Exploring: 5 Pointz - Long Island City

80/365 5 Pointz
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

This weekend hubby had a meeting in Flushing, NY and we took the opportunity to explore the old neighborhoods. Coincidentally we did this almost exactly one year ago, we visited Long Island City then too, but stayed closer to the river.


We both grew up in Queens, he grew up in Astoria and I in Sunnyside. We really enjoy checking out the neighborhoods to see how they've changed over the years, we moved to New Jersey in 1988, there have been many changes! Yesterday after showing our daughter the schools we went to and the apartment houses we lived in we ventured over to Astoria to have gyros for lunch (I think that's the main reason she came with us). We went back to Mr. Gyro's where we had lunch last year, but the place was now Broadway Eats. Looked like they still made gyros so we were game to check it out. Glad we did, the gyros were just as good as they were last time! Yummy!

 

Gyro at Broadway Eats

After lunch we headed down by the water, then decided to change course and checkout the 5 Pointz graffiti area I had seen photos of several months back. While browsing the web on my phone I noted there were recent news stories that 5 Pointz would soon be closing due to future development plans for the site. I felt it might be now or never, so off we went to Long Island City in search of the world renowned "Graffiti Mecca" off of Jackson Avenue.

As we approached the site, an old warehouse, the first mural that caught my eye

The main entrance was quite intriguing...

Photographers come from miles around to capture the artists and their work

Read more about this amazing place at their website 5Ptz.com

Update: 1000 Cranes for Japan

77/365 Kimmidoll and Crane
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

The movement and effort continue! In little over a week the Flickr Group 1000 Cranes for Japan has grown to 668 members posting 879 photographs, it's amazing to see such caring and unity in this community of photographers. In addition, the group founder has uncovered another group willing to make monetary contributions for Origami Cranes and/or photos of the cranes.

Students Rebuild is collecting 100,000 actual paper cranes, which will be woven into a piece of artwork.

The Bezos Family Foundation has pledged $2/crane up to $200,000! The funds will be donated to Architecture for Humanity efforts to help rebuilding efforts in Japan, you can read more here: studentsrebuild.org/japan/ they also have a Facebook Page Paper Cranes for Japan

So much can be gained.... Just Do Something!

1000 Cranes for Japan

74/365 Yotsuba's Crane   Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

"The crane in Japan is one of the mystical or holy creatures (others include the dragon and the tortoise), and is said to live for a thousand years. In Japan, it is commonly said that folding 1000 paper origami cranes makes a person's wish come true. This makes them popular gifts for special friends and family." Wikipedia

The earthquake and ensuing tsunami of March 11th has brought many people around the world together in efforts to support all who have been impacted by this tragic event. I stumbled upon one such group on Flickr that is gaining a following of photographers from around the globe that are making origami cranes for Japan, to offer support and hope in difficult times.

I've never created any origami until seeing this group, but with the help of this excellent tutorial on YouTube I was making cranes in no time.

Maybe you'd be interested in participating and raising awareness of the efforts that are being made to provide support. You can view the group photos at 1000 Cranes for Japan Group on Flickr. Through this group I also learned that Miya Company is offering to donate $5 to Save the Children for each of the first 1000 photos of cranes submitted to their email. You can read more about their effort at this web-page www.miyacompany.com/static.asp?htmltemplate=1000cranes.html

Thank you Hilary, I am honored to be a "Mention" on the Post of the Week!

iPad 2

I was hearing all the buzz last week about the soon to be released iPad2... so I just couldn't pass up sharing this video I came across today:

Maddox and the Macbook

50/365 Maddox and the Macbook
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Deep in thought... I think he is working on his memoirs!

Finger Prints

51/365 Finger Prints
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Yotsuba closely examines her fingerprints, wondering where they have gone!

A Flickr friend introduced me to Project Soul Pancake. Thank you TMC! I joined a bit late, they are already at week 4/52, but for right now I'll start with the first challenge... Closely admire your fingerprints.

My fingerprints are uniquely mine... NOBODY else has the same one's, they each have their very own unique fingerprints! They can be used to identify, incriminate, exonerate and to validate. In this age fingerprints should be safeguarded to avoid identity theft... a very scary world we live in!

Maddox: Before and After

Maddox: Before and After
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

What a difference a day at the Doggie Spa makes!


1. 19/365 News Hound, 2. 41/365 Dapper Dog

Winning Ways

Winning Ways
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Snoopy... that old dogs has class!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Friends and Honors

I've met many kind and creative friends as I've blogged here and on my Project 365 page. My friend Shirley a very kind and talent photographer, has awarded me with the Stylish Blogger Award! Imagine that, not only does she visit and comment frequently, she has honored me this very nice award... I am thrilled!

For this award, I am to tell 8 things about myself and then pass the award on to 8 more people

8 things about me:

    * I am a very plain and simple person, no glamour magazines in my house. Jeans and a sweatshirt are my  outfit of choice!
    * I don't exercise anywhere near enough and that has to change... soon!
    * I don't watch much TV.  But "Brothers and Sisters" "Grey's Anatomy" and "Private Practice" help me make it through the week.
    * Music is a big source of entertainment in my house, a varied sampling of almost anything can found on my iPod!
    * I love cooking simple meals for my family, this is a chore I've just recently taken on. Work schedules being what they were hubby did most of the cooking for years!
    * I am extremely proud of my daughter's radio show at college.
    * I love to dabble in technology, well it's really more than that, and love helping other get the most out of the technology they own.
    * I love my Nikon D40, and wish I could just get a bit better with lighting in my photography!

And now, it's my pleasure to pass this award along, this is always hard.... but these are all great!

Hilary
Keidi
Di
Gail 
Kerri 
Sharon 
Mindy 
Carrie 

The Cloak of Winter

33/365 The Cloak of Winter
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

The storm came through as rain and sleet leaving the landscape encased in ice.

The view from the window was chilling as the icicles grew over night

Chrystal like branches where roses once grew...

At work the scene was the same...

Buried in snowed, then covered in ice

seeking shelter under the great pine that stood tall and strong against the harsh winter winds.

I Can Get By...

31/365 I Can Get By...
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

with a little help from my friends!

Friendship is a wonderful thing... to have just one true friend that sticks with you no matter what is the biggest blessing on the planet. They don't judge, they don't ridicule... they support and encourage. Sometimes they just listen!

“Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. Christopher Robin to Pooh” - A. A. Milne

False Advertising

30/365 False Advertising
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Enough is enough.... This little guy hangs on our front door. I always thought he was cute, and snow days were few and far between. That is not the case this year...

I can't remember ever having this much snow, lasting for so long.

Hope you're enjoying the weekend!

Secret...

29/365 Secret...
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Do you have a secret place? What treasures are you saving?

Evergreen

28/365 Evergreen
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Or is it Ever-white? Snow - No end in sight...

Yea!!! Snow...

Yea!!! Snow...
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Maddox loves running and jumping in the snow.... and it's a good thing because I don't think this is going away any time soon!

Another massive snow fall since yesterday, definitely making me REALLY want spring to get here. I'm just thinking how it's still only January and February is generally the snowy month! Hope we can make through this never ending snow cover!

Red

26/365 Red
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Just couldn't resist the red door and Christmas balls in this front yard. Haven't seen grass in over a month, and tonight we're supposed to get approximately another 8 - 14".

On a more sober note - my cousin slipped on the ice this morning and broke the top of her humerus. Not very humorous at all! Luckily she is OK and she'll know more after seeing the orthopedist in a few days.

It has been pretty wicked out there!

Seeking Comfort

25/365 Seeking Comfort
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Another winter day, snow showers and clouds.... I had to seek the comfort of a nice warm late afternoon cup of coffee.

Cinnamon - ordinary spice or miracle cure?

24/365 Cinnamon
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

The cold winter days are beginning to get to me... in the search for today's picture I just couldn't bear to be outside, it was far too cold! While in the kitchen making my evening cup of tea this bottle of ground cinnamon caught my eye. I remember making a nightly bed-time mixture of milk, vanilla and cinnamon for my daughter when she was young to help her sleep, she was a terrible sleeper as a young child. It worked, she looked forward to her "night cap" and her sleeping did improve.

A quick Google search this evening reveals that there are possible health benefits to using cinnamon, from colds to diabetes and heart disease. Now I am by no means a doctor, dietitian or scientist so don't take my word on any of this. But I am curious, what do you think...Cinnamon, ordinary spice or miracle cure?

Domo Approved!

22/365 Domo Approved!
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

Kate came home after her radio show last night and we decided to watch Pirate Radio, again. The music in this movie is fantastic, if you haven't caught this movie I highly recommend it! It's a fun feel good kind of movie, that defines a generation. They just don't make music like this anymore!

Dreams

21/365 Dreams
Originally uploaded by maggie_gem

My daughter bought this book a number of years back, she was 17 or 18 at the time. She dreams vivid memorable dreams quite frequently and was always trying to find the underlying meaning. She still consults this book at times, always looking for the answers. Personally, I think I just go into a coma nightly, for I rarely remember any dreams!

The meaning or interpretation of dreams has been studied since before the Babylonian Dynasty. Do we ever really understand what happens in our dreams? I love my camera, I try to use it daily so I looked up the meaning in this dictionary: "a dream of warning. Whether you or someone else used or had the camera it signifies insincere friends around you. Be especially cautious about giving any confidences of a personal nature."

Me: This made me think of a certain Olympian who probably feels this way about cellphones! Friends with camera-phones should never be trusted... so remember, keep your clothes on!