Snappy Marty

Since 1904 “New York's Catskill Mountains include one of the largest and most complex natural areas in the East—on par with the West's Yellowstone National Park. Round, forested mountains; narrow, winding valleys; and rushing streams and rivers are features that attract many to the 600,000 acres of the Catskill Park.”

“The park is governed by Article 14 of the state constitution, which stipulates that must remain ‘forever wild.’"

This posting has lots of signs, bridges, roads & local architecture. The signs are a result of our tour at Noble Signs & Design; bridges because they fascinate me & one of my pals said he liked all the bridges, roads are often enticing for bicycle riding or motoring in the MGA & architecture I enjoy looking at & learning about.

Rte. 23A near Phoenicia, NY -"Esopus Creek...is a tributary of the Hudson River that drains the east-central Catskill Mountains...& is part of New York City's water supply system."

Schoparie Creek, NY along NYS Rte. 42 also “a part of the New York City water supply system."

Bridge over Schoparie Creek, Lexington, NY.

Lexington, NY.

"The West Kill, an 11-mile-long tributary of Schoharie Creek, flows through the town of Lexington...from its source on Hunter Mountain, the second-highest peak of the Catskill Mountains....it is part of the New York City water supply system."

Spruceton Rd., NYS.

Spruceton Rd., NY.

Take a close look.

West Kill Brewery off of Spruceton Rd., NY, in the middle of seemingly nowhere.

"5 miles down a dead end road...

...sits West Kill Brewing: a small batch craft brewery... ...nestled in the Catskill Mountains."

The labels for their brews are really neat.

This is the one I had.

https://www.westkillbrewing.com/

"Beer tastes better when it’s working for the outdoors."

West Kill Brewing, 2173 Spruceton Rd, West Kill, NY

Based on location, this must be the home of the owners.

Spruceton Road, West Kill, NY.

Town of Lexington, NY.

The Town of Lexington, NY is very proud of its round-a-bouts.

Schoharie Creek along Rte. 23A.

Bridge over Schoharie Creek.

The bridge looks like something I would make with an Erector set when I was about nine.

Another bridge over Schoharie Creek.

Schoharie Creek & Hunter Mountain right before entering The Village of Hunter, NY.

Catskill Mountains seen from Rte. 23A.

The Painted Village in the Sky - Tannersville, NY

Village of Tannersville, NY.

Deer Mountain Inn Restaurant & Lodge, Tannersville, NY. Recommended by friends of Casey & Elliot.

"Originally built in the late 1880s, Deer Mountain Inn has served many lives over the centuries...

...A summer retreat, a grand hotel annex, and, if local folklore is to be believed, the former estate of notorious Depression-era figure Jack 'Legs' Diamond. The bullet holes remain.

Thoughtfully restored in 2013..."

Leaving Hunter, NY & heading south to NYC. A miniature farm.

Leaving Hunter, NY. The miniature farm’s water tower.

Rte. 214. Still a long way from here to the New York Thruway. I always liked that circa late 1950’s early 1960’s iconic blue sign.

Dilapidated house along Rte. 214.

“WMN TREE REMOVAL”

Lanesville,? NY

"Bulldogs"

Rte. 214 Chichester, Ulster County.

In 2006 we went to the Goodwood Revival in Chichester, England.

M.F. Whitney Hose Co., PHOENICIA FIRE DISTRICT COMPANY ONE serving the community of Shandaken, in Ulster County, NY. "... was originally a school house." Interesting that they call it a "Hose. Co."

“DINER”

Phoenicia Diner, Rte. 28, Phoencia, NY

Once again a sign that demonstrates that wood rots.

"CATSKILLS PO'BOY

bacon, cornmeal crusted,steelhead trout, tomato, remoulade, shredded lettuce, baguette." It could have used a lot more remoulade.

Phoenicia Diner, Rte. 28, Phoencia, NY

Inviting looking motel on Rte. 40 leaving Phoenicia, NY.

We saw many high flying American flags in the Catskills. This is a lot better than all the Confederate flags we saw on our Southern Music Tour back in May 2016. Rte. 40.

Interstate 87, NYS Thruway.

“Welcome to “NEW PALTZ” along Interstate 87. My sister went to the State University of New York at New Paltz. It was founded in 1828.

Interstate 87, NYS Thruway. “The first section of Thruway, opened in 1954 & the last of the 569.83 miles were completed in 1969. It is a toll road.” The driver would get a punch card at a toll booth upon entering & use it to pay for the distance travelled at an exit toll booth.

My dad loved driving on the Thruway in his 1955 Oldsmobile Rocket 88. His first time on the Thruway he got a speeding ticket. He claimed that he was pulled over because our black & white car stood out. Hah!

“MOVE OVER"

Ramapo, NY.

They're serious here!

Trader Joe's Paramus, New Jersey.

We stopped at Trader Joe's in Paramus, New Jersey for Casey & Elliot to do some shopping. The signs caught my eye.

Trader Joe's .Paramus, New Jersey.

I was intrigued that the signs looked hand made. So, I did a deep dive..."Trader Joe’s uses handmade signage as a major piece of their signature style and to enhance their 'neighborhood grocery store' positioning...The signs are unique to each location and often feature nods to each store’s surrounding community. Signs change frequently due to product additions and removals, price changes, holidays, and seasonal shifts...

...These signs are designed and made by crew members commonly known as 'sign artists' but are referred to by Trader Joe’s as 'crew members with sign making talent' because they typically also perform duties other than creating signs. Sign artists commonly work in art teams of three to five crew members to complete murals, price tags, end caps, and product labels...”

Trader Joe's , Paramus, New Jersey.

Trader Joe's, Paramus, New Jersey.

Oy!

“RESTRICTED VEHICLE DETECTED”

Can you read that fast enough at 65 mph?

“home.”

"This is no ordinary home. Rentthemodern now.com" Fort Lee, NJ. Circa 2014.

George Washington Bridge.

The FDR Drive down the east side of Manhattan Island along the Harlem River with heavy rush hour traffic going north.

Along the FDR Drive next to the Harlem River.

Along the FDR Drive - Ca.1934 Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics "...was formerly Benjamin Franklin High School,...was designated a New York City landmark..." "... the style and planning context suggest it was part of a mid‑20th‑century public school design program in New York City, often involving local architects working under the Board of Education’s oversight..."

59th St. - Ed Koch - Queensboro Bridge - Along the FDR Drive. - “Red Sculpture East River Roundabout” c. 1995. This took me a long time to figure out what it was.

“This 80-foot long aluminum helix is by artist Alice Aycock (b.1946)…. the highly visible and significant sculpture is attached to the skeletal steel roof supports of a former waterfront garbage transfer station...Aycock’s spiral sculptural conception, with its undulating fan-like canopy attachment, was also inspired by the weightlessness of Fred Astaire’s dancing...Aycock’s spiral sculptural conception, with its undulating fan-like canopy attachment, was also inspired by the weightlessness of Fred Astaire’s dancing...Aycock’s design for East River Roundabout is intended to stand out in a highly competitive visual environment, and engage motorists and pedestrians alike."

Consolidated Edison Power Plant - Along the FDR Drive. Still in operation?

Along the FDR Drive going under the Williamsburg Bridge.

Approaching the Manhattan Bridge on the FDR Drive.

Approaching the Brooklyn Bridge on the FDR Drive.

After negotiating quite a maze we got on the bridge to cross over to Brooklyn.

"You can't go through here."

Brooklyn Bridge.

Kings County (A.K.A. the Borough of Brooklyn) Borough Hall.

Nate & Arielle were married here.

This section of Atlantic Ave. in Brooklyn has many Middle Eastern establishments.

Colorful vintage row houses on Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, NY.

Squarrel Cafe on Atlantic Ave. I wondering what this was so…

"Brooklyn's premier board game café featuring 350+ games, weekly D&D campaigns, and a cozy community space for gamers of all levels."

Barclays Center with its distinctive grass roof. Note the huge residential buildings. Zoning regulations along Atlantic Ave. came down & the buildings went up & up.

Aaaah, back in NYC; noise & action. Looking down on St. Marks Ave. Prospect Hts., Brooklyn.

Yup, "Kinda different expierence" than The Catskills! “revler - Luxury rooms on the move.”

Bien Cuit.

Franklin Ave., Prospect Hts.

Classon Ave. & Prospect Place, Prospect Hts.

B'klyn Botanic Garden.

Daffodil Hill & magnolia tree at B'klyn Botanic Garden.

B'klyn Botanic Garden.

My mom loved pussy willows. We would pass a lot of them when we walked the three blocks to Rockaway Beach.

Eastern Parkway, Prospect Hts.

Never mind the sign.

Franklin Ave. & Eastern Parkway, Prospect Hts.

Franklin Ave. Prospect Hts.

Atlantic Ave. on way to JFK.

Cross Bay Boulevard causeway across Jamaica Bay to the Rockaways seen from American Airlines flight departing JFK.

We lived where the top arrow is pointing to from before I was in kindergarten through through 4th grade. It was the first middle income NYC housing project. It was filled with WW II veterans.

Homeward bound.

This novel chronicles “…the life and legacy of Rafael Guastavino, the Spanish-born architect whose innovative vaulted tile ceilings transformed New York City during the Gilded Age. His works include the Oyster Bar in Grand Central, the Prospect Park Boathouse, and the Old City Hall subway station.” His work can be seen all over the USA but primarily in NYC & Boston.

All posts:

New York State April 2026 - The Catskills & back to New York City.