overtaking the place, and the Ninth Avenue elevated train tracks crossing right on front of the building.
Today, the building remains closed and work on its renovation has been slow-going but consistent. Maybe one day in my lifetime this building will be open and available for rent again.
Black NYC Subway guard rails
The guard rails placed inside NYC Subways now have a black variant.
Here are some photos of the black NYC subway guard rails that have been slowly installed across select stations in the NYC Subway system. When they were first installed, most of the guard rails were bright yellow in color but these black ones seem to blend into the grit a little better.
A giant pigeon overlooks 10th Avenue
The High Line introduces a large pigeon sculpture.
Perched above 10th Avenue at around 30th St on The High Line spur is an incredible sculpture titled Dinosaur made by Iván Argote. The giant pigeon measures 21 feet in height and places the iconic NYC bird as master over its human counterparts. Up close, the bird’s details are even more striking, with its signature red feet and talons nearly digging into its concrete podium.
The best view is right up next to it, but pull a bit farther back along the Moynihan Connector bridge or even south on 10th Avenue and you’ll really see the bird in its element. Go check it out until Spring 2026!
Two Omnium Cargo Bikes Meet in NYC
When two Omnium’s meet on the street…
Omnium Cargo Bikes aren’t necessarily rare in NYC but I rarely see them parked like this. So when I saw this full-sized Omnium cargo bike parked on Madison Avenue I knew I had to take the opportunity to get a duo shot. My Mini Max is on the right.
What happened to the Brooklyn Banks?
A tour of the old Brooklyn Banks in Manhattan.
Check out this video tour of the current state of the former Brooklyn Banks. Today, this historic skate spot is renamed as Gotham Park after a lengthy abandonment and an even lengthier renovation. It is still under construction at some parts, but Gotham Park is open to the public and it includes many of the same iconic skate ramps and rails as well as nice new places to play basketball and other recreational activities.