Sunday at the Park

David and I have been taking bike rides on Sundays to see parts of Brooklyn not easily accessible by foot and obviously not visible from the subway.  On one such trip we rode to Prospect Park.  It is located in the center of Brooklyn.

  On the way to the park, we passed the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  Beautiful picture, yes? Thanks David! It seems these old cranes are no longer in use. According to our roommate, the ports in our area have become obsolete as newer, more accessible ports have opened in New Jersey.  Look at those old cranes! They seem like dinosaurs compared to some of the new ones you see in most port cities.

   

Here is the sign that states the Navy Yard's current state of affairs.

The main entrance to Prospect Park is located within Grand Army Plaza where the intersecting streets come together in what we call a round-a-bout in Nebraska, and what David calls a rotary. The space creates a type of plaza with many different architectural landmarks.

This photo is of The Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch or the Triumphal Arch which is a memorial to the Defenders of the Union, 1861-1865, located along the Plaza.

View looking up

Also located along the Plaza, across from the Triumphal Arch, is the main branch of the Brooklyn Library.  We didn't go in, but I did get a library card at the Greenpoint branch in our neighborhood where the majority of the titles are in Polish. I imagine the titles I will be reading will most likely come from this branch.

Throughout the park there are bridges which work within the overall aesthetic of the park.  When we entered, we came upon one such bridge.

The underside of this bridge has a wood finish which is in phenomenal shape. There are also two wooden benches which run the length of each side. The ground is dirt, not cement, stone or brick, but a dusty dirt path under a wood lined bridge. The vision and creation of the park came from the landscape designer Fredrick Law Olmsted in the mid nineteenth century. He designed both Prospect and Central Park as well as the neighborhood in which David grew up.

The park was bustling with people playing softball, picnicking, jogging, walking, visiting or just relaxing in the Long Meadow.

A couple reading the paper

One thing about Prospect park we really enjoyed was the wandering, meandering trails.  Olmsted wanted visitors to experience a sense of perpetual discovery. At every turn you find a fork in the road which presents a decision, which way to go? 

There were some gentleman smoking a "cigarette" under this easement, just hanging out man, enjoying their Sunday

We aren't sure what is going on here, but they have blue faces and interesting clothing...

This bridge is to soon be under renovation. David and I overheard a woman telling her friend that this area of the park was closed down for a time due to a rat infestation in this bridge. But isn't it just astonishing?

We came upon this area of the park late in the day, on our next visit, I intend to bring a book and a blanket and enjoy this quiet area. Again with the meandering paths Mr. Olmsted. I tip my hat to you, dear sir.

The Long Meadow

 As we walked the brick and dirt paths, wandering in and out of shadows, looking at trees and waterfalls, sitting on the benches that were created over 150 years ago, I think of the people who came before me. Those people who set eyes on these same views, what was their life like? What brought them to this city? The park is loaded with history, with other peoples memories. I wish I could know just a few of those stories, but really, I am happy just to be writing my own.  

A day out and about

David and I decided to get a year pass to to the MOMA: Museum Of Modern Art for 75$. It will save us quite a bit of money as general admission for adults is 25$ a day. It has its perks as well, as a member, you are aloud up to 5 guests for only 5$ extra, per guest. Also, it allows you to view new exhibits before they are open to the public.  Very cosmopolitan, yes?


Last week we went to see the Wilhelm DeKooning retrospective.  It was such an unearthing experience for me.  I thought I knew DeKooning's works.  But to see his works as a whole was very emotional.  We are very fortunate to be able to experience such great art with such convenience.

DeKooning in his studio.

You are not allowed to take photos inside the show, two were on display just outside the galleries.

After leaving the MOMA, we decided to walk around midtown Manhattan.  We were looking for an inexpensive place to eat and came across a little gem of a restaurant "The Primeburger". 

Of course, neither of us took a photo, I tried to post one from online and it wouldn't let me.  google "Primeburger New York" to see photos, really great!

It has been open since 1938 and has not been remodeled since the 1960's.  We had the BEST cheeseburger I have had in a very long time, and that is saying something coming from Nebraska.This diner had the best service, the best looking homemade pie (we didn't have a slice, but will next time we go) and a very inexpensive tab as well.

After lunch, we walked to the Rockefeller center to see the sights.

After a terribly (dramatization) tiring day (whoa is me) out and about we decided to head home when we came across the open doors to the St. Patrick's Cathedral. I come from a Catholic background, and I love the history of old churches. Again, a very emotional experience.  It was so serene inside.  We did a quick tour of the church and took a few photos. 

Every day offers a new experience rooting within me feelings for this city. I am finding a small piece in my heart for New York that has only come about by experiencing the day to day. 

The good, the bad, the big apple

I imagine most of my posts on this blog will be about the beauty of a city we are so lucky to have the opportunity to spend time in. And as we all know, beauty can be found in strangeness too.   I plan to share our experiences in all their glory and that includes showing all facets of the city, ones that may not be portrayed as often as others. Its not good or bad, It just is, it's New York City.

We are living in one of five boroughs of one of the largest cities in the world. Brooklyn's population alone is the same as the entire state of Nebraska. New York City could be seen as an eco system within itself.  There are people everywhere, which in turn means, there are just as many creatures living with or around roughly, 20 million people. As we are getting to know the city, we are really getting to know the city!  Yin Yang, everything is interconnected.

I actually saw a rat scamper into a trash area one of the first nights we were here, I felt a surge of excitement thinking, ahh, we have arrived! I did not call 311 to receive a ticket number.  Maybe next time.

David and I have named this guy the "green street pigeon".  He has unique markings and we see him everyday when we are out and about.  He sleeps on the grate outside of the laundry mat on the corner of our block. It is fenced in so he is safe and the dryer exhaust comes up from through the grate. He curls up and tucks his beak under one wing.

This guy was hanging out in the subway, he was not ashamed or afraid.  He did not try and run away or hide.  He stood his ground and was roughly guessing, 4 to 5 inches in length. With that size, why would he need to run? I  diverted my path a bit and gave him room. His antennae were as long as a cats whiskers, seriously. David said it was the largest roach he had ever seen.  Even after spending part of my childhood in Louisiana were roaches are huge and oh yes, they fly, I must agree with David on this one.

You can see advertisements for any and all imaginable bed bug products plastered all over the city.  This one is especially eye catching due to the lovely grafiti in a matching yellow.

There are lots of dogs in the city but not many grassy knolls for them go potty.  It is quite comical to see dogs poo'ing on the sidewalk or lifting a leg to pee on a scooter parked on the side of the street.  And yes, I photographed dog poo.

David read on a fishing website that people catch large fish from the east river quite often.  I guess you just shouldn't eat them if you are pregnant, want to have children, are a child yourself. But seriously, no one should eat fish caught in the east river.

This was just too funny not to photograph, or sad.  We weren't sure which. Okay, its kind of funny, I mean, no one would really dump a baby in a dumpster, thats unheard of right? Okay, maybe it is sad.

I was really looking forward to creating this post, I've always found the peculiar of great interest.  I am intrigued  by the oddities of life and I find beauty in things that others may not.   

a little trip to the grocery store

Saturday evening David and I stepped out for a quick trip to the grocery store.  We decided to take the "long way" and walk down by the water.  Greenpoint is on the northwest edge of Brooklyn, bordered on the west by the East river.  We are 3 blocks from the river and thus, 3 blocks or so from the Greenpoint pier.

There is a ferry service, the East River Ferry, which makes a stop at the Greenpoint pier.  A ticket costs $4 for a one way trip, so on a whim, David and I bought tickets and went for a ride.  It is a 2 story transport boat, with an open viewing deck on top.

Of course, since we were just on a quick trip to the grocery, I didn't have my camera.  I will never leave the house again without my camera, no matter how quick I think the trip may be.

We whirred off on the boat, heading south toward Williamsburg and lower Manhattan.  It was a beautiful clear afternoon. I was brushing the windblown hair out of my face and tucking my skirt between my legs so as to not give everyone a "show", when I looked up and saw the Statue of Liberty for the first time! Not only that, but it was framed underneath the Brooklyn bridge.  What a sight for this Midwestern girl.

As we didn't have a destination, we rode to the last stop, which was "Pier 11/Wall Street". We were on Wall Street, in lower Manhattan. What a sight. The buildings are so tall and close to one another. Old and new, right next to each other. It felt like Europe right here in America. We only had an hour before the last ferry left for the night, so we looked a bit, and headed back to the pier.

Once back on the ferry, heading north towards home, the sun was setting, it was almost dark. I looked back at the skyline.  It was aglow and unexpectedly we caught sight of the "Tribute in Light"which is an art installation of 88 searchlights placed at ground zero, representing the loss that occurred at the world trade center on 9/11. 

What an amazing time to be in New York, to be a very small part of something so huge. And what an unexpected experience: to go for an impromptu ferry ride and witness something so spectacular.

We went back to the pier last night, Sunday 9/11, to take some photos. You can see the skyline from the Greenpoint pier, but it was cloudy and the view didn't compare to what we experienced the night before.

"Tribute in Light" on a cloudy night, taken by David.  9/11/2011

The Empire State building in Red, White, and Blue.

This image, from the internets, is the closest I can find to what we visually experienced that night.

 obit-mag.org.

It is hard to express, or even comprehend within myself, feelings for those who lost their lives on 9/11, those who are still fighting for our country. But I will say, what a glorious country we live in. I am proud and humbled to be apart of it.

 Craig and Theresa:  David and I spoke about how much you both would appreciate this.

Pictures of our home away from home and neighborhood

I am not sure how great I am going to be at blogging, we have experienced so much in our first week in New York, it has been just amazing! There is so much to say! I will post some pictures to appease the pressure I have built about blogging and will post more soon!

This is The view of Davids studio, it isn't as neat now, he has gotten to work!

The "living room" 

The "bedroom" we have no windows, but a skylight, which lights the entire space during the day.

We have a pool table!  Our roomate, Rick works as a carpenter for the NY stock exchange, he is a very nice guy, although we don't see him much.

The Kitchen, the door to the bath is on the right of this photo.  Has the same great tile.

Another shot of the living room.  Those are old cast iron lanterns with stained glass that hang above the table.  (And a great chase lounger toward the back wall)

The front door.  Our address is 97 Green St...

We live on the second floor, underneath us is a factory, it is a packaging company.

This is the street view directly out the front door, facing west.

According to Rick, 10 years ago, the neighborhood was all locals.  He said everyone knew each other and were aware when someone new moved into the neighborhood.  It is slowing becoming more gentrified, these are the new condos directly across the street from us, they have a pool which can be seen when walking down the street.  Fancy.

Manhattan Avenue is one of the main streets in Greenpoint.  We live just off Manhattan.  

Greenpoint is a Polish neighborhood, full of polish bakeries and

meat markets!

I really wish I was more in touch with my polish roots, aka, wish I spoke the language.  There are so many polish businesses, a grocery store and bakery in which you hear the staff all speaking polish to each other.  There are polish laundry mats, a polish credit union, and a large polish catholic church which can be seen in the distance of one of the photos above.  It makes me feel at home just knowing that my mother and aunts would just LOVE it.