Taxi-top Memorial

I saw a taxi drive by my house today, with a memorial to Michael Jackson from NBC on top of it. It read "We will miss you, Michael Jackson" and had his photo from his 1982 Thriller album.

So cute!

These are some cute little gargoyles I see regularly at the corner of E 40th Street and Lexington.

Brooklyn Botanical Photos

The yellow rose is the Julia Child rose!

Very fast

I was on 125th Street in harlem and already, not 48 hours after his death, they are selling michael jackson 1958-2009 T-shirts.

The Apollo does have a very nice memorial marquee up. I took a photo and will post it later.

Payard

I went to Payard, at 1032 Lexington Avenue between E 73rd and 74th. My good friend Mrs G invited me. She is the coolest lady you will ever see on Park Avenue and beyond!

I had actually only seen Payard from the outside and on the defunct show "Cashmere Mafia". It is elegant and gorgeous, and so is allt he fine desserts and chocolates they have on display! Highly recommended!

Michael Jackson passes away at 50

By now, the entire world knows that Michael Jackson died suddenly of cardiac arrest this afternoon.

At 6pm, a saxophonist was playing "Thriller" at Queensboro Plaza in tribute.

Just discovered this blog by a Homeless Guy

Chris posted on craigslist that he needs a Metrocard to help out, and included his blog:

http://thehomelessguy-nyc.blogspot.com/

Pretty picture!

I took this photo a few weeks ago in the East Village by the church St Mark's in the Bowery. I was in fact there today, and there boring women poets were outside it, yelling something about how they were women who wanted to be the men (???).

What was cool was a man was watching, while holding an equally-rapt cockatiel on his arm.

Our street is movie-ready!

I always thought our little street looked nice, but it has gotten spruced up (almost literally) to be the backdrop for the Jennifer Aniston/Gerard Butler Flick "The Bounty Hunter", in which a bounty hunter is hired to track down his ex-wife. Limited details can be found at imdb.com

Someone came and trimmed all the overgrown tree branches and repainted our stoplight till it was even brighter yellow. I take it all the dogsh** will eventually get picked up too.

Jazz by Charlie Parker's crib

I was in the East Village around 1p today and there was a jazz band playing (and being filmed, natch) at the corner of Avenue A and E 9th Street.

Turns out that jazz great Charlie Parker once lived across the street in #1849.

To learn more about Charlie Parker, check out this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlie_Parker

My street is a movie set!

My little unassuming street in Astoria is being used as the set for the new Jennifer Aniston/Gerard Butler movie "The Bounty Hunter". It's one of Ms. Aniston's forays into drama, apparently, as it is about a man who sets a bounty hunter after his ex-wife.

This may be because the Upper East Side has a "hold" on filing due to residents complaining about movie crews after "Ghost Town" in which I played an extra in Nov 2007. (see Ghost Town 11/26/07) Thus making Astoria HOT!

Stopping to smell the roses

Today I literally stopped to smell the roses buy goingt o the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. It's free on Tuesdays!

They have a great rose garden with every imaginable color and scent (good scents, that is.) I learned that Julia Child and Barbra Streisand both have roses named after them.

www.bbg.org

The Taking of Pelham 123

Such an awesome movie!

I saw "The Taking of Pelham 123" today, the remake of the 1974 movie starring John Travolta and Denzel Washington. It was incredible! Not to be missed --- James Galdofini playing a mayor modeled to a T on Mayor Bloomberg, down to the fact that he works for $1 a year.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1111422/

The Hotel Gansevoort

I met some friends after the movie -- they were at the rooftop of the Hotel Gansevoort in the Meatpacking District. http://www.hotelgansevoort.com/

It has a great view of the Hudson River and in the distance you can see the Empire State Building and Chrysler Building. All in all, a rather pleasant enough place!

Well, hello, Liza!

I was in the East Village when I passed none other than Liza Minelli on the street! Even with big shades on, I could tell it was her (well, after I looked to make sure it wasn't a fan trying to look like her!)

Up on the Roof!

(photo from mytimes.com)

I went to the Met today, which is always great. But what truly impressed me was "Roxy Paine On the Roof: Maelstorm" (above). You went up on the roof, saw all of Central Park and this great piece of art!