Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Washington Square Park

Today is like THE MOST beautiful day in NY! It's the kind of day you live for...when you wake up and the sun is shining, ad it's breezy and cool but not at all cold, etc. This is the very kind of day that makes LA oh-so-boring because it's like this almost EVERYDAY there.

But here? After a week of overcast and drizzly (which I also love) you get to wake up all in a good mood and stuff! Even ME!!!

And THEN I walked to the park this morning and I got a HUGE surprise!

But you need the backstory here...the PROLOGUE, if you will...

I live, have always lived, about 2 blocks from Washington Square Park. Nothing like Central park. It used to be all pot dealers, NYU student hippies, scads of chess players (?? I just don't GET that...outdoor park chess players. But to each his own) (LOSERS!) And a fountain that was nice enough, but always surrounded by traveling gypsy bands, mimes, jugglers and break dancers and such, and the dogpark.

When I was moving FOUR YEARS AGO they had just started "renovations" by fencing the entire park. You had to practically deploy National Guard Bootcamp training techniques to get to the dogrun. And I come back about 3 times a year, and it's been worse and worse each time.

WELL....I get there this morning, dogs and XL coffee in tow, and I almost fell over...They had JUST taken down almost ALL the fencing for most of the entire park, exposing brand new benches (sans drug dealers..yet) gorgeous new grass, bushes, flowers, etc. You could actually walk to the dogrun THROUGH the park!

AND..AND...AND...The gorgeous new fountain was RUNNING!!!! And because my idiot dogs get up so ridiculously early I was like one of the first people walking through!

The only thing this probably means to you is that you've been yawning so much through this post that you've found a good crick in your neck.

But to me, it means a lot.
1. I got to be the first of my friends to be there. This makes me act superior and annoys them all because I don't even officially live here! I'm the one who texted THEM the news! HA! Who lives in LA? Not ME!

2. I felt like it would never get done. And even though I had NOTHING whatsoever to do with it, I feel pride that it's finished and pretty. Kinda like how I feel when Lucy comes and cleans my house.

3. You can bet your ass that when you come visit me I will drag you there and be all "...and this is the park I've ALWAYS lived next to...isn't it pretty and Parisian looking?! And OH! The THINGS I had to live through during the renovations....." and thus will commence a tale not unlike ye old stories coming from a 90 yr old war vet.

4. It'll only be this pretty and nice for mayyybbeee a month. So I'll get to be all "....and I was here the VERY day it opened when there was actual grass and flowers and not a single tranny crack whore sleeping on a bench ANYWHERE!!"

It also just makes me feel connected still to a place that I call home anyway. That's the REAL reason. I woulda HATED to get a call about the opening sitting in my car in LA traffic.

So, YAY ME! Can u even believe what a good mood I'm in?!?!

AND to top off my morning of bliss...I was having coffee at Jack's, and.... Not a single stroller or toddler within sound...AND there was some jerk talking loudly on his phone inside, and the tiny grunge coffee girl yells "GET OFF YOUR CELL PHONE IN THE CAFE PLEASE!" And the rest of us all snickered as he bolted out of the store.

GOD I love NY!

Here are some pics that I didn't take. I could have. but I'm too lazy. And why do it if someone else with a way better camera can?



14 comments:

Kristina P. said...

What the hell is going on with Reader! Not a single blog updated in 3 hours? Give me a break.

Glad I popped in to see if my hunch was correct.

And I love Central Park! We better see some famous people while I'm there! Maybe I can be headbutted by Keifer Sutherland!!

Dee at Pedestrian Palate said...

Tranny crack whore? That phrase alone paints such a perfect picture.

And let me tell you, the fact that you actually live (is this temporary or permanent?) steps from Washington Square is sooooo awesome. I'm a little jealous.

I have so many great memories of that part of the city.

Looooooong ago, I was walking out of One Fifth (way before it was Otto) and heading up toward WSP. I wasn't looking where I was going and I almost nocked over Martin Chambers (Pretenders drummer). He was super nice about it and actually cuter than he looked in pictures and I floated off to the park and relived the moment 100 times. Whadda ya want, I was only 19. But it's memories like that one that keep the village dear to my heart.

You are a lucky girl!

dede said...

ahhh - I love a beautiful day! Enjoy your park!!

Meg said...

You know, Washington Square Park is one of the coolest places in NYC. You are so correct in your giddiness over that new park smell.

Kathy B! said...

Wow. That is beautiful. The energy emitted by the gorgeousness will act as a forcefield and keep all drug dealers, tranny crack whores and general low life away, I'm sure.

Carin said...

It is GORGEOUS!!!!!! Are you sure you don't want to take your camera with you just one day...and take pictures????? I have only been to NY once and I already miss it! It is SO BEAUTIFUL with so much more character than the west.....

p.s. I wish someone would yell at Danny when he is on the phone...well, besides me!

peewee said...

Carin...Better Idea...how 'bout YOU come back and I'll walk around with you while YOU take pics?!?!

Kristina P. said...

OH, and I think I've only walked past Washington Square Park.

Lady of Perpetual Chaos said...

Wow! You're so chipper and perky I'm wondering if I really even know you at all. Oh wait...

peewee said...

yah, I didn't want to say anything kristina, about your I heart central park comment, given that I wasn't talking about central park, but I just figured you really really really liked central park.

rychelle said...

my friend's dorm was right next to that park. i walked past that arch a dozen times. can't wait to see the finished product SOON! do you think they can keep it tranny free for 2 months?

Dads(2) said...

I LOVE the little people who go to the parks . . . . with their dogs . . . . they look so important . . . I'm all emotional now . . . I miss NY . . . .

Carin said...

don't tempt me!?

forever folding laundry said...

Nice!! Sounds perfect.

The only thing that could make it better was if Jack Bauer himself came walking by. Oh! Wait...!

~Keri