Sunday, December 25, 2022

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 (76th between 5th & 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


Sunday, December 18, 2022

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 34th 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 




Sunday, December 11, 2022

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


Sunday, December 4, 2022

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