City Views, Country Dreams

Good evening from New York.

A brief thunderstorm has just cleared the air of some of the heat and humidity that clung to this city for most of the day.  The cooler air is so welcome.

It is like a late day gift on this day, my birthday.  Long time readers of my posts already know that the eve of my birthday has a history-marking date. 

We New Yorkers cannot possibly ignore the significance of the eleventh of September, yet I do try to let my own personal day be a time for celebration.

Valerie Greeley, the wonderful artist who posts as acornmoon, recently offered a giveaway ... and I was the winner of a gift certificate from Novica.  I selected a beautiful woven cotton shoulder bag from Thailand.  It arrived last week and I am delighted with this colorful, useful bag.  Thank you again, Valerie! 

Although I would have loved to have had a late beginning to this birthday morning, fate intervened.  My apartment building's management posted an announcement a few days ago that all our water would be be shut off today from 9 to 5.  This would allow the basement boiler that heats the water and radiators to be readied for chilly weather that will arrive in a month.  

I did not take this warning personally, particularly since I had an invitation to a members preview of a wonderful new exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  Not only would this invite grant me entry to a beautiful show; it would also grant me access to all the Met's features, including running water, hot and cold.

And so, not long after 9 a.m., I set off on the crosstown bus to East 82nd Street and the Met.

The show is a beauty!  I do love textiles, but would recommend it to folks who truly don't know much about fabrics, warps, wefts, resist printing, ikat, etc.  

The exhibit is titled Interwoven Global, and it attempts to show the visitor how ships sailing around the globe in the 1500's, 1600's, 1700's, and thereafter allowed artists, craftspersons and patrons to experience cross-pollination.  It's a feast!

Ages ago, in a prior professional life, I was an archivist at the Met, and therefore, am still a bit aware of the rules and regs of various bits around the museum.  As I began my slow stroll through this magnificent exhibit, I asked a museum guard if photography was okay...since it seemed that most of the textiles on display were from the Met's own collections.  She said that she'd taken time to check and that yes was the answer.

And that is how I happened to take take these not so wonderful photos in the subdued light of the exhibition's galleries.

How I hope that those of you who do live within reasonable traveling distance from NYC will be able to visit this show.

Do you see the scary face on this warrior's jacket?  Do you also see the completely non-plussed museum viewer under the arm?  It is all in the context.

This is a large show, that begins with textiles from lands far away from the European trading countries that sent their ships across oceans seeking treasures and trading opportunities in faraway lands.

What becomes apparent, little by little is the way that these various cultures began to infiltrate each other, and influence both demand from patrons, and supply via talented weavers, embroiderers, printers, and other artists and artisans.  The traders, of course, were important players in this inter-weaving.

It's quite amusing when viewing some of the textiles to see the iconography of differing cultures appearing intermingled in the designs.

As I was taking my last photo, I was approached by a very gracious museum guard who advised me that in the hour since I'd entered the exhibit, he and his colleagues had been visited by their security supervisor and told that No Photographs Would Be Allowed.  And so, dear readers, the photos you see in the post could not now be taken without breaking the Met's rules.

Timing favored me and my Canon, even if I did not take very good photographs.

Leaving this fine textile show, I took the designated elevator up to the roof of the Met.  Every summer a particular artist is commissioned to create a piece just for the roof space.  The Met is on the eastern edge of Central Park, and so this rooftop space serves not just as a outdoor gallery, but also as a marvelous viewing point for anyone wanting to see the treetops of the Park and the skyscrapers at the Park's edges.

The weather was becoming more and more opaque as humidity and temperature signaled a storm arriving.  A perfect time to visit the roof and see what artist Imran Qureshi had painted on the concrete surface of the space.

To my eye, this mainly monochromatic linear painting had floral motifs.  Chrysanthemums, or dahlias, perhaps.  There was also an echo of the henna hand painting tradition.  The following photo shows an area where the floor painting continues up the side of the surrounding concrete wall.  I think that this photo also reads as a two-dimensional image, with a horizon line.

Here I show you a view of the floor at my feet, indicating how the petals extend across the squares of concrete.  Like a chalk drawing on a sidewalk, perhaps?  You will also see a few white painted accents.

My eye was also drawn to the periphery of the roof garden watching the clouds over the southwestern views change as the forecast storm sped up its arrival.

I could not resist taking this photo featuring a few folks walking about, just to give you an idea of the scale of the commissioned art.

The Met has thoughtfully provided some shady spaces on the roof, and also a refreshment stand offering rather expensive beverages and snacks for art lovers who do not find the views sufficient sustenance.  I could not resist taking a picture of this blossoming vine on a very old-fashioned trellis in the midst of this very au courant exhibit.

After leaving the museum, I boarded a Fifth Avenue bus headed downtown, on my way to meet a friend who treated me to delicious Italian pastry and cappuccino.  Thank goodness that bus ride provided good shelter and a good view of the heavy rain storm that occurred mid-trip.

The pastry was fabulous.  The company was fabulous.  By the time we left the cafe, the sun was out again, and the earlier heat and humidity had abated...just a bit.

It's funny that the Empire State Building does not really feature in the cityscape views from the Met's roof.  And so, I took this photo of that iconic building on my way walking back uptown, as I tried to exercise the departure of some the calories added on to my birthday self.

As always, I thank you all for your visits and comments.

City Views, Country Dreams

Good morning from New York.

August continues to be more kind to us than July was.  There have been many mild days, perfect for meeting friends in cafe gardens, visiting farmers markets, and just taking long walks.

Some New York towers are covered in mirrored glass.  These facades come into their own relationships with the sky on bright days when breezes keep the clouds moving.

I actually prefer the intricately decorated facades of older buildings, such as this beauty in my neighborhood.

However, what I truly prefer is yet another walk over to Central Park.

I wanted to see what was still abloom over in the Shakespeare Garden.  The foliage has gone a bit straggly, but there's still quite a lot of color, too.

As usual, there were only a few other folks strolling through the Garden.  I saw several other cameras in use.

Pink, white and green always make a fine combination.

Not all the leaves are green.

Aren't these roses lovely?

I hope that you all will forgive my continuing ignorance.  I do not know the name of this pretty little pink flower.

The following photos gives you an idea of the graceful design of the flag stoned pathways that wander through the garden.  You can also get a glimpse of the rustic wood fencing.

On the day of my Garden walk, the sky was overcast, but the yellow flowers still showed up brilliantly on their very long stems.

My camera and I were not quick enough to photograph any of the many bees that I saw enjoying their favorite flowers.  There were also some lovely varied colored butterflies that seemed quite camera shy.

As I left the Garden, and continued my walk along the western edge of the Lake, I saw evidence of the gradual departure of Summer.  These lacy leaves have their own natural beauty.

I hope that you all will enjoy this opportunity to see these city views.  As always, thank you so much for your visits and comments.

City Views, Country Dreams

Good morning from New York.

Summertime heat arrived in full force during July.  My energy levels dropped as the temperature rose.

I plead this excuse for a long pause in blog posting.  I'll now try to show a small sampling what has been going on during the heat wave.

Berry season arrived and a new bakery opened up in my neighborhood.  It is a tiny place, and offers a small selection of delicious pastries.  Cupcakes do not have starring roles in this bakery.

The trees' leaves reached full growth and deepest green.  Even the small park around the subway station became a place for folks to sit and hope for a breeze.

The nearby newsstand operator added a welcome seasonal ice cream selection.  I have not tried any of this ice cream, but have finally sampled delicious gelato from another neighborhood spot.

The Union Square farmers market reached a seasonal apex.  Each week during July new vegetables and fruit arrived.  I tried to visit the market every week, and sometimes was lucky to meet Elizabeth there.

I would buy fruit and veg, but did not buy and of the lovely flowers.  

The colors amongst all the farmers' displays are very beautiful.  It is so difficult to resist making many purchases.  I try to keep to a budget, but often get carried away.

During many July days the temperatures clung to the upper 90 degrees Farenheit.  With humidity added to the mix, the so-called comfort index was over 100 degrees. 

My existence became a tale of varying environments.  My workplace and the subway trains were severely air conditioned. Sweaters or jackets were required.  The museums and cafes that I visited with friends were pleasantly cool.  The movie theatre at which I saw Woody Allen's newest film, Blue Jasmine, was very comfortable.

 The great outdoors, the subway stations and my little apartment were quite warm.  I would like to praise the help offered to me by the quiet, reliable cooling breezes offered up by my noble Vornado fan.  I drank the more water each day than ever before.  Having cross ventilation from open windows also brought relief.

Relief also seems to have been delivered by the calendar's having moved on to August.  Once again the city is comfortable.  Knitting with wool yarn is much more fun than it was during July.  Strangely, I did quite a lot of knitting during July.

Many thanks to you all for your visits and comments.  Even though I have been a very lazy summertime blogger, I have greatly enjoyed my visits to your posts.   Keeping up with reports of your summertimes has been great fun!

City Views, Country Dreams

Good afternoon from New York on the Fourth of July.

It's a beautiful summer day, and the air is much more clear than it was earlier this week.  Yesterday's heat and humidity resulted in a series of very strong showers.  The rain was just tapering off last evening, just before sunset, as my colleagues and I closed the shop and began our walk to the subway station.  

What a delight to look up from under our umbrellas to see a very vivid rainbow arc against the eastern part of the sky.  We rejoiced at our fortune to see this spectacle and encouraged all other pedestrians along our bit of sidewalk to Look Up at that Rainbow.  Joy was shared and passed along.

Tonight there will be another spectacle in the sky over New York City, the annual fireworks display, sponsored by Macy's, the large department store.  The fireworks will be sent skywards from barges afloat in the Hudson River.

Although my posts usually feature Central Park, I thought it might be fun to take a different, western, direction in today's walk, so that I could show you a very different park area along the Hudson River, only a few blocks away from my home.

As I neared this entrance to the park, I saw Police Department equipment that will be in use tonight to help guide the thousands of folks who will be arriving to view the fireworks.

The walkway that I walked downhill from street level has a gentle slope and is used by pedestrians and cyclists.

As you walk towards the Hudson River, you leave behind an area dominated by huge apartment buildings.  Your path will take you under, yes under, the West Side Highway, and you will be well aware of the traffic passing overhead, as well as the pretty wildflowers planted along side of the pathway.  You might even see birds and bees.

You will become aware of the scent of the River, and find lots of open sky.

It's a wise idea to also keep an eye and ear out for bicycles, although most cyclists do seem to obey the signs.

Whenever I do visit this Park, I always have a slightly uncomfortable sense of disorientation.

The real estate developer Donald Trump likes to put his name on buildings.

As I neared "sea level" I glanced back to see the slope of the pathway.

At the base of the slope is a cafe.  It is not particularly attractive, but the location does have a good view.

New Jersey is on the opposite side of the Riber.

That is what the cafe patrons can see, if they stand up.  While seated, the view is of other patrons.

My favorite feature of this Park is the pier that extends at least a third of the way across the River.  On a clear day like today, there is much to see.

What surprised me this morning was that very few other folks were out for similar walks.  Tonight this area is going to be packed.

Can you see the ocean liner "parked" at a pier in the distance?

I am glad that some of the vintage riverside wharf features have been retained amid all the gleaming modern construction.

What a glorious day!

Looking north, the George Washington Bridge is just about visible on the far right of the following photo.

More blue sky and puffy clouds!

This mother and son had also decided it was a fine day to take some photographs.

Just lovely!

There was a bit of traffic on the River.  I also saw a crew team with their scull and a kayak propelled by a lone oarsman.

Another view.

Feeling aired out and rather relaxed, I turned around to walk back to shore side.  The clear plastic bags tied to the railings are there to collect rubbish.  All in all, this park is kept quite clean.

If you are thirsty, you can have a sip of water here.

Rather than retrace my steps homeward, I decide to continue my walk northward along the River side.  Overhead on my right is the noisy West Side Highway.

Here's a farewell view of that cafe.

There were a few roses blooming, and I could not resist a photograph.  After all, this is a park.

Here you can see the tide coming in, and also a view of the pier I'd walked along.

I actually do know some folks who've kayaked along the Hudson.  Here is an entry point for those brave sailors.

Here is another view of the underside of the Highway.

A few folks seemed to be preparing for a Fourth of July picnic.

A little farther along, I neared the 79th Street Boat Basin.  Some folks actually live on boats that are docked here.

I didn't see much human activity over there this morning.

It's important not to have any waterway reveries along this walkway.  It's very busy with bikes, joggers, the occasional Parks Department truck, and some meandering pedestrians like me.

It's wise to try to stay in you own lane, and hope others do as well.

As I began my walk up from the River side, I thought this backward view was quite tranquil.

These old steps were graded gently to aid those going uphill.

This area far away from the River is actually called Riverside Park.  It has been around for much longer than the modern part just below the Trump buildings.

One more lingering view of the open sky.

I could not resist this reflection, left over from yesterday's rains.

I exited Riverside Park at 79th Street.  In the distance you can see the architectural contrasts of the neighborhood.

I passed by the Eleanor Roosevelt statue that was installed about ten or 15 years ago.  She seems to thinking important thoughts.

Back up on the hot pavements, I saw much more Police Department equipment, although I didn't see any police officers.  Perhaps they will be arriving later in the afternoon to begin the immense project of setting up all the security required for this evening's big show.

Here's an entrance road that allows passenger cars access to that Highway I walked under.

And having waited for the traffic light to change, I walked across 79th Street and took one more look at the westward view.

I hope that you all have enjoyed seeing a bit of another neighborhood park.  Today seemed an idea day to get outdoors early.  I may, but probably will not, return after sundown to see the fireworks.

Thank you all for your visits and comments.  Best wishes for a glorious Fourth of July.