A new "Banksy" in New York City?

Banksy, New York City, originally uploaded by Gordon Gerard McLean.

A recent "Banksy" has appeared in New York’s Soho using his characteristic rat motif and wearing that most ubiquitous of tourist souvenirs - the classic "I Love NY" t-shirt.

Banksy is a well-known pseudo-anonymous British graffiti artist. He is believed to be a native of Yate, South Gloucestershire, near Bristol and to have been born in 1974, but there is substantial public uncertainty about his identity and personal and biographical details.

His manifesto states, “When I was a kid I used to pray every night for a new bicycle. Then I realised God doesn’t work that way, so I stole
one and prayed for forgiveness”.

Grackles and blackbirds in Canal Street's subway station?

Sculpted Birds, Canal Street Subway Station, New York City, originally uploaded by Gordon Gerard McLean.

If you keep your eyes peeled (and have the requisite curiosity) you'll find 174 sculpted grackles and blackbirds Walter Martin and Pamela Munoz throughout one section of the Canal Street A/C/E subway station.

Adventure and intrigue on the streets of Soho?

Beautiful Stoli Ad, Soho, New York City, originally uploaded by Gordon Gerard McLean.

SPI Group recently unveiled a new outdoor campaign in New York City for its vodka, with a bold pitch that states: "In a world of gold diggers, hustlers and pretenders, Stolichnaya is the only true thing." The effort is meant to modernize the brand, and targets 25- to 34-year-old vodka drinkers.

In a nod to Russia's current club scene, the ads feature intriguing images like a blindfolded woman with luscious red lips, blowing out cigarette smoke that forms the text: "smooth like an alibi." Other ads are accompanied by copy, such as: "who will be your accomplice tonight" and "everybody is somebody's secret."

The campaign is designed to reflect consumers' "desire for adventure and intrigue, and Stoli's role within that desire," Andrey Skurikhin of SPI said in a statement, adding that the goal is to grow Stoli sales in the U.S. over the next five years. At the same time, it speaks to the "'anything goes sensibilities of modern-day Russia" but is meant to promote the brand as "independent of geography," per the company.

Odin on Lafayette Street?

Odin, New York City, originally uploaded by Gordon Gerard McLean.

In a city where retail doors regularly revolve, the duo behind Odin are clearly doing something right. After the success of their East Village shop, in April 2008 Eddy Chai and Paul Birardi opened their second location in Soho.

Odin's new 2,000-square-foot store at 199 Lafayette Street was formerly a Chinese noodle factory; the block is now home to hip retailers like Calypso Home and trendy restaurants like Esquina.

Odin curates and carries a treasure trove of hard to find menswear, accessories and household fragrances. In a city wear the sharper the style and harsher the hospitality the staff at Odin manage to be both leading edge and warmly welcome.

Trash on the streets of NYC?

Trashy Sidewalk, New York City, originally uploaded by Gordon Gerard McLean.

In 2005, the New York City assigned approximately 5,150 trucks each week to collect 54,200 tons of curbside residential refuse and assigned 400 EZ-Pack and Roll-on/Roll-off containerized trucks to collect an additional 7,300 tons. The amount of refuse generated by the 8 million residents of New York City is subject to seasonal variations.

Fire Escapes in NYC?

Fire Escapes, Soho, New York City, originally uploaded by Gordon Gerard McLean.

As building codes became more common in industrialized countries around the turn of the 20th century, fire safety became an important concern for new construction. Building owners were increasingly required to provide adequate escape routes, and at the time, fire escapes seemed the best option available. The invention of these exterior steel staircases is widely credited to Anna Connelly who first registered a patent for a fire escape in the USA in 1887. Not only could they be included in new construction at a low cost but they could be very easily added to existing construction. In many urban centers, all new construction above a certain number of stories was required to have external fire escapes throughout much of the 20th century.

We The Savers?

We The Savers, ING Direct, 42nd Street Subway, New York City, originally uploaded by Gordon Gerard McLean.

"We the Savers" launched on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving and historically a major consumer rush. The aim by launching “We the Savers” on Black Friday was to provide a helpful counterpoint to the spending overkill that mires so many Americans in credit card debt.

According to ING Direct their savings message is particularly important this recent Black Friday since, according to a recent survey, Americans plan to spend the same amount or more on holiday gifts this year, despite current economic challenges. Savings accounts, stocks, and bonds were once popular holiday gifts, but more than half of those surveyed now feel neither comfortable nor able to give these investment-based gifts to friends and family members.