New Year's in Manhattan

The temperature started climbing yesterday, and all the great mounds of snow clogging the streets of New York are melting away. It was mild last evening, when we walked out to our usual establishment for drinks. We had a ring-side seat at the bar for watching the festivities on Times Square.

Herewith a lovely image showing what lots of kids were doing in New York the past few days: throwing snowballs. Plus ça change ...

This painting is part of a fresco cycle (pictured below) depicting the monthly activities of peasants and nobles. The cycle dates from about 1400 and was commissioned by Bishop Georg von Liechtenstein for the Castello del Buonconsiglio in Trent, Italy, the bishop's residence. Trent was later, in 1545-46, the home of the Council of Trent, which is considered one of the most important of the Catholic Church's councils. This was the century in which the Church was engaged in condemning Protestant heresies and defining Church teachings. Nothing new there either.

Picture credit: Willyorwonthe