July 4th

“Life has taught me that one’s most precious asset is the spirit of ‘independence at all costs’…The constant disposition to risk all in the interest of a conviction.”

                                                                             Charles James

What to do on a rainy 4^th of July in New York City?  Why, go to the  MET, of course!  I wasn’t alone, but somehow there I can easily “ignore” the crowds, and zone into what I want to see.  On this day, I particularly was interested in the Charles James: Beyond Fashion exhibit.  Oh, it was awesome!  As much as his gowns blew away, I was almost as impressed by his words.  For instance: “Nothing restores a woman’s confidence as much as producing something which makes her look her best.”  And “My dresses help women discover  figures they didn’t know they had.”  I then treated myself to a snack at the Balcony Bar and read about a small Goya exhibit turned out be very enjoyable.  When I left the MET, the rain had stopped and the sun was out!

Which boded well for a small 4^th of July party on a dear Sojourn Friend’s Rooftop.  Rooftops in NYC are a much loved treat, and bonus, of city living.  We didn’t have perfect views down to the Brooklyn Bridge (where the Macy’s firework display was set off from), but that was okay.  We had amazing East/West South views and saw firework displays along the horizon from the Bronx, through Queens, down to Brooklyn.  (One of the few times I wished I had a fancy camera.)  A really fun night with great new friends.

Went back to my new favorite roof deck to bask in the warmth and sunshine for a bit the next day, and then meandered over to Carl Schurz Park on the East River to read for a few hours.  It is amazing to me how People in this city use the parks as beaches.  Bathing suits proliferated on the bodies young and old throughout the park.  As my Girls and I decided later, we need some body of water to dunk in if we’re sun-bathing.

My Sojourn

Later meant that I met my Ladies in Brooklyn for dinner, as Katie had come to play with Kristi for the weekend.  We had a thoroughly good time, and dinner, at The Backyard in Park Slope where one of Kris’ best friends is the manager.  On the way home I popped in to Sojourn to have a night-cap and stayed until the wee hours having lovely discussions with my Friends there.  Sometimes, I feel like Sojourn is my extended living room.  I can’t entertain like I used to, well perhaps one or two people at a time, so Sojourn will suffice! 

After a luxuriously lazy day, by late afternoon I grabbed my beach chair and reading materials, and walked up to my Central Park to wait in line for Shakespeare in the Park’s “Much Ado About Nothing.”  The line was long, but it was a perfect summer day (I am so loving our summer, such a blessing after the brutality of the winter.)  I bought a lovely picnic (cheese plate, split of Proscecco, and a chocolate cupcake!) from the concessions at the Delacorte Theatre.  I happily settled into my chair enjoying my New Yorker, my treats, and the company of fellow line dwellers.  We were wonderfully entertained by a duo of violinists, then further along the line, a sax player.  Perfect.  The extra icing on the cake was scoring a ticket!  The production was excellent with Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe (Jill Clayburgh’s daughter) leading a wonderful cast.  So truly glad I did it, especially as it was the final evening of this play. 

Much Ado About Nothing Set

 

My serenader!

(Earlier in the week, on the suggestion of one of my mentors from my Greeter Guide training for the Central Park Conservancy, I went to the Park in early afternoon to try and get a ticket.  I was not lucky.  But, one of the things I had vowed to do, and not done much of yet, was to start eating form the myriad food trucks around the city.  A Belgian waffle  truck sits just outside the Delacorte by the Great Lawn.  I owed it to myself.  The great young Lad who made my waffle serenaded me as he prepared!  Terrific thunder storms set in that night, so I didn't go back.)

Belvedere Castle (in the Park)

 Last post I was remiss when mentioning the wine dinners I’ve been to at my Sojourn, I forgot to mention Bob Fyke (Brunello Bob) who lovingly guides us through all the wines.  This is a love and passion, as by day he’s an engineer for ConEd!

  

I am loving my new home town more and more every day.  In the summer many, New Yorkers leave town.  I am loving my Summer in the City.

“There is NO GOING BACK.  Study the past to know why, dream and DO!  There is no short cut to creation.”                                    Charles James

Early Summer.

“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.”–Helen Keller

My Ladies on the Highline

Forgot to mention a lovely Saturday I had recently with my Ladies!  Katie came to play for the weekend.  I’m assuming it was like old home week, literally over in Queens as Kris’ roommate is the “girl next door” literally, from where we lived when it was just the three of us all those many years ago.  We started our play date doing what Ladies do very well, especially in NYC.  Mani-pedis with a 10 minute chair massage.  Perfect.  We then meandered the whole length of the High Line as it was a lovely evening (and miraculously, the Highline was not crowded).  We then jumped into a cab and came back to the East side for an amazing dinner at  Momofuku Noodle Bar.   Special day.

View from Socrates to my neighborhood!

Continued training with my new Boss who can make me giggle, so good for the soul, (Initiate Care) which lead to teaching my first classes!  After much trepidation, I do believe I will enjoy this new career, and be good at it.  As with everything I’m finding in life, I am learning a lot, most of it being “a very good thing.” 

Seen in Socrates Sculpture Park

Rooftop Films also continues to be a big part of my summer; continuing my enjoyment of the cool spaces and places they bring me.  On a perfect early summer Saturday, I found myself exploring Socrates Sculpture Park, after very briefly flyering for an upcoming screening.  The Park is in Queens, directly across the East River from my neighborhood.  Very cool.  I look forward to being back there with Rooftop for some movies.

Coming for the movie?!

Quintessential scene!

Tribeca Film festival did a poll this year asking what was the quintessential NYC movie that New Yorkers should see.  The winner: “When Harry Met Sally!”  Rooftop did the screenings on a Tuesday night in each borough (although due to high winds the Coney Island screening was cancelled).  I worked at the Solar One site, on the East River at 23^rd Street.  What a perfect summer evening!   Having set up chairs for about 250, the crowds spilled onto the sidewalks and street, literally.  People being people, some were “interesting” but most were wonderful and appreciative!  

I found myself back in Queens for the San Antonio Abate Fraternal Society of Castofilippo’s Festival.  A new Friend, through her company Star Music Management, has become the American manager of The Gondoliers of Venice.  Luca Foffano came to the US for the first time representing The Gondoliers and performed at the festival.  He was excellent.  My Philosophy Friend and I had a delightful pasta dinner, and enjoyed the music.  The Festival..well, I felt like I was in the North End of Boston with the many stalls of fried foods, cheap clothing, cheesy carnival games, etc, although the crowds, believe it or not, were smaller than those in the North End.  Actually, as I write, I am transported to the Italian American Festival in Southie  (again, believe it or not), I went to all those years ago when my Ladies were little when I worked in Southie!

Charles R. Dana Center at the Harlem Meers

Fishing rods to be borrowed

Before the Italian Festival, since it was another perfect Sunday, I meandered into my Park (Central) actually going up the northern tip for the first time.  The area of Harlem Meers is truly beautiful.  Each Sunday in the summer there are free Music Concerts.  I thoroughly enjoyed the jazz while I was there, and the people I shared the music with.  Many women were dressed in their Sunday finery from head to toe, something we don’t see much anymore.  I also poked around the Charles R. Dana Discovery Center.  Central Park will never cease to amaze, and enthrall me.  There is a really interesting exhibit on Water at the Dana Center.  A couple of tidbits I picked up: One of my favorite places in the Park (although I have so many now) is Bethesda Fountain, or “Angel of the Waters” to recognize the significance of clean drinking water for the people of NYC.  The Upper Reservoir  (now the Jacquelyn Kennedy Onassis Reservoir and the site of many of my morning walks) at one time used to supply two weeks of water for the city New York (in today’s standards it would have supplies just a few hours of water!), when the Croton River System shutdown for repairs for those weeks.  Back in 1862, the Croton River System (the Croton River is 38 miles north of the city) was considered one of America’s greatest fetes of engineering.  (Especially interesting to me, for as a Bostonian we recently lived through the latest of America’s great Engineering fetes, the infamous “Big Dig”).  The Dana Center has many activities for families, one of which is a catch and release fishing program including the free use of fishing rods with free bate!

Seen while walking, this year 275 species of birds have been seen in the Park!

Also continuing with my training to become a Greeter Guide in Central Park, I have spent afternoons with mentors.  They were lovely days learning lots of interesting history and stories.  For instance, the Chess and Checkers House was built on the Kinderberg (Children’s Hill), and still today it houses games for children to play.  The site near Summerstage behind the Naumberg Bandshell has had a few interesting incarnations.  First there was a Ladies Refreshment Saloon, for the women to watch concerts at the original Bandshell in the late 19^th Century (women and men did not co-mingle then!).   Then it and became the Casino (meaning “little house” in Italian) becoming the Park’s first formal co-ed restaurant.  In the 1920’s it was an elegant Art Deco “speakeasy” for Mayor “Gentleman” Jimmy Walker, his mistress, and the beau monde of NYC.  After that decadence it become Rumsey Ball field to its current life as the setting for Summerstage (many free and paid concerts all summer).  It is truly never a dull moment in my Park!

My Ballerina

Remember my sighting of my lovely Patient on the bus kiosks of NYC in her role with the Boston Ballet?  Well, I got to have coffee with her onc morning when she was in town for the show.  And, that same evening I went to the Ballet with two friends.  It was beautiful.  My Philosophy Friend had never been to a ballet before.  I love introducing special people to wonderful experiences!

At Pride

On a yet another gorgeous warm Sunday, a Sojourn Friend and I decided to go for it the Pride March.  We headed to the epi-center of the Parade, and the beginning of the Gay Right’s Movement, right down to Christopher Street across from Stonewall.  If we had planned for a month, we couldn’t have lucked out better.  We found a viewing position on stairs of a church, in the shade.  We got there exactly as Mayor DiBlasio was walking down the street, followed by the NY Senator, then Governor Cuomo.   I love when the “starts align perfectly”! 

At Poco

 More wine dinners, at Poco in the East Village  and yet another at our Sojourn (which actually turned into a sort of business networking dinner for Initiate Care as well), rounded out my weeks.  As always, I am blessed and grateful.