Ponies on the Subway

“But her ponies aren’t real! They’re made of plastic.”

The best part of traveling alone in New York City is the amazing opportunity to eavesdrop on people’s conversations. With no distractions, no friends to entertain, no family to ask touristy questions (“Can we take the subway to the Statue of Liberty?”), it is easy to become engrossed in the lives of your fellow travelers. And often, their lives become a great story for you tell…

This past Friday, weary from my latest adventure, I hopped on an N Train headed for Astoria. Having perfected the art of traveling unnoticed, I found a seat, took out my book and lowered my eyes. No one pays attention to a person reading a book, it’s like they’re not even there. At the next stop, a young boy and his, I presume, nanny got on the train. As much as I try to avoid children on these journeys, the crowded train put a wrench in that plan; the boy took a seat right next to me. 

The boy, about five years old, was in a frenzied state of excitement, his legs and arms immediately began flailing around. Clearly his nanny decided to feed him Sour Patch Kids after she picked him up from school. She did her best to rein him in but five-year-olds don’t really have a sense of personal space. After about the second kick to my knee, I was ready to give the typical New Yorker loud sigh and eye roll. As I began to breath in, I heard the nanny ask him about the red letter sent home with him. My ears perked up. I needed to know if this kid was kicking other children as well! “He obviously has a history,” I thought. “Hopefully his parents get him the help he needs before it’s too late.”

The boy’s legs and arms came to a crashing halt. As if he was being questioned on the witness stand, he immediately laid out his defense. “Ms. Janet told the class we could play musical chairs. Sherri was sitting next to me. She always sits by me,” he said. (Typical anti-social New Yorker.)

He continued to tell the nanny that this little girl, Sherri, put her pony dolls down on another chair next to him. “I told her ‘your ponies can’t play musical chairs, Sherri, they’re not real.’ She started crying and I don’t know why. I was just telling her the truth.” (Typical New York realist.)

Apparently this "tattletale," Sherri, told the teacher and the boy was sent to the time-out chair. When the game was over, the boy had to tell Sherri he was sorry and that her ponies were indeed real.  Unless this is some magical Kindergarten class, forcing a kid to lie about the realness of My Little Pony probably isn’t the best idea. Even though he "wasn't sorry," and he knew the ponies weren't real, the boy did what he was told.

He paused in his story, thinking he had satisfied his nanny’s inquisition, but he was wrong. “Well, if you apologized, why did you get a red letter sent home?” she said.

“Well," he said, hesitation in his voice. "We were having animal crackers for snack time, so I raised my hand and said ‘Ms. Janet, my mom said I can’t eat real ponies...’ She sent me back to the time out chair.”

Maybe this kid wasn't so bad after all.

*Although I have overheard tales like this on the subway, this story is a work of semi-fiction. 

To the Top of the Met and Beyond

There are two very important summer locations that we have yet to discuss: museums and rooftops. Summer in NYC is all about the rooftops. Besides parks, they are the only way to enjoy fresh air and sunshine while escaping the insufferable heat radiating from the sidewalks below. As the city's trendiest summer locale, rooftops can be found just about anywhere, including, you guessed it, museums!

From May to October, The Metropolitan Museum of Art (you know that gigantic stone builiding on the eastern edge of Central Park?) opens its beautiful rooftop garden to the public. With unobstructed views of Central Park and the West Side skyline, it is truly a sight to behold. If that's not enough to entice you, each season the Met commissions a world-renowned artist to transform the open-air space. This season's exhibit is entitled The Roof Garden Commission: Dan Graham with Gunther Vogt. 

 

The rooftop exhibit features astroturf flooring and a large center installation comprised of "curves of steel and two-way mirrored glass between ivy hedgerows," according to the Met's website. "Graham’s structure is part garden maze, part modernist skyscraper façade." And part funhouse, if you ask me! If "modernist mazes" are not your thing, the rooftop also offers a cafe with speciality cocktails, beer, wine and lunch options.

If the sun is a little too strong on the rooftop, head inside to enjoy some cool air-conditioning and one of the Met's special exhibits. I find that museums are a wonderful place to experience alone. They're perfect for spending the day getting lost and leisurely taking in all the details. The quiet halls are a welcome break from the noise of the city streets.  Although many people find the Met's grand size overwhelming (it's the largest art museum in the US), I think it's best to choose one or two exhibits to view instead of trying to cram everything in at once. 

I chose the Costume Institute's exhibit Charles James: Beyond Fashion. The exhibit, housed in the special exhibition galleries and the newly created Anna Wintour Costume Center, showcases the work of couterier Charles James. The special galleries present a retrospective of his breathtaking ball gowns worn by society elite and Hollywood legends. 

As James was renowned for this technical and tailoring skills, the Costume Center portion is dedicated to how each design was created. The intricate cuts and patterns of James' designs are presented on digital-motion screens. To the untrained eye, the garments may seem simple but the motion graphics detail the precision of each piece. 

It's the end of July and summer is fleeting quicker by the day. Now is the time to start killing two birds with one stone, and a one-stop trip to a museum and rooftop is the perfect plan for a summer day. Its is a great way to enjoy New York, enjoy some culture, and best of all, enjoy the quiet!

Get 'Out of Doors' and Groove Under the Stars

The only thing that makes a hot summer day bearable is a warm summer night. And what better way to enjoy these summer nights than 'Out of Doors'. Lincoln Center Out of Doors, currently underway, is a free festival that offers an eclectic mix of music and dance under the stars. In its 44th season, the three-week festival is open to the public until August 10th.

The diverse showcase of performances include everything from jazz and modern dance to urban-disco and ballet. The free shows typically begin from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and take place throughout Lincoln Center: the bandshell in Damrosch Park, David Rubenstein Atrium, Hearst Plaza, etc. (Tip: Because this is a free event, lines can be very long for popular performances. It is best to arrive as early as possible to snag a good spot!)

Along with nightly shows, 'Out of Doors' will also host some day-long "fests" within the festival. On July 27th, globalFEST will offer musical and dance celebrations from, you guessed it, around the globe. From August 6th to 10th, AmericanaFEST will honor the roots of this country through film, dance and music. For more information on the performances, click here.

If dancing to great music on a beautiful summer night (for free!) isn't enough, this year the festival is offering delicious snacks. Hill Country BBQ has a food truck set up with a menu full of their smokey favorites AND refreshing alcoholic beverages. It's the perfect evening to enjoy alone (well, not exactly alone if you consider the swaying crowd of a couple hundred New Yorkers).

Escape from New York

Sometimes the best thing about living in New York during the summer is escaping New York during the summer. Let's be honest, as great as this city is, everyone needs a weekend getaway. Following in the footsteps of Erica Bray and her trip to Disneyland, I decided to travel alone to Florida for a few days… (no, not to Disney World!) What I found is that traveling solo outside New York is really not much different than exploring the city alone. Even though it's a plane ride rather than a subway ride, the distance from home never even entered my mind.

I was fortunate enough to have a family friend offer his oceanside condo in Jupiter Beach, a quiet residential town 25 minutes north of West Palm Beach. When traveling alone, especially if you're new to the game, it's best to go somewhere low-key, a place you feel comfortable. Jupiter Beach is relatively quiet this time of year mainly because "snow birds" return to New York for the summer months. Which was great news for me; I only had to share the pool deck with one family and a couple of European tourists.

Besides spending a good chunk of the three days collecting seashells and diving into the aqua-colored waves, I also was able to explore the area. Jupiter Beach is perfect for traveling alone because it allows you to be lazy or be active. On an active day, I headed to the Jupiter Inlet Light, a towering rust-colored lighthouse. Along with offering gorgeous views of the beach, the lighthouse also houses a museum filled with information on its history.

With my rental car acting as my only friend on the trip, I was actually much more willing to get out and explore; I had no other choice. And when it came to eating alone, this beachside community offered the perfect spots to dine in a judgment-free zone (while sipping a Mai-Tai, of course). One restaurant I ventured to was a recommended local hangout named Too Bizarre. Lucky for me, the restaurant had a sushi/wine bar where I happily parked myself. I enjoyed a delicious spicy tuna salad, shrimp tempura rolls and Cabernet. The laid-back vibe of the restaurant was a welcome change from the fast pace of NYC and I soaked in every second.

Before I knew it, the weekend was over. I brushed the sand off my toes and headed back to the airport. Boarding the place I found another perk of traveling alone, an empty middle seat! It was the relaxing trip I needed, a quiet getaway with just me, myself and I. Unfortunately, it was back to reality on Monday.

Volunteering for One.

So far, we have talked a lot about all the cool things you can see and do this summer in NYC. But, along with all the fun adventures, I believe it is also important to give back. With the free time that the summer months allow, now is a great opportunity to become involved with an organization in need. And although you may think otherwise, volunteering is the perfect activity to sign up for alone. Not only will you be helping others in need, and exploring NYC in the process, you will also be joining other solo helpers without any awkwardness.

In case you don't want to take my word for it, below is an interview I conducted with Alexandra Holtzer, who works for Volunteer Relations at New York Cares. NYC's leading volunteer organization, NYCares runs "volunteer programs for 1,300 nonprofits, city agencies, and public schools."  Its main goal is to connect the needs of the community with New Yorkers (like us!) who are willing to help out. Below Alexandra shares with us how to get involved, why summer is the perfect time to volunteer and why signing up solo is the way to go!


Peter: Usually, people in New York have a lot more free time in the summer. What are some ways they can get involved through NYCares?

Alexandra: Summer is a great time to explore different parts of New York that you might not want to trek to in the cold winter. New York Cares offers a plethora of outdoor environmental revitalization projects in every borough throughout the summer and into the fall. We have opportunities to clean up and plant community gardens to painting murals on buildings that might need a little face-lift. New York Cares also offers tons of outdoor sports activities where volunteers can help kids stay active while they’re on summer vacation. Or you can sign up for a field trip project like chaperoning kids to the zoo. We also provide several indoor projects every week that will keep you cool but give you a reason to explore a new neighborhood you’ve never been to before.


P: What are the best ways to sign up for a program?

A: The best way to sign up for a project would be to go to our website; however you can always call us with any questions or to sign up. The first step in the process is to make a profile at newyorkcares.org, after you’ve done that we ask that the volunteer participate in an orientation about New York Cares.


P: Do you have in-person assistance?

A: We provide in-person orientations in every borough and digital orientations that you can attend from your own couch. After the orientation the volunteer is welcome to sign up for any open project they’re interested in!
(For our project sign-up hotline please call 212-402-1101 during business hours)


P: There are so many volunteer opportunities listed through NYCares. How do you suggest a person narrow down his/her search to find an organization that is of interest?

A: Like you said New York Cares has an array of projects for volunteers to participate in from animal care to promoting health and wellness. There’s something for everyone! There are a few ways to narrow down all the opportunities to find the best fit for a volunteer. I personally like to look at location first, someone from Staten Island might not want to go up to the Bronx or vice versa, because accessibility is imperative to volunteering we offer projects in every borough and you can use the location filter on our project search page on the website to do so (we even have a subway line search tool). After deciding the preferred location, the volunteer can pick what day of the week they would like to volunteer and what time of the day. When all of those options are decided the volunteer can then pick from the assortment of projects offered.
(To use the NYCares search tool, click here.)


P: Do you find that more people sign up by themselves or with friends/family?

A: We find that more people sign up individually. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people if you’re new to New York or if you’ve lived here since you were born!


P: People may be hesitant to volunteer if they don’t have someone to go with them. How would you respond to this hesitation?

A: First I would say that being hesitant about volunteering alone is completely normal! I would just think about your first day of school, you had your brand new backpack and sharpened pencils but no friends! When you entered the classroom you might have been a little nervous but by lunch you already had a best friend and you were throwing crayons at the student you liked. That’s exactly what going through orientation and projects is like (minus throwing the crayons). Don’t be afraid to be open, volunteers are all here for the same reason, to help fellow New Yorkers so you already have that in common! Wayne Gretzky said it best, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."


P: What are the common demographics you notice most within volunteering groups (age, gender, etc.)?

A: New York Cares volunteers are very diverse. We have volunteers from 18 to 90, native New Yorkers and recent immigrants, and a variety of professional and academic backgrounds. That being said, our volunteer base does reflect trends in volunteerism nationally. For instance, we tend to have more female volunteers than male, at a ratio of about 2:1. Additionally, our volunteers do tend to skew toward the younger end, with a majority being under 35. However, we do have hundreds of volunteers who 55 and older as well.
(For more information about New York Cares, click here, email info@newyorkcares.org or call 212-228-5000 during office hours.)


And there you have it, nothing to be afraid of. Volunteering this summer is really the perfect mix of exploring NYC while also giving back to the community. And as Alexandra said, the volunteering groups are so wonderfully diverse that no matter what your age or gender, you are likely to feel comfortable. I encourage you to take Alexandra's great advice and sign up for a project today.

How To: Citibike

There are three things that scare me about living in New York: cockroaches, falling onto the subway tracks and riding a bike through the city streets. I think most people will find my first two fears rational but, maybe not the third. Riding a bike around NYC is suppose to be fun not terrifying, right? So why does a root canal sound more amusing than cruising around the city on a ten-speed? Hard to say but, I knew I would have to face my fear because riding a bike is the perfect way to explore the city alone. I mean just look at the mode of transportation: one seat. Luckily, it's no longer necessary to buy a $300 bike to maybe ride it a few times during the summer. NYC's Citibike, a bike sharing program, lets people easily rent bikes across Manhattan and Brooklyn.

I am sure most of you have seen the Citibike stations across the city but, even to the most seasoned New Yorker, it can look intimidating. Below is a step-by-step guide to using Citibike for the first time:

Step 1: Locate a Citibike station near you (a station map can be found here).

Step 2: Head over to the kiosk and briefly read over the directions.

Step 3: Use the touch screen to begin the checkout process. (Tip: The process for a first-time rider is lengthy so make sure to leave yourself some time.) There are two pass options: a 24-hour pass ($10) and a 7-day pass ($25). For the purpose of this post, we will be using a 24-hour pass. (Tip: An annual membership is available online for $95 and allows riders to skip the touch-screen checkout.)

Step 4: After entering all the necessary information (contact information, payment information, etc.) you will receive a printed receipt with a 5-digit code.

Step 5: Find the right bike for you; sit on a few if need be. As a first-timer rider, it is totally acceptable to act like Goldilocks. Once you've found the right bike, enter the 5-digit code on the keypad. Wait for the green light and pull the bike from the dock. (Annual members receive a personalized key instead of a code.)

Step 6: Ride like the wind! (Obeying all traffic laws, of course!)

Step 7: When you're done exploring, find a station near you and return the bike to an empty dock. (Tip: A Citibike app is available to help you locate docking stations.)

Very Important Tip: Citibike only allows riders 30 minutes per bike trip. To avoid overtime fees, return your bike to a station then swipe your credit card at the kiosk to get a new 5-digit code at no extra charge. It is a bit of a hassle but, nothing in New York City is perfect.

Riding a bike is really the best way to explore NYC alone this summer. Even if you're nervous at first, like me, you'll be happy once you get started. A bike allows you to cover so much more ground! Just think of all the things you can see and do in half the time. If you're not willing to spend a few hundred dollars on your own bike, try out Citibike. It is a great option for New Yorkers, temporary visitors and even tourists!

Feeling French? Oui Oui

This weekend it's time to dust off that beret and break off a piece of freshly-baked baguette. That's right, it's Bastille Day, or French National Day. The annual tradition is celebrated in NYC every July with all things French: food, goodies, culture, etc.

In the past, I have attended the Bastille Day street fair on 60th Street. It is a fun (albeit crowded) day on the East Side loaded with French Cuisine and desserts. (Who can resist a French pastry?) However, until I stumbled upon the blog Tracy's New York Life, I would have never known there was more to Bastille Day!

The blog, created by Tracy Kaler, is full of all things NYC: Events, Style, Culture, Travel. Basically every cool thing that happens (or is going to happen) in New York, she writes about it. Originally a personal blog about her experiences in New York, it has now transformed into an informative guide to the city. Tracy often welcomes guest contributors to also post on her blog.

Her post, 5 Ways to Feel French During NYC Bastille Week, is a really informative guide to the best activities surrounding Bastille Day. This post gives readers a plethora of options. From deals on French restaurants to the Bastille Ball, Tracy's picks are great for solo explorers. Like I said, I've only attended the street fair once, so Tracy's post gives you the low down on how to be tres chic this weekend.

So take this weekend to honor the French; after all, they did give us a nice little gift named Lady Liberty! I think we can all appreciate that.