Siberian iris at church

New

Skiff

Swan on her nest

Video of Grant Campus library

In order to make the case to the Suffolk County Legislature that a new library at the Grant Campus is desperately needed, a video was created which shows clearly the congestion and 200% utilization of space. Although the video makers alternated scenes of the computer lab with scenes of the library--they are right next door--the point is made: a library built for 4,000 students is now serving 9,000.
Watch the video

And now for something completely different, the Dewey Decimal Rap

Brief walk through Times Square

Before the concert we walked around in Times Square. No picture can begin to convey the impression of the tall, tall advertisements in moving, rippling light. It is amazing. One is awash in color and motion. Very crowded everywhere, and if I could have found that T-shirt vendor I would have thanked him and bought a shirt. THE SPOT is invisible, thank goodness. Life goes on.

This was at 7:30 on an overcast day. I'm surprised any of the pictures came out at all. Tables and chairs in the middle of the street.

A building a-slant.

Concert at "Smokey Mary's"

Yesterday we went into the city to hear the Voices of Ascension sing an all-Palestrina concert at St. Mary's which is just off Times Square. The music was sublime and the church itself, completed in 1895 in the 13th century French Gothic style, is a museum of Anglo-Catholic art and ritual (See the virtual tour slideshow ). What a treat both visually and musically!

Oh, yes, the nickname "Smokey Mary's" refers to the incense that is liberally used in services ... but not at this concert, thankfully.

I came across this interesting blog entry about the church.

Here's an idea

Why not send money to Rome to help fix up the Colosseum? Chunks of 2,000 year old plaster are beginning to fall off. I can't think of a better use for filthy lucre than to maintain past glories of the Classical world.
Near miss the other day

Pansies

I'm really enjoying my reading nook with these cheerful guys. The blue faces look so earnest and the violet ones fade almost to cream. Can you see the tree pollen in the 3rd picture?