The Root Ladder

The roots embedded in a hillside along the Washington Park Lake give the appearance of a rustic ladder.  I won't try to climb it, though, one dislocated knee is enough!

Look At Me

A bit of graffiti on State Street, just a few steps east of Lark Street. The arrow points to a bit of blank wall and a narrow alley between two buildings. Nothing to look at, really.

A Distinctive Door

This little building on Sheridan Avenue below Lark Street wouldn't have caught my eye if note for the damaged, but pretty tiles decorating its steps. But it's the use of a 19th-centruy fireplace insert on the door that stands out. I have an old fireplace with a similar insert and I've fond of these. Using it as window bars is a rather interesting idea.

The building used to house L'Esperance Tile Works (do check out their work...it's beautiful) and has most recently been used as workspace by the Upstate Artists Guild (hence the lettering on the door).

Pearl & Lodge

Nice floral detail on the corner of North Pearl and Lodge Streets.

Truth In Advertising

A panhandler's sign discarded near Lark Street.

Patterns In Wood

Gorgeous woodwork in a Maiden Lane storefront.

Texture

Close-up of a wall along Maiden Lane. The texture of the wall - pebbles set into some sort of mortar - reminds me of the Gum Wall at Seattle's Pike Place Market...only less colorful.

In Progress

We've started painting some of the rooms in our house, beginning with the dining room. This picture was taken as we began to move things out of the way and started taping.

As far as I know, this house was built in the 1840s and altered about fifty years later. I didn't appreciate this decorative fireplace when I was growing up and used the dining room as my play space. It just looked dark and drab to me. I've since learned to really like the black stone mantle and the faux gold marbling. It also features a lovely cast iron grate which we've temporarily removed until the painting and flooring is finished.

Underwater Work

The inner workings of the fountains on the Empire State Plaza's main platform are ready for spring. These pipes and valves are responsible for the fountain's towering artificial geysers. Two of the reflecting pools are already filled. This one, the southernmost, is still empty.

Send Off

A sign on the long-vacant Trailways terminal on Division Street.

Lion and Shutters

A lion decorates a cast iron lintel on Swan Street overlooking the Empire State Plaza and New York State Museum.

And The Year Was...

Date carved on a former bank building on Madison Avenue near Ontario Street.

Pine Hills Tiles

Small colorful tiles are a pretty surprise on the sides of an otherwise plain building housing a convenience store in the Pine Hills neighborhood.

The Corner

Old street signs mounted on a house at the corner of Ten Broeck Street and Clinton Avenue.

Lurking Tower

Though it's several blocks away, the Corning Tower seems to be lurking just past the snow-weighted trees and empty picnic benches of Washington Park.

Random Condiments

Bottles of ketchup and mayonnaise sit on the window sill of the otherwise empty concession stand inside Washington Park's Lake House.

Improvising

On a very cold, but sunny day, a discarded mattress served as someone's makeshift sled for coasting down the slopes in Washington Park.