The north side of City Hall Park

originally uploaded by lilyo.

The things you miss when you're not downtown more often. Running into Julian Opie's "Sara Walking" and "Bruce Walking."

pre-show in the big tent

originally uploaded by lilyo.

hard to believe that things like this are constructed for a single night... and only for the enjoyment of 800 guests -- including 150 models. (Although the steak and lobster bento box supper was yummy.)
[Update: the NY Times pointed out this shindig cost about $7.5 million to produce, which means H&M spent nearly a cool $10,000 for each of us!]

Open air kisses

originally uploaded by lilyo.

A garden of discount clothes and earthly delights on Wednesday night when H&M commandeers Central Park for a fashion show. Entering through a wall of orchids...

Opening night of the Tribeca Film Fest at the MoMA

originally uploaded by lilyo.


... and even if we were nowhere near Canal Street, the museum was open for our enjoyment. On an unseasonably warm night, that meant supper in the sculpture garden,

Gearing up for orthodox Easter, May 1

Gearing up for Easter, May 1, originally uploaded by lilyo.

at the bakery that saw most of my euro...

remains of the theater

and the site of Phillip 2's assassination-- meters from his own palace! (Most accidents do take place near the home.) There's land in the background, but once upon a time, it was all sea. Silting from four rivers has changed the landscape over time.

The remains of the palace of Phillip 2

originally uploaded by lilyo.

In nearby Vergina (about an hour away) lie the remains of the Phillip 2's kingdom. Photography in the tombs is verboten (suffice it to say, they were full of flashy burial bits and bobs, not having been discovered by grave robbers) so pix of the palace have to suffice.

main street, Vergina

main street, Vergina
Originally uploaded by lilyo.

Time out for tourism...

atop the White Tower
Originally uploaded by lilyo.

Originally uploaded by lilyo.

Tchotckes for sale in the market

Originally uploaded by lilyo.

a young Willy Loman

Originally uploaded by lilyo.

the salespeople shout for your attention-- and upon seeing an Asian person with a camera, will preen for a photo.

the markets

originally uploaded by lilyo.

Some investigation revealed the city's own Diagon Alley, where the real commerce takes place.

Old meets new

Old meets new
Originally uploaded by lilyo.

the port at sunset

the port at sunset
Originally uploaded by lilyo.

on my first night there.

The White Tower in early morning

Also called the Bloody Tower (in its prison days) and the symbol of the city(!), it was whitewashed by a prisoner in exchange for his freedom.

The harbor as seen from the White Tower

Originally uploaded by lilyo.

Thessaloniki is a very cosmopolitan city-- which is to say because there's even an Applebee's and a Ruby Tuesday, it's not that different from any other major metropolitan city. So I like picturing it in black and white, as it adds just a touch more glamour to it.

The Olympion Theater

The Olympion Theater
Originally uploaded by lilyo.

So having tooled around the Cycladic Islands and the Peloponnese back in 1999, it was time to check out Macedonian Greece. A film festival brought me to the port city of Thessaloniki. The Olympion Theater was festival HQ and where I spent most of my week's stay.