It's alive!

The Washington Square Fountain, that is. How delighted I was to see it still misting a crowd while passing though the park on my way to return some past due library books this week. I hadn't visited since those scorching late-summer days, when I would often trek over on my lunch hour from West Soho and watch kids splashing in the water. (Feeling, in my usual melodramatic manner, an  unsurpassable barrier standing between me and them, with freedom residing within the fountain.) At night after work, a little less constrained by time, I would sometimes sit on a bench nearby or on the edge of the fountain itself, a periodic breeze misting me, listening (again in usual melodramatic manner) to the clear straining of the lonely saxophone. (You can always guarantee some jazz sax or trumpet.) I still regret never jumping in myself.

In any case, I thought it was dry for the season and was surprised to see it still alive in late October, with the silhouette of a trumpet player almost bleeding into a twilight-misty background.

I stood at the side just to take it in before walking back up to Union Square to catch the subway. A couple kissing on the wall,  another both cross-legged and talking intensely, a long-haired little girl in a red T-shirt wading through the waters. Wafts of chlorine-smelling chemical (from the recycled water?) forging a natural association, reminiscent of suburban lawns. The backdrop--doo-wop singers under the arch and an artist drawing a psychedelic flower in fluorescent chalk. Some of the leaves in the area were changing colors, but not many.

The park still reminds me of humid summer nights. I think it will as long as the fountain is still going.

In honor of Autumn and the inner artist

Ahhh...fall. 

Though it marks the end of our never ending summer days--long, romantic train rides to Montauk, a plunge into the misting Washington Square fountain, sidewalk sangria, balmy twilight jogs--we all seem to have a fondness for autumn. Crisp sweater weather incites excitement, increasing the naturalist's appetite for foliage hiking and the homebody's simple desire to nest. For those of us who are still childish at heart (and I do believe we all are) we may find ourselves picking up a dusty Doyle or Poe collection, nestling under blankets to watch a black and white mystery, sipping cider, buying apple scented candles. (Or, if you're really channelling the inner kid, diving into a leaf pile or two.) Harvest produce has the creative cook spicing up their palate with new concoctions, while damp blood-red and crisp brown leaves mixed with chimney and charcoal provide sensory fodder for poets and painters. 


Fall brings out the inner artist and storyteller in us, but also tends to be fleeting in the city. With vacation time depleted and the revival of rigid schedules, we risk suddenly realizing that the trees are bare before we even got a chance to take it all in. The following are some interesting fall activities, some of which I've tried, others which I hope to experience this season. All are close enough for day trips within the NYC vicinity, and some are happening right here in the city itself. So, no excuses. Pick a trip, absorb your surroundings and bask in both this fleeting season and your own creativity--however it may manifest.

Halloween Harvest Festival at Socrates Sculpture Park
Saturday, October 17
Long Island City, NY 
11AM-2PM

This one-day festival is FREE. Yes, FREE! This year's theme is "glamrock." There will be a live performance by the NYC-based, family friendly band Audra Rox and afterwards, you can make your own glam-rock costume lead by resident artists of the Sculpture Park (all material provided for free). You can also participate in a Giant Instrument Jam with the Free Style Arts Association, have your face painted courtesy of Transformation! Facepainting by Agostino Arts, or test out some fresh local flavor from Long Island City's Sage General Store. At 1PM there will be a canine costume contest (anyone can enter their dog upon entrance) and information about pet adoption.

After the festival, at 2PM, The Red Door Theatre Company will give a free performance of Chyrsten Peddie's adaption of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. What better way to embrace the spookiness of fall than with the classic tale of Ichabod Crane amidst a smoggy Bronx backdrop and mysterious smells of the East River?

All activities and performances at the Sculpture Park will take place amid the diverse contemporary sculptures of the EAF09:Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition which will be on display until March 2010. For more information about the Sculpture Park, and for directions, click here.

Fall Foliage Cruises


Though not the most economical option, the combination of water, river breeze and burst of fall-time color could be well worth the splurge.

Yes, this could be you.

NY Waterway features the Shades of Autumn River Cruise running Saturdays and Sundays from October 10 through November 1. Cruises depart at Port Imperial, Weehawkin at 10:00 AM and West 48th Street and 12th Avenue in Manhattan at 10:30 AM, returning around 2:00 and 2:30 PM, respectively. A tour guide will highlight historical points along the way, while sharing some of the area's rich folklore and legend. Complimentary hot chocolate and donuts are also served. Pricing is $40 for adults, $35 for seniors, and $20 for children under 12.

Circle Line Downtown Fall Foliage Cruises depart at Pier 16, South Street Seaport. The cruise lasts for 5 1/2 hours sailing up the Hudson towards the Bear Mountain Bridge, and includes a cash bar, music, narration, and football on satellite TV.(I believe this defeats the purpose of viewing the foliage, but then again, I'm not a fan.) The boat boards at 10:30 AM and returns at approximately 4:30 PM. The pricing is a bit steep at $120, but includes free wine tasting and live music. The cruise will run on Saturdays, up until November 7.

Circle Line Sightseeing at 42nd Street also runs a cruise to Bear Mountain for the annual Oktoberfest celebration, where you can enjoy German beer, food and other activities. The cruise departs at 8:30 AM and returns at 5:30 PM, running the next few weekends, up until November 1. Pricing is $49 for adults, $40 for seniors and $30 for children.

Zerve private charters offers an elegant  Fall Foliage Schooner Sail leaving 11:00 AM from Chelsea Piers. The vessel sails up the Hudson to the Palisades. The pricing is also somewhat steep at $90, but includes lunch and a few rounds of drinks. The cruise will be running Saturday and Sunday, the weekends of the 24th and the 31st.

Halloween Extravaganza 
The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine
UWS, Manhattan 

Ghouls at the Cathedral, Courtesy of http://www.thedevilsdemons.com/

This is a truly memorable, one-night-only showing. The cathedral, the largest gothic revival in the world, is awe-inspiring in itself but the candles, dim lightening and "ghouls" at the cello make the experience delightfully displacing. Twilight fans eat your heart out--this year the classic vampire will creep his way back into the psyche. Nosferatu will be screened in the nave,  accompanied by live organ music by Timothy Brumfield. After the film, Ralph Lee and the Mettawee River Theater Company's Procession of  Ghouls commences its  slow-motion theatrical dance down the aisle.  Skeletons, demons, and all around freakish figures emerge from the fog to the sounds of a Bach-inspired funerial organ. While children certainly enjoy the parade, the costumes are a bit more than mere spooky spectacle. A site for the artistic eye, they are  beautifully designed, resembling a hellish Renaissance masquerade. (I highly recommend checking out the Company's  website for some samples.)

Tickets definitely sell out for this, so be sure to order them ASAP, and show up early to get close to the screen. As it is a silent film, the on-screen narrative may be hard to read from a distance.  Tickets are $20.00. Click here to order and for additional information. 

The Great Jack O'Lantern Blaze
Croton-on-Hudson in the Historic Hudson Valley

Photo courtesy of www.thingsyoushoulddo.com

If you have a day, or perhaps a weekend, you may want to hop aboard the Metro-North and venture out to the fifth annual  Great Jack o' Lantern Blaze in Croton-on-Hudson. Illuminating the dark, winding country roads of Sleepy Hollow Country, this spectacle displays over 4,000 hand-carved jack o'lanterns (artists have been carving since June!), featuring sculpted snakes, pirates, an entire underwater aquarium, Pumpkinhenge and, new this year, a collosal UFO. The blaze takes place in the historic Van Cortland Manor, a riverside 18th century stone manor and brick ferry house which boasts quaint heritage gardens and a collection of colonial era furnishings. 

Arranged by artists, the installation, according to creative director Michael Natiello, is actually meant to emphasize the landscape and the architecture of the manor itself. It takes approximately 45 minutes to walk through and view.  Enhanced by professional lighting, original music and sound effects, Natiello, in an interview with the NY Local news, says the Blaze is "slightly scary, but more beautiful than anything."

Also for all of you auteurs, the sponsors of the Blaze encourage you to bring your cameras. There will be a Youtube contest of the best footage taken during the festivities, with winners receiving an iPod touch.

Pricing: $15 for adults, $10 for children up to 17, and FREE for children under 5 with a reservation. Runs: Evenings, Friday through Sunday, Oct. 16-18; Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 22-25; and Wednesday through Sunday, Oct. 28-Nov. 1.

Getting to the Blaze from Manhattan: Metro-North's Hudson Line trains depart Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Take the train to Croton-Harmon station (under an hour from Manhattan) where cabs wait to meet each train. Van Cortlandt Manor is a 5-minute cab ride or 10-minute walk away.

For a wealth of more information on the Blaze, and to book your tickets (it is strongly encouraged to book in advance) click here.

"...But his horror was still more increased on observing that the head, which should have rested on his shoulders, was carried before him on the pommel of his saddle."

Legend Nights and Other Sleepy Hollow Events

Sleepy Hollow, NY

While you're around town for the Blaze you may consider trekking slightly south to Phillipsburgh Manor in Sleepy Hollow. Up until Halloween, this area, rich in myth and storytelling, is running Legend Weekends, which includes different activities for Legend Days and Legend Nights. During the day you can enjoy activities such as pumpkin carving, ghost stories, hearth cooking and colonial games, or visit the manor's 18th Century gristmill. You may also want to stop by Sunnyside Manor, the estate that Washington Irving designed himself and where he spent the last years of his life. While you can find many family-friendly activities here as well,the landscape and inspiring views of the Hudson River would surely be enough to keep the solo traveller pleasantly occupied. As the Web site states, "The grounds reflect Washington Irving's romantic view of art, nature, and history. "

Once the sun sets, Philispburg Manor becomes illuminated by candles and bonfires transforming into a haven for the ghosts and goblins of Hudson Valley folklore, where  Irving's nortorious headless horseman is bound to make his fleeting appearance.  You are welcome to wander through the manor at your own at your own risk. Master storyteller Jonathan Kruk will also be sharing some of the area's infamous folklore with visitors.

Sleepy Hollow Haunted Hayride

A "new, twisted" adaptation of the Headless Horseman is brought to life, as participants follow the last route of Ichibod Crane. The half hour hayride performance promises to unveil the untold tale of Sleepy Hollow, the secrets behind the Irving's folklore that involve Henry Hudson's fated deal with the"vampirates" on the Darkbliss sailing vessel. Hayrides depart from the Sleepy Hollow Highschool parking lot.  The hayride opens this weekend, and runs on the 23rd, 24th and 30th. Wagons run from 7-10 PM. For tickets, information, and the legend, click here.

Old Dutch Burying Ground and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Nothing excites morbid curiosity, as well as the historical heart, than an old cemetery. Sleepy Hollow Cemetery harbors the grave of Washington Irving, along with a number of other reputable characters such as William and John D. Rockefeller (whose estate, Kyuit, is nearly a stone's throw away), and Elizabeth Arden. I suggest checking out their website; they have a comprehensive history of the grounds with a letter from Irving himself, calling attention to the blunder of naming the grounds the Tarrytown Cemetery, rather than the more fitting "Sleepy Hollow." (The name was changed from Tarrytown after Irving's death.)

The three acre Old Dutch Burying Ground and Church are located on a southeast path of land that appears to be connected to the Sleepy Hollow grounds, but in fact is not. Established in 1685, these grounds are part of the Reformed Church of Tarrytown.

How to get to Sleepy Hollow Country:

Definitely check out the Historic Hudson Valley Website to plan out specifically which sites you would like to visit (there are a variety of more activities that I have not mentioned), and how to get there from various locations. The site enables you to download maps and travel brochures.

From Manhattan: Metro-North's Hudson Line trains depart Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan. Take the express to Tarrytown (just 36 minutes from Manhattan) where cabs wait to meet trains. The cab ride to Philipsburg Manor is approximately 5 minutes, as is Sunnyside Manor and the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery.

Walking inspiration

Still no camera. A fairly rough September. But the stars promise an October rich in creative endeavors.

Until then, here's some food for thought by the poet Theodore Roethke, based on my favorite activity.

The Waking

I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.

I feel my fate in what I cannot fear.
I learn by going where I have to go.

We think by feeling. What is there to know?
I hear my being dance from ear to ear.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.


Of those so close beside me, which are you?
God bless the Ground! I shall walk softly there,
And learn by going where I have to go.


Light takes the Tree; but who can tell us how?
The lowly worm climbs up a winding stair;
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.


Great Nature has another thing to do
To you and me, so take the lively air,
And, lovely, learn by going where to go.


This shaking keeps me steady. I should know.
What falls away is always. And is near.
I wake to sleep, and take my waking slow.
I learn by going where I have to go.