Well, Jenny and I found a great 1st floor duplex in a brick and limestone townhouse on W. 82st between Columbus and Amsterdam. That’s less than two blocks from Central Park. We’re packing our belongings this weekend and moving in next weekend. Lots of fun ahead for us.

In the photo above, the gate opens to a small landing and that’s our apartment door under the steps of the building. And that’s the window for our living room just behind the little tree in the planter. Being on the first floor with our own entrance is going to make moving in a breeze … well, as much of a breeze as moving could possibly be in NYC.

Leaving for vacation first thing in the morning. A car is picking us up at 7am in order to get us to Laguardia Airport to catch our 8:30am flight. And no, normally I would never want to fly anywhere that early on Saturday morning. However, we’re going to an island that is completely surrounded by pristine, white sandy beach. And I want to get there as soon as possible. With only 7 total days for vacation with a part of two of those days for travel, I want as much time in the sweltering, muggy, sticky, humid heat of South Florida as absolutely possible !!

Here’s a photo from last year of lightning striking in a cloud directly over some beachfront condos. I love sitting on the beach late at night watching the thunderheads roll by. In complete awe of the power of our natural planet.

More photos from this upcoming trip to follow.

I’ve had a passion for typography for years. In design school, I was introduced the concept of typography. It was new then and it is new today. Type is full of so many nuances and sensitivities, it never ceases to amaze me. Over the past year or two an idea has been marinating in my mind. It revolves around typography. Found typography. It is a very loose idea that continues to rattle around in my head. Thankfully, it has yet to rattle loose.

As part of my research and development, I am trying to “acquire” as much found typography as possible. The easiest method for me is photographic. Below are some examples of found typography that exists in the Lower East Site of Manhattan. More will come in the future. More neighborhoods. More stories. More discoveries. And more typography.

David Kirsch has one sweet setup. With an exclusive club on Fifth Ave overlooking Madison Sq. Park and the Shake Shack (one of my personal favorites), he works with top celebrities and models to get them and keep them in tip-top shape. The Madison Sq. Club is a beautiful and tranquil space. It’s more like your living room, than a gym. Not only is David Kirsch owner of the club and a fitness trainer, he also has his own line of daily supplements.

We (Barnum Design) recently launched the new David Kirsch Wellness Co. website. And as part of the project, I had the privilege of photographing David on his home turf … The Madison Square Club. Below are a few samples from an afternoon with David Kirsch.

For those who don’t know, Jenny gave me a 1972 Polaroid 210 Land Camera a few years back for Christmas. And she had the foresight to get a new battery as well !! I love this camera. Its completely analog. And instant. I love the variables that are involved in “processing” a photograph. The settings on the camera are unbelievably restricted. Only two options for shutter speed and the apeture ring is labeled “Darken – - – - Lighten.” Not much to work with.

Now, once you pull the exposure through the camera, time is of the essence. Darker with a cooler temperature? Or lighter and warmer? It all depends on the time allowed before revealing the photograph and tearing away the exposure from the print.

Below are a few photos from a few weeks back. It was a nice summer day with scattered thunderstorms.

What? What is this? This is an advertisement from Career Builder. Apparently, Career Builder seems to think that we (the workforce) should not try and achieve our dreams, because dreams apparently have a very low return on their investment. Funny. It seems to me that dreams cost nothing. Zero. Nada. So, there’s no investment. And, if one is fortunate enough to achieve their dreams, then the return is beyond measure. Priceless.

So, Career Builder’s advertising campaign is saying that we (the workforce) should just give up on our dreams. Visit their website. And just find some job.

Now, I realize I might be reading a bit much into this poster, but still. Now, if the headline started with “Daydreaming” … then maybe.

Sometimes, I just love the enthusiasm of tourists. I’m a tourist myself a lot. But I just can’t envision Jen and I wearing matching Hawaiian shirts. Now, we have some hideous Hawaiian shirts that we do wear on occasion. Ones that would make my mother shudder in disgust !!

However, I just can’t imagine how that conversation would go. First thing in the morning. Getting our coffee together in the hotel room. Digging through the suitcase looking for the right outfit. And then for Jen to look up and say, “Hey, we should both wear these !!”

Jen and I love the Mr. Softie !! It makes for a great treat on a hot summer day. And it makes for a cheap, sweet snack after dinner while we’re just meandering around. And last night, after leaving Sarah and Dave’s place we discovered the home of Mr. Softie. Awkwardly positioned between Brooklyn and Queens. It was definitely odd to walk up on 15 or so Mr. Softie trucks clustered together on a random street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

You know, it doesn’t matter where you go, or what you’re doing … There’s always that one guy. The umbrella down in front. Yeah, it was raining on and off, but by this point the rain had slacked completely. Regardless, the fireworks this Fourth of July were amazing !!

And we had a great view. Thanks to Sarah and Dave for inviting us over to their Brooklyn apartment.

So, Jen is the source of inspiration for this idea of resourcefulness. She recently created a post where an individual was using a cardboard cutout of the Naked Cowboy to shield himself and his laptop from the sun.

And here’s two of my finds of resourcefulness …

A plastic lobster fender/splash guard for a bicycle.

And noodles from New Jersey to protect the bumper of a Corrolla