Pier 45, Hudson River Park

June 9th, 2003 · 33 Comments

Pier 45, Hudson River Park
Reading a Book, Pier 45, Hudson River Park, West Village, Manhattan

Boy waiting for women, Hudson River Park
Boy Waiting for Women, Hudson River Park, West Village, Manhattan

Recently, Segment 4 - Greenwich Village of the Hudson River Park was completed and opened. Today was the first time I’d seen the sun in ages so I decided to go check it out. Everyone was out in full force. One thing we’ve learned this spring is that when it’s nice you have to take advantage of it. It’s supposed to rain tomorrow, most of the rest of the week and the weekend. It’s been raining, almost constantly, for over a month. More photos from the park.

For dinner I grabbed a sandwich.
Guy ringing up the sandwich: “Want a cookie with that?”
Me: “No.”
Guy ringing up the sandwich: Gets out a cookie and holds it up. “For free?”
Me: “OK!!!!!”

Sometimes being cute and single in the city isn’t that bad. I wonder if it makes up for all the cat-calling, though. The other night a bartender gave me a free shot and even though I was with a group of friends he only gave it to me. It was very obvious I was the only single girl. I’m thinking that if I could get a free cookie or shot instead of a cat-call every time, the world would be a better place. And I would be obese.

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33 responses so far ↓

  • 1 brenunda // Jun 9, 2003 at 11:31 pm

    I love your photos of NYC. I’ve been stopping by your site for quite some time now, and your photos make me want to sell everything and move to NYC, well, at least until my mortgage statement arrives then reality sets in. Oh well.

  • 2 rachelle // Jun 9, 2003 at 11:56 pm

    brenunda, where do you live? come to ny!

  • 3 Fred2000 // Jun 10, 2003 at 2:25 am

    The image with the book and jogger is outstanding!

    I’d show you the inferior images I’ve made with my S110, but that would involve revealing my secret identity!

  • 4 Kelly // Jun 10, 2003 at 6:23 am

    I can’t believe the grass you were sitting in was dry! Yah, I think the Neenah Foundry is …

  • 5 mom // Jun 10, 2003 at 6:37 am

    Shell, your dad once worked there, Neenah Foundry, and So dod Uncle Doug. More than two of us “got that”.
    Great pics of Hudson park. You do have it nice there. Pouring down rain here today. and I spose, we’re sending it your way, again. Enjoy it while you can.

  • 6 rachelle // Jun 10, 2003 at 7:44 am

    Fred2000, are you Superman? Are you associated with the site 2000.com?

    Kelly, but do you remember the song called “Where the Hell is Neenah?” Ok.. this is going to be embarassing .. but.. it was by a band called CWA (Cheeseheads With Attitude) and they also sang a song called “(I’m a) Cheesehead Baby”, which was a parody of the Beck song “Loser”. It was like 1996 and I think their album was called “Staight Outta Titletown”, which of course is a parody of the NWA album, “Straight Outta Compton”, as is their band name.

    Really, I’m not making this up. Here’s a crappy geocities website I found for them. I think when these songs hit the top of the charts was about the time I looked around and said “I gotta get outta here!” and decided to go West!

  • 7 NG // Jun 10, 2003 at 9:08 am

    Both my step-dad and brother work at Neenah Foundry.

    OMG Rocky — those songs!! Talk about memories I’ve tried to forget. argh

    I LOVE the shot of the boy waiting for the women. I totally laughed out loud at work.

    It’s been raining here too. I don’t remember last spring being this gloomy.

  • 8 brenunda // Jun 10, 2003 at 11:32 am

    I live in Baltimore. Although Baltimore is Charm City, NYC just keeps calling my name, loudly. So until it’s time to make a move, I’ll continue to visit your site.

  • 9 Richard // Jun 10, 2003 at 1:32 pm

    I have that CWA CD. It’s called Straight Outta Wisconsin. They were big around ‘96/’97 when the Packers were in the Super Bowl. All of their songs are samle some some other song.

    Excert from their site: “C.W.A was formed in late 1996 by St. Evie a.k.a. Stevie RACHELLE”

  • 10 Colin // Jun 10, 2003 at 2:26 pm

    You know what? I’m really angry, because for the entire YEAR that I lived practically on the West Side Highway, Hudson River park was under construction. I was never allowed to enjoy strolling along the river (although I did see every heavy equipment machine and jackhammer and construction worker in the city). Now it is beautiful and green and lush and…OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. Please enjoy for me :-(

  • 11 Fred2000 // Jun 10, 2003 at 2:30 pm

    No, I’m not associated with 2000.com, but I checked it out. Hey 2000.com! 1996 called, and they want their design back!

  • 12 rachelle // Jun 10, 2003 at 2:38 pm

    Brenunda - I’ve never been to Baltimore. Is it really called Charm City?

    Richard - I might have to disown you for that!

    Colin - Not to rub it in, but the part of the park just completed is right outside your old apartment’s doorway.. from Christopher St down to Houston. AND there’s a dog run!

    Fred - So glad you’re not with that site. I checked it out a few days ago when you made your first post and it was very scary!

  • 13 dad // Jun 10, 2003 at 5:24 pm

    Rachelle,
    The pictures of the Hudson River Park Peir 45.
    Is that near were we stayed at your friends home and they had the dog by the name of Henry.
    Just north of Battry park
    At the time it was under construction when we were there
    Some of the photos look similar to the ones we have here
    It sure does look inviting and relaxing
    I could do that with a book and a sandwich with no hesitation
    You take care and enjoy the book
    Angela’s Ashes
    I Recived that book one year from Kelly and Jeff for Christmas
    Dad

  • 14 tien // Jun 10, 2003 at 5:33 pm

    do you worry about getting grass stains on your pants? i kind of feel like i would get grass stains on my pants.

  • 15 rachelle // Jun 10, 2003 at 5:58 pm

    Dad - A couple comments up from yours you’ll see one that Colin posted. Colin and her husband, Mark, and their dog Henry, moved to Boston earlier this year. She was saying that she’s mad that the park is finished and she lived by it for so long when it was being constructed. It was Colin’s place that you guys stayed at when you were visiting last summer. You never met Colin or Mark.. but you sure know Henry!!

    Tien - You’re such a city kid! I grew up barefoot outside with grass stains and skinned knees! I worry more about grass stains now that I’m older, but it would never stop me from sprawling out and kicking my shoes off. I love the grass. Especially being in the city.

  • 16 Brenunda // Jun 10, 2003 at 6:07 pm

    Baltimore is nicknamed Charm City, but it’s only known by those of us who live here. Unfortunately, with shows like Homicide and The Wire most people that are not familiar the city may call it “you might get shot” city; however, downtown Baltimore around the Inner Harbor is very charming as it’s one of my favorite places to go in the city. If you ever travel to DC, it’s well worth the 45-minute drive north to visit downtown Baltimore.

  • 17 tien // Jun 10, 2003 at 6:23 pm

    yeah, i guess i am a city kid. i actually like certain smells of the city. i got out of the city pretty much every weekend of my childhood, so i guess i can appreciate the country side too, but everytime i returned, i was happy to be back. something i do love is the feeling of walking barefoot on grass. i also love the smell of grass.

  • 18 Fred2000 // Jun 10, 2003 at 11:26 pm

    If my dad read and commented on my web site, it would go something like this:

    DAD SAYS ARE YOU BEING PRODUCTIVE? HE ALSO SAYS TO GET INTO THE FURNITURE BUSINESS. COMPUTERS ARE A FAD.

    DAD

  • 19 joel // Jun 11, 2003 at 12:50 am

    so where’s the site fred?

  • 20 Fred2000 // Jun 11, 2003 at 12:55 am

    I lost the address. Maybe my accountant has it. I’ll ask him tomorrow. Of course, he’ll charge me.

  • 21 ChrisM // Jun 11, 2003 at 9:38 am

    Brenunda:

    Come to NYC! But until then Rachelle does post great pictures. Baltimore’s not a bad city though, used to visit a bit back in the 80’s when I was at Pax River.

    I have an idea, come to NYC for the weekend, and Rachelle can take us on a walking tour, I bet she has interesting places around to show.

  • 22 dy // Jun 11, 2003 at 10:43 am

    I, too, am not a NYC’er, but live Upstate - i’ve been lingering around this site for awhile as well. The best part are the photos - makes ME want to pack up and move asap as well :)
    Hopefully, by the end of the year, I will!

  • 23 Christian // Jun 11, 2003 at 11:56 am

    I agree with Brenunda. I stop by almost every day to get my slice of Manhattan. I’ve been jonesing to move to NYC for almost a year now. I guess I’ll have to stop calling it a ‘phase’. You may eventually have to start a fan club of all the people that your blog has inspired to move to NYC.

  • 24 joel // Jun 11, 2003 at 2:28 pm

    boston’s better.

    *runs away*

  • 25 Jeannette // Jun 11, 2003 at 4:36 pm

    Cruisin for a bruisin, Mr. Joel!

    Wow - you guys are enough to revive my faith in NY. It can beat you into submission sometimes… Sometimes, I forget how great it is to live in this city.

    Btw, Brenunda, I visited Baltimore a couple of years ago (weekend away from NYC) and had an AMAZING time. We went to O’Brycky’s (sp? crab place), ESPN Zone, got a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, rented a movie and had a fun, but chill weekend. Nice city you got there!

  • 26 rachelle // Jun 11, 2003 at 6:40 pm

    Wow! Lots of new commentors, so great! Welcome, everyone. I’m glad you enjoy the site. I’ll try to keep snappin’ the pics.. I’m a photo-holic.

  • 27 rachelle // Jun 11, 2003 at 6:43 pm

    Cruisin for a bruisin? That’s something my mom always says.. except she’d add “of MY choosin” at the end. Yes, Joel, you better watch it! How quickly you forget about all the fun you had in NYC!!!!!!!

  • 28 ChrisM // Jun 11, 2003 at 7:23 pm

    Yes everyone, Rachelle’s pics are great!!!!

    Metro Grill roof top bar, bring the camera and go for it Rachelle :-)

  • 29 Fred2000 // Jun 11, 2003 at 8:24 pm

    So how did you do the grass image? Did you just get lucky?

    I tried making a similar image after I mowed my lawn. I just can’t put the camera that low and still see what I’m doing.

    Even without the proper focus and perspective, an image of my dirty lawnmower next to a flower bed of sad looking marigolds just isn’t the same.

    Maybe I should hire a cute jogger to stand in my yard.

  • 30 rachelle // Jun 11, 2003 at 8:44 pm

    ChrisM - You live in New York? Metro Grill looks like a cool spot.. I’ll have to check it out.. which my camera, of course! :)
    Fred2000 - I used the macro setting so that the book and the grass would turn out crisp up close and the background, at a distance, would be out of focus. You have a yard? You def don’t live in New York then!

  • 31 Fred2000 // Jun 11, 2003 at 9:13 pm

    No, I don’t live in New York. I did however just finish reading the Times. I’m a wannabe.

    I guess if I lived in NYC I wouldn’t have to mow, but then I also wouldn’t be able to drive, and I like to drive.

    Also, our state fair is a great state fair!

  • 32 ChrisM // Jun 12, 2003 at 12:49 pm

    Rachelle: I live in NJ, I work though down near the NYSE off Broad Street.

    I have not been to the MG yet this summer, but you know what? I was up on that roof top watering hole back in the Summer of 2001, and saw the ‘Wine Girl’ from The Food Channel there! So I asked her advice on some good wines. Anyway I think the MG is for you :)))))

  • 33 Gareth Cochrane // Aug 9, 2006 at 12:16 pm

    Hi just wanted to say fantastic website, i opened a small restaurant in Northern Ireland called pier 45 unaware that there actually was such a place and your website has gave us a whole new dimension.

    Thanx