Every summer in New York, hundreds of people queue to get their hands on a free ticket for ‘Shakespeare in the Park’, a professionally-acted play held in Central Park. Tonight I went to Brooklyn’s equivalent: Shakespeare in the Parking Lot. Ryan and I headed to the car park on the corner 5th Ave and 17th Street in South Slope …
Read MoreTag / Summer
August 3, 2013
…danced in Prospect Park
Tonight I took advantage of one of New York’s brilliant free summer activities – a huge concert in Prospect Park. To start, Ryan and I joined some others for a picnic on the grass outside the main music area. It was close enough to snack, drink and chat while listening to the concert – at that point Dan Deacon – …
Read MoreJuly 27, 2013
…browsed the Brooklyn Flea
When I was little, Mummy and Daddy Warren always wanted to visit antique shops. My big sister and I would groan as we were pulled into yet another shop cluttered with higgledy piggledy chairs and chipped chandeliers. I don’t know when it happened, but at some point, somehow, I got it. Even though I rarely …
Read MoreJuly 20, 2013
…saw Chicago from the water
When I’ve asked both Chicago natives and Chicago fans what’s the one thing I should do when I’m in the city, they’ve unanimously said the Architecture River Cruise. So today I took their advice. The open-topped boat tour leaves from the Magnificent Mile and, for 90 minutes, travels along the Y shape of the Chicago River. A …
Read MoreJuly 17, 2013
…watched a free concert in Bryant Park
So far I think I’ve made the most of the city’s best-known parks, from Central to Prospect and Tompkins Square. But one I’ve entirely overlooked is Bryant Park. The reason for this could be because it’s in Midtown. I hate Midtown. The sidewalks are swarming and the heat right now means the whole place reeks of …
Read MoreJuly 14, 2013
…cooked with homegrown produce
I feel like I’ve had a truly rural visit to England this time around – taking in the Sussex hills while chugging along in a steam engine and visiting a vintage tractor show – and today I concluded the trip with another countryside classic: Picking and cooking with homegrown produce. I’ve been in New York …
Read MoreJuly 6, 2013
…went to the beach in Manhattan
Some of my friends have suggested day trips to Rockaway Beach, while others have said Sandy Hook, New Jersey is the place to take a dip in the sea. Today I realised that I didn’t need to go that far to feel the sand between my toes – because there’s a beach right here in Manhattan. …
Read MoreJuly 4, 2013
…watched 4th July fireworks over the city
The U.S. has been very good to me. She’s introduced me to brilliant people, given me some unforgettable experiences across 33 states and let me live in the best city in the world. So tonight – the 4th of July – I raised a beer (Bud, of course) to say thanks. Obviously I heard a fair …
Read MoreJune 29, 2013
…recoiled in horror at the Coney Island Circus Sideshow
When I went to Coney Island before, I missed out on quite a few treats. Today Ryan, Rory, Jane and I went back for some more of the old-fashioned rides and suntanning with frozen margaritas on the boardwalk. But most exciting of all – we watched the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. This show, which costs $5 and lasts for …
Read MoreJune 23, 2013
…kayaked on the Hudson
It’s summer! So today Ryan and I headed to the Hudson to kayak – and to get some pretty horrendous sunburn. The kayaking is held at various points along the Hudson – and although it’s free, there was not a queue in sight. Of course, don’t do what I do, which was dress for winter. …
Read MoreJune 15, 2013
…made fire
While I’ve done more than 160 new things since the start of the year, there are only a few that have given me some genuinely useful skills. Today trumped all of those. Rachel and I headed to the wilds of Prospect Park for a fire-building class held by organic clothes company, Loomstate. It was led by …
Read MoreJune 11, 2013
…played a piano in the street
The rain managed to stay away for most of the day, so this afternoon I took advantage and headed to Prince Street and West Broadway to serenade Rachel – on a piano in the street. Eighty-eight pianos (referring to the number of keys) have been dropped in public places across the city by Sing For Hope …
Read MoreJune 8, 2013
…picnicked in Central Park
A group of lovely ladies has come to the city for Bree’s bachelorette party (you remember Bree), and today, ahead of our no doubt raucous activities this evening, we headed to Central Park for a picnic. We stocked up on breads, meats, dips, chips and vats of cookies for the feast, and Janessa even had …
Read MoreMay 21, 2013
…saw the world’s biggest crochet
Well, it appears that I can’t tell the time, so I missed a poetry event I had planned tonight. Thankfully this is New York and there is always plenty of last-minute – and free – stuff going on. I jumped on the Q to Madison Square Park to see their latest outdoor art exhibit, Red, Yellow and …
Read MoreMay 5, 2013
…rode the Cyclone at Coney Island
New York boasts hundreds of national landmarks – but I never expected to find one among gaudy rides and neon prizes at an amusement park. Today Noah and I jumped on a train to Coney Island, where we headed to the Cyclone, a huge, rickety rollercoaster that was erected in 1927 – and which has landmark …
Read MoreMay 4, 2013
…sneaked snacks at Smorgasburg
The sun is out, which means one thing in the summer: Time to head to Smorgasburg. Smoragsburg is a huge flea food market held every Saturday in summer along the East River in Williamsburg. There are food stands selling snacks to be enjoyed in the sunshine, while others sell beautiful jars and tins to take away. The …
Read MoreApril 17, 2013
…ate an ice cream on the High Line
New York weather doesn’t know what it’s doing. While it’s not quite warm enough for bare legs, it’s definitely about time for the first ice cream of the season. Tonight after work, Helen and I walked to the West Village and picked up some sickly sweet cups of ice cream – strawberry for me, chocolate for her …
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