Bryant Park

Bryant Park, behind the main public library, was one of our favorite places in New York. It was a scary place in the '70s and '80s, we're told, known as "needle park," filled with drug pushers and users. But then people who know something about the psychology of public spaces made some changes, making it more visible and accessible to everyone -- and look what a wonderful, vibrant place it is now! I didn't take time to explore the inviting reading area, but I will if I'm ever there again. We did have coffee there with Tim and Shannon, and we all thought it was quite wonderful.

Making a video

Eric and his brother and three friends are at last filming the video he's been planning for months. They are at Turn Island this weekend trying to film all the segments he'll need to tell the story. John and I rowed down and back -- it seemed like against both the wind and the tide both ways! Tim came out in his motorboat and gave us a tow past Minnesota Reef which was a great help. It still felt good to be out on the water again.

Goodbye

The Park Service superintendent has announced plans to remove one of the huge bigleaf maples at English Camp because it's become a hazard to visitors and employees. When you walk into the parade ground it's obvious why, but it's sad to see it go. The Park Service says it's nearly 300 years old.

Birders keep in touch

I was so impressed to learn that birders in Central Park keep one another up on what they've seen in this very low-tech way: handwritten notes in a loose-leaf notebook in the cafeteria at Loeb's Boathouse. So this notebook was one of my must-see items when we got there. Pale Male -- a red-tailed hawk named by the birding enthusiasts for his light coloration -- was the first hawk in many years to nest on a high-rise building and produce young in New York City. He has had a succession of mates; several have died and been replaced within days. Where do they come from? How do they know he's available? This year he and Xena produced three young and I saw two of them. Birders set up their spotting scopes near the model-boat pond and generously share their use with everyone.

A dog's life

On our second-last day in New York City, a warm, sunny Sunday, we sat here along the Hudson within sight of the Statue of Liberty, and watched people walking, biking, rollerblading, scootering, or just basking in the warmth. A group of men on the bench next to us seemed to be settled in for the afternoon -- as did one man's beautiful dog, which was equally content sitting on his owner's lap or sprawled out in the way of everyone coming by.

We thought we'd come back the next day to rent bicycles on this lovely, level paved path -- perhaps less crowded on a Monday -- but it rained intermittently all day so we lost our chance. And the day after that we headed for home.

Brooklyn Bridge

Walking the Brooklyn Bridge was one of our major goals in New York City, but we did it in the rain and it was undergoing repairs so that we couldn't see everything as clearly as we had hoped. Nevertheless it is magnificent, and you do indeed walk above the traffic rather than alongside it as on other bridges.

Trinity Church

We've just returned from a visit to New York City and I want to share a few pictures. This is Trinity Church on Wall Street, the tallest building in Manhattan when it was built in 1846 (at 281 feet) and only topped by the Brooklyn Bridge later in the century.