Governor's Island Ferry Terminal Art

I love how this art installation by Lawrence Weiner stands against the Brooklyn Skyline on the ferry fender rack at the Governor's Island ferry terminal.

Ice Cream at Dylan's Candy Bar

We were out and about all over the city this past Labor Day weekend.  Patrick was out of town so it was just Fiona and I adventuring about.  We spent part of Friday visiting some home deco stores around the 59th Street and Lexington area.  Since we were indulging my whims, I figured Fiona deserved a break so I treated her to an ice cream at Dylan's Candy Bar.

It was our first time there and she was enraptured by the colors and the kids.  And boy did she savor that ice cream, barely letting me get a bite in.  She had a dairy sensitivity until about a month ago so she has only had ice cream a handful of times.  It is such a riot watching her eat it.  Her eyes roll back in her head a little and she pretty much looks like she has just tasted a little bit of heaven.  Welcome to your lifelong love affair with ice cream kiddo.

We walked back to the West side through Central Park and enjoyed watching people begin their long weekends relaxing in the beautiful sunny weather...

Governor's Island a/k/a Pig Island

We visited Governor's Island over Labor Day Weekend with some friends for the annual Pig Island Festival, a celebration of pig, sourced from local farms.  The day was perfect for an outdoor festival.  Friends, sun, good food, beer and music in the great outdoors.  It doesn't get much better than that!

Visions of New York City: Broadway, NoHo, Near NYU

The first time I visited New York City in 2000 I completely fell for the look, feel and architecture of the area near NYU north of Houston Street on Broadway, and its surrounding streets.  Until I moved here, whenever I imagined New York, I imagined this neighborhood.  I'm still in love.  Took these pictures last weekend...

Washington Square Park, with the small 'pea'

 

Patrick, Fiona and I were in the village last weekend doing some shopping and we decided to stop in Washington Square Park so Fiona could have some time to run around in between stores.  You don't see any of the major park landmarks in the pictures in this post because we spent most of our time with Fiona in the playground.

One of the many things I love love love about NYC playgrounds is that they all most all have water features that are turned on for hot summer days.  Fiona is fascinated by all the water features in New York City playgrounds and this one was no exception.  It is such a joy to see her play in them.

There were a ton of musicians playing in the park that afternoon, and Fiona danced right along to their music.  There is always so much going on in Washington Square Park but this day seemed exceptional and it was all so right.  I'm trying to really remember this visit to the park, since it could be one of my last before we move from NYC (if we move...)!

In our neighborhood: Buddhist Statue...

A few blocks from our apartment building, between 105th street and 106th street on inner Riverside Drive, there is a statue of the Buddhist teacher Shinran Shonin located at the New York Buddhist Church.   It's always a great surprise to walk by the statue.  It is beautiful in and of itself, but it carries even greater significance because it survived the atomic bomb at Hiroshima, having been 2.5 kilometers away from the center of the attack.  According to the plaque that lies below the statue, it was brought to New York in 1955 'to be a testimonial to the atomic bomb devastation and a symbol of lasting hope for world peace'.

the MoMa (with Babe)

Joan Mitchell, "Wood, Wind, No Tuba", 1980

As part of the New York City Challenge, Fiona and I visited the MoMa last Friday afternoon during Free Fridays from 4-8pm.  I haven't been to the MoMa for a while, and we were going to go earlier in the week and pay full price.  But our previous attempts to visit were thwarted by a sick and tired babe so I decided we would just go during Free Friday.  I was itching to go but with Fiona not feeling great I didn't want to pay full price if she was going to be fussy and we would have to leave after a short time.

Free Fridays at the MoMa, can be, honestly, a complete madhouse.  If you really want to have any time and space to look at the art then Free Fridays are not the time to go to the museum.  But for a quick and free jaunt through the galleries and exhibits, it's not a bad way to go if you can handle the crowds.  

It ended up being the perfect way for us to visit the MoMa this time.  With Fiona strapped in our BabyHawk baby carrier, we visited ever floor.  Fiona was quite the sport during our whirlwind tour and I took a few pictures of a some of the highlights for me this time around.   We ended our tour in the sculpture garden where I let Fiona walk around.  She was pretty much in heaven there.

Interesting exhibit on re-imagining suburban space after the 2008 housing crisis. 

Felix Gonzalez-Torres, "Untitled" (Placebo) 1991

Mark Rothko

Mr. Jackson Pollack of course

Baby Carrier Shot

Sculpture Garden

Discovering dry leaves....

Our Subway Station...

Many years and many subway trips.  The 103rd Street Subway Station (the 1 train)...

Last Weekend, Battery Park City...

Last weekend, Fiona and I attended a daytime farewell party for my friends Maddy and Torah, and their brand new baby August at their apartment in Battery Park City.   They are moving to Arizona from NYC.  (We will miss you guys!!)  

The weather that day was PERFECT and it was fun being so far downtown since I rarely make it down there.  So I decided to take a quick walk in the park after we left before we came up town.  The parks and playgrounds down there are new and stunning and I can see why people with kids end up there.  There are TONS of kids and families down there.  But it was the breathtaking view of the harbor and the Statue of Liberty, along with the sailboats that felled me.  I took these pictures but I don't think it does the scene justice.

There are also stunning views from Battery Park City of the Freedom Tower in progress, which recently surpassed the Empire State Building to be the tallest building in the city.  Woohoo!!  I think it's pretty amazing that since Sept. 11th the tallest building in this city was built in the 1930s!  A testament to the ambition and talent of those that built the Empire State Building, I believe.

And I also took a picture of this pedestrian bridge that connects the lower part of Battery Park City with the rest of downtown.  I think all the angles make this an interesting bridge.

Man, I'm going to miss this place if we have to leave!  

21st Street, Chelsea

We went down to Chelsea yesterday with some friends and I was inspired to take some pics on 21st street.  

This one of the sky between the buildings...

 This one of the same view with the street...

Oh, New York, you really are so photogenic.