not one

Our local movie shoot arrived about 3am this morning with 2 dozen big trucks. They set up, shot and blew town and not a single movie star did I see.

Kristen Wiig and Ben Stiller

http://www.justjared.com

Not one.

I did see a secret-service-lookin-guy driving a black stretch bmw limo with blackout windows. But I never saw inside.

I walked through the set and up the bridge stairs in the background. 

Check this out:

A bank of Arri’s blowing huge, bluish light into the southfacing windows.

On scissor-lift platforms, no less. Fantastic. Guy stuff.

http://www.arri.de/lighting/lighting_emea/

And on Mott’s Wall?! awesomeness.

http://clocktowertenants.com/2010/08/would-never-be-farmland-again.html

http://clocktowertenants.com/2012/06/sobro-verite.html

pump it up

Scabby The Rat, 15 feet tall and full of hot air, has been a fixture on NY sidewalks for over 20 years. He pops up whenever a union is displeased with something at a particular location.

Tourists love him. His roots go back to 1990 in Chicago, another big union town. Our Mason’s Union was reportedly the first NY union to use him.

Still manufactered in Illinois by the Big Sky Balloons and Searchlight Company, each inflatable rat now costs about $8,000.

We live in a city where it’s not been necessary to work harder or faster or smarter to do better for yourself.

Sit along 57th street in an air conditioned truck with the engine idling and wait. You too can be a part of the American Dream.

“Pump it up, until you can feel it,

Pump it up, when you don’t really need it.”

shooting star

If memory serves, I met Megan Cruz on the eastern border of Washington Square in the Fall of 2005 as she and my daughter were about to enter NYU together. Now 7 years later and they just toured Morocco.

If you met Megan you’d remember her, too.

She has that kind of high wattage personality.

Today she’s a TV reporter in the state capital.

So naturally she’s a magnet to great photography. 

She took some, she’s in some.

But just look at these amazing photos!

Bravo! Thanks for the right to remix. Megan’s a star.

http://capitalregion.ynn.com/content/top_stories/541247/megan-cruz/

let's take the stairs

I found another waterfall, this one is in Manhattan and a lot closer than ours up in the Bronx. 

http://clocktowertenants.com/2012/06/hanging-at-river-park.html

This one is in Manhattan’s Morningside Park.

I walked from the ClockTower to 112th and Broadway and figured I’d cut through the park. It’s nice by the water and the falls and the duck at 113th street.

But from there, headed west it’s all up.

Up these flights of stairs.

Then these.

Then these.

See the water all the way down there?

If you don’t like climbing stairs this is not your walk to 112th and Broadway.

I'd rather sit today, anyway

this is how you do it

Melissa texted  “Do you want a ticket to see of Montreal, Jens Lekman and the Thermals?” WHAT? YES. Yes I do thank you.

I had to be quick, the 6 train to the 4 then to Union Square, the L out to Bedford, turn north and then walk up to 12th and Bedford. About 40 minutes.

There was a huge line. Melissa found me and saved me by walking me in past the security guards.

Jens Lekman turned in a very good set. 

He was working without his band because they got caught up in immigration hassles. That must have really sucked.

Later in the show he added local bass and drums plus his digital recordings.

Great show. Started humbly with just Jens and one guitar and expanded to a peak when everyone was on their feet and cheering at the end.

Yup. This is how you do it.

Thanks Melissa!!

while you work, turn it up. Who?

From It’s Hard, 1982

Eminence front

Eminence front - It's a put on.

People Forget

at the end of his

http://clocktowertenants.com/2010/11/living-in-landmark.html