Central Perk, or How I [Re-]Learned to Love the Swing

For all the free time I've had in New York, and for all Central Park's massiveness, you'd think our existences would have intersected a bit more.  But there remain vast chunks of its terrain that I have yet to explore.  Thanks to a weekend visit from my brudder (pictured, right), and a little help from a smeagolic vice-princess (pictured, left), that has been ever-so-partially remedied.

Won't You Take Me to Niketown?

Just a few short makeup posts, the first of which is from a couple weeks ago.  My aunt, uncle, cousin, and his girlfriend were in town for the US Open, so we met for some barbecue at Southern Hospitality, JT's restaurant in Hell's Kitchen.  Not sure if I feel comfortable promoting anything of or pertaining to JT - okay, maybe a couple things...but the food wasn't too bad.

Cowboy Boot

As I sat on a bench outside the Natural History Museum on 77th St, a woman walked out, getting heavy on her 5-or-6-year old daughter:

"Why is the best question.  Keep asking 'why?' and I will be very happy...Why of the why of the why..." she rambled hazily (I quote directly) as her daughter moseyed ahead, apparently half as interested as I was in this woman's cryptic philosophy (which was very little).

Harlem Dash

This trip doesn't include any original pictures or anything, and I wasn't even going to count it until a couple friends made me realize just how impossible this whole walking thing would be if I didn't include random trips like this one.  So I'm including this short stroll through Harlem Friday night, which began at Marcus Garvey Park (where I caught some of the Bird with Strings show, part of the annual Charlie Parker Festival).  Then on down to 116th and Lenox for some Amy Ruth's, then up Lenox to 142nd to stop by a friend's house.

Hello dere

Robert Wagner Park (photo by bellrich1941)

[Queue Rhapsody in Blue] Ladies and gentlemen of the class of 2012...walk.  If I could offer you only one tip for the future, walking would be it.  The long term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by science, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.  Fortunately for all parties involved, I will refrain from dispensing that advice now and cut to the chase.