TheRealTamara

Contrasting

The old townhouse looks like the new skyrise is spouting from its roof. Its stone-fronted neighbor stoically looks on.

There’s no way of telling what The Wren looked like prior to its conversion into a dwelling of distinction. I want to guess it had been a garage.

Every block is a study in contrasts. Old and new, transformed and reformed.

Too tall

I am short. But this is not envy. I think buildings should be manageable and light-sustaining.

I don’t want to live in their shadow or feel like their penthouse is on the moon.

This is purported to be just the bottom of a monstrously tall building. It brings “residential” to a new level.

This is also facing the symbol of a “union busting” worksite.

Tsk tsk….

Those exciting little details

A triptych of the ridiculously tall structure planned for 79-80 block thru on 1st.

Highlights from 84th between 2nd and 1st include a little well-articulated door to a small house; dormers under a high rise; a row of old brownstones, neatly maintained, and each different; the Zion Lutheran Church stands by a balconied apartment building; a nicely renovated The Wren is just 7 or 8 floors high. There’s a “vintage shop”1 with vintage tees on its rack. A kiosk on the sidewalk in front of an Italian restaurant. The windows of Not A Speakeasy are an attraction I can’t pass without snapping.

The Starr Pavilion extends from its entrance on E 70th in both directions to 525 E 68th Street and over 70th. Weill Cornell Medicine/New York Presbyterian cover a lot of the ground here on the UES.

Lastly, this purple sky hangs over Roosevelt Island.

Homebody

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

My vow to live and die in New York City might be a tad provincial. I have often posited that we New Yorkers are small-town potaters.

Still, here I am. And here I’ll stay.

It occurred to me that building a big structure is like putting up a little farmhouse.

Concrete pillars have made it to the second floor and look ready to be framed out.
Framing and other musings

Framing and other musings

It occurred to me that building a big structure is like putting up a little farmhouse.

Concrete pillars have made it to the second floor and look ready to be framed out.

East 74th has piqued my interest for a long while now. I’ve reported on this before. This stretch of it from 1st to York has a peculiar numbering system. It jumps inexplicably from 414, 416 to 482.

In the other direction from 484 to 482, goes right to 416. Confusing? Right?