New York Chlorofluorocarbons Lose To Sounders 3-1.

The MLS NYCFC vs. Seattle Sounders at Yankee Stadium on May 3:

The cadence of the “NYC-FC!” chant sort of sounds like “NY CFC!” You think people are rooting for New York Chlorofluorocarbons.

The layout of the field (pitch?) is odd, and they actually add sod to the infield for each game:

Then celebrating on River Avenue afterward — this was a loss, mind you, and one where the Sounders basically dismantled the defense — who knows what would it have looked like had they won:

Zoos And Aquariums Of The East Coast

At some point in your life you visit many, many zoos. Here are some recent visits to zoos and aquariums along the East Coast.

The Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest in the U.S. They have a wonderful primate facility where you can get real close and gawk:

Across the river in Camden is the Adventure Aquarium, which used to be owned by the state but which was unloaded to a private entity about ten years ago. There’s a fun shark tunnel there:

In Sarasota, the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium has a great manatee exhibit and a rarely-in-captivity dolphin (which is only there because it was injured and can’t be in the wild):

Closer to home, there is the grand Bronx Zoo:

The Queens Zoo is a great little zoo — and I don’t think “little” is a pejorative: there’s something to the idea that a visit to the zoo doesn’t have to be this exhausting day-long slog. The Queens Zoo focuses on animals of the Americas, as well, which is a cool curatorial take. The Buckminster Fuller dome/aviary is a hoot, too:

Finally, the Staten Island Zoo makes for a fun trip to the island. The nursery there is fun to see:

Also, Staten Island Chuck, who takes down mayors:

June 2011

If you stare deeply enough into your drink, messages appear:

Custom House in Lower Manhattan:

Even though we missed the scheduled tour, one of the park ranger people let us into the ornate Collector’s Reception Room:

Back in June, the Freedom Tower was still short enough to fit into the camera frame:

I already talked about visiting Yankee Stadium.

The awesome Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, Queens:

I could watch the exhibit showing how they produce a live baseball game for for hours:

The 36th Avenue Subway Station in Astoria.

Block Drugs on Second Avenue:

The remnants of Mars Bar also on Second Avenue:

We already talked about seeing the Phillies play the Cubs.

There’s a lot of stuff behind fences in the East Village. Albert’s Garden:

And the New York Marble Cemetery:

They were even using St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery for some sort of film shoot.

Prince Street in Lower Manhattan:

(Funny detail: The Google Street View up right now is from right around when I went walking around there — theirs is from July 2011 — so all the billboards look the same . . .)

There’s a great view of Union Square from the Whole Foods cafe on the second floor. They also have a bathroom you can use:

Astoria Park at dusk on the longest day of the year; this is at 8:40 in the evening (I knew there was a reason I took this but it took a while to remember):

Staring out the front door at Coppelia on 14th Street:

There’s nothing more depressing than an emergency room entrance at an abandoned hospital:

Well, OK, maybe some things are less depressing . . .

I honestly don’t remember what interested me about 60 Spring Street:

Was it because it was a blue jean store or something? Who knows . . .

The Astoria Market at the Beer Garden:

It took me two years to get two pictures of the San Antonio Abate Festival on Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria. Maybe in another year I’ll put a link up to the page: