NYC: Places We Go

Again, and Again, and Again

We have our go-to spots when we hit NYC, for various reasons.  Here's a few.

1. Washington Square Park

It was one of the areas we used to hang when we lived in the Bronx. We'd take the subway down, jump off, walk up the park, and then further up to MacDougal to Panchitos (which had the nerve to be closed at lunch this go round!). The park has been in the midst of a complete overhaul for the last year and it's really looking good. We love taking a stroll through.

This band was great. Swinging it old school with 'don't get around much anymore'.  I thought I was videotaping them on my phone, but I don't see it now. It either didn't work, or I taped with Gar's phone. Fingers crossed on that one.

There are always entertainers in every corner of the park. The trio was playing ragtime-esque songs. And yes, if you look close, the trumpet player laid his usual instrument down and played a tea kettle. Oh yeah, you read that right - a tea kettle. I know, first time I've seen or heard that one too.

It was a beautiful day, and this pooch pulled his owner to the fountain so he could have a lie-down. I don't think he knows he's a rule breaker. He can't read.

Nobody cared either. He was too darned happy.


2. Little Italy

My Grampy was born on Mulberry Street, but even before I knew that we'd take a walk through Little Italy. The people, the smell of the food cooking.........the cannoli.

The picture of us was taken by our waiter Sal. He was a show unto himself. I asked if there was a charge for the entertainment.

My cousin was on Mulberry Street at the same time as us, eating at a different restaurant. If we had only known.



3. South Street Seaport

We love it in the Seaport. Our friend's pub and restaurant is two blocks up on Fulton so we always have a place of refuge should we need a break.  Beyond that, it's a beautiful spot right on the water, steeped in history.  Walk straight up Fulton to the other side of the Island (10 minute walk) and you're at Ground Zero and Freedom Tower.  You've got a great view of the Brooklyn Bridge from the Seaport and there is your choice of boat rides. Also, the above the water park we discovered this trip. I'm not sure if we just missed it before or if it's new. Sadly, the wood carvers shop that used to be on the pier was gone. I'll assume it was a victim of Sandy. How sad. This guy has been there for years....carving ship mastheads and the like.  A lot was affected by the storm and there are restaurants and shops that are still closed, and a lot of temporary set ups. It will take time.

 

Have you been to NYC? If you have, what are your favorite places there? If not, book your tickets and hotel today. This time of year is beautiful in New York.


Freeform Friday

I was hoping to share the music from Washington Square Park, but that's not going to happen for aforementioned reasons. So, a little ditty you all know well and can sing along to. G's new go-to karaoke song. You did a good job at TJ Byrne's karaoke night, babe. You got everyone singing. It was classic. Click here if you're reading via email. 



By the way, I just love Ringo.

Hope you enjoy your Friday and have a great weekend.

Ciao for now,

When You Get Caught Between the Moon & New York City

We snuck away for an impromptu visit to my Godparents and the Bates of Clontarf, who were doing the Jersey City thing this summer due to brother-in-law Fran's work. Drove down on Friday and swung into the Belenchia's, my Godparents, in Yonkers.  It always makes me happy to walk in that back kitchen door.

Actually got this shot of us with Boskie and Aunt Virginia on Sunday on the way out of the city. We've had a lot of good times around that kitchen table and Friday and Sunday were no different.  Did I say I have the best Godparents a girl could have?

Then we were off to the Holland Tunnel to get to the other side of the river and Gar's brother Fran, our sister in law Fiona, nephew Conor and niece Rachel. They spent the summer in Jersey City, just across the river from lower Manhattan. I predicted that Fran would be cooking a curry. I was close. It wasn't Fran, but Rachie who donned the chef's hat Friday night. Our compliments to the chef. 

Went for a walk on the waterfront after dinner. Gorgeous night. Gorgeous view of the city and a great full moon. Couldn't have been nicer. So, of course, with all things aligned, I had to start singing Arthur's Theme by Christopher Cross, hence the title of this post. Nobody appreciated my rendition though, so I stopped.



The Freedom Tower is the tallest building in the picture and they still have a good ways to go before it's complete.  

Got a shot of the gang with the famed Colgate clock in the background.

No. Gar couldn't be any redder from working out in the summer sun.

Midtown - including Empire State (middle) and Chrysler Building (to right of Empire State).

Next morning, Gar went for a walk while we were all waking up and having our obligatory cuppa tea.  He came back and announced there was a farmer's market in the neighborhood, but had nothing to show for it. So we went back down for some goods. Look at these tomatoes! The second one up on the left went home with us, along with the sweetest little yellow cherry tomatoes, some bread (the fluffiest loaf ever!), peach butter, and a beautiful pepper for Rachie's next curry.

Then we were all off to Manhattan via the waterferry/taxi Gar and I scoped out on our stroll of the neighborhood. Such a long ride. All of about 10 minutes. Here's Rachie on the top deck with Lady Liberty behind her. It was a perfect day. Sun shining and a nice breeze.

The ferry dropped us at the World Financial Center, so we strolled that side of the island for awhile. 

I couldn't find anything that said whether this sculpture had any significance, but it sure looked great against the blue sky.

A beautiful clipper ship, the Friendship of Salem was in dock from Salem, MA. Such pretty details.

Then the Freedom Tower in the sun.

Garrett checking out the progress on the Freedom Tower in daylight. It's much bigger than it looks in this picture. I really like it. And I like that it's being built, though many may disagree. I think it will be a beautiful tribute when done, to those who died at the WTC on September 11th ten years ago, and the perseverance of the American people. I was happy to see lots of progress is being made on the site. It's been a long haul. It took quite awhile just for the debris from the tragedy to be cleared. If it was just left a gaping hole, which is what it was, it would be as if the terrorists had won. I think it will fitting too see it when it is done, filled with people going about their daily lives just as those who lost their lives were doing that day. Again, that's just how I feel, I'm sure others feel differently.

We headed over to the other side, to the South Street Seaport. We enjoyed some 'lazy' time on the upper deck, watching the tugs push the barges up the East River and generally just enjoying the day.  Here's the brothers, solving all that is wrong with the world. That's Brooklyn across the river.

Then, it was mission time and we were off to Little Italy to see if we could find 100 Mulberry Street where my Grandfather was born and grew up. Now I've walked Mulberry Street many, many times, but only recently found out (thanks to fellow esty shop owner, Cris of Belmodo.....a great story for another time) the actual address where my Grampy Cocciardi lived.  We found what we 'think' is 100 Mulberry. The numbers may have been different at the beginning of the last century, so this was as close as we could get.

Then I made the guys pose and told them to talk Italian. They said, 'How do we do that?', and I said 'With your hands!!!!'. 

Then Gar snapped the girls on Mulberry Street. I love any picture we're ever taken there.......always hustling and bustling with people.

More tomorrow. We packed as much as we could into our quick trip!

Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are.

So Happens It's Thursday

So happens it's Thursday....That's Gar's answer to T.G.I.F. Get it? S.H.I.T.? I kind of like it. Though I'm not feeling particularly smarmy today, I just thought I'd throw it out there since it was 'day appropriate'.

I've been fiddling around with headers for Mercantile Muse. And as you can see, I've gone with a simple white background as well. I think it shows everything off in a crisper,cleaner way. I really like the way it makes photos pop. Siss, boom, bang! (sorry, getting a little geared up for the 4th and the big losbta bake!)



Can you say lobster? But here are two experts on lobster bakes- G man and Cap'
(as in Captain', aka Ralph, who I've been best pals with since
1st Grade and is a Fisherman and Captain...hence the nickname).
  OK, I'll stop for now.  Back to the subject at hand........the blog header.


I designed the first header for our blog last night, and it looked really nice. I liked all of the components including some of our very own stone wall and roses, and a picture of a ship's masthead that I took in NYC's South Street Seaport.  In the end, it just wasn't working for me.  It seemed to be just a little too much- too much for this particular blog anyway.



See what I mean?

Then I designed one that incorporated a piece of one of my printable wall art designs, Three Feathers. Except, I only used one of the feathers (see bottom of this post for picture). This one I like a lot for it's simple, clean look.



Straight and to the point. Opposite of the first......not busy at all.

Then I woke to a new day and new eyes and thought, with all those neutrals a pop of bright yellow might be kind of nice- sans quill/feather. I edited the picture of our 'Pot of Gold' coreopsis in photoshop and included that in the design for the splash of color. After looking at it though, I kind of missed the feather because it represents the writing/talking/blog lovin' rants I'll be throwing out there on Mercantile Muse, as well representing my designs in our etsy shop.



Pow. Pop of happy yellow. Not to quill?

 Being the fickle gal I am and since I wasn't sure about the quill being missing, I worked it back into the design. First I faded the flower behind it a little bit more so they weren't competing so much. Somehow I still can't decide.



Or to quill? That is the question.

 Liking this one. Although, I think I'll have to walk away, and come back and look at with fresh eyes before I make a final decision. Then again, does the decision really have to be final? It's a work in progress, just like me.

Any thoughts, feel free to share them.  And as promised.........Three Feathers, available on etsy at Bates Mercantile Co.


Glory be, the sun is shining again and there is a lovely breeze. It's a great laundry day, as far as laundry goes. Perfect for line drying. I'm sounding more and more like my mother (not that that is a bad thing).

And since it's Mercantile Muse's first week anniversary, I'm adding to my good things list. Just because. Feel free to add your own good things.

Good Things

That lucan is sleeping soundly on the futon,

instead of running across the street and getting into a

tussle with a very nice Dobie Girl getting a walk on a

leash, the way he did last night. Bad dog.

Sleeping soundly is much better.

lovely breezes

blog followers and online friends- givin' ya'll a wahooli!

a screen tent/house

(someday a house/room, for now a screen tent.

the mosquitoes were vicious last night)

visitors to look forward to

checking things off of lists

work on my desk

SKYPE

(I know it was on the list last week, but last night we got to skype with our friend's

mom who we haven't seen in.....oh....say about 24 years! LOVE skype.)

Have a good one. Or as Walter Brennan says in Rio Bravo- have 'a goodn'.