Archive for February, 2009
Winter Walk in Green-Wood
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- Green-Wood’s Gothic Arches.
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- A Statue in Green-Wood Cemetery.
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- A Statue in Green-Wood
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- Mausoleum for Egyptoloigist Van Ness Parsons.
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- Mausoleum for Egyptoloigist Van Ness Parsons.
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- New York harbor and the Statue of Liberty (and Sofie) viewed from Green-Wood Cemetery.
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- A Statue in Green-Wood Cemetery.
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- Statue Commemorating Charlie J Kroehle Jr, aged 8, Green-Wood Cemetery.
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- Close-Up of Statue Commemorating Charlie J Kroehle Jr, aged 8, Green-Wood Cemetery.
We had beautiful weather this weekend, so Sofie and I took the opportunity for a stroll through Park Slope and down to one of my favorite Brooklyn landmarks, Green-Wood Cemetery. I have written about Green-Wood on this blog a few times before (and also a short travel story for the Guardian). The great thing about Green-Wood, apart from the statues, mausoleums, natural beauty and views of Manhattan and the harbor, is that, as with all of nature, it looks so different depending upon the time of year. Yesterday, despite the lack of blossom and leaves the cemetery looked stunning, thanks largely to the sharp winter sunlight. A beautiful, if slightly chilly, setting for a brief walk. And best of all, unlike Prospect Park, very few people to disturb our thoughts. (Click on the images above for the full effect. My favorite is the last.)
Spiked: Flag Mending
Posted by: | CommentsThe first of what I hope will become an occasional series of posts about story pitches that were rejected by editors.
I get rejected every week. It’s part of the job of freelancing. But it occurred to me the other day that it seems a waste to watch so many story ideas just disappear into thin air. Why not at least share them with a few people? Who knows, maybe you will have some ideas about what I did wrong. Part of the reason why the following story, about a flag-mending group in Gowanus, was turned down probably has as much to do with the way I sold it as the story itself. You be the judge.
This Saturday, a group of artists and a handful of volunteers will spend hours bent over the pieces of an enormous American flag that was ripped to shreds during celebrations in Union Square on election night .
The artists made the flag, which is about the size of a small football field, in 2006 to symbolize their frustration with the Bush administration. It is as light as a parachute and they have spent the past couple of years taking it around local parks and beaches for children to play under. (There are some great images here: http://www.flagproject.org/gallery.html.)
They took the flag to Union Square on election night, intent on unfurling it from the Manhattan Bridge on their way home. But instead they carried it away in tatters as the cheering crowd ripped off large chunks as souvenirs.
So now they are holding a series of flag-mending fundraisers, inviting people to donate red, white and blue material as well as their time and expertise. Their second get-together will be held on Saturday in Brooklyn, where they are expecting about a dozen people, cutting, pinning, stitching, and sewing on two industrial-size sewing machines.
Underwhelmed? Me too. But there is a story here. Somewhere.
ABBCELRS AGMR
Posted by: | CommentsAs you have probably gathered by now, I am something of a Scrabble geek. One of my favorite distractions is the New York Post’s Scrabble Gram, which you can normally find just after the business section a few days a week. The Scrabble Grams are always six or seven-letter words. Sitting on the train the day before yesterday I figured out AIOUSXN in a matter of seconds, but AIPPSNR had me stumped. When I turned to the answer I almost screamed. (Answer after the jump.)
That Recording
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Would You Get Into A Fight With A Blogger Like This?
Posted by: | CommentsPugnacious Labour MP, and former Deputy PM, John Prescott has started blogging in the run up to the UK general election. And quite entertaining it is too. His latest post, including vlog, takes a swipe at Tory blogger Iain Dale for suggesting that Prezza doesn’t write his own posts.
