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
Hike That Boulder Beer Label July 22, 2009
On a recent trip to Boulder, Chris and I set out to do something completely new: climb a mountain pictured on a beer bottle. Because, why not?
Such an adventure is befitting a state like Colorado. You might taste beer at the Guinness factory in Dublin or buy a keg at the Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam. But in Boulder, you climb the freaking mountain. That’s how these high-elevation folks roll.
The iconic Flatirons, a symbol of Boulder Beer and other area businesses, is a popular destination for rock climbers and hikers. The striking formations are said to resemble the metal irons that pioneers used to press clothes. Out of five irons, at least one has been a popular site for University of Colorado graffiti over the decades.
There are enough trails that inexperienced climbers (like me) can find a challenging but do-able path. We hiked up high enough to get a gorgeous view of the city and watch a few rock climbers at work.
The view from below is just as lovely. In spring and summer, the outlying park is so green and lush with wildflowers and dandelions, it’s worth a visit even if you don’t hike.
Then go home and crack open a cold one because, seriously, you earned it.
Click here for maps, closures, picnics and dog policies. And click here for a live webcam of the Flatirons.
Gear Up for Picnic Season June 17, 2009
Before moving to New York, I did not picnic. Imagine spreading a blanket in the desert, with a saguaro for shade and scorpions for companions, and you’ll understand why.
But these days, I regularly find reasons to pack a Frisbee, cheese wedge and New Yorker magazine (and, let’s be honest, Us Weekly) for a lazy day. The biggest reasons being Central Park, Riverside Park and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park.
This new pastime requires new gear. My husband spent hours researching the best picnic blanket. And since he doesn’t do anything halfway, our Mega Mat arrived today.
It’s huge, padded, 100 percent waterproof and folds into a handy bag. I appreciate that it’s ready for the park or beach, with a hidden storage pocket for valuables.
And while I like the idea of a wicker picnic basket, this practical tote from Target (below) is serving us well. It’s one of my favorite wedding gifts:
If you’re in the market for picnic gear, here are a few more ideas worthy of a lazy summer day:
Botanica Blanket Tote
Island Bowling Set
Gingam Del Mar Wine and Cheese Pack
Picnic, the play
Walk in the Park Tags and Notebooks
Get Your Money’s Worth in Central Park June 16, 2009
As Manhattan’s weather warms up, I’m realizing the advantage of living one block from Central Park. In winter it was an icy tangle of trees with no activity. Now it’s the center of city life.
Because I like surprises and saving money, strolling through the park can be the most fruitful way to spend an afternoon. Say you accompanied me last Sunday, your adventure would look like this:
1:30 p.m.
Buy an Americano and toasted chicken chipotle wrap at New World Coffee.
1:40
Pass classically trained cellist as you enter the park at 79th Street and Central Park West.
1:45
Check out what’s playing at Shakespeare in the Park. Twelfth Night, featuring Anne Hathaway, is sold out today. Plan to go another time.
1:49
Find an outcropping of smooth rocks beneath a canopy of trees near the Great Lawn. Flat-backed, study the clouds. Listen to banjo player pick away on a nearby bench. Observe old gentleman pick a bag of edible grass in a field beside you.
2:20
Notice the roar of a crowd. Investigate.
2:30
Near the Met, get swept up in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade. Admire flag-waving patriots dressed in red, white and blue.
2:33
Though you are Dutch, imagine you are Puerto Rican. Drink the fervor. Push your way through crowds and dance to Latin music. Chant any Spanish phrase you know, even if it’s “Donde esta el bano!”
2:40
Calm down. Ask a mounted park ranger to open the barricade. Exit parade.
2:45
Take the 72nd Street path west and find tap dancers doing time steps on sheets of wood. Old school. Gene Kelly style. Give them a dollar and say “you’ve got talent!”
2:50
Stop at Bethesda Terrace to watch “Lenny Hoops,” who plays loud music and teaches kids to hula hoop. Marvel at the 2-year-old drummer in Lenny’s house band. Walk on. You only brought one dollar today.
2:55
Happen upon a New Orleans-style zydeco band and remember your last visit to the French Quarter. Note the man with the miniature trumpet; the skinny white guy who could sing a Zatarain’s commercial; the park employees congregating, quietly applauding.
3:12
Arrive home. Don’t mind the small square-footage so much. Thank the gods for location. For summer.
In the stream of Puerto Rican Day Paraders.
Tap dancers earn their tips.
Lenny Hoops shows you how it's done.
Future Larry Mullen Jr.
New Orleans-style jazz.
Meet Fleet Week May 21, 2009
I might have believed Fleet Week was a myth conjured by writers of Sex and the City, another excuse for Samantha to have a rendezvous or two.
Then today, I noticed that every other man walking down 10th Avenue wore Navy whites. I asked my dinner companion what it was about. “I’ve heard of something called Fleet Week,” she said, then admitted she saw the ”sailor” episode. (It comforts me to know New Yorkers’ knowledge of their city rests as heavily on SATC as mine does.)
The official Parade of Ships sailed through the Hudson River yesterday, docking for New York’s 26th annual Fleet Week. It’s a time for sailors to have a little fun exploring the city, and for residents to learn about the naval forces.
Any sailor would adore Miss Turnstiles.
The idea of sailors in the Big Apple predates Fleet Week. If you’re a musical buff, you’ll remember the 1949 film On The Town, inspired by the musical about three sailors who make the most of a 24-hour leave in the city. Gene Kelly’s character falls for “Miss Turnstiles of the Month,” and as a kid I longed to be queen of the subways. Not so much anymore.
The sailors are in town until Wednesday, and judging by the calendar of events it will be a great week for free entertainment. Here are a few highlights I’m interested in checking out:
Friday-Tuesday, 8 am-5 pm
Free Tours of Navy & Coast Guard Ships
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway, Manhattan
Saturday, 7:30-9 am
Tug Of War – USN vs. USMC on the NBC Today Show
Where: Rockefeller Plaza, 49th Street, 5th/6th Avenues
Sailors on their way to the ballet at Lincoln Center Thursday, May 21, 2009.
Saturday, 5-8 pm
USMC Band Performances
Where: Central Park Band Shell
Monday, 1-2 pm
Manhattan Memorial Day Parade
Where: Broadway/Dyckman streets
For a full schedule of events, check here. For Daily News coverage, here.
