Unmentionables.

17th street, a block west of Union Square.

No, I don't want a swig of your beer.

Wish I was carrying a real camera at the time for this one. This guy was great. Flirtin' with the ladies, chastizing the guys, posing for shots.

Smile before looking both ways before crossing the street.

This character caught my eye as I was walking home from work who knows what. There are certainly worse kinds of graffiti, I suppose.

Entitled.

I met a friend for lunch yesterday, recounting the previous 48 hours of my recent (f)unemployment.

What'd you do yesterday?
Meh. Threw together my first resume in five years.
You didn't steal one from someone you met on campus?
Really?
Shoulder shrug. Why not? You've seen thousands of them.
I'm not stealing the creative brainpower of a 20 year old accountant-to-be.
How'd yours come out?
Like it was made by the 20 year old's pre-teen brother.

We sat in silence for maybe 30 seconds, my friend realizing the complexity of my current situation. We took in timely sips of our respective beers; mine Magic Hat #9, his Sam Adams. The cold mugs made the burgers and conversation in front of us easier to swallow.

You don't have to get right back into things, you know.
I know, I know. I knew. I think I knew, at least.
You're entitled to some "me" time. You're sitting here checking your phone like you still have partners to tend to and conference calls to deliver on.
Well there is the job interview I have on Friday that I'm waiting...
Take a day. Take an hour. Take a timeout. Do something tomorrow that you haven't done in a long time. Get out of your apartment, away from the internet, and be selfish for an afternoon.

I was selfish today.

I walked around the Union Square, East Village area. It was my home for three years. I know it well. Like an old friend.

100 Faces - hand drawn in Union Square by Felix

Sketching a mural on the wall of Ross Charter School.

Sun sets on Union Square.

A different kind of "public art."

This isn't exactly Tom Otterness like yesterday, but you get the idea. Someone was using the wall of a Union Square staircase as their gallery space. One for $10 or two for $15. Sure beats hanging outside in the cold.

Here, there and everywhere.

Stickers (and stikmen!) are in no short supply these days. Much of the street art has gone the way of high tech stickers, but one artist (or criminal, depending on your viewpoint) has made a name for himself with three simple letters. The Times landed an interview with the individual behind the international stamping of B.N.E., which happens to coincide with a limited length art exhibit (info here).

While I normally don't pay much attention to the stickers, I started picking up on this one after reading the Times article. The pay phone on the downtown F/V platform at 14th Street. This one in Brooklyn. Others in the East Village.

Have you seen it anywhere? Share your stories below.

Just another (sick) day in the neighborhood.

Man oh man, it's been awhile since I strolled large chunks of Houston Street. I was back into the depths of 'hood today, this time picking up some candy for adults medication to combat whatever it is that I have. The most recent diagnosis - strep throat! What am I, 12? The doctor actually asked me half-seriously / half-creepily if I'd been hanging around kids recently. No Dateline, I haven't.

I strolled past this advertisement-disguised-as-a-mural near Houston and Avenue B. To read more about what it is and how the street artist Chico completed it, check out EVGrieve's detailed posts.

Make sure you take pictures of playground equipment when kids are not present.

Wandering the Lower East Side (and avoiding the rain) I noticed this cool fellow in the little park at Essex & Houston. Notice the little guy in the left foot. I don’t know who the designer is, but the medium is very similar to the 8th Ave/14th Street “Life Underground” exhibit. Frogs are cool.