Greenwich Village at Night with a Few Words…

I was in NYC this past weekend, and no matter what city I find myself I am always drawn to it’s funkier neighborhoods. I love their color, flavor, visuals, and eccentricities. If I’m in Toronto, for example, I usually gravitate to Queen Street West or the Kensington market. The half-dozen times I’ve been to Paris I’ve stayed on the Left Bank. When I spent a very brief time in New Orleans in the late 1980’s I had an apartment in the heart of the French Quarter. And the neighborhood in which I currently reside–Allentown–has these same qualities but on a much smaller scale. So it should come to no surprise that when I visit NYC I usually end up in the Village, I always have. Technically not all of these photos are from Greenwich village, a couple are from Union Square, which of course is the next street over. The above photo is one of my favorites. It’s a group of Hare Krishna followers who are in Union Square every time I go there, they have been for as long as I can remember. I often listen to them sing and watch them dance for a minute or two. And this time I took their photo. After I did I dropped a couple dollars in their collection bowl. And as I turned to leave a young woman thanked me and offered a candle for me to place on a small altar with a hundred others (to the left of the photo). There was a small cushion to kneel if you’d like, and say a prayer. I did. It was lovely really. To kneel briefly in the midst of the hustle and bustle of this incredible city and say a silent prayer. When I closed my eyes it was as if I shut everything out and I went in, if even for just a few seconds. As I stood and turned to leave again, she thanked me again and asked if I were hungry. I declined, but it was truly lovely. Anyhow, while there this weekend I took a few photos and thought I’d share. Click any for a slightly larger view.

Urban Simplicity.

A Cross Stitched Bike and a Quick Note…


This was given to me by a very good friend this past week as a birthday present (really big smile, thank you!). I particularly like the peace sign included (paz bici). Anyhow, I just wanted to mention that I will be away from my computer for the next few days and will likely not post again until Monday evening. Thanks, as always, for sticking with me and putting up with my sometimes idiosyncratic, eccentric, or even self-centered posts. Until Next week…peace. 

Urban Simplicity.

Things That can be Carried on a Bike (#544) and a view from my handlebars on a crisp autumn night

On the bike…A gym bag containing wet clothes. A large plastic box containing groceries, sundries, and red wine. Sixteen 2x4s.

The view…From Elmwood Avenue looking towards Buffalo’s West Side at sunset.

Urban Simplicity.

The power of the nerd…

Okay. So this is just silly. But that’s why it makes me smile. When I first saw this I thought it would be stupid–and it is–but then I noticed I was smiling from ear-to-ear. I first posted this three years ago and recently came across it again. It’s a short film of this guy doing his crazy little dance in 42 countries. His friend, apparently, filmed him on a whim and posted it on YouTube and it accidentally went viral. I’m not a dancer, but I would join him in this. He’s got a few newer versions of this in other countries but this one is still my favorite. To learn more about him visit his site. Anyhow, click play and smile.

Urban Simplicity.

Things That can be Carried on a Bike (#543)

A cardboard box containing two freshly baked and still-warm loaves of 100% whole wheat bread. an empty dough rising bucket. a camera bag. a book bag.

Urban Simplicity.

The Simplest Loaf…

I’ve posted this recipe before but not in a little while. This is for all those people that think that a beautiful loaf of bread cannot be made using 100% whole wheat flour (I used to be a doubter also). This is the loaf I make most often because it is so simple to make. If you want to experiment with whole wheat bread making this is a good recipe to start with. Anyhow, the recipe is below.

100% Whole Wheat Bread

Makes 2 loaves

6 cups whole wheat flour, divided

2 tablespoons vital wheat gluten

3 cups water, divided

4 teaspoons instant yeast, divided

2 teaspoons kosher salt

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup honey


Separate the ingredients in two bowls using this ratio: In one bowl combine 4 cups of flour, the vital wheat gluten, and 2 cups of water. Stir it just until combined; cover with plastic wrap and set aside. In a second bowl, combine the remaining 2 cups flour and 1 cup water and 2 teaspoons of yeast. Stir it just until combined; cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Allow the bowls to rest for at least an hour. After the ingredients have rested and have begun to ferment, combine the contents of both bowls to an upright mixer that is fitted with a dough hook. Also add the remaining ingredients: the salt, olive oil, honey, and remaining two teaspoons yeast. Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for one hour. Transfer the dough to a work surface, cut it into two pieces, gently shape it into loaves, and place them either on a baking sheet or in loaf pans. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 45 minutes. Preheat an oven to 425F/218C. If making free-form loaves, slash them with a razor just before they go into the oven. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on. As the bread bakes rotate the loaves in the oven once or twice to ensure even baking. Remove the bread from their pans and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Five or Ten Quotes from Kurt Vonnegut

Image found here.
November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007
“To practice any art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.”
“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.”

“I want to stand as close to the edge as I can without going over. Out on the edge you see all kinds of things you can’t see from the center.”
“We have to continually be jumping off cliffs and developing our wings on the way down.”
“A purpose of human life, no matter who is controlling it, is to love whoever is around to be loved.”
“Dear future generations: Please accept our apologies. We were rolling drunk on petroleum.”
“Who is more to be pitied, a writer bound and gagged by policemen or one living in perfect freedom who has nothing more to say?”
“If you can do no good, at least do no harm.”
“All this happened, more or less.”
“What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”
More Five Quotes.
Urban Simplicity. 
 

Things That can be Carried on a Bike (#542)

Four new shirts. Three new pairs of pants. A new pair of shoes. A large bag of dog food. Two jars of peanut butter. Ten pounds of whole wheat flour.

Urban Simplicity.

The View from my Handlebars (a few things I saw while riding my bike today)

Urban Simplicity.

A reason to ride…

Okay. So I’ve posted this video in the past. But not in quite a while. I just came across it in my bookmarks again and thought that I’d re-post it for a couple  reasons. One is for those that may have not seen this before. The other is that…well, I never seem to tire of it. This really could be me narrating it, but of course it is not. It is a mere 59 seconds long; I hope you watch it.

Urban Simplicity.

Things That can be Carried on a Bike (#541)

A canvas book bag containing a few books and other things. A vinyl camera bag containing a camera, a charger, and an extra lens. A cardboard box containing smaller cardboard boxes containing twenty-one newly printed photos.

Urban Simplicity.

A poem and a picture…

Awaken


Sometimes,

when I think everything is going along as planned,

it’s not.


Sometimes,

when I feel I’m becoming more self-aware,

I’m not.


It’s self-righteousness.


Sometimes,

I forget to feel.

To really feel.

To look around.

To look at what’s right in front of me.


Sometimes,

when things are going smoothly

there is roughness ahead.


Sometimes,

things are a test.

A test of morals.

A test of character.

A test of faith.


Sometimes; sometimes,

sometimes…


I’m really asleep.


But it is love.

Passion.

Compassion.


These things awaken me;

make me alive.


Sometimes,

it comes unexpectedly 

and in unlikely ways.


And yet sometimes,

it scares me,

makes me uncomfortable.


But this is good.


It gives me hope.

Apple (the fruit, not the corporation)

Image found here.
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” 
 ~Hippocrates
 I love apples. Well, ok, most fruits. But this wasn’t always the case. It’s something I’ve really grown to enjoy as an adult…these days a meal without a piece of fruit is not complete. Fruit, of course, is good (really good) and good for you. But this short video fortifies how really powerful it is. 



Urban Simplicity.

Whole Wheat Rye…and that’s all

Whole Wheat Rye Bread

Makes 2 loaves

4 cups whole wheat flour

3 tablespoons vital wheat gluten

2 ¾ cups water, divided

2 cups rye flour

4 teaspoons instant yeast, divided

2 teaspoons kosher salt

2 tablespoons caraway seeds

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup dark molasses


Separate the ingredients in two bowls using this ratio: In one bowl combine the 4 cups of whole wheat flour, the vital wheat gluten, and 2 cups of water. Stir it just until combined; cover with plastic wrap and set aside. In a second bowl, combine the 2 cups rye flour and remaining ¾ cup water and 2 teaspoons of yeast. Stir it just until combined; cover with plastic wrap and set aside. Allow the bowls to rest for at least an hour. After the ingredients have rested and have begun to ferment, combine the contents of both bowls to an upright mixer that is fitted with a dough hook. Also add the remaining ingredients: the salt, caraway seeds, olive oil, molasses, and remaining two teaspoons yeast. Knead the dough on medium speed for about 8 minutes (if the dough is too slack or too firm adjust it’s consistency with more flour or water), then cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for one hour. Transfer the dough to a work surface, cut it into two pieces, gently shape it into loaves, and place them either on a baking sheet or in loaf pans. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise for 45 minutes. Preheat an oven to 425F/218C. If making free-form loaves, slash them with a razor just before they go into the oven. Bake the bread for about 30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on. As the bread bakes rotate the loaves in the oven once or twice to ensure even baking. Remove the bread from their pans and allow to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Hot Colors, Cold Night…my neighborhood in the pouring rain

So I haven’t posted much in the last few days–or a week–for a few reasons. The first is that my life has seemed to get increasingly busier (am I the only one that feels this way?). And the second reason is that I’ve had a mild lens malfunction on my camera as of late. From my very first post on this blog (ok, second post), I’ve made the commitment to have at least one photo with each post. And as I’ve gradually made the transition from 35mm (of years ago) to my little point-and-shoot cameras, and now to my entree level dslr, I’ve become somewhat spoiled. Spoiled when I can’t get my camera(s) to capture what actually I see in front of me. Thus was the issue with my malfunctioning lens. Anyhow, I recently purchased (it just arrived today, actually) a refurbished lens and was hellbent on testing it even though it was raining. So tonight, being slightly fortified with a couple glasses of wine–and armed with my camera, three lenses, a tripod, and an umbrella–I went out in the pouring rain and took a few photos. Here are four of them. Click any for a slightly larger view.

Urban Simplicity.

Polpette di ceci (senza carne)

So I’ve mentioned before on this blog that while I am not a vegetarian I do not eat a great deal of meat, and there are plenty of days when I simply do not want any. Today was one of those days. These chickpea balls are definitely not a replacement for meatballs because they taste and feel nothing like a meatball that is made with meat. But, on the other hand, these are really delicious and very satisfying. They are also exceedingly easy to make. After searing they can be baked in an oven and served as an appetizer with any number of dipping sauces, or–as I did tonight–they can be poached in tomato sauce and served with pasta. Either way they are simple and delicious. The recipe is below.

Chickpea Meatless Balls
polpette di ceci (senza carne)
Makes about 2 dozen small balls
1 (15oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon basil
½ teaspoon crushed hot pepper
½ teaspoon whole fennel seed
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon turmeric
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 large eggs
1 cup breadcrumbs
olive oil for pan-frying
Combine all of the ingredients except the breadcrumbs and olive oil in the bowl of a food processor and process until nearly smooth. Transfer the mixture to a bowl and knead in the bread crumbs. Allow it to rest for a couple minutes, then knead it again for another minute. Shape the dough into small balls. Heat the a heavy skillet with a thin layer of oil and cook the chickpea balls until golden. Finish cooking the meatless balls on a tray in a preheated oven, or transfer them to a pot of tomato sauce and poach them for about 10 minutes.

Urban Simplicity.