Ahhhh yes, nothing is better then an early morning run in Central Park to start the day off right! Lately it has been exceptionally beautiful in the morning: a rising sun, slight breeze rustling the trees' leaves that are changing colors and the air is crisp and clean. I thought I'd take a photo to share with y'all as the background for this post's inspiration... I know it's a little blurry but then again it's hard to take any photo with such blazing fast speed.
As I made the Harlem Hill turn and back down the east side, I kept thinking about all the wonderful things there are to love about the changing seasons, regardless of what city you live in. Growing up in the warmer portion of Florida, I only had a couple weeks of fall & winter. I never really had those Northern experiences and traditions that I began to love after an adolescence full of sunshine, citrus and winter lows in the 50's. Among my favorites are: turning over my closet from summer to winter clothes, guys strutting their stuff in those "dude, it's not a blazer" peacoats, snuggly down comforters and fuzzy blankets, and of course, the return of the pumpkin spiced latte at Starbucks & hot apple cider at the Greenmarkets.
For the NYC crew, a little insight on a few of my other favorite cold weather activities and I'm sure the same types of activities exist in any city that an AMDAL reader might live. So, get up and get going- wrap a scarf around your neck, pack a flask of Makers to keep you toasty as you travel and head on out to these fantastic little NYC gems that hopefully will remind you that life in the city can be just as delightful as you remembered where you were a kid (well, sans the Makers for some of y'all)
Pumpkin Picking!
What feels more like fall then picking out your own gourd-like squash?
Overrated: Whole Foods or other grocery stores. While I generally love them for all they give us in means of tasty treats and cooking supplies, buying your pumpkin from a store just doesn't have the same appeal as finding "the" pumpkin by yourself in a big patch of orange and outdoors.
Underrated: There are two full-on pumpkin patches within easy reach by NYC public transportation that you can get to on a sunny weekend day. Richmond Town, in Staten Island (...stop the "ew SI?!" eye rolling now...) is a great day trip- Take the Staten Island Ferry overlooking the Statue of Liberty and hop on a quick 30 minute S74 bus trip to get to the Decker Farm and pick some pumpkins all your own. Or head to Queens, for the aptly named Queens Farm where you can pick your own pumpkin, take a hay ride, feed farm animals and - you lucky ducks you- run through a corn maze! Take the E or F train to Kew Gardens/ Union Turnpike Station and use that Google Maps App to get you to the pumpkin land.
CCL: Perhaps a tasty recipe for the kiddies on how to toast up their pumpkin's seeds for a healthy and hearty snack? Pumpkin Soups? Pumpkin Bread? and the best thing of all time: Pumpkin Pie!?
Go Ice Skating!
The Cutting Edge, Blades of Glory, Ice Princess or the Mighty Ducks- every one of these moves probably made you want to hit the ice ASAP. Most outdoor rinks opened Nov. 1- what are you waiting for?
Overrated: While everyone should hit up Wollman Rink in Central Park or the Rock Center rink, be prepared for outrageous lines, high costs and short skating times, as well as a million kiddos to dodge left, right and out from underneath you.
Underrated: Stay within the "proper" part of NYC by hitting up the free (yes free) skating at CitiRink in Bryant Park (top it off with a yummy meal at Koi or Bryant Park Grill before or after your skate). I walked by the other day and it looks like they are ready for the skating season.
If you are feeling adventurous, head uptown to 138th Street & Riverside Drive for a skate overlooking the Hudson. $5 gives you a whole day of fun, and there are other sports options while you're there: indoor 25-yard pool, paddle/hand ball courts, tennis, softball, an 8 lane track surrounding a huge football/soccer field and basketball courts. You can also hit up Lasker Rink on the northern side of the park- although it's owned by Trump & Co. like Wollman Rink, it usually is far less crowded and often a club hockey game or two happens on the adjacent rink so you can catch that as well. Oh- and the liquor store at Malcolm X & 110th Street has a very friendly crew working behind the bullet proof glass, eager to help give you inspiration for the triple sow cow.
Ride a Horse!
You might not look as cool as the knights at Medieval times, but you'll have a good time making friends with an equine near you.
Overrated: Central Park's equestrian trails were closed down for a bit and despite the protest 53rd Street stables were closed for public use (notch a win for PETA or some other animal right's group), but I recently encountered some rogue riders. You can check out a horse from Riverdale Equestrian Club for about $100/hour take a guided ride of Central Park. Their main facility is at 245th & Riverside Drive, but they'll meet you in the park.
Underrated: Get out of NYC proper and get a deal on some pony time. At the Bronx Equestrian Center at the sale price of $35-45 an hour, you can explore Pelham Bay Park on a trail ride. Private lessons and group rides are available, but you must be at least 4 1/2 feet tall... Any AMDALers not legal? take the Green/6 to Pelham Bay Park stop and walk east on Shore road to get there (you can hop on the Bx29 also).
For $45-60 and a slightly easier trip by public transportation (F to Fort Hamilton Parkwaystop in Brooklyn), you can visit the Kensington Stables and ride through Prospect Park atop a hairy new friend. There is a lot to love about Prospect Park, including great street vendors & tasty treats, making that trip to Brooklyn a little bit more enticing.
Hopefully these 3 things can keep you busy until after Thanksgiving. Enjoy the outdoors before it gets too cold and don't forget to comment and add your favorite chilly weather actives to share with AMDALers near you.
xo- AOG
7 comments:
One pumpkin recipe coming up!
And just in case you want to watch horses instead of ride them Medieval is definitely not overrated. Just don't drink the mead, it's gross.
Last time I checked, da Bronx is still NYC proper. That aside, great post. I appreciate your diligent research around fun things to do that aren't far away. Who knew Queens had a farm?! I also appreciate your support for the greatest dessert of our time (and perhaps all time) i.e.g. Pumpkin Pie.
You are considering Staten Island a part of "NYC proper" but not the Bronx? Care to explain? That little slice of landfill petitioned to secede from the city a few years back, an opportunity regrettably missed by Il Duce.
Also- that word "sow cow"... I do not think it means what you think it means.
Try salchow, named for legendary Swedish skater Ulrich Salchow (10-time world champion)
I don't consider Staten Island part of NYC proper, and I'm pretty sure I didn't say it was either. Easily accessible? Yes. In NYC proper? not a chance.
Thank you for properly spelling salchow- I used the commonly misspelled version due to the way us silly Americans say it... Apologies, I was not aware that we had an ice skating maneuver expert in the room
Perhaps we can get some liveblogs of people attempting the salchow?
I prefer the misspelling. I don't care enough about figure skating to warrant a google of the term and would be mad that I was forced to do so.
Great post. Psyched to be there for one last fall weekend later this month.
In my youth, I would often pretend to be Nancy Kerrigan and that my slippery socks were ice skates on the hardwood floor. I attempted many triple "sow cows" in those days, but unless sock/floor skating becomes an Olympic contest, I don't think my dreams of beating Oksana Bayul in a rematch can ever come true.
Good post AOG - WOHJR is just grumpy because the republicans won two governorships earlier this week...
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