Julio’s Musings Around Columbia County, New York

High above Queens, New York; a borough of New York City for those that don’t know, a view of the under-construction Citi Field which will replace Shea Stadium as the home of the New York Metropolitans better known as the Mets.

Based on Ebbets Field, the old home of the Brooklyn Dodgers who fled to sunny Los Angeles well before my time in the late ’50’s.

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Tags: New York City, Mets

What with all the travel related to managing a team somewhere else, have not had the opportunity over the past few months to spend time in Reston, VA where I make my official home. The picture here, taken from the Miyares Spring Collection 2008 was a glorious spring day recently in the Old Reston Towne Center.
A little “New York” in between the sprawl wasteland of Northern Virginia is how I think of it.

Tags: Reston, Julio Hernandez-Miyares, dogs

A somewhat dated (Christmas time 2006) photo of downtown Manhattan with the Woolworth Building square in the middle.
Slowly the majestic Woolworth is being overshadowed by a series of Skyscrapers all taller then its 792 foot height which was the tallest between 1913 when it was built till somewhere around 1930 .

My company has moved from Mid-town Manhattan to lower Broadway in Greenwich Village about 1 mile from the building. It is one of the landmarks visible from many vantage points.

Tags: Julio Hernandez-Miyares, New York City, Woolworth Building

Ah, Spring time 2008 in New York City. My favorite time of year. This picture taken across the street from the American Museum of Natural History which is probably the only museum in the world I can tolerate.
On this balmy spring day, restaurants actually had outdoor seating with a willing clientele soaking up the warmth and the street scene which is always interesting in New York City.

New York City, Julio Hernandez-Miyares,Spring Time

Will have to add a photo when I have it but need to get this post in before my memory recedes. This week visited Club 21 on West 52nd Street between 5th and 6th Avenues in New York City. As our business office is adjacent to this well known establishment and we are moving downtown this week, a friend and business colleague decided what a better way for a send off then to splurge for lunch at one of the true power centers in New York City. Our quest for the Club 21 Hamburger fueled our anticipation. So after dressing up (you need at least a jacket for lunch) we made the 50 foot trek into the rarified space of a New York institution. Immediately we (or at least) I felt elevated well beyond my relatively paltry position in the world of New York business. Though the football helmets and toy trucks hanging from the ceiling provide the sense of a “boys’” club, the treatment from the staff is classy to say the least. We were swarmed over by sommelier and other wait staff who’s role I didn’t even know. We quickly got to the point and told them we were here for the burger. Now mind you, its a $30 burger. That is not a typo.
Throw in the “creamery cheesecake” we had for dessert and you have over $100 for lunch for 2.
Notwithstanding the high price, it was well worth it and I suggest all you business , high-roller types make the pilgrimage at least once to see how the other 1/10 of 1/10th of 1% lives.

Tags: Julio Hernandez-Miyares, New York City

Stacking the left-over firewood over at the Miyares Farm during the beginning of Spring 2008. With fuel oil well north of $3.00 a gallon, the winter heat has been provided mostly through the old fashioned burning of wood or through no heat at all and just going cold. I can afford the price tag but just can’t bring myself to letting all that money flow out so some ego-maniac in Dubai can build another skyscraper no one will inhabit.

The Blogging has taken last place with just about everything else lately with work consuming most of my waking hours. That won’t go on much longer , in fact I resolve that as soon as I am caught up at work….
Well that’s a trap, you can’t catch up, not in my place.

Time to put that aside and concentrate on building the chicken coup and make a living selling fresh eggs.

Tags: Julio Hernandez-Miyares, Columbia County

Lonely stretch of road in Claverack, New York on raw, wintry day in February. In the thick of winter here in Columbia County over 100 miles north of Times Square but a universe away. Was returning to the Miyares Farm from having brunch at the Swoon Restaurant in Hudson, New York.
Had to deal with a somewhat obnoxious waitress but the food was good and I got my revenge leaving a less then charitable tip. Though Hudson is in Columbia County which is full of very friendly country folks, the actual city of Hudson is full of New York City types which feel that being obnoxious is how to be polite. Nevertheless, the choice is Nice and McDonalds or Obnoxious and good , sometimes experimental food but always compelling.

Tags: Julio Hernandez-Miyares, Columbia County

I love when it snows in New York City. This is a view of a the canyon of skyscrapers on 6th Avenue looking south from Radio City Music Hall on a recent early evening. The buildings look even more majestic then they usually do their tops disappearing into the haze produced by the falling snow.

I also like it better when the snow is substantial; like a foot or more ; though this particular snowfall was no where near that amount. Unfortunately just a few inches that barely barely slowed the rush of rush hour traffic. Watching New York City grind to a halt in the wake of a major storm is one of my favorite sights. I could have used the break that normally comes from Mother Nature capriciousness. Meetings canceled, timelines for projects extended, quiet around the office and the implicit recognition that nothing much matters or changes if things end up being late by a day or two.

Tags: Julio Hernandez-Miyares, New York

At a distance, barreling into the 71st Street Continental station, an F train headed West towards Manhattan during the wee hours of the morning one weekday during Christmas holidays.

Have been spending most of my time in New York City the past few months and of course that generally means making use of that unique institution which the New York City subway is. Standing room only at 5:00am, seats so narrow or people so obese they take 2 or more seats not to speak to those that use it as a private bed taking an entire half of the car
Watching the rats have a field day with the daily picking of trash on the track bed while waiting for the trains to arrive late at night.
Getting that choice spot at front of a train and being able to watch one of the most incredible engineering marvels on earth of endless tunnels coming and going , converging on multiple levels.

I think I am going to start a whole section to this blog (The Subway Series) and keep my camera handy. I will have to be discreet as you know, no eye contact on the Subway and that probably includes taking pictures of anything remotely human.

I think between the denizens and the panhandlers there should be more then enough to keep the shutter busy and they won’t know or mind.

Tags: Julio Hernandez-Miyares, Subways, New York City

Actually the storm occurred over nght from the 30th to the 31th though it was snowing again on the 1st with expected accumulations of about 3 additional inches.
It has been an active winter season here in the Columbia County, New York. Numerous snow storms though none yet of the 2 foot or more variety. Regardless, enough snow cover to keep the ski resorts happy and make it difficult for the non-skiers to travel up to this bucolic area well north of New York City.

Tags: Columbia County, Julio Hernandez-Miyares