Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Part 1: Hear Great Jazz on a Budget at 5 Clubs in NYC



(photo: Evi Abeler)
By Jacquelin Carnegie – (New York, NY)
Baby, when it’s cold outside, jazz will warm you up. And, when it’s too darn hot, jazz will cool you down. New York’s known for its big jazz clubs—the Blue Note, the VillageVanguard, and Birdland. But, you can hear great jazz in several smaller, more affordable venues.

THE BEST CLUBS FOR GREAT AFFORDABLE JAZZ

Downtown:
Small's Jazz Club
183 West 10th St.; Tel: 212/252-5091; 
(Open: Daily, 7pm-4am; Cost: $25-$35 cover; students $10; 1 drink minimum; Get here early!)
Small’s is indeed a small, low-key venue that’s especially popular with jazz musicians themselves. After playing their own gigs, they come here to groove to the sounds of their compatriots and, occasionally, even to sit in on sets. There’s drinks, but no food.
Mezzrow (163 West 10th St.) Small's also runs Mezzrow, a nice jazz piano lounge, right down the block. (Live stream shows from both clubs for free.)
Zinc Bar
82 West 3rd St., btw Thompson & Sullivan; Tel: 212/477-9462; zincbar.com
(Open: Nightly, 6pm-3am; Cost: $25-$35 cover; 1 or 2 drink minimum)
This very nice space puts a spotlight on Brazilian, Caribbean, and Afro-Cuban jazz. There’s a pleasant bar area, where there's no cover, or sit at tables closer to the action.

The Django
The Roxy Hotel, 2 Sixth Ave, btw Walker & White St; Tel: 212/519-6649; http://www.thedjangonyc.com
(Open: Nightly; Cost: $35 cover, plus a 2 drink minimum per person)
Downstairs at The Roxy Hotel, The Django jazz club has a very cool, yet welcoming vibe. Fantastic musicians, plus drinks, cocktails, and a full menu. There are two featured performances each night, 2 sets per show. (1st performance: sets, 7:30pm & 9pm. 2nd performance: sets, 10:30pm & 12am.)

Midtown:
The Jazz Gallery
SFJAZZ Collective (photo: GA-Photos)
1158 Broadway, at 27th St., 5th fl; Tel: 212-242-1063; jazzgallery.nyc
(Open: Wed-Sat; Sets: 7:30pm & 9:30pm; Cost: $20-$35*)
This is the place for serious jazz aficionados. No food or drinks are served, just pure listening pleasure. The Jazz Gallery moved into this space in the hip & happening Flatiron/NoMad district, after many years downtown. (*Become a member or get a JazzPass for even cheaper tickets and special deals. Also, Live Stream some shows for a moderate fee.)


Smalls, jazz guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel  
Jazz Bulletin: To find out what’s happening on the jazz scene in New York City on a regular basis, check out: HotHouse Jazz & The New York City Jazz Record. But, jazz clubs are not the only place to hear great music. Discover several unique venues to enjoy jazz on a budget in Part II.

Saying Goodbye: COVID dealt a blow to several wonderful venues including the off-the-beaten-track 55Bar and Harlem's famous jazz hangout, Showman’s, opened since 1942. We bid a fond, but very-sad, farewell.  

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Côte Fleurie: Cabourg & Honfleur, France – Proust & Impressionist Painters

Honfleur, Vieux Bassin ©SMA76T.LeMassonBanningLover












By Jacquelin Carnegie
HONFLEUR: SOAK IN THE BEAUTY
“A ravishing port full of masts and sails, crowned with green hills and surrounded by narrow houses”--this is how the famous author Victor Hugo described Honfleur in the 19th century--and it’s still so today.
Honfleur is another truly-lovely town on Normandy’s “Côte Fleurie” (Flowery Coast) that has been a favorite of artists for centuries. Spend some time in the heart of town admiring the Vieux Bassin (old harbor), lined with 16th- to 18th-century houses, and you’ll understand why.
Have a plateau de fruits de mer (seafood platter) at one of the charming cafés. Try some local, apple-brandy Calvados and delicious Normandy cheeses. Then, stroll along the winding, cobblestone streets stopping into quaint shops and art galleries. But, be sure to visit these sites:

An Inspiration To Artists
Claude Monet, Impression, Sunrise (1872)
Musée Marmottan

It’s thought, among many art historians, that Impressionism originated here. The artist Eugène Boudin, born in Honfleur, was Claude Monet’s mentor, introducing him to en plein air (in the open air) painting--working outdoors rather than in a studio. In 1858, when Monet was just 18 years old, Boudin coaxed him to paint the nature around them--clouds, sun, the seashore--and the way objects changed according to the fluctuating daylight. Boudin’s plein-air style was also an inspiration to many future generations of artists who flocked to Honfleur from Georges Seurat, the founder of Neo-Impressionism (Pointillism), in 1886 to Raoul Dufy in 1928, who credits Honfleur as the place he found his own, true painting style.

Musée Eugène Boudin
Place Erik Satie; https://tinyurl.com/54bry8bk
Eugène Boudin, Summer at Trouville (1890-94)
Musée Malraux Le Havre

Honfleur, the inspiration for Impressionist and pre-Impressionist masters such as JMW Turner, Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Gustave Courbet, Édouard Villard, Johan Jongkind, and Claude Monet, was also the birthplace of Eugène Boudin.
This lovely museum houses a splendid selection of Boudin’s artwork along with a collection of paintings of Honfleur and the Normandy coast done by other prominent, 19th- and 20th-century artists. There are also displays of vintage photographs, tourism posters, antiques, and changing, temporary exhibits.

Maisons Satie
67 Blvd Charles V; https://tinyurl.com/p73p9y8r
Maisons Satie ©Florian Vimont

Honfleur is also the birthplace of Erik Satie, an acclaimed, early 20th-century, avant-garde composer and musician. Satie worked with composers Debussy, Ravel, and Stravinsky as well as with artists and writers such as Picasso, Braque, Cocteau, and filmmaker René Clair. The museum provides a whimsical, surreal way to experience his art and music collaborations.

Église Sainte-Catherine
Place Sainte-Catherine
©OTC Honfleur

St. Catherine's is such a unique church. Constructed by shipbuilders in the 15th century, it’s made entirely of wood. The interior resembles the hull of a ship with many decorative, nautical details. It’s thought to be the largest, wooden church in France.

Being There:
Eat: Lots of great places to eat
(try the oyster bar Entre Terre et Mer).
Stay: There’s everything from B&Bs to luxury hotels.
Cruises: The Seine River meets the sea at Honfleur, so it’s a port-of-call for both riverboats and small, ocean liners. If you enjoy cruising, it’s one way to get here. However, as beautiful as Honfleur is, on the days the cruises arrive, the town is often overrun with tour groups. If you find this a bother, check cruise dates with the Honfleur Tourism office, so you don’t arrive when they do. 
***

CABOURG: THE BELLE ÉPOQUE COMES TO LIFE
Famed author Marcel Proust vacationed in Trouville in his younger days. But, when his pals in Paris’ social circles moved on to Cabourg, another magnificent seaside resort on the Calvados coast, so did he.
During the Belle 
Époque, Proust summered in Cabourg from 1907 to 1914, drawing inspiration for his literary masterpiece, the seven-volume, À la Recherche du Temps Perdu (In Search of Lost Time).

La Villa du Temps Retrouvé
15 Ave du Président Raymond Poincaré; villadutempsretrouve.com
(Open: March-Nov; Guided tours are offered in French & English)
La Villa du Temps Retrouvé

While the Belle Époque era (1870-1914) is over, you can experience what it must have been like with a visit to this marvelous house-museum. The rooms’ décor evokes the style of living that Marcel Proust and his pals (and his novel’s characters) would have been accustomed to. Through the Villa du Temps Retrouvé’s immersive experience, you get insight into Proust’s creative process and his sources of inspiration from paintings and photographs to books and music, to period furnishings and objets d'arts. And, with the use of innovative technology, Proust’s world comes to life. It’s a nice way to journey back in time to France’s “Beautiful Age” on the Côte Fleurie and to learn about the artistic and intellectual circles of the Belle Époque.

Grand Hôtel de Cabourg
Les Jardins Du Casino; www.grand-hotel-cabourg.com
(photo: JCarnegie)

From 1907 to 1914, Marcel Proust spent his summers here in Room 414. In Volume II of À la Recherche du Temps Perdu (In Search of Lost Time), À L'Ombre des Jeunes Filles en Fleur, the seaside resort “Balbec” is none other than Cabourg. The narrator of the novel stays here with his grandmother for the summer—doesn’t that sound nice? Splurge and stay here yourself. Or, if that’s out of the budget, at least stop by for tea. Try the hotel’s special: “Le Gouter Proustien” (tea with madeleines).

Getting There:
To get to Cabourg &/or Honfleur, take the fast train (TGV) from Paris to the Trouville-Deauville train station (2hrs). Then, a taxi, Central Taxis Deauville (+33 2 31 87 11 11), about 20 mins in either direction. Or, a bus, NomadCar Bus #20, to Cabourg or Honfleur (about 30 mins). Or, drive. It’s around 2 hours from Paris to Cabourg/Honfleur on Autoroute A13 or meander along discovering other lovely areas of the Normandy region on the way. 
Eugène Boudin, Boats and Breakwater, (1890-97)
Musée Malraux Le Havre
Nearby Jaunts:
Visit all the towns along the “Côte Fleurie” Calvados coastline such as Deauville & Trouville. And, while in the Calvados area of Normandy, perhaps visit a distillery or do the Calvados Expérience in Pont-l’Evêque. (Pont-l’Evêque is also the name of a famous Normandy cheese which you can buy in the area or, if curious, tour a cheese maker, Fromagerie E. Graindorge.)

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Côte Fleurie: Deauville, France - Glamour, Horse Races, Fashion & Film

By Jacquelin Carnegie
Deauville Beach (photo: Béatrice Augier/inDeauville)

Deauville is a beautiful, ritzy, seaside resort on Normandy’s “Côte Fleurie” (Flowery Coast). It’s been an upscale, holiday destination since the 1860s, when Dr. Joseph Olliffe, a physician to the French & British upper class, along with his pal, the Duke of Morny (Napoleon III’s half-brother), basically put Deauville “on the map” with the help of their rich, investor-friends. 
Life’s A Beach: It’s amazing what vision paired with money and influence can produce. In a few short years a railway line from Paris was laid. Grand hotels were built. Swank beach-bathing facilities were installed and posh horse races began. In 1911, a grand casino was built. In 1923, the Promenade des Planches, the now-famous, wooded
(photo: Delphine Barré Lerouxel/inDeauville)
boardwalk paralleling the seaside, was created. Deauville became one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in France, and has remained fashionable to this day.
But, while posh Parisians still come for the sporting life and chic boutiques, the horse races cost only a few Euros, the American Film Festival is open to the public, and the beautiful, wide, sandy beach is accessible to everyone.

THE RACING LIFE
Hippodrome de Deauville-La Touques (Racetrack)
45 Ave Hocquart de Turtot
Hippodrome (photo: Scoopdyga/inDeauville)

Since it opened in 1864, the Hippodrome has attracted the top international trainers and jockeys, and an elite clientele to watch the crème-de-la-crème of racehorses run. But any horse-racing enthusiast can enjoy some 40+ regular races throughout the year as the tickets are only a few Euros. (It’s even possible to place a bet, if you know how to pick’em.) There’s also a second track Deauville-Clairefontaine (Route de Clairefontaine) and a renowned training center. If you prefer polo matches, some of the world’s best teams play here in August as the Deauville International Polo Club, founded in 1907, is one of the oldest in France. Before the renowned Deauville-La Touques racetrack was built--thanks to the Duke of Morny--horse racing took place on the beach. The horses are still brought here at dawn & dusk for workouts as the sea water is good for their legs.

SHOPPING IN FASHION
The town is chock-a-block with high-end, luxury stores such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, and Ralph Lauren. This is fitting as Coco Chanel opened her first clothing boutique here in 1913. Brought to Deauville by Boy 
Capel, her English, polo-player
beau, Chanel admired the fishermen’s mariniere (striped shirts) and the polo players’ knit-jersey sweaters. To stay warm and comfy, she borrowed clothing from Capel--a striped shirt, a knit sweater, a pair of pants--causing a sensation. But, she was sure that other women visiting the resort area would want comfortable clothing, too. Chanel then designed a line of prêt-à-porter, loose-fitting, knit garments; basically, launching a new clothing category: “chic sportswear.” The rest is fashion history and it all started here.

CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Les Franciscaines
145 B Ave De La République; lesfranciscaines.fr
Les Franciscaines (photo: Moatti-Riviere)


It’s worth coming to France just to experience Deauville’s newest cultural center--Les Franciscaines. Housed in a magnificent building that once was a Franciscan convent, the beautifully-restored facility is now a unique combo of: museum, library, médiathèque, snack bar, cinema, lecture hall. In short, the absolute, coolest place you’ve ever hung out. The architectural makeover is stunning, the décor is sublime—each area is color-coordinated and theme-related. Oh, yeah, there’s an art collection of over 500 paintings. And, temporary exhibits, and photos. Also, workshops for kids & adults. Or, you can just sit there and read a magazine. Either way, you won’t want to leave.

Deauville American Film Festival (Sept)
Johnny Depp/Catherine Deneuve
(photo: Deauville American Film Festival)

This prestigious festival began in 1975 to promote American cinema and attract American and European screen stars to the area. 24/7 Screenings: Over the ten days, film screenings are held 24 hours a day. There are several categories such as: “Premieres” - screenings followed by Q&As with the creators; “Competition” - presenting indie films; “Uncle Sam’s Docs” - documentaries about American life; & “Window on French Cinema.” (Get a Day or Festival Pass to see great cinema and lots of celebrities!)

LIFE IS GRAND
In 1912, to continue attracting chic Parisians and British high society, Deauville opened two Grand hotels in the Normandy, timber-frame style: Hôtel Barrière-Le Normandy Deauville (38 Rue Jean Mermoz) and Hôtel Barrière-Le Royal Deauville (Blvd Cornuché BP). These lovely, luxury hotels continue to welcome an international, elite crowd along with movie stars and other celebrities. It’s worth
Le Normandy (photo: Group Barrière)
the splurge to stay at one of them but, if not in the budget, just come by to enjoy a delicious, afternoon tea or evening cocktail; sit in the lounges and gawk.
Right between the two hotels is the Casino Barrière de Deauville (2 rue Edmond Blanc). You can tempt “lady luck”, but you don’t have to be a gambler to spend an evening here. There’s an elegant, little theatre--a replica of the Petit Trianon at Versailles--where classic & contemporary dance, concerts, musicals, and even one-man shows are performed.

Other Sports Activities:
For duffers, there are world-class, golf courses such as the Golf Barrière Deauville & the Amirauté Golf. For swimmers or just anyone who enjoys a soak without having to go into the ocean, there’s the Piscine Olympique de Deauville (Blvd de la Mer). Two pools filled with heated, purified sea water. Like spending a day at a spa at a fraction of the cost. There’s also great sailing.
Porte Bassin Morny (photo: Naiade Plante/inDeauville)

Where To Stay: In addition to the aforementioned Grand hotels, there’s a range of accommodations to select from in Deauville and the surrounding area.
Getting There: Take the fast train (TGV) from Paris to the Trouville-Deauville train station (2hrs). Or, drive. From Paris to Deauville, it’s around 120 miles/194 km (2hrs) on Autoroute A13 (with tolls) or meander on back roads discovering other lovely areas of the Normandy region along the way.
Nearby Jaunts:
The “Côte Fleurie” is a succession of lovely towns on long, sandy beaches along the coastline of the Calvados area in the Normandy region. Visit all the towns such as Trouville, Honfleur & Cabourg.

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Côte Fleurie: Trouville-sur-Mer, France - Seafood, Spa Treatments & Splendor

By Jacquelin Carnegie
Trouville villas (photo: Bertl123/Shutterstock)

It’s hard to say which is the prettiest town on Normandy’s “Côte Fleurie” (Flowery Coast), but Trouville is a contender. Even though it’s right next door to Deauville, it feels miles away, almost Mediterranean—bright, colorful, lively.
Trouville-sur-Mer was just a little, fishing port when Charles Mozin, a young Parisian artist, came to stay in 1825. He fell in love with the picturesque setting, the light, and the unspoiled natural scenery. An exhibition of his Trouville paintings in Paris enticed other artists to come to this scenic locale. Ever since, painters, writers, and vacationers have come to stay. Most of the things that impressed them in the 19th century are still here today—the beautiful beach, the magnificent villas, the freshest seafood, and the delightful ambience.

A PICTURESQUE PLACE
In addition to the beautiful quality of the light and the glorious beach, another alluring feature of Trouville is the fantastic architecture--splendid villas, built in the mid-19th century in different styles, ranging from Louis XIII to Neo-Classical to Neo-Italian, Neo-Moorish and even traditional Normandy, timber-frame. They’ve miraculously stood the test of time. The only change: several former, fancy hotels and single-family homes are now split up into apartments. Admire these lovelies as you wander around town:

La Tour Malakoff, Eugène Boudin
Villa Sidonia - One of the few villas to still belong to one family. Tour Malakoff - Artist Charles Mozin once lived in this castle-like villa. Villa Des Flots – Formerly-owned by the Eiffel family. Villa Persane – Marcel Proust was a frequent guest when the villa belonged to Princess de Sagan, who inspired a character in his novel, À la Recherche du Temps Perdu (In Search of Lost Time). Les Roches Noires - In the late-19th century, the Hôtel des Roches Noires was the most elegant hotel on the Normandy coast. Marcel Proust and international aristocracy stayed here. In 1949, it was converted into apartments. (The renowned author Marguerite Duras owned an apartment here until her death in 1996.) Villa Montebello – Built in 1865 in the Second Empire style for the Marquise de Montebello, it’s now Trouville’s museum.

IN THE MOOD FOR SEAFOOD
Halle aux Poissons (Fish Market)
152 Blvd Fernand Moureaux
(photo: JCarnegie)

At heart, Trouville-sur-Mer is still a picturesque, fishing port. Small, old-style trawlers go out for scallops and shrimp and various saltwater fish (sea bass, mackerel, sole, turbot) then head straight back into town. Hence, what’s on offer at the stalls in the famous “La Poissonnerie,” the covered fish market on the quay, just came off the boats. Tables are set up, so you can order a “plateau de fruits de mer” (seafood platter) right there. You couldn’t get a fresher catch unless you dove in the water yourself. This “Marché aux Poissons,” a national heritage site, is open 7 days a week, all year round.
Also on the quay, try the famous brasseries: Le Central (158 Blvd Fernand Moureaux) and Les Vapeurs (160 Blvd Fernand Moureaux).

“TAKING THE WATERS”
In the 19th century, the upper classes became preoccupied with their own well-being. To assuage their fears of frail health and disease, going to spas--with
(poster: H. Gray/Henri Boulanger) 
warm, medicinal, mineral springs and therapeutic bathing—became de rigueur. By mid-century, physicians began touting the curative qualities of fresh air, exercise, and sea bathing. European elites beat a path to the beach, making “villes balnéaire” (seaside towns) and “sea cures” all the rage. What made the resort famous in the 19th century, is still popular today, combined with the latest advances in “wellness” care.
Les Cures Marines - Hôtel & Spa 
(Blvd de la Cahotte) - The French have perfected “Thalassotherapy” treatments--the use of warm seawater, algae, seaweed, and alluvial mud--for restorative effects. (Thalasso is Greek for “sea.”) At Trouville’s The Purist Retreat & Spa, the benefits of sea water are combined with the latest techniques along with massage, fitness & relaxation exercises, nutritional assessments, and beauty treatments.

AN ARTISTIC HAVEN
So many artists have come to Trouville to paint magnificent seascapes and other seaside scenes: Eugène Boudin, Gustave Caillebotte, Corot, Paul Huet, Eugène Isabey, and Claude Monet. More recently, the eminent poster artist
Raymond Savignac was an enthusiastic resident until his death. (The Promenade des Planches boardwalk along the ocean, constructed in 1867, is now called Promenade Savignac with several of his posters on display.)
On the Beach at Trouville, Claude Monet (1870)
Next came writers in search of solitude and inspiration. When Alexandre Dumas showed up in the 1830s, he declared the village: “the most picturesque in Normandy.” When Gustave Flaubert arrived in 1836, he fell in love--with an older married woman, who became a character in his stories. (There’s a Flaubert statue by the casino.) Marcel Proust stayed here many times in the early 1890s as a guest of friends in various villas and at the Hôtel des Roches Noires. Proust greatly admired Trouville’s long beach and the Belle Époque villas and manor houses. Many of the places he stayed and the people he met became the inspiration for characters and locations in his famous novel, À la Recherche du Temps Perdu (In Search of Lost Time). Several of Marguerite Duras’ literary and film projects were conceived here. From 1963 on, she came every year to stay in her apartment in the former Hôtel des Roches Noires (a long staircase leading down to the beach is named after her). Creatives are still coming to chill and be inspired. But anyone would thrill to holiday on the “Reine des Plages” (Queen of Beaches) as Trouville’s stretch of sand has been known for centuries.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT: CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & MORE
Art & Sea Views
Villa Montebello
Musée Villa Montebello (64 Rue du Général Leclerc) - The museum is housed in this magnificent villa up on the hill with great views out over the water. Learn more about Trouville’s history as a “ville balnéaire” (seaside town) through the collection of paintings, prints, photographs, and temporary exhibits.
Galerie du Musée (32 Blvd Fernand Moureaux) – A gallery dedicated to the poster art of Raymond Savignac.
Here’s a selection of other cultural activities.
Les Jeux Sont Faits
Casino Barrière de Trouville (Place du Maréchal Foch) - When the casino opened in 1912, it was the largest in France. Today, there are slot machines, board games, a poker room & even electronic games. Or, just come to see the splendor, have a drink at the bar or dine in the restaurant.
A Fist Full Of Festivals
Several festivals to choose from; this is an annual favorite: 
Festival Off-Courts (Sept) - a very-popular, Franco-Quebec short film festival.
Some Sports Activities:
(poster: Savignac)
 
Lots to choose from such as surfing, kayaking, boating, etc., plus:
Trouville Tennis Plage – What could be better than playing tennis at the beach on faux-grass courts!
Complexe Nautique – Both an indoor & outdoor pool, open in season, right on the beach.
Wander Around
The word in French is “flâner”--just stroll around town. Check out the little side streets and the Rue des Bains, with all sorts of boutiques with local goods and shops full of regional specialties. The Trouville App might come in handy.
Where To Dine: There are several choices of restaurants on the quay, in town, and along the beach as well as tapas bars, wine bars, and tea & coffee shops.
Where To Stay: You’ll find everything from luxe accommodations to quaint Airbnbs.
Villa Persane

Getting There: Take the fast train (TGV) from Paris to the Trouville-Deauville train station (2hrs). Or, drive. It’s around 120 miles/194 km (2hrs) from Paris to Trouville on Autoroute A13 (with tolls) or meander along discovering other lovely areas of the Normandy region on the way.
Nearby Jaunts:
Visit all the towns along the “Côte Fleurie” Calvados coastline such as Deauville, Honfleur & Cabourg

Monday, July 1, 2024

6 Ways To Experience The Great Outdoors Right in New York City

By Jacquelin Carnegie
photo: Courtesy Church of  St. Luke
For New Yorkers, the “great outdoors” could be just a rooftop bar or a stroll along the river—Hudson or East. Here are some cool places to hang out:

MANHATTAN

A Secret Garden
Barrow St Garden - The Church of St. Luke in the Fields
487 Hudson St (at Barrow St); 
https://stlukeinthefields.org
(Open: Mon-Sat, 10am-dusk; Sun, 12:00pm-dusk)
“Right smack dab in the middle of town/I've found a paradise that's trouble proof.” No, not up on the roof, but in this hidden-gem of a garden in the West Village. The Church of St. Luke in the Fields was built in 1821 and the first planting in this delightful garden was in 1842. How wonderful that this pretty place of “respite and quiet contemplation” still exists in this skyscraper-mad city. Food is allowed, but smoking, alcoholic beverages, and cellphones are not. Do stop by and be enchanted. (Afterwards, stroll along Hudson St from Barrow to 14th St. There’s any number of eateries, great for dining &/or people-watching.)

Great Entertainment
Little Island
Pier 55, West 13th Street on the Hudson River, NY; https://littleisland.org
(Open: Daily, 6am-12am; Free admission; some concerts & events require paid tickets, other are free.)
Little Island (photo: Michael Grimm)

The latest edition to Hudson River Park is the loopy Little Island—like a Disneyland ride without the ride! There are several, terrific “vista points” and an outdoor food court. But the best part is all the wonderful entertainment for adults and kids in the magnificent amphitheater overlooking the Hudson and in the lovely, smaller venue, The Glade.

BROOKLYN
An Army Post Open to Civilians
US Army Garrison Fort Hamilton - Interpretive Trail
Harbor Defense Museum, 230 Sheridan Loop, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY
For centuries, to protect New York harbor, there were fortifications in each borough. Now, Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn is the last active Army Garrison Post in New York City. On the base, in Bay Ridge on magnificent grounds overlooking the Narrows tidal strait, there’s a 10-stop Interpretive Trail of special interest to history buffs that can be visited by the public. Of particular note, is the last stop: a marker to honor the Marquis de Lafayette, a Major General in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.
Ft Hamilton, Lafayette Marker (photo: J.Carnegie)

How To Visit: Arrange a free, guided tour of the Interpretive Trail thru Fort Hamilton’s Harbor Defense Museum, Tel: 718/630-4349;
https://tinyurl.com/3tr9wyx3
Visitors must have 2 forms of ID (State or Federal) to access Fort Hamilton. Enter thru the Main Gate, at the end of Fort Hamilton Parkway at 101st Street, for a background check at the Visitor Control Center.
Getting There: Subway: R – Bay Ridge/95th St, then 5-minute walk to Fort.

Take A Walk On The Wild Side
Newtown Creek Nature Walk
Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY; https://tinyurl.com/cs7taxn2 (Open: Dawn to dusk)
Newtown Creek (photo: J.Carnegie)

This is an outing only for the brave—a true mix of the beautiful and the ugly. On the one hand, the actual walkway, designed by artist & “environmental sculptor” George Trakas, is magnificent. On the other hand, what you’re looking out onto is the Newtown Creek, one of the most polluted waterways in the U.S, and Whale Creek, what I refer to as “scrap metal gulch.” However, almost unbelievably, the overall concept is aesthetically pleasing: ship-inspired design elements, historic granite slabs, native plants, and unassuming “artworks” such as stone circles, under a Honey Locust tree, engraved with place names used by the Lenape people, who once inhabited this area. So, take a walk on the wild side to experience this exquisite ½-mile walk within this gritty setting.
Getting There: Subway: G - Greenpoint Ave. Use the Greenpoint/Manhattan Ave exit. Walk east on Greenpoint Ave, take a left on Provost St, walk several blocks down, then take a right onto Paidge Ave & you’re there; about a 20-minute walk. (The Newtown Creek Nature Walk is right next to the Wastewater Treatment Plant!)

QUEENS
Skyline Views
Gantry Plaza State Park
Long Island City, Queens, NY; https://tinyurl.com/y46bta92 
Gantry Park (photo: Courtesy SWA/Balsley)

This lovely spot is easy to get to by subway or ferry, yet you’ll feel transported. Right on the East River with fantastic views of the Manhattan skyline, there are several sections to the park located on a former dockyard. In fact, the name “Gantry” comes from the restored gantries–-gigantic structures that once transferred railcars onto rail barges. In summertime, there are often concerts and other fun events.
Getting There: Subway: 7 - Vernon Blvd/Jackson Ave. Walk west 2 blocks to Gantry Park. Or, NYC Ferry

Farm Living: Right in the Heart of the Big Apple
Queens County Farm Museum
73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, NY; Tel: 718/347-3276; www.queensfarm.org (Open: Daily, 10am-5pm, Free)
(photo: Courtesy Queens County Farm Museum)

Once upon a time, New York City was all woodland and farmland. Even up to the 1920s, there were some 800 farms within the city limits. Now, only one working, historical farm still exists. So, grab the kids and head to Queens. This 47-acre farm, established in 1697, has lots for youngsters to enjoy from farm animals to hay rides. Adults, who like to cook, will thrill to the heirloom produce available at the farm stand (May to November) and other goodies at the farm store. Throughout the year, there are several, fun, family-friendly events.
Getting There: Subway: E/F - Kew Gardens/Union Turnpike, then #Q46 Bus (eastbound on Union Tpk) to Little Neck Parkway. Cross Union Tpk, walk north on Little Neck Pkwy, 3 blocks to Farm entrance. LIRR: Port Washington Line to Little Neck station, then taxi or Uber (5-10mins).