Deteriorating Doorway

Elegant, but crumbling carved brownstone surrounds a doorway just off Broadway near the old Albany bus terminal.

Shelter

The little green wooden "houses" covering the water fountains on the Empire State Plaza have an oddly quaint look, especially compared to the stark, modern marble building of the Plaza. Meant to protect the fountains from winter weather, they should be gone any day now as the main level of the Plaza re-opens for the year.

Forgotten Doughnuts

Someone left a box of glazed doughnuts outside the main branch of the Albany Public Library this afternoon. I saw a number of people pause for the tiniest fraction of a second and glance discreetly at the abandoned sweets, eyeing them as if they were wondering if the doughnuts were fresh and safe or stale or laced with something more sinister than refined sugars and artificial flavors.

Can't Touch This Sign

I'm sure that putting stickers on a traffic sign is considered vandalism and, no, I'm not condoning that. But this sign near the Empire State Plaza did catch my eye and give me a good laugh.

Terra Cotta Tile

A grimy, but elegant terra cotta decoration on a brick facade along Madison Avenue. The late 19th-century house has long since been divided up into small apartments, but much of its gorgeous interior woodwork remains intact.

Old Numbers

When I was very little, this store front on Madison Avenue was a liquor store. Being far too young to drink, I never really paid much attention to it and I don't even remember seeing the neon sign actually lit. Now, however, it's an antique store and I often pause to admire the delightfully garish lamps and light fixtures...including one adorably awful arrangement of gold cherubs, pink roses, and bulbs. So I only just recently noticed the old neon sign's promise of delivery and the old-style phone numbers.

Lion and Shutters

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