NEW YORK CITY PHOTO ALBUM #1
by Patricia Lay-Dorsey

Thursday, May 27, 2004


Pat Kolon and I arrived in New York City about noon on Thursday after having spent Wednesday night in Allentown, PA. The trip from Detroit should have taken us no more than 10 hours, but as navigator I was a wash-out and took us a couple hours out of our way. Pat, our designated driver, was a great sport and didn't let it dampen her enthusiasm for our adventure. She drove into the city like an old hand, even managing to change four lanes within a couple of very crowded blocks. The hotel--the Westin New York at Times Square--was easy to find, standing 45 stories above 43rd St. at 8th St. They let us check in early, and we soon found ourselves in a most sumptuous room. Our special thanks to Gretchen and Matt who arranged for wedding group rates for their out-of-town guests. Our room was also wonderfully designed for wheelchairs and scooters. And the view out the window took our collective breath away. The bellhop took a picture of two very happy Patricias.

By 1 PM we had unpacked and were out on the streets walk/scooting south towards Greenwich Village along Fifth Avenue. We had a 6:30 PM date with my niece Carolyn Dorsey to meet at the Blue Note jazz club in Greenwich Village. We planned to have dinner at the club and then catch the 8 PM show with Taj Mahal, the blues legend. But first Pat and I intended to see that part of the city by foot and wheels.

It was a warm sunny day, the first in awhile for New Yorkers, so everyone was outside. Smiles were everywhere. We walk/scooted by the New York Public Library, the Empire State Building, and soon came to a lovely oasis of green within the concrete and glass of the city. Madison Square Park was full of people relaxing, reading newspapers, chatting with friends, eating their lunches and simply enjoying this beautiful day. It was also a day of planting for city employees.

Across the street from the park was the Flatiron Building, made famous by artists over the years. We followed our handy Streetwise New York City map and turned down a side street toward Sixth Avenue. Once there I had a nice conversation about scooters with a cane-walking elder woman. Soon Pat and I started looking for a place to eat. Not just ANY place, but someplace where we could find food we wouldn't usually find in Detroit. We were thinking ethnic, but by 2:30 PM, we were getting pretty hungry and a bit less particular. When we saw a vegetarian restaurant, we checked out the menu in their window. And although Pat is a fabulous vegetarian cook herself, we were intrigued by the unusual choices offered. We went inside to find a space filled with peaceful energy, very few customers and a friendly staff. The full menu was extraordinary. Our server--a dancer and actor--was most helpful as we salivated over every single item on the menu and took forever to decide. While still making our final choices, we ordered an avocado/lime/mint appetizer recommended by our server. What a treat! As it turned out, we had happened upon the 2003 winner of New York's Best New Restaurant award. And was that award ever well deserved. We both agreed that Gobo, especially on this quiet late afternoon, was a treasure on every level.

Fortified by good food and a lovely rest, we again took to the streets. We made our way over to W. 3rd Street so we could check out the Blue Note. But before we got there, we stopped to watch a rousing game of basketball. We and everyone else in the neighborhood, I might add. Pat and I especially appreciated that a woman was playing with the guys, and definitely holding her own. There was great diversity on that court--black/white, men/woman, middle-aged/young, fit/not-so-fit. But the caliber of play was consistently good. And, more importantly, they were all good sports.

The Blue Note was a couple of doors away, so Pat went inside to verify our reservations and the club's handicap-accessibility. She found that although there was an exceptionally high step up into the club, they had a portable ramp I could use. Our table was reserved because they wanted it to be scooter-friendly, and they recommended we get there early as Taj Mahal's 8 PM show was a sell-out. Even so, we still had time to continue our explorations of Greenwich Village.

We walked by the City As School alternative school, stopped to look at this interesting old building and admired their murals. Pat then pointed out the largest Ginko tree either of us had ever seen. We walked down beautiful tree-shaded residential streets, some of which had interesting shops on the ground floor. One such shop--the Tibet Emporium--caught my eye, so we walk/scooted inside. I was immediately attracted to a lovely beaded lapis and turquoise necklace had been made by Sonam, the artist/owner. It was a little too short to get over my head, so she offered to lengthen it. We agreed to come back in a half hour. By the way, not only was the shop special and the necklace just what I wanted, but Sonam was such a peace-filled, loving person that I was delighted to wear something she had made.

After we'd picked up my necklace, Pat and I walk/scooted over to W. 3rd Street via New York University. While there we saw President and Mrs. Bush out on the street. At least it LOOKED like them! Soon after we got to the basketball/handball courts, we met up with my niece Carolyn. It was such a lovely evening that we put off going inside until after 7 PM. But once inside the Blue Note we found ourselves seated at a table with a wonderful view of the stage. We ordered salads and appetizers and had a delightful conversation. By the way, Carolyn had warned us thatthey packed them in "like sardines" at this club, and she was right. Shoulder-to-shoulder is what we were. And happily so, because once Taj Mahal came onstage, the audience went crazy. And their enthusiam didn't flag for the next hour and a half. What a charismatic showman and superb musician!

After the show, Carolyn, Pat and I walked the two miles back to our hotel and to the New York Transit Authority where Carolyn was to catch the subway back to New Jersey, her home for the last 18 years. Luckily they were kitty-corner from one another. We walked/scooted Sixth Avenue and enjoyed hearing Carolyn's brief history of New York. It's fun to be with a local. As we entered our hotel lobby, we unexpectedly met up with some of my family who were in town for Gretchen and Matt's wedding. It was a treat to see them. By the time we got to bed, Pat and I were two very tired puppies. But fortunately we knew we could sleep in as late as we wanted on Friday.
*****************************************

 

(click on thumbnails to see photos in a larger format)

 


Friday, May 28, 2004

Pat and I slept in on Friday morning and didn't really start our day until noon. Our intention was to walk/scoot uptown today so we headed north on Fifth Avenue. This trip was Pat's first opportunity to explore the city, so we tried to notice everything, from frescos overhead to brass grates at our feet. As had been the case yesterday, we found New Yorkers to be friendly and helpful. The picture of the two of us in front of the Atlas sculpture happened because a young man in a business suit came up and said, "Oh, you need to have your picture taken with Atlas, don't you think?"

After buying a larger photo memory card in a camera store around the corner from the Plaza Hotel, I felt more relaxed in my picture -taking. It was nice not to have to keep going back and deleting shots so I'd have room for more. And that freedom came in handy after we'd crossed the street to the southern-most edge of Central Park. Even though Pat had just asked that we start looking for a restaurant, I lost all track of time after encountering a precious 19 month-old named Ian. While his father Michael held Ian on his lap, his mother Tanice and I entertained this wiggly little boy by singing four of his favorite songs over and over, including "Itsy Bitsy Spider" to which he knew the hand motions. Happily, the street artist was both artistically gifted and quick, so Ian's charcoal portrait was completed within 20 minutes.

After that musical interlude, it really was time to find some food. Again, we were rather particular about what we wanted to eat. After all, we WERE in New York City! But somehow our choices seemed pretty limited. Whether they were inaccessible, too mundane, or not the kind of food we wanted, none the restaurants we passed seemed to fit the bill. I mean, you can't do Subway or Wendy's in Manhattan, can you? We walked east to Madison Avenue, then to Park Avenue, Lexington Ave., and finally ended up across the street from the Queensborough Bridge on Second Avenue and 60th Street. On the corner was a neighborhood restaurant that had good vegetarian options on the Greek-American menu posted in the window. We went in, got settled at a table and, thanks to a friendly young woman who lives upstairs with her grandmother, soon felt like we were part of the neighborhood. By then I was just happy for a bathroom and Pat was happy for a chair of any kind. The Greek pizzas on pita bread satisfied our hunger, but more importantly, we appreciated having a roof over our heads when the rains came, which they did after we'd been in the restaurant about ten minutes. And they were HEAVY rains! But things had cleared up by the time we'd finished our meal. Pretty good timing we thought.

We'd looked in our AAATour Guide at lunch and had found two small museums were located not far from us. So after lunch, we walk/scooted over to the National Illustrators' Museum on 63rd between Lexington and Park. There was a portrait show on the first floor, but no elevator so we were soon on our way again. Our next stop was the Dahesh Museum of Art at 53rd and Madison Avenue, what the Tour Guide described as a "hidden treasure." Well, it was. But not because of its permanent collection of 19th and 20th century European academic art; no, it was the exhibit of costumes, drawings and set designs for the 1926 Metropolitan Opera Theatre production of Puccini's "Turandot" that took my breath away. The costumes alone were worth a trip to New York to see.

We took Madison Avenue home, and did a bit of shopping for our loved ones--my husband Eddie and Pat's daughter Emily--as well as engaging in a bit of self-indulgence, for me anyway. I mean, where else would I buy expensive almond moisturizer from Provence? Only in New York.

After a pick-me-up of fruit-flavored sorbet, we went back to the room to rest a little and dress for the night. Tonight we had tickets to see Marian McPartland at Birdland. I was VERY excited to see and, more importantly, to hear this jazz legend whom I had grown to love through her weekly "Piano Jazz" radio program that San Francisco's public jazz station carried every Wednesday night. At almost 86, Marian is up there with Oscar Peterson in terms of defining jazz piano. She's lived and played in New York since her years at the old Hickory House club in the 1950s. I am in awe of her.

Well, my awe was well placed. Marian and her trio--Steve Davis on drums and Gary Mazzaroppi on bass--were superb. And when she asked for requests, I was first to yell out, "Skylark." I adore the way she plays that song. And she obviously loved being asked to play it. She said, "Oh, that's a WONDERFUL song." When I said, "It's wonderful the way YOU play it! ", she quipped, "How do you know? You haven't heard me yet." I answered, "Ah, but I have. I've heard you play it on a CD." After the show a number of people came up to thank me for requesting that song. It was something I'll never forget. We stayed for both the 9 PM and 11 PM show and Marian never repeated herself once. I can't imagine how she remembers all the songs that must be sitting in her head. Not just old stand-bys, but her original compositions as well. But I must admit that after such a big day, Pat and I were most grateful that Birdland was only a block and a half from our hotel. We were home in bed by 1 AM.
***************************************

(click on thumbnails to see photos in a larger format)




Saturday, May 29, 2004

I woke up early (for me) because I was so excited about the prospect of this "family day." My niece Gretchen's wedding was to be in Central Park at 4 PM, so I had practically a full day to play with before then. I tried to connect up with my sisters, nephews and Gretchen's sister, Erin--all of whom were staying at our hotel--but they were either still sleeping or already out sightseeing. After joining my friend Pat for our complimentary continental breakfast, I started off on my solitary adventure. It was 62 blocks--from 43rd to 105th Streets--up to the Conservatory Gardens in Central Park where the wedding would be held, and I intended to scoot the whole way.

Even Fifth Avenue was not very busy this early on a holiday weekend morning, but I decided to go up to Madison Avenue anyway. I soon encountered a photo shoot on the almost deserted sidewalk ahead of me. It was interesting to see how the photographer's assistant held a golden metallic disk up to the sun in order to reflect a golden glow onto the face of the model. Very New York!

From then on I alternated between Madison and Park Avenues until I came to 56th, at which time I scooted over to Fifth Avenue. My original intent was to take the sidewalk beside Central Park all the way to 105th, but I soon found the cobblestone sidewalk made that impractical. From then on, I discovered why a disabled friend who has lived in Manhattan for years had warned me that curb-cuts in the city are hit or miss. I saw LOTS more of New York neighborhoods than I'd anticipated because of trying to find curbs I could safely negotiate.

About 68th and Fifth I turned into the park and started to explore this oasis of green within the city. Not surprisingly, folks were already out sunbathing and setting up picnics. There were also lots of bikers, runners, walkers and rollerbladers on the street that was blocked off to traffic inside the park. I was fortunate to happen upon the pond where they race remote-control sailboats. I parked in the sun beside the water and enjoyed the passing parade of families, as well as the sailboat races and the ducks. I must have stayed there an hour, reading and soaking up this beautiful day. Off to the side I began to notice a line of people with telescopes and binoculars looking across the pond up into the windows of apartment buildings on Fifth Avenue. I scooted over and asked one fellow what they were looking at. I knew he'd know because he had a huge telescopic lens attached to a camera on a tripod. He said they were looking at the nest a couple of red-tailed hawks had built on top of one of the apartment windows. He said two chicks were now visible in the nest. My husband Ed had told me about these hawks--the latest darlings of NYC--after he'd read an article about them in the New York Times. Cal Vornberger and I talked and I soon discovered that he was originally from Detroit and had recently changed careers from photo-jornalism to his passion, wildlife photography. On my way out of the park I stopped to listen to a Polish fiddler and to watch children playing on the Alice In Wonderland sculpture.

By now I had my eye out for a restroom, so was delighted when I saw the Guggenheim Museum up ahead. I got in for the senior rate of $4, used their restroom and went to the few exhibits that were open. I guess they're doing construction or are in between shows because most of the museum was closed to the public.

Once out on the streets again I quickly found a neighborhood pizza parlor where they sold pizza by the slice and even had my favorite juice. As was so often the case, I again found New Yorkers to be helpful and friendly. The pizza maker brought my order outside and even offered to open the Odwalla juice bottle without my having to ask. If you recall, it was opening an Odwalla with my teeth in San Francisco that led to my getting two plastic-covered front teeth three years ago!

After a leisurely lunch, I scooted up Madison Avenue through quiet residential neighborhoods into Harlem until I came to 105th, my destination. Over on Fifth Avenue, I saw wedding parties and limos gathering near the Conservatory Gardens, a favorite place for weddings. I found the ramped entrance a block away, and was happy to arrive at the location of Gretchen and Matt's wedding an hour before it was scheduled to begin. I sat in the sun and watched children play in the fountain.

The photos of Gretchen and Matt's wedding and reception are on my New York Photo Album #2.

After the wedding, my nephew Jimmy, his two boys--Ollie and Harper--and I took the Fifth Avenue bus back to 43rd Street near the hotel. I was happy to find that the New York City buses are totally scooter-friendly and free for the disabled! When we got off the bus, Ollie became my designated rider--he'd discovered this mode of travel the last time we'd been together at my mother's funeral in November 2002--and I took them up to the NYC Public Library to see the stone lions. Spending time with my great-nephews was a highlight of my trip.
****************************************************

(click on thumbnails to see photos in a larger format)

 




Sunday, May 30, 2004

Pat and I woke to another beautiful day, our last in the city. We had plans to take in the jazz brunch at the Blue Note at 12:30 PM, so were packed up and ready to check out by 10 AM. The bellhop was obviously busy with other folks, so we loaded my scooter Ona and my friend Pat down with our luggage and took the elevator downstairs. On the way we met a wonderful family from Orlando, Florida who offered to help us with our bags.They even carried everything to the garage across the street where Pat had parked Sojourner, my handicap-accessible minivan, when we'd arrived on Thursday. As I've said, our experience of people in NYC couldn't have been better!

We drove down to Greenwich Village and happily found parking on the street. We got turned around walk/scootingto the Blue Note, so didn't get there until 12:30 PM on the dot. Pat worked a bit of magic and got us in even though they were already sold out (a high school class of 100 was in the audience). I had to negotiate a few tight turns but it was worth it because our seats were off to the side practically by ourselves. We were very close to the stage.

I wish words could describe the magnificent music we heard for the next hour and a half. Kiyoshi Kitagawa (bass) and his trio (alto sax and drums) created magic in that crowded room. Kiyoshi never stopped playing--except when his fellow musicians took their solos--even improvizing on his standup bass between each song. And the brunch was delicious too!

After leaving the Blue Note, we walk/scooted around Greenwich Village for an hour or so. We met adorable ice-cream-eating children (Zoe, Eli and Hannah), Pat went to an inaccessible chocolates store to get a box of dark chocolate truffles for me to give Eddie, we found some funky jewelry for Pat's daughter Emily, I saw a dog that looked so much like our beloved Timmy-dog, we encountered Rico Fonseca--the artist who had painted the mural of musicians on W. 3rd Street--and I bought a copy of his poem "The Fate of Life," I got a mixed fruit smoothie, and we even found a restaurant with a handicap-accessible restroom. The only problem was with curb-cuts, or lack thereof. After going around the block a couple of times, we finally had to ask two strong fellows to pick me and my scooter up and put me on the sidewalk where we'd parked our car.

Getting out of New York was exciting and a bit nerve-wracking, but Pat was a real champ as driver. Our drive along Highway 80--the route I'd missed getting us on when we'd come from Detroit to NYC--was scenic, not crowded and relaxing. The sun was setting over the Pennsylvania hills as we stopped for the night in Clearview. Once there, we had a late supper in a truck stop cafe where the waitresses looked and acted exactly as one would imagine they should--"down-home" friendly. After a good night's sleep, we got on the road again and, except for morning rains, had a pleasant ride home. We pulled into Detroit at 4 PM on Monday, May 31.
**********************************************


(click on thumbnails to see photos in a larger format)

 




 

photos by Patricia Lay-Dorsey , Pat Kolon and some kind strangers



New York City photo album #2
Windchime Walker's blog
Windchime Walker's journal
Windchime Walker's home page