Saying Goodbye to an Icon

Having never seen Coney Island in its heyday, I can't really feel the loss as much as some. As my son and I were walking around a few years ago, we did get a little taste of how folks are feeling. It has reopened with new rides, along with a few of the classics, but I think that the carney-feel is missing. There is the sense that a few characters and icons will be missed.  Here are a some pictures that hopefully, capture a bit of what people love(d) about the place.

Getting your Kicks

If visions of Route 66 are in your dreams for a drive, how about I inspire you? If you are hip to that tip for your California trip? Traveling my way on the route that is best? Yeah, baby, my dream is to someday travel the iconic Route 66, photographing all the way. A snippet of it is in St. Louis, MO. Actually, it was a delicious snippet, I must say. My cousin took us to "Ted Drewes", a spot along the "Mother Road" during our summer visit to St. Louis.  It was a brutally hot day and I couldn't get a shot of them handing off the cups as they were upside down, the famous serving stance, but I did get a few shots of such a fun place. There were no 57 Chevys to be seen but the concrete was enough to make me want to take that asphalt highway to heaven. Now, I'll get the song stuck in your head:

If you ever plan to motor west,

Travel my way, that’s the highway that’s the best,
Get your kicks on Route 66.
It winds from Chicago to L.A.,
More than 2,000 miles all the way,
Get your kicks on Route 66.
Now you go through St. Looey, Joplin, Missouri
And Oklahoma City is mighty pretty.
You’ll see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona, don’t forget Winona,
Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino.
Won’t you get hip to this timely tip:
When you make that California trip,
Get your kicks on Route 66.
Get your kicks on Route 66.
—Bobby Troup

Heavy, Man...

Walk This Way

Awww, come on...admit it. This picture is just funny!

Pasta-Mastah, sort of

Thinking that making homemade pasta would be way out of my league, I've never endeavored it. Seriously? If you can get your hands on a pasta machine (they are pretty pricey), it is actually less work than making cut-out cookies or a pie or even a quiche. I mean it! You make the dough with about four ingredients and don't even need a bowl for that. Drop a pile of flour, make hole in it, drop eggs, oil, and water, then pretend that you are about the age of 4 again. Keep mixing with your hands until it is incorporated enough to make a ball. Wrap it in plastic, let rest about an hour. Cut the resulting ball in quarters and sort of flatten with your fingers. The dough isn't as finicky as pie crust, so that makes it even easier. Pass it through the flat rollers on the machine, going from the highest number to the lowest. Then, you can choose if you want linguini or spaghetti or just leave it flat. Lasagna, ravioli, tortelloni, the choices are endless. Don't get me started on the sauces and 'gravy' or just some good, old butter, S&P and parm. Grab a fork and get busy!

A Lady of a Different Sort

Lady "bugs" Lady "birds"...I shall just call her the Lady in Red on a Green Leaf and sound poetic:

The colors just keep on coming

Ahhh, I just can't stop. Every corner, Canal St. Manhattan, Staten Island Ferry, just walking about. The colors splash everywhere. I will just have to share. Seriously, a rainbow would weep from feeling inadequate. Well, sort of. God always trumps with those rainbows but these are really close as far as color.

Colorful NYC

You can't go through NYC and not see colors jumping out at you from every corner. Chelsea Market is a good place to start. Oh, please go and check it out for yourself, that market used to house the Nabisco Biscuit Company...think Oreos (Yeah, I know, black and white) and now houses the FoodTV network, among many other great shops. When we went, there were tango lessons being offered for free, right in the hallway,  from some dance instructors. Of course, the second lesson wasn't free. I will save those pictures for another post! The last few colorful pictures were from around Grand Central. Not only choo-choos, folks, but there are some great little markets within that cavern. Penzeys spices, for one. People watching is awesome, too.

Foggy mornings

Ugh, trying to be inspired and all I can come up with are some foggy morning pictures of bluebird houses. Maybe the colorlessness is what caught my eye. Guess that I am more ready for spring than I care to admit. Here are a few little reminders of the occupants to come in a few months!

Bit of NYC

Walking around with my son in Manhattan/Chelsea Market area, I saw such wonderful sights. Here are a few that I thought I would share!

Marblehead, MA

Something about a cold, February day to make me think back on the hot summer we had. Visiting my daughter near Boston is not only a treat for the visit's sake but a treat for the senses. On the north shore of the Boston area, every nook and cranny is loaded with history. Marblehead doesn't disappoint. Even though the place was officially settled in the 1600's, it has been around much longer. The craggy shores, the sparkling water, the buildings that have been around for so long. One shot is off of the bridge from Beverly, heading into Salem/Swampscott/Marblehead area. Here are some photos to prove my point! The bird? well, he was keeping me company while I was photographing off the edge of a very high bridge!

Valentine's Day for One

Its ok to have a Valentine's Day alone. The hubby is out of town, enjoying the Florida sunshine and me? Well, the remote to myself is like a box of chocolates and yes, I do know what I'm gonna get! Enjoy your own box of chocolates in your own way! Here are some pix of lonely settings that are actually beautiful in their own way. Have a good one!

Nighttime Neon...zapped with color

More walking on a hot, summer night. Neon colors blasting from different corners and hey, even out of the ground via splashing fountains in a park. More people watching and sky gazing as I meandered along. Who knew such a southern place could have so much charm?