WWDD - What Would the Dude Do?

The CUNY Graduate Center on Fifth Avenue and 34th St. has a real live art gallery in the north part of its grand (one-time B. Altman's) lobby, with windows on the avenue and everything. But often more interesting pieces are displayed in the cases that line the walls along the corridor that leads to the cafe, Segal theater, and CUNY TV (also to the bathrooms).

The current exhibition of political posters includes this piece by Fernando Marti, which promotes the annual Bowl-a-Thon to raise funds for the California Prison Moratorium Project. There are other nice pieces on display, including a couple by Marti (more here), though it's never clear how long they'll be up. (On weekends, you need a CUNY ID to sign into the building; weekdays, anyone is welcome.)

(If you look closely at the photo, you'll see the logo of the Pittsfield Colonials baseball team, which I have stuck onto the bottom of my iPhone case, superimposed onto the bowling ball. Or perhaps you are not a golfer.)

Clear Sailing

It is a rare day that you can travel at speed on the BQE all the way from the Gowanus Canal to the Kosciuszko Bridge. Memorial Day morning is one.

Who knew that Staten Island and Queens were so close?

Ice Heads

The season for Ralph's, the Lemon Ice King, Del's Frozen Lemonade (if you are in Rhode Island) is upon us!

Trail's End

Rotating CDs in the vehicle, I turned up a classified ad I clipped from Nowy Dziennik, the New York Polish daily. Years ago, I had slipped it into a Holly Golightly CD called God Don't Like It, with a nice cover painting by John Langford. It seemed like a good pairing.

It's pretty unlikely that the trailer and shed are still available. I still like the name Trails End for a retirement community.

Car Wash

With temperatures headed north towards 80, Tuesday seemed a good day for a long overdue car wash. The neat little operation at the Brighton Hand Car Wash on Forest Ave. on Staten Island seemed a good place to sit in the sun for 20 minutes.

It's the rare NYC car wash where you look out over an arbor, including a cherry tree in blossom.

Pop-Up Comrade

Following a link from the Polish Cultural Institute of New York to BookExpo USA at the Javits Center later this month, I found this hero of the Soviet working class instead. I was curious because the PCI site suggested Polish children's books would be featured. (Try it here.Click on link for BEA website.)

I enjoy how many icons of Soviet agriculture, industry, and transportation are crammed into the relatively small frame. And check out that Lada!

Welcome to the Neighborhood

(Cartoon: Charles Addams)

Friend of the blog Nadezhda reports that actress Christina Ricci has purchased a lovely little townhouse in Fort Greene, hard by the BQE. Over at BTB, we've been a big fan of Christina's since her appearance as Wednesday in the Addams Family movies in the 90s.

(Photo: Curbed NY)

So welcome to the neighborhood, Christina. We promise we'll give you as much privacy as we can when we're stuck in traffic 50 feet away.