Notes from the Fire Escape

       Yesterday, the New York Philharmonic Orchestra invited 35,000 of their closest friends to a picnic with spectacular live music in Central Park. Every summer the NY Phil performs a free concert in Central Park on the Great Lawn.

        The day began with an afternoon shower putting a question mark on whether people would show up for the evening concert in The Park. John and I decided on going regardless of the weather and headed out to Central Park West at 86th Street around 6:30 for an 8:00 performance. We felt pretty smug having packed a couple of blankets and bottles of cold water. When we exited the 4,5,6 train and stepped onto the entrance to the park, we were folded into a stream of people. "Could all these people be going to the concert?" Duh! Yes.

      When we arrived at the Great Lawn, a mass of humanity was sprawled on the green carpet of grass. It looked like an up-scale refugee camp. We gradually picked our way through the puzzle of blankets and shoes to find our own spot on the lawn. The other campers had immense spreads of wine, cheese, delicate meats, salads and candles. I've never wanted to beg for food until right then. By the time we got our blanket positioned, my mouth was watering from the mixture of smells and visual delights.

 
    John and I had no idea that this was a picnic. The New York community gathered in one spot to relax, drink, eat and socialize as one. Some groups were small, numbering 2. Some, were huge, numbering 10 or more. Great music blared from the gigantic speakers, people toasted the beautiful NY weather and ... we all took a deep breath.

   A rousing rendition of John Phillip Souza's Stars and Stripes Forever concluded with fireworks. Not just a little boom-boom. No, this was a practice run for the 4th. New York never ceases to amaze me. How can the largest city in the US feel like small town America? Size does not preclude the need for community, even if the "community" is 35,000 strong.  Good job New York!

 

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    We've all heard about, read about, maybe even dreamed about Coney Island. On Thursday, John and I hopped on the F train and made the 1-1/2 hour trip to Brooklyn and Coney Island. However you picture Coney Island...that's not it.

    The first thing you see is an old rickety roller-coaster that makes the clickety-clack sounds before plumeting to the bottom of the loop. The carnies still beckon you over to throw a ball or try your luck shooting down ducks. There's cotton candy, Nathan's famous hotdogs, ice-cream, candied apples and pop-corn. The boardwalk is as wide as Main Street America. A clean, blonde colored beach at least a 100 yeards wide, snugs up against the boardwalk, running along about a mile. The pier juts into the Atlantic where people fish and socialize in clustered groups. There is no charge to walk the boardwalk or fish the pier.

    The Cyclones, Brooklyn's Class A baseball team, plays ball under the shadow of the Big Wheel ferris wheel. The locals wave to each other, ask about the family and cheer for the home team. The people are infintely more fun to watch than the baseball game. Between each inning some type of audience participation ensued. Contestents put together enormous puzzels on the field. People dressed up like hotdogs and had a race from 3rd base to home. Cute young girls with Beach Bum labeled across the back of their shirts, threw peanuts and t-shirts to the eager crowd. The whole stadium seemed like a giant community reunion.

    This is Coney Island's last year to operate. Mayor Bloomberg is shutting it down to make room for expensive condos. The old wooden Cyclone will be torn down, the carnies will find another game and Coney Island will only be a memory that lives in pictures and dreams. I'm glad we saw it.
 

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    Any trip to NYC should include a tour of the Lower East Side conducted by Eric Ferrara of East Village/Lower East Side Walking Tours. Eric is a 3rd generation Lower East Side resident and has schooled himself in the history of the area. His knowledge will bring to life the gangsters of the late 19th and early 20th century, Astor Place, Five Points or a drinking tour for fun.

    Check out Eric's website at http://www.east-village.com or give him a call at 917-215-2575. Once you've learned about this area, you'll be eager to return for more. Eric has agreed to do a videoed interview with The Suzy Guides. This should be accessable on the website by the beginning of next week.
 

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    John and I had just finished a refreshing lemonade at Rockefeller Center and were "pedding" over to MOMA when we stopped in front of the NBC studios to gawk. We were processing the huge red type streaming across the side of the building, when a neatly-dressed 40 something man began a clever commentary about John's Indiana University Swimming baseball cap. He thrust two New York City baseball caps into our hands and explained that he was with the "???? for food" organization". (No money has been requested yet). The ensuing banter was worthy of a headliner spot at any comedy show. This routine might have lasted 2 minutes tops. But, by the time those 2 minutes were up, John and I were laughing so hard that we barely noticed the $20 that ungrudgingly changed hands. When we parted company with our creative panhandler, our two new ball caps securely in hand, we knew we had contributed to one of the city's finest bilkers.

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    Edward Albee, possibly the greatest living American playwright, has premiered a new play, The Occupant, at the Signature Theater.  Mercedes Ruehl plays Louise Nevelson, eccentric American sculptor. Nevelson and Albee established a friendship in the 1950's that lasted until her death at the age of 88. Albee teaches at the University of Houston and produces many of his plays at The Alley Theater.

    Tickets for the June performances have been sold out for a long time, but a persistent person can put his/her name on a wait list 1 hour prior to performance and (if lucky) can secure a ticket.  When it comes to Albee, John and I are go into our persistent mode. Thursday afternoon we incorporated a walk down 42nd avenue with our search for Albee tickets.  Before arriving at Signature Theater, we explored the Chrysler building, fought our way through the mass of humanity in Times Square, saw a photography exhibit at NYC Public Library and people-watched at Bryant Park. Be sure to visit the NYC tab on the website to see some of the pictures.

   The performance was all those adjectives related to greatness that you can think of, like stunning, profound, mesmerizing. On our walk home, we stopped into one of the ubiquitous NY pizza joints for a couple of slices just so it would be a 100% perfect New York evening.
 

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    Welcome to the first Suzy Guides Team blog.  We are off to a new adventure to find the best New York City has to offer for the new guide book Walk NYC (publication November 2008)!

    John and I arrived in the Big Apple just a few days ago. Our apartment is in the Murray Hill area, one of the many vibrant places to live in NYC. Every night throngs of young people gather at the restaurants and bars (which are plentiful) to socialize and relax.

    Even though John and I have visited New York on previous occasions, living vs. visiting is a different experience. Here are some of our initial observations:

   If you're walking down a NYC sidewalk...

• And there isn't a nail shop somewhere on the block, you've accidentally crossed over to Jersey.
• And English is being spoken, you're in Paris, not New York.
• And someone actually looks at you, you've been abducted by aliens and on your way to Tralfamadore.
• And you ask a question and the person looks at you like you're nuts, you're in LA.  New Yorkers are helpful.

    More NYC observations coming soon.

    We titled The Suzy Guides blog, Notes from the Fire Escape, because we enjoy climbing out our apartment window to sit on the fire escape and watch the people pass by.  People walk in New York unlike the "carmobilers" in Houston. Watching people from our 2nd floor fire escape is like having your own private reality show unfolding before your eyes.  Pictures coming soon.

     Videos about interesting NYC places, events and just plain fun happenings are coming soon. So visit our blog often and remember...your comments are always appreciated.

Annie and John  

 

 

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