J. Philip's New York Photo Blog » Noteworthy

Brooklyn, NY: There Was a Ballpark Here

J. Philip Faranda — Tue, 19 May 2009 11:30:14 +0000

-J. Philip Faranda

Brooklyn: Memorial Arch

J. Philip Faranda — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:27:59 +0000

-J. Philip Faranda

Kew Gardens, Queens: Unintentional Self Portrait

J. Philip Faranda — Thu, 14 May 2009 12:36:09 +0000

There is a considerable backstory to this photo and those taken with it, and it goes back to my sophomore year at Villanova and my Psychology 101 class. It was there, in the diffused responsibility lesson, that I first learned of the Kitty Genovese story. That event always disturbed me.

Quite by chance, I showed an apartment to someone that I later found out was one of the two infamous buildings on Austin Street. I have been by the area a number of times and taken quite a few pictures- it really is a pretty area. This particular photo was taken of the very spot under the lamp post where Ms. Genovese was originally attacked. I did not know until later that I was in the photo. Sometime later I will post more photos of the block.

-J. Philip Faranda

Scarsdale, NY: European Health Spa

J. Philip Faranda — Mon, 04 May 2009 13:12:11 +0000

If you have driven on Central Park Avenue you’ll know this building. The Eurpean Health Spa (more info here) has been derelict for quite a long time- perhaps decades. It was an active gym at one time, and the flying saucer architecture with Atlas in front gained it some notoriety. However, gyms come and go, and perhaps the pricey location precluded anyone from reopening the place. It has fallen into neglect and overgrowth; graffiti covers the base, and you can see things hanging through the tinted glass that may indicate the ceiling has been breached by water or abandoned construction.

While I was taking photos a passerby asked if it was finally sold. I told him that while I was in real estate, I was photgraphing it for pleasure. We both expressed what a long time it had been, and what a waste of both a remarkable building and prime property.

If I had the money…

View from Central Park Avenue

-J. Philip Faranda

Beacon, NY: Bannerman Castle

J. Philip Faranda — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:11:55 +0000

This is a very historic old structure on an island in the Hudson River near Beacon, NY that dates back to colonial times. I love this, as my header will attest; getting to a vantage to take a good picture was difficult- they didn’t build castles with photographers in mind.

Bannerman Castle

-J. Philip Faranda

Yankee Stadia

J. Philip Faranda — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 05:25:34 +0000

I don’t know when they are razing the Old Yankee Stadium, but it is cool to see both buildings side by side. I am sure there are pictures out there from a helicopter which are even more interesting, but you’ll have to settle for my clicks from the shoulder of the Major Deegan from my car. The new Yankee Stadium does look like a cathedral.

Old and New Yankee Stadiums, old building in the foreground

Old and New Yankee Stadium, side by side.

-J. Philip Faranda

Original Carvel

J. Philip Faranda — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 03:00:28 +0000

If you are from the New York area and over the age of 30, you’ll remember Tom Carvel’s distinctive voice from his ice cream commercials. His original Carvel ice cream shop was on Central Park Avenue in Hartsdale, NY, around the very same spot where his ice cream truck broke down in the 1930′s.

I took this photo in late 2008 after the store was closed so the land could be developed. The land around it was wooded but had been cleared at the time I snapped the photo. The yellow banner in the window says “Japanese Hibachi Steak house coming soon.”

The Original Carvel Ice Cream Shop

-J. Philip Faranda