most viewed image of the year

on imgur.

http://imgur.com/bestof2011

beer is food

go easy tonight

Who knew?

Look familiar?

It should. It’s the backyard of the ClockTower.

Did you know that plans were once developed that would turn our ClockTower into a Bronx Community Center?

It’s true. You can see the whole story here:

http://urbanofficearchitecture.com/uoa_narrative_bronx_community_ctr/in/educational/1

The master plan was developed by a firm called Urban Office Architecture.

I nicked these pictures from their website. Urban Office Architecture was founded in 1998 in Milan, Italy but opened its second office in New York City in 2001.

Their plan for the back yard created an urban park.

And they imagined a design that featured a “cafe', cooking studio, library, digital studios, painting and sculpture areas, dance and yoga, work out areas, pool, garden and planting yard, children space, offices, meditation garden, outdoor theater.”

The plans apparently fell through. I have no idea why. 

But I'm kinda glad. I like living here. :-)

retire another year

in the burbs

Out in Soundview, people live in the Bronx as if it were the suburbs.

From Wikipedia: “The word is derived from the old French subburbe, which is in turn derived from the Latin suburbium, formed from sub (meaning "under") and urbs ("city").”

“In Ancient Rome wealthy and important people tended to live on the hills of the city while poorer citizens lived at lower elevations – hence "under the city".”

“The first recorded usage of the term in English, according to the Oxford English Dictionary was made in 1380, where the form subarbis was used.”

But they live right on the water and they have cars and barbecue grills and grassy backyards and two story houses.

So who is really “under” whom?”

Hm?

next years plastic toys

Santa says: “Recycle!”

http://www.greentoys.com/green.html

Thanksgiving in December

Why not? Look around.

There is much to be thankful for.

410 years later

“The first documented instance of figure-shaped gingerbread biscuits appearing was in the court of Elizabeth the First, of England”, in the late 1500’s. 

“She had the gingerbread figures made and presented in the likeness of some of her important guests.”

What a coincidence.

We do that around here, too.

mrry chrstms & hppy nw yr