off the map
Central Park is easy to love. It draws residents and tourists in with its vast green lawns, overgrown trees, pools of water and reliable people watching. But sometimes, it gathers too many people, and the city’s peaceful hideaway starts to feel like a spring break frat party.
If it’s solitude you seek, walk five blocks west to Riverside Park, which stretches like a long, green tendril along Manhattan’s west side. It kisses the docks of the Hudson River, and it hosts local soccer and rugby leagues. Whereas in Central Park, you’re likely to hear several languages and the click of camera shutters, Riverside Park feels like a neighborhood hangout. Locals and savvy tourists only.
I took a walk there recently, and was struck by the beauty of spring unfolding. It’s pathways are long and wind through tunnels below the Henry Hudson Parkway. This arch, near 79th Street and Riverside Drive, is particularly enchanting.
Peering at springtime through a tunnel….
And on the other side….
Spy Springtime Through a Tunnel April 28, 2010
Bag it Up August 19, 2009
wander gear
At long last: The perfect daytime bag.
When I lived in Phoenix, I drove a four-door sedan that functioned as a walk-in closet on wheels. It could carry magazines, newspapers, books, a change of clothes and shoes for the gym, water bottles and a variety of snacks worthy of a top-notch vending machine. Once, while working as a breaking news reporter, I assembled a formal outfit from the contents of my trunk to interview Dick Gephardt at a swanky fundraiser.
Of course, one thing my car didn’t often have room for was passengers. But the trade-off seemed worth it.
In NYC – and any city where public transportation is king — cars are replaced by big bags. When I moved here this winter, I began a mad search for something that could replace my car-closet, or at the very least handle the weight of a Harry Potter tome.
At a craft fair I discovered Yukiko Sato, a line of purses made by a Japanese designer in Long Island City. These totes are as stylish as they are reliable. Many of the bags are lined with colorful kimono fabrics (the designer also offers kimono fittings). A drawstring keeps pickpockets at bay, and the materials are fire- and water-proof. Mine has survived many a rain and snow storm. Luckily, I haven’t had a chance to test the fireproofing.
The most ingenious part of Yukiko Sato’s line is that it includes “inserts” that hold all your stuff and can be transferred from one bag to another.
Plus, the website lists five reasons to buy the product, including: ”Be Smart Lady!” and “Learn Sophisticated Japanese Way of Organizing Skill.” It is hard to argue with this.
A couple things can be improved upon, like sturdier straps and drawstrings. While sizes vary, mine is big enough to carry an entire evening ensemble – and maybe even Dick Gephardt himself.
Watch ‘Sex’ in the Park August 18, 2009
One of many great things about summer in New York is art in the parks. You can find dancers in Prospect Park, classic films in Bryant Park, and this week, modern movies in Central Park.
Tonight, reels start rolling at the Central Park Film Festival and the first movie up is Sex and the City. I’ve already seen it, but who can resist the chance to watch an homage to NYC on an outdoor screen in the heart of Manhattan? The only thing better would be Annie Hall (note to organizers).
Bloomberg L.P. is sponsoring a movie every night this week, 8 p.m. at Rumsey Playfield near Fifth Avenue and 69th Street. The gates open at 6 p.m. so you can stake out the perfect picnic spot. Pack a dinner, bring a blanket and the rest is free.
Today’s the last day to vote on the viewer’s choice movie, which organizers will show on Saturday. The options aren’t spectacular, but I’m pulling for Desperately Seeking Susan starring Madonna, or the James Bond classic Goldfinger.
Other films showing this week are:
Wednesday, August 19: Shaft (1971), 100 minutes
Thursday, August 20: Ocean’s 11 (2001), 116 minutes
Friday, August 21: Twilight (2008), 122 minutes
Saturday, August 22: it’s up to you!
Plant a Windowsill Garden July 27, 2009
One thing missing from my life since relocating to Manhattan is foliage. Yes, Central Park is nearby and there’s a hearty tree outside my apartment. But I have no plants to call my own, to nurture, neglect, over-water, kill, resuscitate.
But a trip to the Columbus Avenue farmers’ market at 77th Street this weekend garnered some seeds of inspiration. The market, which sported hot apple cider and a tortured pile of fingerling potatoes in winter, is bursting to life this summer. New stands are overflowing with seasonal plums, berries, tomatoes, sunflowers, lilies and herbs.
One vendor sells 14 types of basil. (Fourteen!) Lemon, cinnamon, Christmas and thai basil … you can pick up one-fourth of all known varieties right here on a lazy Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at $2 a pop.
I want to adopt a few of these plants, but where to grow them? I’ve been collecting ideas for a windowsill garden, and so far, these are my favorites:
Apartment Therapy, a go-to source for decorating small spaces, featured a vintage take on windowsill plants. The gardener punched drainage holes in the bottom of old tea canisters for a shabby chic look.
Better Homes and Gardens suggests cutting plants like angelwood begonias, gardenias and Swedish ivy, and rooting them in water. You could collect an assortment of glass vases from antique shops and flea markets to create this chic look.
And IKEA, a reliable standby for such dilemmas, stocks cute pots and planters (as well as exotic plants). These simple, modern planters would dangle nicely in front of a window.
After I figure out the vessel, I plan to consult these tips for keeping an indoor herb garden alive. Afterall, my green thumb is a little rusty.
Watch Fireworks on the Hudson July 7, 2009
One of six barges prepares to launch fireworks over the Hudson.
After weeks of rain, the sky cleared up. Six barges floated imperceptably along the Hudson River, preparing for the country’s biggest pyrotechnic spectacle. I sat perched on the rooftop basketball court of my husband’s office building. A small group of coworkers brought red, white and blue cupcakes.
Four hundred years ago, Henry Hudson sailed down this river.
And 233 years ago the U.S. was born.
These tributaries of time and place created one of my favorite New York moments: watching the Macy’s fireworks show with a group of journalists perched high above the city. Check out the videos below.
The show typically is held over the East River, although this year it graced the Hudson to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson‘s voyage. Although Macy’s ad credits him with the river’s “discovery,” that distinction went to Giovanni da Verrazano in 1524.
Henry Hudson
But Henry led a fascinating life that led him to explore the river west of Manhattan. He helped establish Dutch settlements and fur trading along the banks by sailing through on September 11, 1609.
Years later, on another expedition, his crew endured a rough winter and wanted to head home. When Henry insisted on continuing the mission, the crew mutinied and sent him, his son, and several sick men off to sea in an open boat. He was never seen again.
New York fireworks are reputedly grand even without an extra reason to celebrate. While next year’s show might return to the east side, this suggestion holds: avoid the street crowds, find a rooftop with a view and bring cupcakes.
