5th Avenue in Manhattan is the center of the consumer commercial culture. All the famous high-end American brands have their flagship stores on 5th Avenue. In the foreground on the right is the roofline of Bergdorf Goodmans. The building behind is the Crown Building which is a beautiful piece of 1920’s architecture and especially striking when lit up at night.
As I walked through Manhattan on a cold November evening, I was feeling negative about the place. The temperatures were frigid, the cold wind was burning my skin and the crowds were large in the stores. New York City was feeling like a hard place to be. But then I looked up and saw the Empire State Building, one of the icons of the city and I felt better about being there.
New York City place in the popular imagination is cemented with its iconic structures and the Brooklyn Bridge is one that evokes the late 19th century, before the age of sky scrapers. This image was created on a cold November morning. The walkway was mostly empty as most of the tourists were waiting for later in the day when it would be less frigid.
Last light on a crisp November evening at Rocky Creek on the Big Sur coast.
The sun sets over the Rocky Creek Bridge and the Big Sur coastline.
I though originally thought this bridge was its more famous brother, the Bixby Creek Bridge. The two bridges look quite similar. Bixby Creek is a few miles further down Highway 1.
For running what would be the 8th largest economy in the word if California was its own county, the state capitol building is a remarkably low-key affair. There are not throngs of tourists and getting through security was quick and painless on a Sunday morning. Inside, one can really notice the difference between the newer sections of the building and the stately feel of the original structure. Unlike the capitol building in DC, this one feels like its part of the city rather than an island. One can easily walk across the street and get a cup of coffee.
A classic neon sign on Broadway Cleaners in Redwood City, CA
I drive past this Bank of the West branch everyday on my way to and from work. It’s mid-century design frequently catches my eye as I drive past. According to this San Jose Mercury article on the 50th anniversary of the building, the postcard introducing this branch of First National Bank of San Jose in 1963 said “A space-age bank for a space-age community”. Funny how a design intended to be futuristic in 1963 is nostalgic in 2014.
A bit more history on the building at recentpast.org.
Tonight’s sunset was beautifully full of color.
