MOCA, High Line Park, and East Village

MOCA

No, that's not a new coffee drink! MOCA is the Museum of Chinese in America. In a city known for a variety of museums, this is a small one located on Centre Street between Howard and Grand. One fine day, we walked from 38th street down Third Avenue, then west through Cooper Square and picked up Lafayette and Centre. MOCA is at the junction of Soho and Chinatown. But all New York neighborhoods are a state of mind anyway. You are where you want to be.

Replica of a Chinatown shop

 The Chinatown shop replica was way too clean, spacious, and well-lighted to be real. Chinatown shops to me are dark and musty and have a particular smell of herbs and preserves. In addition to the shop, the museum has posters, photographs, and film documenting the lives of the Chinese in the United States and celebrating their accomplishments.

Walking the tracks at High Line Park

Besides MOCA, another interesting site to visit is High Line Park. A clever concept that, to recycle some old elevated train tracks into a public park. It begins at Gansevoort Street in the West Village near the Hudson River and continues all the way up to 20th Street. That's just phase one of the park. An extension is planned all the way up to 34th Street. I got onto the park through an elevator at West 14th Street and Tenth Avenue. There are wooden benches and chaise lounges for sitting and sunning. However, owing to the lack of trees and the concrete, it's hot up there!

Getting some sun

People forget that New York is constantly renewing itself. High Line Park is a nice reminder that demolition isn't always the way to make way for the new. Sometimes something old can be turned to another use. New York also has quaint neighborhoods. Not far from Cooper Square is this little neighborhood on Eighth Street where we found a banh mi sandwich shop. I don't know if the bull on the roof is supposed to be a reminder that New York is the financial center to the world.

Bull

The street was tree-lined and a little faded, with that Boho touch that is so fashionable these days and much imitated. In one small block there were several cafés, at least one deli, a yoga studio, and a shop selling used CDs and DVDs that were shockingly overpriced. Haven't they heard of the free downloads at Limewire and Pirate Bay?

Eighth Street's got something for everyone. Like New York itself.

New York City, Redux

New York assaults the senses. It's hectic, noisy, crowded, and anonymous. AJ and I are trying to remember our way around but I confess I often get turned around and go north when I want south and go west when I want east! Despite these mishaps, we've been as far downtown at St. Paul's Chapel near Ground Zero, and as far uptown as Columbia University. In between we've been to the American Museum of Natural History and Chinatown, Grand Central Terminal, the New York City Public Library, and we're exploring the Murray Hill neighborhood where we're currently staying. We walked to the end of 42nd Street where it ends in FDR Drive and saw the UN Plaza. We can just see the Empire State building from Susan's kitchen window, too. What I like most is how the city offers spaces, like the Grand Central Library, where you can nurture the spirit--or the mind.

@Grand Central Library, 46th Street between Lexington and Third