Christmas Sights - The Hood

Here are the decorations from a typical Brooklyn/Queens avenue. The symbol in the middle changes depending on the persuasions of the neighborhood, but the design is fairly constant.

These pictures in particular are from 4th Avenue and 86th Street in Brooklyn.
The first picture says "86th St. Bid Welcomes You" Now, I realize that makes no sense, but I think they were going for some variation of a welcome message. "A" for effort, not so much for execution.

Treks & The City - Episode #3

September 6, 2008

Windows To The Spirit

Part of the joy of spending Christmas in New York City is being able to walk around in a true winter wonderland. From the heart of Jamaica Queens to 5th Avenue in Manhattan the season is alive and it is breathing Christmas at 20 breaths per minute (terrible med student joke, I apologize)

Part of the Christmas tradition in this city is the department store window displays. The stores all pick a theme and set up displays in consecutive windows that are meant to dazzle the eyes and warm the soul. Some are fun, some are cute, some traditional, and one in particular that's just straight frightening.

A couple friends and I decided to take the walk, beginning with Bloomingdale's and ending up at Macy's in Herald Square (34th St. & Broadway). The night ended up being as magical as it gets, with people walking around, trees, lights and decorations everywhere, and to top it all off, the first snow-fall in the city. I was practically giddy...I even clicked my heels at one point.
Many pictures were taken, but I've picked only a representative sample as this post would be a mile and a half long were I to include all.

Stop 1 - Bloomingdale's (59th St. & 3rd Ave)
A cute, simple display based on the songs from a Tony Bennet Christmas album


Stop 2 - Bergdorf Goodman (58th St. & 5th Ave)
Excuse my French, but what the HELL? In case you're wondering, no you're not hallucinating, those are two polar bears boxing, a walrus photographer, and a wolf announcer. What about this says Christmas?


Stop 3 - Saks Fifth Avenue (48th St. & 5th Ave)
A fun display describing the life and times of a snowflake wanting to be more than just a regular old snowflake and trying to express his individuality.



Detour --> Right across from Saks is Rockefeller Center with its amazing Christmas display. We were momentarily (or perhaps longer) sidetracked by the allure of the Granddaddy of all trees (see below).

Detour --> Dinner near Rockefeller Center, then a short trip through Times Square...just for fun.

Stop 4 - Lord and Taylor (38th St. & 5th Ave)
An exercise in elegance; very classy display with traditional themes.


Stop 5 - Macy's (48th St. & 5th Ave)
Another fun and cute display inventing creative stories about how various elements of Christmas, such as snow, tinsel, etc. are made.



Favorite Display Award - Lord and Taylor for their beautiful, innovative design and use of traditional Themes

Most Fun Display Award - Saks Fifth Avenue for their cute snowflake story

Most Innovative - Saks Fifth Avenue. Because it takes some creativity to take a new story and turn it into a living creation in window form.

Scariest/Least Relevant Award - Bergdorf Goodman. First off, your name reminds me of Lyme Disease. Second, scary looking animal/human mutants don't quite give me the warm fuzzy feeling I'm looking for.

All in all, lots of fun, and I can only hope I get a chance to do it again...

The First Snow

Ok, so this wasn't the first time it snowed during my time here, but it is the first time it stuck. Photos are from just outside my apartment building.

Writing On The Wall - A Mission Statement

I don't know what it is about walls, but to some, it's as if a wall, standing there minding it's own business holding stuff up, is an empty canvas. Here I document things written on walls (or signs on walls) that make you look twice, laugh, scratch your head, and otherwise evoke emotions unexpected. I will usually let the pictures speak for themselves.

We begin with a gem from the stairwell headed down to the Radiology Department at Mary Immaculate Hospital.



Thanks...I was unsure as to what it was I was supposed to do with this whole "life" thing.

Christmas Sights - The Grandaddy of Them ALL!

Few symbols for Christmas are as recognizable as a Christmas Tree, and few trees evoke as much awe and respect as the one which stands at 5th Ave between 49th and 50th St. in Manhattan.
The tree at Rockefeller Center is the height of achievements as far as the holiday evergreens are concerned. A few stills which do no justice:

Christmas Sights - A New Temporary Feature

As part of me living up the Christmas Spirit in the city, I want to share with you some of the sights that make me feel like a 6 year old child again.

The first hints that the season was upon us came during a voyage into the city which landed me at Columbus Circle (puns intended) shortly before the Thanksgiving Holiday. Here are some of the pictures from that time. Please forgive the quality as these were taken on my terrible phone camera.

The Life & Times of a Medical Pimp

I know, you're thinking, "Why would Nareg, a responsible, upstanding, decent, pre-professional, be writing about something like pimps?" Well take a deep breath and follow me...

Regardless of what pimping may mean to the outside world, in medicine it sends chills down the spine of students and residents. Pimping is the practice of asking a student questions to assess his/her knowledge. Generally, it occurs in the clinical setting (i.e. during rounds) and can range from relatively benign to test clinical acumen to more malicious serial questioning with the intent to intimidate.

Pimping may come from the top with the attendings all the way down to the interns (let's face it, medical students don't really have anyone to pimp). It is generally accepted that when one is being pimped, he or she is started off with a relatively easy question which, if answered correctly, progresses to a more difficult question.

The efficacy of such a practice is up for debate, but the truth of the matter is, it forces students to think quickly and provide intelligent. well though-out answers to difficult questions.

I don't know what you heard about me... but so far, in my clinical experience, I have not been on the receiving end of a good old-fashioned pimping. The attendings and residents at MIH are good about asking questions without actually pimping. I'm sure this will change as I move further into rotations.

Shout-Outs

Probably a little late for this post, but I wanted to point out a few blogs that I myself follow regularly. The links are on the left-hand side of this page. I find them witty, insightful, and, most importantly, they're close friends, so I have to put them up there ;)
(Hovig, stop glaring, it's unbecoming)

Check them out at your leisure.
We have Hovig, New York's very own chronicling journeyman.
Also featured is Paul Keyser, the OG blog, the inspiration to us all. Amazing photos and the wittiest post titles, the likes of which I aspire to but fall well short.
The vague workings of the anonymous author compiling reviews of works within various genres. Click over and see what "N" really has said to the masses.

And the newest addition to YHO's blog list, exploring the blurred margins of reality is Marina from a bird's eye view.

(Ok, shout-outs are done. Were is the money for my endorsements?)

If you know of any interesting works in the blogosphere (I feel dirty having used that word...don't know why) let me know and after careful consideration and a rigorous selection process, I may add it to my list (that includes the readership's personal blogs).

Let The Spirit Shine Forth From Thy Neck

It comes as no shock to those who know me that as soon as the turkey is packed away and the pumpkin pie is consumed the Christmas season begins for your humble observer.

As such, I make it a point to let my Christmas Spirit shine forth for all to see. And since I'm now a BIG medical student, I have decided to spread the Spirit into the workplace. For Christmas Spirit is something *that no one could touch, but angels could hold*.

Allow me to Introduce you to the four merry cravats of your humble observer's wardrobe




Snowy




Santy




Micky (short for micturition...look closely at the tie)




and Rudy



Special thanks to a very special father of your humble observer who provided Santy and Rudy (albeit unwittingly)

To answer the question on all of your minds, yes I do actually study and learn something.

*7 points to whoever can correctly tell me the source of the words between the asterisks.

I Like To Sing In The Shower Too!

Can't help myself. The scene is cute. The song is cute. And the reactions are priceless.
So put some records on while I pour, because baby... I'm in NY and it's REALLY cold outside.



*20 points to the first person who can correctly identify the line from "Elf" that the title of this post references.