All posts by April Moore

T: Times Square & Taking Stock

2020 A to Z Challenge, , , , , , ,

A to Z Challenge: My theme this year is NYC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

TIMES SQUARE: It doesn’t take long to learn why New Yorkers avoid Times Square at all costs. It’s viewed as a necessary evil when seeing a show, or having out-of-town guests who have never experienced it. It’s a sea of slow-moving, awe-struck people taking photos. I can’t fault them, however, because that was me at one point, but not anymore. The luster is gone, although I will say, it’s fun to watch friends and family see it for the first time.

Right now must be the perfect time to visit Time Square. No crowd to get stuck behind; no one accosting you with flyers, CDs, or requests for anything; and no one to get mad at you because you accidentally got in their picture (it’s totally unavoidable given the amount of people). The other best time to see Times Square is when it’s raining. I caught a pic through my clear dome umbrella–which, by the way–is the best umbrella to have in NYC. You can see through it and it won’t get flipped inside out by the notorious wind.

Despite the annoying aspects of Times Square, it’s an iconic symbol of NYC and I can appreciate that. Like most monumental attractions, Times Square has accumulated a long list of fun facts. Here’s a few:

  • About 340,000 pedestrians pass through Times Square each day, amounting to 50 million visitors a year.
  • An estimated 2 million people packed into Time Square on August 14, 1945 to celebrate U.S. victory in WWII, making it the largest crowd in its history. It’s also when Alfred Eisenstaedt captured the photo of a sailor kissing a nurse.
  • Times Square lights can be seen from outer space.
  • The Times Square subway station has a mural painted by pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein.
  • One Times Square (the building on which the ball drops) is mostly empty. Originally constructed in 1904 as the New York Times headquarters, the building was purchased by Lehman Brothers in 1995 and turned into a giant billboard. Jamestown Properties, who now owns the building, rents out the three bottom floors. The top floor houses the the New Year’s Eve ball. The billboards generate over $23 million per year.

TAKING STOCK: I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s hard to spend these days without thinking about the big picture and what’s truly important. What are we bringing with us when we reach the other side of this pandemic? Will it be back to status quo? Jeez, I hope not.

Dad

When cancer took both my father and my father-in-law in 2007, their deaths prompted the almost involuntary act of taking stock; what do I bring with me through this journey of grief? I took stock of my life and immediately, I could identify the unimportant crap not worthy of attention or even acknowledgement. I quit sweating the small stuff, weeded out the piddly junk, and focused on staying present. While occasionally I need a reminder, those lessons I learned thirteen years ago, have stayed with me.

With that said, there’s still way more adjustments and flat-out changes I need to make going forward. This has made mine and The Husband’s priorities evolve and shift over the last month or so and, frankly, it’s kinda cool. It’s been so easy to fall into the consumerism trap and not think about whose pockets we’re filling, and who is getting short changed. What is this pandemic teaching us about our country’s priorities and how we either consciously or unconsciously feed into them? Will this finally force voters and lawmakers to prioritize our broken healthcare system? Our environment? Our criminal justice system? The ridiculous disparity of wealth in this country? The list goes on. Fortunately, writer Julio Vincent Gambuto articulated this so beautifully in his article, Prepare for the Ultimate Gaslighting. I urge you to take a few minutes to read it.

Another “T” I felt worthy to ponder today is “temporal range,” as it pertains to humans. Author John Green gave a tee-riffic commentary on the subject on his podcast, The Anthropocene Reviewed. Check it out.

S: Street Art & Support

2020 A to Z Challenge, , , , , , ,

A to Z Challenge: My theme this year is NYC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

STREET ART: Street art can consists of several types of art including installations and performance, but for this post, I’m focusing on murals and artwork (some commissioned; others not). I don’t have enough room here (or knowledge) to offer even the basic history of street art; you can find an insane amount of articles online about it. NYC is plastered with amazing street art, from amateurs to the well known, like this Banksy, entitled “Hammer Boy” on 79th St. between Broadway & Amsterdam Ave.

There are also several by Brazilian artist, Eduardo Kobra whose recognizable style involves bright colors and bold lines within a kaleidoscope style. His work is incredible.

Coming across street art makes me happy, whether it’s a tiny little heart, or a massive mural. I may not always understand the artist’s message, but I appreciate it’s there.

SUPPORT: This is something I feel we ought to be doing all the time, but if there’s any time to offer support, it’s now. You might feel your reserves are running low because you’re needing assistance, too, but there are various ways to lend a germ-free hand.

Emotional support can go a long way, so reach out to friends and family through text, email, and video chat. Allowing someone to air their sorrows and fears can be a gift; just letting it all out can make room for optimism and positivity to settle in.

Check on neighbors, especially ones living alone, by slipping a note under their door with your phone number. If they don’t have anyone to talk to, can you imagine their loneliness? Rack your brain for all those people in your life who live alone and by all mean, give ’em a holler. Set up Zoom game nights, happy hours, and other fun activities, like trivia night. It gives you all something to look forward to after the monotonous day-to-day.

If you are able to offer monetary support, I gave several options in my J-post, but here are some other things you can do:

  • Chip in to support your building staff (if you live in an apartment building). Someone in our building posted in our online resident portal (that no one ever reads) that she’d like to start a fund for our building staff. Only myself and a couple of others replied, so she printed off little slips of paper explaining what we’d like to do and divvied them up so we could distribute them under everyone’s doors–a great way to start a project and keep our distance.
  • Shop small business . So many folks who make a living as artists are really having a rough time. Get on Etsy and do some shopping (you can find some very cool masks right now). I just bought some earrings from a local artist I met last Christmas. She’s thrilled to have the support and I’m thrilled to have unique, one-of-a-kind pieces of art. Think about these folks and consider doing your birthday and holiday shopping now. This is also the perfect time to get used to the practice of shopping local and supporting the little guys, because even when this quarantine is over, we ought to make some serious changes about where our money goes. Authors are also artists, so buy books from a local bookseller, or even the author’s website. (Bonus: they may even sign it for you.) One author friend, is donating 35% of proceeds to Direct Relief, so boom! You support both the author and a good cause.
  • Order from local restaurants still offering take out. If you want to continue enjoying [insert your favorite restaurant meal] when this is all “over,” then hang up your pots and pans and let the pros cook. So many restaurants have already closed up for good here and it feels like it’s only the beginning.
  • Make a list of all the local places you love that are in danger of closing their doors for good and rally the troops. So many businesses, from hair dressers to bakeries, to health care providers, are changing up the way they do business so they can still service their customers; keep tabs on what they’re up to and continue your patronage. Look, even if despite all efforts these businesses have to close, at least you tried. That’s so much better than making Jeff Bezos even richer.

What are some ways you’re offering your support? The more we share these things, the more we can help!

R: Riverside Park & Routine

2020 A to Z Challenge, , , , , ,

A to Z Challenge: My theme this year is NYC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

RIVERSIDE PARK: When I visited NYC for the first time with a friend in 2013, Riverside Park was the first place we went to. Our mutual friend, who at the time, lived on the Upper West Side, took us there. The scenic waterfront park runs along the Hudson River between 129th and 72nd Streets. It was a beautiful August afternoon with surprisingly low humidity and we walked from 91st Street all the way down, to Christopher Street, close to 4 miles.

At 330 acres, it’s a gorgeous park and you may remember it from the final scene of You’ve Got Mail. The park includes Riverside Avenue, a boulevard lined with trees, shrubs, and flowering plants.

Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park (just one of many) came up with the initial design for the Park and wrote in 1873, “[Riverside park] presented great advantages as a park because the river bank had been for a century occupied as the lawns and ornamental gardens in front of the country seats along its banks. Its foliage was fine, and its views magnificent.” Eventually, his vision for the park fell to the wayside after being ousted as parks superintendent. Other designers came in, but no single plan made up the park, prompting Olmsted to write, “in many important particulars the design had been mangled,” because of steep terrain hindering recreation, and many of the trees blocked views of the river. Olmsted’s offer to help with design was declined. For the next several decades, the park’s development faced numerous challenges from redesign, outdoor sewage problems, coal emissions from trains, garbage dumps . . . the list goes on. It’s had its ups and downs, but it wasn’t until the 1980s that things started to look up and cooperatives combined to create the Riverside Park Fund. It’s now a city landmark housing several monuments and other historical structures. From the park, you can take the riverfront Esplanade that extends for miles in each direction (and say hello to New Jersey).

ROUTINE: I like having a routine, so for me, it’s not a surprise that I’ve been trying to stick to one since being quarantined. Before all of this, my routine involved going to Ninth Street Espresso, my neighborhood coffeeshop, at around 8:00 a.m. and writing until noon or 1:00. It got to the point where I didn’t even need to verbally place my order of an oatmilk latte and pastry (alternating daily between the apple turnover and scone–talk about routine). After writing all morning, I would maybe do some drawing, or head over to a park to stretch the legs, or into the city to check out a museum. I really, really miss that routine. I miss seeing the usual coffeeshop crew and getting my writing groove on. I hope that not only does the coffeeshop survive this disaster, but that the employees and fellow regulars are doing well and that I’ll see them soon.

Without much else to do, I probably have more of routine now than I did before. During the week, I tend to workout in the morning to get it over with, then I make my latte (our espresso machine has never been so busy), and I write for a few hours, followed by some copy editing I’m doing for some friends. By late afternoon I’m sick of being in front of the computer, so I read or pass time working on a puzzle. Then I make dinner and we watch some TV. On weekends (after the latte and maybe a workout) The Husband and I might make a big breakfast, listen to some podcasts or music, and play a game like Rummikub or Yahtzee. (Note: if you’re looking to order dice, make sure you check the quantity. I don’t what happened, but we now have a bag of 100 die.) Anybody need some dice?

Because COVID-19 has taken a lot of things away, I refuse to let it steal something I can control. I want to be able to say I accomplished some things during this time, and without a routine, those things will never happen. How are you passing the time? Have you found it difficult to have a routine? Or is that the best part?

Q: Q-Train & Quarantine Rainbow Connection

2020 A to Z Challenge, , , , , , ,

A to Z Challenge: My theme this year is NYC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Q-TRAIN: We live a 5-minute walk from a large subway hub and often take the Q-train. The Q has had many different service patterns since it began running in 1920, and since January of 2017, its route covers 34 stations from 96th St in the Upper East Side of Manhattan to Coney Island and runs from 12:12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. We’ve had a lot of strange and entertaining subway stories over the last year, and I even got myself stuck in a turnstile with my leg up in the air (I still can’t figure out how that happened), but I thought I’d share some fun facts about NYC’s subway system. (Source)

  • 1.7 billion people rode the NYC subway system in 2016, making it the seventh-busiest in the world. Beijing tops the list with nearly double the number of riders, followed by Tokyo, Shanghai, Seoul, Guangzhou, and Moscow.
  • The busiest station is Times Square (not a surprise) and apparently, if it’s your regular stop and you’re late to work because of a train delay, the MTA will email or fax you a “late letter” of explanation.
  • In 1953 when the fair was raised to 15 cents and turnstiles could only accept one type of coin, tokens were used. Thieves would jam turnstiles with coins and then use their mouths to suck out the tokens that were stuck in the slots. Gross. Clerks resorted to sprinkling the slots with chili powder or mace.
  • To function as an artificial reef, 44 decommissioned subway cars were dumped in the ocean in 2008.
  • Living out most little kids’ dream, a 16-year-old impersonated a train conductor in 1993, driving an A train. For three hours, he safely shuttled passengers to and fro, only getting caught by accidentally triggering an emergency break.
  • To ensure a conductor is paying attention and stopping in the right place, he or she must point to a black-and-white striped board in the middle of every subway station. In 2013, a couple of New Yorkers wanted to liven things up and stood beneath the striped bar holding signs, one reading, “Point here if you re dead sexy.”

For a hilarious insider’s view of NYC’s subway system, check out the podcast, Everything is Alive, where they interview a subway seat.

QUARANTINE RAINBOW CONNECTION: It all began in mid-March when a Brooklyn mom posted in her neighborhood Facebook group that her two kids were “getting frustrated with not being able to go to the playgrounds or touch anything when we went on walks.” She suggested residents hang pictures of rainbows in their windows for kids to spot on their daily walks. Other parts of the world had been doing this, so why not in Brooklyn? The idea caught on and even one resident has been keeping a spreadsheet for people to post their addresses–like rainbow-caching–“a lovely reminder for all of us that, in a storm, there is still something to look forward to.” These are just some of the fabulous rainbows we’ve spotted on our walks (who said only kids can have fun playing I-Spy)?

P: Pierogi & Peloton

2020 A to Z Challenge, , , , , , , ,

A to Z Challenge: My theme this year is NYC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PIEROGI: I eluded back in my C-post that I’d be talking about a Coney Island-related ritual. A trip to the boardwalk isn’t complete without a short trek to Brighton Beach, the Russian and Eastern European neighborhood for some pierogi, or vereniki, as they’re called. They are pillowy potato perfection. I definitely fall off the vegan wagon when I eat these, but at least I’m still on the veggie wagon. My favorite place to go is Ocean View Cafe, a recommendation of a friend of a friend who is from the Ukraine. Pierogi can be stuffed with just about anything (my favorite is potato and mushroom), but you can get them filled with salty cheese, sweet cheese, meat, cabbage, or fruit. Like a lot of places, I really hope the cafe makes it through this pandemic because I’m going to need a pierogi fix when this is all over.

PELOTON: So it happened. The Husband had become addicted to using the gym’s Peloton bike, so when everything shuddered up, he started having withdrawals. It helped his bum knee (or so he says . . . hmm) and being stuck in front of a computer all day, working out has always been a priority. He would often ride his bike in Prospect Park or around Brooklyn (which always made me nervous), so I’m happier with this safer alternative. We figured since I’m not going out and getting into trouble, we could dip into my bail money fund for this one.

Most people who know me, know I hate riding bikes. I lack coordination (did you see my H-post?!) and the fear of getting hit by a car or running into a pole has kept me off two-wheeled contraptions for many years. But I’m competitive and I gain weight easily, so it’s come to this. (I will not, however, be the Peloton Wife!) I have to say, I really, really like it, plus it ensures I shower more often, which indeed, is a plus. It does worry me a little what the neighbors must think of all the heavy breathing going on in our apartment.

I also enjoy doing puzzles, and as you can see, I’ve got one going. Although the proximity of the two isn’t ideal, as one mocks me while I’m focused on the other.

Oh, I want some pierogi right now.

O: Outdoors & Online Learning

2020 A to Z Challenge, , , , , , , , , , ,

A to Z Challenge: My theme this year is NYC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OUTDOORS: If there’s one thing New York City does right (there’s a lot, really) it’s parks. It’s also one the thing I miss most. For todays part one, it’s all about a photographic journey through a few of my favorite outdoor destinations: parks

Central Park

Prospect Park

Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

Greenwood Cemetery

Governor’s Island

DUMBO/Brooklyn Bridge Park

Fortunately, sunsets are still something I can experience without leaving home:

ONLINE LEARNING: Kids may not be jazzed about having their classrooms online, but I know a lot of adults who thrive in this type of learning environment. I actually miss school, but I’ll admit, I’m not a quick learner, which is why I think I like distance learning. I can generally take it at my own pace and if I have to hit rewind a few times, that’s okay. Even before the pandemic, you could find loads of online courses in all sorts of subjects; now, there’s even more. Ever want to attend Harvard? Well, you can now (no scholarship required) because they’ve opened up 67 classes you can take that vary from 1-15 weeks. If that’s a little too intimidating, try out Master Classes. I purchased a subscription last year and I really like it. There is such a huge variety of subjects (I really liked Neil Gaiman’s). Here’s a list of other online opportunities:

Skillshare
Future Learn
Coursera
edx
Udemy

This is a great time to learn to code, speak French, or even the art of pasta making. (Think of what you could add to your dating profile!)

N: NYC Marathon & Not Up to Dick

2020 A to Z Challenge, , , , , , ,

A to Z Challenge: My theme this year is NYC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

NEW YORK CITY MARATHON: On the first Sunday each November, over 50,000 runners take to the streets of NYC’s five boroughs in hopes of completing the 26.2-mile race. In 2019, participants from over 142 countries competed and since the inaugural race in 1970, 1.2 million people have crossed the finish line. In 1970, the entry fee was $1; in 2018, it cost $295 for U.S. residents and $358 for non-residents. Prize money however, ranges from $2000-$100,000. The route goes right past our building on 4th Avenue (at around the 7-mile mark), so we were thrilled to see the elite runners fly past and cheer on participants with high fives. The event is quite fun to watch because the atmosphere is so full of joy and kudos. You can tell the runners appreciate the support. The view from our building’s roof:

NOT UP TO DICK: We’re revisiting Victorian slang for this one. While I’m sure this could be interpreted in a few ways, the 1800s definition of the phrase is not feeling well. I searched for some further explanation, but I quickly discovered that wasn’t the brightest of ideas, so we’ll leave it at that. Many of us are not well these days, both physically and emotionally.

Thanks to medical advancements, we’re much better equipped than 19th century humans to handle diseases, illnesses, and ailments, but obviously, that doesn’t mean we won’t struggle. The 1800s endured its fair share of epidemics such as cholera, measles, and small pox, however, before color photography, doctors and medical students relied heavily on medical illustrators to help them diagnose and treat patients. In a less dangerous Google search, I came across The Sick Rose: Disease and the Art of Medical Illustration, a book featuring a collection detailed 19th century medical illustrations. The young woman in the illustration is clearly not up to dick.


M: Museums & Missing Magnolias

2020 A to Z Challenge, , , , , , , ,

A to Z Challenge: My theme this year is NYC before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MUSEUMS: How can I not mention museums for M? (You saw my arts calendar; they’re a big deal.) The Husband and I have always loved museums and no matter where we travel, museums top our list of activities. After all, I majored in art and minored in art history (which seems like a long ago era in itself). With museums constantly adding exhibits throughout the year, becoming members to several made sense (I had to include the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens because, hey, the gardens are designed to be more than just a bunch of plants).

Did you know the first museum dates back to the Babylonian era, 2,500 years ago? Neither did I (reiterating my college days probably need to be carbon dated too). During an excavation of a Babylonian palace in 1925, British archaeologist Leonard Woolley discovered a collection of neatly organized and labeled artifacts. This early museum belonged to Princess Ennigaldi and contained items as ancient to her, as the fall of the Roman Empire is to us. Crazy to think about. The idea that the science of archaeology existed in 530 BCE, blew Woolley’s mind. Coming across artifacts spanning a couple of thousands of years, all jumbled together, would be like an ancient jigsaw puzzle. Items included inscriptions from the Kassite period around 1,400 BCE; a 2,058 BCE statue of a Babylonian king; another statue dating to 1,700 BC; and a large votive stone mace-head believed to date back 2,200 BCE. All of this is so fascinating to me. I have to wonder, considering so much of our current world is digital, what tangible discoveries would future civilizations unearth when our society disappears? Would they find evidence of our technological advancements? It’d be a shame if they thought we only got as far as floppy disks and Blockbuster.

My actual Blockbuster card (circa 1998) unearthed last year from an ancient handbag stuffed in a closet.

MISSING MAGNOLIAS: Mourning, mopey, melancholy, marooned, are a few of the other M-words I could easily monologue right now. We’re halfway through this A to Z Challenge and I admit, my momentum is waning, but at least there’s an end in sight after “Z.” The virus, however, lacks a clear end date. With so many other things to be missing right now, like my family, it rings a bit petty to bemoan missing this spring’s magnolia blooms, but y’all don’t need to see a meltdown. So here we go.

One of the few things I can appreciate humidity for (including sunsets), are the plants that thrive in this muggy environment. Coming from the dry Colorado climate, magnolias were simply never a thing in my world until I moved here. Last year it was Magnolia Mania.

This year, we’ve only been able to catch a few blooms since we don’t venture out too often these days. We did manage to see a beauty earlier in March.

For your viewing pleasure, here’s a video I took of a magnolia tree with some early blooms: