Lady in Red 9

Seen from the top of Clifford's Tower, a York tour bus waits for passengers opposite a popular Chinese restaurant. The Olive Tree, just out of the picture, offers a Mediterranean fusion menu, whilst around the corner on Castlegate, an authentic French dining experience can be enjoyed at Rustique. 

A traction park

Attracting a lot of attention in Morrison's supermarket car park, this beautifully maintained Citroën can also be seen here on the traction owners' website.  It is a 1949 LHD built in Paris, bought by a local owner in 1987, since when it has done over 100,000 miles. 

Having been a doctor's car for 29 years, it was imported to England in 1969, then registered VLM59G, so from the French department of le Nord, of which Lille is the principal town.

Downcomer looking up

Posh rain goods on sunny St Saviourgate.

Outdoor art exhibition 4

This time with a railway link. See earlier posts and York Stories in the sidebar for more information.

Shortest street, longest name

That's Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate, so short that there is a number 11/2, occupied by letting agents. This is another view from the Stonebow upper storey car park, looking down over Colliergate, with the entrance to Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate between the newsagent's and the St Crux parish hall. The latter is now used as a venue for bric-a-bric sales and light lunches in aid of various charities. The street behind the hall is Shambles.

Red clock 2

Same time, same place (Blake Street) as this picture, but now looking away from St Helen's Square. It's not a particularly noteworthy view, but I wonder why the window was bricked up and what the ironwork was used for. 

Windows in England were taxed from 1696 to 1851, which accounts for a lot of older properties having them filled in; perhaps that was the case here, as there is another blocked window just to the right of the photograph. It was in effect an easily administered tax on wealth in the years before the introduction of income tax. 

Music for your mouth 3

El Piano on Grape Lane, this time in morning sun and shade. There is now a refurbished rear terrace ready for the warmer months ahead. See earlier Music for your mouth posts here: Café Concerto and El Piano. 

Hilda of Manila is back, but where is Bob the Bolder? Any news anyone?

Market, Minster and Marks 2

From the same viewing point as yesterday's post, with the camera swung left to take in St Sampson's church tower. The market is just below us. The twin towers are west-facing and the rose window south. St Sampson's is one of the many church buildings no longer used as a place of worship; it houses an over-60s drop-in centre.

Market, Minster and Marks

York Minster and Newgate Market from the third floor of Marks and Spencer. This is one of the views to be had from the new window, but if you want a shot, it has to be taken through the glass. The staff canteen, with the same view, is another floor higher, but there is no access for shoppers or snappers.

No longer turning cartwheels

Minor exhibits from the NRM, the world's biggest museum of its kind. Harry Potter fans will be interested in the February programme.

The second NRM site is at Shildon, County Durham, and there is another small but impressive museum at Head of Steam, North Road Station, Darlington, where  Locomotion No 1 can be seen. It used to be displayed in Darlington's Bank Top Station and is now on long-term loan from the NRM.

Newgate Market, York

A December photograph, worth enlarging.

York Central Methodist 2

From Methodism to the Minster taken from Stonebow upper-level car park.

Outdoor art exhibition 3

Cheery waves from the Hungate hoarding. We know how they feel; we like living in York too. For all of the paintings on one page, go to York Stories, and for a newspaper report, here. A brilliant initiative, methinks. 

Time for tea 2, Bullivant's

Not a terribly well-framed shot, but a reminder of how much York depends on tourism. There are just so many cafés and restaurants of various kinds. This is one on Blake Street is of the more traditional sort, as evidenced by the lace. Below is breakfast in Bordeaux for Jenny Freckles of Saltaire Daily Photo who has just treated us to a virtual coffee.

Red clock 1

A upper storey Blake Street view enhanced by the red timepiece and showing dormers and neo-classical dentellated cornice. 

York Central Methodist 1

Viewed from Stonebow upper-level car park, the recently refurbished frontage of Central Methodist (1840) on St Saviourgate looks quite forbidding on this grey day with no passers-by to liven it up.

Harkers on St Helen's

More neo-classical stonework on St Helen's Square. The red brick building is the central Post Office on Lendal.

Outdoor art exhibition 2

From the hoarding behind the Hungate development offices off Stonebow. 

Drink or dip?

A pub with a Roman bath! See another York blog for pictures of the museum which was created after the discovery of a Roman bath under this establishment on St Sampson's Square, right in the cenre of York.

Mansion House, York

A first look at the 300 year-old official residence of the Lord Mayor of York on St Helen's Square. The linked site is worth a visit.

Grey day, sneak peek

between modern Stonebow pebble-dash and brick to The Dig, a hands-on archeological experience, formerly St Saviour's church. 

Theatre Royal gable

Architectural ornament of the building shown a few days ago. The Theatre Royal has a YouTube channel.

Ghostly grey, rich red

The twin towers of York Minster contrast with the much more recent red brick of what was originally York Dispensary, built 111 years ago. The building is now home to a firm of solicitors.

Christmas Shambles

York's most famous street decorated for the season with the central tower of the Minster in the background.

Theatre Royal 1

First visit to the Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Place, showing the new entrance on the left and the older frontage (1835), on the right. The theatre on this site dates from 1744, but there have been many changes since. 

Outdoor art exhibition 1

The Red Tower, as seen by the artists whose names appear on the edge of this painting, part of the outdoor exhibition decorating the protective hoardings opposite Stonebow. There is no water here now; this is a representation of how it would have looked centuries ago. For a good photograph and some historical notes, follow the link.

Bravo, brave young band!

Brightening up a dull day, five able musicians entertain passers-by with jigs and reels by All Saints, Pavement, where Parliament Street meets High Ousegate. You can just make out the button accordeon held by the chap on the left. I didn't see a name, and I didn't have time to investigate.

Groves grooves 5

On Lowther Street, which runs the full length of the Groves  roughly from west to east, is the little Anglican church of St Thomas with St Maurice.

Bright young thing

A colourful welcome to 2011 from this relative newcomer on Coney Street.