N.Y.C. IV - People - December 25th, 2023 - January 8th, 2024

The introduction to the people of NYC was already overwhelming as we approached Hotel Elysée in our taxi from JFK.

Later that evening along Fifth Avenue while walking to Cafe Luxembourg before we cut across town on 59th Street.

E. 55th & Fifth.

59th Street.

She didn’t speak English nor did any of the woman wearing leather pants who we overheard talking.

It was quite chilly yet people were lined up around the block for the French ice cream GLACE by Noglu.

Ninth Ave. walking to The Foundry Bar in the Westin Times Sq.

W. 43rd St. walking to The Foundry Bar in the Westin Times Sq.

42nd Street walking to the Roundabout Theatre Co., American Airlines Theatre to see I Need That.

They’re looking at the Christian Dior & Saks light show.

Black & white or white & black.

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Ruth Asawa: Through Line- Whitney Museum of American Art.

She was a very knowledgeable docent.

Henry Taylor: B Side - Whitney Museum of American Art

Academy Records & CDs.

All guys in here.

5th Avenue.

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Bloomingdale's.

He’s carrying a well worn Bloomingdale's shopping bag.

Time Warner Center.

A Van Morrison doppelgänger?

Waiting to be let up to Dizzy's Club to see CARLOS HENRIQUEZ NONET:A NUYORICAN TALE.

Grand Central Terminal.

It looks grandpa is enjoying the New York Transit Museum’s Holiday Train Show.

Walking to MTC Friedman Theatre to see Prayer for the French Republic.

Looks like he’s carrying a teddy bear.

MTC Friedman Theatre - Prayer for the French Republic.

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The IND E train serviced Continental Ave. in Forest HIlls, my stop. I rode in these “R” cars a lot.

The Holiday Nostalgia Train operated between 2nd Avenue & 145th. Passengers could board the train at any of the stations listed. The cars went up & back between 10:00 AM & 5:00 PM.

We & a bunch of other folks were waiting for it at the 42nd St. station.

There was a representative from the Transit Museum in each car. Our guy was so tall he was cautious of the ceiling fans.

Everyone was so nice & excited about participating.

There were people of all ages on board.

Many folks were dressed for the occasion.

And the doors between the cars were kept open as the train was moving. I hung out there & felt like I was 12 again.

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This guy boarded at the 59th Street station having no idea it was a special train. He asked me if this train was going to 125th Street. I told him yes. He sat down, didn’t look up nor around & immersed himself in his racing form until he got off at 125th Street.

This fellow went all out in his dress & was taking photos with his vintage flash bulb camera.

When he saw my FujiFiim X30 camera, he offered me one of the used bulbs in its original packaging. I was delighted to accept it & gave it to a photographer friend when I got back to Marin.

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“The term ‘straphangers’ originated in the early 20th century when the NYC subway system was first introduced. At that time, the subway cars did indeed have straps hanging from the ceiling for people to hold onto while standing during their commute.” Eventually the term became applied to “…a person who commutes to work by public transportation.” My dad taught me to read the Herald Tribune with one hand while hanging onto a strap. Now there are just long bars.

As we sat, we got to chat with a family of a mom, dad & their three girls. The parents wanted their kids to experience riding in a vintage subway car.

They waved goodbye when we got off.

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Naomi exiting through, what we called the egg slicer, in one piece.

Based on the overheard conversation, I imagined that the guy on the left was the other fellow’s life coach.

The Metropolitan Opera.

Leaving the The Metropolitan Opera performance of The Magic Flute. It was about 40 deg. F as she exited with no wrap.

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CAFFE REGGIO.

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Lightscape, NewYear’s Eve, at Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden New Year’s Eve dinner catered by the Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.

For New Year's Eve she was dressed in clean white, except for her shoes.

New Year's Eve.

New Year's Eve in the Times Sq./42nd St. subway station. It was bedlam with all the exits blocked off but two. We couldn’t escape & just got on a train & figured our way back to the Hotel Elysée.