June 6, 2003. Hudson River Park, Segment Four: Greenwich Village.
Granite. Everywhere!
Where the hell is Neenah!? (ok, like 2 people will get that joke)
Boy waiting for women.
Looking down Pier 45, from Manhattan towards Jersey. Pier 45 is 1000 feet long and features shade structures,
seating areas, wood decking, passive grass areas, shade pavilions, and a water taxi stop.
The end of Pier 45. Talking to Jess on the phone. Happy to be in the sun and thrilled with the finished park. Thinking about the picnics we can have here and how I can walk through the park after work to unwind. It’s not the beach, but I’ll take it.
Decided to sit for a spell to people watch and read. This is the view of Lower Manhattan from Pier 45.
Reading a book. Sort of.
As I sat in the grass I began to observe that dog owners meet the most people. Black Shirt Guy approached White Tank Top Guy and asked to pet his dog. Ten minutes later I looked up and they were still sitting there chatting away. Note to self: Get Dog. I just noticed the Empire State Building in this photo. See it?
Another example. Khaki Shorts Guy is getting a lot of attention with his aging Jack Russell Terrior. Almost
everyone passing stops to pet it. OK, that might get annoying. Note to self: Don’t Get Dog. So High Waisted Jeans Guy, who has been scoping out Khaki Shorts Guy from another bench, comes in with an opening line saying something about how much attention the dog is getting. These guys where still chatting away, oblivious to the dog, when I left.
Walking home.
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.
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.
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.
brenunda, where do you live? come to ny!
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!
I can’t believe the grass you were sitting in was dry! Yah, I think the Neenah Foundry is …
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.
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!
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.
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.
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”
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
No, I’m not associated with 2000.com, but I checked it out. Hey 2000.com! 1996 called, and they want their design back!
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!
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
do you worry about getting grass stains on your pants? i kind of feel like i would get grass stains on my pants.
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.
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.
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.
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
so where’s the site fred?
I lost the address. Maybe my accountant has it. I’ll ask him tomorrow. Of course, he’ll charge me.
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.
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!
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.
boston’s better.
*runs away*
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!
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.
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!!!!!!!
Yes everyone, Rachelle’s pics are great!!!!
Metro Grill roof top bar, bring the camera and go for it Rachelle
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.
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!
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!
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
))))
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