GammaBlog

Save Mary Help of Christians Church

gamma — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:50:52 +0000

I interviewed a participant in the rally, Michael Casino. More on the situation on EV GRIEVE and Curbed

Dance Parade NYC 2013

gamma — Sun, 19 May 2013 00:07:11 +0000

NYC Bhangra

Miss New York and Feathers.

On a float that says Stand for the Arts bring back Ovation, which is a cable channel devoted to the Arts, which has been deleted by Time Warner Cable.

Pasion Boliviana

Mazarte

Please feel free to identify yourself or your group in the comments.

Glad to See the Honeybees

gamma — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:43:01 +0000

I was really happy to see some honeybees over the past couple of days. Prior to this I had only seen a few bumblebees out pollinating the flowers in Tompkins Square Park. And I’ve been keeping a pretty close watch on the trees and plants there this Spring. I saw few pollinating insects on this year’s apple, pear and cherry blossoms. Nationwide it is reported that one third of all hives died off over this past Winter. To my mind NYC is probably a sanctuary against the bee die-off, as it is not likely that local bees are fed high-fructose corn syrup, and I think that the neonicotinoid pesticides (banned in Europe) are mostly used on crops.

This is a hawthorn tree at the southeast entrance to the park. Last year it attracted numerous Red Admiral butterflies.

Community Center not Dorms

gamma — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:25:56 +0000

Landmarked in 2006, the P.S. 64 school building on E. Ninth St. was once used as an art, and community activist’s center. The city sold it to developer Gregg Singer in 1998. The deed says it must “provides educational, health, recreational, religious or other essential services for the community it serves.” Thus the push to make it a dorm for 500+ students. The building has been boarded up since December 2001, closing its use to the community. Now its floors are reportedly covered in pigeon guano. The rally and march are to ask that a community center be restored.

They marched from there to the Cooper Union, which has just abandoned it’s charter to provide free education for New York students. Students are now occupying the dean’s office.
I interview: Ben Shepard of Time’s Up, Bill Di Paola of MORUS and Father Pat Moloney, founder of Bonitas House, directly across the street from the building.

Children’s Magical Garden Divided

gamma — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:06:24 +0000

Developer, Serge Hoyda broke into the fence surrounding The Children’s Magical Garden at Norfolk and Stanton Streets on the Lower East Side this morning. Long time garden’s advocate and activist, Aresh Javadi, explains the situation, and how this all might just be a ploy to get access to another plot in a swap with the city. But still the children’s Pizza Garden was trampled in the process.

Children’s Magical Garden Under Attack

gamma — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:04:44 +0000

A developer broke through the gate this morning and is currently digging up the garden. Location: Norfolk and Stanton Streets on the Lower East Side. Neighbors are protesting the police are between them and the workers.

Tompkins Before the Storm

gamma — Sat, 11 May 2013 20:46:33 +0000

I knew that the National Wether Service was predicting a thunderstorm, but I wanted to get out for a bit to my usual haunts, Tompkins Square Park. The light was lovely, so I opted to get soaked (I knew my camera would be safe in its bag when the rain came) and get some shots as the storm approached. I headed down B below the park before it actually started raining, announced by a great clap of thunder. I looked west on 5th Street and saw a great wall of rain approaching. I warned someone carrying bags of groceries, that the rain was half a block away. I don’t think he believed me until the rain hit him a few seconds later. I made it home wringing wet, it felt great.

This beautiful old Black Locust tree on the southeast corner of the park lost a good third of its height in sandy, but it is still impressive.

The leaning elm in the center of the park has been braced by an additional cable. It should be safe.

Dominatrix the Tompkins Sq. Park Hawk

gamma — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:19:38 +0000

The bird watchers in Tompkins Square Park have nicknamed this female hawk The Dominatrix because of her power. Dennis Edge said that it was definitely her as he recognized her especially dark face and other marking, and her mannerisms and familiarity with the park.

Red Tail for sure.

She flew from place to place in the park with her prize, followed by a flock of my fellow hawkarazzi. But each spot she chose was an ideal photo opportunity. She knows how to please her fans.

She caught this pigeon on a tree branch, which is quite unusual and shows her skill. Red Tails usually catch their prey diving at it on the ground.

Feathers (and other grislier bits, I’ll spare you the photo) scattered everywhere, Dennis said soon to be utilized for nesting material for other birds.

Beautiful, from right below, notice the pigeon foot beneath her on the right.

Powerful, glad they don’t go after humans.

WTC1 Beacon in Place

gamma — Fri, 10 May 2013 12:30:24 +0000

I should have known that they would lift it on this sunny morning, but I missed the hoist.

Into the Clouds

gamma — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:12:41 +0000

I was surprised that they chose to lift it with visibility restricted. Update: Looks like they thought the same thing. It is now returned to where it was, I think the jargon is staging area.