Category Archives: around town

Folksy

The Spanish psychiatrist Francesc Tosquelles exiled at a French asylum during WWII, where he deconstructed the experience of being institutionalized.

Tosquelles was a pioneer in his field.

His patients included Auguste Forestier, whose brut sculptures are very powerful.

The American Folk Art Museum has created a masterly exhibit as a testament to the denizens of Saint-Alban.

This exhibit closes Sunday, so visit soon if you can.

If you miss this one, there are always intriguing works of “self- taught” art displayed at 2 Lincoln Square.  Exhibits are always free.

Shaded

Just crossing from 79th Street to East End Avenue, I felt the cool comfort of the trees.

It wasn’t just the feeling that it was 10 degrees cooler here. It was also less humid.

Henderson Place is an oasis in my dreams. It’s a liitle village of little villas.

The original school building was not a thing of beauty, but it had its moments.

The upward expansion is just plain ugly or maybe not so n plain but especially ugly.

Of course, that’s my aesthetic opinion.

On the go

What is it that fascinates about moving trucks? Is it the sense that you aren’t tied down?

The footloose feeling of going anywhere at any time seems to be seductive.

In reality, moving is unpleasant, stressful, and arduous. The art of finding boxes in which to pack up is a hard chore.

Preparations ahead of the actual day are nonstop work. The day itself is nerve-wracking and far from a picnic.

You need the flowers to cheer you during a move.

Never mind, I know I have made my point.

It’s nice that the moving and storage companies have such clever mottos on all their trucks.

I also learned a new word for these vehicles: pantechnicon.

Bonus!

Tributes

Streets are renamed to honor people, places, or things that have made our city great.

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House is such an entity.

This “settlement house” is in the long tradition of social service providers available to New Yorkers.

Founded in 1894, its mission was then and remains now:

At its core, the work has not changed since our founding—we still educate children, feed hungry neighbors, care for the elderly, advocate for vulnerable individuals and provide critical, comprehensive services to immigrants and low-income New Yorkers, helping them to gain the skills they need to strengthen themselves today and build a better community for tomorrow.

Lenox Hill Neighborhood House

The first one in the city was established in 1886; many, like LHNH, still survive.

To learn more about the history of NYC Settlement Houses, click here.