creativity boot camp, day 2
What a challenge, today’s word picnic, since it’s a work day, I live in the manmade canyons of Manhattan, and I won’t get home until nearly 9pm.
Or so you would think.
Manhattan is lush, full of flowers and trees and bushes and color. Benches and paths, winding brick roads. It may not be what you call to mind, but it is so intertwined in the city that I cannot think of it otherwise. Central Park, you probably thought of that one already, huge and filling the heart of this city. But there’s also Riverside Park, a place I document in this blog again and again in every season, because it’s effectively my back yard. I never get tired of walking in Riverside Park. I walk past joggers, and dog walkers, and parents following toddlers, and parents following new bike riders, and lovers, and friends, and young people, and older people, and people sitting on benches in the sun, or reading the newspaper, or eating.
Those are some of the big parks, but certainly not the only ones. There are smaller parks everywhere. Actual parks, and nearly-hidden lots that have been turned into a small community garden, or park, we all crave that kind of space. I work on Madison Avenue, in the heart of midtown. There are churches in the neighborhood, and bodegas, and diners, but it’s primarily business business business.
Ten blocks south of my office is Madison Square Park, which has been a shared urban space since 1686. In 1870, it was landscaped when the city formed its first Department of Public Parks. Every summer there is a huge BBQ cook-off in the park; in a corner of the park there’s a locally famous joint called Shake Shack, which is so popular they have a Shake Shack cam so you can check how long the line is before heading over. I had no plans to eat a greasy hamburger and fries, or to savor the heavy ice cream concoction they call a concrete. Instead, my missions were two: to get out of the office and into this beautiful day, and to illustrate the urban picnic.
breakfast picnic, on Broadway in front of Macy's
what do we do during our urban picnics? We lounge and soak up sun. We eat salads.
we eat salads and sushi in the company of strangers
sometimes we dress in a twee and precious way, read a bit of Proust while not wearing socks, and munch delicately on a classy subway sandwich, while being exquisitely aware of our own cool sartorial splendor
On the way back to the office from my picnic observing, I spotted a few things I wanted to share with you:
sunlight reflecting off one building onto another
a great horned restaurant right next to the Museum of Sex. Horns? Horned? And what *are* those things above the horns?
it's an upright town - you've gotta look straight up to see the sky now and then
happy hour at the Macy's picnic tables on Broadway
[edit: That building with horns? Turns out it's the Gershwin Hotel. In addition to regular suites and rooms, they have dorm rooms with bunk beds! You can stay there for $49 a night, in the 6-bed room room, or $39 a night in the 10-bed room. Or you could get the suite for $275/night. It's an interesting space, full of art. ]
This poem about a picnic doesn’t start off sounding like the Manhattan version, but by the end I can totally see it, can you?
Picnic on the Shore (Lois Jenkins)
Shore grass growing
among the big rocks
enduring year after year.
This is the way to live.
A simple life,
the proper arrangement
of a few elements.
But here you are
standing on slippery stone,
trying to balance
a full plate and a cup.
What with the wrappers,
the flies and the wind,
already things have gotten out of hand.
I enjoyed your picnic photos. There’s something about being in the city watching people eat their lunch en plein (fancy schmantzy!) that just doesn’t feel the same in little burbs like mine. Oh, and the horny resteraunt is too – well, it’s just too.
xo Erin
On her own blog, Erin just wrote a post titled..Beautiful Blogger Award
fancy pants!
that restaurant was strange, even for this city. it’s called Birch – i can’t imagine how those horn things relate. i think they were subtly influenced by their neighbor.
i think everyone goes to the park to eat their lunches and to watch other people eat their lunches. it’s kind of strange and fascinating; i wonder why we like to watch each other so much?
That was a great entry…and perfect pictures of urban picnics!
On her own blog, Tammy just wrote a post titled..Whoops, I Did It Again!
thanks, Tammy! i love sharing Manhattan life, i find it so interesting (and sometimes “interesting”!).
Thank you, I really enjoyed this. I enjoy how you´ve managed to capture moments.
On her own blog, Nina just wrote a post titled..Creativity Boot Camp
I love your take on picnic in the city – it’s the same here too – sitting eating and reading amongst strangers!
“picnic” didnt come easy to me yesterday! Hoping inspiration will strike today!
On her own blog, Louise just wrote a post titled..Creativity Boot Camp – Day 2 "Picnic"
hi Louise! I’m having much more trouble with today’s word than yesterday’s. i just keep getting stuck. i guess we’ll both come up with something – thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
I love the photos. Such a different idea of a picnic than I’m used to.
On her own blog, Abigail just wrote a post titled..Creativity Boot Camp – Day Two
thank you for stopping by, Abigail – I appreciate your comment!
I love perusing your photo + descriptions of NYC. They remind me of reading Hemingway’s Moveable Feast – that tone of reverie and affection for a place. Thanks for sharing.
Sweet! A tour of Manhattan in my very own living room. I enjoyed your pictures.
On her own blog, Hyacynth just wrote a post titled..Creativity Boot Camp: Picnic {Day Two}
Hyacinth, thank you so much for stopping by. Your blog is so beautiful!
OMG what a cool city you live in!!
This tradition has started to come over the Pacific to Europe too. Our office is at the bank of a river with a beautiful, huge park looking at the river. And the weather is so beautiful that we go out to sniff some fresh breeze and warm sunlight during our lunch break. 
I hope you’re enjoying the camp! I do so much!! I had a hard time with ‘picnic’, and I’m a bit late with this project though.
i had a hard time with multilayered – much harder than with picnic, which was simple and obvious for me since i walk past people having picnics all the time. how lovely to have an office at the bank of a river! that sounds amazing – how wonderful just to walk out the door and be in a park overlooking a river. i’m daydreaming about it now. thanks for commenting!
Thanks so much, Lori, for reminding me again that cities have so much! I would definitely have felt stumped by what to do with “picnic” in your circumstances, but not you! I loved the picnic shots and the extras were total fun. Thanks!
On her own blog, Anne Campbell just wrote a post titled..Blocking
my pleasure, anne.
I really, really, really need to visit New York.
On her own blog, yarnpiggy just wrote a post titled..Awwww, shucks!
We’ll always be here waiting for you! Vancouver’s pretty awesome, one of my favorite cities in the world. You could always just “have to” make a yarn tour of NYC, you know.
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