My Neck of the Woods

A virtual architectural walking tour on my beloved river promenade, through my local park, with the Dean of the Yale School of Architecture and neighborhood resident, Deborah Berke....

... I know each of the spots in the photographs in the piece.  Truly, truly my surrogate backyard.  These were the features of Yorkville that clinched the deal for me, sold me on this apartment in this building - way back when, before the Q made it to Second Avenue - so, so far east and such a trek from the subway.

Having public green space, and such a lovely and well-designed one, at that, so close at hand was key to balancing it all.  I had started running, and was doing the loop around the Reservoir, which would be too far; but the promenade, and the river, and Carl Schurz Park were perfect - the boats, the dog runs, the paths and different elevations....

When my folks came to assess the situation, before I made an offer, though they liked the apartment, they thought the neighborhood was too far east, too quiet, not enough foot traffic, unsafe for my late night returns from the office.  Then I took them to the river and we watched boats, and to the little dog run and we watched puppies, and then came back as kids were returning from school and being greeted by the doorman, and by then they were swayed.  And the lack of soot on the windowsills (the Lexington Avenue sills were black, as were the blinds, even though we were eight stories up), they agreed that was a good thing.

I have told people since who were apartment hunting MY criteria: It doesn't need to be hip and happening; I can travel for outings and I don't want tourists running amok in my hood when I am trying to have a relaxing weekend.  I need to be able to get in short order a coffee and a quick something to eat on weekends, a newspaper if I want one, groceries that I don't have to lug too far, a dry cleaner somewhere nearish, it has to be safe, and green space.  Check-check, check, check, check.  Those are the things I need when I'm not working so I can unwind and take care of my life.

Just tickled that the Times picked my little corner of the world to cover.  And it is narrated beautifully, and captures the serenity perfectly.  Love, love, love.