Walking in the City - Little Island NYC

 

A beautiful spring day provided the perfect opportunity to check out one of New York City's newest attractions - Little Island.

Opened in 2021 the island sits on the site of Pier 54 which until 1935 was used by the British Cunard-White Star Line for trans-Atlantic ocean voyages.  Among the many passengers who arrived at Pier 54 were the survivors of the Titanic.

 Like many of the New York piers, it fell into disuse for years and was then reclaimed for various social purposes. But in 2012 the pier was seriously damaged by Hurricane Sandy and it was decided to create a new kind of public space. 

It is certainly eye-catching.

Two bridges provide access to the island, one to the north and one to the south, but given the island is only just over 2 acres, they aren't very far apart. 

The North Bridge

The South Bridge

Walkways and stairs wind their way around well-tended lawns and flowerbeds, making the multi-level island accessible to all. 

An amphitheater overlooks the river. Free and low-cost performances are held throughout the summer months giving local artists a chance to showcase their talent. As it faces west I can imagine the evening audiences may also get to see some stunning sunsets. 

There's a patio where you can grab a bite and sit in the sun and enjoy the surroundings. The day I visited there was only one food truck in operation but from May 25 there will be more options available. I have to say the toasted cheese sandwich was remarkably good!

The park is so well-designed, even the restrooms have been built into the landscape.

Throughout the park, there are fun objects such as Spinning Discs and Dance Chimes. The latter seems popular with young and old judging from the amount of music being made. And it certainly wasn't just kids enjoying the spun chairs on the patio.

And this being New York, everywhere you look there are the iconic views:

It's well worth a visit. And it's free. Though in the busy summer months if you visit after 12pm Thursday thru Sunday (and holidays), you need to have a timed ticket for entry unless you have a ticket for a performance.

Mel writes contemporary fiction with a twist of mystery and suspense. Her latest novel in the Detective Rigby series "No Stone Unturned" will be released on May 10, 2022. 

For more information about her books visit her website, or sign up for her newsletter.

Walking in the City - New York's Christmas Lights

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Easter Sunday in NYC City 2017

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This year, pink proved to be a popular choice:

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They certainly are an impressive force of nature. From a calm and quiet start:

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Back in February I saw a magnificent photo of a waterfall framed with glorious fall colors on Facebook. I had never heard of Watkins Glen, didn’t even know which state it was in, but immediately added it to my (ever-growing) list of places I wanted to visit one day.

Imagine my delight when I discovered it was in New York, a mere 250 miles from my home town. It also just happened to be en route to Niagara Falls, a trip I planned to make with my brother and nephew who were visiting from England, so it seemed like the perfect place to break our journey as we didn’t want to actually stay overnight in Niagara itself.

The waterfall I saw in the picture turned out to be one of nineteen waterfalls which make up Watkins Glen Gorge (in the winter apparently there are twenty!). While certainly they can’t compare to the size of Niagara, I’d say they win hands down in terms of breath-taking beauty.

The rock formations are stunning.

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I love walking, whether in the countryside, by the shore or even in the city. I’ve always made a point of walking instead of taking the subway whenever feasible on trips into Manhattan and I thought I’d come to know some parts of the city quite well. A couple of years ago I joined an organization called Shorewalkers which organizes walks in New York City, Down State New York and North New Jersey. What an eye-opener that has turned out to be.