NYC Trip Part 6: The Final Installment

August 4th Evening through August 5th:
Before heading all the way back into Midtown from Queens we still had one more attraction on our list to visit. Prospect Park in Brooklyn is a large, enormous really, mixed use recreational area in Brooklyn. Adjacent to the park and the Metro Station at which we arrived is the Brooklyn Botanical Garden. There was a fee to visit the Botanical Garden, and we mutually decided that we would rather spend our time looking at different neighborhoods. I must say the pictures and virtual tours on the web site make it appear to be a beautiful place worthy of a visit.

Returning focus to Prospect park, we entered through a beautiful granite archway and headed down a path into what seemed to be the heart of the park. We passed by Prospect Park Zoo which was in the process of closing for the night. Prospect Park was not at all what I expected. I had it in my mind that it was going to be something like Central Park but perhaps not as ornate. Instead, the area which Kate and I visited was mainly comprised with forests and felt more like a wild life sanctuary of sorts. Some of the occasional meadows and fields were a bit neglected, in desperate need of a mow. There was a significant amount of garbage around some places. Most of the recreational use appeared to be joggers and bikers as opposed to those taking leisurely strolls.

I personally felt there were a lot of unsavory characters wandering in this vicinity. I saw at least two late teen to early twenties men off in the woods, each by themselves away from the path. They appeared to be hiding under the cover of the evergreens waiting for someone, intermittently talking on their cell phones with purpose. I couldn’t help but wonder if they were either selling, or waiting for a delivery of drugs. Really there didn’t seem to be any other logical explanation why they would be in weird spots like that, by themselves, at dusk.

At another point about 4 local teenagers appeared out of the woods in front of us as we were walking. They seemed to be just cutting through, but I was a bit uneasy and on guard. I quickened my pace trying not to make it noticeable, and stared at my unseen destination trying not to make too much eye contact with them. At one point we came to an ornate granite tunnel underneath a road, we were headed through but at the entrance I heard voices echoing inside. It was very dark inside, and I could barely make out what seemed to be room sized recesses midway under the road off on either side of the path. I stopped and Kate asked what was wrong and I simply said “let’s take a different path”, later I explained myself when we were further away.

I was notably irritable, the bugs were starting to bite, and it was getting darker. Additionally there were way too few people out on the paths for my personal comfort. Kate, perhaps sensing my unease says “This isn’t what I expected,” I quickly responded saying we should just head back to Midtown.

If we had come to Prospect Park earlier in the day with a map of the park, and perhaps a plan of what attractions to see, maybe it would be worthwhile. I probably would appreciate a park like this a lot more had I not grown up near the countryside, and if I didn’t have the means of easily leaving the city. Personally I didn’t find Prospect Park (585 acres) to be all that different from Franklin Park (485 acres) here in Boston. They share many features in common. Both are a bit neglected, both have Zoos, both have golf courses, both have a more “sanctuary” sort of feel than a traditional city park. Interestingly, the parks even share a common designer Frederick Law Olmsted. The main difference with Prospect Park is probably the size (which actually isn’t too different). In fact, one of my complaints to Kate upon leaving was that Prospect Park was not a uniquely “NYC” experience and simply put, it wasn’t what I had come to New York City for. Kate agreed, and we hurried back to the Metro to head to Midtown. I was beginning to get hungry which was an added incentive.

We chose to go to V&T pizzeria which was on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. V&T’s had a very classic atmosphere, dark woodwork, an older Italian waiter, slow service, but great food. It had that sort of romantic feel one might expect from an establishment that has survived many years. I noticed what I surmised were a couple of “regulars” come in at one point who were seated without question. A small plasma screen TV was stashed behind the bar and a Yankees game was on. Kate and I had some Bruschetta for an appetizer and a pizza with peppers, meatballs, and pepperoni. A small pizza was plenty as I think it was 12 inches, and being hand stretched it probably came out more like 14.

After a relaxing dinner we headed to see the Lincoln Center. The water fountains were supposed to have a “light show” which we decided would best be appreciated when it was fully dark. We headed to Broadway and picked up the Metro to 66th St. We walked a block or two and found the plaza containing the lit up fountains. It was packed with people taking photographs. I took a few photos, however since I’m a novice they came out blurry for the most part. Kate and I did quite a bit more walking, eventually we ended up milling around in Times Square for a little while.

As you have ascertained it had been a very long busy day for Kate and I, and it was probably 10:30 or 11:00 when we finally decided we had to head back to the Chelsea Lodge so we could relax, and get our beauty sleep.

Sunday morning we were of course saddened that our time together in NYC was near an end. We decided to eat a hearty breakfast at a nearby diner before heading to the Port Authority Bus Terminal. I had noticed a place called “The Malibu Diner” on one of our walks that was only a few blocks from the Metro station. We eagerly headed off in pursuit of some greasy egg and batter laden delights with our suit cases in tow.

The Malibu Diner was on W23rd St. between 7th and 6th Avenue. Our food was cheap, quickly prepared, and very filling. The décor of the diner is probably exactly what you would expect. It didn’t appear to have been updated since at least the 70s, but was clean and well maintained. I had a short stack of pancakes with a side of bacon & sausage. This was accompanied by an orange juice and chocolate milk (which amusingly was regular milk with Nestle Quick). Kate had some tasty looking French toast. I think we both left the Malibu Diner very satisfied that we had experienced the quintessential NYC diner.

Kate and I were lucky and managed to get on an early bus back to Boston. I occasionally dozed off on the long ride back. The sun glimmered through the passing buildings and trees, through the tinted bus windows reminding me of the fleeting nature of summer, and for that matter, life itself. I was sad to see our time in NYC, our vacation, and our urban wandering come to an end when it seemed like it had only just begun. As I nodded off, shifting uncomfortably in the cramped bus seat, I smiled inwardly knowing that this would be a trip I’ll remember for years to come. When we neared Boston I admired the familiar green rolling hills that form the common landscape of New England. The sky was crystal blue contrasting upon the undulating leaves of the trees. To my right as we passed through Framingham I saw a railroad trestle over a lake. On the trestle teenagers were sun bathing, laughing, and jumping into the inviting glistening pool below. Despite my worn out state I just had an overwhelming sense of happiness. It was an emotional culmination of how wonderful summer is, how lucky I am to have Kate in my life, and how thrilled I am to be alive.

Summer NYC Trip: Part 5

August 4th 2007, Afternoon and Evening:

Following an over indulgent meal at the Jackson Diner we walked around a little more through Little India. Supposedly there are some Bollywood theaters in the area. I think that would have been sort of a cool activity had we more time. Perhaps on another trip when the weather isn’t calling us to explore the streets. We walked up to 35th avenue and then took a right onto it. This was a bustling road, filled with businesses, restaurants, grocery stores and tons of people. This neighborhood was really great to visit. It is a cultural melting pot combining Asian and Latin cultures. It was clean, it seemed safe, and it was vibrant. There was just a real sense that you were a tiny part of a vast living colony of humanity. I felt as though I were a cell in an organism that ebbed and flowed through concrete and mortar with a steady, collective heart beat. This is the sort of excitement that you anticipate one might find in a bustling mega-tropolis. Jackson Heights definitely boasts its own identity, a community within a community. This neighborhood is personalized and warm, while maintaining a visually frantic pace and providing residence and commerce for countless many. When we got to 90th St. we then walked to Roosevelt Avenue where the elevated Subway was. Here we boarded the train again for Flushing.

On the way to Flushing we passed by Shea Stadium and Flushing Meadows, the latter, we would visit on the way back.

Flushing is largely considered to be the “New Chinatown” in NYC. We had considered staying here had I driven in instead of taking the bus down from South Station in Boston. It would have definitely been a fun neighborhood to stay in, although I imagine our quaint location in Chelsea is much quieter at night. Much like Jackson Heights, Flushing is bustling. This area has much more of a corporate commercial element near the train stations. It includes many of the large retail chains (Macys, Best Buy etc.). Once you get away from the center of action, the name brands give way to signs in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, as well as various other Asian ethnicities/nationalities. I would assume that the area is predominantly Chinese. Chinatown in Manhattan has been largely over-run with con artists, and merchants selling imitation or stolen merchandise. While I imagine some of this still exists in this neighborhood as well, the “in your face” assault that is received in Chinatown, is absent here. I didn’t see one little old lady yelling “Turtles Turtles Turtles!!” or one shifty eyed man trying to sell me the new Bourne Ultimatum movie on DVD. (The street scape picture is an off the beaten track side road, still inundated with Asian signs for local businesses)

The Flushing Mall was mentioned in the Lonely Planet as having a “Grand Entrance” and being something to see. Well, typical of Lonely Planet’s pattern of exaggerating, the entrance was more pathetic than grand; however this attraction definitely was something to see. The food court was simply amazing; it was like being in a foreign country simply put. No Orange Julius, no Mrs. Fields, and no Sbarro’s were present in this food adventurer’s dream. Unfortunately Kate and I were still recovering from Indian buffet. The tables in one section had what appeared to be built in heaters for soup, etc. I wasn’t clear on exactly what they were honestly and Kate and I looked at them with scrunched foreheads. The Mall additionally has no Gap, no Express, and instead is filled with stores selling fine Asian silks and linens. There were some beautiful antique shops, and some furniture vendors selling enormous Chinese vases and large statues of Buddha amongst other various Asian figures. These beautiful pieces were often piled right in the center hall where merchants haggled with shoppers. In other areas Haier and Daewoo appliances were piled high and were being sold at great prices. There were several electronics stores, and a handful of grocery stores. Realizing we could be hypnotized by the fluorescent lighting in an Asian market, perhaps even easier than we could be at Wal-Mart, we managed to escape.

Back onto the streets of Flushing we followed a historical trail outlined by periodic signs. The majority of the sights on this trail were former Quaker related sites. One of the sites on the trail was the Flushing Quaker Meeting House which was amazing to see amongst the modern cinderblock structures and the ethnic melting pot that this community currently is. Flushing once had a strong Quaker presence, and several buildings remain from those times. We ended up making a long journey through Flushing streets looking for a Willow tree that no longer exists. I’m not quite sure what was even special about the willow at this point, all that I know is that it wasn’t there, and we were seriously bummed out. A stone that appeared to be an obelisk of some sort (on the trail signs throughout Flushing) was also a great disappointment. It was supposed to be the remnant of another historical estate however it turned out to be a rock underneath a tree on a side street. Oh… the rock had a plaque on it that said something or other. Kate and I were pretty tired at this point having walked a long distance outside of the main area of attraction. We regrouped, drank some water from Kate’s Nalgene bottle, and decided to scout out the Flushing branch of the Queens Borough library. It is the largest “branch” library in NYC. It is amazingly right in the middle of the hustle of "downtown" of Flushing on Main St. We were there shortly before closing, and probably managed to walk around fifteen minutes before they gave us the boot. Supposedly there are galleries to see there unfortunately we did not have the time. While we had barely tapped many things to see and do and Flushing, we wanted to see Flushing Meadows as well, and we were quickly approaching the evening. So after exiting the library, we once again boarded the Metro and headed to the Shea Stadium exit.

It was a little disappointing there was no game going on. I would have liked to see throngs of Mets fans on the trains and vendors selling goods once I got off the train. Instead we were greeted by a large ghostly station. I will say, getting off in the middle of this giant city park, was probably the first time I felt a little uneasy (as though I didn’t belong, and was somewhere I should not be) since I’d been in Queens. A vast boardwalk led over some commuter rail tracks from the station into the green, somewhat overgrown, Flushing Meadow. A tennis stadium is located there in addition to the baseball field. Everything was empty and somehow a little sad. After we were a few hundred yards into the park portion, further from the stadiums, an open area emerged near the end of the boardwalk. A handful of vendors sold various junk food items. Kate had been craving a Snow Cone which she managed to find, and I had a lemon-lime Gatorade to quench my thirst. We lounged around on some benches and watched the locals.

The people enjoying the park were predominantly Latino. This was evident by several busy makeshift soccer fields set up. There were crowds of people watching what appeared to be league games. Many of them were dressed in Brazilian colors. In this regard, the festive summer activities reminded me of my time living in Lowell, MA. The Brazilians and Cambodians alike would flood even small city parks often to play soccer.

Continuing to take in our surroundings we saw teenagers practicing soccer in some empty fountain pools, (cement painted blue) occasionally exiting them to run the ball by us on the path. Some children were selling Poland Spring bottles out of a cooler. Several makeshift food carts were selling burritos and other food items. Some skewers of meat I noticed made me seriously consider trying to force feed myself more.

Flushing Meadows is home to some relics dating back to two World’s Fairs. The most prominent are the towers which I believe were featured in Men In Black (what the roach tries to fly off in at the end of the film), and a giant steel globe called the Unisphere. The towers are in horrible disrepair. They are attached to an outside theater which is essentially in ruins. It looks like it will have to be condemned before it could be potentially repaired. Pretty sad because it looks like it must have been pretty nice years ago. There is a playhouse attached to this mess which actually appears newer, or that it was at least recently renovated. Shows were currently being staged and it appeared to be still functional. Nearby was the Queens Museum of Art which Kate & I decided against exploring. There was a couple who had just gotten married there (inside I hope). The bride and some of the party was getting photographed in front of the museum.

The Unisphere (globe) was still very cool. (see picture) The pool and fountains beneath it were not functioning any longer (cement also painted blue). This didn’t detract from the impressive sculpture. The area around the globe was being utilized primarily by skate boarders and a couple of weird guys (think "Comic Book Guy" from the Simpsons) operating remote controlled cars- the professional kind. I was a little nervous at the chance of getting taken out by one of these beastly gasoline-fueled demons.

It was getting to be time to head back into Midtown. I think I’m going to wrap part five here and continue the remainder of the fourth, and likely the fifth of August on into part 6 of the NYC trip.

An Inconvenient Truth, a chain email

The following is a chain email, forwarded by a liberal-leaning former associate of mine.

Two houses...different stories

An Inconvenient Truth: A Tale of Two Houses

House #1

A 20 room mansion (not including 8 bathrooms) heated by natural gas. Add on a pool (and a pool house) and a separate guest house, all heated by gas. In one month this residence consumes more energy than the average American household does in a year. The average bill for electricity and natural gas runs over $2,400. In natural gas alone, this property consumes more than 20 times the national average for an American home. This house is not situated in a Northern or Midwestern "snow belt" area. It's in the South.


House #2
Designed by an architecture professor at a leading national university. This house incorporates every "green" feature current home construction can ; provide. The house is 4,000 square feet (4 bedrooms) and is nestled on a high prairie in the American Southwest. A central closet in the house holds geothermal heat-pumps drawing ground water through pipes sunk 300 feet into the ground. The water (usually 67 degrees F.) heats the house in the winter and cools it in the summer. The system uses no fossil fuels such as oil or natural gas and it consumes one-quarter electricity required for a conventional heating/cooling system. Rainwater from the roof is collected and funneled into a 25,000 gallon underground cistern. Waste water from showers, sinks and toilets goes into underground purifying tanks and then into the cistern. The collected water then irrigates the land surrounding the house. Surrounding flowers and shrubs native to the area enable the property to blend into the surrounding rural landscape.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


HOUSE #1 is outside of Nashville , Tennessee ; it is the abode of
the "environmentalist," Al Gore.

HOUSE #2 is on a ranch near Crawford , Texas ; it is the residence the of the President of the United States , George W. Bush.

An "inconvenient truth."

The Hayes & Rogers Wedding

At last after what.... 8, 9 years? Several of which were spent being "friends" and for the latter half of the relationship they were officially a couple. Tim Hayes and Brandy Rogers are finally married. For those of you that don't know them, they are friends of mine through Saint Joseph's College where I went before the University of Wyoming.

The wedding was held in a small church "Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church" in Saco, Maine.

The Wedding Party: For Brandy, her sister Ryan served as the Maid of honor, Melissa (Roope) Maurais was the Matron of Honor, and Bridesmaids were Jill Dalfior, a high school friend of Brandy's and Jennifer Hayes, Tim's Sister.

Tim's best man was his brother Steve. His Groomsmen were his brother Chris, Nate Maurais, and John Madden.

Rev. John Tokaz, who Saint Josephs students know as "Father John" served as the Officiant. He gave a great sermon, conducting much of it in a Gregorian Chant style. His homily I found to be really powerful. I'm often troubled by a world that I find to be deeply selfish and cavalier. Father John's words echoed many of my own personal beliefs of what I think married life should be like. Beyond this... I think we are often too selfish even outside of our personal lives. People should pay more attention to the world around them, they should try to understand how others are feeling. These are small steps although they can seem difficult.... if everyone just did a little more listening and a little less complaining, there would be a lot of changes.

It was great to see Brandy & Tim's wedding, I have a lot of confidence that their love will span the ages.

The reception was good fun. It was held at a new event location next to the Comedy Connection in Portland (Off of Commercial St. in the Old Port). I sat at a table with Marc Blouin his girlfriend Donna, and their newest set of twins, Luke and Paisley. Marc and Donna have another set of twins, now a few years old Sean and Noah. Additionally we sat with Michelle Arsenault (John Madden's girlfriend), her sister Christine, and Christine's significant other Devon. Also at our table was a man named Graham (who's last name I forget). Graham used to hire Brandy as a babysitter for his children. His wife and children were at the table adjacent to us. I had Salmon for supper, and Kate had Chicken (the two choices) and we both enjoyed are meals. We both did quite a bit of dancing once the cake was out of the way. We stayed until the end of the reception which was around 11:30 pm, but didn't head over to the after-party at RiRa's. Kate and I were staying up in Sabattus, about 30-40 minute drive from the reception and we didn't want to get there too late and wake my parents. Additionally we had plans to get up somewhat early to go to Boothbay Harbor and see some sights.

Anyway... that's all I'm going to write for now!

Chaloux & I

I went up to Maine this past weekend with Kate for Tim & Brandy's wedding which was Friday. Saturday I woke up with a tickle in my throat and a runny nose. Initially I thought it was allergies, but it has since blossomed into and ugly cold/virus. I actually needed to take today off from work and cancelled & rescheduled a dental appointment tomorrow due to my condition. Eventually I will get around to a write up on the wedding, and finishing the last couple of installments on the NYC trip. For today I am instead putting up a picture of myself (left) and Jason Chaloux (right). The picture is from the fourth of July when Jason had a going away party. He is in the Army National Guard and after his training is completed, he'll be shipping out to Iraq. I wish him well, my thoughts will be with him.

Jason lived a block over from me and we went through Junior High and High School together. Jason's mom, Gloria, gave my mother this photo. Jason and my parents still live a block apart as do several of my other childhood neighbors. For me, visiting the neighborhood is like returning to a time that seems both recent, but at the same moment, ages in the past.

NYC Part 4: Queens (pt. 1)

August 4th, 2007 Morning thru lunch: On Saturday Kate had planned yet another day of looking at various neighborhoods off of the beaten path in the Big Apple's less popular boroughs.

Kate really did a fantastic job of putting together our itinerary. Had it been me, I'm not certain I would have chosen many of these locations which I think were very interesting to see. They gave us a chance to see the different faces of the city and really get a better grasp of the culture, and the areas outside of midtown, where the working class lives and thrives.

Queens was our destination on this day, and the tour began in a neighborhood that one of the guidebooks described as "Queens's Williamsburg". (Williamsburg was previously described as a hipster/artist haven in Brooklyn). The first section of Queens was taken in en route to Socrates Sculpture park located in the Ravenswood neighborhood bordering Astoria. To get there we took the metro into Queens to Broadway station, then we walked west toward Manhattan for 10 blocks. The Park entrance is at the end of Broadway, at the waterfront. Then neighborhood reminded me a lot of my former neighborhood in Lowell MA. Actually the neighborhood in Lowell was of all things probably more densely built up and busier. Broadway was busy around the train station, but proceeded to become sketchy-quiet within a couple of blocks. Many businesses had bars on their windows. There were actually a couple of strip malls, the first I'd seen in my time thus far in NYC. In one strip mall was a White Castle and I joked with Kate that we should go there for lunch. There was a park which we passed where a soccer field was covered entirely with cheap AstroTurf. Western Astoria appeared to be inhabited by many people, but apparently they fled their neighborhood on the weekend. I half expected some tumble weed to blow in front of me.

Several blocks into our journey I was suffering, it was HOT! There is no shade in this part of Queens. Most of the buildings are 1 to two stories and front yards tend to be paved and lacking trees. I would say that when we found the sculpture garden it was like a green oasis, but I'd be lying. The sculpture garden sat in a field of overgrown burnt grass, wedged between two scrap metal yards. As there were working studios at the sculpture garden, there were also scrap heaps within the garden. Socrates Sculpture garden was poorly maintained. The river-front spot was nice, but it was so far from any commerce, or any "pulse", that I would almost consider it to be a destination better reached by car. I was especially amused by the spray painted hay bales. Wow.... genius. Someone actually probably had a government grant to do that, and that is the scary part.

On the way back towards Broadway Station we at first were going to try and and walk further down a few blocks to the 30th Ave station. We at first attempted to do this near the park, but found that it took us into what looked like projects and an area even more quiet then the previous section of Ravenswood. We turned back to Broadway and then took a left by the strip mall onto 30th St. This road was a commercial center for the neighborhood and had a few offices, fast food establishments, and hotels. We passed a McDonalds where we stopped to get sodas to help cool off. The McDonalds was like a sauna inside, even hotter than the 90+ weather outside. The air conditioner was broken and a floor model fan circulated the humid air providing little relief for the tortured employees. After our purchases we quickly left for relief back out in the summer sun.

When we finally arrived at 30th Ave it was like night and day compared to Broadway. 30th Ave was lively filled with cafes, bars, grocery stores, and many people. It was vibrant and the change of scenery made me forget about the heat and enjoy the exploration. Kate and I got onto the Metro, which is an elevated train through most of Queens. We next headed out to Astoria-Ditmars Blvd station which was the end of this particular line. We walked around here a little bit, which like 30th Ave was lively and full of commerce. Both of these areas were primarily dominated by Greek or Latino ethnicity. There were many Greek restaurants and a ton of beautiful bakeries.

Kate and I were getting very hungry at this point and we had decided to go to "Jackson Diner" a well know Indian rood restaurant in Jackson Heights. We got back on the train to head over to Jackson Heights where this source of nourishment was located. Jackson Heights contains "Little India". This neighborhood was really interesting. It was really dense and the streets were much more narrow than what we had seen earlier in Astoria. The streets were lined with Indian restaurants, grocery stores, and apparel stores. Manikins decorated the windows wearing various Indian fashions, and Indian music poured out of passing cars. Jackson Diner to our great pleasure was having a buffet. The food was great and the restaurant was packed. I don't think I had anything new that I had never tried with the exception of a rice pudding which was almost too sweet. The food was over all some of the best Indian food I've eaten, and it definitely hit the spot.

I'll continue the rest of the journey through Queens in Part 5.

An August Weekend

I had an eventful and entertaining summer weekend.

It commenced on Friday night when I took Jason out for Sushi (his Birthday was last weekend but he was away for work). It was a new Japanese restaurant called Yoki located at Station Landing off of the Wellington Station T stop on the Orange Line. Great food, I had some Miso soup, some Yakitori, and two rolls, a salmon and "spicy scallop" roll. We went to Cold Stone following the sushi feast. Jason was pleased to show me the evidence of his most recent adventure. He hit a bat with his car and it is embedded in the grill of his car. Lovely.

Saturday I woke up early enough to finally get the oil changed on my car. While I was at Ford waiting I walked over to the new Chipolte grill. As I was telling Kate, it is as though someone designed this chain Mexican eat and go establishment with me particularly in mind. It was great... easily blows Baja Fresh, Qdoba, and even some of boston's local joints (Anna's and Bocca Grande) away. The food was delicious, affordable, fresh, the service was great, the atmosphere is great... and I could go on. One cool feature was the piped in music was very good, I heard Elliott Smith, My Morning Jacket, Steely Dan, John Lennon, Portishead, and several other artists who I didn't recognize but was chomping at the bit to try and figure out who it was. I learned from a message on my drink cup (of all things) that Chipolte has a relationship with an organization called "etown" which enhances the listening experience. As explained on the website: etown is an exciting weekly radio broadcast heard from coast to coast on NPR, public and commercial stations. Every etown show is taped in front of a live audience and features performances from many of today's top musical artists as well as conversations and information about the world around us. At etown, we build community through music. I'm going to have to make a point to find and listen to one of etown's shows.

I returned to my apartment as soon as my oil change was complete, and performed some errands quickly. I headed out around 1:30 to go pick up Kate. We were going to Providence to check out Water Fire. This event which Providence holds several weekends a summer is nothing short of awesome. The description honestly doesn't do it justice. Neither do the pictures that I snapped. The premise is that Providence sets up these large torches/fires on the system of canals that go through providence. They are lit just after dusk and are fed with wood the entire evening by people on gondolas. The effect is mystical, romantic, and very unique. It feels as though you are watching some sort of Ancient Roman ceremony, and thousands show up to see it. It just touches upon that primal satisfaction of watching and being near a controlled fire. It creates this wonderful sense of contentment and sense of community with all who are there to witness it. I would strongly advise anyone who is able to make the trip to check it out. Providence is an hour south of Boston, and it is a free event. See the link provided above.

I have no idea what I'm doing with my camera at this point so the picture is blurry... I have to practice with the settings. It appears to try to focus on close objects.... like some guy's noggin.

There was additionally a Latin band from Puerto Rico performing and a large mass of people dancing. The stage was set up on the corner of an ornate office building which had red curtains draped under it's grand entrance. It was beautiful with spotlights and large colorful moving lights which were dancing over the crowd and along the high-rises adjacent to the outdoor festival. We would have danced... however Kate had her backpack and we didn't want to seriously injure anyone. Again.... crappy picture... if anyone has any digital camera advice for me... feel free to send it along.

At some point that evening we stumbled upon an old fashioned diner which was set up near the bus terminal in Providence. Kate bought me a milkshake and got herself a Diet Coke. This is a picture where I attempt to self-photograph us in front of the diner. Again... blurry. There must be a motion or resolution setting I can adjust.

Prior to this event it had been probably 15 years since I had been to Providence. When I last went there, to put it bluntly, it was a dump. Now the small city is beautifully invigorated with culture and activity. I was blown away. They were just building "Providence Place" when I was last there, which is a large mall. I actually thought the mall was wasteful at the time, and that it would further suck the life out of the downtown. This however has definitely not happened.

In addition to Water Fire, Kate and I walked around the Brown Campus and Thayer St., a hipster/artist haven near the University. We ate at a place called Spats which was just off of Thayer St. We ate on some sidewalk cafe tables because the weather was absolutely gorgeous. It was 75 degrees Farenheit out so of course Kate was freezing (Pictured in sweatshirt). We had a great meal, I had Fish & Chips which came with a unique, tasty, corn-based salad. Kate had a Chili burger which she enjoyed. After we went to a local bakery and cafe where we purchased a couple of plate sized cookies which were simply divine.

Sunday was a pretty lazy day. Kate and I walked around Melrose a bit, made supper, watched TV, and I drove her back to Brookline in the evening.

Now it's off to another week!!

NYC Part 3: Coney Island

Coney Island

August 3rd, 2007 (Afternoon): We waited in a hot stuffy metro station for fifteen minutes and I counted about four different rats before the train came. One of them was actually right on the platform with us. When the train finally came it was sweet relief to slip into the air conditioning and settle down on the hard orange plastic chairs that adorned the metro cars. Kate gave me the window seat because soon the train would travel from under the ground to an elevated track on its way to Coney Island. This outer section of Brooklyn that we passed over was very run down. I suspect the view was probably better from the ground as subway lines tend to be hot spots for graffiti displays and trash collected over decades. I actually don’t mind the graffiti too much; I find quite a bit of it an interesting and attractive portion of the urban landscape. I think the back sides of buildings, mostly commercial and industrial properties which face the tracks are an ideal location for this often elaborate graffiti. It doesn’t ruin someone’s personal residential property, and does not detract from the image of the actual neighborhood when you are on the street. It seems on the orange line here in Boston that graffiti is tolerated in locations such as these. From the look of it, I would say the same is true of Brooklyn.

Eventually after passing by/over rooftops, cemeteries, projects and industrial relics, we finally arrived at the Coney Island metro terminal. The station is a fairly large one compared to most of the metro stations. It is decorated elaborately with frescos of the Coney Island of old. There is a certain romantic quality as you exit into the metro terminal. One can easily imagine generations of New Yorkers bring their families there for a few hours of escape during the dregs of a hot summer.

Soon after exiting the station, the bright colored displays of numerous food stands invaded my line of sight, enchanting me like the call of a Siren. The most alluring of these is (as one might expect) Nathan’s Famous hot dog stand. Nathan's retro look, bright yellow paint, numerous old fashioned lit signs put a smile on my face. I was salivating like one of Pavlov’s dog trapped in a church steeple.

Kate and I immediately began milling around Nathan’s trying to determine what we would soon be eating, and what the M.O. was on ordering. Nathan’s had different sections for different types of food. As it turns out they actually have quite a broad menu, and seem to be known for chicken as well (at least locally). Eventually we find the right line where we can get hot dogs and French fries. The hot dogs were nice, I would say better than Fenway Franks, but perhaps not as good as the steamed hot dogs I used to get in the park in Brunswick Maine (near Bowdoin College for the curious). The French fries were amazing, great crispy texture and seasoned just right. They weren’t crinkle cut, and they weren’t steak fries, but were somewhere in between. The trophy for best French Fries (that I’ve had) still goes to Lisa’s at Old Orchard Beach Maine, served with a little vinegar.

Moving right along we headed to the boardwalk and walked south to a decent sized pier. We walked out to the end amongst numerous tourists as well as locals who were fishing off of the side. Unlike the pier at Old Orchard Beach, there are no buildings on the structure itself, so you have some nice views of the Coney Island skyline. I stopped to take a photograph here. If you look closely you can see the old “famous” cyclone rollercoaster.
After admiring a big plastic palm tree on a playground that sprayed cool water, Kate and I continued on to “Astroland” the quaint amusement park at Coney Island. Truth be told, if it didn’t have the roller coaster, and the “Wonder Wheel” (see photo) this park of mostly carnival rides would not be any bigger than “Palace Playland” at Old Orchard Beach. The attractions essentially mirrored those at O.O.B. as well, complete with a pirate ship that swings uncomfortably over the street in its cramped quarters. Astroland has some unique things, like Wonder Wheel, which has free moving cars on tracks within the wheel (It looks real nauseating) in addition to the traditional stationary cars on the fringes of the wheel. It has a small log flume ride, and a large observatory tower that lifts you like an elevator and spins you slowly around. There is a “Satanic” themed Fun House, which I believe may have been the one featured in Christian Bale’s art film, “The Machinist”. While Astroland may have some more unique rides compared to New England’s campy beach side resort, Palace Playland definitely has a much larger arcade… and superior Ski Ball. Kate and I played Ski Ball, and she kicked my ass as usual. We pooled our tickets at the end of our competition and bought two little yellow rubber ducks.

We walked down the boardwalk with the beach to our right and a breeze blowing in off of the

water. The beach is surprisingly nice (unlike

Revere Beach). There were sizable waves breaking and the sand was beautiful, relatively flat, extensive, and it appeared to be clean. I commented to Kate that it looked actually quite inviting, despite it’s proximity to America’s largest city. We followed the Boardwalk to the end where we passed through the Brighton Beach community, and then Manhattan Beach. Brighton Beach we passed by, and we would return there eventually to get on the metro. Manhattan Beach was a quaint, almost suburban style community set right on the ocean. Art Deco apartment towers gave way to homes predominantly southwestern appearing with red tiled roofs. This quiet neighborhood followed the water and we made our way to a beautiful state park which had a very nice beach oasis in the midst of NYC. We sat on a bench for a while, took in the sea breeze and watched people cool off at the end of a hot city afternoon. It was picture perfect, and sadly I didn’t take a picture.

As we left the state park we noticed another water sprayer for children and of course headed over to get some heat relief. I snapped the picture of Kate seconds after she doused her head with the cool water.

We headed back to Brighton Beach where followed the elevated train tracks through the central commerce district, until we found the station. The streets were lined with Russian and eastern European diners, delis, and markets. People speaking Russian out numbered those speaking English in sections. Beautiful fruit displays decorated the fronts of numerous grocery and convenience stores. The streets were very busy with a mix of locals and probably many tourists too. I suspect many of them were actually Russian tourists who had come specifically to this neighborhood where their culture is strongly rooted.

We headed back into Manhattan on the train and discussed where to eat. Kate decided that I should pick out a restaurant. After flipping through her guidebook I found a place called “Sea” in the Lower East Side, which served Thai food. It was a trendy place with electronica that was more contemporary than the garish music that played at “Cafeteria”. The atmosphere actually was really trendy while remaining low-key and stylized. It had a cavernous feel since it was a basement location. The décor was modern with tables lining each wall of a very narrow dining room. The seats closest to the walls were comprised of a booth style cushioned bench that ran the entire length of the long room. The corners of the ceiling were adorned with diagonally oriented mirrors on each side of the room. I could actually see my backside in front of me as I ate. I suppose this comes in hand with all of the traffic down the center aisle in a confined space. I had some Tom Yum soup (with shrimp) to start, then some beef with basil. Kate had a dish that consisted of chicken with chopped tomatoes and cucumbers among various other vegetables. Both dishes were delicious, and it ranked up there with the best Thai food I’ve eaten. I had a Thai beer with my meal called “Singha” which wasn’t too bad. I’d prefer it to Budweiser or Heineken any day.

It was beginning to get late in the evening at this point. We had another full day planned for exploring Queens so it was decided we would go back to Chelsea. We ended up getting some soft serve ice cream before finally heading into the Chelsea Lodge to get cleaned up and relax after our busy day.

Stay tuned for NYC part 4: Queens, Astoria (painted hay bales and more!)

Intermission part deux

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...

I know, the way my posts have been you probably saw this puppy coming from a mile away. Anyhow... after some involuntary napping tonight, I've come to the decision to put off the NYC part three post (Coney Island) for another day.

White House calls Clinton ad 'outrageous'



For your viewing pleasure here is Hillary's first campaign ad which she has come under some heavy criticism for. Her attack on the current administration seems a bit below the belt. (Considering how EASY it should be to effectively criticize the Bush administration..... without being divisive... well that is saying something). This sort of behavior, quite frankly, vindicates the "right wing conspiracy" type of critic who has been saying Hillary is polarizing and radical. Read the article on CNN about Hillary's response to the criticism... it makes it seem even more incredible. (You think she may have picked up on the effectiveness of Cindy Sheehan (or lack there-of), but apparently not).

Have a wild Wednesday.

Summer NYC trip: PART DEUX

Alright, without further delay here are the details.

August 3rd, 2007: Our first evening at The Chelsea Lodge was a bit of a long one. The accommodations were comfortable, but for whatever reason we could not sleep. As this problem did not carry over into the following evenings, I write it off to the excitement of the trip, and getting used to a new place. It wasn’t the first time that I had problems catching some Zs on the first night of a vacation away.

Kate and I got ready and munched on some of our cookies that we purchased the night before to hold us off until lunch.

We eventually got around to heading out into a hot summer day. We boarded the metro and took the “L train” to Bedford Avenue in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn. Williamsburg was really embellished upon heavily by lonely planet. It is considered NYC’s “hipster” neighborhood, affordable, slightly off the beaten path (If possible in NYC) and a busy clash of cultures and art. Williamsburg supposadely is the home of a couple great indie rock bands of the past couple years, including Interpol, and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah.

I must say Williamsburg made me question if I have any “hipster” credentials at all. When Kate described what tour guides had written I was really into the idea of it exploring it, but honestly I did not know what I was getting into. It made me feel like a yuppie.

Williamsburg reminded me of my old neighborhood in Lowell. It was a clash of industrial and residential that wasn’t in the least bit attractive, but rather had an air of depression. For the most part, noone was strolling around on the streets. The area considered to be the nicest part, or the “hip” section of Williamsburg looked like a bunch of abandoned warehouses, the occasional construction site, and every once in a while an out of place “luxury condo” tower. There were few store fronts, and at least half of those that existed were boarded up. The other half consisted of your token greasy spoon pizza joints, liquor stores, pawn shops, western union, and sketchy bars not unlike the “Molly K’s” that I once lived adjacent to. In addition, the suggestion of the “artist community” was occasionally noted in some artist studios, usually decorated with graffiti (which wasn’t even good graffiti, rather crudely spray painted names hastily produced). There were a couple of clothing stores which I suspect were a individual designer’s exclusive show room. Frequently there were lots surrounded by razor edged barbed wire fences. Some of these looked like actual “secure parking” areas, while I think others were chop shops, much like the one near me on Middlesex St. in Lowell. The most common theme in Williamsburg was that it was a complete cesspool. There was garbage absolutely everywhere. If the garbage wasn’t matted down on the street or collecting in culverts and beneath overpasses, it was stacked, overflowing beyond the boundaries of trash cans. There were frequent industrial sized dumpsters that blocked off part of the sidewalks. Gutting buildings seemed to be the number one employment opportunity in Williamsburg. Each block had at least one demolition operation in progress. (as an additional note of amusement, or horror, note that the Wikipedia article says that Williamsburg was once deemed the most "toxic" neighborhood in America).

In the “nice” section of Williamsburg, known as Greenpoint, a large Moorish looking church called “The Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord” sat on the edge of a small overgrown city park. At this early point in the day, it was the first slightly interesting attraction, so I took a picture.

Occasionally I would see a sandwich shop or café that was hidden in an old decaying building. One unique eatery was a Fried Chicken diner called Pies N Thighs that had café tables set up in an adjacent alley. There were no other businesses on the block, and it was located nearly underneath an overpass heading towards the Williamsburg bridge. The location was one especially blooming with trash and tags spray painted where ever there was an available surface. We passed by this just prior to arriving at the second feature of interest in Williamsburg, “Grand Ferry Park”. Grand Ferry Park was described as having good city views, which it did. However this park was about the size of my parents yard, and the grass was burnt where it wasn’t overgrown. It was at the end of a short dead end road, and was wedged between two abandoned factories which were essentially industrial waste lands. Check out the link for some additional pictures of Grand Ferry Park. On the plus side there was a working water fountain there which didn’t taste too much like copper. There was an older couple, young seniors I’d guess, who apparently also had followed their lonely planet guide to this wonderful oasis (sarcasm intended). From here we walked to Broadway St. which actually was fairly lively, and pretty unique looking. The subway was elevated above the street, and store fronts tended to be decorated in bright yellows and pastels. The neighborhood seemed primarily Latino, however I would say there was a strong Asian population as well. We walked down this road for several blocks before picking up the “G train”.

Once on the G train we headed to Bergen St. station which led us to the Cobble Hill and Crown Heights area. Kate wanted to check out a park which was located near the Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. We had a little bit of a problem orienting ourselves coming off the metro and ended up heading down a street in the wrong direction for a few blocks. This ultimately proved beneficial because we ended up finding a children’s playground that had these water jets which we cooled down in. Kate was knocking small children out of her way so she could cool down (just kidding). We did eventually find the park which lonely planet described as a place where “couples read to each other in the morning”. I think someone was a bit creative there, but it was a nice little green space anyway. Following a brief break, we walked about a mile east on Atlantic avenue through the Cobble Hill neighborhood. These two neighborhoods were very pleasant, and seemed very livable. They were composed primarily of brownstones, and there was an abundance of restaurants and bars.... food and drink, priorities. Ironically, I don't have pictures of Broadway in Williamsburg, or the two nice Brooklyn neighborhoods that we saw in the early afternoon.

Just prior to arriving at our metro stop there was a mosque service getting out, and the streets were mobbed with bearded men.

We boarded the subway, and headed out on the last leg of our Brooklyn tour. I’m going to continue this tomorrow, as it is getting a bit late: Coming soon, NYC part three “Coney Island”.

Intermission (part one)

Yes... the cheap way out, that is what this post is.... Intermission.

Intermission because I just don't have the time to put up NYC "part deux" yet unless I want to stay up really late... so it is just going to have to wait. Besides, the last post was definitely long enough to keep you busy... if you even made it all the way through, and this next one... It's going to be even longer. It will be about the first full day in the Big Apple after all.

Sooo...... Instead a splash of politics.

I often lavish praise on old Newty Gingrich, and will likely continue to do so.

Gingrich says war on terror 'phony': Former speaker says energy independence is key

You said it Newt.... the less we have to deal with the radicals the better. Right now our thirst for oil from the Middle East is filling the coffers of fundamentalists. It is ironic that for the most part we are pouring money into the region that spews so much resistance our way.

Other gems from the article include, but are not limited to:

• Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said Thursday the Bush administration is waging a "phony war" on terrorism, warning that the country is losing ground against the kind of Islamic radicals who attacked the country on Sept. 11, 2001.

• "We have got to get past this partisan baloney, where I'm not allowed to say anything good about Hillary Clinton because 'I'm not a loyal Republican,' and she's not allowed to say anything good about me, or she's not a 'loyal' Democrat. What a stupid way to run a country."

• "We've been engaged in a phony war," said Gingrich. "The only people who have been taking this seriously are the combat military."

• HMMMMMM...... Gingrich said he would lay out in a Sept. 10 speech what a successful U.S. approach to this threat would have looked like over the past six years.

Summer NYC trip: PART ONE

Alright... Going to try this again.

August 2nd, 2007: Kate and I left Boston's South Station for a long (or so it seemed to me) bus ride to NYC's 42nd St. Bus Terminal. After arriving at our destination we took our luggage and then boarded the Metro (Subway) to head to 23rd St. in Chelsea. When we exited the station, we walked down 8th Ave. to 20th St. where our hotel "The Chelsea Lodge" was located. The Chelsea lodge was a great Bed & Breakfast style accommodation which was available at a great price, in a great location. The rooms were “economically packaged” and we had to share toilets with other guests, but each room had its own shower and sink. In previous years, The Chelsea Lodge had apparently received awards for the best budget hotel in NYC. The owners definitely seemed to pour their hearts into the business. The check in clerk, who I assume was probably one of the owners, even helped Kate bring her suitcase to the room, refusing a tip when it was offered. The décor of the Lodge was masculine with a bit of a country motif. Duck decoys decorated the lobby with extensive woodwork, dark green wall paper, and yellow-gold wainscoting. An open banister staircase led up to two floors where the lodging was. Hardwood floors flowed through the building and green carpet runners provided an accent and protection in areas of heavy traffic. Each room was individually decorated, much like one may do in their own home. The over all style of The Chelsea Lodge would compliment a L.L. Bean catalogue shoot, despite being in the heart of the United State’s most populous city.

After dropping off our things we headed out to explore the streets of Chelsea. Our meandering brought us to the Chelsea Pier, home to a large sports/entertainment complex. On the water there was a pedestrian path accented by occasional green space. We headed back into the stone and mortar that comprises Chelsea to see the Chelsea Market. The Chelsea market is home to many specialty food shops, boutiques, restaurants, and grocery stores. Displays of food were beautiful, like something out of a foodie’s imagination of what heaven might be like. Anchoring the Market is “The Food Network” headquarters. I had some difficulty pulling Kate away from the lobby window. The bounty of nourishment on display at the Chelsea Market made it very apparent to us that we were in need of a food fix.

On our way out, Kate had her Lonely Planet guide in hand and was reading off our various options. We decided to go with one of the closest establishments which specialized in “American cuisine” which was a described as an affordable diner-meets-bistro establishment. This restaurant was called “Cafeteria”. Upon arriving, I think Kate and I were a little taken a-back because it wasn’t what we anticipated from Lonely Planet’s description. Cafeteria was a trendy restaurant decked out in bright white pleather seats and white walls with mirrors, and a glass and mirrored bar. The techno/house music permeated the air with a loud, but tolerable volume. At times the music was a steady beat droning on, but occasionally it acclimated into an almost laughable bump & grind hard-core electronica cheese fest. On the cover of the menu was a picture of a scantily clad male model in a black and white picture. The staff and clientele was probably at least 1/3 homosexual-male. There was an older tourist couple (probably in their sixties) who honestly stuck out more than we did. Being in the heart of Chelsea, NYC’s rainbow-friendly neighborhood, there was bound to be a heavy prevalence of the homosexual influence. Shrugging off some minor feelings of alienation I sat down and ordered some food. I joked with Kate that I was glad that I wore a Ralph Lauren polo shirt. I started off with a glass of lemonade, which was probably the best lemonade I’ve ever had. It was very tangy, and definitely appeared to be fresh squeezed. Kate ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, with the unusual topping of sliced apples. The sandwich was a thing of beauty when it arrived. The plates of food were meticulously arranged. French fries were stacked vertically in a stainless steel cup with a piece of wax paper. Delicious dill pickles, the type that still seem fresh garnished the sandwiches. I ordered a simple “Classic Burger” which was so large that I could not finish it. It came with massive slices of onion and tomato, and a plentiful bed of lettuce. We were more than glad that we stayed at Cafeteria despite being out classed by the metro-sexual, homosexual, and dressed to kill New Yorkers that frequented this stylized eatery.

Following this we decided to get on the Metro and go to Central Park. We walked around Central park for quite a while. We observed ducks and turtles that were hanging out in the ponds. We watched families with their frolicking children play at a seasonal carnival set up in the Central Park skating rink. We took note of various points of interest within the park. One such attraction proved to be very elusive to us. We spent the better part of our evening searching for a grove of American Elm trees. It supposedly is the largest remaining grove of original (non-genetically engineered) American Elms that survived a disease that wiped many of them out. We walked around in circles, fought off discouragement and exhaustion, and finally reaped the fruit our efforts. The Elms were beautiful, their canopy of high twisting branches cast shade from the remaining summer sun at dusk. We collapsed on a bench in the center of the grove which is simply known as “The Mall”. We watched chatty women, mothers with strollers, teens on roller blades, and the occasionally backpacker still clad in an oxford from the office, flow by. After regaining our breath (well sort of), we headed to see Belvedere Castle, the highest point in Central Park. From this vantage point I took the picture of “The Lake” which was bright green with algae. NYC is conducting an extensive effort to clean up the lake, and much of it is drained and under repair. We then walked through the Brambles, which is supposed to be an ideal location for board watchers. It was fairly thick and rugged, and I found myself inwardly chanting “lions, tigers, and bears” as I maneuvered my way through this section. Eventually we exited Central Park on the west side and walked by Strawberry Fields. I had visited this in the winter when strangely enough there were actually more Lennon fans paying tribute. Some flowers were arranged over the stone mosaic, and I attempted to take a photo. I unfortunately rushed it, and as you can see it is a bit blurry. I was barely conscious at this juncture and we made a joint decision to head back to Chelsea and call it a night. Before retiring to Chelsea Lodge we hit up a local CVS where we bought cookies and sodas to bring back. We delighted in our sugary snacks as we watched Wonder Years reruns before finally turning in.

ARRRRGGHHH!!!!!

I was attempting to write part one of the NYC highlights. That being said. It's too late and I unfortunately just can't write this tonight... I wrote about 80% of this thing and deleted it accidentally....... twice now.... I have about a 1/3 of it saved in Microsoft word file so hopefully I will find the time tomorrow.

I'm tired, had a long bus ride, I locked myself out of my apartment..... after Kate came over and we were supposed to have a great evening walking in the nice weather. Jason was kind enough to help me contact our slum lord. (I locked my phone in the apartment too) He yelled at Jason and hung up at him telling my "irresponsibility" was my problem and not to call him on the weekend or use his cell phone. (I'm pretty sure it's his job to respond whether he likes it or not). I called a locksmith.... the good news being this dude actually opened my door without destroying the knob so it "only" ran me $95. We got in finally just past 8:00 and got some pizza for supper. I've spent my entire evening wasting my time writing things that got deleted because blogger sucks. I should just write the whole thing in word, the problem lies in placing the images which becomes problematic if the text is there first.

Anyway.... I'm giving up for now. My head hurts and I want to go to bed.

As far as my first NYC post, I want to spend time doing it right so it is at least semi-coherent.

Happy Monday.

In NYC till Sunday

Hello all, I will be visiting the Big Apple with Kate until Sunday, so in other words, no blog entries finishing out this week. I will be back with material (provided by my digital camera) from the NYC trip. Till then! (The photo is taken in Brooklyn looking towards Manhattan, December 2006)