Marcia Mayne travels a world full of books, music, art, fun people and great food. She raves about them constantly. Currently, she is journeying through Jamaica, her home country, to discover the places she missed.
Memorial Day weekend marks the official/unofficial start of summer and tomorrow, May 28th, kicks off beach season.
And not a moment too soon. It’s been a long and brutal winter in the Northeast and I, for one, am ready for some sea and sun!
The best part about being in this area is that most of the beaches are accessible via public transportation: subways or train, whether the Long Island Railroad or New Jersey Transit. There really is no excuse not to go to the beach.
So grab your bathing suits, sunscreen, beach towels, floppy hats and sun glasses and check out at least one of these beaches.
When the weather’s good, few of us want to stay indoors, especially at lunch time. And in New York City, vendors with food carts make it easy for those of us who wish to, to enjoy the sun and an inexpensive meal at the same time.
Food trucks are not just around construction sites these days, they’re everywhere. And they’re offering more than just coffee and bagels.
Some offer gourmet food, pastries or desserts.
And some of the more savvy owners go online to let their customers know what’s on their menus, where they will be and at what time.
My introduction to street food (or street meat as a co-worker called it) was from a truck near Rockefeller Center. My chicken and rice rivaled any I could have bought in a restaurant and wasn’t very expensive. In the block around my office, I can buy coffee and bagels for breakfast. For lunch, peas soup, fried fish, curried chicken or oxtail from the mobile extension of a Jamaican restaurant that’s located in Brooklyn. Sometimes before I go down, I check how long the line is or arrange to meet a friend and we catch up while we wait.
I love getting my a meal on the go from a truck, especially when the weather’s good.
Here are a few trucks to check out –
World’s Best Sandwich, 20th Street & Broadway
Super Tacos, 96th & Broadway
Steak Truck, 47th & Park
Yvonne’s, 71st & York
Trini Paki Boys, 43rd & 6th Ave
The Mudtruck East, Astor Place
Desi Food Truck, 50th St & 6th Ave
Bon Appetit!
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Even before the thermometer hits and stays constantly at 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or above), New Yorkers begin to take to the outdoors to enjoy weather and the wide variety of free activities that the city offers.
Events are scattered throughout each borough so everyone can take part. From street festivals, to parades to concerts and movies in the park, there’s bound to be something for everyone.
Here’s a partial list of some of the events I’ve attended over the years:
Shakespeare in the Park – This year, two plays Measure for Measure and All’s Well That Ends Well – June 6-July 30. Limit 2 tickets per person on the day of the performance or on scheduled days in the boroughs.
Farmer’s Markets – Farmers and vendors bring fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, arts, etc., to various venues around the city. One of the biggest, in Union Square, operates year round.
New York City’s reputation as the destination for the visual arts is legendary. With major museums, art galleries and exhibition spaces, I could spend every Sunday visiting each one and not see everything on display. So I have to be strategic.
Last weekend, I decided to visit the Museum of Art and Design (MAD) in its new home at Columbus Circle. The brainchild of Aileen Osborn Webb, it was opened in 1956 as the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, with its stated mission to celebrate the work of American craftspeople. The museum was renamed the American Craft Museum in 1979 and finally the Museum of Art and Design in 2002 to reflect its focus on the broader interplay between craft, design, art, architecture, interior design, technology and the performing arts.
My goal last Sunday was to catch the final day of an exhibition called the Global Africa Project, a sweeping look at contemporary African art, design and craft worldwide. Pieces were drawn from the works of over 100 artists working in interior design, fashion, sculpture, photography, paintings, furniture, jewelry, ceramics and textile from Africa, Asia, Europe, the United States and the Caribbean.
I wished I hadn’t waited until the last day as I felt rushed to take it all in but I’m glad I didn’t miss it. It was a great opportunity for me to learn about these artists, the majority of whom I hadn’t heard of before.
My next stop was to view the collection of tapestries documenting the collaboration of the feminist artist and educator, Judy Chicago and weaver Audrey Cowan and her husband, Bob. This is an impressive collection of work designed by Ms. Chicago and interpreted by Ms. Cowan.
The museum has an extensive collection of jewelry, the majority of which is housed in drawers which visitors are encouraged to check out. Most people, however, seem to miss the the sign.
Visit the Open Studios on the 6th floor to watch artists working in jewelry, ceramics, sculpture. Stop by the restaurant for lunch or visit the museum store on the main floor for gifts.
Museums tend to be overwhelming for me so I tend to select one exhibition and soak it all in. Though MAD is smaller than say, the Metropolitan, it’s possible to view all the exhibitions in a day.
One feature that I like is the ability of visitors to the museum’s website to view its collections and curate their own show, like I did here.
The Museum of Art and Design is located at 2 Columbus Circle. Open Tuesdays – Sundays from 11:00 – 6:00 p.m., Thursdays 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., closed on Mondays and major holidays. Entrance is free to members, high school students with ID and children under 12. General admission $15/$12 for seniors/students. On Thursdays from 6:00-9:00 p.m., you can pay as you wish.
One of the nicest things about living in New York City is Central Park. At more than 800 acres, it is an oasis of green in a sea of concrete and brick.
Running from 59th Street to 110 Street, Central Park receives approximately thirty-five million visitors annually.
It is a popular venue for skating, concerts and theatre, boating, birding, rock climbing, running, walking, bicycling, etc., and is central to the enjoyment of life in the city.
Central Park near 72nd StreetCatch and release at the Turtle Pond
Fishing is not allowed in the park but people still throw out their lines. Whatever they catch has to be returned.
King Jagiello
There are nearly 29 sculptures in Central Park. This one commemorates King Jagiello of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania.
Belvedere Castle
Belvedere Castle offers spectacular views of the park and surroundings from its observation deck. There’s no charge to enter but visitors can leave a donation in boxes on the main level.
Belvedere CastleGreat Lawn from Belvedere Castle
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My buddy, Hakea, blogged recently about this amazing musician, Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu in a series she calls, Awesome Aussies.
After I listened to his music, I just couldn’t get his voice out of my head and did a bit more research on YouTube. A Yolngu, Yunupingu was born blind. He plays drums, keyboards and didgeridoo, a wind instrument created by the indigenous people of Australia. Yunupingu has won numerous awards for his music.
This song hits home for me as it’s got a little reggae beat. Listen and tell me what you think.
Enjoy!
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Overheard on the street, Friday evening, May 20th –
Man with a sign proclaiming May 21st Judgement Day is approached by a group of about 5 teenage boys. As I pass them, one boy asks, So if we’re all going to die tomorrow, why are you selling (windshield) wipers?
I burst out laughing.
I hadn’t even noticed that he was also selling windshield wipers.
When I saw the topic for this week’s Photo Challenge, I felt sure I wouldn’t be able to find anything but I decided to look anyway.
While I looked, I thought about the various meanings of tiny, what the word implies. A thing is tiny in relation to something else. This group of kayakers, for example, looks tiny from my vantage point on the bridge and compared to the dinghy and the other boats on the river.
Kayakers on the Thames
Tiny can also be a name. When I was little, I had a friend whose aunt was called Tiny. I was mystified as to why she was so named but was too young to ask — it would have been considered impolite. Based on our relative ages, I should have been the tiny one! But like everyone else, I ended up calling her Miss Tiny.
I’m always amused when I hear of a very large person — I’ve only seen this in the movies — who’s nicknamed Tiny.
Line at the Eiffel Tower
People waiting on line to buy tickets to go up to the top of the Eiffel Tower look like tiny specks of color when viewed from above — from the second level, I think.
So these are my interpretation of tiny.
Enjoy!
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Long before I had a travel blog, I kept journals. I have been doing that since high school. Looking back, I remember the person I was when I worried about passing an exam, gushed about a boy or a grumbled because of some new disagreement with my mother. (Yes, those teenage years, when I was trying to assert my independence, were tumultuous.)
A few of my journals (old and new) - Maynefoto
Sometimes, I was diligent and filled page after page with the most minute details of my life. At other times, days would pass before I felt like reducing my thoughts to words on a page. But I never stopped writing.
When I started traveling, it was natural that I wanted to make notes of my trips. I knew of no better way to do this than a travel journal. Sure, photos are great but they only capture moments in time. Each journal entry covers a day and fills in the moments between the photos.
My travel journals have ticket stubs, receipts, menus, post cards, anything that adds texture to my trip. When I visit a historic place, I take notes in my journal or draw. Now that I’m getting to know my camera better, I also make notes about the photos I take, the settings I use, etc.
Page from my latest travel journal - Maynefoto
The difference between a travel journal and a blog is that the journal is private. I write freely because the information is for my eyes only. While I use my journal as a source for my blog, because my blog is public, I am careful about what I share. I still believe some thoughts are well, private, and should remain that way.
Although I blog about my travel experiences and enjoy sharing them, I can’t abandon my journal. I love the way I have to slow down to translate my ideas to words and how carefully, or not, I choose those words. And when words fail, I supplement them with drawings or pictures.
Because I use a computer all the time, except when I have to sign my name, I love to see my handwriting and see how it changes throughout my journal, depending on my mood.
The journals I use must have pockets so that I can store stuff. I prefer ones that lay flat when I open them, have good quality paper and a sturdy cover. Although I like ruled journals, most times, I go for ones with plain pages as the lines can feel confining. For travel, I also prefer one that’s small enough, say a 6″ x 4″, so that it can fit easily into my purse.
Do you use a journal when you travel? What things do you write about?
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I had Bananas Foster a few years ago when a friend brought it to a party. I couldn’t believe how good it was but then again, I should have. I love bananas. And the best part, it’s so easy to make!
Ingredients
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cup dark brown sugar
3 1/2 tablespoons rum
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise and crosswise
1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1 pint vanilla ice cream
Directions
In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, melt butter. Stir in sugar, rum, vanilla and cinnamon. When mixture begins to bubble, place bananas and walnuts in pan. Cook until bananas are hot, 1 to 2 minutes. Serve at once over vanilla ice cream.
