usa redux

Whilst cleaning up some old papers this evening, in preparation for junior pixels, I found a bag of memorabilia from the USA that Kitty had set aside for me. Rather than keep the various brochures, I thought I would take some photos and keep them on here to refer back to.

juiced nyc

We’re currently flying from New York City (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX). Yes, that’s right, I am writing this at 35,000 feet in the sky, thanks to Virgin America’s inflight wifi internet which is unreal.

I thought I would take this opportunity to post photos of some of my favourite parts of NYC. After a week there NYC is immediately is in my all time favourite cities list, it’s just such an amazing place: architecture, food, art, culture, style… everything. We felt very safe the whole time we were there, didn’t feel threatened once, unlike San Francisco.

Not sure if we can visit NYC again in the near future (it’s a loooong way from Australia) but the memories should last a lifetime (oh, that sounds so cheesy).

the high line nyc

The NYC High Line, an abandoned 2.3km elevated railroad, was across the road from our accommodation in NYC. Since it was abandoned in the 1980′s  it has mainly grown weeds, as has attracted graffiti and street art. In 2004 it nearly got demolished, but a group called Friends of the High Line (including actor Edward Norton) managed to save it and it’s currently being transformed into an urban parkland.

The first section opens next month (June 2009), so while we couldn’t explore it (bummer), I managed to climb some stairs and take a few snaps of the progress of the transformation.

Awesomeness.

desmond tutu center, nyc

We’re staying at the Desmond Tutu Center in New York City which is in Chelsea, an area with lots of nice, old terrace homes where people live with their dogs (they walk them every evening). There is loads of street art here and lots of funky people and cafes everywhere. It’s very much like some parts of Melbourne, except a lot older and with more history.

The actual hotel is really nice, it is new and clean and the staff are friendly. It was only USD$149 a night including a basic breakfast which is very cheap for Manhattan Island, and I think I know why. They can’t advertise to the general public because they don’t have the right permit, but that doesn’t stop us staying here and it being an absolute bargain (Holy hotel! Chelsea seminary checking in guests illegally). We’re stoked with it. Here’s some photos:

Update: 19 May 2009: Apparently they’re trying to get a legit permit this Thursday night. See this article (linked here: eek)

street art nyc

Chelsea and the Meatpacking District in NYC are home to some awesome street art.

fritz scholder

We saw a Fritz Scholder exhibit at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in New York City this morning.

Fritz Scholder

A couple of his quotes were quite neat:

“You must walk that tightrope between accident and discipline. Accident by itself…so what? Discipline by itself is boring. By walking that tightrope and putting down something on a canvas…coming from your guts, you have a chance of making marks that … will live longer than you.”

“I give thanks every day that I’ve been able to take my craziness and make it work for me.”