Frank Gehry in NYC

Here's a recent shot of the just completed building that Frank Gehry designed for Barry Diller's media/internet/whatever company on Manhattan's Westside Highway. I love how it looks like an iceberg that has just crashed into the city. The abandoned train trestle in front is going to become a landscaped promenade à la viaduct des Arts in Paris.

Happy 4th!

Okay, we've all seen fireworks but New York City really puts on a show. We saw them on the 4th (why do other municipalities fire up on other days?). From out perch on Columbia Street--a very on the verge neighborhood in carrol gardens/cobble hill brooklyn--we got to see the New Jersey Fireworks and then the Big Apple show, about 45 minutes of the best that the Grucci family has to offer.

1960s Public Chic

As spring blooms fill the air and thoughts turn to our gardens here's a wintertime shot of a little vest pocket park that reminds us of the importance of structure. Paley Park designed by Zion and Breen in 1967 and located in Manhattan on East 53rd Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues features 17 honey locust trees and a 20 foot waterfall that pumps 1800 gallons of water a minute. It is a perfect modernist park that provides respite in the middle of the hectic city. And we thought William S. Paley was cool for marrying Babe!

Praia do Leca, Portugal

Will someone please save this beach pavillion! It was designed by Alvaro Siza in the 1950s in Praia do Leca a seaside town outside of Porto Portugal. It is exquisite, the photos don't do it justice. The large concrete swimming pools are set into the ocean and the bathhouse is nestled in the rocks on the shoreline. The oxidized copper roof melts into the sea as the waves crash over the pools. It is sublime, discreet architecture that needs to be restored.

Serralves Museum Porto

Lest you all think I am a traditionalist, here is the Serralves Museum in Porto Portugal. The building was designed by Alvaro Siza, the Pritzker Prize winning architect. The white stucco building is incredibly elegant with a minimum of detail, just space and shape. Even the signage made from cut out plywood is thoughtfully executed.The gardens are quite lovely in a very minimalist manner. The parterre garden is from the original 1920s house on the property.

The Palace of Queluz, Portugal

Finally, I am getting back to my posts--you'll have to excuse the pictures on their side until I figure that glitch out.. Just outside of Lisbon, Portugal is the royal Palace of Queluz often called the Versailles of Portugal, it is really more of a small summer palace for those of you/us who want to be precise (just as BA is not the Paris of South America--trust me). It is incredibly pretty but sort of run down, you sort of wish there was a conservancy that would start to renovate the buildings and work on the gardens. However, as with most of the Portugal that we (that's Kendell at the edge of the fountain) saw, it is not gentrifed and that is a big plus.

Cascais, Portugal

It's freezing here in Bridgehampton so I'm going back to October and our trip to Portugal (more posts from this trip to come). Here are some shots from Cascais a charming seaside resort about half an hour outside of Lisbon. It has its ticky tacky side, and lots of new development but still worth visiting especially as it begins to get warmer there. At the far edge of town there is a cool little boutique hotel called the Farol Design Hotel, that might be worth staying at and is certainly a perfect spot for a sunset drink at the oceanside bar.

Going My Way

Where was I when Greyhound redesigned their logo? And how come nobody has mentioned it? I might even take a bus to Topeka this Greyhound bus looks so cool.

Sagg Christmas Tree

Well, it's Christmas time and I thought I would post a picture of my favorite tree. It is located at the tip of the Sagaponack cemetery. I shot this '05, the last year it was illuminated. It is always special to come upon it in the middle of the night like some sort of beacon. Best wishes for the holidays.

Anish Kapoor, NYC

Many of you may have seen this extraordinary sculpture by Anish Kapoor that has been installed in Rockefeller Center but for those who haven't, here are some shots from an unveiling party on Fifth Avenue. The piece really plays with one's perception of space.