The Joys of the Winter Solstice!

Dec. 21 was a glorious day in Central Park, for I was able to see my first male green-winged teal, plus Woody, a young male pintail duck, lots of mallards, and a couple of hawks. I was also able to feed chickadees, nuthatches, tufted titmice, sparrows, woodpeckers, squirrels, pigeons and other hungry wildlife in the park (no pictures of the smaller birds on this day, because the birds were on my hands or on my hat or camera).

Green-winged teal drake at the Pond in Central Park, Dec. 21, 2016

On the Christmas front, I posted a short version of the Christmas story told in art at the Cloisters on Facebook, but a longer one on YouTube. I hope you enjoy it!

Another photo of the green-winged teal, our dear Woody!, the little pintail duck (now called Pinny), and some foliage visible from Gapstow Bridge. Look for some of these characters to appear in the Christmas in New York Central Park video!

Young red-tailed hawk near the Boathouse, Central Park, Dec. 21, 2016

Quack! Squawk! Another Christmas Saga in the Archives

A Very Crazy Christmas

Purple Monster's Chronicler has added Book 13 of the PM Saga to the archives. This is a favorite of your Chronicler's, especially since poor Rudy thinks he's a mallard!

In this exciting episode, malevolent SEGWACian microwaves cause the character traits the Christmas Characters work hardest to suppress to become dominant.

More exciting sagas to be added soon! You can read what's available any time at on the PM Sagas page.

Addicted to Christmas

Your Daily Christmas Videos!

I am putting up daily Christmas in New York videos on Facebook, on my personal page (you can follow me) or the Purple Monster page (in Facebook, search for @NorthPoleAmbassador, then like the page, and you'll get the daily videos in your feed). 

The stars of changing colors in the Time Warner Center, from Christmas in New York, Video No. 2

After Christmas Day, I will combine the videos into a Christmas in New York series (you can check out what I did last year on my Christmas 2015 page). So far, I've posted three videos: Bernardaud (a porcelain store at East 59th and Park Avenue), the Time Warner Center atrium stars with their changing colors, and the windows at Bloomingdale's. Lots more to come!

Sparkle, one of the Light (Chandeliers) windows at Bloomingdale's, Christmas in New York, Video No. 3

Coming soon: The Barneys windows, and the New York Public Library lions. Plus Bryant Park, the windows at Lord & Taylor, and many, many more! And don't worry, there will be a Central Park video!

One of the Barneys windows, featuring the Love Boat, coming soon!

A New York Public Library lion, decked out in holiday style, coming soon!

Two of my favorite videos from last year were the Central Park entry (in which Woody Wood Duck, Prince of the Pond, writes a letter to Santa) and the Metropolitan Museum Christmas story (the holiday tree and creche, plus annunciation, nativity and Madonna and Child paintings and sculptures). Check them out here: