Today we were showing a visitor the Ian Schrager/Herzog and de Mueron Condo on Bond Street. The facade is highlighted with green plastic tubing but the gate is Gaudiesque. As I turned my head I saw Chuck Close, one of the greatest living and remarkable American painters, pass by in his wheelchair accompanied by assistant. As is the NY wont, I did not stop him, even if it would be to fawn. As we turned the corner onto the Bowery, there is the relatively new brick angular Bowery Hotel. A few blocks down sits the new windowless Museum of Comtemporary Art. But behind us what is probably the last flop house on the Bowery called the White House.

Sigh-I'm jealous, you've got it all.

Great, isn't it?

Adu, have you seen this?
http://nymag.com/homedesign/greatrooms/32375/

Ok. I'll add I was going to pick up a handbag being repaired on w. 56 st. on Sat. I wound up seeing the Pope as an added bonus, totally unplanned and totally easy. Very very cool. The "pope-mobile" is amazing. He looked like he was having the time of his life. Brunch, a shop in Loehmann's and a seder. What could be bad? Very ecumenical day.

NYC is great but that building on Bond Street, with the green plastic tubing, is one of the ugliest eyesores ever! Even more than the residents of the building, I pity the people across the street who have to look at it every time they look out of their windows.

There was also a re-run of a very affectionate documentary about Close on PBS last week.


It will be curious whether the materials of the condo on Bond Street will weather well.

I like the building becsause it is on a side street that is not a thoroughfare. If it was on an avenue, I think the sunlight would hurt the effect.

The area is now being filled with angular and almost asymmetrical buildings and I enjoy the different styles and materials.