As I travelled to Manhattan to visit my favorite daughter Christina and get a ‘city-fix’, I was struck by the contrasts vs. my home in the Adirondacks. First, I stopped for a fill-up in Saratoga amid ‘hordes’ of people everywhere: at the gas pump, the rest room, in line to purchase a diet Coke, awaiting a turn back on to the North Way. So many people! In my way! This definitely foreshadowed the hustle bustle and jostling awaiting me when I eventually emerged from Penn Station. People are the very reason Greg did not join me; his excuse is that he has to cut some trees down, preferring the buzz of the saw in the woods to crowds. Oh, that, and the time Christina and I spend shopping while he waits outside. BTW, gas was about 30cents a gallon cheaper than back home.
Also of note, the trees are leafing out! We are about a month behind on the seasonal schedule in the Adirondacks (hardiness zone 4 for you gardeners out there). There’s still snow in the mountains. Even as I travelled South along the Hudson on the Amtrak Empire, trees got fuller and the green became darker mile by mile. At home, leaf buds were just peeping out and local garden centers were starting to display veggie plants for sale, although I’ll wait planting my ‘deer drive-through’ garden until all sign of frost or, God forbid, late season snow has passed. Arriving at Penn Station, I was directed to the ‘northwest’ corner of 8th and W33rd by Uber Pool. Could anyone know where ‘northwest’ would be after getting spun around underground? Back home, I’d look for fungi growing on the side of a tree. Also, did I mention ‘hordes’? Here we go!
Christina and I had a quick welcome cocktail and started shopping. We had fun visiting trendy boutiques to see if one, just one, would carry jeans in a size 8 or above. Ok, so it wasn’t fun. Apparently the average American woman (5’4″, size 14) resides outside of Soho. And, no, thank you, I don’t want to try on a man’s size! Christina had no problem finding things. I bought a necklace…
Speaking of shopping, we have significant contrasts back home too. Either you can shop at boutiques offering $500.00 ski sweaters or you can hit the community co-op for maple syrup and last season’s flip flops. Otherwise try one of the Dollar Stores found on any corner. Needless to say, styles are somewhat homogeneous; flannel and denim and hiking boots abound.
We dined at Rosemary’s in the West Village around 9pm whereas our local restaurants tend to roll up the welcome mat by then (all but the bowling alley), especially during ‘mud season’ when restaurants often stay closed altogether while tourists are few. FYI ‘mud season’ precedes ‘black fly season’ on the local calendar.
Sunday morning was sunny and gorgeous. I attended Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer parish while Christina went to her lab for a morning mouse bleed. This gothic Catholic church had stunning stained glass windows, a huge pipe organ, and a visiting Dominican men’s choir with soaring voices. A beautiful start to the day and a reminder to “love one another”.
We did more shopping after brunch at Bryant Park Maker’s Market and then 5th Ave where shops cater to everyone. Success! There was lots of chatting and walking and people watching (or, honestly, judging) along the way. A cocktail before early dinner at Rue 57 and then we were off to see Avenue Q (slightly off Broadway) before it closes later this week. They have managed to keep this inappropriate muppet musical current these last 15 years. We have a decent theatre back home, the Pendragon, where we have enjoyed a few plays with local and summer stock actors. Our latest viewing was ‘the World’s Funniest Ice Fishing Musical’, although they’ve also performed ‘Death Trap’ and ‘Sense and Sensibility’. We do have a pretty vibrant arts scene back home in our small city.
As for the ‘hordes’, NYC is nothing but diversity; we have lots of Canadians and a deli that offers authentic Indian food on Thursdays. Oh, and black flies.
Briefly, a few other comparisons: NYC pigeons vs. our loons and eagles; sidewalks vs. hiking paths; Equinox gyms vs. Whiteface mountain; piercings, tattoos, facial hair- the same; Amazon prime delivery- a few hours vs. add a few days; Central Park (1.37 sq mi) vs.
Adirondack Park (9,375 sq mi); high speed internet vs. DSL (aka Morse code).
Greg has chosen his favorite location to be (home) whereas I’m somewhere in-between; I relish the contrasts. Yet, I haven’t left New York State on this trip proving you don’t have to travel far to get a refresh.
To end the visit, we toured the UN (highly recommended), had more cocktails atop The Beekman Tower, and then met my brother Ed and his kids for dinner at Carmine’s as they were also in town.
I’m scheduled for my first jury duty experience in Tupper Lake tomorrow; I’ll let you know if there’s any contrast in crime or punishment.
My new reality 