Ten Years New York City

A good night’s sleep After sleeping for two month on two...

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 16:24:14 -0400

A good night’s sleep

After sleeping for two month on two old mattresses (this was before the bed bug craze), we finally bought our first bed in July 2001. It was cheap and simple, but far more confortable.

At the beach One perk of living in New York City is its...

Sat, 30 Jul 2011 13:29:56 -0400

At the beach

One perk of living in New York City is its proximity to the Ocean. In fact, the beach is just a subway ride away. Coney Island, that is. In 2001 we went there a few times, squeezed between a gazillion people. It’s not so bad as it sounds, but pretty quickly we learned that the longer ride to the beaches Fire Island is absolutely worth it.

Sky over Houston Street Just a nice snapshot taken in June 2009,...

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 23:00:16 -0400

Sky over Houston Street

Just a nice snapshot taken in June 2009, when the sky glowed over the Lower East Side.

Worldcup at Paris Bar Today the USA lost the women’s...

Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:48:36 -0400

Worldcup at Paris Bar

Today the USA lost the women’s worldcup against Japan in one of the most exciting finals I have seen, men’s or women’s. Actually, before this year, I hadn’t watched any women’s worldcups before, but during our ten years in NYC we enjoyed three of them the men’s side. Even though soccer is not big over here, there’s a lot of excitement during world cups. Here, in 2006, we watched a game at Paris Bar, for long time one of our favorite hangouts.

IAC Buidling Finished And here’s how the IAC building...

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 22:04:18 -0400

IAC Buidling Finished

And here’s how the IAC building looked a year later, in 2007.

IAC Building In 2006, it looked like it would collapse any...

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 23:29:52 -0400

IAC Building

In 2006, it looked like it would collapse any moment. Frank Gehry’s genius.

4th of July Fireworks The big Macy’s fireworks happens...

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:27:16 -0400

4th of July Fireworks

The big Macy’s fireworks happens every 4th of July in New York City and every year the question arises of how to watch it. Some crazy people go early to the official viewing spots along the rivers, but much better is a private rooftop, maybe including a BBQ party.

In 2005 we were invited by friends who had a spectacular view from their Jersey City high rise apartment. And isn’t Queen Mary 2 to be spotted between Verrazano Bridge and Lady Liberty?

It’s a girl! Nothing shows the time passing more than...

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 19:51:37 -0400

It’s a girl!

Nothing shows the time passing more than seeing a child growing up. A friend took this photo of us when our goddaughter was born in August 2001. Today she’s visiting us for the first time in New York - a few weeks before her tenth birthday.

On the Café Wha? Cruise On July 14th 2003 we embarked on a...

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 13:51:38 -0400

On the Café Wha? Cruise

On July 14th 2003 we embarked on a cruise around Manhattan with the “world famous” Café Wha? band. The band is indeed very entertaining, but better enjoy them at the Café than on a crowded boat. At least some nice Manhattan golden hour photos came out of it.

There’s Only One First Time The very first time ever that...

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 22:44:00 -0400

There’s Only One First Time

The very first time ever that ever made it out to Fire Island was on July 3rd 2001. The whole monty. Subway, LIRR, Taxi resp. walking, Ferry, walking to the beach…

Back then, we didn’t know much about Fire Island other than that it is super beautiful. And here we still are. No longer at Pines, where this picture was taken, but at Davis Park. But we’re also no longer simple day guests but “proud” quarter shares.

— Elke

Top of the Rock On November 1st 2005 re-opened the observation...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:15:20 -0400

Top of the Rock

On November 1st 2005 re-opened the observation deck on top of the GE building at Rockefeller Center A few of days later we went up there and took some photos. While not as high up as the Empire State, it is located right in the heart of Midtown. It also sports an unobstructed view from the upper platform.

Fire Island! On the July 4th weekend of 2001, we wanted to take...

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 07:47:02 -0400

Fire Island!

On the July 4th weekend of 2001, we wanted to take advantage of the beautiful beaches around New York for the first time. A colleague recommended Fire Island, so we took the train and a boat to the Pines and spent a blissful day there. We came back many times for day trips, until 2009, when we started renting a share for the summer. Today, we’re kicking off the 2011 season.

Birthday! Two birthday parties, each year in NYC. This photo is...

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 18:59:52 -0400

Birthday!

Two birthday parties, each year in NYC. This photo is from 2005, when we celebrated at Vasmay Lounge, a bar we hung out more often than in our living room, at least for a while. The cake was pretty good!

Manhattanhenge Four times a year, the sun is perfectly aligned...

Mon, 30 May 2011 23:11:00 -0400

Manhattanhenge

Four times a year, the sun is perfectly aligned with the street grid of Manhattan, thus providing the opportunity for some stunning photos. Today, May 30th 2011 is such a day and May 30th 2009 was as well. So Elke and I travelled to Midtown to take some shots - this is one of them

BBQ Buffet 2006 we hosted a Memorial Day BBQ party on our...

Sat, 28 May 2011 13:02:35 -0400

BBQ Buffet

2006 we hosted a Memorial Day BBQ party on our terrace.

Queen Mary 2’s first visit In April 2004 Queen Mary 2...

Tue, 24 May 2011 23:04:52 -0400

Queen Mary 2’s first visit

In April 2004 Queen Mary 2 visited New York for the first time. When she left the city in the evening there was fireworks and a great deal of people watching. We tried to take pictures and bought even a ISO 800 film. With devastating results: this photo is the only one that is not completely blurry.

Moving out! We’re now in our new place, for almost a year....

Mon, 23 May 2011 18:58:50 -0400

Moving out!

We’re now in our new place, for almost a year. This photo was taken last year, a few days before our moving date, while exploring our future neighborhood.

The day we met Melissa Speaking of visitors: This week, another...

Sun, 15 May 2011 14:18:00 -0400

The day we met Melissa

Speaking of visitors: This week, another friend stays at our house. This photo was taken in August 2007 at the 14th Street F train stop, the day we met her at another friends party. Which happened two block from where we would move three years later. And we missed a free Blonde Redhead show at the McCarren Park pool that day too.

May 2009, our friend Volkmar was visiting us. Luckily,...

Fri, 13 May 2011 17:19:30 -0400

May 2009, our friend Volkmar was visiting us. Luckily, he’s currently visiting again, hence this picture.

— Elke

The Blue It wasn’t blue yet, but this is the beginning of...

Wed, 11 May 2011 21:14:43 -0400

The Blue

It wasn’t blue yet, but this is the beginning of the luxury apartment building “The Blue” on Delancey Street in April 2006 as seen from our bedroom window. When we moved to the Lower East Side the first time in 2001 there was not a single high rise building in the neighborhood - now there’s a whole bunch of them.