From Horses to courses, driven in an #ecarriage through Central Park

So, no doubt you've followed the wonderful people of NYC coming out and protesting for the preservation of the enviroment just a few weeks ago, well another ecological concern was what to do about horses being used in the center of a busy polluted city.

So how ecological is a horse drawn carriage ride through the magnificent Central Park?

Opinion was divided when Bloomberg, the city's then mayor decided to take horses out of the equation.

Some in favour of getting rid of the horse rides used the argument that many of these horses were tired, weren't treated well, and hey wasnt this 2014? shouldn't we stop using animals for our own entertainment in this pollution- shouldn't horses be free to do what horses do?

 Some in favour for keeping the horse rides because it was traditional, it is something that's been going on for years of course and the horses are confined to a non-car environment path in the park.
Given that the horses used are the ones best suited to this type of work and unable to do heavier labor some said the horses would be slaughterd, and this was more cruel, effectively stopping the horse drawn carriage rides, would end the horses lives.

Whatever your opinion on these issues, they have gone.

But the creative people at"Creative Workshops" in Dana Beach, Florida have come up with a environmentally friendly alternative.
The horseless E-Carriage! based on the original carriage from 1911 the clever engineering folk in Florida have created an almost exact replica, only this time the car is electronic, and so less of those harmful pollutants, while still keeping the horses free from the labour.
It's had a day in NYC, take a look at it next to central park below and follow updates on their FB page, they have all the  history to the cars and engineering process it took to get here on there as well as other fab pictures and video, they're also doing one for Arizona.

London and NYC, love hearts and stats...

As if made just for this blog, the people at  expedia.co.uk have been gathering sources from all over the shop and have come up with a list comparing the two wonderful metropolises, suggesting you might 'heart' one of them more...humm, is it possible?

My NYC blog ebook is very close to being published, and will be free to all my blog readers, so join up to the blog- or drop me your email, meanwhile I thought it was worth examining the list...

• NYC has more people per sq mile and London being bigger than NYC, is able to spread more people out.

When you live on Manhattan Island it's clear you live on a little Island, and there will be pretty much no street that you're on alone any time of the day.

Then the obvious -

• NYC enjoys warmer temperatures in the Summer, but much colder winters, and wetter months.

• Public transport is cheaper in the Big Apple including Taxi's. NYC so much more affordable than London in this respect, and you can go much further on less money.

• Shopping if you're so inclined, is not surprisingly widely available in both cities, and with the pound not so strong, it's not so much a bargain anymore for UK shoppers. Besides there's so much more to do in both cities culturally, artistically and to eat and drink than shopping..just flick through this blog.

• London clearly has more green spaces and parks, easily taken for granted till you live in NY and see the kids playgrounds one called 'Diana Ross Park' inside Central Park near 84th West playing with a concrete floor, very unimaginative and a bit depressing in winter...
• Still I disagree with the list, it misses out my fave park in London- Primrose Hill, wonderful views and fab atmosphere chilling out in the summer sunshine, with Camden Lock Market just down the hill

In my opinion in NYC the best park by far, and I'm talking Manhattan here, is Central Park, no contest. See my posts. So many different areas to explore, a zoo, a theater, a boathouse lake with a restaurant and bar, any season and this place is amazing and accessible- they even sweep the paths in the snow. Then there's the absolutely amazing wildlife- raccoons, hawks, turtles, not to mention over a quarter of all the bird species found in the United States have been seen in Central Park and the squirrels have fearless attitude, one jumped down to press my open handed glove, searching me for food.

• As for pictures... I think skylines of both cities are much more snapped up, because they're ubiquitous. Especially in NYC because as a tourist or a resident, lets face it, you're going to be inside a tall building at some point in your day, and the view will probably be amazing...

Let me know which city you 'heart' more and why, or why you love them both and refuse to choose, comments below...

movie magic in NYC

Glee filming- big balloons down the main Mall

For any film buff or celeb spotters, living in NYC affords many surprises around a corner.

As you know Uma Thurman came around the corner in Central park picking up the fallen child post.
I've been stumbling on the more organised collation of stars at live filming locations all over NYC.
First, I was lucky enough to stumble upon filming of Glee in Central Park, though I've never quite got into the show, it sure seems like they put a lot into it!

Trailers in Central Park

 There were so many trailers taking up a large section of the park, they were 'roped off', the stars, no doubt were preparing inside the cool air conditioning, whilst outside fans congregated in the melting humidity waiting to catch a glimpse...

and the fans...

Willie Garson from 'Sex and the City', filing 'White Collar'

Whilst wandering around Soho, I came across Willie Garson aka Stanford Blatch from Sex and the City.
But again a show I've caught maybe four episodes of, and they might not be whole ones.

I think they were filming White Collar
because of boards prohibiting parking around the corner.

I've worked at Industrial Light and Magic and of course we filmed things, but that was usually in a studio, or on a blue/green screen. So although I'm not really a celeb spotter or a cult TV watcher, I find there is deff something fun, exciting and magical about watching the mayhem that is filming in public, and how many people gather to watch or hang around the trailers waiting for something to happen... unlike my encounter with Uma, I took pictures this time! I hope you enjoy!

Sunshine in Central park, turtles, racoons, Uma Thurman and the fallen child

Anyone in New York will tell you, the weather has been awful for this time of year, the rain poured and I mean torrential, on Saturday night for hours, even parts of NY state were flooded.

So as Sunday beamed into a sunny day, windy, but sunny, we went to the park! After a nice long walk past the boats, and the little turtles who seemed too, to be trying to soak up a little sun.

 

Four on a log, the first one looks like his shell may have been out in the sun a bit too long

Like most New Yorkers, the turtles share a small space

We sat leisurely on a bench, watching the remote controlled boats or 'model sail boats' float around the large pond/conservatory water. (not pictured, we were just soaking up the sun)
Sunshine on our face, and a very busy park, we were dreaming of summer... suddenly, I hear this skid, and then an abrupt stop, I look to my left and a small child has fallen face down the slippery, dirty dusty path.

Of course we're expecting her mum or dad to walk up at any moment and pick, her up, and she lies there a split second too long.. the tears and wailing begin and some ladies about to walk past, run to her aid.
One lady, quite tall, bends down to pick her up.
Now I could be a bit paranoid, but I think she looked at us- split second kinda look- that said 'aren't you going to help this kid/child!' such disdain..tisk tisk..
Anyway her father came rushing down, pushing the other child along in a push chair/stroller, and scooped his child quickly back 'are you all-right sweetie??' thanking the lady, but very clearly showing she was no longer required.
So I looked up at this good samaritan who seemed to be over her disdain for me and boyfriend and saw that it was Uma Thurman!
Mad! How New York is that?!

The boyfriend, had stopped looking until I told him who'd just past us, then commented on how he should fall down.
The mum meanwhile came down the hill, to her little girl and exclaimed 'You just got picked up by Uma Thurman!!' I couldn't help but lean forward and nod to confirm and join in the incredulous scene. Love that about being here, when the pot melts, it welcomes everyone in the discussion, this family were from Australia, but my UK instinct to not say too much relegated me to a beaming smile and nodding head. Sometimes I am so English..
'Mum', was really funny and told her daughter 'fall again, fall again!" While 'Dad' sauntered past us  more non-chalantly stating it was "one for the scrapbook"

It all happened too quickly for me to get you a picture, sorry about that! But hope you enjoy some of the day's pictures and the Racoons (yup, I finally saw them) we saw hanging about  in a tree near the 86th Street park traverse.

Snow in April, Hawks and lovely people

So, I cant believe it is the 1st of April, and no I'm not trying to catch anyone out, but the weather seems to be having a joke, because it's really snowing in New York this morning!
I cant believe it. It's coming down with rain too so it's not really settling, but this weather is extraordinary, next week I'm told we'll start getting spring weather, I honestly cant wait!

Then yesterday I saw the beautiful Hawk again, this time she swooped in front of me, and even looked me in the eye, we stared at each other for a while and then she flew to a nearby tree, still looking back to check on me. Pale Male, I'm assuming, flew up behind and was even larger than she was, she took off after him, and they were amazing flying off together, such magnificent and graceful birds, it left me in awe, trying to follow them as they flew right in the direction I was heading.

I have also met some lovely people in the last week, all from other places, Texas and Argentina, but for people I just met at a press preview for an art exhibition called Freedom to Create they were excellent company to have a very nicely presented three course complimentary lunch... and I hope I meet with them again soon, as friends, for coffee.

And for some other great news, inspired NYC, had the fortune of appearing as one of 'The Best British Expat blogs' from a fellow Brit whose starting life in Atlanta.
I agree with him that our experiences are very different, given the places we're in, it's an interesting take and I like that he's not afraid to talk politics.  So, a good week in all!

Become your Dream; Central Park Advice...

"Become Your Dream"

Spring is almost here and I'm walking through Central Park yesterday to see how different it all looks and every 20 paces I see this on the ground..  notice the chalked in fish..very cool, I thought, from the advice of the philisophical artists of NYC.

After seeing many squirrels almost running about insane, I saw quite a few with a tail ripped to shreds and some with no busy tail left at all. It was suggested that these may be the Raccoons in the park- I've never seen one, but there are warnings of rabies on posters all over the park, incase one should bite you or your dog.

Also something quite different with parks in London, they have haystacks tied to the trees and lamp posts to ensure a softer landing from all the sledging downhill during the snow.. which hopefully is over for this year..they're still in place though..

Spring like haystacks.

magic in the city

So, to shake me back into a working mood, I sometimes take a walk.

The Great Lawn

Today I decided to try to get away from the noise of New York, and get into that gem, that Central Park is.
Never a disappointment, I felt peace as soon as I entered and saw the beautiful snow that covered everything.
Of course I couldn't resist pulling out the camera to share with you.

I came across New York's "Cleopatra's Needle", if you know me, you'll know I love to sit by the river in London and the "Cleopatra's Needle" there has special significance for me, so it was amazing to see this one in NYC. Little lobster hands extend from the bottom which I thought is a bit odd coming from Egypt.. but they all have embossed on them a 'gift from Egypt' and it's been there since 1822. Lovely place to just sit and chill, even in the snow- to be honest because of the humidity 4c (41f) isn't as cold as a London 4c.
The MET Museum are going to do an exhibition on Cleopatras Needle starting Dec 3rd 2013, they will also include a time lapse of the Obelisk during a course of a day, and apparently the needle is seen from many vantage points from the Met.
Here is some more info about the Obelisk, and the upcoming exhibition; The obelisk in Central Park is one of a pair—each of which has come to be called “Cleopatra’s Needle”—originally installed by Thutmose III (r. ca. 1479–1425 B.C.) in front of the sun temple in Heliopolis, the ancient Egyptian city dedicated to the sun god Re. Over time, both obelisks toppled. Discoloration indicates that they may have also been burned in antiquity, and that exposure to the elements eroded some of the hieroglyphs. Augustus Caesar (63 B.C.–14 A.D.) took the two obelisks to Alexandria and installed them at the Caesareum, the temple built by Cleopatra VII to honor the deified Julius Caesar. (This episode may explain how the name of Cleopatra became attached to these two obelisks.) The Romans recognized the solar imagery of obelisks and connected them to their own sun god, Sol.  For Augustus, the link may have been personal as well, since Apollo, another Roman sun god, was his patron deity. Included in the exhibition will be a late 16th-century map and a late 17th-century Dutch watercolor, both showing the obelisk standing in Alexandria.


So on my walk I saw these beautiful blue birds, unfortunately this picture doesn't do justice to their striking blue coats, but it was almost romantic as they call to their mates till they come screeching over.
Cute squirrels, NY ones seem much less afraid of people than London ones do, one squirrel pretty much put his head in my hand, to see if I had food.

But amazingly, and I was so impressed to see it was a Hawk! not one but two, and then I read about Central Park's Pale Male Hawk.
A 'famous' hawk of Central Park, loved by locals and bird watchers, who had a mate Lola, who apparently went missing.

The New Yorker reported today that Pale Male, has found a new mate, a much younger looking bird to whom they call hussey! Poor bird.

I am thrilled that I saw them today 'courting' it seems.
Central Park is amazing, never seen a Hawk so upclose! He let me come right up to him and looked at me, then majestically flew across the park. I cant even explain the magnificence of this animal, and it's grace given it's size. I was so excited to see this New Yorker.. In Native American Indian medicine, the Hawk is a 'messenger', and that 'a clue about the magic of life is being bought to you'.*
Though I could still hear the drilling and police sirens, It felt like a bit of magic in the city.  
*from the book Medicine Cards, Jamie Sams and David Carson

Gem of New York

So.. this is my final post for this part of the blog, as I'm three months in! and it is time to head back to English shores.. and I have to say, I was just getting used to it!!
There are things about New York that are very cool, and not found anywhere else in the US, like the fact you can order delivery from ANY restaurant, including places like Cipriani's, and a slice of Pizza from Joe's!
They'll come to you rain or shine, and quite late at night.. eating like that is cheaper than eating in, and given all the heat the kitchen gives off in a small apartment, in the heatwave it's better to order in..
Or take their 'Subway' (i keep calling it the Tube) runs all night.. they have to write engineering works posters from 12am-5am... when most Londoners wouldn't expect the tube to run anyway..

During this trip I've been quite ill, and so haven't been able to enjoy as much of New York as I might have wished.. but for now my gem in New York has been Central park.. every time I step in there, I find another wonder. First time it was little turtles popping their heads out of the green alge water, the second a Hawk -no kidding just perched high up on a branch looking out, apparently Central Park is the place where you'll find the largest variety of birds in the whole of the US. Then there's just the enormity and beauty of the park, the rambles where you can quite literally get lost.
Yesterday I got caught in the rain with no umbrella, and in the humid heat the rain was welcome, I took shelter by a tree, and watched another woman do the same..
As I watched the joggers continue past I started to see steam coming off the tarmac.. I know it sounds insignificant, but it was almost mysterious, and a little bit of magic..

Now that we have an apartment and settled, I cant wait to have people visit.. I'm looking forward to returning.. and continuing this blog.. there's so much more to write about!!
Adios for now Big Apple!