A Brief Visit to Paley Park

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Paley Park in New York City. I’d read about it for years and had put it high on my “to visit” list while I was in the city for a few days. It was certainly worth the walk (I was staying in mid-town near Lexington and E. 36th Street).

First, I passed by St. Patrick’s Cathedral, under serious exterior renovations,

Scaffolding covering the upper portion of the front facade of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, across from Rockefeller Center.

but with its beautiful granite columns and wooden doors just begging to be photographed.

The contrast between the wood and granite was stunning.

I continued on my walk, turned right on E. 53rd Street, and just beyond the subway entrance on the left hand side of the street spied the opening to Paley Park.

The subway entrance near Paley Park is on E. 53rd Street. Walk less than fifty feet beyond and it’s on your left.

The park, opened in 1967 and designed by the architectural firm of Zion and Breen, is considered by many to be among the finest urban spaces in the United States. Located on the former site of the Stork Club, the space was given by William Paley (who was head of CBS) in memory of his father.

Central to the success of the space is a twenty-foot high waterfall at the back of the park, which you see immediately on entering.

The waterfall stretches almost the entire width of the space occupied by the park, and its noise successfully masks the sounds from the street, creating a peaceful space for visitors.

Small, lightweight metal chairs and tables scattered through can easily be moved around to allow visitors to sit alone or in groups. On my visit, aside from a few parents with children, the park’s visitors seemed simply to be enjoying a chance to read, rest a bit, and (of course) check their email.

A woman enjoys a quiet moment in Paley Park to catch up on her reading.

Photographing the waterfall and the tulips was also a popular pastime both for me and other visitors.

And apparently in warmer weather, there’s a small refreshments stand where you can get a drink or a bite to eat.

A handicapped ramp on the right side of the steps up to the park. There is a similar one on the left side as well (not shown here).

The honey-locust trees in the park (not in leaf while I was there) provide high, dappled shade for visitors in the summer.

For more information about Paley Park, check out the description on The Cultural Landscape Foundation’s website. And plan a visit yourself if you’re in New York. It’s a lovely spot.

 

The Four Seasons Sculptures at NYBG

Yesterday I came back from a quick family-related trip to the Big Apple. I did manage to squeeze in time to ride the train out to the New York Botanic Garden. Unfortunately, the grounds were still in “winter mode” (except for some nicely blooming hellebores and cyclamen in the newly refurbished Rock Garden). So I visited the Enid Haupt Conservatory to take in the orchid display.

The entrance to the Enid Haupt Conservatory at the New York Botanical Garden, now featuring a huge display of orchids.

They were gorgeous, and worth a post of their own. But as I was completing my tour of the orchid display, I stumbled onto an amazing set of seasonally-based statues in the courtyard behind the Conservatory. Created by the American artist and filmmaker Philip Haas, the installations are  inspired by the sixteenth-century Renaissance painter Giuseppe Arcimboldo, who created “composite portraits” composed of collage-like compositions of fruits, vegetables, and other materials.

The sculptures began as models (which are on display in the Conservatory library) and then were constructed as full-scale works. For more information and a video of their installation, visit the New York Botanical Garden’s website. In the meantime, here are some of the images I took on a cloudy day when I was the only person around to admire these magnificent structures.

“Spring,” by Philip Haas, in the Conservatory’s rear courtyard.

“Summer,” seen from the front right side.

The other side of “Summer.” I think this was my favorite of all of them.

“Fall” is encased in a wine press! (I think)

“Winter,” starkest of all.