e. gustavo petersen | cinematographer

This is definitely not production related.  It is instead about my trip to New York.  It’s here more as a reminder for me than anything else.  I won’t write more in this section, but if you care to read about it, I’ll have some words and pictures in the “more…” section.

This was quite possibly a trip of a lifetime.  I had a chance to enjoy New York much like a New Yorker does, as well as like a tourist.  It really is a hell of a town and I can’t wait to visit again.

Our accommodations

Our third floor walkup in Harlem (St. Nicholas & 154th Street).  All of the island is slowly gentrifying but it still has its character.

The food

New York is so not Los Angeles.  The food scene here is amazing.  With so many restaurants vying for so many people’s money the level of quality is so far above par.  As an example, many restaurants won’t accept an application from someone who doesn’t have at least two years of New York restaurant experience!

Here’s a list of some of the places we visited.  For foodies in the know, many of these places will be very familiar.

• Gramercy Tavern – Best dinning experience I’ve ever had.  The new bench mark for all future restaurant experiences.
• Prune – Simple, clean, elegant and absolutely delicious.
• Payards Patisserie – Paris in the Upper West Side.
• Bouchon Bakery – Yummy Thomas Keller lunch grub.
• El Quixote – Spanish and Mexican goodness – a New York staple.
• The Little Giant - Unbeatable drinks and very delicious
• Momofuku – The very best pork buns I’ve ever had and the noodle soup is worth another trip to New York alone.
• Pio Pio – Peruvian rotisserie chicken done right.  The sauces are also great.
• Lombardi’s – They claim to be the oldest pizzeria in America.  One of the best pies I’ve ever had.
• The food cart on Trinity and Liberty.  – New York dog, yum!

The sights

My dogs are tired!  We have walked more that I care to remember – from subway to subway, up and down stairs, cross town, down town, from the west side to the east side, all across the villages and deep into the Brooklyn.  Aching aside, I’ve loved every minute.  I only wish that Los Angeles was as commuter friendly.

: : A Botero sculpture in the Time Warner building near Columbus Circle.  If you click on the image to see a larger version, you’ll likely notice his “member” is a shiny brass.  Well, I’ve been told that when the statues were installed (there’s also a female), the whole statues was a brownish, red patina.  It’s either been from visitors or, as my wife suspects, the maintenance crew that have with time, polished him down to a shiny “who-who-dilly”.

: : Columbus Circle from the Time Warner building

: : The ubiquitous ferry and Lady Liberty.

: : A tribute to fallen sailors.

: : A tribute to the immigrants who made this nation.

: : Construction at ground zero.

 
: : A tribute to fallen firefighters.

: : Guys playing backgammon

: : Between Chinatown and LIttle Italy (which continues to get smaller) was an exhibition for a new craze sweeping Japan.  LIke the Pokemon which came before it, America open your wallets to… Docomodake!  For more on “How to cook Docomodake?”, please visit the website.

   
: : Most people don’t know that I have a great fascination with our 26th president.  And for those of you who read this and are in the slightest way curious, this might give you reason to do a little reading about him and maybe understand why I hold him in such high regard.  Here is the spectacles’ case and speech he carried when he was shot at by an John Schrank.  Roosevelt insisted on giving his speech with the bullet still lodged inside him. He later went to the hospital, but the bullet was never removed. Roosevelt, remembering that McKinley died after operations to remove his bullet, chose to have his remain. Schrank said that the ghost of William McKinley had told him to avenge his assassination.

: : The site of President Theodore Roosevelt’s birth place (28 E. 20th St. near Broadway).  It was for a time torn down but later rebuilt to it’s original splendor.

: : Puppy in the window in Brooklyn.

: : An outdoor piece at the PS1 (Long Island City) – a Museum of Contemporary Art (part of MOMA).  PS1 is a three story building which was a school.  As an indication which shows my appreciation for modern art, this was the only thing I liked.

: : Central Park from the 11th floor.  Notice the leaves they are a changing.

: : All around the stations located in the mid Manhattan area you’ll find these little bronze statuettes.  They’re kinda silly but also very delightful to look at, especially if you’re a tourist (if you’re from New York, they might not be so cute).

: : Pizza from Lombardi’s (Little Italy).  They claim to be America’s oldest pizzeria.  Oh, and yes, the pizza is stupid good.

: : A trip to New York wouldn’t be the same without at least one sighting of a city rat.  Remi he ain’t.

: : Where is this you ask?  Well, it’s the Ghostbuster’s building.  Yes, I went there. It’s located at 14 North Moore Street, off West Broadway in the Tribeca area.  I think next time we’ll visit several other of the landmarks.

: : I love the subway.  This guy was all in his own world.  As we entered the car, we could hear him serenade, “Pootie tang will get you in trouble”.  Ain’t it the truth brother.

: : A full moon on our last night there.