a day in the life of a (visiting) New Yorker

Part of my challenge to myself on this trip to NYC was to find some stillness and relaxation in my travels. This was, after all, my summer vacation! If I ran around NYC at my usual frantic "got to see it all" pace, there would be no way to feel rejuvenated at the end of it. So although I covered some major territory while I was here, I also spent some time each day trying to do some less touristy and more "a day in the life"-ish activities. Such as some things I've already written about:
WEDNESDAY - time on the High Line + sitting in Washington Square Park + walking home through Central Park + dinner with family
THURSDAY - lots of Central Park time and then dinner at "home" (which means at my hotel...which means picking up dinner from a local restaurant and eating it in my room...because I was pooped!)
FRIDAY - yoga! But like no other yoga, I've done before. A lovely experience. Honestly. It was in a tiny studio - they encourage online registration because the room can only accommodate about 15 people. Two of us were there + our instructor (both of whom were SUPER friendly to this visiting Texan). And the practice was restorative, relaxing, challenging...the last of which I realized later in the afternoon. I found Zenyasa Yoga on the internet when I was poking around for things in "my neighborhood" and it sounded like a good place to go - plus it has free classes for first-timers to the studio. (Yes, there are some...actually LOTS...of free things in NYC if you look around.) I signed up for a Level 2 class figuring that I could handle it. And I could. I was fine. Catherine greeted me and told me a little about the studio, showed me where to leave my shoes, made a quick connection as a fellow teacher (she teaches at the college level), and then she welcomed my classmate Ellen. Ellen had been to Zenyasa Yoga once or twice and seemed very friendly. Since there were only two of us in the class and lots of interaction with the teacher, we bonded quickly as we shook our heads in disbelief about our ability to do some of the things that Catherine suggested over the next 75 minutes. But mostly, the three of us just filled the space with good feelings. I didn't know anything about this form of yoga, but Catherine explained it a little and then we jumped in. Or settled in as it were. Each class begins by acknowledging four things with a moment of silence ended by the chime of a bell and a bow. First, we bowed to the space in front of us to acknowledge our individual practice. Then Ellen and I bowed to one another to acknowledge our common practice. Next, Ellen, Catherine, and I bowed to one another acknowledge the relationship between teacher and student. And, finally, we looked to the windows facing 72nd Street (we were up on the 6th floor, by the way) to acknowledge everyone and everything thing in the world. Pretty cool way to start a practice.
A practice that included strength work and meditation and stretching and sun salutations...it really was an amazing combination of things. Each day focuses on an element (earth, fire, water, wood, or metal) and each week has a theme (meditation, breathing, anatomy of asana, 5-elements, or buddha dharma). The combination for Friday was: earth + meditation. Or focus on lower body strength, endurance, and flexibility (earth) + cultivating a steady seat and place for meditation. Oddly, I could use both of these things. The 75 minutes passed quickly. Nothing was too "hard" but there were definitely some strengthening poses and exercises that made my legs shake. Catherine adjusted my downward dog, led us through sun salutations, and made sure that we were in the correct position for each posture...the joy of a two person class! It was a treat. And the final treat (well, before the next teacher Jason offered us coconut water!!!) was that we got to take our final savasana with our legs up the wall...my absolute favorite! And much welcomed position after days of walking around the city. As we parted ways, Ellen and I found ourselves standing outside of the studio talking about her kids and my job like we were old friends. I swear if I'd been here long enough she would have invited me for dinner!
The rest of the day was a little more "touristy" as I made my way to Columbia and Barnard - ran into a current SAS student on the Columbia campus!!! - and then back to my hotel for a quick change of clothes before going to the MOMA. I felt a little like a "local" when I was there since one of my neighbors (who moved to Austin from NYC) had tipped me off to Target Free Friday Nights (yes, sponsored by Target). You can get into the MOMA free from 4-8:30 on Friday nights which is awesome! And was perfect for someone like me who really just wanted to pop in, see a few things, and then make my way to Dodd's show in SOHO. Mission accomplished...saw some favorites...saw some new stuff. And was soon on the subway to SOHO. Easily found the theater...and then some coffee in case I got the sleepies before the show (or during the show)...took shelter under an awning during a pretty awesome rain storm. And then happily ducked into the theater (where I got bumped up to the 3rd row!). Home again, home again, easily on the subway with a little gelato treat on the way. Have a mentioned that calories consumed while you are walking in NYC (or any other city, I suppose...but mostly while on vacation) don't count?! Did you know this? It's quite wonderful.
Got 8-9 hours of sleep on Friday night so that I was ready to go today...
SATURDAY: Coffee at Joe's. I love this place. Or maybe I love the baristas. Or maybe it's the pale blue "to go" cups. I don't know. But it makes me happy to go there instead of hitting up a Starbuck's for my morning cup of coffee. (There's one in Grand Central where I'll be grabbing coffee on my way to Bronxville tomorrow!) With my coffee in hand, I strolled through Central Park and found my way to the 82nd Street, St. Stephen's Greenmarket. Wanted to see what the locals could buy at their neighborhood Farmers Market. Berries, milk, veggies, flowers, bread...much like Austin farmers markets. Not a huge surprise there but sort of a fun thing to do. Seeing as I'm leaving for Bronxville tomorrow I only bought some fruit but it was nice to stroll and see the Upper East Side. I then snagged some yogurt from a local grocery and found a lovely shaded bench in Central Park for my breakfast spot...yogurt + Farmers Market fruit and full entertainment from the kiddos playing around me. This hit the spot! The afternoon went by quickly with double checking arrangements to Bronxville tomorrow a.m. (this will involve a subway - and a "transfer" within the subway system! - with my luggage...fingers crossed!), finishing my reading for the conference, packing, and grabbing a quick bite to eat at Peacefood Cafe. I know, there are more "exotic" places in NYC, but I felt the need for something really healthy. It's not that I've been unhealthy about my eating, but I have been rather nonchalant about it. That might be my one regret of this trip...I should have planned my meals better because every time I walk down a street I see a restaurant that makes me want to stop and eat! Oh, well, as Knox (Gran's dear friend) would say, "You have to leave something for next time" and what I have eaten has been delicious. (Plus, I do get a little tired of being at a table for one all of the time, so 'grab and go' food has been my preference this trip.)
About that dinner at Peacefood. Well, I ended up not eating alone. I chose to sit at the counter and pulled out my book but hardly 10 minutes had passed before a man who was probably in his late 60s/early 70s said, "Do you mind if I sit here?" Two girls had already occupied the other seats at the counter so we were a little crowded, but it wasn't my place to say "No, you can't sit here." Like I would say that anyway! And he seemed nice enough so I said, "Go right ahead." Moments later my food came out of the kitchen and that opened the doorway to what would be an hour long conversation with me and this native New Yorker who was amazed that I'd found Peacefood all the way from Texas, loved that I taught/worked at a school (he's a former professor), was concerned about what I'd seen and not seen in the city, had his own theories about education (which he shared freely), and then ended up paying for my meal. Because he rarely got to have "such nice dinner conversation with a Texan", he explained...with a shake of his head. The whole Texas thing really threw him for a loop. It was hysterical. We parted ways after I thanked him profusely, and I hung back to get a chocolate dipped macaroon. DELICIOUS. Seriously, melt in your mouth delicious and well worth every calorie!
And off I went down Broadway to Lincoln Center for War Horse thinking that this was the first time a perfect stranger had ever bought me dinner and how bizarre and nice it was at the same time. Not "nice" as in that thing that I expect or want to happen all the time but "nice" as in just a really nice gesture...from a real New Yorker to a visiting New Yorker. Seemed right for the day - unexpected but right.