Category: New York State Of Mind

I put on a comfortable pair of shoes and walk the two miles to the train station and from the platform I stand facing the beautiful Hudson River. It’s the 5th of October and sweat can already be seen on the faces of people. No one is wearing a jacket. How nice it would be, I think, if we could all leap into the glistening water before us. And how funny that would be at the same time. Don’t you wish life could be that way every so often? You say to yourself, and perhaps to a few people standing next to you on the platform, “I’m not going to take the train today. Instead I’m going to strip down to my underwear, leave everything by the riverfront and swim today. What about you?” Hmm!

The train is ten minutes late (something about the tracks). Ahh, we arrive at grand Grand Central Terminal, and I walk-flitting between pedestrians-to my dentist’s office across from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. After that easy appointment I take a 5th Avenue bus to 23rd Street, get off the bus and walk west between 5th and 6th Avenues to Universal News and its big selection of magazines. Wonderful decisions to be made at this shop. With three magazines in hand, I walk over to 18th Street and Fifth Avenue then a little west to City Bakery. It’s packed, and one never knows how much food is left after lunch hour has come and gone. I head for the back area and see an assortment of nicely sauteed foods. Ahh, yes, there’s still enough left to fill a plate with all the delicious vegetables and fruits from the Farmers’ Market. I eat upstairs. Emi arrives. Her big purchase is a bottle of water. We wait at the check-out counter with its usually long line and where all the goodies are on display. Always there’s a dialogue here with oneself that goes like this, “No. you don’t need that. But, I’ve not really had any dessert lately. No? What about that chocolate bar two days ago? You know how you’ll feel after eating that baker’s muffin, or that enormous melted chocolate cookie. We’ve had this discussion before. Now stop it. Look at something else.”
www.grandcentralterminal.com
www.saintpatrickscathedral.org
www.unionsquarejournal.com/greenmarket.htm

We leave the goodies behind and walk to Union Square and hop on a train to Chinatown to see our much appreciated herbalist/acupuncturist. Again we happily leave with a bag of herbs tucked into a tote bag, and meander along the streets. The crowds in Chinatown can sometimes take your breath away. We don’t stay. It’s easy to slip into Little Italy from Chinatown. We marvel at the line already formed waiting to get into Ferrara’s on Grand Street, and we wander into DiPaola admiring its fresh cheeses and sausages, breads, pasta, bottles of olive oil, and much more. The temptation to buy is great, but schlepping it around is another matter. It seems just walking is the order of the day-to Mott Street, sometimes Mulberry Street, finally arriving at Dean and DeLuca at 560 Broadway to purchase a bar of soap for laundry and two bottles of water (we’re the last of the big spenders). That done we walk east then north looking at all the small fashionable shops, going in and out to survey the merchandise. < www.ferraracafe.com www.deandeluca.com

Conversation begins to center on where to have dinner. We walk up and down the most interesting streets and somehow arrive at good ole reliable Veselka on 9th Street and 2nd Avenue. It’s very casual; we were thinking Italian but Ukranian is fine too. The food is good and dependable. As we leave we notice it’s an absolutely beautiful evening in Manhattan; people are out walking in full force. We continue onward toward 42nd Street and Park Avenue. Emi is heading in another direction, but not before we listen to a gathering of musicians perched on the steps. Their music fills Grand Central Terminal and many people have come to a full stop, standing, enjoying the music. A most unusual and delightful sight at GCT. Good night, Emi. It was a beautiful day. www.veselka.com

On the train I take out Ode Magazine and read about what’s happening in other countries. In between pages I have to say a silent thank you for the lovely day I had.

This week an early evening train was late leaving Grand Central Terminal. The scheduled time to depart had arrived and gone, and the train was nowhere in sight. Trains at GCT sometimes have mechanical problems, from what I’ve experienced though, they’re not late. The crowd was growing bigger and bigger. As I looked at all the people standing in front of the track, I realized that people show their trust in others on a daily basis.

Not knowing what usually happens when a train is late, I stayed at the tail end of the crowd thinking that maybe the track number would change, and the crowd would rush en masse to a different location. The group of people next to me were not at all annoyed by the lateness of the train. Someone made a comment about the expected snowstorm this week. We noticed the woman with a beautiful tan and beautiful vacationer’s glow standing with us and looked in her direction. Someone asked her where she’d been. She said she was in Mexico, and we all wanted to know where in Mexico. “The Yucatan”, she said, and began talking about the Mayan culture, and then about the catholic church’s presence in Mexico, and about the many Mexican catholics who know little about the Mayan culture. A practicing catholic probably would have slipped away right about now. What could one say? We began our personal stories of growing up catholic. Oh, yes, it was interesting and strangely funny at the same time. And unusual in that there stood at that moment a random group of catholics waiting together and talking about their expereinces of g up c. www.mayacalendar.com/mayalink.html

The train came and off we went in different directions.

People from all over the world visit NYC and think they’re seeing the real USA. How can that be? People from all over the world are living in NYC, it belongs to the world, or so it seems.

Yes, there are the museums, the top-notch restaurants, the ethnic markets, the shopping, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the clubs, the opportunities, the money, the fashion, the many forms of entertainment, the businesses, the galleries, the beautiful skyline, the colorful neighborhoods, the bagels, the East River, the Hudson River, etc. etc., but the energy of the people from all over the world is what makes it what it is.

If you’ve been living in NYC, and you decide to move away, there’s a chance you’ll be lost, for awhile. For one thing, you’ll be wandering the streets searching for a New York style restaurant, bistro, coffee shop, that feel good place that stays open 24 hours. And you’ll miss the daytime walking, and you’ll miss the absence of people walking at 3am.

If you’re getting a little bored wherever you are, find the nearest mode of transportation that will get you lickety split to NYC. When you arrive, walk the busiest street, disappear into the crowd and feel the energy. All sense of boredom will be banished.

Stay for awhile until you hear the call for quiet time.

Grand Central terminal, New York City, what a place. Action is what it’s all about. Get into the rhythm of the walk and you’ll be just fine. Meeting someone? Not a chance of missing each other if you meet under the clock. Looking for food? Food is everywhere – upstairs, downstairs, all around the Station.

Find the Market on the Lexington Avenue side, and buy a meal, or groceries, at any number of inviting take-out places. Ah, which way to go after leaving the Market? That is the question. To the left is the subway entrance. But wait, stay awhile, don’t miss the speciality stores parallel to where you are. After that, you might want to walk towards the clock, but notice O for your olive oil. See the big clock? To the left are the ticket counters where you can purchase a ticket for Connecticut, Westchester, or the Hudson River Valley towns. Look above the ticket counters at the signs for gate number and time of departure.

Backtrack east for a moment along the ticket counters to a small window where pamphlets are waiting for the taking, along with a knowledgeable person ready to answer your questions about what-to-do around town. Found interesting information? Good. Now as you walk toward the Park Avenue side notice on your left the exist to exciting 42nd Street.

But don’t leave yet, we’ve only just begun. Are you in the middle of Grand Central? Look up. Now you’re facing the Park Avenue side. Walk up the steps, for a leisurely drink, wine perhaps, in a pleasant, relaxing setting. Oh, my, there’s so much happening at Grand Central. Have time for the New York Transit Museum? It’s also straight ahead, same level as the big clock. Get acquainted with this landmark building, look at the ceiling, walk around. Beautiful. Isn’t it? You can’t get lost here. Take in the energy, slip in and out of the crowd. You’ll pass Starbuck’s, Orens, Zaro for coffee and a quick something.

Ready for downstairs? Hope you’re hungry, there’s lots of tasty choices. But first the Restroom. Take the escalator in front of the New York Transit Museum. At the bottom of the escalator-left is the women’s, right the men’s restrooms. The restrooms at the other end are being renovated. Usually there’s a line for the women’s room, but it’s fast. (Of course, we all know no one has ever seen a line for the men’s room. Oh, well.)

You probaby don’t know at this point what you want to eat. Check it out. Take in the array of enticing foods. The many places to sit. Don’t worry someone is always getting up or sitting down. Chances are by the time you have your food someone will be getting up.

Can’t decide? Want to confuse yourself just a little bit more? The famous Oyster Bar& Restaurant is very close to where you are. Look for the sign. Found it? You’re getting good. Open the doors, to the right is a sit down counter where you can be entertained watching oysters being shucked, soup being made-perhaps a stool is waiting for you. Like coffee shop style? You can choose to eat at one of the circular counters nearby, or check out the Saloon. To the left of the entrance where you came in is the informal dining room. Perhaps you want to sit in the lounge between the two sections, sip a drink, talk to the bartender-take in the scene. If you find the Oyster Bar&Restaurant doors closed, it must be Saturday or Sunday. One less decision you’ll have to make, but do return during a weekday. There are more restaurants, upstairs and downstairs. Whatever, wherever you choose; it’s all good. There’s more, but you’re going to find that out for yourself. Don’t rush. Never rush. It’s not good for the digestion. Check it all out, pay attention to the signs and you’ll be just fine.

Pace yourself, enjoy. Grand Central Terminal – it’s a grand old building.
www.grandcentralterminal.com