Meanwhile on 4th Ave. in Brooklyn...

The Williamsburg Savings Bank at Atlantic and Flatbush, as seen from near the Dept. of Social Services office on 4th Ave. The once lavish bank building has been converted to condos.

A Day in Manhattan

Urban symmetry at Hudson and W. 14th Street. I always liked this building. I took a writing class here once with the fabulous Laurie Weeks.

W. 14th Street Meat Packing, MePa for all you shoppers out there.

W. 14th Street is becoming gentrified in a scary way - designer shops replace streets that felt safe to certain street-roaming types. Now they just feel expensive, i.e. not so safe.

Further uptown a bit, on W. 21st St. in Chelsea, there is a curious building that has many balconies, all closed in with wire fencing and bamboo-looking shades. Altogether unattractive, but attractive just the same.

Sometimes one feels the urge for complete symmetry. In that situation, go to Grand Central Terminal.

A busker at the Delancey Street F subway stop. I should've caught more of the performance, but got just enough to give you an idea of how calming his playing was on the crowd waiting for the train.