nod 'n' smile

The NYC subway system is one of the oldest and largest in the world. Here are some impressive facts and figures: 835 miles of track 468 subway stations Runs 24/7/365 4th largest ridership in the world; highest in the US Tranports over 5 million riders a day during the week It is extremely effective because [...]

It seems the world is full of Chinatowns. Whenever I travel, I’m always amazed by how many big cities seem to have one, even areas that are otherwise pretty homogeneous. They exist on six continents (come on, Antarctica, what are you waiting for?). Some have been around for centuries and yet the Chinese lifestyle and [...]

Public and street art seem to be everywhere these days, turning NYC- and places and objects within it- into unexpected canvases. It seems anything can be used as a framework or inspire some sort of artistic interpretation. While graffiti still makes appearances here and there, it’s nice to see the city officially recognizing, supporting, and [...]

A carousel showed up in Brooklyn recently. It’s situated right next to the  East River in an extraordinary location with views of the Manhattan skyline and both the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. I’d heard a few things in passing about the big deal carousel that was coming to town, but thought little of it until [...]

In Brooklyn, there’s a long street called Atlantic Avenue that’s filled with restaurants, bars, and shops. It’s a great place for a stroll because despite everything that’s offered, it’s hardly ever crowded. However, when I first moved to the area, I would occasionally notice a long line of people standing on Atlantic Avenue. Not  terribly [...]