The Unbearable Banishment: Central Park + Autumn

Monday, November 14, 2011

Central Park + Autumn

Typically, I'll spend my lunch hour reading in Central Park. I've been reading Haruki Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle for the past several weeks. It's a 600-page behemoth. I usually avoid books of this girth because I don't have as much time to read as I used to and it takes too bloody long to finish. Murakami's new book, IQ84 is 925 pages! The new Stephen King novel is 850 pages! What the hell is wrong with these guys!? I once asked Nick Hornby how he was able to get through so many books and he told me to keep in mind that he doesn't have a "proper job." So that's the secret. But I like Murakami and was willing to make an exception. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is good, but not nearly as good as Norwegian Wood. That book is his masterpiece.

Anyway, last week, I left my book in the office, grabbed my camera and went for a stroll. Here's one of the most photographed stone bridges in the world. I, myself, have posted numerous pics of this bridge in various seasons.


Here's the view looking south at The Plaza Hotel. The Plaza was bought and refurbished by Donald Trump. Trump is kind of a buffoon and I can't stand his taste in architecture, but The Plaza was a landmark of faded beauty that needed rehabilitating, so I guess I'm okay with it. I'm just grateful that he didn't wrap the building in gold and mirrors. He likes shiny things. He's like a parrot.


I took this one with my iPhone and ran it through a vibrancy filter. Not sure I like the results. It gooses up the color levels a bit too much for my tastes and gives it an unnatural look. The greens are too green. It's like looking at an old black and white movie that's been colorized.


As I was uploading these, it dawned on me that they look rather pedestrian. Like greeting card photos or holiday photos your friends bore you with. Too late. I was too deep into the process to stop.


Musicians, musicians everywhere, but not a venue to perform in! Throw a stone in any direction and you'll hit someone who has mastered their instrument but has to busk for a living. The acoustics of this passageway are perfect for a sax, don't you think?


And, of course, this being New York City, as I was enjoying this splendid performance, some guy walked up to the passageway entrance and relieved himself. Right in front of me! He heaved a great, audible, sigh of relief. You've really got to take the good with the bad in this place.

14 Comments:

Blogger Lori said...

Thanks for the photos and video -combined with your writing, a real treat! Me - I like the intensity of the vibrancy filter, but to each his own.

I've been busy and haven't been by in a while. Looking forward to catching up on your recent posts. Love your blog!

November 14, 2011 at 12:24 PM  
Anonymous daisyfae said...

looking at the pic of the man doing the public urination, as i listened to the theme from "The Pink Panther"? nice. you did that on purpose, didn't you?

November 14, 2011 at 5:15 PM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

Lori: Thank YOU! I'm not one of these evolved and secure individuals who blog just for the joy of it. I need to be patted on the head occasionally and told, "good boy!". I appreciate it.

Daisy: NOT on purpose! It's more New York City magic at work.

November 14, 2011 at 5:41 PM  
Blogger Ponita in Real Life said...

Trump is more like a magpie, don't you think? They like shiny things too but aren't as smart as a parrot... ;-)

Yes, that tunnel is perfect for the sax! I love the photos you post, and playing with filters is part of the joy of digital photography.

November 14, 2011 at 5:57 PM  
Anonymous looby said...

Longer and longer books: I blame the word processor. It's far too easy to write now. Look at all of us! :)

I like your first picture especially. I had no idea Central Park was so sylvan.

November 14, 2011 at 10:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed The Wind Up Bird Chronicle.

November 15, 2011 at 2:35 AM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

Ponita: I have mixed feelings about the quality of these pics. Do you remember film photography? 36 shots and you had to make every one count. God bless digital. Just keep shooting until it works.

looby: I had to Google sylvan. New word of the day! There are sections of Central Park where the city is completely hidden and all you see are woods. It's a small miracle, really.

nurse: Have you read Norwegian Wood? It's good stuff. And short.

November 15, 2011 at 6:57 AM  
Blogger Ponita in Real Life said...

I still have my Canon EOS Rebel 35mm camera... that takes rolls of film. I don't use it anymore, and can't afford the digital version, so I use a little auto-focus digital that works fairly well. If I can ever save the money, I am going to buy a Canon 60D. I much prefer the delete options of digital!

November 15, 2011 at 2:32 PM  
Blogger tennysoneehemingway said...

Great pics. At least he was pissing somewhat out of site. I don't know how many times I've walked through central Geelong, looked up a side street to find two or three blokes pissing away. The toilets are just across the mall!!!!

November 15, 2011 at 7:19 PM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

Ponita: I'm with you. Digital = freedom to make mistakes.

Hem: It could have been a lot worse. If you know what I mean.

November 16, 2011 at 6:37 AM  
Blogger Pat said...

Spent a great evening at the Plaza in 1970 - before Trump I assume - with a black man, a china man, my sister and my sister's pal who was a Brit. Drinks in the bar, then the Met Museum then China town. A memorable night.

November 16, 2011 at 6:54 AM  
Blogger The Unbearable Banishment said...

Pat: A black man, a china man, my sister and my sister's pal who was a Brit walk into a bar... What a great set-up! Wish I was clever enough to supply a punchline.

November 16, 2011 at 7:40 AM  
Blogger M L Jassy said...

Pretty trees in Central Park, although I hear there could be some 'occupy' action on the way! In which case there might be some more public peeing!

November 16, 2011 at 4:37 PM  
Anonymous dinahmow said...

Thankyou.Good buskers, fall colours,the glamour with the grim...it's NY!


Note to Ponita: in my book, magpies trump parrots any day!

November 18, 2011 at 3:50 PM  

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