The Brooklyn Bridge, as it appeared on July 22nd, 2014.
A pair of artists from Berlin, Germany , Mischa Leinkauf and Matthias Wermke, replaced the flags atop the Brooklyn Bridge. The reason the flags were replaced was to celebrate “the beauty of public space” and the German-born engineer who helped build the historic bridge, John Robeling, died in 1869 on July 22, the day the white flags appeared.
The white flag seen from the pedestrian walkway.
When the flags first appeared many questions and concerns were raised. Authorities were concerned over the security breach. Many thought it was a terrorist threat. All it was was a tribute to the bridge and a work of art. Many people didn’t see it that way and unfortunately the artists were arrested and the flags were removed. Since then the security over at the Brooklyn Bridge has increased tenfold. Sadly, not everyone can appreciate the thoughts behind peoples actions.
Close-up of the white flag atop the Brooklyn Bridge.
Front of the line a the the Apple store on 5th Ave.
A new iPhone release always means crazy lines at the numerous Apple stores across the city. People lined up weeks before the release dates anticipating the release of the new iPhone. There was much excitement as there always has been, but this year there seems to be numerous concerns about people waiting in line just to resell the phone minutes later. And the accusations are pointed in one direction: the black market. The video below goes into more detail on this matter.
Line at the Apple Store in 5th Ave.Lines at the Apple Store downtown.
The founders Harrison Shultz (right) and Lorna Shannon (center) smoking with a friend (left).
Following Occupy Wall Streets lead, a new occupy movement has surfaced in downtown Manhattan within Washington Square Park called Occupy Weed Street. Founded by couple Harrison Shultz and Lorna Shannon, who quit there jobs to be the head activists behind Occupy Weed Street, the groups primary goal is to legalize recreational use of marijuana in the state of New York. Within Occupy Weed Street, the group has also started a “420 Fight Club” to demonstrate how marijuana users are not dumb and lazy, but they can be active and smart while under the influence. The group is hoping that a new bill for recreational use will be passed in January 2015.
Washington Square Park were Occupy Weed Street is taking place.
On October 2nd 2012 the streets by Rockefeller Center were packed with Nintendo fans. The line circled the block, all the way down to Radio City Music Hall. Everyone was hype, playing the demo while waiting hours on end. Passersby kept asking what they were standing in line for, and were met with mixed reviews. Some admired the devotion, others laughed at the fact of waiting in line for ours just for “some game”. Once the wait was over everyone went inside purchased their copies and the gaming commenced!
The line going down the block.Fans playing the demo while they wait.
My grandparents came to America from Puerto Rico in the 1960’s and settled in Astoria in the late 1970’s. When I was born in 1991 I was taken to live with my grandparents in Astoria. I began attending school at P.S.17Q in 1996 and everything that followed would shape me into the person I am today. I consider the time I spent growing up in Astoria to be my golden years for this reason.
The famous bakery on the corner of 31st and Broadway. The lovely aroma that comes from the bakery gives Astoria a scent in the air that no other neighborhood has.
Astoria is such a peaceful yet, lively neighborhood with a diverse population and a bunch of crazy characters. I remember waking up every morning to the smell of Parisi’s Bakery spreading it’s lovely aroma of baked goods all down Broadway. The N train was a block away from my house and I remember seeing and hearing it each time as it passed by. The sounds would often lull me to sleep once night came. The nostalgia is what keeps my coming back to Astoria.
Kaufman Studios is a historic movie studio located in the Astoria. Home to New York City’s only backlot, which opened last year in December, 2013.
Unfortunately, today Astoria is a heavily gentrified area. For those of you who don’t know what gentrification is, it is a shift in an urban community that favors wealthier residents/businesses and drives out the lower class residents from the community. Basically the rich move in, and the poor get swept to the side. This is making it all the harder for me to move back to my beloved hometown of Astoria. I hope one day to live in Astoria once more, but for the mean time I’ll survive with just working in the neighborhood I love so much.
Ditmars Blvd Station, the last stop on the N Train in the heart of Astoria.
Sam and the Big City 