Random things

Some things just don't wrap up neatly in a package.   I am posting some pictures from the last six weeks of things that could not be grouped together in a nice geographic packet but were nonetheless interesting to me.

Wave to the drone

Friends came to visit us and we went in search of a restaurant in Chinatown.  We ended up at Hop Shing, 9 Gotham Square, where we had a very adequate no frills Chinese dinner.  Far more interesting were the group of tourists hamming it up for a souvenir video (I suppose) - A drone was videoing them- check out the white object at the top of the photo.

We needed something from Micro Center.  And while we were in the shopping center we got some slices of pizza at Valentino's.  Years ago, when Micro Center was McCrory's and the shopping center was a regular shopping stop for my parent's  Saturday shopping routine, Fran Drescher of the Nanny fame, lived down the block.  We know this for sure since she was friends with my sister and cousin.  She still stops by at Valentino's from time to time- definitely the only remaining business of that era- and we snapped a photo of framed picture from  a recent visit.

Celebrating Diwali at the Queen's Museum

Took a short trip over to the Queen's Museum to see Mierle Laderman Ukeles' exhibit on Maintence Art.  The picture on the wall is from the exhibit  One theme of the exhibit was reclamation- hence the picture of a reclaimed garbage dump- turned park.  In a room at one end of the museum the recording of Hebrew prayer played, while in the shared space the Northeastern  Hindu Community Organization celebrated Diwali.  The dancers in the picture were rehearsing.  We left the Museum to dance with the Torah at our own temple, Diwali and Simchat Torah falling adjacent to each other on the calendar.  Parts of the world are torn apart over religious observation.   In Queens -we dance.. 

Digestor Eggs- Newtown Creek Water Treatment Plant

What's the hottest ticket on Valentine Day in New York City?  Did you say the sewage treatment plant?

Yup

We've never actually gotten tickets for the Valentine's Day event, but we finally made it to the Open House New York Weekend. Enthusiastic, cheerful, waste engineers and spectacular skyline views make it every bit as fascinating as one would think a hot ticket would be.  And, strangely enough, it doesn't even smell bad.

 

Birds on a wire

Outside the Flushing Cemetery on a telephone poll ( yes we still have some in Queens- not everything is underground)  there is a large parrot's nest.  (yes I wrote parrots)  We walked by one sunny morning and they were all hanging out.  We only had our cell phones.  But enlarge the picture if you don't believe me.