New York January NYC Meet-Up

[Calzone]

Christmas over here in the Mediterranean feels quite fake without the snow and dark. The lowest we get in the coast is around 35-40F at night. This year I haven't yet done a 57F cold dip at sea. I'm enjoying the relative warmth before I move to Northern Europe.

Saturday I'll meet my friend who is over from NY and enjoyed a taste of the cold you got there. When I see this (and the January '16 blizzards) I really see that my visit on early December '15 was blessed weather wise.

I wouldn't head down to the southern hemisphere yet, as peak summers are HOT and hotter everywhere. Blame climate change, that is making the mild seasons quite enjoyable.

Sunburn wise, I find unsettingly amusing the fact of people going to the beach and toasting themselves. In summer it is quite productive to get up early, rest at noon, and go out again late afternoon. Midday summer sun is terribly powerful, and that coming from someone with a darker complexion that never got sunburns here.

Jorde,

Call me a savage, but I like weather that requires few clothes. I sweat a lot, but I don'y mind heat and humidity. Since I am Cantonese my body is especially made for heat and humidity and Havana Cuba suits me fine.

I am strongly considering retiring in Spain in Mad-Rid or Barcelona. The 25-30% lower cost of living than NYC makes my retirement sustainable. Since I'm a lazy slacker I don't mind slowing down and relaxing, but "Maggie" is a figit and really can't relax.

Seattle is also looking good because of the milder winters. Already we have a tribe of creative friends there. We'll be going back to Seattle during spring break.

Cal

 

[Prest_400]

Jorde,

Call me a savage, but I like weather that requires few clothes. I sweat a lot, but I don'y mind heat and humidity. Since I am Cantonese my body is especially made for heat and humidity and Havana Cuba suits me fine.

I am strongly considering retiring in Spain in Mad-Rid or Barcelona. The 25-30% lower cost of living than NYC makes my retirement sustainable. Since I'm a lazy slacker I don't mind slowing down and relaxing, but "Maggie" is a figit and really can't relax.

Seattle is also looking good because of the milder winters. Already we have a tribe of creative friends there. We'll be going back to Seattle during spring break.

Cal

80F is my ideal temperature, but down to 68F it feels fantastically great.

The European expats living around here have the lifestyle well strung, part of the year here and the rest elsewhere or travelling. Barcelona and Seattle wouldn't be too far fetched, except for the inconvenience of the trips.

It's good to be quite active. I got some relative that says Retirement is boring, of course, because he just got used to sit around home.
NYC has this crazy energy everywhere, in my brief visit it felt overwhelming and felt like I couldn't live in Madhattan. Maybe also because I was going quite rushed with my limited time there.

I think you can easily rent an apartment around and obtaining Visa residence should be no problem. I could take a look about it.
BTW, there once was a tide of rich Chinese and Russians buying real estate here. Gov't saw this and enabled the right of residence with purchases, which may still be on.

When talking around family sometimes wished they'd bought an apartment in the center of Barcelona, in the 80s to 90s. A neighbor here did bad busy-ness and sold hers long ago for cheap. Now they do reach 6 figures plus.

Been working around more rural and provincial branches lately so I don't get to the city often nowadays.

 

[Calzone]

80F is my ideal temperature, but down to 68F it feels fantastically great.

The European expats living around here have the lifestyle well strung, part of the year here and the rest elsewhere or travelling. Barcelona and Seattle wouldn't be too far fetched, except for the inconvenience of the trips.

It's good to be quite active. I got some relative that says Retirement is boring, of course, because he just got used to sit around home.
NYC has this crazy energy everywhere, in my brief visit it felt overwhelming and felt like I couldn't live in Madhattan. Maybe also because I was going quite rushed with my limited time there.

I think you can easily rent an apartment around and obtaining Visa residence should be no problem. I could take a look about it.
BTW, there once was a tide of rich Chinese and Russians buying real estate here. Gov't saw this and enabled the right of residence with purchases, which may still be on.

When talking around family sometimes wished they'd bought an apartment in the center of Barcelona, in the 80s to 90s. A neighbor here did bad busy-ness and sold hers long ago for cheap. Now they do reach 6 figures plus.

Been working around more rural and provincial branches lately so I don't get to the city often nowadays.

Jorde,

In Costa Rica because 80% of the country has an altitude of 3,000 feet the climate is "eternal springtime." Basically if the temperature drops below 72 degrees F everyone complains it is too cold, and if the temp exceeds 80 degrees F people say it is too hot. LOL.

Here in NYC we experience two different kinds of hell: one is frigid cold; and the other scorching heat.

One gets use to the constant business in NYC, but I for one really like a day, weekend, or even a week just laying on a beach. Any fisherman likes the flow of tides and peacefulness of just waiting, and that is part of the adventure. Also not a bad thing just riding a bike with no destination just to explore without any expectation. I like not having plans and just living day-by-day. Things always happen to me, and I'm never bored. I also like being able to concentrate, if I rush I feel I am not doing my best work.

It seems "Maggie" loves the fur-net-Tic pace and has a need to be constantly stimulated. If she does not have urban distraction of a big city she feels depleted and deprived.

It was interesting living in New Mexico, "the land of manana." The pace is relaxed and slow, and it seemed my fellow New Yorker's could not slow down the pace and intensity to fully embrace the local culture. I really enjoyed the peace and natural beauty there. A busy day could be a long walk by myself, which is a really dumb thing to do in the wilderness. Another dumb thing I should have not done is go rock crawling by myself in my Jeep. Pretty much if anything bad happened perhaps others would discover my decomposed body.

I miss New Mexico.

Cal

 

[jsrockit]

John,

"Maggie" has the beginnings of a catarac in her right eye. It seems fair skinned people with light colored eyes need to really protect themselves from bright sun for their eyes and skin.

At altitude there is less atmosphere to filter down the light. The sun and light surely is brighter. Please take care and think of when you get old like me. Every year Maggie gets some pre-skin Cancer removed.

Please take good care of yourself.

Cal

Yes, Cal, thank you. Skin cancer is such a concern down her that insurance doesn't cover it. It is common. My girlfriend keeps yelling at me to get a hat. As a long time hat hater, it sucks... but I'm going to cave in and get a hat... or three.

 

[Calzone]

Yes, Cal, thank you. Skin cancer is such a concern down her that insurance doesn't cover it. It is common. My girlfriend keeps yelling at me to get a hat. As a long time hat hater, it sucks... but I'm going to cave in and get a hat... or three.

John,

We want you to become an old geezer. LOL.

Even with my brown skin I now wish I took better care of my skin and did more to protect myself. The abuse now really shows in my weathered skin and moles all over my body.

BTW I went to an ATM at Citibank a block away during lunch. The cold was painful even though I was covered in all this high tech clothing (Patagonia). I wear this Yamamoto coat over the Patagonia and still it was brutal.

BTW I learned that Yamamoto is Japanese gangster wear.

Cal

 

[robert blu]

...BTW I learned that Yamamoto is Japanese gangster wear.

Cal

You lost 5 pounds and are wearing gangster type ...LOL...you are becoming a celebrity...
robert
PS: have a nice end of the year, for sure your 2018 will be surprising 🙂

 

[Calzone]

You lost 5 pounds and are wearing gangster type ...LOL...you are becoming a celebrity...
robert
PS: have a nice end of the year, for sure your 2018 will be surprising 🙂

Robert,

I'm kinda widely known. At work this IT guy fixing my computer thought I lived in Harlem because he has seen me up there so many times.

I was walking along the East River on the Prominade and I hear somone on the FDR Drive stuck in traffic yell, "Hey Cal."

"Maggie" is the real celeb. People kinda loose control of themselves and get so excited. In this store called Dover Market this sales person shrieks and pulls out his cellphone to do a selfie with Maggie. I had to laugh because he later caught himself and gained back control of himself, "I'm sorry he said. I didn't mean to be rude." Basically people revert to acting like 5 year olds. LOL.

This Yamamoto coat I wear over a down vest, a down sweater, and a Patagonia winter coat. The Yamamoto "cloak" is black heavy canvas and is a size medium, but it is ghetto oversized so you kinda could easily walk around hiding a shotgun or assault rifle hidden under the cloak.

Then I wear this white alpaca hat that looks like I might of stolen off a woman. I look like a skinny badass with a ponytail and an arrogant chin beard. Funny thing is most people think I'm Japanese instead of Chinese. LOL.

Funny is that Maggie the fashion blogger thinks I have no style. LOL.

Cal

 

[robert blu]

...Funny is that Maggie the fashion blogger thinks I have no style. LOL.

Cal

From what I read on RFF you have a "super style" 🙂 for sure not common !
robert

 

[Prest_400]

This Yamamoto coat I wear over a down vest, a down sweater, and a Patagonia winter coat. The Yamamoto "cloak" is black heavy canvas and is a size medium, but it is ghetto oversized so you kinda could easily walk around hiding a shotgun or assault rifle hidden under the cloak.

Then I wear this white alpaca hat that looks like I might of stolen off a woman. I look like a skinny badass with a ponytail and an arrogant chin beard. Funny thing is most people think I'm Japanese instead of Chinese. LOL.

Funny is that Maggie the fashion blogger thinks I have no style. LOL.

Cal

I don't have Celebrity fanboyism really, but I kind of lose my thing enough with people around my circles. When some kind of plan pops up I get crazy gung-ho organizing and idealizing things.
Then they don't happen and I get dissappointed, hah.

Rock climbing in NM or walks alone around are a good plan because being on one's own it's just easy to get plans done. Otherwise it's chasing dates, schedules and next times.
At least with my generation it feels like it. Ironically so much phone and messaging is actually making communication superfluous.

Your coat reminds me I should pick up that oversized 80s satin jacket and finally wear it around often. The other day I wore it over my suit and it was quite contrasting 😀
American M is European L-XL seemingly... BTW, did you get to wear the NFL jersey?

From what I read on RFF you have a "super style"

for sure not common !
robert

Indeed, and a good youthful spirit

Cal should do more cameos in the blog/Instagram 😉

The kung-fu-sion happens too with my mom, she is often mistaken as Japanese. Though I actually have Japanese ancestry on her side.

 

[Range-rover]

Long johns and down coats for me guy's

 

[Calzone]

American M is European L-XL seemingly... BTW, did you get to wear the NFL jersey?


Cal should do more cameos in the blog/Instagram 😉

Jorde,

I wore my Kaepernick San Francisco 49'ers jersey recently and it definitely was appreciated for the political message of support it broadcasts.

This boy's large is a size 14-16 suggesting that this almost 60 year old Asian man is still very much like a 15 year old. LOL. Call it arrested development. LOL. I do find it amusing that when I look in the mirror that my body differs in age than the age displayed in my face, and it is rather apparent that it is like a carnival sideshow like looking at a bearded lady.

"Maggie" thinks she could promote us as an interesting couple, and intends on posting us more as a couple at some events. In the world of fashion I'm somewhat known as her photographer, and that my street and NYC urban landscape fine art background comes across as a rather strong asset and is part of the "branding."

We were shot in Greenpoint as a couple for a book on romance and couples. It was very cool because this book was about being inclusive and involved some gay and transgender couples. The photographer published an earlier book that used some of his models and their boyfriends.

Not sure the enthusiasum will persist when originally shot due to the change in tolerance that accompanied political change.

I think my friend Mike, the fashion photographer, will be recruited to shoot us at fashion events.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

So "Maggie" and I have been watching "The House of Eliott" which is about two sisters who struggle to become a fashion house in 1920's London. Interesting to note that the husband of the older sister is a photographer, and how the older sister gets stressed out.

I find this series relevant to current history because the economics and class divide represents a similarity to today with a certain class of people having concentrated wealth and the have-nots. The disparity of wealth and the stratification of society, the high unemployment, the lack of powerful unions or labor movement, and the concentration of both capitol and power are other similarities, although it is said that the disparity of wealth today is more like an earlier time of "Dowton Abbey."

So one of the reasons why I'm such a drama queen is perhaps I watch too many BBC/PBS series; another is that I have a Masters in screen writing; but I find it amusing how I could transplant myself into a BBC/PBS production and present myself as an interesting character but with a NYC/ghetto twist of a drawn out BBC/PBS production. Just imagining me as one of the main characters in a drawn out series in a PBS/BBC production is funny, but also imagine the scenes being contemporary NYC. LOL.

I kinda identify with Jack Murdock the photographer, who is a very supportive guy to "Bea" who kinda puts her fashion business first. There is mucho sexism in this series, and the other men are real live hose-bags. One is a bankster who is a crook. Another Lord is infidel/cheater/liar. There is a cousin who is a lawyer who also is corrupt. Men though are depicted negatively overall, but is also historically accurate, in that time women were totally oppressed.

So as this series goes into the second season of 12 episodes, we really see how Jack has put up with a lot, and has been neglected, as Bea moves forward. Jack truely loves Bea, and puts up with mucho hysterical one-sided behavior, and Maggie says, "Bea is a selfish bitch." LOL.

Kinda funny how my life has become like a PBS/BBC series. No lie is that my life is no less dramatic. We will begin the third year of this series tonight. The real truth is I could see my life and character being played for entertainment purposes. No lie is to do what Maggie is doing requires a bit of ruthfullness that both Jack and I admire and love that is a strong woman.

Cal

 

[dshfoto]

The more things change the more they stay the same. "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose." French novelist Alphonse Karr (1808-90).
Any idea on what day (Sunday)/date in Jan you want to meet up at The Rochard: 1504 Lexington Ave. (97th St.)?
Have a Safe and Happy New Years Eve!
Steve

 

[Calzone]

The more things change the more they stay the same. "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose." French novelist Alphonse Karr (1808-90).
Any idea on what day (Sunday)/date in Jan you want to meet up at The Rochard: 1504 Lexington Ave. (97th St.)?
Have a Safe and Happy New Years Eve!
Steve

Steve,

All the best.

I typically take off the first week in January. According to the Almanac generally the first week of the year is the coldest. I basically stayed at home. Built out my apartment into a photo studio with a paper back drop in my living room. So now my 650 square foot apartment is a Fashion Blogger's closet, Calvin's print studio, and now a full blown photo studio.

Someone pick a Sunday in January. Either the 21st or 28th.

I'll be posting the thread for February. BTW this new local downtown SpaHa bar is kinda low key like our old Puck Fair.

Cal

 

[Calzone]

"Maggie" now has 280K followers.

The first year in January I'll be setting up a second Mac (desktop) with the latest Lightroom, Piezography Pro Edition, and Quadtone RIP with Print Tool. More or less this computer will be a stand alone for using my Epson 7800 with enhanced K-7 HD inkset.

Next step is buying an I1 Pro so I can calibrate my entire system. This will be printing at the next level.

For $50.00 worth of software I'll be able to print digital negatives for contact printing.

Cal

Call me a liar, but I did none of the above.

I now have a new Plan "B." Don't tell Maggie. LOL.

So because I participated in a Leica Focus Group, and I know the future, I realize that I need to get a 44 inch printer, and the 7800 (Jersey Barrier) will actually become my small B&W printer. The 3880 will become my color printer using Jon Cone color archival pigment inks that are really inexpensive.

So I'm looking for an Epson 9800 or 9880 printer that weighs in over 200 pounds. Perhaps I name this printer "Junior."

I'll be loading up Piezography Pro into the 7800 shortly. The 9800 or 9880 will be for Piezography enhanced K-7 High Density with the new blacker-black from Piezography Pro. It seems that the more intense black increases contrast and dynamic range, and these two effects percieved sharpness. Interesting to note how a more contrasty print is percieved as being sharper.

Cal

 

[stompyq]

Jeff and I stumbled in to potentially a good spot for future meetups

https://www.1803nyc.com/

It's in tribeca corner of Reade st and Church. Convenient for anyone coming from the east side or west side and very convenient for anyone taking the PATH. They have a balcony area with a long table. Feels just like the one at puckfair. I talked with the manager and they are open to us gathering, plus will do separate checks. The food was excellent. It was relaxed and it didn't look as if it would get very crowded (although you never know). Just throwing this out as a long term alternative to loreleys.

 

[Calzone]

Jeff and I stumbled in to potentially a good spot for future meetups

https://www.1803nyc.com/

It's in tribeca corner of Reade st and Church. Convenient for anyone coming from the east side or west side and very convenient for anyone taking the PATH. They have a balcony area with a long table. Feels just like the one at puckfair. I talked with the manager and they are open to us gathering, plus will do separate checks. The food was excellent. It was relaxed and it didn't look as if it would get very crowded (although you never know). Just throwing this out as a long term alternative to loreleys.

Pro-Mone,

Generally downtown is more crowded and is more conducive and inviting to tourists.

Did you go by on a Sunday to actually see crowd conditions? I don't have the time, and the weather is cold. Could you confirm the crowding?

I'm open to changing the venue, just don't have the time to do the legwork.

In February we will do a "Camera Carnival" so in the spirit of Marty-Graw the NOLA flavor goes with this year's theme.

Cal

 

[stompyq]

Pro-Mone,

Generally downtown is more crowded and is more conducive and inviting to tourists.

Did you go by on a Sunday to actually see crowd conditions? I don't have the time, and the weather is cold. Could you confirm the crowding?

I'm open to changing the venue, just don't have the time to do the legwork.

In February we will do a "Camera Carnival" so in the spirit of Marty-Graw the NOLA flavor goes with this year's theme.

Cal

Cal, we were there yesterday around 1. Maybe 6-7 people at the most. The entire balcony was empty. People tended to stay near the windows and at the bar. Just like puckfair. Now yesterday was very cold so on a fair weather day it's possible they will have more crowds. The manager told me sundays are slow. Could be he's just bluffing to get more business. I'll try to check it out this coming weekend too but it would be very helpful if some of you guys also check it out. Either case I hope we don't do the beauty contest at lorelei's.

 

[stompyq]

It would be very helpful if you can check it out since you already know about the place at 97th. I know it's cold, but it will be much better by the end of the week.

 

[Calzone]

It would be very helpful if you can check it out since you already know about the place at 97th. I know it's cold, but it will be much better by the end of the week.

Pro-Mone,

What day of the week were you and Jeff there?

Way back when we were loosing Puck Fair, I spent lots of time looking at new places. I will not do that again. Back then I got a list of suggestions...

I already do a lot to keep this Meet-Up going. Is it really too much to ask for a favor of you checking out this place on a Sunday? If you don't have the time, then I don't either.

I can tell you right now that Rochard is better than Lorelie's. It seems difficult to find a Puck Fair replacement downtown.

Your suggestion is not helpful if you are not helpful. If it is so easy and convenient why not visit on a Sunday?

Cal