Happy Birthday Dear Bridge

May 26, 2008

The Memorial Day long weekend not only marked the official kickoff to Summer, but this year, also marked the historic birthday of one of New York's most treasured landmarks. One of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States, the Brooklyn Bridge, just recently celebrated its 125th year as an engineering marvel.

After thirteen years of construction, the Bridge first opened for use on May 24, 1883, connecting the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Designed by John A. Roebling, the Brooklyn Bridge was the first steel-wire suspension bridge in the world that was surprisingly born in tragedy. Not only were 27 people killed during its construction, but only one week after its public use debut, a rumor that the Bridge was going to collapse led to absolute mayhem wherein over a dozen people were crushed to death. Well, 125 years later, the Bridge is still standing thanks to Roebling's unique bridge and truss system that was 4-6 times stronger than other bridges built at the same time, which have ultimately vanished into history.

If ever visiting this city, I highly recommend taking a stroll across this (sturdy) masterpiece of a structure. Its grandeur combines both strength and grace that offers an exhilarating experience and breathtaking views of both the Manhattan and Brooklyn skylines... there really is nothing better to do on a hot and sunny summer afternoon in this city than to be a pedestrian on what can be considered a great work of art. I suppose this holiday Monday fit the bill perfectly for such a trot... but I can't say I was feeling quite celebratory enough to tackle such an endeavour.

On one of my more ambitious days of walking the
6,000 foot-long landmark

The characteristic pointed arches through the stone tower passageways showcases the Bridge's Gothic architectural style

The Manhattan Skyline from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade

View of Manhattan from the Empire-Fulton Ferry State Park

View of the largest suspension bridge in the world

The Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic part of the Manhattan skyline

(photo: Josh Haner/The New York Times)

A spectacular display of fireworks over the
East River to celebrate 125 years

Three's a Tea PAHty

May 20, 2008

Spring is the absolute best time to be in New York City. Central Park is as lush and beautiful as ever, street fairs and outdoor events are kicking into high gear, and the gradual return of humidified days makes me so very grateful for air conditioned living quarters. But like I've said before, it's really nice to get away from it all... to clear your head from the constant hustle and bustle of daily life, and in turn, the ensued exhaustion.

My short escape this time around took me to Boston, Massachusetts... or more appropriately, Bahstun, Mass. But no, it wasn't a solo trip this time around... I was lucky to have the wonderful company of two of my closest friends. Myself, my sister Jess, and long-time friend of ours Jill, all got together for a mini-getaway to a new and previously unexplored city for an amazingly enjoyable weekend of catching up, reminiscing, and some sightseeing for good measure. Having not seen my sister Jess since Christmastime, and Jill since the time when I was still living in Edmonton, I was due for some quality time with some truly lovely ladies!

Toronto, Montreal and New York were all representing this past weekend in what could possibly be the cleanest, most beautiful and historic city I've been to in awhile. From the chic Financial District and stunning harborfront, the vibrant enclave that is Little Italy, historic Beacon Hill, the hip Back Bay neighborhood, and Boston's neighboring city of ivy-league higher education, Cambridge, the three of us were blown away by what the city had to offer. A 'Duck Tour' aboard an amphibious landing vehicle cruised us through the birthplace of freedom and city of firsts, then splashed us into the Charles River for some breathtaking views of the city's skyline.

Strolling through Faneiul Hall Marketplace, downtown Boston's prime shopping, dining and entertainment district, we came across a t-shirt being sold by a street vendor that couldn't sum up our supah-dupah weekend better...

The Tahp Ten Things ta Look Out Foha in Bahstun:

10. Paul Reveah's silvah at the Museum of Fine Ahts.
9. Two headed lobstahs in Bahstun Hahbah.
8. A wicked lotta beahs at Cheahs.
7. Bunkah Hill Mahnument.
6. Oystah chowdah in Quincy Mahcut.
5. Fenway Pahk.
4. Bahgins at Neiman Mahcus.
3. Dawchestah, Reveah, and Summahvul.
2. Pahkin yah cah in Hahvid Yahd aftah dahk.
1. The plate numbah of that cah on yah bumpah.

I'm pretty sure all three us will have a slip of the tongue at some point, this week or next, and inadvertently begin conversing in that thick Bahstun accent... don't know how well that will go down here in New Yohrk, but when The Tea Pahty members take their next trip together... to Chicahgo perhaps, I think we'll fit in just fine.

View of the Boston skyline and the Chahles... er... Charles River

The Old State House and the balcony from which the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence in Boston took place

Boston Common, founded in 1634, is one of the oldest
public parks in the country

The Public Garden, founded in 1837, is the first public
botanical garden in the United States

The Boston Public Library is the largest municipal public library in the country, and the first library to allow people to borrow books and take them home to read and use

The Tea Pahty dined at the oldest tavern in America,
the Bell in Hand Tavern

Cheers! Where everybody knows your name!

Fenway Park, the oldest MLB stadium and home of the Red Sox


No explanation necessary!

The Final Four

May 10, 2008

"This is a Queens-bound E train... step in, stand clear of the closing doors please."

Day after day, for the past 8 months, I've heard these same repetive words loudly over the PA system as I board the 'E' train to get crosstown, from the west side where I live, to the east side where I work. Having time and again gotten off the train at the last stop in Manhattan before the train continues on to Queens, I finally satisfied my curiosity for what lies beyond the island to the east, or what typical city dwellers like to call the 'burbs.

It's hard to believe I'm down to my final four weeks in this crazy/wonderful city. So with only a few more weekends to explore parts of New York that I haven't yet already (basically the other four boroughs that make up NYC), I took an afternoon jaunt out to Queens for some uncharted-territory-wandering. Home to New York's two major airports, the NY Mets baseball team, the USTA National Tennis Center (where the US Open takes place), and Queens Center (the most profitable per-square-foot mall in America - who knew?!), Queens is the second most populous borough wherein nearly half of its population are immigrants.

So I may have spent more time riding the subway than physically exploring the parts of Queens that I wanted to (I rode the entire line minus one stop, both there and back), but at least being above-ground made the long commute seem a little less tedious. It was interesting to see how similarly different it would be to live in a suburb of 'the city'; similar in terms of the scenic sight of fire escapes, different in terms of a little less clutter, a little more space. I'm even more curious now to see how the borough to the south compares... next stop: Brooklyn.

Part of New York World's Fair Bell Telephone Pavilion;
also seen in Men In Black

The Unisphere in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, a relic from the 1964 World's Fair, is the largest globe in the world; also commonly seen during live coverage of the US Open.

The Arthur Ashe Stadium, part of the USTA National Tennis Center, and a storage yard for Queens-bound '7' trains

Shea Stadium, home of the NY Mets

Much like the Yankees, the Mets are playing their final season in Shea Stadium, after which they'll move across the street to their new stadium, Citi Field

Feelin' the Burn

April 26, 2008

The best thing about living in New York is the endless opportunity to see some of the world's finest talent. I've been able to take in a good dose of Broadway plays and musicals in the past while, and time after time, I continue to be in absolute awe of the calibre of talent that is being presented live on stage. Virtuoso's at the forefront of their respective crafts, if you will, thrilling and stunning audiences night after night.

I'll rarely pass up a free ticket, even if it's a ticket to a concert featuring a world-class group of musicians that I had not previously heard of. This past Thursday, myself and fellow Turtle Julie, attended Bowfire - The Total String Experience at the historic Beacon Theatre in Manhattan's Upper West Side. A leading venue for top rock concerts, having seen headlining acts like Bob Dylan, Aerosmith and The Rolling Stones rock the stage over the years, Julie and I had little idea as to what we were in for.

Bowfire is composed of ten exceptionally gifted fiddle and violin musicians that sure know how to create a high quality music experience. Taking the audience on a musical journey of Jazz, Classical, Bluegrass, Celtic and Rock, combined with impressively entertaining step and tap dancing (did I mention they were multi-talented musicians who effortlessly fiddled and tapped at the same time?), made for one smokin' hot evening of entertainment. By the end of the night, the chosen venue could not have been more appropriate... Bowfire rocked out a wicked rendition of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir for their encore performance.

Chewing on spicy cinnamon gum (an apt choice of flavor to keep with our firey themed evening, not to mention our über-spicy Thai food prior to the concert) may have failed to keep our jaws from dropping to the floor throughout the concert, but the newly fueled inspiration we both left the concert with, gave us the fabulous idea to create our own spectacular high-energy stage show. Picture this... dueling-pianos, a spinning stage, with pyrotechnics and laser lights ablaze. The name? Fingerfire, but of course.

http://www.bowfire.com/

Check out Bowfire!

Streets of Philadelphia

April 22, 2008

If you ask any seasoned New Yorker how often they like to escape from the constant and flurried movement and activity of this city, you're bound to hear the same response time and time again... "get out of here as often as you can... if not, well, good luck trying to stay sane."

In the days leading up to this past weekend, I found myself quickly rising to my tolerable level of perturbation. The slightest and most ridiculous things were getting under my skin, agitating me beyond belief. Maybe it was just a case of spring fever, maybe I'm more homesick than I once thought, or maybe I was becoming just too annoyed with the kitchen cockroaches who like to pay me a daily visit while I enjoy my breakfast. Whatever it was, I was desperately due for an escape.

Leaving the city of culture took me to the city of ideas and firsts... the country's first capital and the site of the first public bank, hospital, public newspaper and stock exchange, to name a few. Philadelphia welcomed me not only with scorching 30 degree Celcius weather, but also with a completely different feel and vibe from what I've become accustomed to in the past eight months. Though the City of Brotherly Love may be in a stage of hip and urban reinvention, I have to admit that despite walking all over the map, from the Museum District to Penn's Landing, the Old City Historic District to the upper crust Rittenhouse neighborhood of resolute old money, not every city can be a walker-friendly city like New York.

Getting away, even if it was just for a couple of days, certainly helped to shallow the waters of the pool of turmoil New York can very easily push you into. But since I was getting a little tired of treading water, it felt surprisingly good to be able to walk it all out in new and unfamiliar, but at times, shady territory. My initial impressions of the city may not take me back there anytime soon, but realizing I ceased to sample the quintessential Philly Cheesesteak, I could be visiting again at some point in the future. I'll be sure to rent a car though next time... some of those city streets just aren't meant to be walked alone.

City Hall, the largest municipal building in the country

View of Philadelphia's skyline and City Hall in the distance

The Philadelphia Museum of Art's monumental staircase, famous for its appearance in Rocky

Elfreth's Alley, the oldest residential street in the Nation

Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was debated and adopted

The Liberty Bell - an international icon of freedom and independence, and its famous gap, which was the result of an attempt to fix a crack which destroyed the bell's tone

The Benjamin Franklin Bridge arching over the Delaware River

Energizer Turtles

April 13, 2008

Putting in nearly 24 hours of work over the course of two days is a tad much, to say the least, but when it's for a good cause, well, there's not a whole lot one should complain about. This past Friday and Saturday played host to Turtle Bay Music School's 4th Annual Perform-a-Thon, our premier fundraising event wherein Turtle Bay students, staff, faculty, alumni and members of our community gathered together to participate in two exciting days of non-stop music making. From trumpet to cello, harp to violin, and guitar to piano, performers of all ages and abilities but their best music notes together to ensure that everyone who walks through Turtle Bay's doors, is able to achieve their greatest musical potential.

This event has long been a cornerstone fundraising opportunity to help the School raise funds for music scholarships, provide financial aid to underprivileged but deserving young students, enhance our public school music programs which annually provide music education to more than 1,300 public school students throughout the five boroughs of NYC, and continue to grow our unique community outreach program, The Saturday Music Project. This new music initiative provides families with little or no access to music, with two years of music appreciation classes and instrument instruction, free of charge.

At the end of it all, the hard work and team effort from everyone at the School made the event a huge success. And while it was difficult to get up off of the chairs that we all collapsed on when the two-day event finally came to an end, I'm sure we all would have liked to get up and click our heels at the initial count for our grand total - over $14,000 - not bad at all for a small community music school with a big heart. We are, afterall, just turtles who keep performing and performing and performing...

Performing at the Perform-a-Thon with my awesome teacher Paula. In only my 3rd performance of my 6 months playing the violin, my nerves got the best of my bowing... the sound resulting from my shaky arm surely gives a whole new meaning to the musical term vibrato.