Tuesday, May 3, 2016

City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York.

Like today, yesterday was also quite cool, grey and damp.  Even so, I decided to take a walk over to Central Park, thinking that I would see lots of green.


It was interesting to learn that a little building, adjacent to the subway station, formerly used as a newsstand is now a mini Pain Quotidian take out eatery, complete with tables and seating for its patrons.  Business was quiet yesterday, but I think that it will be picking up as warmer weather returns. 


Perhaps because of the mood of the day (not my mood) I finally remembered to take a photograph of an intriguing sign that has been on the side of this West 72nd Street building for a long time.  It's amusing to see the logo of Sleepy's mattress shop nearby.

Still looking up as I continued on my way to the Park, I took a photo of the tops of some other 72nd Street buildings.  These are very different in character from the newer towers in the neighborhood.  One building has a fence around its rooftop garden.  There are a variety of shops at street level.



Just inside the Park, I was glad to see that some tulips were still in bloom.  I love the softness of the shades of green, with the delicate pink shimmer in the background and those blue flowers in the foreground.


Here is another view of a scene that the cool weather has prolonged.


I was disappointed to find that the wisteria flowers had come and gone.  Perhaps I will still be able to find some wisteria in bloom in another part of the Park.


A few pedicab pedalers were managing to find some patrons.  Warming blankets were available for the passengers.


No flowers on this wisteria vine either, but isn't it lovely anyway?


Azaleas have now begun their spring performance, and looked great in this little nook near a pathway that lots of dog walkers use.


The following photograph shows you this nook is also very close to the Park's edge.  If you did not look up, and did not hear any passing traffic, you could imagine you were in the country on a misty day in May.  I also wanted to take some close up pictures of pretty forget-me-nots, but my camera battery faded.


This short post is intended to let you all have an idea of how quickly the atmosphere of the city can change.

This afternoon I visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art for a members preview of a truly fabulous and thought provoking exhibit.


I took many, many photographs of the beautiful and interesting clothes both old and new that are included in the show.  It's going to take me a while to download my photographs and see which might be worthy of including in my next post.  It's my hope to add that much longer Met post this week.  Clearly retirement has increased my blogging frequency!

As always, thank you for your visits and comments.  It is so interesting to learn what you all think of these city views.



26 comments:

  1. How exciting to have time to walk (something I would love to do) around and look. All the different greens are indeed beautiful.
    I would love to have a cup of coffee at the darling little takeaway.
    So excited to see this interesting exhibit.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. Having this new opportunity to take more walks is surely a welcome luxury. I am hoping to be able to post the exhibit photographs soon. xo

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  2. Such a lovely stroll again, Frances! Thank you for sharing. This take-out eatery is great, even with a green roof! I love the idea of planting on roofs, you must have some in a bit higher areas ;-) but would need a helicopter to make pictures of them. Now the sun is out for May here and the forecast is excellent for the next 10 or so days. Heyho, I want to stop time now and have one year long of only May, please.

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    1. Bayou, I completely agree with you about wishing to slow down time a bit so that we would have longer to appreciate the springtime beauty. xo

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  3. Here the Wisteria is only just coming into bud. Your must be a very early one. I do like the idea of the Daily bread stand, imagine a coffee and a comforting warm roll on a chilly day.

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    1. Funny about the wisteria. Earlier last week I had seen some beautiful wisteria draping over a stone wall. I saw this from a bus window, and thought...oh, I must remember to check out whether the Park wisteria is blooming. Ah well...I imagine I will find some in a shadier spot. xo

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  4. I will be in NYC next month and think I will seek out such an eatery. Perhaps that exhibit will be open to the public as well!

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    1. This is a grand time to visit NYC. Oh yes, the exhibit will definitely still be on at the Met. Don't miss it. Promise to get my blog with the photographs from the exhibit posted soon. xo

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  5. That was a delightful stroll, thank you for taking us blog readers along with you.
    Our Wisteria is still in tight bud, but the weather is now glorious, so in a week or so it will be in flower.
    The food kiosk looks very enticing, I'm sure it will soon be popular.
    I'm anticipating some interesting photos of the exhibition, you should feel lucky you could take them to share on your blog - here the V&A has banned photography AND sketching!!! in their special shows - folk are rightfully outraged.
    C xx

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    1. Interesting to hear about the V&A ban. The Met used to be very strict about no photography/sketching in its big special shows that featured loans from other collections, with the idea that those other sources had not granted permission. However, these Costume Institute shows are now mostly made up of loans from the designers themselves (quite commercial) and the restrictions seem to have been lifted. Also,, so many folks just use their phones for sly photography that the guards can't even stop photography in other major loan shows.

      xo

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    2. Apparently the V&A not concerned about copyright, they think taking photos and particularly sketching, slows the flow of people through the galleries!

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  6. As always Frances, it is so nice to see what's happening in the big city. I am watching the doves on the back porch strut around gleaning tiny bits of food the sparrows spill from the feeders. Nature is most entertaining.

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    1. You are so right, Donna, about nature being entertaining. Do you ever look at my friend Milly's blog Drawing from Nature? She lives in the Lakes District and is one of the folks who got me interested in blogging long ago. xo

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  7. A nice walk with you Frances. Thank you. The wisteria will be coming out here around about the 9th May.

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    1. Rachel, I enjoyed having you along for this green-tinted walk. This sort of weather is continuing for a few more days. I may have to take my umbrella over to the Park to hunt for blooming wisteria! xo

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  8. Another lovely walk around the City. No wisteria here yet but I don't think it will long.

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  9. Still raining here off and on. Hoping to post the Met exhibit photographs here tomorrow. Gina, you would love this show, with its feast of textile techniques over several centuries.
    xo

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  10. A friend of mine just came back from NY and told me how much he loved your city. It was a first time visit, and I believe he is already hooked! I hope to see it one day for myself too. Meanwhile I just enjoy your photo's. Those tulips in Central Park look beautiful!

    Happy weekend ahead Frances.

    Madelief x

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    1. Madelief, I'm so glad that your friend enjoyed his NYC visit. Perhaps he will want to have a look at my blog posts?
      I am sure that you will be able to see those tulips for yourself one day! xo

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  11. Such a lovely walk with you today Frances. You found lots of interesting details for us to see......and such beautiful tulips for us to enjoy. Wishing you a happy weekend.
    Helen xox

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    1. Helen, I entered my reply as a new comment...thinking about the tulip displays! xo

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  12. Helen, the Central Park gardeners have been planting many tulip bulbs massed together in a single color...the dramatic effect is incredible! You'll encounter this white crowd, then a bit along the pathway, there will be bright red, or some beautiful pink and white striped tulips whose petals are yellow on the inside. Amazing! xo

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  13. Frances, I always enjoy your park walks, I get ideas....In fact, that wonderful rustic walkway entwined in wisteria has my head spinning. You really have 2 separate worlds in your city, what with the wondrous Park and the incredible architecture and events that abound. No wonder so many love living there!

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    1. Oh Jeri, I'm so happy to read your comment.
      I'm hoping that you will also enjoy my next post...with the Costume Institute pictures. xo

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  14. My younger daughter and her husband are delighted to find that the unpromising bare branches on the side of their new home have blossomed and revealed themselves as a mature wisteria. Bravo to the Central Park gardeners for those stunning displays. Cx

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    1. Chris, the Central Park gardeners are amazing. I am glad to be at least a minor contributor to the Central Park Conservancy, an organization that helps fund some of the good works. xo

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