Shot of the Week

Everything about the Alhambra in Granada, Spain and its surrounding area is awe-inspiring. I was passing through, jaw dropped and eyes wide, with my family in late October 2008 when I noticed this perfectly framed scene.

–Karina for TKGO

A City of Rooftops: Midtown, NYC

Ignore the crazed pedestrians, traffic and commerce at street level and New York transforms. In two CitySights bus tours, I tried to capture some of my favorite architecture in each neighborhood — but only the top half of the buildings, where the city goes to relax.

First up is Midtown, where the Downtown bus tour starts.

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The world’s shortest guide to Midtown and the Flatiron District:

Empire State building: Art deco at its finest. Your neck might cramp before you feel the need to tear your eyes away from this one.

Penn Station: Along with Grand Central, this station hosts commuters from the areas that surround NYC as well as most subway lines.

Flatiron building: Designed to fit the small corner it has occupied since 1902, the building was the first skyscraper. It gave the surrounding neighborhood its name.

Macy’s in Herald Square: The department store’s flagship location and host of the famous Thanksgiving Day Parade is also an architectural showcase.

You Are Here, courtesy of Google Maps

And when you return to street level (or get hungry)…

Across the street from the Flatiron building, try Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop. It’s a true New York lunch counter with strong coffee, heaping pastrami sandwiches and the best clientele for people-watching.

–Tara for TKGO

Shot of the Week

Can’t order a more perfect day than this, I think. This photo is from my first visit to the Plaza de Mayo, the center of political life in Buenos Aires. The Casa Rosada, which houses the president’s offices, is at the base of the photo somehow looking like it’s on a slant. (It isn’t in real life.)

–Karina for TKGO

Welcome to my Neighborhood

I currently am writing this post from Baraka, a bustling café in my current corner of the world, the neighborhood of Palermo. Palermo is one of the most populous and largest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires; it’s also considered one of the most well-to-do (especially the subsection of Palermo Chico) and trendiest areas. Parks and plazas, designer stores, restaurants with coveted dinner reservations, art galleries, boliches (clubs) with long lines and cafés prime for people-watching fill Palermo.

Photo courtesy of BuenosAires54.com

I technically live in the section of Palermo called Palermo Viejo; other bite-sized areas of the neighborhood include the aforementioned Palermo Chico, as well as Palermo Soho and Palermo Hollywood, the latter two of which are considered trend central. With all of the amenities, entertainment and happenings, it could be easy to get comfortable and never leave this neighborhood. It is important to remember Palermo is only one part of the city, something I hear even some locals who live here forget sometimes. Still, exploring the neighborhood is a must when visiting Buenos Aires, though any guidebook or recommendations from friends as far as shopping, dining and nightlife go will most likely lead you here at some point.

I’ve compiled a slideshow of photos I’ve taken (with the exception of the first map shot, of course) to introduce you to my new home zone, a lovely little place I’m still exploring street by street.

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–Karina for TKGO