Shift Shots 3/30

The cover picture (top of page), was taken in 2007 near the south end of the FDR Drive. A seemingly dark and dangerous place it is merely a lonely place more than anything else. After the workers go home there isn't much left here but echoes through these cliffs made of brick, mortar, and glass. These echoes, the security guards, and a few surveillance cameras placed in every nook and cranny, leave an odd feeling of presence amongst the empty streets and closed store fronts.

Downtown

I found myself on the same small street corner, now less enclosed with one less modest brick building surrounded by our still bold skyline. I am referring to the skyline behind me, not the one straight ahead, which is Brooklyn Heights, and Downtown Brooklyn's. 

Somehow we make these streets work. See what most people unfamiliar with New York don't realize is that this city really does have a little bit of everything. Geographically speaking, or cartographical, whichever, we have this small piece of New York City the earliest part of the city, the part that came before the easier to navigate grid system, where all the streets are small and conjoin each other between small angles amongst a small hill. Each street goes one way in it's own direction, and to complicate things further construction projects, pedestrian malls, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Wall Street all close these streets abruptly, making it seem impossible to drive through on any of these little streets. But the less traveled streets may offer a good fare, if one knows the best way out.

Downtown

Broadway in NoHo was always getting jammed at the intersection at Houston Street (howstun). Hopefully now that the intersection has finally been repaved, it'll go smoother. But nearly 2 months ago it was real nasty. 

It was worse than usual at this particular minute. I didn't notice why until all these sirens converged right next to me, all to address what looked like a police scooter down on the pavement. An ambulance and maybe 2 or 3 police cars met with the handful of cops already there. My guess is that a scooter cop was chasing somebody and had to pursue on foot. Somebody probably got injured during this and just in case they got an ambulance? I have no idea, but honestly with everyone hanging around and chatting it didn't look too serious once they all got there.

NoHo

And this picture is definitely a sign that I'm way behind in my posts of shift shots. Since this picture, Broadway, the one with all the traffic has been shut down to cars and bicycles, and 7th Avenue just behind it has been widened. Believe it or not I'm pretty optimistic about the change. We might have traffic flow better southwards, although the real question is if the surrounding traffic will get worse.

Times Square