Time Out New York / Issue 681 : Oct 16–22, 2008
Great walks
The Inwood Peace Walk
How to align your chakras in less than four hours.
By Heather
According to many Hindu, tantric, Chinese and Western alternative-medicine models, chakras are energy focal points located along the spine and intersecting with the central nervous system. New Age enthusiasts believe that keeping one’s chakras balanced contributes to overall physical and spiritual health. For this jaunt, you’ll start at the bottom and work your way north—both corporeally and geographically.
1. Warm up your root chakra and its connection with the earth by wandering the grounds of Fort Tryon’s Heather Garden, named for the pinkish flower more commonly found in Great Britain. The terraced garden leads to the Promenade, which offers gorgeous vistas of the Hudson River, the Palisades and the George Washington Bridge.
2. Continue north along the pathway to The Cloisters (99 Margaret Corbin Dr in Fort Tryon Park, 212-923-3700; suggested donation $20), a medieval-European art museum. Your sacral chakra, devoted to creativity and emotion, will get a workout as you peruse pieces from the Romanesque to the Gothic periods.
3. Save your appetite for New Leaf Café (1 Margaret Corbin Dr at Fort Tryon Park, 212-568-5323), built in the 1930s and serving imaginative New American fare. Sit outside and activate your solar plexus chakra, the center of your life-force energy, by basking in the fall sunlight. Exit the park at Broadway and pick up litter; this engages your heart chakra, the center of compassion.
4. Walk north on Broadway and you’ll pass Dyckman Farmhouse (4881 Broadway at 204th St, 212-304-9422), the oldest remaining farmhouse in Manhattan, dating back to 1784. Adult admission is $1 and includes access to the back gardens and a tour of the lovingly restored interior.
5. Entertain your throat chakra at The Piper’s Kilt (4944 Broadway between Isham and 207th Sts, 212-569-7071). A simple brick facade gives way to a dark interior appointed with natural wood and Yankees memorabilia. Tap beers start at $4, but the throat chakra is more about communication; chat it up with regulars like Andy Macagnone, an Inwooder since 1961. “I was born on 190th Street, and christened and married in the same church on Broadway!”
6. The third-eye chakra is all about higher intuition; visit the outdoor Inwood Farmers’ Market (Isham St between Cooper and Seaman Sts, 212-788-7476) and let your psychic powers decide what to buy: just-baked apple turnovers, local honey or free-range turkey sausage.
7. Continuing west, you’ll stumble upon the 196-acre marvel that is Inwood Hill Park (184 Seaman Ave, 212-304-2365), Manhattan’s last primeval forest and its only saltwater marsh. While you’re there, snap a photo of the city’s most famous real-estate purchase: The Shorakapok Rock is across the soccer field near the salt marsh, and is believed to be where Peter Minuit bought Manhattan from the Lenape for $24 in trinkets.
8. Lastly, treat your crown chakra, responsible for spiritual consciousness, by enjoying the stained-glass sunshine at Church of the Good Shepherd (4967 Broadway at Isham St, 212-567-1300), a Roman Catholic wonder built in granite and limestone, with terra-cotta roofing and recessed buttresses. The hush that greets visitors provokes silent reverence, and it’s a fine way to revel in your alignment—even if it’ll take the MTA only 15 minutes to tie you back into knots.
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Weekend Ramblin'
July 4th weekend was pretty rad, and pretty random.
4th of July was spent at Anna's pad in Brooklyn... a great space. It's also an excellent rooftop perch to spot the fireworks show. Anyway, great collection of different people, and Anna's place is so juiced up - we were playing Wii and Guitar Hero until 5am. Thanks Anna!
July 5th was spent recovering from July 4th - before boarding a train to Connecticut. Alexis had invited me to her boyfriend, Scott's, house in Greenwich for a steak dinner. There were some DC friends there, so it was good catching up on their happenings. Anyway - dinner was an elaborate spread, with some potato salad that had everyone humming with delight. We then took a latenight dip in the pool, while swigging wine out of the bottle, and lighting some pretty lame fireworks. All in all - fun, but random.
Woke up to a great french toast breakfast - and before I knew it, there were a lot of goodbyes, I was able to sweet-talk my way into scoring the potato salad recipe, and I was back on the train to NYC. Too short.
4th of July was spent at Anna's pad in Brooklyn... a great space. It's also an excellent rooftop perch to spot the fireworks show. Anyway, great collection of different people, and Anna's place is so juiced up - we were playing Wii and Guitar Hero until 5am. Thanks Anna!
July 5th was spent recovering from July 4th - before boarding a train to Connecticut. Alexis had invited me to her boyfriend, Scott's, house in Greenwich for a steak dinner. There were some DC friends there, so it was good catching up on their happenings. Anyway - dinner was an elaborate spread, with some potato salad that had everyone humming with delight. We then took a latenight dip in the pool, while swigging wine out of the bottle, and lighting some pretty lame fireworks. All in all - fun, but random.
Woke up to a great french toast breakfast - and before I knew it, there were a lot of goodbyes, I was able to sweet-talk my way into scoring the potato salad recipe, and I was back on the train to NYC. Too short.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Sex and The City
Saw the big movie last night, in a theater packed full of women. Movie was a good popcorner and I'm sure will rake in a ton of dough, but I don't think it was a tentpoler.
*For a very amusing take on how the REAL women of Manhattan live, check out my friend Heather's post. She nails it funnier than I ever could. Click on the title for her post.
*For a very amusing take on how the REAL women of Manhattan live, check out my friend Heather's post. She nails it funnier than I ever could. Click on the title for her post.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Getting Away
Headed to East Hampton for the weekend, and it was really great.
Crazy fun happens when you get together a group of 3 gal pals, get away from work, and load a rental car up with fun groceries like veggies, a pineapple, shrimp for the grill, beer, and vodka.
Even more crazy fun happens when you decide to go full tilt and get boxed wine.
The MOST crazy fun is when you decide to hold an impromptu ipod-playlist dance party between the three of you after you've pretty much drained the boxed wine.
The result - one of us left chicken on the grill too long, one of us did multiple costume changes, and one of us threw out her hip from said dance party.
It was such a great weekend; so nice to be in a gorgeous setting with great friends, to sit still on a sun-drenched deck, and make wonderful memories.
My Hamptons experience definitely lived up to the Hype.
Crazy fun happens when you get together a group of 3 gal pals, get away from work, and load a rental car up with fun groceries like veggies, a pineapple, shrimp for the grill, beer, and vodka.
Even more crazy fun happens when you decide to go full tilt and get boxed wine.
The MOST crazy fun is when you decide to hold an impromptu ipod-playlist dance party between the three of you after you've pretty much drained the boxed wine.
The result - one of us left chicken on the grill too long, one of us did multiple costume changes, and one of us threw out her hip from said dance party.
It was such a great weekend; so nice to be in a gorgeous setting with great friends, to sit still on a sun-drenched deck, and make wonderful memories.
My Hamptons experience definitely lived up to the Hype.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Mister Big-Shot
Buddy Aaron is Mister Big-Shot - landing on the front of today's LA Times! Too bad Cindy's giving him the hairy eyeball.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Nothing Particular
THE SIGN
Yesterday, friends and I talking about the protocol for firing people. News is similar to financial services sector - you know you're in trouble when you arrive at work to find the Head of HR waiting for you in the front lobby. That's pretty much the sign. That got us thinking - what if the Head of HR was wearing a grim reaper costume?
THE 411
I hate that when you call 411 now - and if you just need a street address - you don't get the address. Operator instead automatically hooks you up to the phone number - and charges you to get an address texted to you. The fleecing of America...
VERBAGE
Speaking of texting, my friend Alexis will be appalled to learn that "text" is now a bonafide verb, recognized in the dictionary.
NERDS
Friend Ben is a new dad, and he seems more excited that his daughter's name is a palindrome than the fact that he has a daughter. We actually did high-fives over the name last night at dinner. Can you guess it, smarty pants?
DADDY WARBUCKS
Friend Steve bought me a $30 hairband at Barney's yesterday, and I tried on a $6000 quartz ring. Yeah - Ridiculous. Can't wait to sell out and marry for money. Until now, I've been a fool to fall for love - and that's gotten me alone and contemplating cats... lots of 'em.
BLACKJACK BLING
Forgot to mention, but last week - I nearly quadrupled my money at the Blackjack table in AC! I'm considering a career change.
Yesterday, friends and I talking about the protocol for firing people. News is similar to financial services sector - you know you're in trouble when you arrive at work to find the Head of HR waiting for you in the front lobby. That's pretty much the sign. That got us thinking - what if the Head of HR was wearing a grim reaper costume?
THE 411
I hate that when you call 411 now - and if you just need a street address - you don't get the address. Operator instead automatically hooks you up to the phone number - and charges you to get an address texted to you. The fleecing of America...
VERBAGE
Speaking of texting, my friend Alexis will be appalled to learn that "text" is now a bonafide verb, recognized in the dictionary.
NERDS
Friend Ben is a new dad, and he seems more excited that his daughter's name is a palindrome than the fact that he has a daughter. We actually did high-fives over the name last night at dinner. Can you guess it, smarty pants?
DADDY WARBUCKS
Friend Steve bought me a $30 hairband at Barney's yesterday, and I tried on a $6000 quartz ring. Yeah - Ridiculous. Can't wait to sell out and marry for money. Until now, I've been a fool to fall for love - and that's gotten me alone and contemplating cats... lots of 'em.
BLACKJACK BLING
Forgot to mention, but last week - I nearly quadrupled my money at the Blackjack table in AC! I'm considering a career change.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Mick Dundee and Me
Just when you thought your luck can't get any worse, you round a corner.... and sometimes, just sometimes - there's a great new adventure.
Last night - while leaving Belgian Blah - I got outside Bryant Park and turned a corner to wait at a light. Then, out of nowhere there he was - a floppy hatted, curly-haired cutie. He said, "Excuse me, do you know where Times Square is?" I told him that I was cutting through Times Square on my way home - and I'd walk him there.
This is the part that gets fun. Being in the middle of Times Square for the first time is pretty mind-blowing. Add about 20+ if you're from a different country. He was from Australia - so of course, besides being slayed by the accent - I was kinda excited to see him in Times Square.
At first glimpse of lights galore - he was pretty overwhelmed. But it was great seeing something I take for granted and consider a maddening tourist trap. He actually said, "I feel like I'm walking into a Video Game." Yeah, he was funny too.
So he takes picures, and I offer him a beer at the top of the Marriott Marquis revolving lounge (I know - totally touristy - but totally mind-blowing for an Aussie). After that, we're kinda buddies for the night. He's traveling around the world solo - and we have a lot to talk about. He then offers to take me somewhere for a beer.
We hitch a horse-and-carriage in Midtown and take it to Rudy's bar of all places. There, we laugh at our pub peers, play random songs on the jukebox with microphone singalong - we play a few practical jokes on each other - and we get into a mustard fight. So much fun.
We stay up until 7am back at my apartment - laughing and visiting, and ultimately passing out. We grab lunch around 1:30pm, head to the Whitney Museum (which is closed, darn the luck) - and part ways, promising to be email pals.
Overall - it was such a nice time getting to know a new, cool person. I'll drink to Belgium boy... who in a way, made it all possible.
Last night - while leaving Belgian Blah - I got outside Bryant Park and turned a corner to wait at a light. Then, out of nowhere there he was - a floppy hatted, curly-haired cutie. He said, "Excuse me, do you know where Times Square is?" I told him that I was cutting through Times Square on my way home - and I'd walk him there.
This is the part that gets fun. Being in the middle of Times Square for the first time is pretty mind-blowing. Add about 20+ if you're from a different country. He was from Australia - so of course, besides being slayed by the accent - I was kinda excited to see him in Times Square.
At first glimpse of lights galore - he was pretty overwhelmed. But it was great seeing something I take for granted and consider a maddening tourist trap. He actually said, "I feel like I'm walking into a Video Game." Yeah, he was funny too.
So he takes picures, and I offer him a beer at the top of the Marriott Marquis revolving lounge (I know - totally touristy - but totally mind-blowing for an Aussie). After that, we're kinda buddies for the night. He's traveling around the world solo - and we have a lot to talk about. He then offers to take me somewhere for a beer.
We hitch a horse-and-carriage in Midtown and take it to Rudy's bar of all places. There, we laugh at our pub peers, play random songs on the jukebox with microphone singalong - we play a few practical jokes on each other - and we get into a mustard fight. So much fun.
We stay up until 7am back at my apartment - laughing and visiting, and ultimately passing out. We grab lunch around 1:30pm, head to the Whitney Museum (which is closed, darn the luck) - and part ways, promising to be email pals.
Overall - it was such a nice time getting to know a new, cool person. I'll drink to Belgium boy... who in a way, made it all possible.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
What?
Alex told me her bosses changed her schedule. She now has to be at work super early. This has super-killed our nightlife routine. I hate her bosses.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Loud French
LOUD
Taking advantage of the awesome weather - and days off of work - Daniela and I decided to eat lunch street-side at Sarabeth's on the UWS. The place was packed, but we did end up scooping one of the five outside tables. A lovely lunch until a middleaged couple sat next to us. As we gabbed, the woman says to Daniela, "Excuse me, could I ask you to please lower your voice?" I was shocked, and pissed - and I half-wanted to turn to the woman and say, "Can I ask you to turn down your outfit?" because the shade of bright turquois was as damaging as the sun and I didn't have any SPF that could protect me from that mess. As we left, Daniela said under her breath, "I hope you choke on your lunch." She's all class. We spent the rest of the afternoon combating strollers, and elbowing people through stores. Not really relaxing.
AU REVOIR
I broke things off with Frenchy last night, in a really nice way I might add - and he was so pissed at me upon parting that he actually said, "Well, I wouldn't want to date you long-term anyway, because you're a smoker and I don't date smokers." I was like - what?? Nice table-turning, buddy - and you're from FRANCE - where Le Phillipe Morriset is eating a beignet at any sidwalk cafe. Anyway, Frenchy's become The Patch for me. Or The Jerk. I "netted" a real loser. Story of my life.
Taking advantage of the awesome weather - and days off of work - Daniela and I decided to eat lunch street-side at Sarabeth's on the UWS. The place was packed, but we did end up scooping one of the five outside tables. A lovely lunch until a middleaged couple sat next to us. As we gabbed, the woman says to Daniela, "Excuse me, could I ask you to please lower your voice?" I was shocked, and pissed - and I half-wanted to turn to the woman and say, "Can I ask you to turn down your outfit?" because the shade of bright turquois was as damaging as the sun and I didn't have any SPF that could protect me from that mess. As we left, Daniela said under her breath, "I hope you choke on your lunch." She's all class. We spent the rest of the afternoon combating strollers, and elbowing people through stores. Not really relaxing.
AU REVOIR
I broke things off with Frenchy last night, in a really nice way I might add - and he was so pissed at me upon parting that he actually said, "Well, I wouldn't want to date you long-term anyway, because you're a smoker and I don't date smokers." I was like - what?? Nice table-turning, buddy - and you're from FRANCE - where Le Phillipe Morriset is eating a beignet at any sidwalk cafe. Anyway, Frenchy's become The Patch for me. Or The Jerk. I "netted" a real loser. Story of my life.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
CD Burn Yearn
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my friend Brad. He just stopped by my edit room, and handed me the new Gwen Stefani CD to burn. Sometimes friends just make your day. Thanks Brad!
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