I left the Convention Center last night and walked across town to Union Square, then down to St Mark’s Place, which mostly sucks these days, then over to the West Village and an inspiring number of unique shops and cool restaurants and vibrant street life. As I type this now in the Esperanto Cafe, a 24-hour espresso/food establishment with an easily-working Wi-Fi hookup (a rarity in Manhattan), there are 2 guys and a girl kicking a soccer ball around in the steet and dodging cars. Kids on skateboard slide by gracefully, always skating in the street, not the sidewalks. A great variety of people going by this window, it’s like watching a movie. Here are some pics from my wandering last night:
Union Square sidewalk gymnast
Fried chicken take out. About three guys on bikes do deliveries.
Rico Fonseca has been selling paintings (on Masonite, $20 each) for 40 years. This is his rolling shelter prototype for homeless guys.
Randomness is working for me at an all-time high on this trip. In all the publishing business I’ve done here in 2 days, I’m running across key people in the aisles of the convention center, in unexpected places. Plus I’m having interesting and informative discussions with people all over the city. I just watched a jug band in Washington Square and saw a great washtub bass, except made of wood and a piece of plastic from a suitcase, with a range of an octave and a half AND after discussion, the bass player is either going to make and ship me one or send me the plans. I could go on, it’s just been a wonderful few days. My notebook is bulging with things to do at home, books to get, people to contact.
Hi Lloyd,
I came upon your blog by accident. How nice to see you are still truckin' and not far down the road from us up here just over 60 miles away in Fairfield where we fight the macmansions. We try to get the Town Planning Department to decrease the footprint on all lots 2 acres and under. It is disgusting in such a lovely town.
Trudy and I are fine; a little slower, but still doing things. Trudy still does home care work. I still write for the local paper and am the Town Historian.
Best to the family.
Your description of your NY wanderings and the photos are great. You haven't lost your eye or your talent for saying it like it is…
What you have created on that heavenly spot of land where you live, is unique and exciting. You have a way of making what could be just pictures or just different shelters into something that is often literary and poetic and always with a tip of your hat to the genius of those who have used their creativity in the most imaginative ways, much as you have.
Cheers,
Marcia