England expects, but will the overpaid prima donnas perform?

Ive happily avoided all things World Cup, the English are a huge source of amusement here, but in less than an hour and a half England have to perform to avoid becoming an international laughing stock. Will they do it? Who knows, maybe if they loose we could swap them for the gummi bears?

Tuesdays are the New Mondays

I took most of the day off today, up at 5am, watched the sunrise, and felt the temperature and humidity soar and decided to stay in and have a quiet one for a change. Ventured out about 4.30 for a little walk, which ended up lasting three hours, but that's the sort of place this is. I didn't take my camera as I've run out of storage, but I put that right today so normal service will resume tomorrow, and happily i didn't see anything that really took my eye.
After returning to East 34th the heavens opened with a thunder storm, but within 30 mins the rain had stopped, the pavements steamed and all was just as before, hot, sticky and busy in the streets below.

The Solstice continued

This evening we went to Bryant Park, a very pleasant green oasis hiding behind the main City Library, along with about 5,000+ other people to watch 'Goldfinger' in the open air.
A party atmosphere ensued from the lawns opening at 5pm until the film started at 9pm.
Crowd participation started with the arrival of a set of gold balloons in the form of '007' and long after they had been released, the crowd cheered and whooped at certain cliches in the film.

Meanwhile, back on 34th St before the film started, Manhattanhenge occurred. The setting sun streaming straight down the avenue from the west to the East.

Apologies for the lateness of the posting and perhaps even the quality, but it's been a long and very warm day at 32, and even I get tired sometimes.

Summer Solstice in NY - ManhattanHenge, Yoga and Goldfinger in the Park

Up at the crack of dawn this morning to see the sun rise on the 21st June. It wasn´t much of a spectacle from East 34th St, too many buildings in the way, but......tonight, I'm reliably informed that 34th St is one of the few streets that runs from river to river across Manahattan and the sunset therefore should be worth a look. Watch this space.

By 7.30 am I was in Times Square, along with huge numbers of Yoga enthusiasts, who were preparing for their solstice celebrations. Quite a sight to behold once they got limbered up and working in unison.

After that I spent a while on the beach in Times Square, just drinking iced coffee watching everyone make their way to work or wherever, and when that brought nothing out of the ordinary I decided ot make my way back down to East 34th. However on my way, I stumbled upon a new public art work, yet to be unveiled, promoting 'The Fashion District' - I wonder if it will last until the 24th, or will someone's curiosity get the better of them?

Sunday - Plan B

Yesterday should have been a visit to a public leather and fetish street fair in Chelsea, and I did walk down there with the expectation of being able to walk around, as I have at any other street fair, however there was one difference - an entry fee of $10 and an air of 'we don't want you here'. I'm not sure why you would advertise this event widely, and then give people such a cool reception, perhaps the men in charge had a power fetish.

However, did we let that spoil our day, no we didn't. A couple of blocks further down I meet Isack, a photographer, setting up his stand on the street, selling large landscapes on gallery plexi. We exchange ideas and emails, and he points me in the direction of the Highline, an urban garden walkway, created out of a dis-used railway line.

The walk is pleasant, if a little surreal being halfway between the ground and the roof-line. We alight in the 'Meat Packing District', now land of the uber cool and beautiful people. I'm reliably informed that the French restaurant 'Pastis', is one of 'the' restaurants in New York. As I walk by on the sidewalk, I take a sneak peak at the plates of the alfresco diners - ee tha eatin chips - Frites you philistine my sister mumurs. (Aye you can take the girl out of North Shields, but you can´t take...........

Coney Island Mermaid Parade

A completely original creation of Coney Island USA, the Mermaid Parade is the nation's largest art parade and one of New York City's greatest summer events.

Founded in 1983 by Coney Island USA, the not-for-profit arts organization that also produces the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, the Mermaid Parade pays homage to Coney Island's forgotten Mardi Gras which lasted from 1903 to 1954, and draws from a host of other sources resulting in a wonderful and wacky event that is unique to Coney Island.
The Mermaid Parade celebrates the sand, the sea, the salt air and the beginning of summer, as well as the history and mythology of Coney Island, Coney Island pride, and artistic self-expression. The Parade is characterized by participants dressed in hand-made costumes as Mermaids, Neptunes, various sea creatures, the occasional wandering lighthouse, Coney Island post card or amusement ride, as well as antique cars, marching bands, drill teams, and the odd yacht pulled on flatbed.

Each year, a different celebrity King Neptune and Queen Mermaid rule over the proceedings, riding in the Parade and assisting in the opening of the Ocean for the summer swimming season by marching down the Beach from the Boardwalk, cutting through Ribbons representing the seasons, and tossing fruit into the Atlantic to appease the Sea Gods.

The Parade is followed by the Mermaid Parade Ball, a post-parade gathering where costumed parade participants can get together with each other and parade spectators to listen to live music, purchase raffle tickets, and watch burlesque and sideshow acts performed by some of New York City's hottest burlesque stars. (Decided not to attend that, I had already had more than enough excitment for one day, and could feel myself coming over all unneccessary.)

I would guess there were around 20,000 people at the parade, I stood for around 4 hours but eventually had to give up to go and move around and having negotiated the crowds, when I got back to the starting point there were still people and floats waiting to start, still all good training for Pride Next weekend when things will be even bigger.

Eat ya heart oot Whitley Bay eh

Do you know your art from your elbow? - The Answer to Wednesdays Question

The piece at the top of the three is actually part of the advertisement for people to become members of MOMA. The middle image is a piece of street art about two blocks away from MOMA, and it's the third image of the days repeated that is a MOMA exhibit.