Who's needing their Wednesday afternoon treat? 🌭 When a friend visited from California for a week, we visited quite a few restaurants and eateries on the Upper West Side. We came to Gray's Papaya in one of the last evenings to have some of their famous hot dogs. After one bite, my friend declared that it was the best meal he's had all week. It's not much an exaggeration since the eatery does frequently appear on "must-eat" lists. I don't eat beef, so I've unfortunately never had a chance to try their hot dogs, but the most delicious papaya drink in the world? I will do it anytime! Have you been? @grayspapayanyc #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #blackandwhite #blackandwhitedrawing #blackandwhiteart #linework #penart #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #nycartist #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #grayspapaya #nychotdog #nycfood #nycmusteats
When the boxy sheds come down and the tables are chairs are put, you know summer time just around the corner. It's been a few weeks of grey skies, so the gorgeous weather is especially welcoming. Happy, sweaty people chatter away under the direct sun. It gets a little warm, but the icy drinks help. They watch you as you glance at their plates to see what they're eating. They also comment on how cute your dog is, not that you can respond before you have already speed-walked past them. It's busy on Columbus Avenue, but it is rarely unbearable. Just go a block east or 4 blocks west and embed yourself in the park for some tranquility and peace. You're still in the middle of the city. @theconsulateuws #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #nycartist #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #nyc
Sometimes I forget to post sketches. I did them, so in my head I shared them, not unlike how I respond to certain messages and emails too. Maybe it was more for me than for Instagram. I saw a post today and I knew I knew that corner of the neighborhood, but ended up with a wrong sketch. I was looking through my feed for a sketch I never posted. I'll share that story in my story so you'll see. I started doing quick sketches because I was traveling a lot when I lived in Europe. I had finished the most decadent porchetta while sitting across from the Colesseum and needed another "excuse" to stay longer. It was the Colesseum. You can't just look at it and then call it a day. I had actually been there the day before with friends, and I knew that's where I wanted to be when the group decided to split up for individual activities for a day. I always carried around a small (unruled, because there's no other way!) notebook, so I started translating what I was seeing onto the page. I only captured a corner with the different orders of columns on each level of the Colesseum. Not only did that justify the (first) exorbitant architecture degree I claimed to hold, but the process kept me focused on each and every detail of this icon I finally had the chance of marveling at. You can't just look once and draw. You have to look up, look down, look up again, forget what you are looking at, so you look back yet again, and you are only just getting the length-to-width ratio. When I'm alone, I can spend as long as I want staring at what's in front of me; sometimes there are others, and though they never complain, I can't always make them endure prolonged biting wind chills with me. Dm if you want to know where to get that porchetta. #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestside #sketchstory #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nycartist #newyorkcity #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving
"So, my little Amélie, you don't have bones of glass. You can take life's knocks. If you let this chance pass, eventually, your heart will become as dry and brittle as my skeleton. So, go get him, for Pete's sake!" - The Glass Man, Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain Unassuming on the outside, you may not have guessed that Amélie, or La Petite Amélie as the owners like to refer to its more intimate size compared to the other locations, is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant right in the neighborhood. The pizzaria next to Amélie is permanently closed, leaving behind a boarded up storefront plastered with poster that, funny enough, resembles sleepy remote French/European villages with an aging population that is a little tired of the hustle and bustle. So, go get more wine and bread, for Pete's sake! @ameliebistronyc #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #nycartist #sketchonthego #pendrawing @michelinguide #michelinrestaurant #michelinbibgourmand #bibgourmand #nycrestaurants #amélie
For a recent commissioned art piece, I was looking into some establishments in the neighborhood that are no longer in operation. One of them was Café Lalo, where Tom Hanks (NY152) decides to annoy Meg Ryan (ShopGirl) as she waits with her copy of Pride and Prejudice and a red rose for her mysterious AOL blind date in "You've Got Mail". With an extensive menu and cute ambience, the café has long been a favorite among locals and visitors. Since the pandemic, however, it has been closed "for renovations". The restaurant was sued by its landlord in 2022 for back rent and water damage, to which it countersued by arguing that it does not owe the landlord rent until the restaurant reopens. While I don't know enough about the details to decide who is right or wrong in the court case, wouldn't it be a shame to have the restaurant evicted from its West 83rd Street location since 1988? I'd like to try that tiramisu that's supposed to be very good. Unlike some of the other places I researched, at least Café Lalo is still standing. The planters and lights are gone, but the signage is still there, and the bar and tables are still visible from the street. Side note: Nora Ephron, who used to live across the street from Café Lalo, chose the Upper West Side because "it feels like a small village", and I totally get why we never leave the Upper West Side in You've Got Mail. #sketchmyneighborhood @cafelalo #upperwestside #youvegotmail #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #nycartist #manhattan #filminglocation #cafelalo #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #megryan #tomhanks #noraephron #micronart #linesketch #instaart #buildingsketch #sketchonlocation
I don't usually post sketches or drawings with colors on this page. I blame the Virgo Moon for desiring things to be consistent and monochrome, which may or may not have led to the creation of too many Instagram accounts. This one is breaking a few of my rules. I was asked to do this sketch, but they wanted a little bit of color. It was part of a set of two sketches. I thought that the yellow watercolor wash could be pretty, and they were on board. I love it when people are willing to experiment with me, but I don't like to do people because we are already too full of ourselves and give ourselves too much attention. We'll let this one live as a post. Virgos are mutable, after all. Thank you for trusting me in the creation of your projects, and meeting neighbors along the way! Feel free to dm for commissions or my limited prints. @parla.pizza #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestside #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #commissionedart #commissions #instaart #sketchstory #uwsrestaurants #nycartist #watchmesketch #artreels #sketchreels #artreel #sketchreel
Last one from the filming of the Bride of Frankenstein because they wrapped up early in the morning. It was exciting because that is usually a pretty, but sleepy corner at 86 Riverside Drive. The fake lamp posts, old cars, and lighting rigs from the production in the last couple of days truly accentuated the beauty of this fine historic district on the Upper West Side I'm proud to call home. The Carroll Mansion was designed in 1898 by architect Clarence True, whose contribution to the Upper West Side I have written about in my other posts. Or if you didn't pay attention to the lecture, just remember he's the guy who had the humor to name his book "A True History of Riverside Drive". Like most architects, True started off as an apprentice to an esteemed Gothicist architect, Richard Upjohn. The corner of 81st Street and Riverside Drive was his own project, one of the first where he established himself as one of the most celebrated architects of the time. He acted as both the speculator and architect for six fancy Elizabethan Renaissance Revival style houses, with 86 Riverside Drive's signature large bay rounding the corner. (cont. in comment) #thebridemovie #thebrideoffrankenstein @wbpictures #maggiegyllenhaal #christianbale #jessiebuckley #penelopecruz #annettebening #petersarsgaard #thebride #warnerbros #moviefilming #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #filminglocation #film #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestsidenyc #uws #upperwestside
It isn't like Maggie Gyllenhaal is making a movie with Christian Bale, Penélope Cruz, Jessie Buckley, Peter Sarsgaard and Annette Bening on the street next to your home every day. When that happens, the neighborhood gets very excited even if this is what people expect in NYC. They are closing a couple of blocks and several streets for two days, which seem like a big deal. They've had signs up for days, but with a fake movie name, of course. Still, subreddit had the answers: The Bride of Frankenstein, a remake. Christian Bale is Frankenstein's monster and Jessie Buckley is the bride. You go to check out one scene and its many takes, then you realize they're setting up the next one, which means you can't leave yet now that you've become invested in the giant lighting rigs that just got hoisted. You also need answers to why they're wetting the ground. Many takes later, the same thing. It's easier to get obsessed than you think. The crew member who was putting up signs while confirming that it was indeed Christian Bale curled up on the ground made my night. It could have been his double 99% of the time, but it was still very exciting! Jessie Buckley stood outside for the longest, and occasionally had a jacket on between takes. Penélope Cruz walked down the street in another scene, with Peter Sarsgaard chasing after her. I dragged myself home to review some student papers before I returned for the last scene of the night. They were saving the bigger action scenes for the small hours. Cop cars rushing to the scene and police jumping out of them with guns. Two neighbors popped in for a glance before they left. My little sketch was done super quickly when I was the last random person watching the filming, right before they wrapped for the night. It was past 3 am. I may be a little crazy. #thebridemovie #thebrideoffrankenstein @wbpictures #uppereastside #maggiegyllenhaal #christianbale #jessiebuckley #penelopecruz #annettebening #petersarsgaard #thebride #warnerbros #moviefilming #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookdrawing #onset #brideoffrankenstein
Facebook is annoying on so many levels, but my local Buy Nothing Group is one of the few, if not the only, reasons to be on the social media platform. We all have stuff we don't need sitting around collecting dust, or clothes we will forever continue to dream of fitting us one of those days - the eternal maybe that nobody can justify with our overpriced square footage. While now operating separately from the original Buy Nothing Project, the concept has thrived especially in neighborhoods like mine. Most of us have tiny apartments and too many things, we all live so close together, and we love to walk everywhere. It's never about the stuff, but a community that is so willing to share and help each other. I'd ask for a random aux cable and someone would immediately offer one. I've given away 2 tablespoons of instant espresso that someone was seeking for a recipe. I try to remember the person behind the things, because I like that what gets to be mine now has a story. It gives me so much joy to look around my apartment and know that my best furniture, appliances, clothes, and random decorative objects were gifted to me from my neighbors, and that I've tried to reciprocate when I can. It was a beautiful spring day for our first outdoor swap of the year. Neighbors within 30 streets x 5 avenues brought carts and bags of stuff to offer to each other for free. We all said we were there to purge, and then probably brought home more things than we came with. Then there are the "Ohhh you are _______! I've seen your name on Facebook," "Great to finally meet you in person!" and "Ah that's the 'late-night dog'", which, by the way, is now the official title of @bootbootbloop. Thank you for getting us together this afternoon! @riversideparknyc #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestside #buynothing #bng #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #nycartist #newyorkcity #sketchstory #instaartist
What happens when the neighbors come together with a shared goal of creating the ultimate beautiful place for the neighborhood? West Side Community Garden, located on West 89th between Columbus and Amsterdam, was founded in 1975 on a 1.25-acre trashed vacant lot. I 1983, neighbors successfully petitioned for the community garden to be a not-for-profit space, protecting it from developers. In the front you have flower planters surrounding walking paths for the public to enjoy, and in the back you get private vegetable plots that have a two-to-three-year wait list. Over the years, the WSCG has continued to win awards for beautifying the neighborhood. I came across a family of four in the garden for a photoshoot with the backdrop of the famed annual tulip festival. One of the kids kept pulling and destroying the tulips. The mother first told him to stop, then explained that the tulips are for everyone to enjoy. The child said it was funny, to which the mother, again, calmly said that while it might be the case for her son, it wouldn't be funny to others who would no longer be able to enjoy the tulips once they're pulled out. The boy stopped. I don't know if this family is a neighbor, but I thought that was really good parenting. Some would've yelled at the child, who would never understand why his behavior was not ideal; others might ignore or pretend nothing was wrong, because maybe they're tired of disciplining. Some think kids are purely society's or schools' problem and no efforts have to be made at home or by the parents or guardians. If you haven't checked out WSCG's tulips, go while they're still around and fresh! I didn't expect to spend as much time as I did there, but the urban oasis made up of colors, scents, people, and conversations was a much needed escape from the stress, noise, and real life. @westsidecommunitygarden #sketchmyneighborhood #westsidecommunitygarden #upperwestside #tulipfestival #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity
How many care to pay attention to those little, hidden buildings in the background that make up so much of the journey? I could just be terrible at determining gains vs. losses. Certain people have criticized that I do things in an "ineffective" way, that I just have to show results. Society loves results. Work rewards results. People understand results. In college when everyone was rushing to compete course credits to get degrees to get jobs, I was changing my major and then my schools. It wouldn't have been the same journey for me if I had majored in something I didn't care about, or graduated from a school I didn't like. Then everybody was working on their license in the same city we went to school and I moved to three different countries. I wasn't getting hours toward my licensure or buying a property or getting married or having babies because I was too busy moving, exploring, and growing. Processes and journeys don't pay money. People don't understand and don't care, or they think you're "lost" because you're finding your way. But why shouldn't people be finding their way? At no one particular age? And so what if you do fail a million times along the way? I think this is what education should be about - the process, journey, and growth, not winning or losing. I don't know why so many claim to be educators or work for institutions but don't get this at all. It's sad how those who claim to work in education have such a fixed mindset and refuse to invest and believe more in the journey and not the outcome. It's extremely frustrating that some will never understand education should be student-centric and not about the ego of the institution or an individual. You know what would be great to represent the school? The growth and learning in a student, not the protection of the so-called reputation. So many teachable moments, except some never care to teach. #sketchrant #sketchmyneighborhood #drawnthere
I can't get enough of the bright pink canopy formed by the little blossoms under which I get to walk under every time I head out. The blossom trees are only on one side of the symmetrical pair of stoops that curve up to the entryway, and that's the side I pick every day these days. The blossoms are never shy about their need for attention, and even an occasional misstep would be worth the prolonged stare. This time of the year in NYC you get a giant palette of colors highlighting the various corners of the city. What would otherwise have been similar to the next street now has its special color and fragrance. The splash of Barbie pink at the corner of West End and 85th, the paler, sweet yellow on 84th between West End and Riverside, and the sweet purplish red along Riverside. Have you looked? The enchantment is already there if you believe it, and it's a very good excuse to wander around. #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestside #drawnthere #quicksketch #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #nycartist #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture @micronart @moleskine @moleskine_arts #sketchbookdrawing
I passed by this brownstone around Easter when it had cute rabbits and eggs. I meant to go back to do a sketch, but the weather and my schedule couldn't find a way to cooperate, so when I finally made it back, I could only recreate the Easter decor from memory. If you remember my other sketches of a building that always has cute seasonal themes, this is a different one. Thank you to the neighbors who take the time to make their buildings pretty to benefit the eyeballs of the neighborhood! With the recreation of the Easter bunnies from memory/imagination, I had to look into their origin. According to some sources, Easter bunnies, without anything to do with the Bible, were introduced in the 1700s by the German immigrants in Pennsylvania who brought along their traditions of egg-laying hares called "Oschter Haws". Not getting too bogged down by technicalities, the hare eventually became the rabbit. Side note: I'm also just learning that Passover feels much later following Easter this year because this is a Jewish leap year, which is built on the lunar calendar. #sketchmyneighborhood #upperwestside #drawnthere #quicksketch
Day 30 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: And that's a red packet! 🧧 When I started my 30-day sketch challenge, it was pure spontaneity. I did not realize that the last day would fall on the first day of the lunar New Year. Talk about serendipity and magic. Being on the Upper West Side, I didn't expect big festivities. What I didn't expect was the almost complete lack of acknowledgement for a holiday that is easily the most important one for many Asian cultures. Valentine's and Super Bowl, yes, but no dragon, no lanterns, no Fai Chun - not that I'd expect them to be everywhere. This isn't Chinatown, but I thought Asian restaurants and shops would make a little effort. It's a joyous holiday after all, and gives people something to celebrate. One Asian person got that Boot was a red packet and thought it was fun. Another non-Asian lady asked if he was trying to look like some Chinese food and looked really confused when I explained. Quite a few Asians were inconspicuously wearing some red. Many of those glanced over at us, also in red, and smiled. Red is good and it'll be a good year. I discussed something only sort of related last week in class with my students who are addressing intergenerational trauma among East Asians, between Gen-X and Boomer parents, many were immigrants to this country, and Gen-Z children with little to no connection to the parents' culture and even language. Some intentionally keep their children from their own mother tongues so that they could just be "Americans". And what about traditions? How much do you want to keep and pass on, and how much would you rather not, because we should move on from the past? I don't know either. So, with Boot, we did the New Year walk-around for luck and to spread joy. Even if people didn't get the red packet reference, most people are happy to see a cute dog strolling in the neighborhood. And that's a wrap! #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #instaart #instaartist #instasketching #dogsketch #quickdrawing #asketchaday
Day 29 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: @barneygreengrassnyc supposedly received the "Sturgeon King" title from NY State senator James Frawley in 1938, and a year later, it shipped 10 pounds of smoked sturgeon to the-US President Franklin D. Roosevelt for Thanksgiving. Anthony Bourdain proclaimed it "the best breakfast in the world!" Founded in Harlem in 1908 and moved to it's current location on Amsterdam Avenue in 1929, Barney Greengrass is one of the eateries that you'll always find on, if not topping, the lists of oldest restaurants on the Upper West Side. Today, it is a third-generation family run business. In Manhattan, there's no lack of high quality lox and smoked fish, thanks to immigrants especially from Eastern Europe. On any day you pass by the store, you're likely to see a line. While I haven't yet had a sit down breakfast there, I've treated myself to the silky nova at my neighbors' recommendations. Pricier than some other options you can get in the neighborhood or downtown, but so good. They say you can taste the older flavors of Upper West Side. Note: lox is not smoked salmon. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #pensketch #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #nyc #sturgeonking #barneygreengrass #nyceats #nyceatery #nycfood #smokedfish
Day 28 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Quoting some locals, NYT described West End Avenue "the stepchild of the Upper West Side", in an article in 2013. It's less picturesque than Riverside, less bustling than Broadway, and less grand and fancy than Central Park West, but its calmness and stability is what makes it charming. Especially in the evening, I like to stroll along West End for the peace and quiet - not as quiet as Riverside, but not so rowdy as Broadway. With the efforts to preserve its architecture through historic and landmark statuses, West End Avenue boasts the longest stretch of pre-war architecture in Manhattan. Big Beaux-Arts co-ops are interspersed with brownstone, churches, and synagogue, the newest from the very beginning of the 20th century. There are only a handful of buildings built within the last 50 years. I really don't even like new things. I like things with stories and a past. I like that we have the invitation to extend the history and become a part of it, rather than erasing everything and starting from scratch. There's something about western/entrepreneurial cultures that believes in the creation of something from nothing, the idea of a sole founder or creator as if nothing came before this or that they even got inspired by anything other than their own iconoclastic brains. You always want to be the genius who didn't just improve on something. But I digress. I'm glad there are efforts and organizations to preserve this street and the neighborhood. It's sad when people only want to bulldoze the past and replace with shiny new objects. Buildings, furniture, things. So many embedded stories, potential, and histories that somehow end up in landfills, and yet we continue to produce and buy. #upperwestside #westendpreservationsociety #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #riversideparknyc #westendavenue
Day 27 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: How do you feel about these "streeteries"? Outdoor dining exploded during the summer after Covid, when the city had to shut down a lot of restaurants. Many credit these "sidewalk" cafés and "roadside" dining for saving livelihoods and jobs; however, many have criticized the lack of legal enforcement and application and inspection processes, causing chaos, irregularities, and annoyance. In August 2023, the City Council voted to have outdoor dining become a permanent aspect of New York City's dining culture, except for road sheds in the winter when they have to be removed. It is winter and it is cold. Nobody wants to sit outside even with heaters, and these structures collect rain and snow and go into desrepair. I love these dining sheds. They offer the option to enjoy your food while people watch. You're outside and inside at the same time. I also acknowledge that I have the luxury to say so simply because I live a block or two away from the majority of these restaurants in my neighborhood, so the drunks, noise, and lack of sidewalk clearance were never a problem for me personally. The roadside sheds also take up lanes on the thoroughfare, which, in a way, limits traffic. Being a non-driver on most days, this is something I'm not complaining about. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #outdoordining #outdoordiningnyc
Day 26 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Give me your cross streets. The grid system of streets and avenues makes New York one of the most walkable cities in the world, and major reason why I chose to live here. The existing system comes from the Commissioner's Plan of 1811, with the goal of uniting "regularity and order with public convenience". Rotated at 29°, streets run East-West, and avenues North-South. 5th Avenue sits right in between East Side and West Side. The avenues, like the streets, are numbered in the larger part of Manhattan. However, starting at the southern border of Central Park (59th Street) and where Upper West Side begins, the avenues became names like Riverside, West End, Amsterdam, Columbus, Central Park West. At 110th Street, where Harlem begins, the avenues take on the names of significant African-American leaders. Pictured/sketched here is the special Broadway, which was called Wicksquasgeck by Native American. Unlike the avenues and streets, Broadway runs diagonally due to its pre-colonial history of being a trail before becoming a thoroughfare. It runs 13 miles in NYC from Lower Manhattan to the Bronx. When Broadway intersects both a street and an avenue in NYC, you're likely to find a green space like Madison Square and Union Square. For an undistracted person with an average walking speed, it's about 1 minute to get through a block. Because of the funny positioning of Broadway, an Upper West Sider would tell you how it feels much more of a hike to go from Broadway to Columbus in the high 70s and low 80s than in the low 70s. Hope you enjoyed the little bit of history and information. If you ever, somehow, find yourself lost in the city, look to an intersection to reorient yourself. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #broadway #broadwaynyc
Day 25 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Is the reverse-reverse commute too much? As New Yorkers would tell you, there's no real "reverse commute", as people are commuting from everywhere to everywhere at all times. The real reverse commute would be to leave the city. Here along Riverside Park is where you see New Jersey, just separated from New York by the Hudson. People would tell you that housing prices are (slightly) cheaper, you get more space, and since you're only 15 minute from Manhattan, you're basically in the city. It's pretty nice, and you get the best view of Manhattan. Lots of people do that everyday, professionally, socially. Well, "basically" in the city just isn't "in the city", and when this city girl said she was to live in the city, that's literally no half-assing it. You're either in New Jersey, or you're in New York, just like there are no cusps in astrology. My work commute is 2 hours each way, door to door, via NJ Transit. In a couple of months, I'd have been doing this for 2 years straight. No regrets. I'd pick this view over the "better" one from the other side in a heartbeat. Authenticity. How's that for some real reverse commute? #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #sketchchallenge #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #instaart #instaartist #instasketching @riversideparknyc #riversideparknyc #hudsonriver #jerseycity #sketchbookdrawing #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #newyorkcity #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #citylife
Day 24 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: I like being closer to Riverside than Central Park. You're not just next to the park, you're next to the river, with New Jersey on the other side. My favorite stretch of Riverside Drive has to be where it begins to curve, so you have buildings hugging one side of the meandering road, and trees and the park lining the other side. What was called Riverside Avenue then was made up of “deep valleys, marshy wastes and high, precipitous rocks” (NYT). The original plan was for the thoroughfare to run in a straight line, but was too much of a technological bother at the moment - a blessing in disguise. At the turn of the 20th century, with the hopes of overtaking Fifth Avenue, Riverside Drive saw the boom of Beaux-Arts mansions that would make up the new "millionaire's colony". Thankfully it never did, or I would not be living here now. You can't find a single shop on this road. It's just you, pre-war architecture and the park. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #riversideparknyc @riversideparknyc
Day 23 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: With every one of the eight new cities spanning four countries I've moved to in the last 17.5 years, it was almost always inevitable that my first home would be some unimpressive but at least tolerable situation where my goal was to settle first. It was better than just a roof above my head and a door that locked, but it'd be a sixth-floor walk-up via a spiral staircase, a bathroom where the toilet will get wet every time you shower, or a room above the kitchen of a fried chicken shop that seasoned the entirety of my belongings. No wonder I moved 20 times in 17.5 years. It was a rushed decision to move to New York. It was like I woke up one day, couldn't stand living where I had been, and had to get the hell out. The rental market is brutal. A viewing and an application have to be done within 30 minutes of each other. Take longer than that and sorry, good luck. This must have been number 18/19 of the 20 viewings I had scheduled, and I never made it to the ones after. This, too, wasn't perfect. Landlords don't care, we all know. But this little West 75 studio was a good enough NYC first home. It was funny because no one actually visited my place until I was literally moving out. Too many stairs, with a buzzer that was purely decorative. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #pensketch #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #newyorkstories
Day 22 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Awww, aren't you just so cuuuute 💕 This stretch of West 82 shortly past Amsterdam never disappoints. From Halloween to Christmas to Valentine's, this little brownstone manages to stay adorable. Look to your right if you're there and you'll see that they even decorated the planter a little further away. Thank you for making us happy. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #sketchchallenge #brownstone #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #sketchbookdrawing #pensketch #drawing #neighbors
Day 21 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Do a little crop and maybe you could transport yourself to a Parisian café for a moment all the way from West 85 @frenchroastnyc . Enjoy the croque madame and people watching from the patio, you might find yourself missing l'impolitesse des Parisiens 😜 #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture @micronart @moleskine @moleskine_arts #sketchbookdrawing #upperbestside
Day 20 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: I've only just noticed how these two trees canopy West 85 between West End and Riverside. Very impressive. Also, I exaggerate because I'm the artist. Don't you just love these charming and quiet side streets? #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #riversideparknyc @riversideparknyc
Day 19 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: A 100% accurate portrayal of me wedged between two normal-size humans on the 8.45 am 2/3 trains. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture @micronart @moleskine @moleskine_arts #westendavenue
Day 18 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: I don't blame our neighbors on West 93 for not being able to come to a concensus on the one shape, color, and size, so why don't we include all of them. It's diversity, after all. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture @micronart @moleskine @moleskine_arts @fabercastellglobal #sketchbookdrawing
Day 17 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: The unsightly eyesore we are suddenly thankful for when the weather isn't on our side. Scaffolds or "sidewalk sheds" are one of the things people love to complain about. Because of Local Law 11, buildings over 6 stories have to be inspected every 5 years. It's often cheaper for building owners to leave the scaffolding up, to show that something is being done, than to address the real issues - how representative of how society deals with any problem these days. People talk about how ugly these things are, and government and organizations come up with creative solutions such as scaffold beautifying competitions to put makeup on symptoms of problems, rather than, again, looking down the layers. That said, how many of us are secretly grateful for their existence as we exit the subway and find ourselves confronted with a downpour? How many of us cross the street to take advantage of the manmade shade when the sun is in our eyes? How many of our rain-hating dogs drag us over to let them pee under one of these structures? Yes, I stood under the scaffolding across the street to sketch this. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #sketchchallenge #dailysketch #dailysketchbook #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #nycscaffolding #scaffolding #sidewalkshed #nyc #manhattan #artistsoninstagram #instagramart #instagramartist
Day 16 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Is your fruit guy better than mine? This is one of my go-to's right outside the West 86th subway station. The sidewalk is wider, and they take venmo. Fruit vendors are tough. They're here 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Be it sweltering weather or freezing snow, you know you could always get your bananas, even when you can't get milk from the store. When you're roaming the NYC streets in the middle of the night, you feel safer thinking that the fruit guy is just a few steps away, and they really don't take naps like doormen sometimes (ahem) do. Just crossed the halfway point in this self-imposed challenge of inundating your feed with sketches of my pretty neighborhood. You'll get me for at least 2 more weeks. You're welcome. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #fruitguy #fruitvendor
Day 15 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Can you imagine when West 84th, from Riverside to Broadway, was a rural farmland, with swarms of "ebony birds" circling above, that inspired Edgar Allan Poe to write The Raven in 1844? Even back then, Poe moved to the UWS from Washington Square to escape high rents. @edgarscafe closed its 84th street location more than 10 years ago, but the uptown location remains. I learned that a flock of ravens is called an unkindness. Nevermore? #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #instaartist #instasketching #edgarscafe #uwsarchitecture #nycstreets #streetscape
Day 14 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: @poppie_toys Poppie Pop Up on West 83rd and Broadway was the perfect example of how neighbors in my local Buy Nothing came together. From the faux fireplace to the wallpaper to the light fixtures, donations and help from the neighbors helped turn a vacant Bank of America ATM into a cute store for high quality, ethically-sourced kids' toys and furniture. I'm keeping the scaffolding because it's here whether you want it or not, but you can learn to live with it. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #nycsketch #nycstreets #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #nycstreetscenes #popupstore #storefront #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture
Day 13 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Even if these iconic fire escapes were born out of cheap and easy solutions (that aren't actually effective) to skirt the rapidly changing codes and regulations at the time, many see the chunky rusty metal accessories as certain flawed beauty quintessential to NYC's cultural and historic identity. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #newyorkcitylife #uwsnyc
Day 12 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: When you get to this part of West 85th, you are confronted with this building that is slightly taller and strange looking compared to its neighbors. It broke what used to be an ABAB configuration, designed by architect and developer John G. Prague in 1890, where a pair of buildings would share a split stoop. Upon changing hands a couple of times, the residential unit was drastically converted into a four-story funeral chapel, which included an elevator, in 1933. This became the Midtown Memorial Chapel, which combined neo-Gothic ans Renaissance Revival. Popular among Jewish families and the entertainment industry, the building oversaw many prominent funerals. It is now the home of Dorot, a community group that honors the elderly members of the neighborhood. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #riversideparknyc #centralpark
Day 11 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: If you asked the NYC Department of Health, a "bodega" is a <300 sq ft store selling meat, milk, and eggs and is not a specialty store (i.e. bakery). It also cannot have more than two registers. If you asked a New Yorker, they'd tell you "it's not a bodega if there isn't a cat." What's your favorite bodega food? #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketchbookdrawing #pensketch #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #instaart #instaartist #instasketching #bodega
Day 10 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: You know who's been home and who hasn't 🤭 #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #streetscape
Day 9 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: When I was still living in central Jersey, I came to Riverside Park after spending a night in the city before heading back. That was almost exactly 2 years ago - it was also close to Chinese New Year then. (I'll prove it to you via @bootbootbloop that I didn't make this up hehe.) Maybe it was the cold, sunny weather, or it was strolling along the big but quiet city park parallel to the water, but I remember going home deciding there and then that I'd move to the city and specifically the Upper West Side. People like to ask me what I'm doing in NYC, as in what my job is. I tell them that "I live here", because technically that's really all I'm doing in NYC, plus the frequent 2-hour reverse-reverse commute to my work outside of the city. #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #riversideparknyc @riversideparknyc #winterinnewyork #streetscape
Day 8 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: A very snowy park, by x-number-of-days-without-snow NYC standards, and a puffy doggy, who does not understand that snow is just another precipitation form of the rain he detests. 🌨 #upperwestside #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture #riversideparknyc @riversideparknyc
Day 7 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: When you think they might be siblings but you are not sure because they look similar but nothing alike at the same time. #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #upperwestside #upperwestsidenyc #uws #streetscape #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture @micronart @moleskine @moleskine_arts #sketchbookdrawing #upperbestside
Day 6 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Snowy, to slushy, to icy. #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #upperwestside #upperwestsidenyc #uws #snowday #snowinnyc #snowfall #winterinnewyork #streetscape #upperwestsideliving
Day 5 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Just how much did you enjoy waking up to the layer of freshly whipped fluff this morning? ❄ #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #snowinnyc #snowfall #winterinnewyork #streetscape #upperwestside #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkarchitecture
Day 4 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Do you appreciate a tucked in entrance like this, or do you find it imposing? #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #nycsketch #nycstreets #upperwestside #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings
Day 3 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: Tell me about your infatuation with @zabars, or you've never been to the Upper West Side 🗽 #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestside #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture @micronart @moleskine @moleskine_arts #sketchbookdrawing
Day 2 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: If bright pops of color are your thing 🎨 #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #nycsketch #upperwestside #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #nyc #manhattan #sketchonlocation #sketchonthego #pendrawing #upperwestsideliving #newyorkcity #citylife #newyorkbuildings #newyorkarchitecture
Day 1 of 30 #sketchmyneighborhood: With travel season being over, the tiny traveling sketchbook is back at work/staying put to replenish the bank accounts. I'm challenging myself to post a sketch of my beautiful neighborhood a day for at least a month. It could be a building, a street, a corner, or a vibe that catches my pen. Follow along to see what I see and how I see 🙂 Can you recognize the intersection? #quicksketch #drawnthere #sketchbookpage #pensketch #drawing #micronart #linesketch #instaart #quickdrawing #asketchaday #sketch #sketchbook #sketches #sketching #upperwestside #upperwestsidenyc #uws #uwsartist #uwssketch #nycuws #citylife #citysketch #cityscape #urbansketches #urbansketchersnyc #streetscape