farflungistan

Echo rules Madison Square Park NYC this summer

What is that glowing white figure in the middle of Madison Square Park? It’s Echo by artist Jaume Plensa. This large 44′ tall sculpture is made up of 15 blocks of plaster which have been individually joint together by lead sheets. The 3-D sculpture is the face of a 9-year-old girl who lives in his neighborhood andContinue reading “Echo rules Madison Square Park NYC this summer”

Escape from Manhattan

Biking along the west side of Manhattan is one of the best ways to a break away from city and immerse yourself in the beauty of the green pathway that snakes its way around this big island. The ride from Midtown to Riverside Park (99th Street) takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Anyone thinking about takingContinue reading “Escape from Manhattan”

The Frying Pan is open @ Pier 66…well sort of

The Frying Pan is summed up the best by this Yelper who said on April 17th this year: “I like drinking, I like boats, and I like the great outdoors. Ergo, I like Frying Pan. On a beautiful spring day it’s absolutely magical that you can be sipping a beer and overlooking the Hudson.” TheContinue reading “The Frying Pan is open @ Pier 66…well sort of”

Spring NYC…what’s going on at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens

Now that the temps are rising and the sun has made its way through the thick grey clouds of this winter we here in NYC now look forward to many things that begin to open up and remind us that summer is on its way. This means we can comfortably dine outdoors without the assistanceContinue reading “Spring NYC…what’s going on at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens”

Green is the new grey in Central Park this Spring

In Central Park the new spring season makes green the new grey of the season past. Rain showers are in the forecast today but they don’t prevent me from visiting. It’s hard to stay away and not see the park when the landscape is at it’s best. Central Park is in full bloom. TheContinue reading “Green is the new grey in Central Park this Spring”

Even More Highline Coming this Spring in NYC

The west-side High Line has new things to come this spring as it will soon be extending its green paths uptown to 30th Street. There’s no official date announced but it’s sometime this spring. The High Line is open to the public until 10pm and this summer there will be food services offered by High LineContinue reading “Even More Highline Coming this Spring in NYC”

Off Season on the Cape

It’s chilly, a bit windy but the sky is clear and the sun is brighter than it has been in months on Mayflower Beach. This time of year, the beaches lining the peninsula of Cape Cod are really not much different then they are in mid summer – minus the crowds and hot temps.Continue reading “Off Season on the Cape”

Ancient Eastern Crossroads of Apamea Syria

Driving up to Apamea after visiting the ruins of the other great cities of the area Al Basa and Sejilla while I was staying in Hama, Syria. This city was the center of it all at one point in time. The former village of Pharnake was renamed Apamea by the newly appointed and former Roman general to Alexander I kingContinue reading “Ancient Eastern Crossroads of Apamea Syria”

Need a break from the long winter..why not go to Tulum?

Why Tulum and not an all-inclusive resort with more food and drink then you can handle? Tulum is nothing like its spring break neighbor Cancun and its mega resort filled beaches of Playa del Carmen who lie just north in the Mayan Riviera coast of Mexico. Mexico is getting it’s butt kicked tourism wise byContinue reading “Need a break from the long winter..why not go to Tulum?”