Thoughts & Reflections

Category: Around Town

A Visit to Wave Hill

As summer begins to wind down, I’m still trying to take advantage of the long daylight and experience the great outdoors on days that are not so warm. To that end, I finally made the journey up to Wave Hill. It’s not easy to get to, since it involves riding a train to the end of the line in the Bronx and then hopping on a shuttle van that takes visitors to the front gate.

Wave Hill is one of the lovely gardens I’ve been longing to check out for many years but it’s always been inconvenient (it still is) to get there. A friend and I were considering a visit by car but plans changed and I ended up going one Saturday morning by myself. There is free admission to Wave Hill on Tuesday and Saturday mornings; I was originally going to visit on a Tuesday since there would be less people but that day has fallen in the midst of heat waves every week so Saturday it was instead.

With the weekend subway construction, it took me about an hour or so by train and then another 15-20 minutes for the shuttle (including the wait time). The minivan could only accommodate about a dozen people and there were nearly twice that number the morning of my visit (everyone was trying to take advantage of the free admission) so the driver had to make two trips. Luckily, I was in the first group.

After passing the gate and parking lot, a path leads visitors right toward the Great Lawn and Pergola with beautiful views of the Hudson River beyond. It really is breathtaking and more beautiful than similar views I’ve seen at the Cloisters and Fort Tryon Park.

The gardens are actually smaller than I thought they would be. I think I managed to see all the major displays in an hour’s time, even when I lingered on some parts of the gardens over others. Out of all the lovely areas, I think my favorite was actually the less exciting woodlands. I just love being surrounded by the trees, which offered a brief respite from the sun. One could walk down quiet paths and hear nothing; it’s very much like walking through a forest. There weren’t many people on those trails and it was fun to be on roads less traveled; the only thing that wasn’t pleasant was the appearance of a rodent ahead of me on the path at one point… I ended up running as fast as I could past the area and did not like enjoying hearing the creature in the bushes nearby.

But the lovely pergola and overlook was another highlight of my visit. I’ve seen photos of it for years and it was nice to actually walk through it and admire the beautiful flowers and plants that hung above or grew along the trellises. There are also Adirondack chairs scattered across the lawns for people to sit and enjoy the views. Most of these were occupied though I did manage to sit in one that was shaded by a tree near the Conservatory. It’s definitely relaxing.

I didn’t stay too long because I had to wait for the shuttle to take me back to the subway station. The shuttle vans run only once per hour so I didn’t want to miss the next one. It’s only a few minutes ride between the gardens and the train station but it involves going up and down hills as well as crossing a busy highway; if the route was straighter, I wouldn’t have minded walking instead.

September 8, 2015
The Seaglass Carousel

I love carousels. To me, it’s one of those things from childhood that as an adult, one can still derive pleasure from. There are definitely a few fun carousels left in New York though I haven’t been on most of them (at least not that I can remember). I do love the little children’s carousel in Bryant Park, which reminds me of the film Amelie but that’s way too tiny. To ride beautifully painted horses, my preference is to go to Brooklyn Bridge Park and take a spin on Jane’s Carousel. But now there’s a new carousel in town to enjoy.

The Seaglass Carousel opened last week in Battery Park. I had first heard about it the week before and apparently it’s been many years (and cost a ton of money) in the making. The grand opening was last Thursday but I couldn’t make it so I went the following morning.

There was a long line already queued up when I got there. Purchasing a ticket was a bit confusing as the kiosk wasn’t actually near the entrance; it was on the same little cart that was a bit of a distance away selling souvenirs. I wasn’t the only one confused by that, so hopefully they work out the kinks soon enough. After handing over $5, one gets a little plastic “sea glass” token that was the ticket to the ride. I think I stood in line for about 30-40 minutes before finally arriving at the front. There were many parents with their children (and strollers) waiting patiently for their turn as well.

Instead of horses, the carousel comprised of fishes in all different shapes and sizes, painted so they appeared to be made of sea glass. It was very strange to sit inside and be a part of a fish. Once everyone was belted in, the music began and the fish started to “swim” within the glass enclosure. The carousel was lit in ever-changing colors, which reminded me of watching sunlight playing on water. Many of the fish moved up and down and weaved in and out amongst other fish, just as one would expect to see in an aquarium. Classical music designed specifically for the ride played in the background and the whole experience was very cool.

The ride ended quickly enough that I think I need to revisit it again (but without a camera) to try and truly enjoy it; everyone had their cameras out, taking pictures and videos of the entire experience. I’m sure it must have been crazy over the weekend, which is why I’ll have to revisit on a slightly more quiet (and less crowded) day mid-week.

August 24, 2015
Waterfront Garden Tour on Randalls Island

I was reading up on things to do in the city and one item caught my eye: a waterfront garden tour on Randalls Island. I don’t think I’ve stepped foot on the island before though I might have once, a very, very long time ago. Unlike Roosevelt Island to the south, Randalls Island is more difficult to get to; there isn’t a train or tram stop anywhere and the most direct way to get across is via a footbridge that connects it to Manhattan at 103nd Street. (There are also bridges that connect from the Bronx and Queens as well.)

There are tours Tuesdays and Thursdays around the Island every week; the first one that worked with my schedule was the Waterfront Garden tour held every other Thursday. I tried to time my travel so I would arrive with a few minutes to spare before the tour began but the subway delays and the roundabout route from the train station to the East River was very annoying because the streets are cut off by the public housing projects in the area so one has to go around them. I arrived about 5 minutes after it started and one of the park staff stationed at the meeting spot helped me to meet up with the group. A few other people arrived even later than I did, so I didn’t feel too bad. In all, there were about maybe six or seven of us, and the woman who met me earlier came along as well; the two of us were the youngest members of the tour.

The tour was led by the head gardener, a man named Kevin. He led up north along the Harlem River Pathway, stopping every so often and pointing out the different flora that made up the interesting landscape that bordered and explaining why certain plants were being grown in those areas and what worked and what didn’t. We also had some very knowledgeable people with us, including two women who were visitors from Virginia that run a nursery back home.

We walked as far as approximately 113th or 114th street across the river before turning southward. The tour was supposed to last an hour though it did run slightly longer but it didn’t matter that much. Overall, I thought it was pretty interesting and I enjoyed looking all the different trees and plants that grew along that stretch of land. We saw a lot of bees (in various colors; I never saw golden/orange bees before) as well as butterflies.

The shady parts were the nicest because it kept us cool but the views and the sun were wonderful too. We could see all the cars traveling along the East River Drive across from us but it was nice to not hear them (or not so loudly) since the water separated us. And the views were pretty spectacular, depending on where one looked. It was very relaxing and for the most part pretty empty, which is nice for those that want to relax and enjoy peace and quiet while remaining close to the heart of the city. The weekend might be less so, especially with the events being held on the north side of the island, where there’s the big stadium for concerts and other things.

I think I’m going to try to check out the Wildflower Tour as well, which is held on alternating Thursdays. There is a Wetlands Tour which I would really like to check out but that’s on Tuesday evenings so it doesn’t work too well with my schedule. I highly recommend checking out any of these tours if one has the time while the weather is still lovely and warm.

August 15, 2015
Summer at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

It’s been a very long time since I last visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, probably over a year. These days, I’ve been spending my time in the much larger New York Botanic Garden in the Bronx, since I’ve spent plenty of time in the Brooklyn gardens over the years.

On Tuesday, I revisited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Without membership, one can visit the Garden for free either on Saturday mornings or on Tuesdays. Sometimes, it’s hard to make it down there first thing on a weekend, especially when there is subway construction. Visiting mid-week, I was also hoping to deal with smaller crowds though there were plenty of schoolchildren and strollers wandering about the grounds.

For me, one pleasant surprise I encountered were the roses. Rose season is past peak but there were still plenty of flowers to be found in the Rose Garden. This is the first time I’ve ever visited when the roses were in bloom so I spent a lot of time leisurely strolling up and down the aisles to admire the flowers.

Something else in bloom this time of year are the water lilies. There were plenty of people taking photos at the Lily Pool Terrace, particularly the really large lotus flowers that rise out from the pool.

The day was warm and humid. Fortunately, the sun was hidden behind the clouds so it kept the temperatures a little cooler in the morning and early afternoon; that made spending time outdoors a bit more enjoyable. And the rain (which wasn’t predicted for that day) held off until afternoon, so I remained mostly dry despite wandering down paths were sprinklers were watering the lawns and plants.

It was really nice to see so many of the great features and fixtures without the crowds. And the best part was being surrounded by peace and quiet, especially on many of the more secluded paths. It was definitely the best way to really enjoy and appreciate Nature.

July 23, 2015
Touring the Hermione

In 1780, the Marquis de Lafayette crossed the Atlantic again to aid the Americans in the Revolutionary War. On his second voyage, he arrived on the French frigate Hermione and arrived in Boston at the end of April. Two hundred and thirty five years later, a group of people decided to reconstruct the entire ship and bring it to life once more and retraced Lafayette’s crossing.

The Hermione has been sailing along the East Coast for the past month and it stopped in New York during the Fourth of July weekend. While it was docked at the South Street Seaport, the frigate was open to public tours so I headed down to see it for myself.

It was a very hot day when I went and the line was pretty long; I checked my watch and noted that it took two hours for me to get to the front of the queue and that was earlier in the day. Fortunately, a hat, a bottle of water and sunscreen kept me hydrated and protected from the glaring sun.

Touring the boat itself did not take very long; it’s actually a pretty small space once a person arrives on deck. We were only allowed to tour the forecastle and quarterdeck; the main deck was off-limits unless one was a VIP of some sort.

One thing I love about tall ships is the intricate rigging above one’s head. All those long, thick ropes and cables swinging out from the masthead all along the sides of the ships. Modern boats are so much more streamlined and not as fussy to deal with, so it’s nice to see a bit of rigging and imagine pirates swinging off them. And speaking of pirates, I saw one aboard the ship that day:

Overall, it was pretty fun to tour. There were so many people aboard at any given moment it made it hard to really appreciate being on the boat but at least I did get a chance to visit. Climbing up and down the gangplank was a little tricky, particularly for elderly visitors, but there were people of all ages who wanted to come check it out. After that, I went back to the pier and looked at the little village stands that were set up to educate people at the ship and what life was like back in the 1700s.

There were also people dressed up in period clothes, portraying (French and American) soldiers and peasants.

There was one other tall ship docked at the seaport, a Spanish galleon aptly named El Galeón. It wasn’t open for tours the day I went but unlike the Hermione, one had to pay admission to board as well. From the view I had of El Galeón from the pier, it was no less spectacular. It’s going to be in town through mid-August, so I may check it out at some point this summer.

July 14, 2015
A Walk on the High Bridge

Many years ago, during one of the earliest Open House NY weekends, I traveled uptown to tour the High Bridge Water Tower. The views from the top of the Tower were wonderful and one thing I saw that caught my eye was the old High Bridge. The bridge had been closed for several decades and I had hoped the city would reopen it one day—and that day finally arrived last week.

High Bridge is the oldest in the city, dating back to 1848. It used to carry water from the Croton Aqueduct into the city; the design of the bridge was to mimic old Roman aqueducts and it must have looked grand in its heyday. About a third of the original stone arches were demolished (sigh) back in the 1920s so boats could navigate the Harlem River more easily so we’re left with clashing architectural features; I suppose it could have been worse and at least some of the stonework remain intact.

I traveled to Highbridge Park on Saturday and then made my way to the stairs that lead down to the bridge. The descent is pretty steep with lots of steps and I was already dreading the climb back up when I was ready to leave. There is a slightly easier access via another road in the park but it went further south than I needed to be.

Currently, a thank you sign greets visitors at the base of the stairs, and people have added their names and their thanks to all the organizations that have helped to reopen the bridge. From there, make a left and soon the bridge comes in sight. To be honest, the Manhattan side of the bridge itself isn’t much fun to look at; most of the original stone arches are located on Bronx side.

The day was really nice and the views up and down the Harlem River weren’t shabby. On the north side were views of more bridges while the south side offered glimpses of downtown and midtown skyscrapers depending on where one stood.

The bricks on the walkway have been replaced but the original layout was kept; I noticed that the design changed where I presumed was the midpoint of the bridge.

All along the walkway were metal plaques embedded into the brickwork. Each one showed a different facts about the bridge, such as when it opened and how it was constructed. Some of the illustrations on the plaques were really nice; I liked the scene depicting visitors who came to see the bridge on a day trip.

I walked all the way to the Bronx side and admired the view from there, with the Water Tower dominating the landscape. It would have made sense to just take a subway from there downtown but the train I needed to take was back on the Manhattan side and I didn’t mind crossing the river again. And once I finally caught my breath after ascending those dreaded stairs, I snapped a parting shot of the Water Tower.

June 15, 2015
Springtime at the New York Botanical Garden

With a free one-year membership to the Botanical Garden, I’ve been taking full advantage of it and heading up there far more often these days. My most recent visit was to check out the Antique Garden Furniture Fair that was held last month.

That weekend was one of the warmest to date. With the sun shining down from clear blue skies, the garden was a good place to spend time outdoors. The antique fair was interesting to browse (and imagine spending a ton of money on) but I was much more interested in catching the peak blossoms of the flowering trees, from cherries to magnolias and others.

A walk through the exhibits in the Conservatory revealed some very interesting specimens as well as more familiar plants.

I also took a stroll through the Rock Garden, one area I had somehow missed on previous visits. Since I took different paths around the gardens, I ended up finding the entrance to it this time. There were other people wandering around that area but even so, it was still pretty peaceful. I think the highlight for most people was the waterfall there.

Flowers were blooming everywhere and Daffodil Hill was probably the showiest area of all. Gently sloping hills were covered with hundreds (maybe thousands) of yellow and white daffodils. There were plenty of people—kids and adults alike—sitting amongst the flowers and taking pictures. It’s a little bit like Alice in Wonderland, sitting right in the middle and surrounded by flowers and leaves as tall as you; too bad the flowers can’t talk back.

And right before I left, I hiked up to the Rose Garden but there wasn’t much to see. It was off-limits to visitors during my visit but with nothing in bloom there just yet, it really didn’t matter too much. The roses should be popping up soon.

May 18, 2015
Open Studios at Industry City

Recently, there was an Open Studios event down in Industry City, a complex of large warehouses that have been recently renovated and revitalized thanks to the numerous small businesses that have made their home there. I’ve visited once before for a crafts fair about two years ago but all I managed to see was the ground floor of one building and its courtyard. Many businesses took part in the Open Studio day so we were able to walk around most of the buildings in the complex.

Our first stop was to the visitor center which fortunately was in the same building as what I really wanted to see, the Food Hall. Wandering around the corridors and looking into the various shops (bakeries, cafes, etc.) reminded me a lot of Chelsea Market, before all the hype and tourists took over. There was one particular shop I wanted to visit but alas, it wasn’t open that day so no sweets for me.

So instead, we began with the main building, headed up the stairs and worked our way down from floor to floor. There were plenty of artists’ studios spaces and many of them invited visitors in to come chat and have a snack or drink (there was plenty of alcohol available). For me, some of the more interesting tenants were Knot and Bow and Soho Letterpress; I loved wandering among all the paper, ink and craft supplies.

We went from one building to the next, though there were less open studios in the other buildings; many of them were still under construction in the courtyard and on various floors. Sometimes, we had to take detours within buildings to get from one end to the other due to all demolitions and renovations going on.

Even the exteriors of the buildings were fascinating to look at. On the roofs were the remains of old water towers, with only the bases remaining since there are more modern ways to extinguish fires. The fire escapes around the courtyard may or may not be in use (I read an article recently about trying to rid the city of them) but they looked lovely with fresh coats of paint and add to the charm of these buildings.

And one should envy the large windows. Though the view is less than impressive from the west, where one sees the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, there are fabulous views of New York Harbor from the east.

April 28, 2015
Kiku at the NY Botanical Garden

For the past few years, the NY Botanical Garden has hosted a Japanese Chrysanthemums exhibit. Kiku: The Art of the Japanese Garden is held in the Conservatory, which is filled with chrysanthemums of all sizes from diminutive flowers to big, showy blooms that are wired to keep them from falling off their thin stems.

I read somewhere that this might be the last year the show is being held for now so I finally made it up there before it closed.

There were so many varieties and in so many colors on display, though most seemed to be in shades of yellow, white and purple. There were a lot in red and oranges too, and they remind me of the cooler weather outside, a very vivid reminder that autumn is here. Personally, I think I prefer the smaller flowers than the larger ones.

October 28, 2014
Open House at the Brooklyn Army Terminal

After the fun journey of heading to JFK to see the TWA Flight Center, I traveled in the other direction and across town to Sunset Park to check out the other place I wanted to visit during the OHNY weekend. While OHNY events took place both days, these two sites were only open to the public on Saturday so I had no choice but to make another long journey to get from the outer reaches of Queens to the outer reaches of Brooklyn.

At my subway transfer point, I headed above ground for a quick lunch (at Shake Shack) and then hopped aboard one more train to reach my final destination, the Brooklyn Army Terminal.

OHNY has offered tours of the Terminal earlier this year, but those required reservations, paid tickets and taking a day off from work. I was so disappointed to have missed out on those tours so imagine my excitement when I saw it was listed as an Open Access site for thie weekend. Guided tours were being offered on the hour and I arrived just a few minutes after one began, so I just stayed at the edge and tried to listen and see what was going on. There were a lot more people there than I would have guessed; it was mid-afternoon and there weren’t many people loitering outside the building so I assumed most of the crowds showed up earlier in the day.

The guide (who works for Turnstile Tours) offered a brief history of the terminal, its usage during World War 2 and how it’s been repurposed to house businesses today. The most famous person to have passed through was Elvis Presley during the war, though he missed traveling with his group and booked a later passage to Germany because of all the press and publicity surrounding him.

As our guide rightly pointed out, what most of us really wanted to see was the Atrium.

It was a photo of this that initially sparked my interest in visiting the Terminal. Seeing old railway tracks and platform and even a train parked inside was enough to set my imagination running (I have a thing for old train stations, even one that never actually served as part of public transportation). Overhead, the glass panes from the ceiling have been removed for safety reasons (since maintenance and repair would be costly to the city) but the framework remains, and one can easily picture the glass still there.

There is a train sitting on a set of rails in the atrium but it’s not as old as it appears. The simple brown and yellow color scheme only makes it appear old but in actuality, the carriages were from an LIRR train. At one point, the idea had been to convert the cars into a dining area for the terminal but that plan was never completed so the carriages are now permanently parked inside the building since the other section of tracks have been removed or covered up to convert the area into the Atrium.

The tour itself lasted just under an hour and once it was over, everyone wandered around the Terminal, taking more photos of the Atrium and the balconies that jut out on the upper floors. I think some people headed upstairs to see what was there but I stayed on the ground level since things were far more interesting there. We were all inside Building B, which is just one building inside the much larger overall Brooklyn Army Terminal complex. There’s a lovely view of the ocean outside as well as pedestrian and ferry pier below.

October 22, 2014