Christmas in NYC Photos

For the upcoming month I will be posting my pictures on my sister blog As Seen By Me NYC Holiday Photos By Lee starting with Barneys Christmas Window Display. As some people are only subscribed to this blog I will post here with the urls to the posts on the sister blog. I created a separate blog because I want that one to be solely dedicated to Christmas in NYC pictures. :)

EDITED TO ADD: Hello. Wow! What a bump in people viewing the site. Since most of you all are here to see SVU pics you can click on this link to see all of my SVU pics posts. ALL SVU POSTS However, it would be nice if you all would also check out my other picture posts and sister blog because honestly they are the reason I started this blog, to post pics of the culture and wild life of New York. :) It would also be great if people could leave some comments about the pics. I am trying to improve my photography and input is greatly appreciated. :) :)


FRI NOV 6th

Photobucket

Photobucket

On Wed. the 4th, SVU was filming Uptown yet again! The neighborhood is always used in movies and TV shows, but I don't ever remember any show being up here so frequently in such a short period of time. But heh, what is not to like about this neighborhood! :D

This time around they were filming on the grounds of The Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

..... officially the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine in the City and Diocese of New York, is the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Located at 1047 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10024 (between West 110th Street, which is also known as "Cathedral Parkway", and 113 Street) in Manhattan's Morningside Heights, the cathedral is claimed to be the largest Cathedral and Anglican church and fourth largest[1] Christian church in the world (although the title is disputed with Liverpool Anglican Cathedral).[2] The inside covers more than half a city block, with 121,000 sq ft (11,200 m2), spanning a length of 183.2 meters (601 ft) and height 70.7 meters (232 ft).

The cathedral is nicknamed St. John the Unfinished,[3][4][5][6][7][8] and The White Elephant Of The Upper West Side.

The cathedral, designed in 1888 and begun in 1892, has, in its history, undergone radical stylistic changes and the interruption of the two World Wars. Originally designed as Byzantine-Romanesque, the plan was changed after 1909 to a Gothic design.[1][9] After a large fire on December 18, 2001, it was closed for repairs and reopened in November 2008.[1] It remains unfinished, with construction and restoration a continuing process.[1][9]

On the grounds of the Cathedral, toward the south, are several buildings (including a Synod Hall and the Cathedral school), and a Biblical garden, as well as a large bronze work of public art by the Cathedral's sculptor-in-residence, Greg Wyatt, known as the Peace Fountain, which has been both strongly praised and strongly criticized.

--Wiki

Photobucket

Photobucket

The Peace Fountain is a 1985 sculpture and fountain located next to the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in the Morningside Heights section of New York City by Greg Wyatt, sculptor-in-residence at the Cathedral Evan Cohen, Ray Lawrence - assistants (Lawrence misspelled on Plaque at site as "Laurence")

The sculpture depicts the struggle of good and evil, as well as a battle between the Archangel Michael and Satan. The sculpture also contains the Sun, the Moon, and several animals. Although it is called a fountain, there is currently no water on the site. A plaque at the base contains the following inscription:

Peace Fountain celebrates the triumph of Good over Evil, and sets before us the world's opposing forces—violence and harmony, light and darkness, life and death—which God reconciles in his peace.

When the fountain operates, four courses of water cascade down the freedom pedestal into a maelstrom evoking the primordial chaos of Earth. Foursquare around the base, flames of freedom rise in witness to the future. Ascending from the pool, the freedom pedestal is shaped like the double helix of DNA, the key molecule of life. Atop the pedestal a giant crab reminds us of life's origins in sea and struggle. Facing West, a somnolent Moon reflects tranquility from a joyous Sun smiling to the East. The swirls encircling the heavenly bodies bespeak the larger movements of the cosmos with which earthly life is continuous.

Nine giraffes—among the most peaceable of animals—nestle and prance about the center. One rests its head on the bosom of the winged Archangel Michael, described in the bible as the leader of the heavenly host against the forces of Evil. St. Michael's sword is vanquishing his chief opponent, Satan, whose decapitated figure plunges into the depths, his head dangling beneath the crab's claw. Tucked away next to the Sun, a lion and lamb relax together in the peace of God's kingdom, as foretold by the prophet Isaiah.

Surrounding the periphery of the sunken plaza in which the fountain sits are plaques, rendered in a style artistically similar to the of the fountain itself, depicting various philosophers, thinkers and artists, most accompanied by a quote by the individual depicted. Despite the Peace Fountain's associating with a Christian (Episcopalian) cathedral, many of the luminaries thus depicted are non-Christian icons, such as Gandhi, Socrates, Einstein and John Lennon, whose image is accompanied by a quote from the lyrics of his song "Imagine".

-- Wiki

Photobucket

Photobucket

I was only able to get there in the late afternoon so I have no idea where Set 1 was

Photobucket

but Set 2 was in one of the ancillary Church buildings and not the Church itself.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Filming occurred in both the black house like tent and also inside the building, which, as you can tell in the pictures, were both inside the gated section that bystanders weren't allowed to enter so I thought I would only be able to get these type of heavily blocked, bad shots.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

However, I was able to get some shots of the actors when they stepped out for what seemed to be a Very Late lunch break. Some of the shots are really blurry. Sorry for that. My pics were definitely off that day. :)

I don't know if Mariska Hargitay was around earlier in the day but I didn't see her. Two Really Nice and Friendly SVU fans, Cass and Chelsea who have Really Great SVU Youtube Channels here eosvuaddictx and here zuzu1614, said that they also didn't see her, but that Tamara Tunie was there earlier in the day, but she must have left before I got there because I didn't see her. I saw and was able to get pics of Dann Florek, Christopher Meloni and Ice-T (Tracy Marrow) and his wife Coco (Nicole Austin).

The mood on the set seemed a bit tense. I didn't see much joking around as I have seen in the past. The stars were gracious enough with the fans and did take some pics and gave autographs, but again they didn't seem as "smiley" as I have seen them in past. One of the fan sites, SVUfans.net mentioned that the day before this filming the show filmed down at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, in the middle of the day with students coming and going and with polling stations open and the stars were mobbed, so maybe they were just a little weary of fans after that, which is Completely Understandable.

Dann Florek is taller in real life than he appears on the show.

Photobucket

While I was there I ran into the Cutest tourist from Oregon whose name is Dixie. I will mention more about her below. She was fantastic! :D

Photobucket

I can't believe that Ice-T is 51. He definitely does NOT look like it!

Photobucket

Christopher looked very pensive while discussing something and

Photobucket

definitely is a Very Manly man. :) I would love to just run into him on the streets and see him in something other than a blue suit. ;)

Photobucket

Photobucket

After Ice-T walked to his trailer, I was standing on the corner speaking to another photographer who was male and his female friend. We were waiting for Ice-T to come back out of this trailer. We didn't know that Coco was with Ice-T. When they came out of the trailer together the photographer got a big smile on his face.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

The friend took a picture with Ice-T and I asked him for his autograph, after embarrassingly mentioning that I remembered him from when I saw him in Breakin' back in 1984! Lol! I can't believe that he still gave me an autograph after that! Lol! :D

Photobucket

The male photographer on the other hand took a series of photos of Coco in profile and of her behind. After Coco and Ice-T went into a local restaurant the photographer and I were comparing pictures and I could NOT stop laughing when I saw his pictures! :D :D Let's just say those pictures didn't look at all like the pictures his friend and I had taken! Lol!

Christopher then left for lunch and then returned to his trailer.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Cass and Chelsea said that while Christopher ate lunch (at a different restaurant from Ice-T) people kept going into the restaurant and sitting at the tables near him, pretending that they were going to order food, but then would just try and speak to him. That must get very annoying when all you want to do is just eat in peace.

Ice-T and Coco then returned back to their trailer.

Photobucket

Photobucket

I only took these two photos because after seeing the photos the male photographer took I realized that these would most likely be the view of Coco that my dear partner would most like to see. :) I can't believe that I actually took them! Lol! Very unlike me! :D

Photobucket

Photobucket

Remember that Adorable tourist, Dixie, I mentioned earlier? Well she made my day when Christopher walked right past her as he walked back to the set. She was COMPLETELY AWESTRUCK and could barely stammer out, "Hello" (to which Christopher did say, "Hello" back to her.) The look on her face was PRICELESS! She was the nicest person and I think I can safely say that this was one of the high points of her trip to NYC. :D

Photobucket

Photobucket

I keep catching the cutest reactions to Christopher! First it was the young girl who was clutching her chest and beaming as he walked by and this time it was Dixie. I Love it! :D

Ice-T then returned back to the set and I left after that.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Hope you enjoyed the pics and sorry again for the blurry ones. I will leave you all with the following. I was searching for pics of the Village Halloween Parade and came across these NY Daily News' Halloween pics of Ice-T and Coco. All I will say is that I hope for both of their sakes that they really love each other and that Coco is not just a "trophy wife."

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket


MON NOV 2nd

Photobucket

On Sunday, October 25th, 2009, Tompkins Square Park's the Friends of First Run held its 19th annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade.

Photobucket

I have read the parade described as the biggest of its kind, but I totally underestimated the number of dogs and people that would be there. Lol! :D There are indeed a lot of pics in this post, but even this amount represents only a relatively small sampling of all the pictures. This was a serious creativity contest because for the most part store bought costumes didn't place, only Highly Creative, Home Made ones did.

There were certain definite recurring themes/costumes such as:

Bees

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Country Themed

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Devils

Photobucket

Photobucket

Food

Photobucket

Photobucket

Hot Dogs

Photobucket

Photobucket

Lady Bugs

Photobucket

Lobsters

Photobucket

Photobucket

Military

The Modern Day Armed Services ...

Photobucket

The following picture is Not mine. It is by Arossetti.

Photobucket

Photobucket

and the Civil War Blue and Grey

Photobucket

Money

Photobucket

Photobucket

Monkeys

Photobucket

Pimp Daddies

Photobucket

Pirates

Photobucket

Photobucket

Pumpkins

Photobucket

Royalty.

There was a King ...

Photobucket

Photobucket

and A Frog Prince with his Human Princess ...

Photobucket

Photobucket

The following picture is NOT mine. It is by Arossetti.

Photobucket

and a Human and Canine Queen ...

Photobucket

Photobucket

and Human and Canine Princesses. I just LOVE the curls on the last Princess! :D

Photobucket

Photobucket

Sharks

Photobucket

Photobucket

Skeletons

Photobucket

This skeleton was AMAZING! I don't know how they were able to paint that template onto the dog without it getting smudged due to the dog moving.

Photobucket

Skunks

Photobucket

Spiders

Photobucket

Sports/Exercise

Some unknown by me Wisconsin team (if you know what team, please comment me and let me know. TIA!)

Photobucket

and his companion Cheerleader

Photobucket

You know NY teams had to be represented.

Photobucket

Photobucket

80's Jane Fonda

Photobucket

Photobucket

Superheroes

There were Supermen ...

Photobucket


Photobucket

Spiderman and Underdog

Photobucket

Wonderwomen

Photobucket

This was one of my Favorite costumes of the day! :D

Photobucket

I just LOVE this picture because it looks like she has spotted a crime and is bursting into action! Lol! :D

Photobucket

Sweaters and Jerseys

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Vampires and Bats

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

This Vampire had a Harley friend. :)

Photobucket



And then there were a variety of unique costumes.

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Frankenstein

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Angel

Photobucket

Blue's Clues

Photobucket

Photobucket

Micheal Jackson

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Edward Scissorhands

Photobucket

Photobucket

These dogs below, Mango and Queen Blanquita, are from Puerto Rico and they were collecting money to help an organization named Animal Welfare of Culebra. According to their website this is their Mission Statement:
Photobucket
Animal Welfare of Culebra, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation formed to promote the health and safety of the stray and homeless animals of Culebra, and to provide animal welfare education to the citizens of Culebra.


Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Mermaid

Photobucket

Photobucket

Ghost Busters

Photobucket

Photobucket

Dragonfly.

The first picture is mine. The second picture is by istolethetv.

Photobucket

Photobucket

A Basket Full of Doggies

(Only one was real, the rest were stuffed animals. ;) )

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

David Bowie

Photobucket

Dynamite

This costume was another one of my Favorites! You really had to see it in person to get the full effect and see how great it was. When the dog would walk the fuse tail part would go up and down and sparkle in the sun so it really did look like an active fuse that was heading towards the stick of dynamite! Brilliant! :D

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

Photobucket

This was one CUTE puppy!! :D

Photobucket

Photobucket

A Police Officer with a Fancy Do!

Photobucket

Peas in a Pod

Photobucket

Gondola Dog and Human, complete with an accordion! :D

Photobucket

Photobucket

Crayola Dogs (I wonder if they had to pay Crayola a royalty fee?! ;) )

Photobucket

And Charlie Brown, Flying Ace Snoopy and Wing Walker, complete with Snoopy's Scrapwood (real name Sopwith) Camel plane.

Photobucket

Photobucket

None of the following pictures below are mine. There were some EXCELLENT outfits that I wasn't able to get good pictures of but I still wanted you all to see them. :)

Baked Potato from Arossetti.

Photobucket

Yoga and Groovy Dogs from istolethetv.

Photobucket

Photobucket

The Incredible Hulk

The first picture is by Pamela Skillings (see below) and the second picture is by EssG, Sean Ganann.

Photobucket

The following photos below are all by About.com's Pamela Skillings.

Squirrel Dogs

Photobucket

Biker Dogs

Photobucket

Mollie's Margaritas

Photobucket

Queen Elizabeth

Photobucket

Marc Antony and Cleopatra

Photobucket

The Pope

Photobucket

And Best of Show Winner, Thriller! :D

The second photo is also by Pamela Skillings. The first photo is by Joujoubee.

Photobucket

Photobucket

If you are ever in NYC around Halloween and you love Halloween, Creativity and Dogs, you Really should attend this parade! :D

Off to work on my next set of pics, the Village Halloween Parade! :D There is Nothing else like it! :D