Peace in the midst of chaos: Yoga in Times Square

What could be better than welcoming the summer solstice with yoga?  In Times Square?
Yes, it sounded crazy to me too.  I signed up as soon as the posters hit the streets:

New York has given me so many vivid moments, the sort that remind one to be grateful for life, and today's experience was yet another joyful one.  Thousands of yogis joined one or more of the three yoga classes held today, right in the middle of Times Square.  The city cleared several large spaces within the entire stretch of road, and we rolled our mats out in the street.  I will never see Times Square in the same way again.  It was difficult at first-- the roar of traffic, the advertising assault on one's eyes, the general chaos and tourists leaning over the barricades to watch and take photos.  Gradually, I was able to breathe, and get into the flow.

There were people of all ages and abilities.  Some were clearly better than others:

If you have ever wondered what Times Square would look like from the savasana (corpse) pose, here you go:

The end, and sheer bliss....

The Lemon Ice King of Corona

It is not often that I wake up dreaming of the dessert I had the night before.  Indeed, my brain often conspires to help me forget caloric indulgences as quickly as possible.

There was no forgetting the miracle I encountered last night, though:  The Lemon Ice King of Corona.  It is in Corona, Queens, far off the beaten track for me, and I had never even heard of it until last night.  Enter my friends G & E, who recommended that we stop there after a beautiful afternoon at Atlantic beach and dinner at Jordan's Lobster.

Oh my.  I have had ices before, but never like this.  Ingeniously blended with real pieces of fruit, perfectly textured and served at exactly the right temperature.  G laughed at my stunned and dreamy expression when I tasted her peanut butter serving.  I adored my coconut choice.  And E's spumoni was spectacular.  I loved G's flavor so much I ordered a second serving just for myself.

TLIKoC was established 60 years ago by the Benfaremo family.  Apparently they've had offers to franchise it, but have refused. The corner shop is across the street from a small park that features a bocce ball court encircled by lights and flags, and was in use with a multitude of spectators.  Outdoor chess and card games were also in play throughout the park.

A point of pride: Award of Distinction from Zagat:

How to choose??

Cheap ($1.50 for small!), and strict: Don't ask for two flavors!  One at a time...

As soon I got home I looked up the address to see how long it would take to get there again from the Upper East Side via public transportation.  It would require two trains and 22 minutes of walking time; 1 hour 15 minutes total.  For one small serving of Lemon Ice King of Corona's ice?  Unquestionably worth it, and I'm already planning my next trip.

 

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...

Saving myself: A postcard from St Augustine

This winter has been brutal for many people, and I am no exception.  I cannot remember a winter that has affected me so harshly.  The cold and the dark, combined with an unrelenting and immensely stressful work situation, nearly broke me.  Where I once looked around in wonder, I now stared down at the sidewalk, huddled against the chill.  I no longer sought out new experiences, and instead took refuge in my apartment.  I slept long and hard, and awoke unrefreshed.  I drank gallons of Diet Coke in an effort to stay awake.  I constantly craved junk food and carbohydrates, often giving in, and unsurprisingly gained weight.  I fantasized every day about quitting my job and New York, and running away to a tropical island.

What happened to the wide-eyed girl that so loved exploring this city?

The day that I arrived at work in tears is the day that I finally realized that I either needed to buy a lamp designed for people with Seasonal Affective Disorder or take a much-needed vacation- I hadn't had a break since late September.  I had just hired a temporary employee whose efforts had already started to make a difference in my own workload, and I could now afford to leave for awhile, even though it was during our busiest season.  I didn't really have a choice-- I needed to mend.

The normal choices- a cruise, a resort- were not options for my non-profit budget.  With a bit of searching, I came across Discovery Yoga, a small yoga school based in St. Augustine, Florida.  It offered a Rest & Relaxation package for just $85 a night-- a single room with private bath, kitchen facilities, and one yoga class per day.   The center is within walking distance of the quaint tourist town of St Augustine, and there is a free beach shuttle.  A vegan restaurant is just around the corner from the school.

The week has been a godsend.  I've taken an eco-tour to see dolphins and birds in the estuary, spent time on the beach, walked the ancient streets of St Augustine (the first town in the United States), had an exceptional massage, practiced yoga each day with excellent teachers, and had amazing healthy, delicious food.   Every single person I've encountered here has been kind and hospitable.  I've not heard a cross word or a honking horn the entire week.   The cacophony of city traffic has been replaced by the roar of ocean waves.

I need to bring the St Augustine spirit with me back to New York.  I cannot wait for vacation to find peace, but rather need to weave it into each day.  I have some ideas, starting with ceasing to use my blackberry for an alarm clock (and thus reading work email first thing each day! crazy!).  Exploring the city's abundance of yoga studios and meditation centers is also high on my priority list.  And maybe, maybe, I can then ease into spring and sun and longer days with my spirit intact. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

A year ago I went on an expedition with my friend M, and found a most unexpected valentine. 

The sheer delight of the discovery prompted me to follow through with the suggestion of another friend to start a blog and capture my experiences in New York.

Thus it's the 1st anniversary of the blog.  Thanks to all who sit on my shoulder and explore the city with me!  It's been wonderful to have your company.

And Happy Valentine's Day!  As the unexpected valentine reminds us, "You are loved.  Yes, you."

Everyone Counts.

At 9 pm, I am usually winding down for the day and getting ready for bed.

Last night at 9 pm, I took a shower and put on my warmest clothes.  I was hyper-aware of my warm cozy apartment, the pleasure of taking a shower, the plentiful food in my cabinets.

And then I headed outside to join 3,000 of my neighors and take part in New York City's Homeless Outreach Population Estimate (HOPE) 2011.  Each year the city does a census of homeless people in public places to evaluate their outreach efforts.  Every single street of every borough is covered on foot by teams of volunteers.

I met my friend E at Hunter College, where we crowded with scores of other volunteers and were trained on what to do.  Stay with your team.  Follow the route on your map. Stay in public areas. Approach individuals respectfully.  Ask the questions on the form.  Determine if this person would be considered homeless.  Listen to your instincts if a situation feels unsafe.  Ask the individual if they would like to be taken to a shelter.  If yes, call this number.  Wait with the person until the outreach workers arrive with their van.  If an individual appears to be in danger-- exposed limbs, close to a busy roadway, incoherent-- call 911.  Tonight is Code Blue, meaning that it's very cold and you should wake any person who appears to be sleeping to make sure they are okay.

The teams of 4-5 volunteers received their instructions, their assigned area, and were asked to start their walk at exactly 12:15 am.  E and I were on the same team, headed up by an engineer who worked for the city.  We had two NYU freshman to round out our group.  Our assignment was relatively easy-- three consecutive routes in the mid East 60s.  Other groups were assigned areas that required police escort.

We walked quite awhile without encountering any homeless people.  About halfway through our route, we came across a disheveled man sitting on cardboard on the steps of a row house.  Our leader approached the man while we stood a respectful distance away.  About half way through the questioning, the guy broke into a smile and congratulated us.  He was a decoy, placed there to ensure that every street was indeed being covered.   We received a sticker to show that we "passed".  We started walking again, and saw another gentleman, this one also proving to be a decoy.  Our group started to wonder if we would complete our assignment without encountering any people who were truly homeless.  We kept walking.

Ten minutes later, a figure emerged from a dark stretch of sidewalk, pushing a shopping cart overflowing with bags of recyclable cans.  Weathered face, tattered clothes, irrepressible spirit.  One of the students approached the man.  Would he be willing to answer some questions?  The gentleman immediately launched into a diatribe about the terrible way he had been treated at some shelters.  We listened and asked questions.  We asked if he would like to get a ride to a nearby center.  He consented, and the leader called for the outreach workers.  While our group waited, he regaled us with stories in his Scottish brogue.  He said he came to the US to serve in Vietnam, and later was invited to guard the White House.

What part of his stories were true, and what parts he believed to be true, is a question that will never be answered and of course does not need to be answered.  What was important is that a group of strangers bonded that evening, listening to each other's stories late into a bitter and snowy night, and made sure that all of us had a warm and safe place to sleep.  

Snowtropolis

Winter has tested even the most hardened New Yorker this year.  Yet few can deny the beauty of the early moments when the snow has settled and still maintains its white splendor.  I was just one of many this morning with a smile on my face and a camera in hand.