Paul Goldfinger.photograph. Firemen march in the Israel Day Parade, 5th Avenue, New York City. 2017. Usually held in June. Click to enlarge and see the action.
THE BEATLES:
Archive for the ‘Photography: New York City Street Series’ Category
Distraction on Fifth Avenue
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged New York City Street Series on Blogfinger on June 15, 2026|
Walkin’ Around Greenwich Village: Pastry and Cappucino
Posted in Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged Big butter and egg man, Coffee break in Greewich Village on June 6, 2026| 1 Comment »
Coffee break at Bruno’s Italian bakery on LaGuardia Place, Greenwich Village. PG photo. April, 2013
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net
While I was in the neighborhood, I went back to Bruno’s Italian bakery on La Guardia Place. Below is a link to our original post about this wonderful patisserie and cafe which is located on a busy New York street. You can sit outside, but you have to follow their rituals. (When in Rome, etc). So you pick your table and the waiter comes over. He tells you to walk inside where there is a store length display case filled with pastries, many of which I could not identify. A guy with a white apron comes over behind the case and, without a word, just stands there and watches me. I feel the pressure, so I confine my attention to items that I can recognize, although it is obvious that everything there must be delicious.
My eyes wander over some amazing fudge cupcakes (too rich and too American;) I feel obligated to find something inviting that looks European and sophisticated, and I am not referring to the waitress. So, in an effort to make the guy happy (he was watching me closely,) I chose the first thing that seemed to meet my criteria– I chose an apricot and walnut tart, told the guy I also wanted a cappuccino, and then I went outside to wait.
I found the only table that was left in the shade. It was an extremely sunny day—so bright that I had to go to the NYU bookstore earlier and choose a hat among the 1,000 choices. They even have one that said “NYU basketball.” Gimmie a break! NYU basketball? The last time I checked, their basketball program was shutdown over a gambling scandal 40 years ago . But I digress…. ( I often digress–makes Eileen a little nuts sometimes,)
So, the photo above shows what I ordered. The waiter brought the snack, but he would not give me a check. He told me to wait until I was done, and then I would get a check. Everything was excellent—the coffee, the tart (no, not the waitress), the scene across the street, the quirky service, and even the woman at the next table who ignored me even though I was close enough to try her croissant.
Across the street was something that looked like a park. But it was not—it was a community vegetable garden. A big sign on the fence said that NYU wanted to take the garden from the people. NYU is always butting heads with preservationists who want to keep the Village protected from the university’s expansion plans (sound familiar?)
So I took a photo of my snack and texted it to Eileen (just to annoy her). But I brought half my tart home so that I wouldn’t be a total SOB. But she’s on a diet and she only ate a tiny piece; but even a tiny piece is heaven, and I enjoyed the rest on my OG porch where I found a parking space in front of my house and I didn’t have to pay $35.00 to park for three hours in the Big Apple.
Another coffee and pastry post
BIG MAMA SUE TRIO: “I Want a Big Butter and Egg Man”
“Off with their heads! “
Posted in Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged Central Park statue of Alice in Wonderland on May 16, 2026| 2 Comments »
Paul from Blogfinger attends a mad party at 75th Street in Central Park. Photo by Eileen Goldfinger © Click to see the cast of characters. * Reposted from 2014.
By Paul Goldfinger MD. Editor Blogfinger.net
In 1959, George Delacorte, a philanthropist, donated this bronze statue to Central Park. It is not exactly the tea party scene. It is called “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” The sculptor is Spanish born American artist José deCreeft.
Here are a couple of quotes from Lewis Carroll’s great work (1865):
“But I don’t want to go among mad people,” Alice remarked.
“Oh, you can’t help that,” said the Cat: “we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.”
“How do you know I’m mad?” asked Alice.
“You must be,” said the Cat, “or you wouldn’t have come here.”
AND:
“If you don’t know where you are going, any road can take you there.”
Below is a quote from centralpark.com:
—–* “The design for the bronze sculpture was patterned after the original illustrations of John Tenniel that were used in the first published edition of the book. The obvious centerpiece of the work, Alice, who depicts the face of Creeft’s daughter, Donna, is pictured sitting on a giant mushroom reaching toward a pocket watch held by the White Rabbit.
Peering over her shoulder is the Cheshire Cat, surrounded by the Dormouse, Alice’s cat Dinah, and the Mad Hatter — a caricature of George Delacorte. ” (Central park.com)
AMBER EDWARDS: “Alice Blue Gown” from HBO’s Boardwalk Empire.
Uptown Girl…
Posted in Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged Hang on Little Tomato on May 7, 2026|
Central Park in the East 90’s. NYC Street Series. By Paul Goldfinger Blogfinger.net. Click to enlarge. This image has no sharp angles. Delightful.
BILLY JOEL. “Uptown Girl”
West 40th Street. Post no bills
Posted in Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged Blue York on April 18, 2026|
W. 40th St near the Javitz Center. © Paul Goldfinger photo. Click to enlarge (or pinch bigger on your iPhone)
BARBARA ROSENE with VINCE GIORDANO AND THE NIGHTHAWKS:
“All the Things You Are.” Portrait of Eileen…
Posted in Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photography: New York City Street Series, Portraits of Eileen, tagged A portrait of Eileen, Central Park Zoo on March 18, 2026| 1 Comment »
Central Park Zoo. Undated. By Paul Goldfinger.
KEN PEPLOWSKI and FRIENDS (live.) Ken is on clarinet. “All the Things You Are.” This song was written by Jerome Kern, melody; with Oscar Hammerstein II, lyrics. It was for a 1939 Broadway show called Very Warm for May.
The great jazz sax player John Coltrane loved the lyrics of this song so much, he referred to it as the “angel glow” song. (“You are the angel glow that lights the star'”)
“You are the promised kiss of springtime
That makes the lonely winter seem long
You are the breathless hush of evening
That trembles on the brink of a lovely song
“You are the angel glow that lights the star
The dearest things that I know are what you are
Someday my happy arms will hold you
And someday I’ll know that moment divine
When all the things you are, are mine”
Gray day in the city—perfect for a crap game with good old reliable Nathan.
Posted in Blogfinger Presents, Photography by Paul Goldfinger, Photography: Black and White gallery, Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged Guys and Dolls on February 12, 2026| 2 Comments »
West side apartment building. 1970’s. Paul Goldfinger ©. Tri-X Collection
Guys and Dolls was the story of a bunch of New York characters—-gangsters and gamblers and the babes who hung out with them, including Adelaide, based on the stories of Damon Runyon in the ’20’s and ’30’s. The first production was on Broadway in 1950. Later, in 1955, there was a movie with, believe it or not, Marlon Brando singing and dancing, along with Frank Sinatra. There were 14 marvelous songs by Frank Loesser.
This one, “The Oldest Established,” is performed early in the first act featuring Nathan, Nicely, Benny and the guys trying to organize a crap game. It’s going to be in the Biltmore Garage, because the back of the police station and the local school were out. But they needed to pay $1,000.00 for the venue.
“If we only had a lousy little grand, we would be a millionaire.”
Urban bouquet
Posted in Photograph by Paul Goldfinger, Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged NYC flower shop at night on February 3, 2026|
The upper east side. By Paul Goldfinger Click on image to enlarge.. From NYC Street Series. August, 2014.
MAROON 5
“Montezuma” by the Fleet Foxes
Posted in Music from TV, Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged New York, the Fleet Foxes: Montezuma on January 5, 2026|
New York City street series. 2011. By Paul Goldfinger Click once to enlarge. Blogfinger.net.
The Fleet Foxes are a rock group from Washington State. This song “Montezuma” is from the TV series “Girls” on HBO. The music is from the season one soundtrack. The Fleet Foxes are known for their lyrics and their harmonies. The photograph is from Fifth Avenue in lower Manhattan.—-PG
“i wonder if I’ll see any faces above me
or just cracks in the ceiling
nobody else to blame?
“Oh man what I used to be
Oh man oh my oh me
Oh man that I used to be
Oh man oh my oh me”
Like a melody? We’re referring to a pretty girl.
Posted in Photography: New York City Street Series, Photos: New York City street series, tagged Len Cariou on December 29, 2025|
Fifth Avenue at Central Park. August, 2014. © Paul Goldfinger photo, NYC Street Series . Click to hear the melody better.
LEN CARIOU AND THE ZIEGFELD MALE CHORUS (with a wonderful staging of the Irving Berlin song) from the London production of Ziegfeld (about the Ziegfeld Follies—flapper era review.) Some of you may know Len Cariou from his role as the father in Blue Bloods (CBS)
Ziegfeld Folllies. Internet photo. Click to enlarge.
Ziegfeld girl. 1920’s. Internet photos (PG did not take this photo)
No Turns New York
Posted in Photography by Paul Goldfinger, Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged New York New York by Frank Sinatra on December 21, 2025|
“No Turns.” By Paul Goldfinger © Mid-town Manhattan.
FRANK SINATRA recorded this song in 1979 for his Trilogy album. It first appeared in a Martin Scorsese film in 1977 called New York, New York and was written by Kander and Ebb (Cabaret, Kiss of the Spider Woman) and first performed by Liza Minnelli in the film.
Robert de Niro rejected the first song written by Kander and Ebb for the movie, and our version below was the result of the re-do. It was first titled, “The Theme From New York, New York.”
I recall hearing this song performed in that film by Liza. It was a nightclub setting, with the spotlight on her. It struck me that it was an amazing song, and I remember wondering why I hadn’t heard it before. It’s the only thing from that movie that I recall, although that’s true of many of the movies I have seen.—Paul @Blogfinger.
“Start spreadin’ the news, I’m leaving today
“I want to be a part of it: New York, New York.”
Peace in the Snow: 1969 New York City
Posted in Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged 1969 Peace in the snow, and Mary "Blowin' in the Wind.", Paul, Peter on December 13, 2025| 3 Comments »
Paul Goldfinger. New York City 1969. Silver gelatin darkroom print. Posted Jan. 2016 at Blogfinger.net.
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor @Blogfinger
In February 1969, New York City was hit by a major snowstorm. That month the Vietnam War was still raging, and the North Vietnamese army was attacking in the south. Pres. Nixon ordered the first of many troop withdrawals. The peace movement was strong in the city.
I went out to take some photos and found this message on the Upper East Side, near Fifth Avenue. The snow was still fresh, clean and beautiful. The fence surrounded a private park—it’s a very fancy neighborhood.
“Blowin’ in the Wind:” Written in 1962 by Bob Dylan when he was 21 years old. It was the most famous of the 1960’s protest songs. It was the title song for Peter, Paul and Mary’s 3rd album, and it was the most successful version—even more so than Dylan’s.
On Your Way
Posted in Photography: New York City Street Series, tagged Michael Penn "On Your Way" from Girls on November 16, 2025|
Washington Square Park. From the NYC Street Series. By Paul Goldfinger
This song, “On Your Way” is by Michael Penn who is the composer for the HBO Series: “Girls”
“Maybe next summer,
“maybe by fall
“Well, if not then, I am sure you’ll recall
“That our gloomy December will brighten by May
”You’re on your way.”