From Sea to Shining Sea

My writing practice has really stalled. Here is another one stuck in my drafts folder. I wrote up the New York City piece shortly after I returned from that trip (Over a year ago!) but the San Francisco trip report (Last March) never materialized so I'm including a short paragraph and a few photos. 

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Short Jaunts to New York City and San Francisco

The Highline

Lucky for me I was able to visit New York City and San Francisco within a few months of each other. It was nice to visit two of America's great cities within a short time period. Each has its own strong personality and vibe, and each are a great place to get in some quality city time.

Here is the story in five photos per city. It was hard to narrow them down so I stuck in two extra photos at the top.

Nine Hours in the Big Apple

Our New York City trip took place in late November. We were visiting my uncle in Montclair, New Jersey for a few days and could easily take a day trip to the city from his house. Just a few door down is Hincks Alley, one of several secret pathways in Montclair that link houses with businesses and train stations. From here it was a short walk to the Watchung train station and an easy 45 minute ride into the city. 

We arrived at Penn Station at 10 a.m. and made our way to the northern terminus of the Highline near Hudson Yards. This was my third visit to the Highline. Wth its changing art installations and stellar views, it is always worth the stroll. 

Little Island

From the southern end of the Highline, we noticed Little Island and the nearby Hudson River Park. Little Island is an elevated park in the Hudson River made out of cement pillars that resemble pier towers. The park was built from the remnants of Pier 54. The old pier opened in 1910 and fell into disuse in the 1970s. Pier 54 became part of the newly-formed Hudson River Park in 1998.

After damage from Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation partnered with the Hudson River Park Trust to revitalize the area and Little Island was developed with the idea of creating "an entirely new type of public space for New York, one that would create an immersive experience with nature and art." 

Little Island opened in in 2021. (Read more on their website: https://littleisland.org/history/) The two acre park is beautifully landscaped (I imagine it must be stunning in the spring and fall) with public art installations, nice seating areas, and a pathway to a high point. 

Adjacent to Little Island is Hudson River Park, is a 550-acre public park that runs along four+ miles of waterfront on the west side of Manhattan. By the 1980s, Manhattan’s Hudson River waterfront was a decaying landscape of ramshackle piers, abandoned warehouses, and parking lots. What you see there today was established in 1998 through the Hudson River Park Act, and is run by the Hudson River Park Trust, a partnership between the City and State of New York. The park features recreational piers, distinctive upland areas, and a protected estuarine sanctuary. 

I love getting glimpses of outdoors/nature in urban areas, and I'm glad to see there are New Yorkers making these things happen.

Skyline from the Brooklyn Bridge

Next we took the subway to Brooklyn where we strolled around Brooklyn Heights and the vicinity ogling over the charming brownstone and stately townhouses. People of all ages, visitors and locals alike, were out running errands, sightseeing, visiting with friends, and enjoying the day. Nearby, pedestrians, runners, and parents pushing strollers lined the waterside Brooklyn Heights Promenade. It was a lively setting and with a strong neighborhood vibe, and it showed me why Brooklyn is such a desirable part of New York City. 

After exploring Brooklyn, we strolled some more taking part in a quintessential Big Apple experience - a jaunt across the Brooklyn Bridge. This was the first time we saw the crowds that New York (Or any big city) is famous for. Vendors hawked wares, tourists shrieked delight while others admired the stately structure of the bridge, influencers vainly took selfies, and others marched ahead with inscrutable attitudes. It was an interesting cross-section of humanity. 

Rockwood Music Hall

Our day ended at Rockwood Music Hall. This 50-seat venue features a series of performances each night, and it was close to full by the time we arrived for the 4 p.m. set. Luckily, Mike and I scored two seats by the window.

A band which can only be described as a typical bar band was on stage. The guitar, bass, and drum combo hammered out tunes that were loud but not deafening. They maintained easy banter with the attentive crowd, and their young drummer, probably no more than nine or ten years old, was their biggest attraction. He played to the crowd and before the start of one song told the audience, to "get ready to raise the roof even higher."

It was a sweet setting to enjoy a beer and take a rest after a long day in the city. The 5 p.m. band failed to show and we thought that the 6 p.m. band would head on stage early but that was not to be. So, with a 7 p.m. train to catch we made our way back to Penn Station and shuffled through hawkers and concerts goes in town to see KISS at Madison Square Garden. A splendid day in the Big Apple.

The essence of New York must include a pizza slice.

Jet Setting to San Francisco

Our San Francisco trip happened in late March as I had to be at the consulate to renew my Italian passport so extra time in the city by the bay was a bonus. Boasting a natural charm, iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, and hilly streets filled with interesting passageway, San Francisco has much to offer those who like to explore on foot.