Spring, finally.

Spring has finally arrived in New York in full force.  It teased us for quite awhile, with promising afternoons followed by days of rain or cold.  The new season has gathered momentum now, with flowers, musicians, artists and other delights venturing out into the sunshine.  It's a beautiful time to be here.

From the Brooklyn Botanical Garden:

Lovely art on the street:

A sense of humor returning underground:

Music everywhere:

Setting sail in Central Park and lifting spirits of all who see them:

A wonderful prelude to summer...

Spring!

This past weekend was the most beautiful weather I can ever remember for the Easter holiday.  Absolutely perfect temperatures... a perfect warm coolness, or a cool warmness.

The tree-lined streets on the Upper East Side were decked out in poofy white clouds, otherwise known as Callery Pear trees.  I've been longing for days like this, during the darkest and coldest days of winter.  I am a little stunned that my wishes have come true, finally.



When I returned home from my sister's place on Sunday, I had a Very Long List of Things I Must Absolutely Do.  I had every intention of Doing them.  But the sun had different ideas, and within minutes of my return home its tendrils gently loosened my fingers from my pen and turned off my computer and paused my iTunes.  I floated out of the apartment and down the stairs on the sun rays, and eventually found myself on the street, walking in the direction of the park, immersed in the beauty of the season.

Carl Schulz Park is not nearly as grand as its neighbor to the west.  It has its own special merits, though, and is worthy of the neighborhood.  A special treat is the view of the East River:

The playground was full of little ones, and had wonderful chalk drawings of every type:

I took a nap in the grass for an hour or so, read a bit, and wrote in my journal. I felt at peace.  I needed this time more than I had realized.

Walking home, I passed a charming cafe:

It lived up to its name, with a very welcoming place for dogs as part of its outdoor seating:

Annie Dillard wrote that "how we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives." 

And also: "Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you."

A fine afternoon, indeed.

After School Special: Ping Pong & Flowers

It's only Wednesday, and the work week is already grueling.  I refused to stay late again tonight, and at 6pm skipped out the door with my camera to head for Macy's Flower Show.

Happily, the route took me through Bryant Park:

How can you not fall in love with a park that has two ping pong tables? 

I wasn't sure what to expect at Macy's.  I thought there would probably be one floor closed off, with a lot of flower displays.  I was totally wrong, and unprepared for what I was about to see.  Macy's went all out (silly of me to underestimate them, given the Thanksgiving Parade!) and used over a million flowers on its first floor flower exhibition-- which was intertwined with its makeup and jewelry displays.  It was spectacular, and incredibly fun to wander around.  It also smelled delicious!

yep, those are birds.

The show was a lovely way to end the day, and I totally forgot about work for awhile.  The final smile of the evening came about as I was walking to the subway.  I looked down, and saw:

I had to try it.  I put my feet on the stenciled ones, and pointed my camera up.  Sure enough, the Empire State Building at night!

A pleasant morning walk

The air was cool and moist this morning, and felt lovely on my skin.  Invigorated, I took a slight detour on the way to the subway station in search of signs of spring.

First there was the building with its hair on fire:

Down the street, you could almost feel one tree stretching out her limbs and her blossoms unfolding its petals:

After admiring the tree, I turned around to cross the street and was greeted by a lamp.

Lots of lamps.

What sort of place would have such unique lamps as decoration? I searched for a sign.

Ah, a school. 

Why on earth would there be a school for genies?  Perhaps a sister school to Hogwarts?  I'm surprised they're out in the open, though-- surely they'd be continually petitioned by Wishers.

I puzzled over it for awhile. It wasn't until I sat down at my desk at work that I realized it was a Lamp of Knowledge.

I like the magic genie explanation better, though, don't you?