It is nothing less than exquisite to feel a deep sense of affection and connection with people who you share history with. Oh, the familiarity and warmth – even after years of not seeing them. In New York, I spent time with friends from UMass, my internship year at Fellowship of Reconciliation, my activism in Portland Oregon in the ‘90s, my union days circa ‘98-‘02 in San Francisco, AND saw my sister and three of her kids! My journey this year has included many reunions like this, but NYC was so packed (two old friends per day!) and the origin stories so varied – I marveled at it anew.
I have mixed feelings about selfies, so I don’t take them all that much. Therefore, I don’t have nearly the representation of this superb visit. Big love to Jo, David, Stephanie, Seth, Stacey, Libero, Mike, Lisa, Glenn, Jenny, Deb, Will, Sefton and Emily!!
(I was in NYC before AND after India, and the photos are together in one post. In case anyone is trying to figure that out!)
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- Sumptuous Grand Central Station
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- Jo and I burst out of the subway station at 11:59pm and ran into Central Park just in time to catch the fireworks, then walked back to the apartment in the rain… and it was just perfect. Hello, 2019!
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- Lovely art deco architecture in the Empire State Building
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- View from the 33rd floor of the Empire State Building.
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- My friend Jo is an international human rights advocating rock star at Human Rights Watch (hrw.org) AND a professor at Columbia. And an author! I am so proud of her.
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- What a sensational evening with two people I am proud to call colleagues and friends! David, Jo and I have known each other for about 30 years. It was great to be together again!
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- I had never seen Mike Birbiglia live before – and that posture, those facial expressions… My imaginations were delightfully accurate!
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- Fort Tryon Park is so far in “Upstate Manhattan” that I didn’t know it existed. It was designed by the Olmsteads, the same family that designed Central Park and numerous iconic landscape architecture projects in the U.S. What a gem!
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- It was good to blow my stereotype that park rangers are only in the wilderness! Fort Tryon Park
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- I didn’t know Inwood Hill Park in Upper Manhattan existed, either. It’s always good to have the locals take you to the cool hidden spots.
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- George Washington Bridge and Hudson River
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- I rolled my suitcase up and down 125th street in Harlem a couple of times going between the subway and the train. The Apollo Theater!!
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- With two of my UMass sisters, Stacey and Stephanie
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- The sweet, quiet, funny musical The Band’s Visit. From the show’s website: “THE BAND’S VISIT is the winner of 10 Tony Awards. In this delightfully offbeat story, set in an Israeli town that’s way off the beaten path, a band of Egyptian musicians arrive lost, out of the blue. The band brings the town to life in unexpected ways.”
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- Everyone wears black to see theater, right?? Tad, Stepho, Grace and me at The Band’s Visit.
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- Took the A Train
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- Late afternoon winter light in Brooklyn
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- Historical architectural detail (They don’t make ‘em like they used to!) Brooklyn
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- In the office of Big Onion Walking Tours, founded by my friend Seth over 25 years ago. Big Onion’s focus is on immigrant history into New York. bigonion.com
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- Bagels in Brooklyn
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- That sky! and… Manhattan, the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge from the Upper West Side
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- On the subway
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- With Mike, a old friend from San Francisco, who is a superb human being
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- Christmas tree collection in neighborhood parks for Mulchfest. Thank you very mulch!!
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- Just like the sexy NYC apartment magazine photos in my head, except for the copious legos. Chelsea
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- Coolio lobby in Chelsea
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- I think this artist’s work is both brilliantly conceived and utterly sumptuous. Imagine my delight to see one of his portraits “in person” at the Brooklyn Museum. A feast for the eyes, mind and heart! kehindewiley.com
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- With my sister Deb, nephews Will and Sefton, and niece Emily at the Intrepid
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- With the Beatles’ biggest fan, my nephew Will. Strawberry Fields, Central Park
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- A frozen Central Park
