I was out last night taking a few pictures (including this shot from the Diamond District):

I’m also still working on the Kickstarter rewards and the app, so it’s been pretty much all Project Neon all the time around here. I’m hoping it will calm down a bit in a couple of weeks, and I can return to semi-regular Catasterist updates. Until then, I’ll see you in Neonsville!

Hello there. In case you missed it elsewhere, there are two Project Neon updates. First, a story I wrote about chasing neon was published today on Urban Omnibus. Second, the Project Neon blog is now live over on Tumblr. Every week I’ll visit another neon-ified establishment in New York City, and I’ll post a picture and a short story on the blog. Check out the Subscribe page for various means of keeping up to date.

I have approximately a million Catasterist posts waiting in the queue, but I’m also in the process of recovering from the pink eye. Gross, I know, right? So I’m going to bed early tonight, but I’ll be back soon with more architecture & design. Yup.

Tomorrow evening after the sun goes down (oh so early these days!), I’m going to stop and admire the glow of electrified neon (there are a couple of good signs near my new work!), sometimes lurid and sometimes cheerful, that promises all kinds of things from frozen custard to fresh fish. And I realize looking through my Flickr photos that I have done a poor job of documenting New York’s neon. That needs to change, starting tomorrow.

I hope neon signs are around to light up the night a hundred years in the future.

Do you know some good NYC neon I should include? Let me know so I don’t miss it! Comment below, or send me an email.

Then to welcome in the new year last night, Paul and I went to this fantastic Brooklyn tradition, the steam whistles that the Cheif Engineer at Pratt collects and hooks up to the steam feed from the engine room every New Year. It was LOUD! and cold, but did I mention LOUD! And steamy. And there was a calliope conrolled with an electronic keyboard. The engine room was closed to visitors sadly, but we could peer in through the windows.  It’s in a beautiful building (it’s an historic landmark building). A great Brooklyn New Year’s Eve. (Here are some better pix−I was too cold to be a good photographer.)

Here’s wishing everyone a happy, healthy 2009.

…have I mentioned I love neon?

Paul and I went here earlier this week.  I’m pretty willing to have a drink anywhere with a sign this great (it’s as good a way to pick a new place to try as any, I think), and The Dublin did not disappoint.