080329 Walk
This was one very long day, adding up to about 12 straight hours on my feet (today’s date, 080404).
Interesting/silly facts about today’s walk.
Route: Vestry St. & Greenwich Ave. (Tribeca) to Canal back to Vestry and up West St. (the Henry Hudson Parkway or Westside HWY) to Javits Center on 34th St. (& really the McD’s on 10 Ave. & 34th, then back to Javits)
Start / Finish Time (approx.): 12:50pm to 3:20pm (not including the Auto Show)
Weather: Cold, mid 40’s, sunny (enough so, that I got a slight burn on my face) and very breezy (making it much cooler than what 46 should feel like)
Mileage (approx.): Actual 4.37 (Not including the Miles at the Auto Show)
Photos Taken: 332+ (139 Walk + 193 Auto Show)
Money Found: $.02 (& $.01 at the Auto Show)
My day really started earlier than stated above, because I had to get to where I had volunteered my services distributing food boxes with Angelfood Ministry. The van shows up at Vestry & Greenwich to distribute the food to those in need or those who just want a bargain on pretty good food. Once, we were done, I departed and headed east to Hudson Street and then north towards Canal. I wasn’t really sure what route I was going to take, it was between going up Greenwich Street or along the river (West St.). Wanting to conserve on photos and battery life for the Auto Show later, I obviously chose walking along the river. There was less to see, but it was much more scenic.
I got to Canal and headed west where I came across a few interesting buildings, 3 really new and 2 very old 2-story houses (or shops). I enjoyed the juxtaposition. I remembered that I wanted to shoot the store front of one of the buildings across from where we were distributing the food. So I went back south on Washington Street shooting a few images along the way and got the ones I wanted too. So instead of back tracking again, I just headed directly west to West Street where I headed north along the river.
To the south, off in the distance I was able to see the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and Jersey City and Hoboken, New Jersey (or Jersey) across the river. Paralleling West Street, and more so the Hudson River, there is a bike, running and pedestrian path. This became my route for the day. I walked above the Holland Tunnel, you could see all 4 ventilation towers, 2 (maybe 3) of which are in the river. There are a quite a few piers and a couple of them double as riverside parks. They are quite attractive spaces, I especially liked the tent-like structures.
There were a trio of newly constructed residential towers that caught my eye, not just because they were beautiful in a simple and modern way, but for the details (not great, but nice touches), especially at the balconies. Too bad the construction was pretty shoddy. Crossing the street to see them closer, I saw a delivery bike…just take a look at the photos below for what he was delivering and how the items get delivered……well, I thought that it was interesting, anyway.
I passed the Meat Packing district, but not before passing the pier that was the temporary home of the Nomadic Museum for Gregory Colbert’s photographic works (back in 2005). The space was designed by world reknowned architect Shigeru Ban using shipping containers and paper (cardboard) tubes. I also passed Chelsea Piers. These set of piers has a driving range, bowling alley, ice rink, health club/gym, indoor soccer fields, basketball courts, gymnastic gym, and many other amenities.
In front of Chelsea Piers a poor young woman was lying on the path with an ambulance and park rangers/care-takers aiding her. From what I was told, she had fallen while rollerblading. It definitely looked like she was in pain. I think she had a friend with her. I felt really bad for her, especially since the authorities were stopping and diverting the path’s traffic to attend to her, putting more attention on her from those passing by. I paused trying to figure if there was a way I could help, but figured I would be in the way. So, I said a prayer and kept going.
Around the mid to upper twenties, I decided to call Momar (Mamar). As I am talking to her a helicopter slowly passes overhead. The pier I was on at the time was about 100 yards south of a heliport. It was really fun to watch them take off and land. Most of the flights today were probably tourists taking in the city from the air…something that sounds like a lot of fun. They also carry business persons, but less likely on the weekends.
I also passed the Westside Rail Yards, where the trains (MTA, NJ Transit and Amtrak) are stored and where the tracks from Penn Station head west. This is where the Jets wanted to build their new stadium a few years back (’05) and recently was awarded to a developer to build 16 million square feet of office, retail, and residential space.
The Jacob Javit’s Convention Center is this large black glass building between 11th and 12th Avenues and 34th and 39th Streets, and houses the NY International Auto Show every spring. I have been to every one since I moved to the city, even when I had little to no extra money to spend (my one splurge at the time). I passed up Javit’s so I could grab a bite at McDonald’s, the closest place that accepted debit card for food. After eating and more so resting, I head back to the Auto Show, where I officially ended my walk. But I wondered probably another 3 miles looking at shiny metal bodies of design and engineering inside. I spent the most time with the Minis. There were some nice exotics and concept vehicles this year.
Though the walk was over once I went into Javit’s, to go home I had to walk along 36th from 11th to 8th Avenue to catch the nearest subway. Thankfully I got a seat on the train and was able to catch the E train taking me to the east side, catching a bus going north.
God Bless,
Brant
Auto Show Photos
