Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Being in the city, we don’t get a particularly starry night sky to look at, but even with all the light pollution, you can’t miss Venus at the moment. The planet, one of the brightest we can see from Earth, can be spotted soon after sunset in the western part of the sky (the other bright spots in the photo above are just reflections). Besides being the most brilliant thing up there, you can tell it’s a planet because it doesn’t appear to twinkle as much as a star.
Coming up next month, we’ll have a chance to see both Venus and Jupiter at about the same spot where you can see Jupiter now. The two planets are in conjunction on Thursday, March 15, the best we’ve been able to see in years, and they will stay visible for about four hours after sunset.
- Mary
Tags: Jupiter, photo of the day, planets, Venus
Posted in Images |
Thursday, February 2nd, 2012
East 17th Street, originally uploaded by carryboo.
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day
Posted in Images |
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
February Crocuses, originally uploaded by carryboo.
Spotted up and down the Flatbush Malls on Albermarle. And, after daffodils and snowdrops, that about seals it. There is no winter, Brooklyn.
- Mary
Tags: Flatbush Malls, flowers, photo of the day
Posted in Green, Images |
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day, sunset, trees
Posted in Green, Images |
Monday, January 30th, 2012
As Pam’s Husband mentioned, there are more than one of these “Monument Borough President Brooklyn” squares in the neighborhood–the one he mentioned, located on Beverley, and the one that was pictured in this week’s mystery photo, located on Caton at Argyle.
And Anticar points to an explanation from Brooklyn Historian Ron Schweiger, who told Brownstoner that they were used by surveyors. He says that they are “placed at a specific, horizontal distance from another known location for measurement purposes.”
Just down the road from here, there is the one pictured below, at the corner of Caton and Coney Island Avenue.
- Mary
Tags: Ditmas Detective
Posted in Images, Neighborhood History |
Sunday, January 29th, 2012
The Cats of PAWSitive, originally uploaded by carryboo.
- Mary
Tags: cats, PAWSitive Veterinary, photo of the day
Posted in Animals, Images |
Saturday, January 28th, 2012
If you know where this picture was taken–or you know how this constitutes a monument–let us know in the comments. We’ll reveal the location later.
- Mary
Posted in Images |
Wednesday, January 25th, 2012
- Mary
Tags: dogs, photo of the day
Posted in Animals, Images |
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Parked on Avenue H.
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day
Posted in Images |
Monday, January 23rd, 2012
This week’s mystery photo was correctly identified by Jonathan as the doors of Temple Beth Emeth. This main entrance features 12 symbols, which were carved by the father of a current congregant, and they are the 12 signs of the Zodiac (making that “cow” a bull, for Taurus). Rabbi Heidi Hoover explains:
There is a long history of connection between Judaism and the Zodiac. There are many references to astrology in the Bible and in rabbinic literature. Ancient synagogues in Israel that have been discovered sometimes have the signs of the Zodiac set in their mosaic floors.
The early rabbis believed that the stars and planets had an impact on personality and inclinations of individuals, depending on when they were born, though what a person did with their inclination was up to them. For example, someone born under the influence of Mars might be drawn to bloodshed, but it was up to that person whether they became a butcher, a soldier, or a murderer, etc. The rabbis did NOT believe that the future could be discerned from the stars, and the Bible explicitly prohibits such fortune-telling.
The symbols of the Zodiac also appear inside Temple Beth Emeth’s sanctuary, on the ceiling just in front of the ark where the Torah scrolls are kept.
- Mary
Posted in Images, Neighborhood History |
Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
Looking into Sycamore.
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day, snow, Sycamore
Posted in Images |
Saturday, January 21st, 2012
A great 360-degree view of the snow on Beverley Road this morning from Andy Novick.
- Mary
Tags: snow
Posted in Images |
Saturday, January 21st, 2012
At least, I think it’s a cow. Maybe you can clear it up when you guess its location. If you know where this is, let us know in the comments, and I’ll reveal the answer later.
- Mary
Tags: Ditmas Detective
Posted in Images |
Saturday, January 21st, 2012
We’re waking up to the first snow accumulation of 2012, and the first chance for the city to implement its new Snow Removal Plan. I’ve heard plows. How is it looking by you?
- Mary
Tags: snow
Posted in Images |
Saturday, January 21st, 2012
If you have a similar vantage point on the neighborhood and you get a good shot of the anticipated snow, send us a pic and we’ll post it!
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day
Posted in Images |
Thursday, January 19th, 2012
More flowers blooming in January.
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day, plant life, weather
Posted in Green, Images |
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Spotted on Dorchester.
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day
Posted in Images |
Monday, January 16th, 2012
Next time you’re on east side of Coney Island Avenue near the corner of Caton, look up and you’ll see the sign in this week’s mystery photo. According to an ad in a 1972 issue of New York Magazine, Sekur-Alarm was owned by a retired New York City Police Department, and it appears to still be open.
- Mary
Tags: Ditmas Detective, signs
Posted in Images |
Saturday, January 14th, 2012
You’ve seen this sign, but do you remember where? Leave a guess about its location in the comments, and I’ll reveal the answer later.
- Mary
Tags: Ditmas Detective, signs
Posted in Images |
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012
Lawn TV, originally uploaded by carryboo.
- Mary
Tags: photo of the day
Posted in Images |
Tuesday, January 10th, 2012
The Old New York, originally uploaded by carryboo.
Spotted on Coney Island Ave, and seems to be a zine.
- Mary
Tags: graffiti, photo of the day
Posted in Images |
Monday, January 9th, 2012
- Mary
Tags: moon, photo of the day
Posted in Images |
Monday, January 9th, 2012
As Havisham correctly guessed, this week’s mystery photo is of a home on Argyle between Ditmas and Dorchester that has several terrific decorations out front, in addition to the stone eagle.
- Mary
Tags: Ditmas Detective
Posted in Images |
Sunday, January 8th, 2012
- Mary
Tags: birds, cats, photo of the day
Posted in Animals, Images |
Saturday, January 7th, 2012
If you walk the streets the night, and go where eagles dare, then you’ll probably know where in the neighborhood this one is located. Leave your guess in the comments, and I’ll reveal the answer later.
- Mary
Tags: Ditmas Detective
Posted in Images |
