by Lisa Weldon of reSoulin’ my dancing shoes
I want to name today’s post “Stupid Is as Stupid Does.” Just like Forrest Gump, I started walking toward my subway station and kept walking til I hit the East River. Then I turned around and walked til I hit the other side, the Hudson River. In other words, I walked the entire width of Manhattan, twice. Stupid. I’m sure I’ll be laid up in some hospital, in traction, by tomorrow.
I just couldn’t stop. Looks like I walked a total of 60+ blocks today. I left the West Village, walked to the Union Square Park, then to Gramercy Park – had lunch at Pete’s Tavern – then walked to the East River, up the East Side to the NYU Hospital complex. I then turned back the opposite way til I hit the Hudson River. Came back, got on the subway and came home.
I saw so much today: This may be an inside joke, but who said New Yorkers only wear black?
The Smoking Building at Union Square
It’s an art installation called “Metronome” by Kristin Jones and Andrew Ginzel, chosen in a national competition. The hole in the wall is a five-foot-wide circle called “the Infinity.” It is designed to emit steam as a symbol of the city’s internal energy and of the earth itself. The Kong-size hand-”the Relic”-is an enlarged replica of the right hand of the equestrian statue of George Washington in Union Square Park. The gold leaf applied around “the Infinity” is “the Source.” It symbolizes the ultimate source of energy. The black-and-gold billiard ball-shaped protrusion is a rotating sphere which will keep us up to date on the phases of the moon. The needle in the eye of God is called “the Focus”; it’s a half-inch in diameter at its top, but widens to 18 inches at its base 67 feet below. It will produce a low tone at noon and midnight. The 15 windows will display how many past- and pre-midnight hours exist, and are collectively entitled “the Passage.”
Pete’s Tavern in Gramercy Park
I was hungry and just happened on this little tavern, which has been there since 1864. Then I learned that this is where O’Henry wrote “Gift of the Magi.” Most likely he sat here one night, had too much to drink, then went home and wrote it.
Gramercy Park was a beautiful little hamlet stuck in the middle of the East Side. There’s a very lush park in the center of the neighborhood, but I found it odd that no one was in the park. Apparently the park is owned cooperatively by the surrounding 60 lot owners and is governed by a board of five lifetime trustees. Only way in is by key, with a different key out. The locks and keys are changed yearly to thwart any key duplication.
Homeless shelter near Alexander Center
I thought this was a particularly beautiful old building. When I asked the guard what they were, he very carefully crafted his words. “It’s a place where people live who have no home.” Then I understood why. A brand new, shiny new office complex sat next door and he didn’t want to hamper sales, I guess. Across the street sits a sister building, just as grand. It houses foster children.
The new complex, in the same block, is the Alexandria Center for Life Science, a state-of-the-art science park. These were large photographs of scientists from New York who’ve made a significant contribution to science.
Around the corner were large photos of very select high school students 
who had been chosen as the next generation of scientific talent in New York City. One of these high school student’s winning project was: Cellulosic biofuels like ethyl levulinate–. I stopped reading there.
So much more, but I’ll end with this one. I knew I was getting closer into the tourist district when I saw the Bobble-head Obamas and statue of liberty figurines, in all shapes and sizes.
It was a long hot day. My legs are killing me. But I’m still not ready to go home.
Jane Gassner
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