Author Archives: TheRealTamara

For an opinionated woman such as I, blogging is an excellent outlet. This is one of many fori that I use to bloviate. Enjoy! Comment on my commentary.

A tale of 2 Peters

Peter Cooper Village is the northern expanse.

At 23rd Street and 1st Avenue is the Peter Cooper part of what is now marketed as Peter Cooper-Stuy Town.

The area below 20th Street is the (Peter) Stuyvesant section.

11,000+ apartments on some 80 acres include plenty of green spaces in this sprawling town within our town.

The ‘Village’ and the ‘Town’ have a long history that seems to have settled lately.

For instance, as of January 2023, the housing here is under rent regulation.

Residents struggled to keep their community. They succeeded in making these tranquil acres a great place to live [per Street Easy.]

Me, I was just passing this corner today.

Ritzy

The next gas pump
A plaque next to Lady M
A mixed bag of facades
Once upon a fruit purveyor. I expect the portrait atop is of the founder of Fulton Fruit Company of New York
I have never really understood this facade treatment
Dig it!
Yesterday’s coffee break?

On my walk

The snowy pillows of clouds mirror the remaining snow heaps in the park.*

The crane is two blocks west working on an immensely tall building that is scheduled to dominate this area.

There is a romance of the facade in style and variety.

Spotted: landscape with water tower.

*Same place, different day:

Party planning

Performance Art

In my wandering today, I passed a little 3-story building with an awning extending over the sidewalk. It had no distinguishing mark, but the address: 220 East 81st Street.

Googled it, of course.

Then, the brilliant connection clicked. I will help you plan your next big party!

Dan Dunn, artist working under the umbrella PaintJam, will create a custom scene at your event.

Looking for the unusual is a great sport and finding it a true pleasure. The “speed painter” Dan Dunn “perform paints” at events. He forces his audience to challenge their expectations as he works.

The artwork will be original, and the painting will be entertaining in the spirit of grand theatricality.

Where to hold this performance from PaintJam? How about at Portable Provisions on the UES?

Monumental

But lacking soul

There’s a plethora of stately mansions on the UES, all with finely chiseled features and little heart.

Granite. Stone-cold granite

Large structures, whose connection is a shared design firm and expensive digs, dot the 80’s.

Ah, real-estate.

I once passionately admired the work from the architectural firm of Robert A.M. Stern. My thinking 🤔 now? Too cookie-cutter.