The last time I was in the Metro was to see “The Titanic” of all things. The upper west side movie theater–the spot where Woody goes to see “Duck Soup” in “Hannah and her Sisters”–has been closed for a while but is now set to re-open.

Nice.

Take me out to the Polo Grounds.

Dig this gallery of old New York over at our favorite hang, How To Be a Retronaut.

After three or four years of avoiding the arduous climb whenever possible, I now usually take the stairs at 215th St and Broadway when I have a choice. There are 110 of ’em so it’s a challenge, but a welcome one after desk-jockeying all day.

2010.

1915.

This picture from 1916, taken from the East side of Broadway gives you a better idea of the climb.

What challenges do look forward to on your walks about town? Which ones do you avoid? I know I try to avoid the subway on treks of less than twenty blocks, though I’ll train it for less than ten in the rain.

Photos via myinwood.net & placematters.net

Here’s more NYC photography by Michael Sean Edwards over at Gothamist.

From the indispensable site How to be a Retronaut here is a gallery of photographs by Michael Sean Edwards of the Garment District in 1985.

Man, just another great shot from the New York Times‘ tumblr site. I remember this Times Square ad well. Actually gave me the chills seeing it again.

I had the King Kong lunch box and thermos when I was in first grade. Dag.

New York, 1973: another dope Photo Gallery found at How to be a Retronaut.

Pictures

by

Louis Stettner

You’re Welcome.

Dig it:

New York Panoramas, 1902-1913 over at How to Be a Retronaut.

Coming straight from the underground.

Undercity via The Gothamist.

[Photo Credit: Steve Duncan]

Dial “W” for murder.

A photo gallery of Weegee’s murder photography over at the most wunnerful How to be a Retronaut.

Here’s another Weegee gallery, this one at the New York Times.

There was a cool photo gallery of Steven Siegel’s photography yesterday at The Gothamist.

Check out Seigel’s tremendous Flickr galleries. They are dope.

 

How many people do we see each day walking through the streets of the city? Hundreds? Sometimes thousands? If you stop and look it is easy to imagine a story in behind everything you see.

[Photo Credit: Louis Faurer, Penn Station, 1948]

Check this out:

Before I walk into an elevator I look up at the mirror. Force of habit from when I was a kid. Maybe “Dressed to Kill” got into my head. More likely, it’s a reflex I developed growing up in New York during a time when you expected to get mugged at any moment. I know it might be extreme now, but the mirror is there for a reason. When the elevator doors open I brace myself and look up at the mirror. Just in case.

The sun is bright today and we haven’t seen any snow yet in New York. With only a few days before Christmas I’m sure there are some who’d like to see that change.

In the meantime, check out another wonderful photo gallery from our pals at How to Be a Retronaut.

[Photo Credit: Alfred Stieglitz]

The street photography of New York in the 1980s by Jamel Shabazz still sings.

Peace to How to Be a Retronaut (the gift that keeps giving).