21Dec 2016 by James No Comments
40 Perfectly Winter Stock Photos

40 Perfectly Winter Stock Photos

Looking Back
‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.   The winter season brings out the some of my favorite emotions. The early part of the season centers around the holidays. Then, February ushers in Valentine's day, and here in America, winter is capped off by St. Patrick's day in March. We think that these stock photos below will help put you in a winter mood. Let's celebrate! (more…)
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26Nov 2016 by James No Comments
Remembering Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates

Remembering Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates

Looking Back
The Gates was a site-specific work of art by artist couple Christo and Jeanne-Claude, which ran from February 12, 2005 through February 27, 2005. The artists installed 7,503 vinyl "gates" along 23 miles (37 km) of pathways in Central Park. From each gate, they hung a panel of saffron-colored nylon fabric. During the time in which this public work was being displayed, New York City was hit with a snow-storm, causing the orange-colored art to be even more picturesque against the Winter NYC skyline. I was fortunate enough to be in college during this time and our Pratt Institute foundation year Three-Dimensional Design teacher cancelled class so we could go see it. Unfortunately, Jeanne-Claude died, aged 74, on November 18, 2009, from complications of a brain aneurysm. This was one of the last great public works of art by…
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21Nov 2016 by James 2 Comments
Clips from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades Through The Years

Clips from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades Through The Years

Looking Back
In the 1920s, many of Macy's department store employees were first-generation immigrants. Proud of their new American heritage, they wanted to celebrate theUnited States parade of Thanksgiving with the type of festival their parents had loved in Europe. In 1924, the parade (originally known as the Macy's Christmas Parade and later the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Christmas Parade) was staged by the store. Employees and professional entertainers marched from 145th Street in Harlem to Macy's flagship store on 34th Street dressed in vibrant costumes.There were floats, professional bands and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. At the end of that first parade, as has been the case with every parade since, Santa Claus was welcomed into Herald Square. At this first parade, however, the Jolly Old Elf was enthroned on the Macy's balcony at the 34th Street store entrance, where he…
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07Nov 2016 by James No Comments
Rare Footage on the Streets of New York City in October of 1987

Rare Footage on the Streets of New York City in October of 1987

Looking Back
I love scouring the web for cool stuff, especially, as you might have guessed, for old photos and footage of New York City. The early part of this footage takes the viewer up 6th avenue (Avenue of the Americas), and passes 46th street. I work nearby. The Duane Reade on 45th street has recently closed, and the Burger King on the corner of 45th is long gone. Change is New York's defining trademark. It's the ultimate "get busy living, or get busy dying" place.   There's about twenty-five minutes of footage spread out over these three videos. It's a great look at life in New York during the late 1980s. Can you believe that 1987 was almost thirty years ago? Check it out, and please disregard the religious extremist in part 3! (more…)
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