Day 704

Steinway Creek, revisited

December 3rd, 2013



Steinway Creek is one of my favorite weird little spots I've found while walking around. I was in the Steinway/Astoria area today and just stopped by to take a quick look around, when I noticed three sheep standing atop the far bank of the creek! (You have to zoom in to see them.) There was also a chicken wandering around closer to the water. A guy who works nearby told me there's a vivero south of here and sometimes some of the animals escape and run off to this area by the creek, but they're always eventually caught and taken back to be slaughtered. This aerial view will give you a better sense of things. The vivero is on the north side of 20th Avenue by the soccer field; I took this photo by the southern end of the creek at 19th Avenue.

Day 706

No Swine on My Mind

December 5th, 2013



No Ham on My Pan

(No Pork on My Fork)

This shot and the next were taken while doing some unofficial walking around Harlem.

Day 706

Know Your Rights

December 5th, 2013



A common mural theme

Day 712

Today’s route — 16.8 miles

December 11th, 2013

Day 712

In God We Trust Mr. Handyman

December 11th, 2013


Day 712




Jam Master Jay!

Hey, in two weeks it'll be Christmas in Hollis.

Day 712

NO MORE DUMPING

December 11th, 2013



STEW.

Day 712

Sidewalk scripture

December 11th, 2013



The Lord's Prayer

Day 712

Streetside memorial

December 11th, 2013


Day 712

WATCH OUT

December 11th, 2013


Day 712

Barberz #87

December 11th, 2013


Day 712

Barberz #88

December 11th, 2013


Day 713

Today’s route — 12.5 miles

December 12th, 2013

Day 713

Dual identity

December 12th, 2013



The city line appears to pass diagonally through this house, which has two different addresses posted beside its front door: 87-101 257th Street (Queens) and 1 Keene Avenue (Floral Park in Nassau County). Keene Avenue is an odd little roadway. It's the continuation of 257th Street from Queens into Nassau, but it only runs for maybe 50 feet before it crosses Jericho Turnpike and turns into Garfield Avenue (which itself lasts only another 300 feet before coming to an end). Google Maps doesn't acknowledge the existence of Keene Avenue, but check out Street View. You can see a Keene Avenue street sign on Jericho Turnpike, and you can also see where the newer Nassau County pavement ends around the city line, which gives you a good visual sense of how ridiculously short Keene Avenue is.

Day 713




I'm not sure what kind of tree this is, but my vain attempts to find out led me to an excellent new word: fastigiate.

Day 713

Electronic church message sign

December 12th, 2013


Day 713

Barren branches

December 12th, 2013


Day 714

Today’s route — 14.1 miles

December 13th, 2013

Day 714

Barberz #89

December 13th, 2013



Queenz Classic

Day 714

DON’T DUMP ON US

December 13th, 2013


Day 714

Portal of the day

December 13th, 2013


Day 714

Russell Stover Lofts?

December 13th, 2013



From across the street, I couldn't see the apostrophe in "Loft's", and I started cooking up a weird image in my mind of some old-timey chocolate makers living in a loft above what is now the first-floor card store. Turns out, however, that Loft's was also a confectionery company, and the sign on the second floor is merely an old advertisement for the candy that was presumably once sold in the storefront below.

Day 714

St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church

December 13th, 2013



I can't find much information about this quaint church, but you can read a little about the parish's history here.

Day 714

St. Joseph’s rectory

December 13th, 2013



I think this is the rectory, anyway.

Day 714

Queen of the block

December 13th, 2013


Day 714

Hubert Codrington

December 13th, 2013



Eat your heart out, Bob Vila!

Day 714

Iridescent sharkmobile

December 13th, 2013


Day 714

Conquering Lion Auto Collision

December 13th, 2013



They put the old Sniveling Weasel Body Shop next door right out of business.

Day 714




At the Queens Village Depot

Day 715

Today’s route — 16.8 miles

December 14th, 2013

Day 715

Our Lady of Lourdes grotto

December 14th, 2013



According to an engraved tablet in the wall, this shrine at Our Lady of Lourdes Church was built in 1925, the year after the parish was founded. Like two other such grottoes we've seen, this one has a water spout to represent the spring that flows from the Grotto of Massabielle. The water wasn't running when I walked by, but perhaps it will be turned back on in warmer weather.

Day 715

Storm drain in the snow

December 14th, 2013



But you can still see the dots!

Day 715

Tire tracks

December 14th, 2013


Day 715

Snowfall on big blue

December 14th, 2013


Day 715

Gandhi abides

December 14th, 2013



at the Mahatma Gandhi Satsangh Society Hindu temple

Day 715

Curbside memorial

December 14th, 2013



to David M. "Duke" Nugent, 1974-2008

Day 715

Bathroom still life

December 14th, 2013



Closer look here

Day 715

Public toilet

December 14th, 2013


Day 729

Today’s route — 14.2 miles

December 28th, 2013

Day 729

Waiting for the train

December 28th, 2013



at the Eltingville station on the Staten Island Railway

Day 729

Eltingville station

December 28th, 2013



on the Staten Island Railway

Day 729

A sunny December day

December 28th, 2013


Day 729

Elimination of grade crossings

December 28th, 2013



In the early part of the 20th century, there were hundreds of railroad grade crossings in New York City, and they were becoming more dangerous and disruptive as the volume and speed of vehicles was increasing. A 1910 article in the NY Times called them "deadly grade crossings . . . traps that imperil human life". Almost all of them have since been eliminated, with the railroad tracks now passing over or under the roadways. The plaque above, found outside the Eltingville station on the Staten Island Railway, commemorates the elimination of grade crossings along this section of railroad, a project apparently carried out under the auspices of the Public Works Administration.

Day 729

9/11 memorial #180

December 28th, 2013



Close-ups here, here, and here

Day 729

Sweet Brook

December 28th, 2013



Part of the Sweet Brook Bluebelt

Day 729



Day 729




This leads to "a boarding house for the Young Israel of Eltingville synagogue". The house is now boarded up, however, after catching fire in July.

Day 729

Portals of the day

December 28th, 2013



Specs 4 Less, Jenny Craig, Sprinkler Shut Off

Day 729

So that’s where you keep that

December 28th, 2013


Day 729

Kindernook

December 28th, 2013



The name of this childcare center brings to mind Martin Van Buren — "Old Kinderhook" — the first president from New York State. Speaking of Old Kinderhook, have you ever wondered where the expression "OK" came from? There's some dispute, but the predominant theory is pretty awesome.