N.Y.S. - People we saw, met or got to know a bit - March-April, 2026

There are so many people in NYC, with a population approaching 9 million.

Many folks were approachable & agreeable to being photographed.

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An Amazin’ Mets fan.

“Dancin’ On Atlantic Avenue”

I don't know what I was more interested in: the fellow with the cane, the Triumph motorcycle, or the building entrance? Such is looking around NYC. So much to see.

He didn't have the five dollah BROOKLYN cap in black that friend asked if I could get for her daughter.

Lots of nannies out with their charges.

We went to that exhibit at MoMA.

From our bedroom window at the Warwick Hotel. This building is recent. I wonder what work it needs so soon since its completion?

The workers who erect this scaffolding work as a precision team in dangerous conditions.

A Lincoln Square Business Improvement District public safety officer. He liked his job. He sounded Russian.

All those people out & about at 9:30 at night, And, it was pretty cold. 37th St. & 7th Ave.

The weather turned warmer this day. Cooling off & taking a toke. As you walk along the street there was often a whiff of weed smoke. There was mention of this in today’s 4-9-26, NY Times.

“Take a toke slow or you might choke
I got the best love you ever smoked
Take a toke but baby it's no joke
So strong it'll make you choke”

Take a Toke, Song by C+C Music Factory.

Museum of the City of New York.

“Songs of New York is an immersive interactive experience that introduces visitors to a full range of music from and about New York City, from the 1920s to the 2020s, showcasing everything from be-bop to K-pop, across genres, boroughs, and musical movements.”   

One of our favorite museums to visit. We went for Robert Rauschenberg’s New York & they we showing the songs exhibit & He Built This City. Outstanding exhibits. We took a taxi up.

And we took a NY Transit M1 bus down Fifth Avenue. Incoming passengers were so delighted to discover that the Touch Screen to collect fares was out of order. Lots of smiling.

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Metro North from Grand Central Terminal to the Bronx & the NY Botanical Garden Orchid Show.

Zibetto Espresso Bar: Authentic Italian Coffee Experience 6th Ave. @ 57th St. One of our favorite espresso stops. Their mini cannoli are outstanding.

QAMARIA Yemini Coffee Co. I liked their mini baklava; perfect size.

What a lonely, scary job.,

A happy guy.

In the elevator at the Playwrights Horizons Peter Jay Sharp Theater with actress Bailey Lee who had just performed in "No Singing in the Navy" by Milo Cramer.

One of many vendors.

All dressed up & going to the opera at Lincoln Center.

Bryant Park.

Posing in Bryant Park.

Tony Robbins, Architecture Historian at the start of a Municipal Art Society (MAS) Times Sq./B'dway Theater District Walking Tour. We had taken several MAS Zoom tours with him. He was as good, or better in person; very knowledgeable with a droll sense of humor.

Massimo Bizzocchi whom we met at breakfast in “…Mozzarella & Vino, located in the newly renovated former home of its older sibling, Il Gattopardo, directly across from the Museum of Modern Art on 54th Street.”

Massimo Bizzocchi Massimo "is held in the highest esteem by the 'A' list retail legends in the US, by the world class firms he represents as well as by all members of the media."

“Massimo Bizzocchi is the Chairman of the Kiton Corporation, producer of arguably the finest (and maybe the most expensive) suits in the world.

But Kiton  (pronounced kee-tun) is also one of the most discreet Italian brands you’ll find….”

Wilkes Bashford, Sutter St., San Francisco, March 2014.

Massimo Bizzocchi https://blog.bonbrand.com/in-conversation-kiton-chairman-massimo-bizzocchi/

In January I had taken a MAS class from Tony Robbins on Art Deco Buildings along & near 42nd Street. I felt I could handle walking the tour & lead us along.

This doorman, in the Beaux Arts Apartments lobby, was so nice & informative. He showed us fotos on his phone that he had taken from a book of what the building looked like in the 1920’s.

"Come & get it!”

Some enterprising person's brilliant idea to feed the construction workers on site...

Repairing a pot hole on the circa 1919 Park Avenue Viaduct. Mayor Mamdani has promised to get potholes fixed. “City work crews have filled tens of thousands in recent weeks, and on Monday, on Staten Island, Mayor Mamdani filled the ceremonial 100,000th to make a point.

‘This is pothole politics, right?’”

We had their Sicilian with a Coke.

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They had trouble walking in those spike heels.

Hookers? We sure saw a lot of them, or at least women dressed like them in Midtown.

Julliard Symphony Orchestra.

The newly renovated & reopened Waldorf Astoria Hotel for coffee & tour with Noel. Our waiter is also in theatre. The fellow with the orange juice owns two restaurants on Lombard St. in San Francisco (overheard).

The cappuccinos were $16- each here.

Waldorf Astoria Hotel for coffee & tour with Noel.

Jota at the Astro Restaurant,

1361 6th Ave., NY, NY.

Slowly I go.

The Transit Museum is that-a-way at Grand Central Station.

“Paley Park,… the original vest pocket park located at 3 East 53rd Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues in Midtown Manhattan…on the former site of the Stork Club…it opened May 23, 1967. Paley Park is often cited as one of the finest urban spaces in the United States.”

It “…was established by CBS founder, William S. Paley, as a memorial to his father Samuel Paley.”

Pam led us on a tour M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers. Laurie, of Madge & Me Hats in San Rafael, mentioned that we could call & arrange a tour.

He wet & starched the fabrics then set them to dry on those ancient racks. M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers.

Al has been working here for forty years. They haven't found a replacement, yet. M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers.

...and it's pressed together.

M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers.

M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers. Cutting the shapes. Before this machine (on the left)...

…a mallet was used to cut the shapes. I couldn't raise that heavy mallet with one hand. M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers.

M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers. Denim is hard to work with.

M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers.

At the start of her career, the union sent her to a factory to learn the trade. She's since retired but has returned to work.

M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers.

Everyone was comfortable here. Radiant Cafe & Wine Bar, 172 Waverly Pl, The West Village, NY, NY.

Radiant Cafe & Wine Bar, 172 Waverly Pl, The West Village, NY, NY.

Fran Tellner a regular at the cafe since they opened two years ago. She's lived in the same apt. in the Village since 1963. Radiant Cafe & Wine Bar, 172 Waverly Pl, The West Village, NY, NY.

At Rosemary's Italian Restaurant our waiter, seen outside, was from Vallejo, CA.

Turn around!

Stopping traffic in the West Village.

The West Village. Check out her right hand.

Sharing a bench in the West Village. These bicycle messengers have no idea that their helmets mimic the WW II Nazi army's helmets.

Ronald, a doorman for 18 years at The Four Seasons on East 57th Street. It reopened Nov. 2024 after being closed for over four years for renovations. Ronnie knew the number of months, weeks & days after the four years. He helped us find the doorman, Noel, from the Hotel Elysée where we used to stay until it closed for renovations. Ronnie discovered that he was now at the Waldorf Astoria. We missed looking for him the day before when we were at the hotel.

The MET. We had to wait outside for a bit while crowds inside bought tix, checked overcoats & spread out into the huge museum. Hot air was blowing on us, as I sat on my seat cane. He used to be an indoor guard but this position is better paying.

The MET. An exhibit of Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck. We liked her work.

The MET. An exhibit of Finnish painter Helene Schjerfbeck. Helene’s self portrait.

Making an entrance into the lobby of the TIME WARNER CENTER. Even the teddy is well dressed.

Jason Moran jazz pianist introducing the program then playing several piano pieces. "A Centennial Piano Tribute to Randy Weston" at Dizzy's Club in the Time Warner building on Columbus Circle.

Rodney Kendrick, American jazz pianist, composer, and producer. He studied with & was a friend of Randy Weston. DIZZY'S CLUB. "A Centennial Piano Tribute to Randy Wewston."

"A Centennial Piano Tribute to Randy Weston." Absolutely the most amazing trombone that I have ever heard. His name was not listed.

Rhonda Ross Kendrick an American actress, singer, & songwriter is Barry Gordy & Diana Ross' love child & wife of Rodney Kendrick.

"A Centennial Piano Tribute to Randy Weston."

The poster from the Essentially Ellington competition when Elliot played trumpet with the SF JAZZ High School All Stars, for the second time.

At about 9:00 AM it was "rush hour" at the West 54th St. Warwick Hotel. We were on the 6th floor & we sometimes had to wait 15-20 to get on an elevator. Going down to check out, Nomi got on an elevator & I waited another ten minutes to squeeze onto another. She had checked out by the time I arrived in the lobby. Six flights down was not something I wanted to make my left leg experience.

Going to Brooklyn from Manhattan with our 70+ y.o. cabbie who came here from Greece decades ago. He knew the way to Elliot & Casey’s apartment building as he used to live in the neighborhood.

Saying goodbye & “…tomorrow I'll bring you some bagels from Astoria.” That's a long story.

Antonio, a barista, at Elliot-recommended Villager on Classon Ave. at Eastern Pkwy.

Antonio is publicist & manager of the Mets’ mascots, Mr. & Mrs. Met who “…are available for a wide range of engagements, from in-person appearances at weddings, mitzvahs, and birthdays, to parades, festivals, and more!”

Broadway Junction Station; a scene remniscent of Soweto, Jo-burg, South Africa.

According to Scott Bowman, "Portrait of the artist adjusting the settings" while waiting to be admitted for our tour of Noble Signs, Design Studio & Sign Company, 2465 Atlantic Ave, Brooklyn, NY. We were warned that we wouldn't be able to wait inside for the two o'clock tour. Once again the cane that becomes a stool came in handy.

Seamus, along with two other sign makers, gave tours every Friday & Sunday. It happened by chance as one weekend they had five hundred visitors after being recognized at a conference. The funds generated by the tours help them to purchase, maintain & sometimes restore old signs for the collection of Noble SIgns.

Before the Noble SIgns tour started, they gave that girl a project & then displayed it on that white magnetic board to the right of the fellow in purple tie dye in the next slide.

These fellows were great teachers. We'll never look at signs the same way. We noticed the change in style of signs when we left NYC to drive north to the Catskills. (No comedians). Noble Signs Factory & Museum.

"You Can Take the A Train." We were going the other way.

Broadway Junction Station, Brooklyn, NY.

Driving north on the Harlem River Drive on our way to the Catskills. "The High Bridge, NYC’s oldest standing bridge (1848)—which connects Manhattan to the Bronx at the Harlem River—reopened in 2015 after closing for more than 40 years for rehabilitation.. The High Bridge is open to pedestrians and cyclists only."

First stop on our way to Hunter, NY, the Phoenicia Diner for lunch. Two days later when we returned for breakfast, she remembered us "...table 7 & he ordered the pan fried trout."

Hurley Ave, Kingston, NY.

Oh, yum!

The Phoenicia Diner, built in 1962 and moved to the Catskills in the early 80s.

Outside the Overlook Bakery, Woodstock, NY. As we drove through dozens of villages with ..kill in their names, they appeared deserted. We hardly saw any people. “The word ‘kill’ is derived from the Dutch word ‘kille,’ meaning creek or body of water.” “NYS …is home to numerous towns, rivers, and other geographical features bearing the name ‘kill.’” e.g. Catskill, Peekskill. Growing up in NYS & getting 99% on the History Regents exam, this was new to me.

"5 miles down a dead end road sits West Kill Brewing: a small batch craft brewery nestled in the Catskill Mountains."

Julia at Deer Mountain Inn Restaurant & Lodge, Tannersville, NY. She loves her job & where she lives. A NYC friend of Elliot & Casey’s recommended this restaurant.

Steven our server has worked here for two year & never wants to leave. No knife throwing in the kitchen. He loves his job & where he lives. Deer Mountain Inn Restaurant & Lodge, Tannersville, NY.

Anahi, reception @ Scribner's Catksill Lodge, Hunter, NY. The brickwork is the original 1966 driveway into the motel.

"Burn the ships, no retreat." Phoenicia Diner. In 1519 in Veracrux, Mexico "...retreat was not an option. Cortés and his men would conquer, or they would perish." A return to the Phoenicia Diner.

Phoenicia Diner our server again.

A family wearing NY paraphernalia, shopping at Trader Joe's Paramus, New Jersey.

This T.J.’s is huge but the largest one is Essex Crossing on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

Trader Joe's Paramus, New Jersey. Jake walked over to the tulip display stand that I was sitting on while Elliot & Casey were shopping. He said that I should take this photo "...for my portfolio."

On the road through New Jersey down to NYC.

Cleaning up a stream bed (kill) in Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Daffodil Hill, B'klyn Botanic Garden.

The Radio Bakery is a newly opened hot new item with great baked goods & sandwiches. The folks in red were at the end of the line. Too long for us to wait.

We think this was the first golden retriever we'd seen in Brooklyn. The predominant breed there is the pit bull.

Franklin Ave., Prospect Hts., B'klyn.

In my humble estimation, these bagels are not as good at the wood fired ones from Jumbo Bagels in Manhattan nor Barton’s Bagels in San Anselmo, CA. We couldn’t get to Jumbo Bagels for fresh bagels the day we left & they didn’t deliver to Brooklyn.

We wanted to go to…

…the Brooklyn Botanic Garden to see the cherry blossoms in bloom.