Allium and Iris - Madison Square Park

Saint Martin de Porres

This falls into the "You Never Know What You're Going to See Next" category. This was a procession honoring St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639) of Peru. Known for his work with the poor, as well as his founding of an orphanage and children's hospital, he was canonized in 1962. (I'm not really sure why these people - identified by one participant as Peruvian immigrants - were parading St. Martin up 9th Avenue, since his official feast day is in November.) The little band that marched behind played dirge-like music at a very slow tempo while the men carrying the platform matched that tempo with a shuffling step. Every few minutes the procession would stop and the men would lower the platform to waist level. Then a priest would say some prayers and strike a bell on the front of the platform. Luckily my boys were with me and really enjoyed the spectacle.

Rainy Tulips

Happy Mother's Day

I never post on the weekends, so here's a belated happy Mother's Day to my own mother and the moms among my readers. (The photo is my mother in 1951).

Wisteria Lane

Each year this huge wisteria (on 10th St. between Fifth and Sixth avenues) provides an incredible spring show of blossoms. I'm not sure I'd want one quite this large climbing on my multi-million-dollar, 19th century townhouse, but it's certainly lovely for the rest of us!

General Electric Building, Part 2

The General Electric Building Lexington Avenue at 51st St.) was completed in 1931 and represents one of Manhattan's Art Deco gems. Given landmark status in 1985, the 51-story building served as GE's headquarters until operations moved to Fairfield, CT, in 1974. In 1993 General Electric gave the building, by then roughly two-thirds empty, to Columbia University. I'm not sure about its current status, but I do know that Columbia was partnering with several firms to redevelop and restore the building to attract new tenants. I love the Deco details, especially the clock, with its thrusting hands symbolically harnessing the power of electricity.

General Electric Building, Part 1

Weekend Flowers, Part 2

 

 

 

 

Weekend Flowers, Part 1

The weather hasn't been consistently warm, but the flowers are starting to open and a few trees are showing green. It's supposed to be 80 this weekend, so perhaps we've turned the corner. The bottom two photos are of camelias, which I don't often see in the city. One usually sees them farther south. My parents, for example, have grown camelias for ages, and they always provide an early spring show of rose-like blooms.

Signs of Spring around the neighborhood . . .

Opening Day

Saturday was "Opening Day" for Little League, and both boys were suited up and ready to go. Ben, a pitcher and catcher, spent two days battling on the field, catching a six-inning game and pitching for three innings in the second game. Sam, pictured here, made is his pitching and catching debut, striking out four batters in two innings of work. He also hit a double, triple, and a home run in his team's 13-1 opening victory. These photos of Sam were taken by my wife. I was at Ben's game, which was unfortunately scheduled at the same time. As you can tell from the coats, it was a blustery and cold Saturday - not ideal weather for baseball.