some old holiday pictures

At the Charles Bridge, Prague.

Strawberry Fields, New York

Nevada Smiths, New York, as Manchester United completed the treble in 1999.

I've been sorting some stuff out and changing some photographs in frames, and while doing so, came across (amongst many others) these fine examples of old holidays. 

Ah, the good old days, when we didn't have a care in the world.

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more scans from the 2000 america trip - new york

I'd like to be back there now.

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humans of new york and american tales

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the new york subway after hurricane sandy

I caught the end of a hurricane the very first time l went to New York (while sleeping rough), but it was nowhere as devastating as Hurricane Sandy has been.  I know there has been a lot of damage, it will cost a fortune to sort out, people have died etc, but l would have loved to have been there when it hit.  It's not exactly an experience you can have anytime you want.
More about the aftermath of the storm in New York is here.

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holidays, las vegas and new york

 Ah, lovely Las Vegas / Sin City

 You've got to go under the sign!

Midtown comics in New York.  Mmmmmmm.....Spidey comics

Myself and the FPO (and maybe others) are jetting off early next week to go somewhere for a last minute holiday.  It won't be in the USA, but looking through some earlier photographs, these ones leapt out and reminded us of other splendid holidays thereabouts.  I don't really care where we go this time, as long as it is hot and relaxing, so we can do some reading and chill out.  The weather in the UK has been crap this year, with near constant rain oop north, so it will be good to get away.  You know who l blame?   God.   He's meant to be in charge of sunshine duties (or did l misread the Bible?).

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the new york lord of the rings sky

I'd have loved to have been in New York this week and seen this storm brewing.  The above are real photographs that have not been photo shopped, and they are all by Ryan Brenizier.  They are available to buy from his site here (without the writing on).  Very cool indeed, although l bet some people were thinking it was 'the end of days' or something..

Some other random photographs from the storm are below.

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the doors photographed by yale joel 1968

Some brilliant pictures of The Doors, taken by Yale Joel for Life Magazine in 1968.  The black and white ones are atmospheric, but l prefer the colour one at the top with the light show behind Jim Morrison (or Jimbo as l call him).  It's also astounding to see the lack of security present at the concert (The Fillmore East).  Bloody hippies.

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the smell of new york

Missing the big apple? Here's the thing designed especially for you! The smell of New York in a bottle!
I assume it won't just be the scent of pizza, sweat, exhaust fumes and piss, but who knows?

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the weathermen's place is up for sale

With a really corny headline about the apartment exploding onto the market, the place that 'The Weathermen' used as their bomb making factory at 18 West 11 Street, (with the resulting accidental explosion in March 1970 a consequence) is now up for sale through  Corcoran brokers for a cool $10.9 million. Dustin Hoffman and his family narrowly escaped the blast, as they lived next door at the time.

The top photograph is me (my arm anyway) pointing at the bear in the window in 2006. This was dressed by Norma Langworthy, who his since passed away at the ripe old age of 92, but hopefully her descendants will keep the tradition going.

How time flies, and how sickening it is how gentrified New York is becoming.

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just kids - patti smith

I read this Patti Smith autobiography while lazing in the sun last week, (amongst other books).  It mainly tells the story of Patti's relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, and their support for each other as they tried to produce art that would be of significance.  Plenty of name dropping and reverence for past artists, and an enjoyable read if you like music, art, or even just want to know what the New York City scene was like back in the day.
It also makes you want to go out and listen to some of the songs mentioned, or explore some of the artists she name checks, and that is definitely a good thing.


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man on wire (2008) - james marsh

A superb documentary about a 1974 tightrope walk between the Twin Towers, and the build up to it, 'Man on Wire' manages to keep the suspense and interest alive,  even though you already know the outcome (as he (Philippe Petite)  is talking on the film in later life, you can assume he didn't die).  There are also some emotional bits, but it is mainly about one man and his obsession and drive. Marvellous stuff.

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we'll take manhattan - bbc 2012

It's David and Jean! (not really)

It's Jean! (not really)

It's a pretty young Bailey! (not really)

It's an iconic shot (really)

Gor blimey guvn'r, this was a right old carry on, and no mistake.
We'll Take Manhattan follows the young David Bailey and Jean Shrimpton, as they travel to Manhattan in 1962 for a Vogue photographic assignment, with the Vogue old guard  in tow to keep an eye on them.
Of course Bailey ignores instructions, demands Shrimpton is used, shoots the pictures his own way (Whaat! No tripod!) and is applauded as a genius on his return.
It's a love story between Bailey and Shrimpton, and a clash of the old and new, but it was like watching Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins, just totally unbelievable.
The cockerneee was either over the top, hardly there at all, or the rhyming slang just weren't right (Surely it should have been 'Eartha's', not 'Eartha Kitt's').
Although Karen Gillian is attractive, she is not in the same class as 'The Shrimp', as there is just some magical element missing that is (admittedly) hard to define. They should have put a wig on Aneurin Barnard (who played Bailey) and used him as the model instead, the handsome young self confident tyke.
A right old cockernee knees up laugh out loud and slap your thighs program, but not in the way the makers would have wanted it to be.
Bailey even gets to slag of the Beatles who he hears singing 'Love Me Do' on the flight home (he doesn't like skiffle). That was ironically shoehorned in to represent the new world coming.
Slapped wrists all round (and cancel the pearl necklace's).
Alright guv' (Now jog on).

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little manhattan (2005) - mark levin and jennifer flackett

A lightweight and sometimes quirky coming of age comedy drama about a young boy falling in love for the first time.

Little Manhattan is also (like Woody Allen's Manhattan) an homage to the city itself, with some great shots around Central Park, the Upper West Side, and the Hudson.

It is very similar in style and pace to 'The Wonder Years' (Mark Levin was a writer for the show), but includes some surreal/fantasy shots, such as a building turning into a ship.

Our hero, Gabe (Josh Hutcherson) gets reacquainted with an old school friend (Rosemary - played by Charlie Ray), at karate classes, and manages to fall for her just before she is to leave for summer camp (and then onto a private school).

In the meantime, his parents are in the process of getting a divorce, and he (like his father), finds it difficult to express or act upon his feelings.

I must have got something in my eye towards the end of the film when Gabe and Rosemary danced. Either that or l think l have turned soft and senile (or it is my allergy to the idiot rabbit).

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