Astor Place
Astor Place Station
Astor Place Station by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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At the end of November I had taken the subway down to Astor Place to check out the neighborhood around Cooper Union Square. The sign above is from the Astor Place subway station which is one of the 28 original New York subway stations. It was named after John Jacob Astor whose fortune was made in beaver-pelt trading.
The Cooper Union School’s Foundation Building stands directly across from the Astor Place subway entrance. It was founded in 1859 by industrialist and inventor Peter Cooper. Cooper invented gelatin and his wife Sarah added fruit. We all know it now as Jell-O.
Cooper Union School is considered one of the most prestigious colleges in the country. The school consists of a school of fine arts, architecture and engineering. Cooper Union is unique in that it offers every admitted student a full tuition scholarship – valued at $140,000.
Cooper Union School
Cooper Union School by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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This is the triangle park behind the school.
Cooper Union Square
Cooper Union Square by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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41 Cooper Square is the new classroom, laboratory and studio facilities for Cooper Union School. It was designed by Thomas Mayne of Morphosis Architects. It is the first platinum-LEED certified school laboratory building in New York. I just love the shape and color of the building.
41 Cooper Square
41 Cooper Square by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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Below is another beautiful modern building in the area. I was struck by the way it appeared to face “bravely” into the late afternoon sun.
Brave Face
Brave Face by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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The Charles Fischer building has this wonderful clock within a musical note. I felt that this particular building stood out more in black and white because of the strong graphic elements on the building.
The Carl Fischer Building
The Carl Fischer Building by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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Once you start heading away from Cooper Union Square you land up on these great little streets with some very interesting storefronts. This one caught my eye because of the unique fence surrounding the entrance. A Barbriere is a classic italian barbershop.
Barbiere
Barbiere by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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This is a close-up of a side railing
Close-up at the Barbriere
Close-up at the Barbriere by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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I love the neon picture of the foot being rubbed by a hand.
Body Work Foot Rub
Body Work Foot Rub by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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This pink building is as bright as this picture is showing it. Think Pepto Bismol.
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- Pepto Bismol Pink
Pepto Bismol Pink by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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McSorley’s Old Ale House was established in 1854 and was the scene of a Supreme Court Case concerning women’s rights. Prior to 1970 McSorley’s would not admit women into the bar. In 1969 civil rights attorney Faith Seidenberg and Karen DeCrow sued McSorley’s Old Ale House under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Women were granted access in 1970. I found myself there with my fellow photography classmates in 1976. The food was good, the beer even better and there wasn’t a ladies room to be found. You want to drink with the men, you had to use the men’s room with the men. Trust me, after a few beers you honestly just don’t care.
McSorley's Ale House
McSorley’s Old Ale House by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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A walk around a New York neighborhood would not be complete without photographing the street art. I really loved the way the artist portrayed the shadows in this piece.
Man in the Pinstripe Suit
Man in a Pinstripe Suit by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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Another great piece was just around the corner.
A Little Wall Art
A Little Wall Art by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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It just wouldn’t be right to leave out the graffiti.
Ibak
Ibak by Karen Johnson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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Karen Johnson - A Photographic Life 
great work with the HDR, wonderful photos!
Thank you Dustan!
Karen, I love these images and your descriptions. Especially the first two modern buildings and the street art. The pin stripe suit photo is great!
Thank you Marina!
Very beautiful and varied buildings.