I was visiting a friend on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, and as I was walking down his street towards his apartment, saw this face glaring at me. This wasn’t on my friend’s building, but can you imagine having this face greet you every day when you come home? Here’s a stepped-back look at … Read more
I was driving in the vicinity of Howell, NJ, when I was in the process of turning a corner and noticed this roadside attraction out of the corner of my eye. I have the habit of spontaneously pulling over to the side of the road when I see something unusual, and I did just that … Read more
I was out for a walk along the Arroyo de los Chamisos Trail in Santa Fe when I noticed this uniquely shaped tar patch along the paved path. It’s almost like a drip, but there’s something about the thicker drip at left and the two drips that run down on the right that made me … Read more
I was driving around and exploring various towns in Ulster County (New York), when I noticed this billboard on the side of the road near Greenfield Park, which is a hamlet in the town of Wawarsing. As you can see here, it says “Wanted: Girls,” with the stenciled word “boys” crossed out. It’s a bit … Read more
I was on a weekend day trip up into Connecticut, checking out some things in Danbury, when I saw this tall Uncle Sam sculpture, seemingly in the middle of several roads. I was driving and in the midst of traffic, so I didn’t get a good luck (although I took one of these pictures at … Read more
As I mentioned in my last post, I tend to look for visual items of interest as I’m walking the streets of New York City. The building above left, with the round windows, is called the “Dream Downtown Hotel,” which was designed by Handel Architects. I always admire this building when I’m walking around Chelsea, … Read more
I was in the IKEA store when I noticed this pair, and was curious why these little characters were frowning at me. It seems they are considered “mood vases” with the product name “Fröväxt,” which means “seed plant” in Swedish. They’re meant to be mini plant holders, with the idea that whatever greenery that comes … Read more
I was looking through some old photos that my mom had saved, and came across this: The Tama County Freedom Rock. I haven’t seen it in person myself, but she was there with other members of our family to check it out ten years ago and took these photos. This specific painted rock is part … Read more
On a recent visit to The Cloisters and walking around Fort Tyron Park, I noticed this sign along the river walk at the north end of the park. It reads: “… and they lived happily ever after.” Funny thing is, it’s a formally sanctioned sign, as it has a “NYC Parks” logo on the lower … Read more
I was on a day trip, driving around western New Jersey, stopping in Frenchtown, Milford, and later Flemington. While I was in Milford, I browsed through several antique stores when I spotted this carved wooden mask, that made me stop and look closely. There was no ID tag, and the proprietor wasn’t sure where it … Read more