Project Parks- Sunset Park

If you're resident of Brooklyn, Ny or you just love visiting the borough, you've probably been to Prospect Park at least once (I'll be covering Prospect Park at a later date). It's right next to the central Brooklyn Public Library, and close to the Brooklyn Museum so what's not to love? However, there are other parks in BK that have their own special charm. One of them is a neat little patch of green called Sunset Park. Located at 44th street and 6th avenue, the N or R trains to 45th street will take you here.

Nestled in a neighborhood filled with diversity, Sunset Park offers a nice reprieve from the shops, restaurants and busy, crowded energy that the area provides. It looks unassuming from the outside but don't let that fool you. Once inside you are met with a series of pathways. Whichever one you choose will take you on a nice little stroll past picnickers, children playing, and bike riders. It's really a lovely experience.

If you choose to visit now, you'll see cherry blossoms still in bloom. I got a chance to admire the soft pink colors today. The way they contrasted with green leaves of the trees next to them was a beautiful sight. I love spring!

While walking I came across an artist, sketching the portrait of an old tree. Children nearby stopped and watched her while she drew the likeness of the trunk with quick, precise strokes of her pencil. She seemed unfazed by all the attention, choosing instead to immerse herself in her work. I love it when people are able to find art and beauty in everyday things. This tree is definitely quite distinguishing in its own way.

This park may not be the most well known in Brooklyn, but it definitely offers one of the most attractive features that the borough has to offer; a beautiful view of the Manhattan skyline.

Because of the park's high vantage point, you can also look out and enjoy a view that most people would envy. Walk a little farther up on the paths and you can even see the faint image of the Statue of Liberty as well as Staten Island and New Jersey. 

It's a nice place to come and enjoy a picnic or just to walk and see the sights. I'm glad I made the trip and visited this park. I'm sure as its name implies, that it must have spectacular views at sunset. However a daytime visit was really quite beautiful and a perfect way to spend this lovely spring day. 

A Different Kind of Day

I woke up this morning to the red burst up sunrise stretching over the horizon. I watched it change from crimson to gold and felt my spirit lift, as if dawn had chased away the fog of sadness obscuring my mind. April has come. It's time to put away my mourning. Gray days will come, that is inevitable but at this moment I feel closer to happiness. 

I chose a shirt of dark shades, lightening into a color more springlike and beautiful. It reflects the ascent of my spirit as I face a new day with fragile tendrils of hope. 

I'm waiting for the flowers to bloom. Meanwhile I'll plant seeds in my mind. They will be reminders that rainy days always bring something fruitful in the end, something beautiful and thriving; something that carries within it remnants of sunshine. 

Food Trucks, Markets, Crepes, oh my!

So this past Thursday a good friend and I got it into our brains to head to midtown and gorge on the bounty of food trucks that rumor had it, were always there. We has been planning a food truck excursion for a while and since Thursday was going to be the warmest day that I was free it felt like the perfect thing to do. I put

on my comfortable (albeit incredibly bright neon orange) sneakers and met her at Lexington and 53rd st. We hugged, we squealed, we drooled and then set forth on our journey. 

The gray skies and high wind didn't feel very warm and Spring-like to my friend, nor did it feel that way to me. But we shook off the chill of first day of Spring and headed down the midtown streets in search of fabled eats. I fantasized about munching on delectable Korean BBQ, or fighting my way through a gourmet donut ring. Our stomachs set the tempo we travelled by as the New York City streets buzzed with life. It took us only a few blocks to discover, however,  that there were no food trucks in sight. My friend's hungry groans sent me into panic mode as street after street we walked and found nothing. 

I didn't want to admit the obvious, that there were no food trucks at all. So we walked and walked and walked some more, until we ended up a block away from Central Park. It was only then that I allowed myself to taste defeat. The food trucks had alluded us. And we were so hungry. My friend, in the tone of someone who knows you've lost but doesn't want to make you feel like a loser, suggested we go to West 4th street. The restaurants were plentiful over there and a full stomach more than makes up for a failed search. 

I agreed. 

We set off to West 4th street, catching a train that let us off at our destination. As soon as we exited the station blue skies and sunshine greeted us. It was a sign. We had only walked a few feet when we saw a Thai restaurant offering a great deal for 14 bucks, we could get an appetizer, an entree and a drink. We jumped on the opportunity. I ordered dumplings, rice and beef and a coke. The dumplings were savory and fragrant, set on a simple white plate that showcased the beauty of the food itself. 

The beef and rice was delicous and cooked perfectly.  My friend ordered the same dumplings as me and noodles with beef. We filled our bellies and felt at peace.  

Afterwards, we paid our tab and walked down the city street. The atmosphere here was vibrant but not overwhelming, not like it is in more touristy parts of the city like Times Square. The people walking along the streets were laid back, trendy without trying too hard, the kind of people you could admire without feeling like you have to. We walked past a variety of restaurants, bars and shops, some with names that made me smile (you gotta love a store with a sense of humor). 

And then there, amongst the many shops, stood an indoor market. My fried and I stared inside, stunned. Had this always been there? It was filled with vintage jewelery (some I would love to purchase), original artwork and clothes for the trendsetter. It was incredibly refreshing and fun looking through the items artists had created. I'm always amazed at how much talent there is in the world. Even though our wallets were pretty light, nothing is wrong with a little window shopping right? 

We left the market and walked down an empty street, the chill was coming back into the air. I turned my head and noticed that between two building stood an empty space. The space showed an obscured view of the recently built World Trade Center. It was astonishing how quiet the world seemed at that moment and I wondered how long it would be before you could look at that lone tower, a sad beautiful symbol, and once again hear life and not the echo of tragedy. 

Our journey was ending. We were chilled and tired and no longer starving when suddenly I came upon the one thing that could make me forget about the cold creeping into my bones. Crepes. I wanted one. Badly. And with a little convincing my friend wanted one too (hurray for peer pressure!) and so we went into the warm, dimly lit restaurant. I ordered a Nutella crepe with strawberries and whipped cream. My friend ordered chocolate. We devoured our dessert and drank in each other's company. We had not intended to sit in a small little restaurant eating crepes. We had intended to walk the streets with little food truck finds digesting in our bellies. But I find that the simple, quiet moments produce the most sound. And this simple moment screamed happiness to me. 

A Glimpse of Spring

This winter has been like a dream that I'm sleepwalking through. It is all gray skies and slush and misery. I found myself being less enthusiastic, with less of a desire to get out and do something. But yesterday was the ray of sunshine piercing through the mist. The skies were blue, the weather mild and the sun was radiant. And for the first time in a long time I felt myself waking up. I walked straighter and with more energy. I smiled more. And every now and again I'd tilt my face up to the sky and catch the sunlight, amazed that it's here. 

I chose to visit my best friend and we went for a walk in her Brooklyn neighborhood. Sometimes in winter you forget that you have neighbors. You barely see them when you trudge home in the snow. Today however, people were out in full force. They had awakened, same as I did. And they were ready to soak in the sunshine. My friend and I walked and talked and joked. We smiled at little kids playing on the sidewalks. We sat and relaxed in the park. And all was well with the world. 

Then we saw the ice cream truck and things got better. 

It's crazy what a single change can do to a person. A little warmth, a little more sun and suddenly the world is a brighter place. It was only a single glimpse of spring in this still winter. But it was enough. And I am glad for it.