Aspects of Astoria . . .

Steel against the sky looks like delicate lace
as we crossed the Queensboro Bridge

As I prepare to head back to Boston today, I wanted to share some scenes from my recent trip to NYC. My son's new digs are in the heart of Astoria, a richly diverse section of Queens, just over the Triboro bridge. I never knew until this weekend that the New York Marathon's path starts in Staten Island and travels through three boroughs into Manhattan. I took the marathon shots as the runners hit the 14 mile mark through Long Island City.

So many runners, so much thirst that was satisfied by Queens locals who offered a blizzard of cups filled with water and energy drinks.

On a quieter side of town we spread out on these waterfront undulating chaises to soak up some sun. What a view of Manhattan from there!

And closer up, here's a detail from a Japanese restaurant window that captures the fluid lines of those early woodcuts and brush paintings so evocative of an entire culture. Astoria is full of Greek, Venezuelan, Croatian, Slavic, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, restaurants and residents—a true Amercian "melting pot," but one that preserves the specialness of each resident culture.