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Last week in New York, Wednesday morning we visited the library. You know, that library. I’m sure most people who aren’t from the city refer to this building as the New York Public Library, but of course it’s a big city with a lot of branches, and this is just the most famous one. And it is very famous. The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. You know the lions. This is Patience…
(I didn’t pay my respects to Fortitude this visit.)
And this is the Rose Main Reading Room…
When you see it in the movies, it would seem to be right inside the front door. But it’s actually up on the third floor. Notice how high the ceiling is. Also note, if you want to see it, it’s only open to the public for an hour, at 10am.
And notice how beautiful the ceiling is. I’m trying to think of better ceilings… suck it, European palaces!
Here's Cindy reading in the Rose Reading Room...
At the bottom of the next photo is a divider. There are staff workstations and service counters in it, and you come through it into the room. You’re only allowed to take photos from that end, and I didn’t want to seem like the only person who knew that, so I took a couple of photos from the far end.
The other side of the divider is another reading room, just like this one, only it’s off limits to tourists. I asked the guard if it was OK to take a photo through the doorway, and she said something about how it’s just like the other side. I said, “no it’s not, because there aren’t any people milling around.” Needing a clear answer, I asked again, “so can I take a picture?” She said no. I nodded, and as I turned to walk away, Cindy gave me a hard time, right in front of her, about giving her a hard time. I was like, “She didn’t say no, so I had to ask.” “She did say no, she shook her head!” I didn’t see her shake her head, I guess because I was composing my shot.
They also have a museum. The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures. Much of what was on display was from the cultural history of New York, mostly from the early 20th century. But what what everybody wants to see is Pooh.
The original versions of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga and Eeyore. Roo was lost, and Rabbit and Owl never existed in physical form. But guess what? I learned of these creatures a few weeks ago, we visited a week ago Tuesday, and just the week, the Queen of England brought a replacement Roo to the Library! Maybe the next time, we can see it.
Bryant Park is behind the building, taking up the rest of the block.
The next three photos I took ten years ago, but it looks mostly the same, and I thought I'd show you the lobby at the front doors.
I’ve seen it a few times now, and wasn’t going out of my way to take photos of something I’ve already taken photos of. And probably best I didn’t because these look really good. And there were fewer tourists then to clutter it up.
I think these were the stairs from the second to the third level…
I was looking for these old photos to to round out this post, and found I’ve taken what seems like dozens of shots of the lions. I didn’t have the patience to even look at them all. Nor the fortitude.
This beautiful library is commonly used for portrait shoots. Usually outside, but sometimes inside. On this trip I saw two wedding shoots and a quinceañera shoot.
I hope you enjoyed your visit! … or my visit, I guess.
(I didn’t pay my respects to Fortitude this visit.)
And this is the Rose Main Reading Room…
When you see it in the movies, it would seem to be right inside the front door. But it’s actually up on the third floor. Notice how high the ceiling is. Also note, if you want to see it, it’s only open to the public for an hour, at 10am.
And notice how beautiful the ceiling is. I’m trying to think of better ceilings… suck it, European palaces!
Here's Cindy reading in the Rose Reading Room...
At the bottom of the next photo is a divider. There are staff workstations and service counters in it, and you come through it into the room. You’re only allowed to take photos from that end, and I didn’t want to seem like the only person who knew that, so I took a couple of photos from the far end.
The other side of the divider is another reading room, just like this one, only it’s off limits to tourists. I asked the guard if it was OK to take a photo through the doorway, and she said something about how it’s just like the other side. I said, “no it’s not, because there aren’t any people milling around.” Needing a clear answer, I asked again, “so can I take a picture?” She said no. I nodded, and as I turned to walk away, Cindy gave me a hard time, right in front of her, about giving her a hard time. I was like, “She didn’t say no, so I had to ask.” “She did say no, she shook her head!” I didn’t see her shake her head, I guess because I was composing my shot.
They also have a museum. The Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures. Much of what was on display was from the cultural history of New York, mostly from the early 20th century. But what what everybody wants to see is Pooh.
The original versions of Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends, Tigger, Piglet, Kanga and Eeyore. Roo was lost, and Rabbit and Owl never existed in physical form. But guess what? I learned of these creatures a few weeks ago, we visited a week ago Tuesday, and just the week, the Queen of England brought a replacement Roo to the Library! Maybe the next time, we can see it.
Bryant Park is behind the building, taking up the rest of the block.
The next three photos I took ten years ago, but it looks mostly the same, and I thought I'd show you the lobby at the front doors.
I’ve seen it a few times now, and wasn’t going out of my way to take photos of something I’ve already taken photos of. And probably best I didn’t because these look really good. And there were fewer tourists then to clutter it up.
I think these were the stairs from the second to the third level…
I was looking for these old photos to to round out this post, and found I’ve taken what seems like dozens of shots of the lions. I didn’t have the patience to even look at them all. Nor the fortitude.
This beautiful library is commonly used for portrait shoots. Usually outside, but sometimes inside. On this trip I saw two wedding shoots and a quinceañera shoot.
I hope you enjoyed your visit! … or my visit, I guess.
