'I'll Have What She's Having', at Katz's Deli

Photo by myself outside Katz's Deli, on Ludlow and Houston Streets, on the Lower East Side.

Katz's Deli, or simply Katz's, is a landmark on the Lower East Side. They serve up Jewish kosher food, and their sandwiches are gigantic.

Meg Ryan faked her famous orgasm there in the movie When Harry Met Sally. Yep.

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Just after the recent snowstorm, Mark and I drove by Katz's Deli to swoop up one of their signature giant Reuben sandwiches and a some mushroom barley soup. With snow comes cravings for comfort food.

Mark waited in the car with our dog Rupert, as I made the dash into the place. I'd been there a couple times but wasn't prepared for what I found, which was complete mayhem.

Katz's is wildly popular, and their set-up inside is different. You stand on line to receive a ticket, then you choose among several lines for what type of food you want, whether it be solid or liquid or whatever.

A hot dog? Go to the hot dog line. A gigantic sandwich? You stand in the gigantic sandwich line. Want to pay and leave? There's a line for that, too.

At the pay and leave line, folks were looking at the sandwiches offered.

'Send a salami to your boy in the army' was a slogan used at Katz's.

The hot dog line was a bit more reasonable.

It was seriously so nuts, I had to leave without getting anything. But I did manage to take a few photos, after asking the employees for permission.

Here's a clip of that famous scene from When Harry Met Sally. You know the one.


Related posts: Russ and Daughters, Lower East Side, Cold Noodles and Hot Shows and The Oyster Bar, at Grand Central Station.

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Recovering from a Rough Night, on Avenue A

Photo by myself on Avenue A, around 7th Street in Alphabet City.

A young fellow sat slumped over on a stoop, around noon on Sunday. He looked like he wasn't feeling well.

Fortunately the weather was mild and sunny. It was a welcome relief after days of relentless gray drizzle.

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A split second after taking this photograph, the guy walking into frame addressed me. He couldn't believe that I took a photo of the fellow on the stoop without asking first. I didn't want to get into anything, so I just smiled and walked away.

I wanted to say that the street is a public place. If you're on the street, there is nothing illegal about taking someone's photograph.

I can't tell you how many times I've had people ask me to delete a photo. Every time, it's been a person selling something, and they're worried that I'm going to report them for selling without a license or that I'm stealing their ideas. It has never, ever been a person who didn't want their picture taken. Surprising, but true.

I photograph people because I find them striking or beautiful, a small part of a larger image.

There's nothing to be embarrassed about. No one is ever too tall or too short or too heavy. They are simply who they are, perfect in who they are. Even when someone might feel at his absolute worst, he can be a part of an image that moves others.

All this I wanted to say to the guy. Maybe next time.

Related posts: On the Sidewalk, Chinatown, Surprise, Suprise and Life in the Balance.

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On Mulberry Street and Small Packages

Photo by myself on Mullberry and Broome Streets, in Little Italy.

Little Italy is adorned with lights during this time of year. Often restaurants are covered with tiny lights, wreathes, or enormous statues of nutcrackers.

Above, a non-Italian bar in that neighborhood, had an English Bulldog snuffling about, outside.

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I had no idea that New York had 'official' condoms, but we do. Imagine that.

Apparently the wrappers are often redesigned. Why? Well, maybe because New Yorkers are design-oriented, shallow folk who are easily seduced by packaging. Or maybe we're constantly trying to find the 'new' within the 'old'. I don't quite understand it.

Anyway, here are the 2007 and 2008 wrapper designs, published in the Times. Now the City is calling for submissions for a redesign.

Deadline for entries is January 22, 2010. Sharpen your pencils! Perhaps your design will be freely distributed to millions (of horny New Yorkers) for a good cause.

For details about the competition, click here.
For a discussion in the Times, click here.

Related posts: What's Scrolling in Midtown, Emailing Under the Influence...Not and Neon Storefronts, Midtown.

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At the Lake, in Central Park

Photo by myself near the lake in Central Park, around 72nd Street and Central Park West.

From this vantage point, you can see buildings that are 30 blocks south in Midtown.

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Mark and I have been nesting and cooking like mad. We've been experimenting with new recipes, like buttermilk chicken, split pea soup and chocolate chip cookies. I think we've gone through three sticks of butter already.

Christmas Eve, we dined with friends in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. They'd prepared a homemade feast of roast beef and horseradish sauce, roasted potatoes and gravy, egg noodles and candied carrots. We brought Rupert, our cookies, a bottle of wine and our stomachs.

I feel so lucky to have the friends I do in real life and online. Thank you so much for visiting. I hope each of you is having a wonderful holiday season with people you care about!

Related posts: Central Park, in the Rain, The World Above Central Park and Six Inches Under, in Central Park.

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Have Yourselves a Very Merry Xmas

Photo by myself in Rockefeller Center.

The outdoor plaza at Rockefeller Center is packed this time of year with visitors. The Christmas tree is on center stage, looming above the outdoor skating rink.

This year's tree is a 76-foot tall Norway spruce from Easton, Connecticut. It will be on display until January 7th, 2010.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Related posts: Merry Christmas, All, Sparkly Lights in Rockefeller Center and Christmas Greetings from New York.

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On Soldiers, Sailors and Going Nuts

Photo by myself in Riverside Park, around 88th Street and Riverside Drive.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is located in Riverside Park, overlooking the Hudson River. Several cannons are stationed nearby, aimed toward New Jersey.

People were sledding down the snow-covered steps, just enjoying the outdoors. The sun was setting as usual, casing an orange glow on everything.

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Mark and I, like many New Yorkers, are suffering from apartment living.

Our upstairs neighbors look like normal people with a 2-year old. However, once they get inside they become Neanderthals, clomping around and dropping things because they lack opposable thumbs.

They slam things, clomp around, then slam more things. Then the little boy goes berserk and runs around for half an hour, wearing what must be combat boots. Yowza.

We've tried communicating about it but that didn't get far. Recently, we were woken up at 6 am by what sounded like Riverdance. Mark got the broom and started banging on the ceiling. Nice.

You can't choose your neighbors, especially here, where they are on top of you and below you and to every side. Of course, it could always be worse. The kid could join a rock band.

Related posts: Something Old, Something New, The Towers Near Riverside Park and Along the West Bank.

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Get Your Christmas Tree, on the Upper West Side

Photo by myself on the Upper West Side, around 88th Street and Amsterdam.

In every neighborhood, you can buy a Christmas tree or wreath on the sidewalk. And if you've procrastinated, you can even wait until Christmas Day to buy it. Often you'll see people dragging their trees down the street.

Walking the gauntlet, all you can smell are pine needles. It's a whiff of the country in the city, and it's pretty incredible.

Related posts: Choose Your Tree, on Seventh Avenue, O Christmas Tree and Seasons Greetings, from the MTA.

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Sledding Outside the San Remo

Photo by myself in Central Park, around 74th Street and Central Park West.

I somehow found myself near Central Park today, near sunset. New Yorkers were enjoying the snow that arrived on Sunday.

Weather people had forecasted as much as 14 inches. It looked like we got 9 or 10 inches, instantly transforming the everyday into a winter wonderland.

In the background are the buildings along Central Park West. The tall building with two towers is The San Remo, which was completed around 1930. According to Wikipedia, The San Remo has counted Tiger Woods, Bono and Demi Moore as its residents, among other celebrities.

Apologies for so many sunset and night photos recently. It seems like I'm never outside when it's daytime. Things will change soon enough - Monday marked the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. Woohoo!

Related posts: Six Inches Under, in Central Park, On the Recent Snow, et al. and Snowing in the City.

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