Having relocated to Atlanta from NYC within the past 12 months I found myself enjoying the warm weather in Atlanta, and simultaneously having nostalgia for my time in New York. While I could wax poetic about all the things that I miss, I have been thinking of Central Park as of late. I spent much time there, doing different things during different parts of the day. 6am I would arise, and given I lived 2 blocks from the East 72nd Street entrance, would begin my day with a sunrise run around the small loop. There was a building on Central Park South that faced me 1/3 of the way into my run; every day it told the temperature as well as the time. It never seemed as cold as it said, but I always had to hustle once I saw the time; these two things are certainly true! Later in the day after work I would bring my dog Minnie there for her daily walk, and we would without fail walk by The Mark hotel where she would greet her favorite doorman with kisses and he would bestow a delicious doggy treat upon her. We would enter at East 76th Street, winding down toward the duck pond, and more or less taking the turns that Minnie led me on. Sometimes we would end up near the Fountain, my favorite spot in the park, and while a beautiful location, Minnie would often smell like horse manure from where she would run through the deep gutters. She always got a bath on those trips. However, no walk was complete without a pitstop by a special spot on the hill winding down towards the duck pond from the 72nd Street entrance; this was where my fiance proposed.
Other days my fiance, Minnie and I would bring a blanket on a hot June Saturday and spread out under some shade, often taking a long nap. Following the 72nd Street entrance in one could usually find excellent lawn and tree coverage if walking far enough. Once arising we would stop by Sant Ambroeus for Gelatto on Madison on our way home, then off to deposit Minnie at home and then to enjoy a quiet meal at a neighborhood Italian restaurant before retiring.
Thanks for allowing me to share some of my favorite memories; I have posted some of my favorite pictures from our time in the park below.
This was our last night living in the city. We are heading towards the East 76th Street entrance.
This was a picture from our engagement shoot in July 2012. It was nearing 100 degrees with 100% humidity but none of it mattered. This walkway is one of the most romantic parts of the park. The trees bend in such a graceful way to almost ensconce you as you walk.
I'll never forget this night. Walking Minnie around the Duck Pond you could hear a pin drop but the sky looked like the stuff of 18th century paintings. Breathtaking.
One of my favorites. The night before the city was blanketed with snow and was so still and quiet in the morning. Minnie was just a puppy here.
Duck Pond with my little munchkin running ahead.
A good summertime wiggle :)
