Roosevelt Island Talk
The Roosevelt Island Suitcases talk went really well. Took this photo from the Tramway on the way back to Grand Central.
I made it back just in time to get the 9.06 to New Haven.
Thanks to Judy Berdy of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society for inviting me back. It was a lovely evening.
Julianne Wick Davis / Grand Central Station
The evening at Joe’s Pub was amazing. Julianne Wick Davis’ song cycle based on my suitcases photos was really incredible. I was completely blown away by her talent and drive to get this going. The project is still in the early stages of development, but it is so exciting to have been an inspiration to her. / I was so thrilled that my buddy from Wittenberg, Chris Brigham came out from Chicago for the event. It was so great to see her.
I am on the Metro North train heading back to New Haven which goes in and out of Grand Central Station.
It is quite a place.
The suitcases site has been having a slew of problems of late. We are close to getting it sorted and it is currently back up and running. It appears that it has been innundated with bot attacks attempting to take over the site. Thanks to Steve Fox at Born Digital for all his hard work. It has been very frustrating and costly, but fingers crossed we are working towards a resolution. Cheers all, and thanks for following.
New York City/Roosevelt Island Historical Society/Olive
I had a quick 24 hours in New York City on Thursday/Friday.
After a great lunch with Zoë Crossland (click on the pdf download media button) in Harlem I went downtown to the 9/11 Memorial. It is really quite moving.
The reason for going to New York was to hear Robert Kirkbride‘s presentation on asylums to the Roosevelt Island Historical Society. I’ll be back there talking about the suitcases on the 10th of May. Please come if you are in the area.
It is always nice to take the Tramway over to the Island.
Cheap as chips and great views as you cross the East River. Plus Roosevelt Island is a really cool part of the City.
Judy Berdy is the director of the RIHS and is amazing. We crossed the street for drinks after Robert’s talk and she just happened to have a set of plans for the Goldwater Memorial Hospital building designed by Isadore Rosnfield.
I stayed with friends Pieper and Merrill on the Lower East Side. This is a view of Grand Street from the window of my room.
I often get requests for more photos of the Olive, so here is a recent one.
Hope to see some of you in New York on the 10th.
Pieper and Sarah
Every weekday morning Pieper walks his daughter Sarah to the subway for her trip to school. He then heads uptown to his office to begin his work day. / It was great to stay with him and Merrill and to see them interact with Aidan and Sarah. They are a great family.
Oyster Bar
Sorry, it’s been a while. / I took the Metro North train from New Haven to New York on Friday. I could have taken Amtrak from Springfield, but it goes into Penn Station and I prefer Grand Central. I arranged to arrive with time to spare, so I had some Cotuits and a pan roast at the Oyster Bar. / Just after my Kickstarter page went up, Zoe Crossland from Columbia University contacted me about coming down to give a seminar on the Willard suitcases project. She connected me with Brian Boyd who set it all up, and at 5.30 I was sitting in a room with a great group of faculty and students from the anthropology and archeology departments. I was hoping for lots of feedback and dialogue and wasn’t disappointed. I showed selected photos from what I have done so far and we had a great discussion. / Had a very productive day at the museum last Thursday and will be back shooting in the next few days.
ElementalManhattan / Pieper
This is my friend Richard Pieper. I took this photograph in the elevator of his building in the East Village back in January. (I think he is wearing earmuffs!) Pieper is a great friend and a very interesting fellow. Click here to see his latest project. It is truly amazing.
Snow in NYC
New York City has gotten slammed with snow this year. On Thursday in the late afternoon when I was shooting outside of the Broadway Theatre, I saw a guy in a very late model 911 trying to park in about a foot of snow and slush. How sad. My first thought is that if you can afford a Porsche, you should also be able to own something that is suitable to drive in the snow. / This car was one of many on 96th Street somewhere between Columbus and Broadway. / On Tuesday, I am off to Tilghman Island to continue shooting the waterman story with Peter Carroll. Can’t wait.
Grand Central Station
I like taking Metro North into New York as opposed to Amtrak since the New Haven line goes into Grand Central and Amtrak goes into Penn Station. I know this shot is a bit of a cliché, but I love it anyway. What a place.
Herman
I first met Herman Boykin in Ithaca when our friend Warren roped us all into working on the Strand Theatre renovation. In the late 70s he moved to New York City. It is always so great to get together and hang out. Had time to meet the new puppies and have a few beers before catching the train home.
Vinny Vella
One of the coolest aspects of Albanese’s is that it is as much a community center as a butcher shop. A young guy from down the street came in to eat his lunch, others would chat with Moe for a few minutes then leave, and others like Vinny Vello here would hang around and give Moe the business. Vinny is an actor (really!) and the unofficial Mayor of Elizabeth Street. He has a new movie coming out with Christopher Walken called “The Irishman”. Google him and check out his credits.
Jon Crispin's Notebook 
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