Paper Roses

It's hard to believe that the Holidays are right around the corner. Stores in New York like to jump-start holiday shopping with festive windows immediately after Halloween. One of my favorite window theme trends is the "handmade" look - probably started by Anthropologie (which reminds me - need to go check them out!). So I was pleasantly surprised by the tastefully simple white rose and snow flake designs Sephora created for theirs. These were shot at the new location in the Meatpacking District of NYC - which I highly recommend visiting. It's uber chic with black surfaces throughout that showcase artwork like "Flamenco Tornado", a distorted Flamenco dress-sculpture by E.V. Day, and Chihuly-inspired light fixtures (this may actually be a Chihuly piece - I just can't verify it :( ). I was asked not to photograph inside, so we will just have to make due with their windows :)

An Evening Commute

In between buildings, huddled under umbrellas, rushing down the street

Rush hour in New York City - usually just an unpleasant necessity during the work week. But on this rainy Fall day I stopped and looked around, and the evening's rain and fog romanticized for me the otherwise industrial landscape. These images were taken at the World Trade Center, outside the Path train. I'm sure there will be lots more of these to come!

The street opens up as I get closer to the empty space that was once the World Trade Center

In the middle of this space is the Path Train, which goes into New Jersey

A quick look up before I go down into the station - The Freedom Tower is looming above

More From the Capital

Along the line of thinking from the last post, this one is about using Nature as an industry, through Environmentalism.

Environmentalism - America's best friend?

Our country was founded through industrialism, and it's our heart and soul. But with the outsourcing of so many industries, who are we today? What makes us strong? Again, I think we need to look to Nature.

Supporting our government through the environment

I know we are still young in this industry, and the rewards are a ways off. But I think we need to keep to this path, despite the wars, despite the economy. By developing technologies that create energy from the environment without depleting it (i.e., solar energy), we can create a place that is more in tune with Nature. And more aligned to ourselves.

There Will Always Be Flowers

This post started with me going through a sketchbook from this past Spring and finding some drawings I had wanted to blog about. I was visiting some friends in DC and spent one morning drawing around the Capital. The cherry blossoms were on their way out, but spring was in full bloom on the Mall, and I found a bench surrounded by blossoming trees and perky little tulips.

Spring

As I started drawing I was struck by how powerful and resilient Nature is, moving along on it’s own cycles, despite how much we try to interfere with them. It was bursting all around me, and made an interesting juxtaposition to the political architecture looming stately above.

Summer

Fall

The flowers and trees seemed to be watching us, quietly observing our changing culture. And with the ups and downs of our current economic climate, these observers with their bright petals and sturdy branches gave me a sense of security. Nature will thrive, no matter what we are doing.

Winter

No matter how crazy or stable our economy is, Nature will live, and it will be there for us. So look to the plump little tulips, and soon changing leaves – they know the truth, and will put our minds at ease.

The Cangelosi Cards at White Heat

Tamar Korn of The Cangelosi Cards

Conjured-up images of torn lace and discarded cigars on a dim winter evening. Balboa movements on wooden floors. Banjo and bass run a musical race; fast and slow through jazzy blue tempo. Thus is the setting of White Heat Night at Dance Manhattan.

The Cangelosi Cards

This night is hard to find. Only known to a small group of swing dancers, it’s a seasoned Lindy Hopper’s dream. No overcrowding like the Frim Fram, and every other week the music is live. Tonight it was The Cangelosi Cards. Mixed jazzy bluegrass folk, from quick tempos to sultry rhythms. The pliant vocals of Tamar Korn wove through strings, harmonica, accordion. Cassidy Holden plucked the bass with a somber mustached face.

Mixed Dancing - Balboa to Lindy Hop

But for dancers, you can't help but smile when you swing. Energy is the thing. A momentum of go, creating sweet Lindy flow.