A Chelsea Morning and a Squirrel Afternoon

It has been a cool, foggy, rain filled week here in New York City, definitely more like April weather than May. I had a routine doctor visit this week and went over to his new office in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan, on 7th Avenue.  7th Avenue is also known as "Fashion Avenue" due to its role as a center of the garment and fashion industry and the famed fashion designers who established New York as a world fashion capital.   I passed the Fashion Institute of Technology, at 7th Avenue and 27th Street, which is part of the State University of New York.  It is New York City’s internationally recognized college for design, fashion, art, communications, and business. The Museum at FIT is open to the public and is one of a select group of specialized fashion museums in the world.

Next, I passed the Chelsea Television Studios at 221 West 26th Street (between Seventh and Eighth  Avenues) where the Martha Stewart show is taped.  It can be hard to get tickets to see her show because of the large demand, but I was fortunate to be able to attend a taping a few years ago with a couple of friends. We were there for the segment on Lady M Cake Boutique which featured the Mille Crepes as their signature cake.  It is made of no less than twenty paper-thin handmade crepes layered with ethereal light pastry cream, and then the top is caramelized.  Each audience member was served a slice, and I remember it just melted in my mouth with goodness!  Martha was very nice and stayed after taping to answer audience questions.

I then passed The City Quilter shop at 133 West 25th Street.  This fun shop has over 4,000 patterns of fabri,c but it specializes in New York City prints!  My daughter and her fiance are wearing reversible aprons that a friend made as part of a bridal shower gift from fabric she bought at The City Quilter. Don't they look cute? 

You can read a nice review in the New York Times about The City Quilter at this link.

After my doctor visit I walked east towards the Gramercy/Flatiron neighborhood and Madison Square Park.  I've shown this beautiful little park on my blog many times before, and I never tire of visiting it. One side has a wonderful view of the iconic Flatiron building, and the other side shows the Empire State building in the distance.

All the rain we've been having has made the park grass very thick and green, and some of the park's peripheral border hydrangea bushes were in bloom, along with giant allium plants.

Two years ago I took these photos of the pink hydrangeas that dominate the park, which you can read more about in this post. They have not yet bloomed at this time.

On this park visit I headed over to the famous Shake Shack.  I had not eaten this morning, because I had a blood test at the doctor, and by 11:30 AM I was famished. Luckily, I arrived before the large mid day lunch crowd had formed a long line.

The Shake Shack opened its doors in 2004, and quickly became a neighborhood favorite for locals and tourists alike. Their Shake burger, hot dog and frozen custard have been voted among the best in the city. They are open daily from 11AM till 11PM.  Click on the web cam on their web site to see the current activity around their location.

I had the yummy single Shack Burger and French Fries along with a bottle of water. Everything was so good!  I know I'll never be a skinny fashion model on Fashion Avenue, so I didn't worry about this indulgent brunch.

As I ate a little bird sat across from me, as if to keep me company.

Then this furry fellow came down from the tree, right behind the bird, and stared right at me. Obviously, the smell of food was alerting all the park's wildlife that lunch was being served!

Soon birds and squirrels began arriving in droves, looking for dropped or discarded crumbs under the tables.

This squirrel found a piece of French fry and sat at the table next to me to eat it.

He liked his lunch as much as I did!

 (One caveat: I would never advocate throwing human food to wild animals, as I know it isn't good for them and can harm them.  Plus, it can also make them quite aggressive and lose their fear of humans which is not a good thing.)

As I left the park I saw another squirrel sitting on the back of a park bench. He was covered with bits of paper, as he obviously had just emerged from a trash can.

In his hands was a nice cheesy hamburger wrapper which he was thoroughly enjoying! 

 I think if I had to be a squirrel in New York City, I'd like to have my home in a tree in Madison Square Park next to the Shake Shack -- wouldn't you?

I am linking this post to the following blog events:

Pink Saturday

Camera Critters

Today's Flowers

Sincere thanks to all the blog hosts!

The Little Church Around the Corner

It has been raining quite a bit lately here in New York City. The dark gloomy days of winter have been unseasonably warm, and I'm thankful we have not been besieged with snow and ice instead, but the rain does nothing to lift my spirits, as I miss and mourn my Mother. To lift my spirits, my husband invited me to have dinner this week at our favorite Italian restaurant in Manhattan, I Trulli, which is located in the Flatiron Gramacy neighborhood.  I took the express bus into Manhattan from Brooklyn and arriving little early I decided to walk around a bit.  At One East 29th Street (Between Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue) I came upon the Church of the Transfiguration, also known as "The Little Church Around the Corner." 

The church history is explained briefly on its website: "Founded in October 1848, The Church of the Transfiguration is one of the most famous Episcopal parishes in the United States. For more than 160 years, The Church of the Transfiguration has been known for its inclusivity – welcoming individuals from all races, classes, sexual orientations, and other backgrounds. Established on what had been the outskirts of New York City in the mid-19th century, the church today is a visible worshipping community near the geographic center of Manhattan.

The Church of the Transfiguration was founded by the Rev. George Hendric Houghton, sometimes called one of the Saints of the American Church, who served as its rector for 49 years. In his ministry to those in need, he sheltered escaped slaves as part of the Underground Railroad and African-American families during the Draft Riots of the Civil War and welcomed members of the theater profession, something not common at the time."

"The Church of the Transfiguration is often called “The Little Church Around the Corner.”  The nickname dates back to 1870, when Joseph Jefferson – famous for his portrayal of Rip Van Winkle on stage – had requested a funeral at another church for his fellow actor and friend, George Holland.  Upon learning that the deceased had been an actor, the priest refused.  At the time, many considered actors to be unworthy of Christian burial. After some prodding by Jefferson, the priest suggested that “There is a little church around the corner where it might be done.”  Jefferson responded, “Then I say to you, sir, God bless the little church around the corner.”

"To this day, The Church of the Transfiguration maintains close ties to the theater.  The church has served as the national headquarters of the Episcopal Actors' Guild since its founding in 1923, by the third Rector, Dr. Randolph Ray.  The church itself was designated a United States Landmark for Church and Theater in 1973."

Such theatrical greats as Basil Rathbone, Tallulah Bankhead, Peggy Wood, Joan Fontaine, Rex Harrison, Barnard Hughes, and Charlton Heston have served as officers or council members of the Episcopal Actors' Guild. The Little Church's association with the theatre continued in the 1970s, when it hosted the Joseph Jefferson Theatre Company, which gave starts to actors such as Armand Assante, Tom Hulce, and Rhea Perlman.

The story of the church's nickname and its quiet little garden have attracted many couples from around the world who have chosen to be married here.

I decided to stop in for a few moments to reflect and pray.

Unfortunately, the main body of the church was closed and I had to take the photo above through the wavy glass window of the locked gate that was across the back of the Narthex.

The smaller "Chapel of the Holy Family," also known as The Bride's Chapel," was open, however, and I sat there in peace for awhile. Thousands of marriages have taken place before this altar!

I found this short Youtube video that shows more detail from inside the church, including the iconic Jefferson "Little Church Around the Corner" stained glass window.

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photo source

There is also a stained glass window inside the church called  the "Edwin Booth Window" by John La Farge, which portrays the noted actor in the role of Hamlet, which was given as a memorial by members of the Players Club in 1898. Booth was a member of this parish and the founder of the Players Club, which was formed, partly in reparation for his brother John Wilkes Booth's assassination of Lincoln, to provide a place where actors and non-actors could meet

A photo collage of the stained glass windows in the Chapel of the Holy Family.

The stained glass window in the Lady's Chapel.

Once again outside I left through the church's unusual Lychgate. Mrs. Franklin Delano (nee Laura Astor), great aunt of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, funded the construction of this gate in 1896. The gate is in need of repair and restoration, so the church has set up a fund to collect money to do both.  If you are charmed by the story of "The Little Church Around the Corner" and wish to learn how to contribute to this fund, I'm sure you can contact the Church through their website.

By the time I left the church the sky had brightened considerably, and so had my mood.  I walked south through Madison Square Park.....

...and waited for my husband at the subway stairs across from the Flatiron Building.

We then walked a few blocks over to the restaurant on East 27th Street. Can you see the Chrysler building in the photo above?

A closer view of the Chrysler Building's ornate top.

The glow emanating from the restaurant windows was welcoming ....

...as was the warm fire inside.

I have to say the day brightened for me in many ways. There is peace to be found in many ways in New York City -- a quiet church, a lovely park, the uplifting vistas of landmark buildings, and a favorite cozy restaurant where we have shared many good memories, all helped me feel better.

Where do you find the same experiences where you live? Where do you go to brighten your spirit?

I'm adding this post to Spiritual Sunday, Scenic Sundays, Seasonal Sunday, Mellow Yellow Monday, Blue Monday, Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday. Many Thanks to the blog hosts!

News from the Arctic

I do feel like I am living in the Arctic Circle this winter! My backyard outdoor table looked like this yesterday morning. We had received another 16 inches of snow overnight on top of the three we had received the prior day!  Many hours were spent shoveling snow both yesterday, and today.  It's getting to the point where we don't have anyplace to put the new snow. The snow that has fallen, since the day after Christmas, is still in high mounds and piles in my garden and near the curb. (All photos will enlarge when clickewd on once, and then clicked on again when they open on a new page)

Digging out our car and driveway was another big job.

This January has become the snowiest in the weather records books as an unprecedented 36 inches have dropped since Jan. 1. The record up to now was 27.4 inches, set in 1925. The typical snowfall for an entire New York City winter is just 22 inches. More snow is expected this weekend and another large snowstorm accumulation is expected next week! There is a side benefit to the almost constant snow fall as I am getting an upper body work out from pushing, lifting and tossing snow.  Jumping over slush on street corners or climbing over hills of snow is also giving my lower body a work out. No need to pay for a gym membership this winter, as Mother Nature has become my personal trainer. (Smile)

A friend gave me permission to show photos she took on her way to work yesterday, in the Flatiron/Gramercy neighborhood, in and around Madison Park. The freshly fallen snow looked beautiful for a few hours.  Unfortunately, so much snow in New York City has created major inconveniences for tourists, commuters, students and residents and has strained the snow removal budget. NYC sets aside $38 million a year for snow removal, but the city admits they spent more than that digging out of the post-Christmas blizzard alone!

A resilient New Yorker found the time and whimsy to build a snowman in the park -- I think its strange looking face is drawn on with a magic marker -- or is this Frosty supposed to look like it is laughing loudly over all our snow frustration?

Do you remember my blog post about Le Parker Meridien Hotel's annual Gingerbread Extravaganza displayed in the hotel's atrium during the Christmas season? I received an e-mail today from the Parker Meridien that the winning gingerbread was "King Kong" built by the hotel's own bakery, Norma. The exhibit was free, and voting was done by the visiting public, at a $1 a vote, with the money going to City Harvest. A total of $16,373 was raised this year for City Harvest, the world's first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding the city's hungry men, women, and children.  I loved all the gingerbreads on display, with the theme this year of "Movies Made in New York City."  I will now admit that I also voted for King Kong to win!  Le Parker Meridien promises a bigger and better gingerbread display next year, and I'm looking forward to photographing it again.

Today mark's the sad 25th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster. 

I'll always remember that I first heard the news of this disaster when I was picking up my daughter from pre-school.  In stunned disbelief I rushed home to watch the news on TV and saw videos of the horrible explosion that occurred 73 seconds after lift off being shown again, and again. I think everyone who witnessed this event was especially saddened by the loss of Christa McAuliffe, a teacher who was selected from more than 11,000 applicants to participate in the NASA Teacher In Space Project.  After her death, schools and scholarships were named in her honor, and in 2004 she was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor.

To learn more about the Challenger Disaster you can watch this short film clip:

"The crew of the space shuttle Challenger honoured us by the manner in which they lived their lives. We will never forget them, nor the last time we saw them, this morning, as they prepared for the journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth' to 'touch the face of God.' "

 ~ President Ronald Reagan

I hope all is well, and winter is being kind where you are. Have a wonderful weekend!  I will be shoveling snow....again!

Rolf's -- Where Christmas Never Ends

It's almost a month after Christmas but I wanted to show a restaurant that is a "must see" for many during the Christmas season. Rolf's German Restaurant, located in Manhattan's Gramercy Park neighborhood at 22nd Street and 3rd Avenue, is known for its "over the top" Christmas decorations which stay up well into January. (All photos will enlarge when clicked on once, and then clicked on again again when they open on a new page)

As soon as you walk in the door you see an explosion of Christmas lights and decorations.

They literally take your breath away when you first see them!

Decorations are in every nook and cranny of the restaurant, hanging overhead, dripping from the ceilings, walls and light fixtures like a fairytale wonderland.  Garish? Excessive? Perhaps, but I couldn't help but feel enchanted by it all and enjoyed the festive atmosphere.

Even the bar area is enrobed in lights and baubles.

Dolls are nestled in the garlands ...........

....also Angels and Santa Claus figurines.

There were so many figurines everywhere in the restaurant that I could only capture a small amount with my camera lens. I could not take my eyes off the ceiling and walls looking for all of them

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Baubles and balls, berries and garland, ribbons and bows, icicles and over 45,000 lights dangle and shine.

Ornaments of golds, reds, pinks, purples, silver and green are a virtual rainbow of color.

They all make Rolf's a Christmas-time spectacular that evokes the fairy-tale like feeling of Germany’s "Black Forest" region.

Even the cover of the menu shined from the reflection of the lights overhead!

My husband and I dined at Rolf's with friends a few weeks ago, well after the Christmas season, as it is almost impossible to get a reservation to dine here the month of December. Even trying to have a drink at the bar is almost impossible in December, due to the enormous crowds. The food is German / Alsace and moderately priced for a Manhattan restaurant. While Zagat reviews are mixed as to quality of the food, we enjoyed the hearty thick potato pancakes we had as an appetizer, and my husband and I enjoyed our Schnitzel a la Holstein which was served with a side of spatzle and a vegetable. While not gourmet, it was filling and good.  I didn't take photos, because I didn't want to disturb my friends dining experience, but you can see Rolf's entire menu on their website.
 

 
Rolf's website states that they change their decorations seasonally, so it may be worthwhile to stop by at any time of the year, but if you can visit sometime during the Christmas season and especially during the last weeks of January you are in for a visual treat!
 
 
Linking to:
 
I'm linking to Mary's "Mosaic Monday" on her blog The Little Red House, Diane's "Second Time Around" on her blog  A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words, and "Rednesday" on Sue's blog It's a Very Cherry World, Jenny Matlock's "Alphabe Thursday" -- the letter is "P" and this is my POST Christmas visit to Rolf's, Sandi's "Friday Linky Favorites" on her blog Whistlestop Cafe Cooking, Laurie's "Few of my Favorite Things Saturday" on her blog Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie, and Beverly's "Pink Saturday" on her blog How Sweet the Sound