If you’re wondering when to visit New York, right now would be a good time! In Central Park, trees are beginning to flower, the daffodils and forsythia are blooming and there is a gentle haze of color beginning to fill the horizon.
Today as I walked home from Columbus Circle, I saw:
The gentlest hints of white, green and yellow framed by dark tree branches…
A spectacular yellow magnolia…
Pink tulips amid Bleeding Heart plants and blue wild flowers…
Blazes of yellow forsythia…
The gleam of skyscrapers across the pond…
The first cherry blossoms…
Tulips and daffodils near the Swedish Cottage…
A city seemingly renewed…
Sweet miniature blossoms…
And verdant paths each step of the way!
wow. how glorious is that?! love, Mm
The tulips in the Conservatory Garden are still not out…maybe they’ll appear just for you?
I lurve you, J
On Wed, Apr 23, 2014 at 6:22 PM, JOANA MIRANDA STUDIO wrote:
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Yes a beautiful place.
My mom is coming to NY next week. She will be staying close to Columbus Circle and I’m now so excited for her to see this beauty! 🙂
Wow, Natella, that is wonderful! Too bad you aren’t coming with her. Is she coming on business or just for fun? Does she know the city well? If she needs any tips for places to go/things to see, please tell her to write me on my blog. I’m always happy to give suggestions. 🙂
With all best wishes, Joana
On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 6:13 AM, JOANA MIRANDA STUDIO wrote:
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Thank you! I hope that I also get a chance to see New York some time soon 🙂
She’s coming for business, but she has couple of free days. This is her first time in NY and her English is not perfect. But I equipped her with an iPad and explained how to use Google Maps 🙂 She’s a frequent traveler, so I think she will be fine. I suggested to visit Central Park on the first day, as she’s arriving in the afternoon and has rest of the day to her. The next days she’s going to be with her group and guide and they’re going on sightseeing tour (5-6 hours) around New York. They’re also going to see Statue of Liberty. Then she has 2 free days. We already bought theater tickets for these nights online – she’s planning to see “The phantom of the opera” and something at Met Opera. She also wants to visit MoMa on one of these free days. While writing this, I that visiting one of observation decks might also be a good idea (which one would you suggest – Empire State Building’s or Rockefeller Center’s?). Is there any other place that you would suggest?
Hi Natella,
I think your plan of pointing your mom in the direction of Central Park on her first day is a good one. Weather permitting, it really is lovely to stroll in the park, and right now the flowering trees, bushes and flowers are all beginning to bloom. Nearer to the south end of the park she can access the Philosopher’s Way (I think it’s also called The Mall) and follow it to the Bethesda Fountain where there are always some sort of street musicians or acrobats performing. And it’s also fun to watch the boaters near the boat house. (Here’s a map of Central Park – you can zoom in to see more details: http://www.centralparknyc.org/maps/)
The Time Warner Center (also know as The Shops at Columbus Circle) is also good for views of the south end of the park. The entire facade is glass, and if you take the escalators up to the 2nd, 3rd or 4th floors, you get a wonderful panorama of the city. Right near the Time Warner Center is the Museum of Art and Design. http://www.madmuseum.org/ I’ve only been to exhibits there a few times, but I often stop into the gift store on the main level since it always has interesting things to see (and buy!) And also on the circle is Eric Kayser Boulangerie http://www.maison-kayser.com/en/ if your mom is looking for some delicious pastries and good coffee.
My husband took his son up to the Empire State Building recently and raved about the views. I haven’t been up there in many years, but I plan to take my cousin in June when she is visiting. (I’ve never been up to to the top of the Rockefeller center, so I can’t compare.) My husband advises that your mom buy the ticket to the Empire State Building from the official ticket seller inside the lobby. Apparently, there are a lot of people on the street who are pushy about selling tickets (they claim that their prices are cheaper, but who knows if their tickets are legitimate or not.)
Without knowing your mom’s interests I can’t exactly give the best advice on what to see. But some of my favorite areas to walk are The Conservatory Garden (in Central Park on the East Side near 110th), Madison Ave (from about 90th street down to 59th), 5th Ave (from the Park Plaza Hotel area to Rockefeller Center), Chinatown, Times Square and Greenich Village. I also really like the Garment District because I like notions, bead and button shops. 🙂
I hope this helps!
🙂 Joana
On Thu, Apr 24, 2014 at 1:57 PM, JOANA MIRANDA STUDIO wrote:
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Hi Joana!
Thank you so much for taking the time to write such detailed answer! This is just great! New York has so much to offer!
I will write down all locations you’ve mentioned to my Mom and let her decide where she feels like going once she’s there. It’s always good to have variety of options. And thank you for letting me know about the tickets to Empire State building. There are so many scams over the internet and in real life – tricky for tourists!
Thanks again for everything! I will let you know my Mom’s impressions once she’s back and maybe she will let me share few of her pictures on the blog. What I always find amusing about the art and photography is that you can have few artists and photographers standing in the exact same spot painting or shooting the same scenery and no painting or photograph will look the same. The magic of our perception, emotions and maybe a bit of our soul is left in everything that we create. Isn’t this beautiful?
I hope you’re having a lovely weekend!
With best wishes,
Natella
Hi Natella,
So glad that you found some of the suggestions helpful. The great thing about NY is that there such a great variety of things to do and see. I know that there are some people who really hate the city – can’t see past the crowding and the hectic pace – but if you like NY then there will always be something to do to fit your interests.
Apropos of what you said in your last paragraph, one of my favorite quotes (attributed to Anais Nin) is “We don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are.” 🙂
Hope you have a lovely Sunday – Joana
On Sat, Apr 26, 2014 at 2:02 AM, JOANA MIRANDA STUDIO wrote:
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