Key West, November 2006

This piece of sticker art was affixed to the back of a sign on Duval Street. I absolutely loved it. Sue and I saw another sticker, clearly by the same artist, with a silhouette of a satellite and the words "You are being watched" - but we liked this one much better.

Key West, November 2006

If "The Addams Family" went to Key West, they'd stay in this house, with its ominous shadow of gnarled dead branches and its anemic orchid on the front porch. It does seem somewhat forbidding, doesn't it?

I was bike riding one morning with my friend Sue when we passed this doorway, and I immediately slammed on my brakes to get a shot. Sue seemed a little mystified, but then when I showed her the photo she understood - she hadn't even really noticed the shadow. She said it was funny that something could be so obvious, yet we don't really see it.

Key West, November 2006

This wall seemed typically Floridian, with its minty pastel paint job. I took two photos of it, one when the sky was cloudy and one on a sunny day. I much prefer the sunny one (above), but just to show you the difference...


...here's the cloudy one. See what I mean? It relies solely on the geometry of the pipes, meters and windows, which works pretty well. But the shadows add a bit of elegance.

Key West, November 2006

When I first started going to Key West in the mid-'80s, it was famous for its cats, which wander the island pretty freely. Since then, the quantity of feral chickens has exploded, and now Key West is known for its wandering chickens. All the tourist paraphernalia that used to bear images of cats now depicts chickens. I'd say those cats need to get busy.

This particular cat was hanging out on the steps leading up from a deck at the end of Duval Street, which is the main drag through Old Town Key West. Being a cat person, I always relish a good cat photo, though the cat himself didn't seem all that thrilled. (Do they ever?)

Upper East Side, June 2006

The front doors of the Vudu Lounge on First Avenue. The metal doors have a nice patina!

I'm back from my weekend away, but feeling a little brain-scrambled after taking a 6 a.m. plane from Florida to New York. I was in Key West celebrating my birthday with a friend. It's such a beautiful island, all aquamarine water and deep shadows and tropical fecundity. A huge mob of Jimmy Buffett fans (so-called "Parrotheads") took over Old Town this weekend for some kind of annual get-together. I'm not a Buffett fan myself, but it was amusing to watch from the sidelines.

Anyway, Key West photos to come this week!

Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Sept. 2006

Not to continue the Halloween theme, but I really liked these possessed-looking kitten statues in the window of this house. Isn't it interesting when something "cute" winds up looking a little scary? (Think clowns, certain stuffed animals, '70s portraits of big-eyed children.)

Two items of interest (to me anyway):

1. I saw the new Bob Dylan musical last night on Broadway, and it wasn't nearly as dreadful as I expected it to be. (Critics have been pretty harsh.) Twyla Tharp's choreography is stunning at times and the performers are great. The circus theme isn't entirely effective, but still, I felt like I ought to put things in perspective. Don't pay full price, unless you're a big Dylan fan, but don't hesitate to grab a discount seat if you can. (I confess: My ticket was free.)

2. I turned 40 today! Quite a milestone, eh? Funny how people make a big deal about it, in a negative way - I actually find it comforting that I've made it this far! There's something kind of soothing about getting older; the pressure eases. I am where I am, and I like it.

I'm going to be away from my blog for the next few days, so I won't have any updates until Monday. Enjoy your weekend, and if you miss me, don't hesitate to revisit my possessed cats.

SoHo, October 2006

I often wonder why I take so many pictures of doors and windows. I guess they're a natural focal point in a building's facade and therefore get a lot of attention in terms of framing, architectural detail and even graffiti. They also present a certain mystery about what's behind them.

I liked these doors on Broadway, all the more so because of their obvious wear. I can't remember what building they're from, though. The "323" is another common graffiti tag.