Yesterday was the first Sunday in November – in New York City that means it’s time for the marathon! 40,000 people run 24 miles through the five boroughs of New York – Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. Even though it was [VERY] cold, and Neil and I were out running errands, we stopped to watch the race for a little bit in Long Island City, a part of Queens that is right over the East River from Manhattan. And I made a few drawings. In the drawing above, you can see the tips of the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building peaking over the elevated subway and low rise buildings of Long Island City as the runners go by. The man at the left was in the race and stopped to kiss his wife, who was cheering from the sidelines.
Another view of the race, this one from inside the Citibank building with the glass windows facing the street. It was Neil’s idea to draw from here, it was much warmer since I was sitting on the baseboard heat as I drew it. Note the water towers, classic New York icon, and 59th St. bridge in the way background. I love this vantage point, everything happening at once – the runners, the cheering onlookers, the 7 train rumbling by and the helicopters circling. New York City madness at it’s finest! Kudos to all the runners, I was very inspired. And after I made this drawing we went and had coffee and pastry in a nice warm cafe. ;)
