I enjoy finding those bucolic settings, atypical of the big city. Spots of country in New York City. They do exist - places like St. Lukes Garden, the bend in Commerce Street (home of the Cherry Lane Theater and 39 & 41 Commerce), that amazing house at 121 Charles Street, Time Landscape, the many community gardens in the city, the beaches or waterways and of course the more well known: Central Park, Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Ramble in Central Park, where one can find many spots where there is virtually no sense being in the city. Last night, while walking with a friend, we were surprised to find these grapes growing in the LaGuardia Corner Gardens, a community garden established over 25 years ago at the corner of LaGuardia Place and Bleecker Street (open at various times to the public). According to the garden caretakers, this is the first season for grapes there. They were not sure of the variety, but I did sample some, and they were very good. I once had a conversation with a friend who commented on similar meanderings of mine and responded, "You need to get a country house." A valid point, but one doesn't always want to deal with travel, traffic, costs etc. for respite. The process can be more stressful than its worth, especially for a short break. So for now, when I want to get away for just a little while, I find those spots of country, and when I emerge, all the city's amenities, conveniences, and culture are right there...
Friday, August 24, 2007
Grapes
I enjoy finding those bucolic settings, atypical of the big city. Spots of country in New York City. They do exist - places like St. Lukes Garden, the bend in Commerce Street (home of the Cherry Lane Theater and 39 & 41 Commerce), that amazing house at 121 Charles Street, Time Landscape, the many community gardens in the city, the beaches or waterways and of course the more well known: Central Park, Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and the Ramble in Central Park, where one can find many spots where there is virtually no sense being in the city. Last night, while walking with a friend, we were surprised to find these grapes growing in the LaGuardia Corner Gardens, a community garden established over 25 years ago at the corner of LaGuardia Place and Bleecker Street (open at various times to the public). According to the garden caretakers, this is the first season for grapes there. They were not sure of the variety, but I did sample some, and they were very good. I once had a conversation with a friend who commented on similar meanderings of mine and responded, "You need to get a country house." A valid point, but one doesn't always want to deal with travel, traffic, costs etc. for respite. The process can be more stressful than its worth, especially for a short break. So for now, when I want to get away for just a little while, I find those spots of country, and when I emerge, all the city's amenities, conveniences, and culture are right there...
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9 comments:
Another gorgeous photo, very different than yesterdays...
Thanks - finding grapes growing in Manhattan was certainly a surprise.
How did they taste?
I like grapes in Manhattan. Very nice and they are not those old-fashioned Concord variety.
Abraham Lincoln
Just My Birds Blog
They tasted very good. I never did any gardening but I can see the appeal
The only problem might be the pollution they might pick up. I know NY, like a lot of cities, isn't as bad as it used to be, but.....
Lovely urban garden. i love those too. you can also grab a train ticket in Grand Central and head to the brox Botanical Garden for the day - take your pic-nic and a good book. It is a real vacation from the city. There's the Cloisters too and many other to find.
Those grapes are amazing. I saw a vine growing on a brownstone here in the UWS but they really can't compare. I'll post it one of these day.
The Bronx Botanic garden and the Bronx Zoo both have very nice natural habitats. I recall being in the Bronx Zoo once in the autumn and it felt like New England.
Grapes in town! Who'd have thought it? Great photo.
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