NEW YORK CITY
In which Bob and Camille make their first trip to New York City together.
June 1st and 2nd, 2011
CITY ISLAND
Camille was tickled pink when Bob suggested they take a bus to City Island because it had been twenty years since her last visit. She lived on this little island in Pelham Bay with her mom and dad and brothers John and Bob from 1958 to 1962.
CAMILLE’S CHILDHOOD HOME AND SCHOOL
393 City Island Avenue did not look this neat and tidy when we lived there. Like many of the homes here, the gardens are well tended and pleasing to the eye. This home hosted many happy memories. The big back yard was a place for all the neighborhood kids to come and play. At one point, that gang of kids rolled a scrap hot water heater tank up into the back yard and standing on it, rolled it back and for across the yard all summer long. The back yard was home to wild roses and many wonderful critters, including snakes and preying mantis which Camille carried around and sometimes brought inside.
Camille attended Kindergarten, first, second and third grades at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Elementary School in a blue plaid pleated skirt, white button down shirt and blue blazer. Bob and Camille walked around back to take a peek at the playground where Camille once played jump rope, hopscotch, ran around pretending to be a wild horse, and drew winged horses with chalk on the asphalt.
PIZZA AND MOVIES
Arties, directly across City Island Avenue from our old home is owned by what used to be our next door neighbors and childhood friend, Artie has taken over the business from his father. The next door down is the IGA which used to be the movie theater where Camille remembers howling with laughter with the whole family over some silly Disney movies.
WATER ON ALL SIDES
Camille looks out toward Eastchester Bay from the end of Ditmars Street, two blocks from her old home. She remembers seeing swans out here and sometimes having to dodge their wicked beaks. Sure enough, the swans still live in this cove. The beach where Camille’s mother taught her to swim is now walled off, just three blocks on the other side of City Island Avenue.
BACK TO MANHATTAN
Parking lots in New York City are like car carrier trucks on steroids. We liked this sign because it was exactly what we were thinking when we parked our car at Union Station in Washington DC and took the train up for our two days in the big city.
HIGH LINE
One of the most unique parks in the world, the High Line is a restored elevated rail system which now brings a breath of fresh air to many.
STATEN ISLAND FERRY
It’s free and a must do for anyone looking for a free ride. You join the mob in the Manhattan terminal, board the ferry, ride across, disembark on Staten Island and walk around to the re-boarding line for the five mile trip back. On this day, it was very hot and humid so the breeze created by the movement of the ferry offered a little bit of relief. The ferries reportedly make over 33,000 trips a year, and are capable of transporting (depending on the boat) between 1,000 and 6,000 passengers each. During peak rush hour, there may be four ferries in operation simultaneously. When the ferries dock, they bump up against wooden pilings, creating a rainbow of lost paint on wood.
SUBWAY
The New York Subway system is basically cattle chutes for humans. When faced with stairs the choice is go with the flow and walk them. In a hurry so you don’t get run over! Bob lined out our trips across town with such precision that we fairly flew from one platform to the other, stepping down into the dark and climbing back up into light.
Art in the subway platforms and cars was often quite nice.
ART IN A SUBWAY CAR
We passed the time in a nearly empty subway car by examining every inch of this drawing by Duke Riley.
THE DAKOTA AND STRAWBERRY FIELDS
We paused outside the Dakota, the building where John Lennon lived and died. We crossed the street into Central Park and soon came upon a beautiful mosaic with the word “Imagine” in the middle. The mosaic lies at the heart of the two and a half acre Strawberry Fields memorial, dedicated to the memory of John Lennon. The lawns and pathways of Strawberry Fields are quiet places to rest in and find solace.
CENTRAL PARK
A trip to New York must include a stroll through its gem, Central Park, Frederick Law Olmsted’s 843-acre masterpiece.