Day 199

Portals of the day

July 16th, 2012



Almost every roll-down gate in the city is accompanied by at least a couple of these sticker advertisements put up by gate repair companies hoping they'll get the proprietor's business next time the gate malfunctions. The stickers generally go unseen by the public (I never noticed one until your webmaster pointed them out to me), but they are EVERYWHERE. For example: this, this, and this.

Day 199

I beg your pardon, madam!

July 16th, 2012


Day 199

The De-Roadinator 1000

July 16th, 2012



Not to be confused with the Roadinator 3000

Day 199

Cone Pizza

July 16th, 2012



Ran the old Cup o' Pizza guy out of business.

Day 199




I wonder how many miles are on this one.

Day 199

Peaches from heaven

July 16th, 2012


Day 199

Restraining order?

July 16th, 2012


Day 199

I just learned something

July 16th, 2012



There's a Lumpkin County in Georgia!

Day 199

Pistilli Grand Manor

July 16th, 2012



This supremely weird-looking apartment building was once a Steinway piano factory, a predecessor to the current piano-making complex.

Day 199

Mythical creature hangout

July 16th, 2012



Beneath the viaduct leading to the Hell Gate Bridge

Day 199

Seven it is!

July 16th, 2012



Queens is good at counting oak trees, it seems.

Day 199

Matching wheels

July 16th, 2012


Day 199

Astoria Park pool

July 16th, 2012



Set between the Hell Gate and Triborough Bridges, this beautiful swimming hole was one of eleven WPA-built city pools opened in the summer of 1936 (here's a great history of public swimming in the city). They were all enormous, but this one was the king. Designed for about 3000 swimmers, with facilities that could accommodate up to 6200, it even hosted the US Olympic swimming and diving trials in 1936 and 1964. You'll normally find more people frolicking here on a hot summer day; at this time of the evening, the pool is open only for lap swimming.

Day 199

Astoria Park diving pool

July 16th, 2012



Adjacent to the swimming pool, this one hasn't stood the test of time so well. It has been unused for decades, but there are plans in the works to turn it into an amphitheater, with the triple-level diving board integrated into the stage.

Day 199

The Triborough at sunset

July 16th, 2012




Day 199

9/11 memorial #79

July 16th, 2012



Painted on the base of the Hell Gate Bridge