Photo near Flat Iron on Thursday, Nov 8

Ibuprofen: My Best Friend after a Full Day of Football Games

"MY HERO"
photo created by Susan Lee with her iphone 3Gs

After a long day of football, ibuprofen is going to be my best friend today. But it was all worth it! (so long as the soreness goes away tomorrow! ha ha) For those that do not know, I am the quarterback on a girls church football team. My team has been practicing on the weekends for the last two months and yesterday was one of the first times we played competitively against another football team. We looked forward to yesterday's tournament and as we went in, win or lose, we were first and foremost a team. As the day came, all of my girls played with their hearts and we ended the day with a victory, winning 4-0! Yahoo!

And as expected, our bodies paid the price for the success... and today, ibuprofen will aide me as I go about my day. :D thank you ibuprofen, i heart you today!

John D's first portrait shoot wearing his Teddy Ruxpin Halloween costume!

Photos by Natacha P.

What do you do when you have a free studio all to yourself? "Its PORTRAIT time!" Yes, John took it upon himself to use this free studio to practice some of his lighting techniques.. and I was there to assist and support him through the way -- offering small suggestions and making the models feel comfortable.

John D. aka Film Director aka Moonlighting Photographer (haha, i know you're reading this!) decided to wear his Halloween costume - Teddy Ruxpin - for his portrait shoot. Knowing that he asked his two models (Joanna and Natacha) to wear "costume-y" outfits, he wanted to "fit" in so he brought along his own costume. :D ha ha. ok, he was being a good sport about it. :D

John's lighting set-up: 5.0' octabank as key light; two strip banks on the side to light the background.

Food Shoot: Cooking with pumpkins!

Pumpkin pie is not the only thing you can make with a pumpkin... Expand your cooking skills and think about Calzones, pumpkin pie tarts and lasagna! That's what we are videoing today !

Photographer/Videographer: Steve Giralt
Food Stylist: Liz Jezrow
Assistant Food Stylist: "Lauren"
Assistants: John Duarte and Susan Lee

Photo of the Day: Random Note in the Subway

This was found on the floor of a "L" subway car in NYC.
Admittedly, not the best photo I've taken on a moving subway car, but you can make out the words in the love note. :D

Photo of the Day: Yarn Covered Bike

How much time do you think it took to cover this bike with yarn? Probably a little too much time!

Found on Elizabeth street between Grand and Broome.

-- Mobile upload

Photo of the Day: Remembering September 11 and a Surprising Night for Me!

Everyone probably remembers where they were on September 11, 2001...

The image above is a photo of the lights representing the Twin Towers in SoHo

and ...

Unfortunately, as I was taking this photo -- I was nearly arrested.

Some say its part of the territory of being a photojournalist
(cause we all want stories to write about -- just not about ourselves!),

but, let's just say -- my record is still clean. Phew!

Below is proof of the cop car that nearly made the arrest.

Who Let the Dog Out! Woof woof!

Dog waiting for his owner at bread and butter!

update: now looking at the dog photo - kind of looks a bit weird... head is so elongated!

After a day of football, just need some relaxation in the sun!

Last Photo of the Day for the Month w/ Mango Sticky Rice at Wondee Siam V in the UWS - Complete with Top 5 Photos from the Photo of the Day Series

Mango Sticky Rice at Wondee Siam V

Two things to note ...

1. Mango sticky rice at Wondee Siam V ($5) was one of the best I've ever had. Thanks to Josh who turned me onto this dessert (and um, when are you making this for me?!) and then to Sou Yeon who added fuel to the fire when we had this at a Chelsea Thai Restaurant and then here at Wondee Siam V ... The plating was appetizing, the mango was sweet and soft, and the sticky rice was brushed with a warm and delicious coconut flavored sauce that led your spoon back to the plate and into your mouth. Mango Sticky Rice is now one of my favorite desserts. :D
2. This will be the last series of my iPhone Camera shoot out -- with a photo of the day for the month of August (well most of the month). What I realized with the iphone camera is that though its extremely portable and convenient when you want to take a picture -- the quality is a bit shaky -- it only works well in well lit situations, but even then, the quality when enlarged is poor. Food photos are not impressive, but stationary outdoor photos work the best. So what to do next? I will have to figure that out... can someone lend me their Leica M9 please? ok, I'll take the M8 too. :D Beggars can't be choosers. :D

In a review of the past month -- here are my top 5 photos from the iPhone Camera (in no particular order).

1. Sophie the Giraffe
2. Elderly Lady in the Window
3. Have you seen this before? Empire State Building
4. What Are NYC Women Wearing on Their Feet?
5. More iphone Camera Tests or the Initial 3Gs iPhone Photo Experimentation- Especially the light with the chairs, DBGB, the blue boards,

And though, this was not taken with my iPhone -- this was one of my favorite photos during the Photo of the Day Series: Outside Looking In at Thai Market in Harlem

For more, check out the link to Photo of the Day or iPhone Camera to see more...

So what's the next photographic project in NYC? We shall see...

Pop Tarts World near Bryant Park / Time Square

Midway between Bryant Park and Time Square on 42nd Street, you'll see this HUGE sign with the words "POP TARTS WORLD". "Whaatttt? Reeeally?" was my initial reaction ... and then my mind was blown away when I realized Pop Tarts just entered the NYC advertising / product placement mecca with its grandiose billboard, targeting tourists around the world to enter their food establishment. Not dissimilar to other companies who lure tourists with large billboards of chocolate bars like Hershey's Time Square location with its own make your own "hershey kiss" station or large screen tvs displaying toys at Toys R US and offering a chance to ride the ferris wheel inside! So how can Pop Tarts World compete with the already too charming tourist attractions in Time Square and what will attract tourists and residents alike to come here?

Sugar. Sugar. and well, more SUUGGGAAAR.

There are four main attractions here:

A) The Varietizer - build your own Pop Tarts box machine,

B) Pop Tarts World Cafe - counter service restaurant (sugar high?),

C) Make your own T-shirt station,

D) and an interactive media area

This is what EaterNY has to say about the place (menu included below).

"At the cafe, you can get your favorite tart, frozen, toasted, or at room temperature and topped with a variety of of sugary and syrupy add-ons, as well as any number of original creations like "Ants on a Log?" and "Pop-Tarts Sushi." The most impressive part of the space, however, is the Varietizer, where you punch six flavor selections into a touch screen console, and a robot device moves up and down a column stacked with the treats, pulling your picks with a suction-cupped arm, then depositing them into a pile down below. And, if you want to watch YouTube clips of people doing things with Pop-Tarts, or log on to Facebook to tell everybody that you're at Pop-Tarts World, there's an area for that too."

Pop-Tarts World Cafe Menu:

From the Oven
Snickerdoodle Cookies, $2.99
Wild Berry Buckle Bar, $4.99
Caramel Green Apple Bars, $4.79
Sticky Cinna Munchies, $4.39
Chunky Chocolate Chipper, $2.99
Chocolate Chunk Peanut Butter Blondie, $3.99
Peach Blueberry Cobbler, $4.99

Chill Out Chow
Cookies & Cream, $4.29
Apple Pie A La Mode, $4.29
Chocoholic, $4.29
S'More Pa-Lease, $4.29
Hot Fudge Sundae, $4.29
Strawberry Milkshake, $4.29
Verry Berry, $4.29
Pop Tarts Ice Cream Sammys, $2.79

Top It Off, 50 cents each

Jimmies
Pop-Tarts Mini Crisps
Mini Chocolate Chips
Chopped Nuts
Toasted Coconut
Dried Fruit
Rainbow Non-Pareils
Seasonal Sprinkles

Frostings: Vanilla, Chocolate, Cinnamon
Finishing Drizzles: Raspberry, Chocolate, Vanilla, Caramel,

Delectably Delightfuls
Pop-Tarts Sushi, $2.29 for four pieces, or 75 cents each
Choco Dips, $1.29
Rice Krispies Treats Recipe With Pop-Tarts Pieces, $1.29
S'More Stix, $1.99
Ants on a Log?, $1.59 (for three pieces) or 55 cents each
Yogurt Parfaits, $3.29
Pop-Tarts Trail Mix, $1.99
Grape Jam-Wich, $2.99
Lemon Razzy, $2.49
Fluffer Butter, $2.99
Pop-Tarts Pretzels, $1.25
Pop-Tarts Granola Bars, $2.19

Oh So Close To Home
Pop-Tarts Pastries Available toasted, frozen, or at room temperature, in either frosted or unfrosted varieties, $1.50 Each Tart

UPDATED: The Pop Tarts World store opened in early August and was mentioned in the NYTIMES. The billboard is on a 6 story building!

Welcome Kellogg's to the NYC branding haven of Times Square.

www.poptartsworld.com

Photo of the Day: A House in New Paltz

This photo was taken in New Paltz, New York.

I love how the fog spread over the entire scenery. :)

I am surprised at how well the iPhone captured this photo ...

Photo of the Day: Shadow of a ...

Is he a ....

A. Photographer?
B. Rap Artist?
C. Dancer?
D. Kung Fu fighter?

Answer is: C. Dancer. "Danny the Russian" ... He was sitting on an apple box, next to a camera, waiting for the next dance performance.

Cherry Tartufo from Sparks

Chocolate and vanilla ice cream inside a chocolate ball... Oh.... And there is a cherry inside. -- at Sparks steakhouse... Was not a fan of the dessert, but the prosciutto with melon was awesome. The lump crab meat didn't taste fresh - which was surprising for this fine dining restaurant. A friend had steak here and loved it (afterall it is a steakhouse)... but be ready to break open your wallet for a $45 steak. Best to come here for a recruiting or corporate dinner.

Photo of the Day: Downtown, Tribeca on a Georgeous Day!

Downtown, Tribeca
on a beautiful Thursday morning

In front of us is a paramedic van and beyond that is a church.
I liked this photo because of the beam of light hitting the camera, as the sun sits right above the church, and then touches the buildings and everything in my view.

and yes, I posted this a few days later from it being taken. :D

Photo of the Day: Underpass going towards George Washington Bridge!

Photos with the iPhone camera continues this month... These were taken yesterday as we were driving to Wyckoff, New Jersey to prepare for our music video. It was such a gorgeous day!

Photo of the Day: The Sixth Person in the Car

Next time, he'll be calling shotgun!

Photo of the Day: New Wonjo Lunch Special

You gotta love the lunch specials at any Asian food establishment... Lunch specials are abundant in Korean Town ... It is easy to find a good tasting "hot lunch" in K-town for anywhere between $8.95 to $15.95, which also includes banchan (i.e. side dishes - sp?)). A friend and I visited Wonjo during the weekday and the photos below will tell you what I ordered -- Mackerel and Soondubu for $12.95. Yum.

and lets not forget the banchan (sp?)

My friend ordered Dduk Mandoo Guk (Dumpling soup with rice cakes) and it was $8.95 + tax + tip. Not photographed.

Enjoy!

Address:
Wonjo
23West 32nd Street
New York, NY 10001
Tel : (212) 695-5815

Photo of the Day: Chrysler Building - Enjoying a beautiful night

Photo of the Day: Just Sweet - Shaved Ice in the East Village

Eeks, the iPhone is not a good camera for food photography - but at least you get the idea.

A friend and I tried the shaved ice at Just Sweet located in the East Village. I didn't really find something on the menu that I wanted, so I created my own, which to my surprise was not a problem -- so I selected mango, red bean and condensed milk (next time I will add the sago!)... Though I liked the shaved ice, it was over priced for what it was. However, if you compare this dessert to 16 Handles down the street, or Pink Berry or Red Mango on St. Marks, then, $5.50 for this plate of shaved ice may not be sooo bad.

Just Sweet is located on 83 Third Avenue, on the corner of Third Avenue and 12th Street. Just Sweet offers crepes, shaved ice, tong sui, ice cream sundaes and drinks and snacks. It has been open since July.

side note: Just Sweet was nearly empty when we arrived at 8:00 pm on a Thursday ... not sure if other people have realized that either -- but, my friend and I started to wonder how long this place will be open for -- and ,IF, Saint Alps starts offering shaved ice... eeks, competition can be cruel in New York.