High Park, Low Park,

Last weekend my son’s girlfriend and I visited New York and discovered the beauty of Central Park, for the first time.

It was a fine autumn day, the Sunday, which helped. But, despite the fact a bazillion movies have been filmed there, we really didn’t understand how perfectly pretty, how well planned the place was, until we saw it for ourselves.

It’s no secret. Central Park has long been considered a national treasure, which makes me certain Margaret Nicholson took a carriage ride through it in 1902, when she visited the city.

Frederick Law Olmsted, the Park’s legendary designer, died in 1903, and his obits tell the story of how much Central Park was valued, even back then, as an oasis from the bustle of the city.

Peek-a-boo. My son’s girlfriend took these pictures. She found Central Park too beautiful.

An article in the NY Times says “Nearly a half a century later Central Park remains a nearly faultless work of art and one of the chief boasts of Manhattan.”

The granite outcroppings of the park are one of its beauties: and apparently that granite (with shallow top soil) was why the land was turned into a park in the first place. It wasn’t good for building. It was also a difficult place to put a park, but Olsted, a creative genius, rose to the challenge.

The same article says “The popular success of Central Park is so great that it is the one public possession we have, excepting perhaps the Old City Hall, that has come to be held sacred.”

Skating in Central Park November 20th. Why don’t we have a rink like this. There’s Beaver Lake, but it’s seasonal. We’re Canadian, after all.

As it happens, Olmsted also designed Mount Royal Park in Montreal in 1872. Montreal does not treat Mount Royal like anything sacred. It just is there. Sure, many citizens do use the place, especially in the summer, but not nearly as many as should. As a young adult, I would go cross-country skiing there, and spend my time falling down. You see, Mount Royal is a vast but much less ornamental park than Central park, up on a tall hill.

So you look down on the city and the skyscapers, and not up, like in Central Park. And it’s more accessible by car than by foot. (Rue Camilien Houde winds through it. That’s the Mayor who fired my grandfather in 1930.)

In 1972, the 150th anniversary of Olmsted’s birth, they held a huge fete in Central Park, but Montreal did nothing to mark the date. That’s because the level of environmental consciousness is higher in the US, wrote Dane Lanken in the Gazette.

But Montreal has never been much of a ‘park place,’ even though it has the mountain and Parc Lafontaine. The city has a very poor green space per capita ratio.

In 1910, during the Tigsholas era, Frederick Law Olmstead Jr. recommended that many parks be created in Montreal, near all public facilities.

I must learn more about this. Perhaps he was invited to speak by the City Improvement League. It was well understood that lack of green spaces was a problem in the inner city. Indeed, people believed that parks, gardens and such were restorative, even rehabilitative.

Google News Archives, however, has removed the date search parameters from their engine. Hmm.

View from the Look Out in Montreal. I took this in 2005.

New York New York

I’m sitting in the cozy, elegantly appointed lobby of the Chatwal hotel, very mellow atmosphere,well, some light bluesy version of of Fire and Rain is playing in the background, with the young handsome staff quietly going about their business and I can see my reflection in a bronzed door – and I look like I’m an interesting person.

Yesterday my ‘daughter in law’ and I did the Sex in the City Tour and went to see Cherry Jones in Mrs. Warren’s Profession at the American Airlines Theatre, around the corner from this hotel.

Odd, this tour was a last minute idea and what a good one! First, the tour started in front of the Plaza and ended near here in Times’ Square!

And we got to see Soho and the Village and eat great cupcakes at the Magnolia in the Village. And visit a sex shop that was very tasteful (compared to ones I have seen)…in both senses of the word, considering their fare. The Pleasure Chest.

Well, we got to see some of the Sex in the City Locations and they are all, well, picturesque. Because that is the point, I guess.

Anyway, I awoke about 7:30 and it occurred to me: I remembered this line from Mrs. Warren’s Profession, where the daughter says she is sick and tired of the fact that women can’t address their problems because they are not allowed to speak of such things!

Buddakan ..We visited: Great space, but the food is also supposed to be great.
I match the decor at the Buddakan

The Magnolia, where the cupcakes really ARE really good!

Well, how things have changed. The Sex in the City Tour (with three brave men in attendance) lets it all hang out – and that show was a pioneer with respect to this, in TV, I think.

Yet, prostitution is still very much in existence. I must think about this.

The Chatwal is a very pretty place, ideally located. Although they were late getting our room ready.. It’s a newish hotel, and I get a sense the staff is in training, but they are friendly, and they make the big effort – and good looking and young and multi-ethnic too

So it’s all very promising..and the bed was perfectly comfy and the room well ventilated. So I slept well.

Anyway, we’ll do a Central Park caleche tour probably before we leave; we did 30 Rock and I bought a T Shirt with Dr. Spaceman for my hubby. Aren’t I nice?

And we ate at the Lion’s Club, attached to the hotel in location (but I don’t think in ownership) which is new and got a mediocre review in the NYT lately, but the food is quite fine – and I think I know my good food. Heritage Pork too. Which I like because I won’t eat the other pork.
The reviewer didn’t like the small crowded room, but I did. I spend so much time alone in a house. And I like that New York Vibe.

Oh, btw, people do not dress up for theatre, but I think its because these theatre goers do it regularly. It’s like going to the movies for them. They are all comfy chic and quite friendly. Unlike in movies. The people in the seats around say a few words to you.

Anyway, Cherry Jones came to lobby to collect for an actor’s fund and it’s true about stage presence. On stage she is imposing ( I loved her outfits) but in person a very well proportioned woman of medium height and she seemed fun, the little I heard her speak. A down to earth type.