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The New MOMA
The MOMA has definitely improve since it's renovation. It feels and is more spacious, it feels more open and the flow of the rooms is much more, well, flowy. There are some nice views where you can...
The MOMA has definitely improve since it's renovation. It feels and is more spacious, it feels more open and the flow of the rooms is much more, well, flowy. There are some nice views where you can see other parts of the museum from multiple vantage points. The ceilings are higher and you don't feel claustrophobic anymore. The collection is just as good as it ever was, though I feel now you can see more of it (not sure if this is an illusion or not). I'm afraid Monet's Water Lilies looks kind of dusty... not sure if this is because of it's new location/light or because it hasn't been taken good enough care of. However, as much as an improvement it is, it is not an inspiring work of architecture. This is no J. Paul Getty museum, this is no Met, no I.M.Pei pyramid, no Bilbao. It's an improvement, maybe that's all we can ask for... but it's nice to get a suprise, especially given the grand city we live in. I feel it is a geniune lost opportunity. We'll have to wait another age for our Gaudi, alas.
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Spa 88
Category:
Beauty Salons
88 Fulton Street
New York, New York
(212) 766-8600
nice russian spa
nice russian spa
In downtown Manhattan in the heart of Wall Street lives this adequately run Russian Spa. All underground, it has a rather large facility... Russian Sauna, Ice Cold Pool, Swedish Steam Bath, Pool,...
In downtown Manhattan in the heart of Wall Street lives this adequately run Russian Spa. All underground, it has a rather large facility... Russian Sauna, Ice Cold Pool, Swedish Steam Bath, Pool, Hot Tub, weight room, billiards room, Tea room, Smoking room, Weight room. The locker room is decently maintained & there are plenty of clean towels. The price is reasonable & there's a good Russian diner in there as well. Service is not what I would call warm and friendly, by they aren't sneezing on you either. I think they used to cater to the Russian crowd and it is supposed to be popular with dancers visiting from out of town (e.g. Kirov Ballet), but it seems to be making a play for the actually bankerish Wall Street crowd, with unclear success. After going there (in a birthday gathering for a friend), I realized that it might be considered a pick up scene given some of the strutting (by both sexes)... but frankly, I don't think it's the best place for that... something too much about having people in skimpy bathing suits & pecks sitting next to older large hairy old-style rotund clientele seems just way too carnal for my tastes, but hey if you're into that, it could be a pretty interesting place.... The Spa itself, however, is a nice experience.
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Actual Title: Daily Drills and Technical Studies for Trumpet
Russian-born Max Schlossberg was known as a great teacher (Julliard) and trumpet player (joined the New York Philharmonic in 1910 where he stayed for 26 years). The evidence we have that he was a...
Russian-born Max Schlossberg was known as a great teacher (Julliard) and trumpet player (joined the New York Philharmonic in 1910 where he stayed for 26 years). The evidence we have that he was a great teacher are this collection of drills and exercises. There is something about the Schlossberg exercises that get you warmed up in just the right way & that quickly pinpoints something to get right in your technical trumpet playing & somehow makes the rest of your playing for the rest of your practice that much more "on target". It's an odd numinous thing. These are great exercises to start your daily practice with.
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Learn from the Master
I am so greatful that there have been such generous people as Ansel Adams in this world--generous for sharing his knowledge. Since it would have been enough to leave us with the stunning imagery he...
I am so greatful that there have been such generous people as Ansel Adams in this world--generous for sharing his knowledge. Since it would have been enough to leave us with the stunning imagery he made... he also tried to give us his secrets!
In this book, Ansel Adams tells you all about the camera, as he knew it. You learn how the master used the lens, shutter speed, medium & large format camera features to make choices about images. Even if you don't shoot the kinds of cameras Adams had, even if you now use a digital, this book is an invaluable tool to thinking about how to take pictures. It will make you a better photographer as a result.
The Camera is first in a series of 3 books: The Camera, The Negative, and The Print. All of them are STUNNING!!!
I tried leaving through more modern editions of these books, written after Adam's death & brought up to date with modern processes and equipment. Though I can't claim to having read them... just flipping through them, I find them to be more boring, harder to get through, less inspired without the authority of the words that come from the artists' pen. I opted to read the unupdated version for this reason. It feels like Ansel himself is your teacher, a warm, patient, and excellent one at that!
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Nice format
Since I don't use guidebooks much, this one ends up by default being my favorite. Even so, I think it's quite a good book. Descriptions are short and descriptive. It has 2 maps of every hike...
Since I don't use guidebooks much, this one ends up by default being my favorite. Even so, I think it's quite a good book. Descriptions are short and descriptive. It has 2 maps of every hike (trail map & elevation map), useful metrics (like difficulty, traffic, facilities, season), good directions on how to get there by car AND public transportation. The layout and colors are pleasant and easy on the eye. It's up to date and really helps you make a decision of where to go hiking around NY. Have fun!
By the way, if you happen to choose the Schunemunk Mountain Ridge Loop or something close to it, take the advice of the book and visit the Storm King Art Center (in fact, well worth a trip on its own).
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The Kaplan approach to trumpet
Full title: Arban's Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet
Scenario: You are stuck on a desert island with only a trumpet, a music stand, a chair and trumpet care supplies; when the trumpet...
Full title: Arban's Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet
Scenario: You are stuck on a desert island with only a trumpet, a music stand, a chair and trumpet care supplies; when the trumpet fairy looks down on you from above in pity and decides to decend to grant you a wish, well one within her powers. You have the choice of any extant trumpet book you want. She will fetch it for you.
You, wisely, make the obvious choice: Arban's Complete Conservatory Method for Trumpet. It has years worth of exercises and a bunch of timeless music.
Ok, I exaggerate... it's not the obvious choice (you might want thick theory/composition text and derive all the exercises and music yourself), but the point is Arban is a great all-in-one resource for your classically focused trumpet training.
Ok, stupid scenario. But really, years worth of good study!
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Trick your brain into thinking boring stuff is fun!
Ok, maybe if you need to read this sort of book you won't find computer programming design patterns themselves all that boring... but let's face it, reading about it really promises to be a real...
Ok, maybe if you need to read this sort of book you won't find computer programming design patterns themselves all that boring... but let's face it, reading about it really promises to be a real sleeper!
This book is inspired. It presents Java Design Patterns in a hefty volume, but it's full of illustrations, puzzles, and most importantly, puns & jokes (corny, wry, ironic, just fun)! You really learn the material, and along the way, you are having a pretty fun time. Genius!
If you're CS, you probably will wish you used this instead of the classic Gamma book... would have made studying something you looked forward to more. Good thing I'm not CS!
Expect boring-ass, Get entertained!
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Fabulist for you
Jose Saramago got the Nobel Prize some years ago for his book Blindness, which I haven't read.The Cave, is a fable with a slim and quiet but compelling enough storyline to keep you reading.The...
Jose Saramago got the Nobel Prize some years ago for his book Blindness, which I haven't read.The Cave, is a fable with a slim and quiet but compelling enough storyline to keep you reading.The writing, however, is exactly why I read. Good writing can capture minute, relevant & important truths & capture them everywhere, in a sentence, in the meaning of a paragraph, in the structure of a story, in character, in speech. For me, sometimes reading is in order to remind myself of my humanity. Saramago does this.I won't tell you the conceit, you can read that on the jacket cover or in other reviews... or, if you are like me, skip it and go straight to the book. Why have a less skilled writer tell you what you're about to read?!The only reason it is not a 5 is because it isn't the kind of book you "can't put down". But if you don't put it down, your time will have been well spent.
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Fills a more than a niche, a destination spot
In a world where on a book shop like St. Mark's must silently be compared to Barnes and Noble's, I am struck by it's surprising relevance and urbanity. Unlike B&N, a very good and comprehensive...
In a world where on a book shop like St. Mark's must silently be compared to Barnes and Noble's, I am struck by it's surprising relevance and urbanity. Unlike B&N, a very good and comprehensive bookstore, St. Mark's differs in that it has a clear and expert EDITORIAL hand. The same way great editors make a great magazine, so St. Mark's shows this is true for bookstores. It has small press publishers and academic authors, but not as a gimmick. The books are extremely well selected, & personally, I find the percentage of books I find interesting to those I don't extremely high compared to most bookstores, including other small artisanal bookshops. A lot of art, literary, philosophical, poetical work that's on the forefront of modern thinking. It's the kind of brick-and-mortar shop that can only exist in a big city like ours, and despite the availability of everything on the internet. For a city that has everything, it's easy to take for granted that having bookstores like this is just part of the reason we live here. But if I were a tourist, it would be a destination for me... actually, coming from a small southern town, I feel like it is for me still.
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