Murray Street and North End Avenue

“Destruction is also creation.” Thoughts of Duchamp while passing by the Dumpster.

14th Street and Ninth Avenue

The view on a warm gray night through the skylight in the dining room at Scarpetta (where I sampled the legendary spaghetti with tomato sauce, which sounds simple enough, doesn’t it, but it really was delicious: here’s the recipe).

West Street and North Moore Street

I should have read these tips for playing the mini golf course at Pier 25, because I could have used some help on this lovely little course (lavender bushes flank the paths) that has sprung up next to the Hudson. Almost feels like Myrtle Beach (there’s a beach volleyball court right behind the mini golf).

Broome Street and Broadway

Scene from the new flagship store of Kate’s Paperie, which is pretty and whimsical, with a patch of fake grass at the entrance—but the selection of products is not as large and overwhelming as it used to be (unfortunately). A sales clerk confirmed that they’ve had to downsize for “financial reasons.”

Columbus Circle

This is stracciatella (“creamy Pugliese mozzarella”) with fava beans and breadcrumbs—so cool and herbal at the end of the hottest day of the year (with a glass of rosé) at A Voce. With a view over Columbus Circle and people frolicking in the fountain (whether with pleasure or out of desperation, it was hard to tell from inside the chilly Time Warner towers).

Broadway and Houston Street

Nice T-shirt triptych of New York City (if you exclude Harry Potter).

Broadway and Warren Street

A bit of Sartre in the subway station. (What could be truer than “hell is other people”—from No Exit—on a summer subway.) I’m not sure how much time Sartre spent on NYC trains, if any, but several of his titles came to mind while waiting for the R train recently: Nausea, Being and Nothingness, The Flies, Dirty Hands.

Howard Street and Crosby Street

The inviting staircase leading up to Opening Ceremony, with welcoming Doors.

Wall Street and William Street

Most glamorous Duane Reade ever, at 40 Wall Street. It’s not quite like “being at Barneys,” but it’s nicer (and bigger) than the fancy new CVS in Chelsea.

Somewhere on the Highway

Returning to New York and loving a skyline through the cab window. (If shooting pictures through a cab window sounds intriguing, take a look at the work of photographer David Bradford. His book is called Drive-By Shootings.)

Greenwich Street and Warren Street

I’m off to the beach. Back in a week.

32nd Street and Fifth Avenue

Word I’ve just learned: mandoo, which are Korean dumplings (here’s one recipe). The ones above, at the Mandoo Bar in Koreatown, are the fried vegetarian version (note the greenish tinge): yum.

Murray Street and West Street

Composition in gray. Or, evening at the Shake Shack with scaffolding in Battery Park City. Where dust and debris and construction noise cannot deter a New Yorker ready to stand in line for a hamburger. (No line in Dubai, apparently.)

Murray Street and West Broadway

Boats crowded the river last night, waiting for fireworks.

World Financial Center

Happy Fourth of July and long weekend!