Greetings ladies and gents and welcome to a new season of Where and When! No, it wasn’t a dream or a passing fancy of some lunatic minds, it was and is a rather fun puzzle game for our readers to utilize their deductive skills in tracking down the answers to life’s important questions… well, trivial maybe, but all games involve a certain amount of seemingly useless knowledge. Back by popular demand (and a moment to spare in a busy work schedule), I’ve brought to you something new to disseminate and ponder.  But before we get down to the nitty-gritty, a little background for the newcomers to Bronx Banter and/or this game we play…

Earlier in the year, Alex posted an interesting picture here from another site of a New York City landscape from the early part of the 20th century (so near, and yet so far) in which the writer asked help in identifying the location depicted in the picture.  After some pondering and sharing of our observations within the picture, several of our loyal readers (myself included) concluded that the picture was an early photo of Manhattan’s West Side along the Hudson River; facing north from the busy piers near Midtown and peering far into the distance where the George Washington Bridge was just under construction.  By this we were also able to determine the probable date the photo was taken.  Riverside Drive was the dominant roadway, but the Henry Hudson Parkway was also under construction at the moment the picture was taken.

It was a fun undertaking, as I later wrote to Alex, and I suggested making a game out of it.  “You’re hired” he responded, and I’ve been the administrator of this effort ever since. I’ve experimented with rules and formats throughout, trying to make it fair and more involving for everyone as our readers are so widely dispersed that some miss out on the game due to the difference in time from here to there part of the globe, but I’ve compensated in creative ways to involve them as well.  In the end, I settled for a free exchange of ideas and suggestions with the stipulation that whoever answers he questions fully explain the process they used to find the answers (the journey can be equally as, if not more entertaining than the destination itself).  The winners (the first person to answer the questions correctly) would receive a theoretical root beer; a Banter tradition that began with the jinxing of anyone who posted an identical comment to the comment prior to his or her own.  The rest of the players were given cream sodas as a consolation prize for playing.  I had something special in mind for the person who tabulated the most wins in a year, but because my work schedule began to interfere with regularly scheduled postings, I tabled that idea for the time being (but it’s still under consideration).

About the scheduling; I tried to adhere to a two or three-a-week schedule of games, but I ran into two big problems: life (big problem, supersedes everything fun) and supply.  I am a bit of a perfectionist, so I try to find interesting challenges for these games and generally avoid stock footage of standard New York City easy-to-identify landmarks. There are many sites with different photos of many places around the city, but even some of those are nondescript and would not provide a fair amount of clues to present as a challenge.  So with those limitations, I’ve often found myself painted into a corner concerning what to present.  Alex and I have discussed this at length and he has encouraged me to open my definition of what I consider interesting challenges as it were, bearing in mind that some people may be seeing these locales for the first time.  With that in mind, I am being more open minded about what to present so that I don’t run out of material and also to allow one of my main goals to come into fruition: to educate and enlighten our readers and players about the history and appreciation of our great city and its region of influence.  The most important thing to remember is that it is a game and was born from and meant for fun.

So let’s have some fun, shall we?

Here we have an aerial photo of a region within the city that you may or may not recognize from certain features within the picture.  I think this is an easy one, but I’m sure that those of you not native to the region will want to look up some of the details in whatever manner you use to research. I can say this much, the features in this picture give a good indication of the time period of this photo, so I don’t have to drop many hints.  If you get it within the correct decade, you’ll get credit for the when answer.  So, if you answer Where this picture dipicts and When it was likely taken, you will win our traditional first prize, a frosty mug of high-quality root beer (which is always up for discussion).  As a bonus, if you can identify at least two major features within this photo with proper names from the time it was taken, you will get a scoop of ice cream to add to your root beer, making it a root beer float of course.  All players who participate in the discussion will receive a cold mug of cream soda for your efforts.  I will try to return during the latter part of the day to reveal the answers and discuss any trivia or history that’s associated.  You are all free to discuss whatever you like about it, but please avoid using the direct link in the photo credit (unless you find it during your research) and also as discussed before, show your math.

So ladies and gents, welcome back and have fun!

photo credit: Wired New York

Well I guess it’s about time for another Where & When.  The last couple of games have been pretty interesting if I do say so myself, here’s hoping I can keep that ball rolling (as opposed to what the Yanks defense did last night) with his, as it turns out, rather dour entry to the canon.  I dedicate this one to our rather illustrious Gloomy Guses of the Banter:

I’m going to spare you a whole lot of drama on this one, because unless you’ve got a real eye for details you’re likely not going to get a clue within this picture of where this can be.  It’s in New York, in a place that would become very well known and lit up with activity starting a few years after this picture was taken (in fact, it was sort of already lit up at this point, but not nearly as much as it would be in the ensuing years).  In the direct center of this picture, a person who would become world renown and whose works would become synonymous with the neighborhood was born in a room in the building to the left of the lamp post. The picture was taken about nine years after his birth. Also, relative to what yesterday’s game ultimately was, the region would change it’s name in a few years and in time begin a tradition that endures to this day.

I’m tasking you with naming this region and the year this picture was taken.  I know it’s a long shot, but if you consider the clues I’ve given you, you won’t suffer as much.  Bonuses to whomever determines (my logic for one) the name of the person I refer to being born in the building I pointed out, the name of that building in particular and how this is relative to the people I dedicated the game to today (in jest, naturally).  It’s a long season as we fairly predicted it would be, so we gotta keep each other up until reinforcements arrive (and hopefully not by postponing the future yet again).  Root beers, cream sodas, floats and brownies, all that.  You know the routine, let’s do this like Leeroy Jenkins.

PEACE!!! >;)

[photo credit: MCNY Blog]

Here we are again with another Where & When! (That dumb rhyme was unintentional; it happens.) Speaking of happens, it just so happens you might get this without looking too hard, but I was inspired by the old and almost equally lost neighborhood play:

An interesting, if far from glorious picture, but I will link to some of the glory from this location after you figure out where this location actually is.  I don’t have an actually reference date for this photo, so for the when let’s go with what you know about the location.  For the bonus question, tell us two prominent features near the location that still exist today (you’re either gonna laugh or tsk me this one).

So you know the rules; show your work and complete answers, first one to he finish line gets the frosty mug of root beer and the bonus gets you a scoop of ice cream; all others get a cold mug of cream soda for the effort.  Stick around for a little history lesson (feel free to enlighten us and you might get a brownie) and we’ll see each other on the game thre… wait, are the Yanks playing tonight? No? Oh… well, stick around and chat!

[photo credit: Dyre Avenue Line Memories]

Greetings, welcome back to another exciting episode of Where & When.  It’s a slow day today, so I took a moment to fill in the doldrums with a “challenging” excerpt from the five boroughs:

This picture was taken a year after the subject of this picture was opened for service.  So, I task you to find out where and when this picture was taken, not to mention what it is.  You know the rules; show your work, share your ideas and stories, utilize whatever you prefer to find the answers and the first one with the complete answer will get the icy cold root beer award, while the rest of us who participate get to drink to that person’s health with a frosty cream soda.

Oh, and the bonus ice cream scoop goes to the person who can describe the style of the object or objects in question.

So have at it and we’ll see each other on the game thread.

[photo credit: NYC Bridges]

Welcome back to what has become perhaps a needed distraction, Where & When.  Hopefully the team won’t fall underneath .500 tonight, and if they do let’s hope they can float long enough until reinforcements arrive.  In the meantime, let’s ponder the past yet again and find out what this is all about:

There is an important distinction about this building, so tell us what building this is, where it’s located, when it was built and as a bonus, how long it lasted and what the distinction actually is. Show your math as well. A frosty mug of your favorite root beer if you have the where and when practical answers with notes, and I’ll upgrade it to a root beer float if you get the bonus question.  The rest of us will get cold cream sodas in a can. So you know the drill; have fun and I’ll see you in the game thread (maybe)!

[photo credit: Detroit Photographic Company (Wikipedia)]

Lo and Behold, we are back with another Where & When. I’ve missed doing these for a while, so let me take advantage of a little time I have to present to you another little challenge with a little history attached to it:

This one has a bit of irony attached to it, considering what it is.  If you can tell us what this building is and when this building existed, you will win a box of Thin Mints (because the Girl Scout cookies we ordered months ago have arrived and I feel inordinately generous in my imagination).  You will get a quart of milk to wash them down if you can tell us the ironic stories with this structure as well. A bonus box will be thrown in if you can tell us the name of the building beside it in the background.

Most of you know the rules of this game, but for those who don’t or need a refresher: to win, you should be the first person to answer all of the questions above in one post, plus you must show your process of finding the answer.  You can utilize any methods you find feasible to find the answer, but you must not peek at the photo credit link because that’s cheating.  If, however, you happen to find the link on your own in the course of research, then you will be excused. Everyone else who answers after the winner will receive a cold cream soda of choice.  Usually we award a cold root beer for the winner unless there’s a special or seasonal occasion for something more apropos to the occasion.

You are encouraged also to share your research or memories about the site in the picture, in the spirit of cooperation and fostering education.  Above all, have a good time and I hope you learn something new.

Have fun and we’ll discuss later!

[Photo credit: Wiki Commons]

Let’s play two! Welcome again to another round of Where & When. Because the last game was so easy and solved so early, I decided to throw in an extra game today; first time we’ve done that and perhaps not the  last. We’re still out of town, but not far from home, so let’s skip over to this part of town:

Back to our usual throwbacks. The date this picture was taken is the same year the building under construction was completed.  Out of all the buildings you see, three of them still exist. Which ones are they, what were they known as when they were built and what purpose do they currently serve? As a bonus, one of these buildings has a special designation; do you know which and what it is?

There you have it, so if you get a chance, try to figure them all out and you get to brag about the other barrel of root beer you win for being so smart, not to mention the double scoop of ice cream with a cherry on top for the bonus.  The rest of us will have the usual cream soda, but in Big Gulp cups this time.

So, complete answers, show your math and feel free to share memories and facts about the region.  I’m going out tonight, so have fun with everything tonight and hope the Yanks have something left in the tank for the Angels tonight. Peace!

(Oh, I’ll reveal the photo credit after the game is over, because it’s a dead giveaway >;)

Oh boy, welcome back to yet another round of Where & When! You may have been thinking, “Where’s Chyll and when is he putting up another interesting post of old buildings that probably don’t exist anymore?” Or maybe not, life is strange.  But I’m sure you’re champing at the bit to solve another mystery with me, so let us not waste time with idle chit-chat:

Ah-ha. We’re taking a little trip; not far, but not so obscure that I have to give you a clue about where or what it is.  This place is rather unique, in fact, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find.  If you can figure out where this place is; i.e. name, who built it and when, then you’ll win a kleig barrel of the finest root beer in the land (if you can imagine what that is).  I’ll throw in a scoop of ice cream if you know the significance of this building as well. The rest of us who follow with answers or stories will have to settle as usual with a cold mug of cream soda, not that it’s such a bad thing (I could drink cold cream soda all day). so, get back to us before the game begins and  lets have fun.

For newcomers who want to try their hands at this, the rules are simple: you can post your answers in the comments, but you must provide a full answer to the questions above in order to get credit; the first person with the correct answers wins first prize and all who come after get an honorary prize.  You may use the internet for research, but you can’t peek at the photo credit (that would be like smearing pine tar all over your neck for everyone on Mars to see).  You may also talk about anything relative to the region you may want to share, like personal memories or trivia about the neighborhood, that kind of stuff. The regulars will help you out if you have any more questions, I’m sure.

Have fun everyone, and I’ll see you back at the game!

[Photo Credit: Joseph Pellombardi]

Welcome back to another round of Where & When.  I guess the power plant worked a little, huh? Maybe a fleet of Score Trucks can really get us back on track, but meanwhile I present you with more old school intrigue:

This is where I’m supposed to say, “And boom goes the dynamite”, but I cannon be a lot worse. I’d like to think this is what the offense has in store for the rest of the season when it starts to get really warm out, but I’m not really good with sports predictions, only with complaining about the results. So lets just say that if the team doesn’t really pick it up and go on a tear, we’re prepared to respond.

And you, are you prepared to explain where this is, when it was founded and when or if it was closed?  Give us the lowdown and you’ll get a really nice red velvet cupcake, which I like just as much if not more than chocolate cake these days.  Be the first one to guess correctly and you get a slice of blue velvet cake (because you’re special and all), and for the bonus if you guess the significance of today’s date, you get a PBR to go with it.  I don’t drink, so consider it a special gift.

So have at it, good people, and I’ll be around later for a slice.  No peeking at the photo credit and have fun!

[Photo Credit: NPS]

Hello again to the latest round of Where & When. It’s been a pretty busy (and somewhat lame) week so far with the big club, so let’s try to spin things around a bit and see what we come up with when we look at this:

Yes, it’s contemporary. I just like the picture a lot because of the clue. And here’s another: after the first two games this season, we can agree that if this place were still in prime condition, the Yanks could use a lot of what it would have. A whole lot.

So there you have it; it’s in the area, but it may take you some time to figure out where unless you happen to see it on a regular basis. By the way, this is not the best picture of the location, even from the website I referenced; inside is an explorer’s fun park or a developer’s almost literal pipe dream.  After I confirm the answer, I invite you to take a peek at the site from the photo credit’s link to see and learn more about it.  I geek out at a place like this for quite a few reasons.

On that note, the first person who determines the location will win a barrel of Barq’s root beer; Barq’s being my favorite and again, I like this place for what it could become if someone had the gumption to do it.  The rest of us will get Virgil’s cream soda and a cool place to look at from the comfort of our seats; mind you that you don’t let images of the current Yankee Stadium mix in with this though; it’s way too early to be that cynical… >;)

No peeking at the photo credit until after I say okay!

[Photo Credit: AbandonedNYC]

Welcome back to yet another round of Where & When. I’m hoping going to bounce around the city a little bit this week, so hang on to your hats and let’s go.  Here’s a photo that certainly requires a little more effort t5o dig that last round, but what fun would this game be if every one of them were out of T-Ball?

In truth, this should be fairly easy as well, but again it requires a certain amount of digging.  So dig it, tell your friends and come back with answers.  We need the place and the date; specifically the corner featured and the exact date (if you ever saw or read V For Vendetta, then perhaps you’ll know what date I refer to.) Two slices and a can for you if you get them both first, and a cream soda as usual for the rest of us.  For a bonus, tell us at least five interesting facts about this region and you’ll get a kebob of choice (lamb, chicken, beef, veggie you name it).   They could be historical, they could be topographal, they could be personal… as long as they are somewhat verifiable.

So there you have it. I’ll try to get back to you if you have any questions, but otherwise enjoy and we’ll talk again soon. No peeking at the photo credit!

{Photo Credit: Shorpy]

Reggie! Reggie! Reggie… no, it’s Where & When, and you can chant all you want, but we’re not going away.  Today’s the day we’ve all been waiting for/dreading (depending on your proclivities of course), so why not kick off the season with something spectacularly obvious:

Need I say more? Maybe; the date isn’t obvious of course… let’s say that this is what today is, but the year is the last year that this place was when the referred-to team had a day like this before they moved temporarily to another spot down the hill a little.  So, name this place, the region it resides in and the year first and you get a hot dog with anything you like on it along with the associated beer that is standard with these occasions (and if you’re like me, you can substitute that with a root beer of choice).  Of course, if you can also name year that a different team shared the jernt, er, joint with, for how long and why, then I will upgrade that dog & beer combo to a cheeseburger, fries and shake from Shake Shack.  I’m feeling generous today, but hey: it is what it is >;)

Everyone else will get a cream soda for playing, of course, so sign in with your tales of similar days and expectations to claim your fictional drink to quaff during the later part of the day in celebration.  I’ll see you if and when I see you; no peeking at the photo credit!

[Photo Credit: Shorpy]

Ahh, welcome back to another round of Where & When, the challenge that just won’t go away; sort of like that phantom vibration in your pocket when it feels like your cell phone is ringing, but it’s actually on the charger, so you realize you’re just nuts.  I dunno about you, but I’m feeling rather optimal about our starting pitching and I hope Jeter has something better to offer than what he’s shown so far, but that’s not what you came here to read.  You want to know what kind of old, fancy and probably gone forever buildings I’ve managed to dig up and show you.  Well, you might be right about that, so let’s cut the chit-chat and get straight to the point:

If you’re older than me and you’ve had to get around the country or the world, you may have come through here more than once.    The place where this interior was located was given a new name a year after this picture was taken; in fact this is likely pictures of the finished product as it opened the same year.  There are quite a few interesting stories to go along with it, so you’ll get a bonus scoop of ice cream if you can tell one, but first you have to know where this is and when the photo was taken.  Do that and you’ll get your favorite root beer (since I’ll venture that we’ve gotten past the worst of winter at this point), and the runners-up will share our favorite cream soda.

So, have at it ladies and gentlemen, feel free to leave your answers below and we’ll discuss later in the afternoon or evening, depending on my suddenly busy schedule (the studying paid off).  I hope to do this again this week, but if not I’ll see you in the comments on the other posts.  And no peeking at the photo credit!

[Photo Credit: Shorpy/Juniper Gallery]

We’re back home in the city for Where & When today.  I’m not going to say much this time; if you know me well enough, I’m sure you can pick up something from that.

Sorry about the low resolution, but it was something I had to finagle with first since it was small, and it was the most unique pic I could find through Google, though I’m sure others exist somewhere out of my current reach. Tell us where this is, and an approximation of when.  The bonus, well… tell us when it was built and by whom, any significant events and what is it’s current status, if any.

I’m afraid I will have to break from tradition today to serve another one; my treat for anyone who comes up with answers; a street vendor buffet for everyone. See you all on the flipside!

[Photo Credit: LaGaurdia & Wagner Archives]

Hello globetrotters, welcome to another edition of Where & When.  I’m being a bit oblique with this one because there are probably a few people who are far away out of town who will get this one almost immediately, or if they care to, they can look it up since it still exists; though in a restored fashion. This is sort of a tribute to folks who don’t get a chance to play, but still admire the way we play the game:

Click to enlarge photo

I’m just gonna leave this here and talk about it after the guessing is through. It might take all night to get the right answer, but we’ll revisit then if we must.  A nice-sized teacup of floral Jasmine tea for winner and ramen for the rest of us. You know the rules; get at it fellows.

[Photo Credit: JT]

Hello again, welcome to the middle of the week with Where & When! So now that you’re here, you probably need to catch your breath for a minute before you once again dive into the storm and try to navigate your way around the city of old. Or cities; that happens sometimes. Like a warm day in a particularly nasty winter, but I’m not saying anything you don’t already know…

A friend of mine posted a somewhat similar picture of this building recently and I was instantly captivated by the design.  It sort of reminded me of a combination of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and Pig Style Alley in the movie Kung Fu Hustle; there are certainly more European flourishes in this design than Asian, but that’s not to say those comparisons are not relevant to this building in some way. I’m sure some intrepid design master will recognize it’s influences and find it somewhere, and that person will uncover very interesting history concerning this building.  That’s what I’d like for the first person to discover the Where and the When of this challenge to lay out: where is this building located, when was it built and what was it called when completed? For a bonus question, tell us how this building is relevant to this particular month and what has become of it? There’s a lot to tell about this building; I don’t expect you to write an essay about it (but you’re welcome to spare me the time and effort at least for this one), but it is a good bonus question and therefore deserves a special incentive. The one with the answers to the first two questions will get a claret glass of Bordeaux, while the rest of us will guzzle a schooner of sarsaparilla. And the bonus? How about some miso homefries? No? Okay, a ribeye medium well might seal the deal.  Take your pick; it’s open to vegans and vegetarians as well.

I do hope you find the answers as they are quite interesting.  By the way, the answers are relevant to the date; the name had changed over time and that in turn is relevant to the bonus, so you have to be precise according to the photo, which was likely taken when the building was just completed. I’ll check back during the afternoon and see what you’ve come up with or drop some clues if need be.  Have fun, and no peeking at the photo credit!

[Photo Credit: City of Beautiful Buildings]

Where & When? It’s Friday; right here, right now! That means the week went by pretty quickly, from my point of view, and it’s been a pretty fulfilling week.  So let’s send off the work week with a big bang, shall we:

click on pic ahh, you get it…

I do wish I could tell which building the photo was taken from (that’s gotta be a bonus question), but instead I task you with naming at least six structures in this picture and whether they exist today or not.  Take your time with this one, as it’s a really gorgeous picture with sharp details when enlarged.  If you can make out some of the smaller structures that can be seen if you really look hard, feel free to point them out.  And since we’ve been engorging ourselves on food and drink all week, our top prize for the first person to name at least six structures within this pic (and the closest to the year the picture was taken) will get a crystal bowl of fresh fruit, while the person with the most structures identified will win a smoothie. The bonus question… eh, what the heck, if you get that one, you win brownies for everyone! Otherwise, the rest of us will have to split rice cakes (but don’t worry, you can choose the flavor).

Enjoy, and no peeking! >;)

[Photo Credit: Shorpy]

We’re on a roll with Where & When! I love that so many of these beautiful photos have managed to come to my attention and that we can share so much information about them. While I’ve researched various photos and pics, I’ve come to appreciate the wave of changes that occur each generation in New York, even if I don’t necessarily agree with them.  Some great architecture has sadly been lost to the ages due to neglect, damage from fire or the changing needs of society at that time, and far more often than not in this generation the replacements have been lacking in artistry or originality, but at least they’re not… well, they do… ah, who am I kidding? The early 20th Century was the golden age of skyscrapers and building construction in all of Greater New York and the surrounding metro area.  The mansions were better in the mid-to-late 1800s, but the buildings that came later served a greater purpose and the mansions, if they still exist, are mainly museums now.  That’s just my opinion, of course, but you’re welcome to agree or explain why I don’t know what I’m talking about >;)

click on photo to enlarge

Now you may or may not know what and where this is, but the year might throw you off a bit.  That’s because there are some very obvious and important distinctions about this place that you will have to list, and getting the year correct will likely help you with that task.  So not only are you determining where this was taken and when the photo was taken, but you’re also pointing out the main features in this structure.  Two bonus questions(!) go with this one: Name something related to a notorious event that happened here, and name another structure from around the world that inspired this one.

You all have fun with that while I sleep the morning away; I will check in after noon to see how you’re doing.  Same prizes as yesterday, but second bonus will be a chocolate biscotti. No peeking!

[Photo Credit: New York Architecture]

Surprise! Time for more eye and mind candy from Where & When! Don’t ask me why I’m being so prolific of late, just enjoy it as it comes and I still have consistent moments to do it >;) So let’s jump back a few years:

Click on pic to enlarge

That’s quite a looker, isn’t it? This picture was taken the year the building was completed, and it’s can’t be too hard to find since it’s a building that was not torn down with the subsequent revitalization of lower Manhattan; in fact is there anything in this picture that has changed in the passing years? Tell us what the name of the building in the forefront is as well as the two prominent buildings in the rear. For a bonus, tell us what, if anything, has changed in this picture from then to now.

The prize? It’s still too cold for root beer, so you’ll have to settle for a large mug of minty hot cocoa, and the follow-ups will have a cup of ginger spice tea to keep our throats from getting sore from the cold.  The bonus will bring you a brownie >;)

Have at it guys; enjoy while I still have time to bring these extra games to you and as usual, no peeking at the photo credit.

[Photo Credit: wavz13]

[Blink, Blink] Already? Welcome Back for another round of Where & When! Seems our last game was a vintage toughie; if you didn’t see the answer, take the time to go back and and see what happened.  When you’re done, come back and take a look at this picture and get your typing fingers warmed up:

click on pick to enlarge

What a beauty, eh? This one’s not as hard as yesterday, only because I’m not asking you to find an obscure clue in the background; though from the looks of it, there might be something that will help you pinpoint the general region beyond the obvious stuff.  I’m rolling over the contraband from yesterday since nobody really won that game, so first person with the answer gets a full mug to keep you warm.  The rest who follow through will have to settle with a doughnut of choice.  You get an extra one if you can give us a little history about what’s in this picture.

Happy now? Then let’s play, and no peeking at the credit.

[Photo Credit: War Of Yesterday]