June Evening

Peace and quiet by the bay....

Thrills Still

The Cyclone...Still coasting along. As a backdrop to last weekend's parade this Coney Island classic was as busy as ever. (Best viewed in large format, click on the image)

Flying Scott

For some 20 years or so my Dad spent his summers at the helm of his Flying Scot. At 19 feet, this open boat carries a large mainsail and jib and combined with her overall light weight she has only one speed...fast! The local "Sayville Wet Pants Sailors" sponsor Flying Scot races on Thursday evenings, providing me with an opportunity to be nostalgic!

Mermaid Mummer

All the way from Northeast Philly! The Mummers were among the Mermaids...!

Couch Queen

More from Coney Island's parade...A very eclectic mix of Mermaids provided a certain degree of gender confusion.

Contestant Number 511

Mermaid Parade costumes and themes were judged for originality and impact. Contestants certainly showed creativity in their styles of dress (and undress). There seemed to be traces of Coney Island from another era in this shot...

Mermaids on Parade

Mermaids from near and far made their appearance at Coney Island's annual extravaganza on Saturday.

Coney Island Elder

Rabbi Abraham Abraham the self-proclaimed elder of Coney Island at the start of the annual Mermaid Parade. The parade scene was a joyous mixture of mermaids, Neptunes, extroverts and exhibitionists. All in all a wonderful way to spend the first day of summer!

Retro Gas

Way back in the olden days....a little bell would ring when you drove into the "service station" alerting the uniformed "attendant" of your arrival. He would promptly wash your windshield, ask to check your oil level and inquire as to your tire pressure. All of that attention for 37.9!... Two dollars worth of gas took you from Friday night to Monday morning. Seems to me that "service stations" became "gas stations" right about the time they started to charge a quarter for compressed air and opened those "self-service" and "full-service" lanes. Ahhh...I'm showing my age again!

River Afternoon

The last full day of Spring 2008. The weather could not have been more Spring-like with temperatures in the mid-70's under sunny skies. No better way to say farewell to Spring than a cozy afternoon on the boat. Off the stern is the Patchogue River...

Chubby

Our neighbor's Marshall Catboat, Chubby, shows off her reflected lines in the afternoon light. At 22 feet in length, Chubby feels much larger thanks to her wide beam and shallow draft. I had the privilege of sailing her for a few hours the other day, the fact that I was at the helm is testament to how easily she handles in a breeze!

Fire Island Light

The Lighthouse at Fire Island is having some much needed painting work done. That's the good news, the bad news is that the scaffolding lines were very much visible during our "Landscape Photography Workshop" over the weekend.

Getting to Third Base

Another fisheye from Shea..... (best viewed in large format)

Earthrise

Still rather impressive after all these years...

Future Nostalgia

Creative gift idea? Early Christmas shopping?...Plans are already underway for the seat by seat sale of Shea Stadium. Rumor among the fan base has it that any part of the stadium that can be safely moved will be on the auction block. I wonder how that urinal from the upper deck would look in the downstairs bathroom....?

Back to the Future

The 1964-65 World's Fair featured the Observatory Towers looking over the Flushing Meadows fair grounds. The structures have seen very little maintenance in the past 40 years or so and have that haunting "back to the future" appearance.

Outfielders

As Citifield continues to grow beyond the center field wall fans bask in the last season at Shea. A few more wins would make it a good deal more enjoyable however...! (best in large view, click on image)

A Beach Of My Own

Not much in this image...and that's the whole point! Fire Island on a June Monday that just happens to be the hottest day of the year (to date). There's a pleasant sea breeze and not another soul for miles. After seeing a good bit of the east coast the past few years, I am convincined that what we have in our own "backyard" exsists in very few places along the Atlantic seaboard. You gotta love it......

Morning Calm

Stony Brook Harbor early on a very hot Sunday morning in June. Summer is on the radar....

Working the Bay

Another work boat shot from the other day...nasty weather and indoor projects have kept my camera in the closet!!

Philly Bound

Haven't been here in years.....Philly's Ben Franklin Bridge. Helping step-son Kevin move this past weekend to South Philly took me to parts of my old home town that I have not seen in decades. To quote many comedians.."Philadelphia is a great place to be from.."

Baymen

Made some new friends on the bay yesterday...These conch fishermen came by our boat to say "hello" and exchange smiles as they worked their trap line. Full time baymen are few and far between in recent years.

South Street in Philly

Philadelphia's funky South Street where no paint can is tossed until it is empty (evidently). Lined with unique shops and tempting eateries (read: Philly Cheese Steak!), South Street was a bustling tourist destination this past weekend!

Red 34

Our Corner on the bay...Red 34 marks the navigational turn from Brown's River and marks where most of our nautical routes begin and end. I can recall a few stormy days when it was a very welcome sight. :-)

Radio Flyer

The ubiquitous Fire Island red wagon...in communities without vehicles wagons are invaluable means of conveyance. AND..a seasonal icon...

Kayak Invasion

A local marina has started to rent kayaks and on nice Saturday mornings things can get a bit busy. This past weekend seemed to be a big money maker for the rental shop....

Oliver Scott

At five months of age, ever alert and aware, Ollie takes it all in....Another proud grandpa photo!

A Grateful Nation

"...and how many seas must a white dove sail..." Answers still blowing in the wind...

Not Forgotten

The Real Memorial Day Weekend.........

Garden Morning

Foxglove...in it's garden glory.

Memorial Day Weekend

Summer's "unofficial start" begins this weekend. Gas prices may hold down on some of the usual holiday boat traffic but it's a sure bet that the Fire Island Ferries will be at capacity!

Miss Daisy

More appreciations in one's own backyard.... :-) (click on image for large view!)

Garden Girl

Sweet Woodrift in the garden...Soft rain and cool temperatures agree with the garden and this gardener. So far we have been rather "bug-free" making garden work more of a joy than a chore!

Rainy Day

Looks like we are in for a few rainy days before the big weekend...

Blazing Tulips

Most tulips have had their moment to shine by Memorial Day weekend. This display at Westbury Gardens was very impressive. AND...Memorial Day? Didn't that sneak up on us rather quickly....!

Louise

A new breed of pleasure craft that takes it's design from the fishing fleet, "downeaster" style lobsters boat are a pricey and sea worthy choice!

Green One

Mid-May on the Great South Bay...Many boaters are still getting ready for a launch date, removing winter covers and painting bottoms. Some of the nicest weather and Saturdays are still uncrowded....my own reward for all that early Spring prep work!

The Backyard

Westbury House at Westbury gardens....now, these are people that need a riding mower!

Tea Party Vouyer

Scene in a window...the Thatched Cottage playhouse on the grounds at Westbury Gardens displays toys from another era.

Wall Of Wysteria

...and the aroma was wonderful! Westbury Gardens, Long Island...

Gatesby Long Island

Be sure to click on the image for the best view of the mansion at Westbury Gardens. This "cottage" known as "Westbury House" was built in the early 1900's by John S. Phipps as a gift for his wife. While the residence is spectacular, the real show is the grounds (aka "The Garden").

Breeding Birds

Local controversy on Long Island's Fire Island...The National Park Service being well intentioned and perhaps misguided, has once again cardoned off expansive sections of beach to protect nesting Piping Plovers. Reported sightings of these birds are non-exsistent yet miles of beach remain "off-limits". On the East End some access points to the beach are closed off forcing residents to find lengthy detours to beachfront ajacent to their property. Anyone remember snail darters??

Pond Reflections

Behman's pond.... Late afternoon mirror images make for a peaceful shot. (at least until the geese start fighting amongst each other again..)

The Helm

Function over form...The helm on many old tong clammers were outside the boat's cabin. This made maneuvering the boat, while working, an easier task. On display at the Suffolk Maritime Museum, West Sayville.

Rowwboat

Wooden roaboats are few and far between now-a-days. Click on the image for the enhanced view and you may notice water in the bottom of this rowboat. In the early season it was a common practice to flood a rowboat causing the wood joints to swell and ensure a dry ride the rest of the season.

Roundabout Theatre

Amazing just how many times this play has been re-done and filmed in various styles. The original novel was written in 1790. Sexual intrigue, deception and betrayal have obviously always held human interest! I enjoyed the current production very much, the acting is excellent and the period costumes are stunning.

May Fog

The first weekend in May brought us much needed rain. Down by the water the difference in air and water temperatures can create an ethereal fog with it's own style of beauty.

Tulip Time

NYC's tulip bulb planting efforts are yielding beautiful results this Spring. The Park, medians and planters are ablaze in color this week!

Beach Bridge

Still looking at shots from our road trip to Florida.... This late afternoon shot was taken on a pedestrian bridge connecting Juno to the J.D. McArthur Park beach. The afternoon light was eye catching!

Handsome Cab

The omnipresent Handsome Cab...Saturday morning in April and these Central Park icons are filled to capacity. Riders are eager tourists and (I imagine) a few locals who, "always wanted to do that"!