Holiday 2022 p2

Due to popular demand (Hi Dottie!) I am posting a second set of holiday pics from NYC.

These are from the Holiday Village in Union Square across the street from Jessica’s apartment. 

 

The village has lots of lovely handcrafted items for sale – some with a NYC spin.

Macy’s had a Lego window this year!

And some other really cute ones.

But the professionals can’t really compete with the natives.  Check this out…

You would think that if someone across the street from you had gone that over-the-top you would call it a day.  But you would be wrong.  Two neighbors on the other side of the street (76^th between 5^th & Madison) rose to the challenge with beautiful tasteful displays of their own.  I can’t wait to see what happens next year!

Someone found a clever way to maximize their tiny restaurant.

And the churches got in on the action too.

Perhaps the most beautiful holiday art I saw this year was the card that Tim Baynes sent me.  It even has sparkles – which his wife Sian attached by hand.  How awesome is that?  A team effort from across the pond.

Here’s a link to Tim’s blog …

http://www.timbaynesart.co.uk/

 

Merry Christmas!

PJ

 

© 2022 PJ Lehrer

Holiday 2022

NYC is celebrating!

After a few years of Covid linked blues all bets are off this year – and it’s time to party. 

From the window displays at Macy’s 34^th Street

 

to the brownstones on the Upper East Side, everyone is trying to outdo each other. 

And it’s awesome.

The Christmas tree merchants have arrived from out-of-town and are trying to entice customers. 

And did I mention the faint smell of legal weed wafting about?  

NYC gets more fun by the moment. Disneyland for grown-ups.  Next up - legalized gambling.  

No wonder everyone wants to visit. 

We have great trees inside and out!

Some previous holiday blogs…

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2019/12/nyc-holiday-2019.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/12/holiday-windows.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2013/12/nyc-holiday.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2014/12/saks-fifth-avenue-christmas-2014.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2015/01/saks-fifth-avenue-christmas-2014-part-2.html

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2018/12/bergdorf-goodies-2018.html

 

 

Happy Chanukah!

PJ

 

© 2022 PJ Lehrer 

The Tudors @ The Met

 

If like me, you developed a passion for history after watching the PBS specials about Henry VIII and Elizabeth I in the 70’s, the current Tudor exhibit at The Met is a must see.

It’s a large exhibit with pieces borrowed from all sorts of places.  Although this rare doublet is from the Met’s collection.

It is anchored by several full-length portraits of Elizabeth I in sumptuous attire.

This one is the earliest.  It’s from a private collection.  Can you imagine?  I wonder whose.

This Holbein drawing of Anne Boleyn is on loan from the British Royal family as were several other pieces.  They have a very impressive art collection.

Portraits are on display of practically the entire family.  Here’s baby brother Edward VI – king at nine, dead at 16.

And, here’s Mary Tudor – Henry’s sister – briefly Queen of France.

There’s even a portrait of one of Elizabeth’s rejected suitors – the Duke of Alencon.  He may have been the Queen of France’s son, but he was also only 23 when he courted the 45-year-old queen.  She was apparently quite fond of him.  But not fond enough to share her power.

I had expected the exhibit to include the pretty Henry VIII armor that normally holds a place of honor in the armory section of the Met, but didn’t expect to see several other examples of his armor.  I should have checked to see who the collector was who donated them to the Met.

But perhaps the most surprising thing I learned at the exhibit was that Hans Holbein the Younger not only created sublime portraits he also created decorated arts and he designed this armor.

As well as this cup for Jane Seymour.

The exhibit runs through January 6, 2023 so there’s still time for locals to check it out.

Enjoy!

PJ

 

© 2022 PJ Lehrer

Collaboration with Tim #28 – Seagram Building

 

The Seagram Building in Manhattan is such a historically important building in the architecture world that I wasn’t surprised when Tim requested a pic to work from.  I have to admit however that I have always thought it was pretty boring.  So when I shot it, I used the lamp poll and flower basket in front to jazz it up.

But Tim was having none of that, so he moved them off to the side.  😊

When I wondered if I could combine our work into a single image I realized that using the same shot wouldn’t work so I looked for a complementary one.  This photo was taken from the side street around the corner.  I just loved what the clouds were doing that day.

And when I put the two together – it was magic!

Yes, this one is my favorite from the series.

If you want to check out my other collaborations with Tim, use the label at the bottom of this blog.  And you can follow us at Instagram at @pjlehrer and @timbaynes.

Cheers!

PJ

© 2022 PJ Lehrer

Daisies 6

As the fall winds down and the flowers disappear it seems like a good time to post some more photos of my favorite fall flower – daisies. 

I like them for their variety as well as their timing.  

Interestingly none of these are the classic white flower with yellow middle. 

And, come to think of it I rarely see them in NYC.  Perhaps those are some in the back?

I wonder if that species isn’t happy here.

Or if it’s just that the gardeners prefer purple and yellow.

Most of these are from the display at the Conservancy Gardens in Central Park at 105^th Street. 

As I mentioned in the previous blog, I had arrived just in time to see them being pulled for the season. 

But there was still time to get a few nice pics. 

That having been said, next year I’ll remember to visit before they wrap for the season.

Here is the previous blog –

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2021/11/daisies-5.html

Use the labels at the bottom of the blog to select “daisies” to see more.

 

Ciao

PJ

 

© 2022 PJ Lehrer

Fall on the High Line NYC 2

After a stupendous fall, NYC’s temps went below freezing last night so our flowers and leaves will not be with us much longer. 

Seems like a good time to post some more pics of fall on the High Line. 

One of the interesting things they have decided to do is to let the lawn go natural. 

Instead of trying to keep it grass, which would require the use of fertilizers,

they have let the “weeds” grow and the area has filled up with dandelions and clover. 

What a great idea. 

And environmentally correct too. 

But I think most of the people walking on the High Line this fall barely noticed the lawn since they were too busy enjoying the trees. 

And the occasional glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. 

Or just hanging out on the benches. 😉

Here’s a link to the previous blog…

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2022/11/fall-on-high-line-nyc.html

 

And since the links may have not been working last week here are those again. (You can also just click on the link at the bottom of this blog that says - Label: High Line - then just those blogs will come up.)

 

These blogs are about the building of the High Line.  If you look closely, you can see how much larger the plants are now.

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/09/high-line-part-1.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2012/09/high-line-part-2.html

 

Here are some pics from Fall 2015.  Again, you can see the difference seven more years made.

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2015/11/fall-high-line.html

 

https://pj-studio.blogspot.com/2016/11/fall-high-line-2.html

 

Cheers!

PJ

 

© 2022 PJ Lehrer