City Views, Country Dreams

Good morning from New York.

Many years ago, I lived downtown in a neighborhood that became known as SoHo, an abbreviation of South of Houston Street.  At that time it was not really a residential neighborhood.  Most of us who lived there were artists who had commercial leases with the quiet collaboration of our landlords, who were happy to fill large, primitive, spaces in their buildings formerly used by light industrial businesses.  Many of these businesses were textile-related.

The facades of many of these buildings were decorated with cast iron.  Most of these buildings were not in great shape and were cold in winter.

The picture below shows a current view of where I once lived.  The building is now painted off white.  It was not painted when I lived there on the fourth floor (third floor to some readers.)  I think the fire escape was a rusty green.

I reluctantly left my loft in the early 1980's because I could no longer afford to live there, and  had not had an official lease for some time.  By the time I left, the term Loft had attained glamour and SoHo was awash with galleries, restaurants and small unique shops.

Since then, the neighborhood's galleries and most artists have moved on.  Big commercial interests (Chanel, Prada, Tiffany, etc.) have arrived.  The primitive old lofts have been vastly  improved and house millionaires.  Tourists still seem intrigued by quaintness we old timers no longer see.

I now work in a SoHo shop, and had an interesting experience last Sunday.  An older gentleman entered the shop and, as is our way, we greeted him and his companion, and let it be known we were there to assist.  

The gentleman and his companion walked around for a while and then seemed ready to depart, and so I inquired if I could help him find what he was looking for.  He smiled and replied no, because it wasn't there anymore.  This intrigued me and so I said that we often here that phrase...what was it that he sought?

And so, he told me.  Years ago, he'd made a movie in the neighborhood and was trying to find the location he'd used.  He said the film was An Unmarried Woman.  Well!  Of course, I remembered the film very well, and was able to tell this gentleman that the film was made on Greene Street where I had lived.  This gentleman was Paul Mazursky, the writer and director of that wonderful movie.  It was such a pleasure to meet him, and to be able to direct him to the street where I'd lived.

If any of you have seen the film, perhaps you will remember that last scene of the unmarried woman trying to carry a very large canvas down a street?  If you've not seen the film, I would recommend it!

Now, I will wrench myself from nostalgic indulgence and show you what's happening in Central Park these autumn days.

By the Lake, there are some late flowering plants and shrubs, and the weather is still warm enough for rowboats and ducks to share the water.

Alas, the next photo is not clear enough to provide evidence of two fast-moving little hummingbirds who were feasting yesterday afternoon.  I do not believe that I had ever before seen a hummingbird!

I continued my walk by the lake, and somehow did not take lake photos.  Instead, I will treat you to some of the decorative sculptures along the grand staircase that leads to the Bethesda Fountain area.

You can see how intricate these nature inspired sculptural friezes are.

I think that they are quite beautiful.

Heading just a bit south of the Bethesda area, I came upon the old Band Shell plaza area, that has many benches and quite a few large, decorative planters.  Pleased do not be fooled by the  next photo.  That gorgeous leafy tree is not, repeat not, growing from the planter.

As you look at the next picture, imagine that you can hear the bossa nova saxophone music played by the gentleman  just to the right of the lamp post on the left.  You can also imagine having ice cream or a hot dog or other snacks purchased from the vendors to the right.

Here is a reminder that Central Park really is in the middle of  Manhattan.

It's always interesting to see what improvements are underway around the Park.  Although I saw no workers yesterday, someone has definitely been doing a fine job in making an attractive amendment to an existing pathway 

The project is not yet complete.

These stones look very heavy.  Would any of you all like to volunteer to finish the project?

As always, there are quiet places in crowded New York, where a couple might enjoy a sweet romantic moment.  This boulder makes a sweet spot.

The shadows were beginning to grow, as they do earlier each afternoon, and so I began walking home.  I passed by another little grove featuring a wonderful mix of plants.  I do not know what this pale pink berry might be.

I thought it interesting that now that summer has departed, we again get a glimpse of golden yellow flowers.  It does not seem so long ago that the daffodils charmed us with their colors.

I hope that you all are also enjoying these late September days.  They have much to offer!