A Walk in the Park

While we have a few parks within walking distance, Fort Tryon Park is my favorite. Not only do the massive hills of its grounds pleasantly remind me of happy hikes in Scotland and Colorado, but Fort Tyron is also harbors two hidden NYC gems.

Nestled in its pretty grounds, hides a warm, glowing, little establishment called New Leaf Cafe. While the menu is pricey, the atmosphere is so relaxed, welcoming, and casually sophisticated that I’m looking forward to devoting to it a sliver of my first paycheck. The dinner courses may break the rules of my budget, but I can certainly put aside a bit for a glass or two of mellow wine and a shared plate of luscious calamari.

Just around the bend from New Leaf is a beautiful branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Cloisters. During a walk this weekend, partner and I uncovered this gorgeous museum a half hour before its 6 pm closing. With such little time to explore, we were not charged the $20 admission fee. But the brief sample made me want to go back for more time, regardless of the steep admission. The medieval art was creepy in that deliciously good way; the ancient calm of the place washed over me like a warm bath.

New York, beneath the concrete, skyscrapers, and neon, seems to be a beautiful natural wonder. I’ve not spent any time on the east coast, aside from a few short trips to NYC prior to moving here. I’m looking forward to taking some long weekends to explore this charming coast of my country. If I love the glimpses of the natural world I see in the NYC parks, I can only imagine what the landscape looks like in the state’s rural places – in land unspoiled by concrete, noise, and the careless human activity of the city.

This is a photo of our general neighborhood, taken from atop a hill in the park.

That’s the George Washington Bridge in the distance.

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The Hudson River.

This is the George Washington Bridge at dusk. At night, the bridge is so bright and twinkling (every bit of it is lit up) that it startled me the first time I rounded a city block and saw it up close.

It’s Turkey Lurkey Time!

With love, from Truly.

We had a true Indian summer this Thanksgiving: it was sunny, golden, and warm. We spent the entire day soaking it all up, wooed by our first holiday in NYC.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Turkeys love the people who eat them.

So do pumpkins.

Here comes Ronald, seething through the trees. “Don’t think you can escape me, little America. You think I don’t know you’re gorging yourself on something other than my burgers today? Well now I’m HUGE and I’m going to chase you all the way to the golden arches. I’m going to smash humid burgers and limp fries down your gullet. Eat America, EAT!”

I think this is that Snoop Doggy Dog. He’s one of those gangster rappers.

Welcome to the Jungle.

 

The Spectators

A good portion of the crowd enjoyed the view from Daddy’s Shoulders.

Some enjoyed the view from big Department of Sanitation trucks parked at the edge of Central Park.

Many sat atop the stone boundaries of the park.

Still others brought ladders to perch atop.

A Walk Around Central Park
Once we had our fill of parade and people watching, we took advantage of the beautiful day and wandered around the lungs of Manhattan: Central Park.

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After peeking around the park for a few hours, we found ourselves in the fancy, fancy part of Midtown. While we were seeing about finding some coffee and restrooms, we came across…

The Funniest Window Display I’ve Ever Seen

I call it: Tit Shoe.

This year, I’m thankful to be living in a city where Tit Shoe is embraced and accepted; I like living in a place where the person who made the Tit Shoe display was probably not fired, but praised.

HA!

Seriously, though, this Thanksgiving, I’m going to defer to the advice of comic book author Warren Ellis:

“Give your neighbors an infected blanket this Thursday and then move into their houses after their dead.”

Boo! Not really. Just thought I’d throw in a bit of colonist guilt for balance.

For real this time: a heartfelt Thanksgiving message. I am thankful for my friends and family, scattered as they may be across the globe. I send my love to you all.