All-Points Bulletin (APB) from the Buttercupland Department of Public Safety

Missing: One Glove

Which may be the story of everyone's winter.

An APB, also known as  KLO4 in Australia and APW in the UK, has been issued for the mate of the plaid glove seen above. Last known whereabouts: My coat pocket. It could be anywhere by now and is missed sorely. Please come home. 

The Department of Public Safety reminds all citizens of Buttercupland that gloves like to go wandering and citizens must be alert to to the whereabouts of gloves at all times. Remember, once you let a glove out of your sight, that glove can be anywhere -- except where it belongs on your hand. Not a pretty story for freezing cold days of February.    

I've been priding myself on keeping track of my gloves the last few years, so the disappearance of this glove makes me especially sad. I brought two pairs of gloves back from Scotland, two summers ago. I got them in Inverness at the same time Nessie became part of the Buttercupland family. I lent the first pair to my cousin in December, 2019 and hoped to retrieve them in the early part of 2020, but we all know the early (and later) part of 2020 wasn't a time for much socializing. Alas, all that's left of my Scottish glove collection is the one lonely glove in the picture. Fortunately, I've got several other pairs of gloves and I'm heeding the warning from the Department of Public safety and keeping close watch over the ones I still have. 

Yesterday morning on Broadway

Today was sunny, but this was the scene yesterday morning. I went out early, before the snow stuck, and had the neighborhood mostly to myself. As I've mentioned many times I'm not a fan of winter, and as the years gone by, my apprehensions about slipping have increased. But in the quiet moments of the morning I appreciated the peace and solitude in the middle of the big and usually very noisy city. New York City has a forecast of snow at least four times in the next ten days. I hope I'm still appreciating it at the end of next week. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and keep cozy!

Pink Saturday Returns to 1981

 

Four hundred and forty-four days in history

We accumulate a lot of things in our lives and we also accumulate a lot of memories. In my endless decluttering, especially in the past year, I've come across clippings and photos that have stirred many feelings and thoughts. For a number of years in the 1980s I worked for the Mayor of New York City, Ed Koch. I knew how fortunate I was at the time and forty years later I still give thanks. 

The job entailed long hours, lots of pressures, but an extraordinary opportunity to be part of many historic events. I began the job in November, 1980 and the first major special event was welcoming the "ex-hostages," as they were described in the press release. The 52 American embassy hostages arrived in America on January 25. Not all of the group chose to come to New York City. But of those that chose to be part of the celebration, the first of the group arrived in New York City on Thursday, January 29. 

From the Buttercup Archives

Obviously, there wasn't much time to put the program together, but a fabulous program was put together, including the welcome to New York City on one of the coldest January days I can remember. One of my fondest memories (ever) was dinner at Windows on the World. I couldn't believe that the people I, along with all of America, had prayed for and hoped for, were my dinner companions. My years in City Hall would include many more extraordinary occasions. Some would equal these events, but nothing would surpass them. 

I know I save way too many things, and at this stage of my life it's time to let go of a lot of them, but I'm thankful I had the presence of mind to keep a copy of this long ago press release to look back on forty years later. 

It's snowing in New York City right now and the prediction is it will keep snowing all through Monday and possibly into Tuesday. I feel for people who need to be working outdoors and I'm grateful that I'm staying indoors, warm and cozy. With the snow and cold, we need some Pink Saturday cheer and I'm sharing one of my favorite neighborhood  windows at Blooming Couture, a local florist.

Love seeing orchids in the winter

As ever, thanks for visiting. Take good care and keep cozy. 

Happy Birthday, New York Public Library

Happy 125th, New York Public Library (NYPL)

Buttercupland is delighted to join in the birthday celebration for one of the great institutions of the world, The New York Public Library. You may be doing research at one of the four research centers or borrowing books, movies or going to story hours at the 88 branch libraries throughout Manhattan, Bronx and Staten Island. You may be one of the seventeen million patrons of the library, or you're a frequent visitor to the on-line catalog to borrow e-books. For all of us, it's difficult to imagine New York City without the landmark building at 42nd Street, pictured above, or the wonderful branch library system.

It's hard to imagine New York without a library system, but the NYPL is a relatively recent addition to the city. It was formed in 1895 by a merger of two existing research libraries. The building we in New York refer to as "The Library," the main branch was completed in 1911. President William Howard Taft presided over the dedication ceremonies.

The branch libraries were created thanks to a 5.2 million dollar donation from Andrew Carnegie. The Carnegie funds would pay for the buildings and the city would be responsible for the operating cost of the libraries. Our 88 libraries were a small part of the 2,509 Carnegie libraries that were built throughout the world. One of the legacies of the Carnegie donations is the "open stack" system in most libraries. One of my great pleasures at the library is browsing the stacks. The open-stack system was introduced to reduce costs, but it also provided the joys of independent choice.

  My branch library, St. Agnes branch began as a parish library for St. Agnes Chapel on

 West 91st St in 1893. It was expanded to a neighborhood library in 1894. In 1906 it moved to its present location on Amsterdam Avenue. 

Yes, we are a Carnegie Library!

A copy of Andrew Carnegie's letter to the New York Public Library, 1901

I hope you've enjoyed our library birthday celebration. I always enjoy library visits and I know I learned a lot from this one. I've worked in three libraries -- the Hartford Public Library, and the libraries at Mount Holyoke and Dartmouth  -- and this is the first time I knew about the introduction of open stacks. Always something new to learn!

Now I'm going to spend the rest of the evening enjoying my latest library book, "Takes One to Know One," by Susan Isaacs. I'll be back tomorrow with an update on No-Spending January. 

As ever, thanks for visiting and please keep cozy! It's chilly out there.  

Pink Saturday Goes Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Broadway and West 73rd Street, Manhattan

 

 I was walking along Broadway after study group this afternoon with my friend, Nora. It was twilight and I looked to the right and saw this tiny park brightly lit and glowing. I asked if we could stop for a minute so I could take a picture. She replied yes, and added "I expect I'll see this in your blog." I told her I hadn't thought of using it, but since she asked for it, I would. As I continued home, I thought, "Why not?" I've been focused on capturing the iconic Christmas scenes in New York and was overlooking the beauty close at hand. So, tonight we take a Pink Saturday in my New York neighborhood.    

When I got home tonight it had gone from twilight to evening and the snow covered the street divider on Broadway. It set off the white lights that decorate the trees and made for a very local winter wonderland.
 

I took this picture on Friday at West 86th Street and Broadway, just a few blocks from the photograph above. I've probably walked by this store a dozen times in the last few weeks, but didn't notice the goodies in the window. But as I waited for the traffic light to change the t-shirt in the center caught my eye, "I'm only a morning person on December 25th." It's definitely true for me. Is this the case for my friends in Buttercupland?

"But the prettiest sight you'll see is the holly that will be

On your own front door."

When I started to write this post this phrase from "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" kept going through my mind. So I close this post with a photograph of holly from the grocery a few blocks from my house. It's not quite my own front door, but it's in a corner of my heart and world.

Tomorrow we return to the iconic sights of New York City with perhaps the most iconic. Any guesses?

As ever, thanks for visiting and have a weekend filled with blessings at your own front door.
 

A Walk in the (Central) Park: the Legacy of Olmstead and Vaux



Autumn in New York

I think one of the archetypal scenes of New York is Central Park in the autumn. Immortalized in movies, it's earned a place high on the list of places to visit during a trip to New York. Its 843 acres are set in the middle of Manhattan and form a serene center to the activity around it. Central Park was the first landscaped public park in the United States, authorized in 1853. It was designed by landscape designer, Frederick Law Olmstead and architect, Calvert Vaux.

There are summer Philharmonic concerts, Shakespeare performances and miles of jogging paths to enjoy. On a sunny afternoon -- these pictures were taken in November -- it is a beautiful place to enjoy what endless expanses of grass and trees, even in the biggest city in America.
 

Central Park is bordered on the east by Fifth Avenue and on the west by Central Park West, where I took these pictures. A fascinating added stop while you're visiting Central Park is the New York Historical Society, at Seventy-Seventh Street and Central Park West. It's one of my favorite museums, with a great restaurant and fun gift shop. I've enjoyed watching a featured movie on the history of New York, seeing the permanent collection, as well as the varied exhibitions. This poster advertises last fall's exhibition on the Battle of Brooklyn.  

If anyone notices I'm combining "O" for Olmstead and "P" for Park into one post for today's  A to Z Blogging Challenge. It's not quite the letter of the Challenge, but it is the spirit. I had trouble downloading some of the photographs I intended to use for "O," but I hope to do my original O post at a later time.

As ever, thanks for visiting and take good care!
 

Brooklyn and Beyond

The view of Manhattan from the Promenade, Brooklyn Heights

 

For our second day of Blogging from A to Z we're going to Brooklyn. When many visitors think of New York City they think of Manhattan, and only Manhattan. But New York City consists of five boroughs, Manhattan (New York County), Staten Island (Richmond County), the Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn (Kings County). It wasn't until 1898 that the City of New York as we know it today was established. Before that time the city had a very different configuration. Brooklyn is the largest borough in population, with Queens right behind.   

Another view from the Promenade. The Brooklyn Bridge (1883) is in the forefront and the Empire State Building is in the right background. 

 

If you're in Lower Manhattan visiting Brooklyn is as close as walking across the Brooklyn Bridge or traveling one subway stop. From Bowling Green in Manhattan to Brooklyn Borough Hall is a ten minute trip and so worthwhile. I took these two photographs after walking ten minutes from the subway. Some of the houses I passed on my walk date from the 1830's. I love Lower Manhattan and the bustle of Midtown, but there is a charm and grace to the quiet streets of this beautiful and historic neighborhood.

 

These brownstones on Willow Street were built in the 1830's.

During my walk in Brooklyn Heights I discovered this marker. It commemorates George Washington's headquarters during the Battle of "Long Island." But in Brooklyn, it's known as the Battle of Brooklyn.

There are many interesting neighborhoods in Brooklyn and each one has historic and culinary sights. I chose Brooklyn Heights for the fabulous views from the Promenade and the easy access to Manhattan. But if you have additional time in your visiting schedule I'd strongly suggest choosing another neighborhood and enjoying the sights of New York beyond Manhattan.
 

One of my favorite bakeries in New York City is Bien Cuit. It is in the equally walkable neighborhood of Boerum Hill, and produces some of the best bread anywhere. It also has excellent coffee and a charming garden area, which is a perfect place to enjoy the baked treats you will be unable to resist.
 

I hope I've lured you across the bridge to enjoy a visit to Brooklyn. We'll be returning tomorrow when we visit some of my favorite places in New York City at Christmas.

As ever, thanks for visiting!