Amy's New York Notebook

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31316482008-05-13T16:44:01.786-04:00Amy's New York NotebookAmyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comBlogger1903125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-35359634894672391842008-05-13T16:39:00.002-04:002008-05-13T16:44:01.815-04:00The R shirt

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-53230303082345396492008-05-11T08:55:00.005-04:002008-05-11T17:08:13.802-04:00Classy cornice on Columbia; or rather: nice frieze

Now here's something you don't see very often anymore. There's a new building almost complete on Columbia Street near Kane, map. (The one on the left.) Up on the top, you can see the building gets a name. Most of the buildings in the neighborhood with names tend to bear dates like 1904. But this one loks like 11-09-2007. (Is that part of the cornice? Is there a more specific architectural term

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-66183204363236557772008-05-09T11:49:00.002-04:002008-05-09T11:54:11.038-04:00LOL Cats confession

So Friday used to be the day I'd go look at the LOLCats. But it's turned into a daily habit. Here are a few favorites: more cat pictures

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-31104852024791145252008-05-06T07:40:00.003-04:002008-05-06T07:48:33.379-04:00Pelham on location at the Transit Museum

The remake of "Taking of the Pelham One Two Three" had taken over the Transit Museum in downtown Brooklyn yesterday when I walked by. The original conatins one of my favorite lines, uttered by a subway official when it appears all the subway passengers will die:What the hell did they expect for their lousy 35 cents - to live forever?Here's a thing I wrote for NewYorkology in 2005 about a Transit

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-37571698219842180732008-05-05T18:30:00.005-04:002008-05-05T18:54:40.382-04:00Ikea's Red Hook 'grand opening campout'

See the new Brooklyn Ikea webpage for news of its grand opening campout.Customers can begin lining up at IKEA Brooklyn at 9:00 AM on Monday morning, June 16, 2008 – in advance of our June 18, 2008 opening. We are going to be doing something special for everyone on opening morning so you do not have to be the first, second, or third customer in line* in order to share in the fun. Keep checking for

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-79695503439220261852008-04-27T12:17:00.001-04:002008-04-27T12:19:39.047-04:00Schmap test

Schmap asked permission to use a Brighton Beach picture I'd posted on Flickr. It should be in there somewhere. Posting here to see what their widget looks like. ...

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-7548919615036787382008-04-24T08:53:00.004-04:002008-04-24T11:04:49.646-04:00'Floater Week' resurfaces

In November, I went to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to cover a book release event for Gabriel Cohen's new New York thriller "Graving Dock." He read a passage from the book that mentions "Floater Week" which he said is real, and normally happens around tax day. Indeed, April 15 was last week. And from today's New York Times ... it's time.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-6307509247238144602008-04-20T22:51:00.003-04:002008-04-20T23:14:34.044-04:00Popemobile in Red Hook

OK, the pope helicopter and popemobile videos and commentary are posted at NewYorkology, but here are the other Popemobile pictures that aren't completely out of focus or obscured by the dirty windshield.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-40895090560714925952008-04-20T21:27:00.002-04:002008-04-20T21:30:49.587-04:00Papal flags flying at WTC site

On the way back from Jersey this evening, we passed by Ground Zero and noticed the pope's flags were still in place from his visit this morning. That's the Deutsche Bank building in the background.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-31483536850552668862008-04-20T21:16:00.003-04:002008-04-20T21:21:13.860-04:00Red light in front of Ikea Red Hook

Apparently I'm going to have to post my exciting evening in backward order. So first I give you ... a functioning stop signal in front of Ikea. After we dropped off the steplad in N.J., we hit this light on the return trip.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-30079015490562187712008-04-13T20:08:00.001-04:002008-04-13T20:10:38.665-04:00Schnack's officially closed

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-47337695646739472162008-04-13T14:46:00.003-04:002008-04-13T15:29:47.834-04:00Scottish Play: BAM vs. Broadway

We had front-row tickets for "Macbeth" on Broadway a few nights ago and in retrospect, it was a good thing I wasn't wearing white. The front row is almost a splatter zone. So much blood is spilled on stage that six stagehands emerge at intermission to mop and wipe everything down before they start anew. When I saw this same production at BAM a month ago, I was up high in the theater, and it was

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-82471343209786235332008-03-24T16:16:00.003-04:002008-03-24T16:20:56.262-04:00Another Malice Box review

Here's another nice blog review of Martin's book, which is recently out in paperback in the UK. From Civilian Reader Needless to say, this is a very well written thriller, with decent pace, original ideas, likeable characters, and fluid prose. If you're looking for something light, but not trashy, then you should pick up The Malice Box.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-26254417837962608072008-03-24T16:08:00.003-04:002008-03-24T16:11:47.878-04:00B77 to South Ferry ain't happening

In case you didn't alerady foresee this one stalling in the tracks. From today's NY Times City Room blog:The postponed service upgrades included plans to add more frequent service on the G line in Brooklyn and Queens, extending B and W service on weeknights to 11 p.m. from the current 9:30 p.m., and shaving one or two minutes from waiting times for evening service on the 1, 4 and 6 lines. The

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-27330906977244731852008-03-20T16:03:00.003-04:002008-03-20T16:15:20.541-04:00More L&O in Red Hook

I was a little too lazy to check the no-praking signs on the streets, but this past Friday afternoon the film folks were busy behind Fairway near the (currently unused) Water Taxi dock. One of the guys in the crew was wearing a "Criminal Intent" jacket, so I'm going with that. No word yet on when that dock may again be used by the Water Taxi.

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-40619167974178946132008-03-15T17:00:00.004-04:002008-03-15T17:22:23.614-04:00Slow Saturday media coverage of crane collapse

So it's 5 p.m., almost three hours ater the multi-fatal Manhattan crane collpase, and both the Post and the Daily News are using only AP. NY Times has their own story -- the early version quoted almost entirely from NY1 and AP and Reuters, but now there's only a bit of outside news sources remaining. Nothing at Curbed, which normally goes dark on weekends, but Gothamist is kicking butt, using

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-29448641058553735112008-03-13T15:39:00.002-04:002008-03-13T15:43:10.329-04:00Ikea Signange

Oh, that's gonna be an Ikea?

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-63554668746316051012008-03-03T14:54:00.007-05:002008-03-03T15:17:47.003-05:00Q. Can I use my MetroCard on the Water Taxi?

So the Red Hook folk are excited about the plans to extend the B71 and B77 to Manhattan's South Ferry via the Battery Tunnel. Will make the trip in much faster -- especially since the Water Taxi hasn't been forthcoming for its plans to resume service in spring. However, two interesting things of note on that matter. 1. The updated FAQ on the Water Taxi site includes this:Can I use my MetroCard?

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-87870983940172041762008-03-03T14:20:00.004-05:002008-03-03T14:45:52.686-05:00Law & Order checks into House of D neigborhood

So it looks like "Law & Order SVU" will be filming this week in the vicinity of one of the most interestingly located new hotels in the city. On this side of the street, the new condo/hotel. And on that side of the street, the Brooklyn House of Detention. Pink sheets say no parking around Smith and Atlantic on March 4 & 5. (The condo office looked almost functional Sunday afternoon, with a guy

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-39587357846194762242008-02-28T07:50:00.005-05:002008-02-28T08:12:48.211-05:00'Malice Box' now in paperback in the UK

Today's the UK release date for "The Malice Box" in the UK. New cover and everything. We've also learned there will be a US paperback edition in the fall 2008 (also with a new cover, so you'll want to collect them all!) Here are a few places you can find it online: Malice Box at Waterstone's Malice Box at Amazon UK Malice Box at WH Smith Also, I see the Malice Box Quest is still live. It's a

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-17028384538507825782008-02-21T14:11:00.006-05:002008-02-21T15:06:31.203-05:00Bringing back the 'Balkanization'

I'm watching CNN's footage of the mess in Belgrade. Maybe it was inevitable, but still very heartbreaking. Reminds me of two things in particular from my time living in Europe. First, there was an extremely annoying train ride in May 1992 I took solo from Athens to Prague. It was epic in the number of things that went wrong, (including a train conductor who pinned me against the window as he

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-10291142447017376462008-02-16T16:01:00.006-05:002008-02-16T16:16:54.134-05:00Roger Murdoch's blogging

So Tony Pierce helped turn Kareem into a blogger for the LA Times. Can't tell you what a great read he is, go check for yourself. Just now I was having a look at the comments on a post about exercise tips for guys over 50. They're all really nice, smart. And then, sheer brilliance, this:I think you're the greatest, but my dad says you don't work hard enough on defense. And he says that lots of

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-37421808057889022332008-02-15T17:39:00.005-05:002008-02-21T11:57:49.353-05:00QM2 departs Brooklyn with extra security

I just watched the Queen Mary 2 depart Brooklyn, and with an unusual amount of security. It used to always get one, sometimes two helicopter escorts, even for its 5 a.m. arrivals. But lately, nothing, except for the 3 Queens thing. Actually, come to thing of it, I watched it arrive around 7 a.m. today and didn't see of hear helicopters. Anyhow, tonight's departure had police boats and two

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-9254342432701271832008-02-14T07:53:00.005-05:002008-02-14T08:03:41.356-05:00Metroblogging NYC sponsoring WNYC?

This morning's dollar-for-dollar sponsor on WNYC's pledge drive was ... "Metroblogging NYC." I'm totally confused. Do they mean this site? (BTW, the sponsorship means that if you call in and pledge $100 to the public radio station, Metroblogging NYC kicks in another $100.)

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3131648.post-80167238812461949832008-02-07T11:34:00.000-05:002008-02-07T11:35:38.345-05:00Brooklyn sunset video

Quite a pretty little show last night:

Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128115207926304111noreply@blogger.com