In Old Town, Alexandria, VA.

Outside Alexandria, VA. If this isn’t a dumpster, not sure what it actually is.

Giant, Alexandria, VA.

He’s watching you, even in Vinegar Hill.

“Eyes of the World,” Grateful Dead, (live, 1977)

Something is not quite right.

The Taking of Pelham 123 has “taken” over Dumbo!
Check out these crazy photos from my lunchtime stroll. Were the Office of Emergency Management people who gave me dirty looks real or actors?

Fake (or “picture”) police cars on John Street.

A pileup of fake police cars in the lot next to 10 Jay.

Does anyone know who this actress is? She’s not on IMDB. She looks pretty glamorous though.

Get your police uniforms! They’re in front of Jimi’s Fine Food.

I saw this truck on my way in this morning. Again, real or fake?

The Office of Emergency Management comes to John Street.

An aerial shot of the spectacle on John Street.

Today (and tomorrow) on Jay Street, perhaps the biggest filming event on our block in recent memory — the remake of the 1974 classic The Taking of Pelham 123. We will be bringing you live coverage of our block / location. Dumbo is buzzing with PA’s and boom mikes. Exact locations available on Dumbo NYC.

Info below….

DINOSAUR EXHIBITION!!!!
Opening Party April 19th, 2008 6-9pm
89 Walker St #2F, New York, NY

We’ve transformed Barometer into a prehistoric wonderland!! Come check out some dino tessellations, ascii art, airbrush action paintings, silkscreened posters and a group DINORAMA.
We’ll be rocking to T-Rex all night long with buckets of swamp drink to keep the party rolling.
Tasty vittles graciously provided by Whole Foods!

www.barometernyc.com/dino

ARTISTS
Warren Bennett, Lauren Bergholm, Brett Beyer, Patrick J. Campbell, Christopher Connolly, Matthew Cumbie, David Dawson, Lisa di Donato, David Geiger, Holly Gressley, Aaron Hitchcock, Max Kuller, Stephen Lowery, Phil Matricardi, M.C. Rockinstein, Fred Sager, Olivia Valentine, Jenna Wainwright, and Christina Zawerucha

Yesterday I woke up at 4am and flew to Orlando. There’s sunshine, orange juice, delicious $1.29 tacos, a convertible, and a wifi y’all. All things I’ve enjoyed in between meetings, brainstorms and dreamstorms.

Moving images after the jump.

It might be more difficult to get a job and whatnot, but the world has not stopped turning. Why not use your more abundant free time (that phone won’t ring anyway, even if you step away from your desk) to invest in your social life or pursue your artistic goals? Now is the time to integrate art into everyday life.

Tip #6: Think about the recession as a party with another name.
Just because you have less disposable income doesn’t mean you can’t have as much fun. Some of the poorest people I know could teach us a thing or two about getting the biggest bang for your buck, enjoyment-wise. The key to staying entertained during times of less is creativity. I can’t stress this enough.

Here are some activities that don’t cost a lot, but can bring much joy:

- Throw a party. Why go to a bar and buy drinks when you can drink in the privacy of your own home or office for a fraction of the price and eliminate the undesirables that lurk in the outside world? Assign your party a theme or special feature, and the party becomes an event.
- Card games. Care to join us for a game of poker? The buy-in will remain $7 due to the recession. Don’t like poker? Try Uno (or my personal fave, pinochle).
- Take a walk. This activity has served me extremely well during the many, many impoverished years I spent in New York and elsewhere. A city is an amazing place—now’s the time to appreciate it more. Spring is coming—are you ready? Take a look around your neighborhood or another. What havoc has gentrification wreaked this week? Visit a faraway neighborhood or even another borough. Mega-dérive!
- Flea markets / thrift stores. I hate it when other people have the same stuff as me. Flea markets can help you out of this rut. They are also good for looking at random things such as other people’s snapshots, socializing, unique artwork, affordable furniture. I got a dresser this weekend for $25.
- Ride a bike. Hours of entertainment, reduced reliance on taxis, big savings. Cancel that gym membership and commute to work on your bike. Also, if you get really bored or really broke, learn how to fix your own bike. There are a lot of places in NYC that will teach you basic bicycle maintenance skills for free (among them, Dumbo’s own Recycle-A-Bicycle, where I learned how to fix a flat tire and the meaning of the word “truing” three years ago). Self-reliance is of the essence during times of squalor!
- Make something. Start crafting. This week I made a quilt square and a lot of pom-poms. You can craft with your friends and it’s like having a party, but more productive. You can make projects together. If you want, you can even sell the things you make for extra cash.
- Art openings. Their usefulness is trifold: inspiration, networking (more money!), and free food and drink.
- The Met. It’s still pay as you wish. Have you seen the new Greek and Roman galleries yet?
- Ever heard of the library? It’s full of books, movies, classes, free bathrooms, weird people. Go there one afternoon and don’t buy anything. Cancel that netflix account and order your movies (or books) from the library. You can order them online and have them shipped to your local branch. Keep them as long as you want — just be sure to renew!
- Develop a new creative pursuit. Learn how to draw, take photos, make some LOLhunkz, start a band, grow your own herb garden, refinish furniture. Ease your anxious mind by focusing your attention on all those activities you never had time for before.

Share your tips!