For the Love of Brooklyn » parks and museums

rekindling the love for prospect park

Jill — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:31:31 +0000

It’s been awhile since I used to spend much time in Prospect Park. When I first moved to Brooklyn, the park used to be my oasis – a place of refuge and relaxation. I’m not sure if it’s work or life or all the work I COULD be doing on the house at any given moment, but somehow that quiet time amongst the trees has been one of the things I’ve accidentally given up over the last few years.

Thanks to CH Cycles and the longer daylight hours, my newly-repaired bike and I have been taking an evening spin around the park and falling right back in love. Nighttime bike rides in Brooklyn are one of life’s sweetest pleasures, and it’s one of the best ways I’ve found to relax after a long day at the office. Using gmap-pedometer.com, I’ve discovered a couple of great 7 to 8-mile loops from my house through the park and back, and it’s been blissful. Plus, I just realized this past week that I can actually use that site to track my rides and workouts — I’m hooked!

I thought I’d share a few recent Instagram photos from my nighttime bike rides and I can’t wait to take more this week. If you ever want to go on a nighttime ride / photo outing, let me know! It’s even more fun with friends.

flickr faves: botanic beauty

Jill — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:21:18 +0000

Last weekend, our impromptu meet-up at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden turned out to be a lovely time. We had a chance to see a preview of the new visitors’ center which is scheduled to open May 16th and also the extension plot for the upcoming native flora garden extension. Plus, the cherry blossoms were indeed beginning to bloom around the Japanese pond — life is good.

Check out a few of my favorite shots from the walk and have a lovely week!

“Out of Reach,” by Barry Yanowitz:

“Panorama, Pond, Japanese Garden,” by Chris Kreussling at Flatbush Gardener:

Untitled, by Michael Pearce and “Ents”, by Chris Kreussling at Flatbush Gardener:

Untitled, by Michael Pearce:

Instagram snapshots, by Adam Lerner:

Untitled, by Michael Pearce:

Panorama of the expansion site for the Native Flora Garden, by Chris Kreussling at Flatbush Gardener:

… and though he couldn’t make it to this meet-up, I couldn’t help but include Shawn Hoke‘s lovely photo from the garden this week! Brooklyn is for lovers, indeed.

happy new year!

Jill — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 02:26:54 +0000

The last few days have afforded me some time for reflection, and I am so looking forward to the promises and opportunities that a new year brings. This past year has been huge for me — a new consulting career, a new house to renovate, new friends and coworkers. I’ve risen to challenges, redefined my goals, and redrawn my boundaries — and not always in the healthiest of ways. Only in the past few weeks have I realized that despite all the newness of the past year, I haven’t taken enough time for myself.

Last night in Red Hook, as the sun set one final time in 2011, I made a silent commitment as I looked out over the bay. I’m not yet sure what my resolutions will be this year, but they definitely include far more *me* time. Bring on the selfishness! Today I celebrated by taking a decadent walk through Prospect Park. The sunshine was wonderful. Out with the old and in with the new, indeed.

Here’s to a great year ahead, and may your 2012 be filled with lots of *you* time!

shaking off the summertime

Jill — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 04:04:05 +0000

The night air has a chill now, and truthfully, it’s hard to believe October is here. Where did September go?! Though my flowers keep on blooming, it’s clear that we’ve finally shaken the last warm days of summer. I’ve been going through photos of this past summer in Prospect Park and just wanted to share a little warmth over my cup of tea tonight. Enjoy!

prospect park litter mob meets tuesday!

Jill — Sun, 22 May 2011 15:39:36 +0000

If you’re an avid reader of 66 Square Feet, as am I, you know about Marie’s grassroots campaign to step up and volunteer to help rid Prospect Park of the grit and grime of a certain section of the woods to which city and parks department officials have long turned a blind eye. The last litter mob met up on May 10th, and collected bags and bags of trash.

The next Litter Mob is on Tuesday morning, May 24th at 9am sharp. If you’d like to participate, RSVP to Marie ASAP. The group will meet at the corner of East Drive and Center Drive in the Midwood, just south of the zoo [map below]. Trash-grabbers, gloves, and bags will be provided — as well as a sense of great satisfaction in helping preserve one of Brooklyn’s greatest treasures.

happy easter from my brooklyn to yours!

Jill — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 14:12:10 +0000

Each and every day, it seems Brooklyn is slowly but surely waking up from its winter slumber. Last weekend at the Botanic Garden, it seemed that everything was bursting with color and life! I hope everyone gets a chance to enjoy this holiday weekend and spend time with family and friends. Here’s a little cheer from my Brooklyn to yours!

sunday stroll through the botanic garden

Jill — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 11:17:42 +0000

What a glorious afternoon yesterday! We headed to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden after lunch at Tom’s in Prospect Heights, and the warm spring weather couldn’t have been any better. And though the magnolias and cherry trees are beautiful right now, I’d happily argue it was just as much fun to watch all the people out enjoying the weather. I’m definitely checking out the BBG’s “cherry watch” map almost every day in anticipation of the main walk’s glorious bloomfest – at this rate, it should be happening very soon!

But for now, I’m going to sit at my desk and remember the spring breeze and sunshine on my face.

polaroid heaven at the bbg

Jill — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 18:15:44 +0000

This morning, I spotted the work of photographer Ravi Jolly, who has been doing a series of Polaroid images shot at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. So, so pretty. (He also does a great timeseries Tumblr with a daily photo from 30 Rock!) Check out some of my favorites below!

Who’s heading to Prospect Heights this weekend to see the cherry blossoms?!

brooklyn bonsai, in fall’s flush

Jill — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 05:21:11 +0000

Hot Tip: Magic is currently on display in the greenhouse of the C.V. Starr Bonsai Museum at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Over the weekend, I stumbled across the beautiful collection of bonsai displaying their amazing fall foliage in brilliant reds, oranges, and yellows. Breathtaking and awe-inspiring. Definitely recommended!

prospect park: at the tennis house

Jill — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:48:20 +0000

Perched on a hill east of the 9th Street entrance to Prospect Park sits one of my favorite buildings in Brooklyn: the Tennis House. Built in 1910 by the architects Helmle and Huberty, the structure features “a Palladian colonnaded pavilion with a Guastavino tile ceiling.” According to Prospect Park’s history of the Tennis House, its neoclassical style marked a “sharp departure” in Frederick Law Olmsted’s traditionally-rustic tastes and was originally designed to provide storage and shelter for 300 lawn tennis courts (!) on the Long Meadow.

Though ladies in prim hats, full skirts, and bustles no longer grace the courts, the Tennis House still presides over the shady hilltop as a graceful reminder of its genteel past.

I think I’ll leave my racket at home and bring a picnic blanket, a good book and enjoy the view.