Spotted on on Ludlow Street between Canal & Hester earlier this spring by a pal.

Dodger graff on the L.E.S.? Well, go figure that. Never know what you’re going to find in this town.

Art in Progress: seen on Broadway, Upper West Side.

[Featured Image (by Frank Horvat) and Video Via Retro New York]

Alex Maclean looks at New York’s hidden skyline spaces. Dig the “Up on the Roof” gallery over at Fast Company.

Nothing says New York, or at least Manhattan, like a water tower. I remember looking out of the window at my grandparent’s apartment as a kid. They lived on 82nd street between Columbus and Central Park West. On the ninth floor. I’d look north at the cityscape and I knew why I liked Edward Hopper’s paintings. I’d see the brownstones and on the top of them the water towers. I never understood what they were for, how the water got in or out of them.

Today, I just know that I feel comforted when I see them.

[Photo Credit: The Great Retro New York]

This picture is neither I know, but which do you prefer: Italian or Puerto Rican Icey? I like the shaved ice better not only because there are more flavors to choose from but also because I like watching the ice being shaved. Not that I’d turn down an Italian ice on a hot day.

[Photo Credit: Rob Brulinski]

Drink up.

Seen, on the IRT yesterday. It’s not just boys that like to look out the window. Girls just wanna have fun, too.

This is the coolest thing I’ve seen in a minute. Dan Weeks, you rule.

Thanks to Matt B for sending the link.

I’ve used efficient, modern-looking microfilm machines, but not at the main branch of the New York Public Library. The machines there are so temperamental that I half-expect a wise-ass bird poke his head out as if I lived in an episode of “The Flinstones.”

That said, there are few things I enjoy as much as digging through old newspapers and magazines on the hunt for research material. It’s taxing on the eyes, your back gets sore leaning over, you often have to fight threading the damn machine up, and sometimes you don’t get what you came for. Other times,  you find things by accident. Oh, those happy accidents.

Along the way,  a forgotten world comes alive, especially in the newspapers–advertisements, headlines, stories and pictures. And there are so many  writers I’ve never heard of before. Plus, there is the thrill of putting in the time to track things down that you can’t find on-line and there’s so much stuff out there that is not on the web it’s not even funny.

The wife calls me a nerd. Guilty as charged.

Way out in Brooklyn…

Those who come from Brooklyn know just what I’m talkin’…

How to Be a Retronaut. Again and again.

Overheard on the subway this morning. Two teenage boys.

“The Mets are going to kill the Yankees this weekend.”

“Fuck you.”

“The Mets have more heart. The Yankees are overpriced and old.”

“Yeah, and they’re still better than your wack-ass Mets.”

“Fuck you.”

“Jealous.”

Standing at the bus stop last night I overheard two men in their thirties talking.

“Did you see this yet?”

“Adam Sandler:  Not funny. Not even a little bit.”

“Dude, he makes me laugh.”

“He’s a galloping horse’s ass on parade and so are you.”

“Bet you wish you had his money.”

“Bet you’re right about that.”

They both laughed.

Another killer photo gallery

from How To Be a Retronaut.

New York City in the 1960s by Ernst Haas over at How to be a Retronaut.

Still humid and hazy out there. Perfect day to be near the water and catch a breeze.

[Photo Credit: The Bowery Boys]

Only time I miss tokens is when I’m running for a train and the damn card doesn’t swipe right.

More Turns series by Bill Sullivan.

Sullivan is a gifted painter.

You must check out the site:

Retro New York

It’s killer diller.

Perhaps in anticipation of a new movie version of “The Great Gatsby” dig this photo gallery over at Gothamist.

I come in the form of the mind-bender bartender…

A short by Cyriak Harris via the Atlantic.