New York July NYC Meet-Up

Range-rover said:
This is a adventure.
Click to expand...

Bob,

As we know nothing in NYC is easy.

So my latest retirement daydream is to rent one of the three apartments in pretty much a newly restored mansion on Warren Street in Hudson. All three are one bedrooms. My guess is that they don't want families or kids.

Mucho luxury as they say in the ghetto. "Maggie" would have the glam. Which is really crazy is the savings from my current rent which is likely enough to support a rather nice car or truck. Also when I say one bedroom I'm talking 1100-1K square feet. When I say mansion I'm not kidding. The renovation is brand new. Of course washer drier, dishwasher, security system... most importantly to me off street parking.

The floors are insulated to muffle sound. The cheap one bedroom is interesting because of the rooflines imposed on the rooms.

Then again I could also get a three bedroom one bath on Warren Street.

The fares on Amtrack range from $65.00 to $92.00 one way just for coach. The ride from Hudson is about two hours five minutes. It would not take many trips to justify owning a car/truck.

Cheap-cheap-cheap...

I told my boss kidding around, "Fire me-do me a favor." LOL.

It is kinda mean, he won't fire me, because he wants me to suffer.

All this stuff is kinda crazy. Happy-happy.

Cal
 
Sorry about you job woes, but Hudson is really nice, I don't about the meet
in Queens yet it would be fun to go someplace new, but I'm having medical issues
lately so will see.
 
Today is a slow day at work with nothing on the schedule. I might do a stair workout as the July weather has kicked in. NYC is sticky and smells inbetween a rancid dumpster and a urinal.

An extension on living in the renovated mansion is that it kinda is like living in a gated community in comfort and security. The owner is an arc-it-tech so you can imagine all the fine detailing of a brick historical mansion.

So also on Warren Street is a second floor commercial space that has a facade of all windows. There is an elevator to the second floor, an interior wall of glass encloses a 900 square foot space that is presented as a huge fishbowl with views of Warren Street. This space would make a great digital studio for printing and also a gallery. $1200.00 a month rent.

I could see me setting up my tube stereo (8 watts 300B single ended triode), setting up my 7800 (Jersey Barrier), having a large table for mat cutting. So pretty much I could have a studio space that is kinda "public." You guys know me: by definition an artist is an exhibitionist.

So in this possible dream I'm spending less money than my current NYC rent, but I not only have a luxury gated one bedroom apartment that is over 1K square feet, it also has a detached workspace of 900 square feet as my studio. My stereo likes large empty spaces with sparse furnishings so a secondary benefit is having a "listening room."

No darkroom though. Hmmm.

Still seems like I need that foreclosure for wet printing. I have a really good lab that I trust would be a reliable and great printer for me in NYC.

At this point I do have a business plan for selling wet prints in an open editions that are printed in batches of three with very big price increases to limit the printing. First batch is to keep an Artist Proof and sell the other two prints to recover costs and develop capitol to expand in a sustainable manner to start another open edition.

In this manner the prices accelerate rapidly from being an opportunity as an early adapter/collector, and I don't undercut or compromise my work by oversupply.

In this daydream I have a digital model of small limited editions that would be sold in two sizes, but the analog model is wet prints sold in open editions.

"Maggie" had shown me the gated mansion apartments, so I know she likes them, but talk of Beacon still lingers because of the cost of Amtrack and her need to be in NYC a lot.

It is now 9:15 AM, I already unloaded a hot target, filled out the paperwork, and pretty much I'm done.

Yesterday did a 40 minute elyptical workout on level 18. In the past this would of been ambitious, but I can tell that the strength I developed is paying dividends. Today I don't feel beat-up. Staying in shape just in case I have to tear apart a house.

Cal
 
One headline I read today is that NYC is one of the worst mismanaged cities. Tell me something I don't know.

In the past week three cyclist have been killed. On last night's news I watched a video of a woman riding her bike on a sidewalk and jumping down a curb, then a cement truck "pancaked" her.

An eye witness said that the driver had a green light and had the right of way.

Now DeBlasio is making a big deal over bike safety. This is the same Mayor who instituted "Vision Zero" and shortly thereafter pedestrian deaths went up.

My observations are that Vision Zero has increased congestion and created more aggressive drivers and road rage. Instead of being the solution Vision Zero is the problem IMHO.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Please check https://bohemianhall.com

Click on "Directions" for further confusion. LOL.

Seems like there is some construction going on. Also note the mistake on the GoogleMap. Are these guys drunk or high?

Cal
Click to expand...


Cal, the Blue M just means its a Rail stop. Not the M train.


BTW, jsut wanted to mention that from my friends in Astoria, theres constant subway station repairs on the weekends.



-B
 
From the MTA:
Upcoming Service Changes

July 13-14, July 20-21, July 27-28: from 3:45 AM Saturday until 10:00 PM Sunday, shuttle buses will provide alternative service between Queensboro Plaza and Ditmars Blvd. During these times, our extensive work on Accessible elevators and station renewal will continue, requiring the shuttle bus operation.
July 13-14, July 20-21, and July 27: the intersection of 31st St and Hoyt Ave South will be closed to traffic. Please plan ahead and use alternate routes. A map of the planned detour is in our public presentation, which you can find below.
 
Many thanks to Philippe for the books. I have read all the photography books. Over the weekend I read an old bestseller called "Krakatoa" that provided some detailed history of Indonesia, taught me some things about geophysics and geology, and explained some cultural history about Dutch colonialism and also about the culture of the most populated Muslim country.

Today is another slow day at work. Been following GLD a ticker for a gold ETF. For those who do not follow the markets closely, I will tell you that Central Banks have been building up their stockpiles of gold. Now I ask myself why? Hmmmm... perhaps inflation if there is another economic collapse and the Central Banks don't have enough ammo to re-inflate bubbles? "Gold is their hedge," I say.

So I'm now reading (at work) Malcolm Gladwell's book "Blink." Kinda photo related because it deals with the unconcious, the first impressions, intuition, and thinking under stress with limited information. Pretty much what is called "thin-slicing" is a great asset for a photographer.

A lot of the examples of studies I can read into as a validation of what I see in myself as a creative person, a man of action, and a photographer heavily relate. Thin-slicing is suggested what makes a good point guard in basketball (like Jason Kidd the acussed wife beater, Steve Nash, Stephen Curry...) because of their ability to have a court sense, and General George Patten because of his ability to glance at the chaos of a battlefield and having the ability to know what to do to win.

A lot of decision making under pressure with limited information involves spontaneity, improvisation, often without a safety net. As a function of training there are rules and guidelines where spontaneity is not so random; it is rather a discipline of training, rules to follow, and rehearsal/practice. Not very different than practicing drills and exercises for basketball or being a jazz guitar player.

I found it interesting of how military generals and Wall Street Traders at a social gathering got along so well, and how well the generals did playing trading games, as well as the Wall Street Traders did playing war games. Pretty much the same skill sets.

Anyways some interesting learning going on. There is one example of how a group of women had a task of identifying the "Fist," a term used as identifying signature of a German Morse code operator, so the could provide intelligence like troop movements and chain of command for the British.

I thought about in my photography how I too could have identifying traits that would be a giveaway to my background and identity. BTW these woman became very good at profiling and identifying the German Morse code operators, and it only took a few seconds to identify them.

So in many ways my daydreams of retiring is getting prepared for a great improv that lays ahead.

Cal
 
Over the past 4 days "Maggie" and I likely walked about 40 miles. Yesterday we did 11 miles according to her AppleWatch. Walking is a big part of our lifestyle, and you know the CF in me does not want a car at this point in my life. Remember I'm a lazy slacker and I don't want the burden or hassle.

So in our day trips into the lower Hudson Valley it ends up there is no savings because Metro North and Amtrack are expensive. So Joe's logic of staying in town kicked in as being practical. Not owning a car means I can afford more rent. Maggie also has lots of meetings, events and functions in the city so travel can waste a lot of time.

So rather than move to Queens to be Joe's annoying neighbor we finally decided to move back to Brooklyn at some point.

We want tree lined streets; we want more space (2-3 bedrooms); we want place that has fresher air; and Maggie would like a porch or terrace.

We kinda stumbled into how the new "Q" train makes it doable for us to move because it runs express in Madhattan and takes me to work for whatever long that lasts.

The "Q" has a stop at Canal Street which is great for her shared office space in SoHo called "The Wing." Understand that there is a "Wing" in Dumbo, another in Williansburg, another in Chelsea, one in London, and yet another in L.A.

This is for women only and is pretty exclusive. You have to be invited to join, and as a member she can use these other shared work spaces at other locations. Know that these workspaces are equipt with photo studios, podcast studios, conference rooms, and event spaces.

So an area of interest is Ditmas Park and Flatbush which is eastern Brooklyn. Spanish Harlem is in Ashma Alley. Right across the East River is a big Con Ed power plant where the bulk of NYC's electricity is created.

A short walk from my apartment on Randall's Island is a massive sewage treatment plant.

The air quality is rather evil and lately compounded by global warming and added traffic congestion from policies like "Vision Zero" (I like to call this public policy ""Zero Vision" implimented by likely the worst NYC Mayor ever: DeBlasio). Pretty much a big reason to move upstate for me is the pollution and air quality which over the past few years is markedly worse.

So on the other side of Prospect Park after a subway ride on the "Q" the difference in air quality is easily felt. At times It becomes hard to breath in Madhattan. We tend to never open windows and run air conditioning as if "life support."

Prospect Park is less crowded than Central Park. It is at a point where I no longer can even run/jog let alone bike without dealing with clueless New Yorkers as well as tourists impeding simple exercise in Central Park, way too crowded.

So eastern Brooklyn likely will be my retirement location. One listing is a rather suburban blue house: two bedroom, 1 1/2 bath with a front porch. More than double our current Madhattan apartment. Newly renovated.

The appeal is not so far removed from "Forest Hills Gardens" because it does not resemble NYC at all. The charm is that it is clean and suburban, but then again there is filth and urban a few subway stops away. I likely will have my darkroom. Ha-ha. Maggie likes how the transition from suburban to urban is like flipping a switch.

Some parts of Flatbush are kinda rough. The subway stations resemble converted gas stations and are kinda tiny by urban standards. Economic and racial diversity is broader than Madhattan. Perhaps less of the top and more of the middle. Less privelege and entitlement or at least taken down a notch.

Cal
 
Range-rover said:
Yes, Metro-north up north is big bucks, so to bad about Hudson it's really nice.
You have to pay for that niceness.
Click to expand...

Bob,

I'm learning there are no bargains. Pick your poison.

Tiny fine particulate in the air is a deadly killer. Trying to avoid it.

Interesting hood is Flatbush. Only 20% white and about half black with a lot of Carib-B-N influence. While 10% Asian the 20% Latino about equals the amount of whites.

Crime is about the middle for Brooklyn and comparable to Greenpoint. I remember when I lived in Greenpoint 20 years ago, basically it was me and this Chinese marathon runner who lived on Nassau Street, we were the only people of color in all of Greenpoint. "Maggie" even felt like an outsider in Greenpoint in that Polish community.

Ditmas Park pretty much has very little other than being residential and having nice houses.

As far as being an annoying neighbor, Jeff lives in Midwood not to far away. LOL.

Oh-well. Seems like I have to spend some of my money. It has been nice walking to work, and it seems like I'll be exchanging that for an hour commute by subway.

Cal
 
Hoping for a smooth transition Cal. As an European, Madhattan was amazing and shocking, but I felt I would go insane moving there. Well, as if that were an option of course because no one gives apartments in the central large cities 😛
Grew up always being an hour from the city. Got used to it. The ideal IMO is being able to walk or cycle to work (2-5mi?), once it is down to living in suburbs, the hour commute has to be accepted. Yes, pick your poison.



I find smaller cities rather nice to live, there is stuff to do, yet it's not too overhelming on some senses.


Life keeps throwing classmates and coworkers that are local to cities and it's quite a funny thing. Some were baffled at someone coming from "that far away", others show lack of endurance. I am used to having to spend the whole day without going back home. Know that once I am going home, I'm not going back to the city.
Never had the privilege of living in a large city. It seems an alien concept to live central.
 
Range-rover said:
Looks like there's a High school reunion in my future, heard though a few people
there's a get together in Sept.
Click to expand...

Bob,

The day after mine I was depressed. 40 years had passed, and I learned how some of my friends died. My friend Richie who dressed like a Disco Pimp in the 70's, who I hitched hiked to Florida when I was 17 during winter break, basically became an alcoholic and drank himself to death. This kinda hit me hard.

I was also a bit disappointed. Many of my friends really never grew up, and it was as if they were still back in high school. They didn't do very much with their lives also. Most lived in either the neighboring towns or still lived in Valley Stream. They lived in a small world.

Also High School was a depressing time in my life. I had forgotten how rough my life was back then in the 70's. The future was not looking bright for me. It sucked growing up poor.

While I had moved away and gone places, my high school friends really stayed close to home, never grew up, didn't do much with their advantages, and remained rather unremarkable.

Cal
 
Prest_400 said:
Hoping for a smooth transition Cal. As an European, Madhattan was amazing and shocking, but I felt I would go insane moving there. Well, as if that were an option of course because no one gives apartments in the central large cities 😛
Grew up always being an hour from the city. Got used to it. The ideal IMO is being able to walk or cycle to work (2-5mi?), once it is down to living in suburbs, the hour commute has to be accepted. Yes, pick your poison.



I find smaller cities rather nice to live, there is stuff to do, yet it's not too overhelming on some senses.


Life keeps throwing classmates and coworkers that are local to cities and it's quite a funny thing. Some were baffled at someone coming from "that far away", others show lack of endurance. I am used to having to spend the whole day without going back home. Know that once I am going home, I'm not going back to the city.
Never had the privilege of living in a large city. It seems an alien concept to live central.
Click to expand...

Jorde,

Seems like at heart I remain just a tough guy from Brooklyn. LOL.

I had thought that I might be able to afford some easy living and be able to live well below my means. It seems like the logistics do not favor this. I thought I might have a simpler life, where I could be even more happier.

I'm not sure I would be so tolerated or welcomed in some other places, just because of the way I look.

Things also get complicated because of "Maggie's" public life and her business endevors. She is somewhat rooted in NYC. I'm kinda cool with that after looking at and exploring other possibilities.

I wouldn't mind living in eastern Queens, but that is a bit remote for Maggie and the mass transit kinda thins out. I'm okay with buses, and a longer commute.

What it all comes down to is "quality of life." Christian states that any city is a great place to live if you have enough money to afford a luxury lifestyle. "Maggie" would state that her life is not so luxury at all, but I think I have a luxury life just because I own and shoot Leicas, have mucho other cameras, nice bikes, a guitar and amp collection, enough free time to stay fit, and otherwise have a rich and happy lifestyle that I find to have meaning and be fulfilling.

Many have none of the above.

In Cold Spring I can't see a 66 year old woman wanting to climb "Breakneck Ridge" for exercise. Pretty much this exploration was for me.

Cal
 
Calzone said:
Bob,

The day after mine I was depressed. 40 years had passed, and I learned how some of my friends died. My friend Richie who dressed like a Disco Pimp in the 70's, who I hitched hiked to Florida when I was 17 during winter break, basically became an alcoholic and drank himself to death. This kinda hit me hard.

I was also a bit disappointed. Many of my friends really never grew up, and it was as if they were still back in high school. They didn't do very much with their lives also. Most lived in either the neighboring towns or still lived in Valley Stream. They lived in a small world.

Also High School was a depressing time in my life. I had forgotten how rough my life was back then in the 70's. The future was not looking bright for me. It sucked growing up poor.

While I had moved away and gone places, my high school friends really stayed close to home, never grew up, didn't do much with their advantages, and remained rather unremarkable.

Cal
Click to expand...


Wow, that happens sometimes, I know of one girl who drank herself to death as well. During the seventies there was a lot of drugs and drinking going on
and lucky enough my friends and I were into other stuff Star Trek, comics and late in my teens camera's so I don't know how the other's held up we will see.
 
Hello all,

This MTA inconvenience has been common lately, though if traveling from Manhattan, you can take the M60 bus across town (125th street) over Triboro Bridge. Leaves you two blocks from Bohemian Hall.




MrBern said:
From the MTA:
Upcoming Service Changes

July 13-14, July 20-21, July 27-28: from 3:45 AM Saturday until 10:00 PM Sunday, shuttle buses will provide alternative service between Queensboro Plaza and Ditmars Blvd. During these times, our extensive work on Accessible elevators and station renewal will continue, requiring the shuttle bus operation.
July 13-14, July 20-21, and July 27: the intersection of 31st St and Hoyt Ave South will be closed to traffic. Please plan ahead and use alternate routes. A map of the planned detour is in our public presentation, which you can find below.
Click to expand...
 
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