Union Station D.C.

I recently took a trip down to Washington D.C. which I'll get into briefly in the next post. In the mean time here are three images made from essentially the same object. If you've never been to D.C. I suggest going, especially if you;re a fan of architecture. I got off the train late at night/early in the (dark) morning and was not expecting to walk through such a magnificent train station. I'm used to crumby ol' Penn Station.

©Steve Shilling ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

©Steve Shilling ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

©Steve Shilling ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Image of the Night #8 - NYC Night Street Corner

©Steve Shilling ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

©Steve Shilling ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

I like how you can see more information about what's going on in the first image but I enjoy the 'feel' of the second image.

Image of the Night #7 - The Night Trashmen

I encourage you to imagine your own short story to accompany these three images including a brief preface to the first image as well as what may have followed after the last image.

©Steve Shilling ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Sincerely,



-S.

Image of the Night #6- Untitled

©Steve Shilling II ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Recent Acquisition / Lovely Day for a Time Travel

    This morning shortly after having breakfast at Skylight Diner with my mother who decided to visit this morning I decided to walk back home. I had just made it maybe, half way and I stopped at an open air flea market, browsed for all of 35 seconds and heard my name called. To my pleasant surprise it was my good friend and New York based photographer and all around everything vintage encyclopedia, Ruby Johnstone.  For a good portion of the day we strolled about inspecting a very large, very well stocked vintage flea market that was housed inside two floors of a parking garage. This amazing phenomenon occurs every weekend, for the whole weekend, all day. Why I hadn't discovered this recurring time capsule is still unbeknownst to me. While there both Ruby and myself where overwhelmed needless to say and could hardly contain ourselves. Now, to give you an idea of my companion for the day, miss Johnstone is decked out in full 40's fashion with her striking, long, jet black hair, eye catching vintage skirt and about half an arm covered in some of the best bakelite bangles I've seen. (granted before today hers have been virtually the only ones I've seen). A walking attraction to the crowds and vendors out today. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed myself as poor Ruby was constantly bombarded with comments or questions about her hairstyle, outfit, etc.  I was simply tagging along because I love vintage things and technology that's essentially been phased out. Also because seeing relics (gems) from the past always inspires me.  Among the many highlights of our day we met an old 'retired' drag queen and had an enjoyable chat with him.
   Ruby was, essentially, on a mission to purchase inventory for her soon-to-be vintage store. She made off with some great deals by the end of the day.  I myself had to hold back because I have a tendency to overspend a great deal even after all haggling is said and done I end up leaving an arm and a leg behind.  Today however, was a great day for my wallet. What I've got pictured below are a pair of spectacles (Date unknown [I'll ask Ruby]).  The most amazing thing is that for close to close-mid range sight they are almost my perfect prescription...minus the astigmatism fix in my right eye.  In fact I'm sitting here writing this while wearing them and everything is as clear as I could ask for.  I've even included a silly little self portrait for you of myself fashioning my new spectacles (pay no mind to the disheveled hair). If any of you are interested as to the location of this flea market I believe it's somewhere around 24th and 6th...just walk about on a Saturday and you're bound to find it.

Best,


-S.


P.S. Next flea market to check out: GreanFlea

Places of NYC: Sunflower Diner

    Tonight is a night of silent films for me but before settling in for the night I decided to grab some good eats so I set out to see what I could find. While out I stumbled across Sunflower Diner. Here is a diner that eats like a restaurant. Not one of those glitzy, high class restaurants but nonetheless it serves up larger portions than you'd assume. Sunflower Diner is located on the corner of 26th street and 3rd avenue (359 3rd Ave).  Albeit it's a bit on the pricey side with a cup of coffee starting at a buck sixty while the rest of your meal steadily climbs after that. However you see that everywhere in midtown Manhattan, eeeveryone wants your money over your patronage.  I just ordered a simple Eastside Burger 'delux' (Burger, onions, mozzarella, green peppers, and mushrooms). The delux adds a generous portion of french fries, lettuce and tomato, as well as a bowl, not cup, bowl of cole slaw. Now that ran me a little less than eleven bucks but the size of it made up for the price. Other local diners normally charge over nine bucks to make it delux but the serving size is smaller so I wasn't put off too much by that, I was after all, out for dinner and not lunch.  It's a Friday night so everyone seems to be filling the nearby bars and clubs so I was able to enjoy a less than crowded Sunflower Diner.  I ordered a cup of coffee with my meal cause I've got a decent amount of movies watching to go through tonight and because it's a diner... c'mon it's what you do.  Tonight I'm only posting images I shot with my cell phone camera but I also took several with other cameras I had on me at the time and i'll come back and post them at a later date.  As the night drove on I decided to be on my way, asked for the check and it came to a total of $13.15 which for a dinner in midtown isn't bad in comparison. Sure, there are other places such as the lower east side in which that would seem quite expensive but hey, I'll take this for its convenience and atmosphere.  I forgot to mention that they've had the best coffee of any diner I've been to thus far.

Amenities of Sunflower Diner:
-Windowed dinning are on the street
-Glass glasses rather than plastic ones
-Peppermint after dinner mints, toothpicks, and moist towelettes at the register
-Friendly staff who seem to keep up with 'the regulars'
-Not even a hint of agitation if you decide to stay for say, over 45 minutes with only a cup of coffe on your table.


Best,


-S.



P.S. Tonight's list of movies includes the following:
City Lights (1931) -An incredible silent comedy written and directed by as well as starring Charles Chaplin
Nosferatu (1922)
M (1931 talkie) - Fritz Lang crime thriller

50th Post! Groovin' on by with the Lounge Lizards

Dig it.

Smooth sailing and goodnight.