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Verrazano-Narrows to Gowanus

October 13, 2015

This weekend's run was a partial repeat of one I had done many years ago, along the southernmost flank of the Brooklyn mass. I rode the R subway all the way down to its conclusion in Bay Ridge, warmed up to the foot of the gigantic Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and launched into my return home on the waterfront. Staten Island stretched on the opposite side of the channel, large container ships were crossing the narrows and people were strolling, rollerblading, cycling or fishing the day through under an unusually warm October...

The Life of a Cat

July 9, 2015

Blog reader: "Tell me how he died..." Vince: "I will tell you how he lived." Adapted, with a smirk, from The Last Samuraï When I came to New York City eight years ago, inbound from beautiful Vancouver and landing at Newark's International Airport for a coffee - yes, I had flown across North America to come have coffee with a stranger in Jersey - I did not really know for sure that my life was about to change radically. It was just a hurricane-strength gut feeling. The coffee was a success. Marie...

New York City Marathon 2014 - They Ran

November 5, 2014

After commenting rather cynically in my last post about the reasons that make some people run, I thought it would only be fair to document the "other side". So last Sunday I stood on a Fifth Avenue sidewalk for an hour and a half as marathoners flowed through kilometer 35, headed down towards Central Park and the finish line. Some seemed to be enjoying themselves, most looked in pain, a few struggled greatly. It was tough weather for the New York City marathon 2014 edition, probably the coldest day of the season so far,...

Escape From New York City

September 2, 2014

There are no easy options when it comes to escaping the Big Apple and its madly turbulent crowds. I like to imagine the city as surrounded at all times by a series of concentric circles, or bubbles, characterized by a slowly decreasing level of overpopulation. The inner bubble is centered on Manhattan and within it, no hope subsists. There will be a mob no matter where one goes. The second bubble typically includes the five boroughs and while there are hotspots, it is usually possible to find relative peace in outer...

Two Bridges, a Run - Part 2

April 23, 2013

[This is part 2 of 2] I'm now entering Battery Park and go past the World Financial Center, along North Cove Marina. Runners had been casually showing up around me since Brooklyn, now they congregate; I have merged into a high traffic, trendy lane and late afternoon on a beautiful weekend is exercise rush hour. The sun is shining low on the Hudson River, a warm afternoon glow that is pleasing and welcomed as I am finally wearing shorts after a long winter. The Statue of statues waves at the world but it feels personal:...

Groundhog Day-jà Vu

February 2, 2013

Punxsutawney Phil did not see its shadow and an early spring is upon us. In a comical twist, other animals are being thrown into the prediction business and Staten Island's groundhog Chuck is now claiming the 49ers will win the Superbowl. Whatever. Today's online New York Times City Room section features an article on NYC groundhogs with a picture of a Greenwood Cemetery groundhog taken by Marie last year, and one of mine from Staten Island, initially posted. Who knew. Rodents are in, leopards are out. Featured on...

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