New York City - April 2026 - A little of this & a little of that.

"New Yorkers’ Guide for a good day”

Getting caffeinated at Revival Coffee, West Village.

Garment District, NY, NY.

M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers. https:customfabricflowers.com “The 110-year old family business is the the last remaining flower factory of its kind in America. Founded in 1916 by Morris and Sam Schmalberg, and then run by Harold Schmalberg, a Holocaust survivor. The factory survived the Great Depression, World War II, and globalization.”

Today, it is run by Warren and Adam Brand, 4th-generation artisans.

Laurie, milliner & owner of Madge & Me Hats in San Rafael suggested we call & arrange a tour. Adam accommodated us.

Many of these molds, from the early 1900’s, were purchased from faux flower factories as they closed.

Al places the cut flower petals into the bottom half of the mold that he has warmed up. He then places the top & the whole mold goes into the press. He said there used to be a coal fire under this table.

A computer aided machine cuts multiple petals simultaneously. It wasn’t always so.

Before these cutting machines, they pounded the dies with a mallet to cut the shapes. I couldn't raise that heavy mallet with one hand. M & S Schmalberg Custom Fabric Flowers.

Denim is a hard fabric to work with.

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I sometimes listen to the “Bowery Boys,” history stories of NYC, podcast while doing floor exercises. Recently they had a series on the West Village. I kept stopping mid-exercise to take notes.

Three Lives & Company Booksellers, 154 West 10th St. NY, NY was opened by a trio of friends in 1968. I bought The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco here.

We were biding our time before meeting Elliot at his new office, in an area adjacent to the West Village.

We were able to visit some of the streets & buildings mentioned in the Bowery Boys podcasts.

After a stop for a delicious lunch at Rosemary's Italian Restaurant we continued exploring the West Village.

"Patchin Place is a gated cul-de-sac located off of 10th Street between Greenwich Ave. & the Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue) in... Greenwich Village ...Its ten 3-story brick row houses...Today it is a popular location for psychotherapists' offices."

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“Whole Paper & Twine Co.”

Long pleated skirts are "in."

ULSTER AMERICAN by David Ireland. It is a 2016 play with Matthew Borderick at the 1995 Irish Repertory Theatre 132 West 22nd St., on three floors of a former warehouse. "Unionists refer to Northern Ireland as 'Ulster.'"

"MASONS' ROW"

"These four brick row houses were built in 1860. The original appearance of the row may best be seen at No. 290 which is perfectly preserved. Italianate in style, it retains its high stoop, typical segmental ('eyebrow') lintels over the entrance doorway, and long parlor floor windows with original ironwork grille. The window sills of the upper stories are supported on small stone corbels, and the handsome bracketed roof cornice is also characteristic of the period. The original cast iron stair railings, newels, and areaway railing are still in place."

FROM THE GREENWICH VILLAGE HISTORIC DISTRICT DESIGNATION REPORT (1969).

A local shop had a post card of this building. Sant Ambroeus Ristorante Panioteca NY NY. Ca. 1875? or 1905? 259 West 4th & Perry Streets A.K.A. The Victoria - Condo Townhomes.

Synagogue organized 1838 rebuilt 1917. I couldn’t find anything else about it.

A muckraker journalist.

The flowering tree & the building’s brickwork caught my eye.

On a Municipal Art Society tour in Brooklyn, Suzanne Spellen &/or Morgan Munsey mentioned an old NYC ordinance. The ordinance allowed that fourth floor to be built & then be exempt from property tax.

THE FAMILY, 1979 by Chaim Gross. Dedicated to the City of New York 1991 In Honor of Edward I. Koch Mayor 1978-1989. Some folks really liked Ed Koch, think the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge. (59th St. Bridge).

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Across the street from Elliot's office in the West Village. This may have been some sort of utility substation.

The brickwork, the chimney, the weather vane…

That must have been stables, to the left.

"The Commerce Inn is an early American tavern and cookery from esteemed New York chefs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams. Nestled on the quaint corner of Commerce and Barrow Streets in the heart of the West Village..."

#50 Commerce Street, NY. NY. April 2022.

NYC photographer Berenice Abbott lived here.

The city that never sleeps.

“Zibetto Espresso Bar: An Espresso Bar Gem in NYC.”

“Picture yourself walking into an office that’s not just a space but a statement—a place where every corner tells a story of innovation, ambition, and heritage. That’s 57 West 57th Street for you…”

Medical Arts Building ca. 1928.

Louis Vuitton’s NYC Flagship store on 5th Ave. & 57th St. We were passing by. Next visit we’ll have to check inside. It’s supposed to have an art deco motif.

The ca. 1925 “Argosy Book Store is now in its third generation of family ownership.”

Naomi asked about a book. An associate did a deep dive to discover that the book was self-published by the photographer who had no more copies. I nosed around the maps, books & ephemera.

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Seeing SIlence by “,,,renowned Finnish artist Helene Schjerfbeck is the first Nordic woman painter to be presented in a solo exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.” (The MET).

View of St. Ives, 1887 by Helene Schjerbeck. "Cornwall is the most beautiful place I have ever seen.... The sea is so blue and bright.... The sunsets are glorious." The MET.

“The Lace Shawl (1920, oil on canvas) is a prime example of Schjerfbeck's distinctive creative process. She first applied paint that she selectively scraped through before applying additional layers over abraded areas. This technique of adding and removing paint enabled both the subtle layering and exposure of the canvas weave.

Schjerfbeck was keenly interested in her materials and the outcome of their strategic manipulation.”

The MET.

I was assured that mail is picked up from this letter box. The postcards finally arrived in France.

Lobby of the Warwick Hotel.

Le Bonne Soupe - West 55th betw. 5th & 6th Avenues. After our friend Barry told us about it, we’ve been stopping by to eat here over the years. It’s never been a disappointment.

A Centennial Piano Tribute to Randy Weston at Dizzy's Club Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Building.

Some of the performers are standing in the middle at the way back. See if you can spot Casey, Elliot & Naomi.

Dizzy's Club Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Building.

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Dizzy's Club Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Building.

Dizzy's Club Jazz at Lincoln Center in the Time Warner Building overlooking Columbus Circle.

Cherry blossoms in Central Park.

Breakfast before…

…heading off to Brooklyn.

Prospect Hts., Brooklyn.

Prospect Hts. The murals on this building’s enclosure keep changing.

On Eastern Parkway, Prospect Hts., Brooklyn.

The Noble Sign Company is right below this L train on the El.

On the window of the Noble Sign Co.

I wondered why his head was removed & found this…

Stora “allegedly committed a series of hate-motivated incidents against several individuals based on their perceived gender, race and religion.”