Nature in the city is always surprising to me. I’m used to the crazy weather in Ithaca, but when thinking of New York where any type of bar, restaurant, clothing store, or really any sort of experience, is less than a few blocks in any direction, I secretly imagined that the weather would be as controlled as Manhattan’s grid. Dashing to studio in the rain or seeing skyscrapers disappear in the mist has been a reminder that this insulated city is still part of a larger landscape.
Still, it also has its pleasant side. From where I live in Park Slope it is only a 5 minute walk to the Olmstead – designed Prospect Park, which is great for jogging, people watching, and free concerts and movies. On the park’s smaller trails it feels like being in a nature reserve, without a single building in sight. The plentiful farmers’ markets are another highlight that takes me back to Ithaca. The funny thing is that in the city even these are completely convenient, with one at Prospect Park and another around the corner from studio at Union Square. Most days on my way to school I pass tomatoes of all colors, fresh apple cider donuts, and a honey stand that often draws a swarm of bees.
I expected New York to be different from Ithaca, but the main difference is that its wide variety of options even includes many of Ithaca’s “unique” attributes. Still, Ithaca should be safe as long as it has its gorges.