While looking for something completely different to do, I came across a mention of Socrates Sculpture Park. With a name like that, how could I pass it up. To get there was an easy subway ride into Astoria Queens, and a twenty minute walk west along Broadway towards the East River.
The park itself is four acres of mostly open space. In 1986, Sculptor Mark di Suvero cleaned up what had been an illegal dump site and opened with a temporary lease from the city. In 1998, Mayor Giuliani had it declared an official city park to halt development on the site.
I've been to quite a few sculpture parks over the years. Some were simply amazing, while others didn't do it for me. This was a bit of a mix. Each of the temporary sculptures had an accompanying sign with the artists name, materials and a brief description. I've decided to post both.
One section of the park is closed off with some work being done on a few rather large pieces.
With the bulk of the day free, I decided to just start walking. It didn't take long to get to the only walking access point to Roosevelt Island. I've been here a few times. I don't know why, but I feel drawn to it. The island is only two miles long, and I've walked pretty much all of it. Well, except for the northern tip. But, I'll get to that.
To walk onto the island, you have to cross Welfare Bridge. The island's name has changed numerous times since the Dutch occupied it. The Dutch adopted the Canarsie Indian's name for it, Hog Island. Captain John Manning seized the island and renamed it after himself. His son in law, Robert Blackwell took over the island and renamed it again. The city would eventually purchase the island and build a prison and a hospital. The prison hospital was expanded to also serve the city's poorest residences. The city renamed it Welfare Island. It wasn't until 1973 that the name was changed yet again to Roosevelt Island.
The tram to Manhattan was added in 1976 as a temporary measure since there was still no subway access.
Dining opportunities on the island were a bit limited. The only chain places are a Subway and the seemingly mandatory Starbucks. So, lunch was in a small place named Nisi Kitchen. The atmosphere and service were great and the chicken sandwich quite tasty.
When I heard about a new park opening on the southern tip of the island back in 2012, I came out to see it. Road construction had blocked access. Two years ago, I tried again. This time, the area was blocked due to construction of a few new buildings for Cornell University.
Third time's the charm, right? The area known as Southpoint Park was open...
Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms State Park is just beyond. The name derives from the president's January 6, 1941 State of the Union address that became known as the Four Freedom's Speech.
"In the future days, which we seek to make secure, we look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms.
The first is freedom of speech and expression—everywhere in the world.
The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way—everywhere in the world.
The third is freedom from want—which, translated into world terms, means economic understandings which will secure to every nation a healthy peacetime life for its inhabitants—everywhere in the world.
The fourth is freedom from fear—which, translated into world terms, means a world-wide reduction of armaments to such a point and in such a thorough fashion that no nation will be in a position to commit an act of physical aggression against any neighbor—anywhere in the world.
That is no vision of a distant millennium.
It is a definite basis for a kind of world attainable in our own time and generation.
That kind of world is the very antithesis of the so-called new order of tyranny which the dictators seek to create with the crash of a bomb."
As for the park, wouldn't you know, it's closed on Tuesday.
Just outside the park fence is also where you'll find he ruins of the old small pox hospital. It opened in 1856 and was the first hospital dedicated to small pox in the country. It was closed and abandoned a hundred years later.
While I was enjoying the island, it was time to go. The tram took me back into Manhattan.
The tram station is on 60th Street near 1st Avenue. It was a long walk to 34th Street and 8th to the hotel. With no real plan, I simply zigzagged with the traffic lights. Walking by Trump Tower there were the expected heavy security, as well as this guy...
The newer St. Patrick's Cathedral...
Rockefeller Center...
A rather curious Fire Department vehicle...
Remember that tall building with the odd point near the top? That's 30 Hudson Yards.
That point is an open air viewing platform on the 101st floor. The building itself is the third tallest in New York and houses the corporate offices of Wells Fargo, Facebook and Warner Media. It's also the new home of the CNN studios.
My friend Jenna agreed to give me the grand tour of the new studios and control rooms. Even though I've spent over thirty-five years in these places, it's still cool to see a new one and meet a few of the people I've only gotten to know by voice over headsets.
Jenna had to work, so we said our good-byes and I took a roundabout stroll back towards the hotel, stopping into a little place called Scallywags for a pint before calling it a day..
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
I had heard about the mess at LaGuardia Airport and decided to head out a little early. I left from the new Hudson Yards station. In all my travels to the city, I don't ever remember having a subway car to myself.
If you haven't been to LaGuardia Airport lately, it's basically one large construction zone. The bus could only get me to Terminal C. From there, I had to walk to Terminal D. But, once inside, it was an easy process. The good news is, we took off on time. I was supposed to be off. Instead, it was right to work from the airport. It certainly made for a long day. But, so worth it.
David
2/2020
PS: Considering the expected busy spring at work, I managed to wriggle out another long weekend. This time I'm flying up to DC to visit Mom for a few days. I doubt I'll get the chance again anytime soon.
Otherwise, my original plan for April fell through. Instead, I'm headed back to Death Valley National Park. Within days of my last trip, someone posted about a trail I had never heard of that isn't in the guidebooks. I've felt the need to go back ever since.
