A Week in Ocean City

A grand house steps away from the beach. (click on photos to enlarge)
TD and I are back from a much-needed vacation in Ocean City, New Jersey, where we rented a nice beach bungalow for a week. TD is from the area and his mother lived nearby so the idea was to spend some time with her but you may recall that she passed away very quickly in June. We were glad to go to Ocean City anyway and visit with his relatives and enjoy its spectacular beach.

Ocean City is actually an island located south of Atlantic City, which is also an island. Methodist ministers founded Ocean City in 1879, and the town is still "dry," with no alcohol sold within its borders. Ocean City is well-known for its big boardwalk, complete with an old-fashioned ferris wheel.

We stayed in the northern "garden district" where there are still many old homes like the big one pictured at the top of this post. Grace Kelly's family, which came from Philadelphia, had a summer home in Ocean City. Writer Gay Talese was born and raised in Ocean City, and owned a family summer home there until his wife, editor Nan Talese, unbeknownst to him, bought another weekend home in Roxbury, Ct.
We rented bicycles for the week, and enjoyed pedaling around looking at the  houses and gardens.

Some of the big family homes made quite a statement, but I also liked the smaller, simpler bungalows. Tendrils of green ivy were painted on the front of this charming cottage.

Many of the houses had awnings over the windows to keep the hot sunshine out of the interior rooms. Awnings came in many striped color combinations but I was drawn to those in tailored grey and white.

This grey bungalow had a handsome "pinstripe" awning, and the yard was surrounded by chic white impatiens plants. I personally like things to be simple like this; I don't like a lot of clashing colors distracting the eye.

We saw Ted's family on several nights, and it was fun to hear them recall old reminiscences. Every day we went to the beach which is long, wide and crowded with aficionados. Whole families, from great grandparents to infants, came down to the beach, with wagons and carts loaded with chairs, umbrellas, lunch, and all kinds of accoutrements. This community takes its beach-going very seriously!
A path to the ocean -

Stairway to heaven -

Clear skies ahead -

One day dark storm clouds rolled in but other than that we had good weather.

Lifeguards on duty -

TD pedals home from the beach -

On the beach at dusk – we are coming up on our 28th anniversary! 

The beach is always relaxing and restorative for us. And being with Ted's family, I learned more about him, even after all these years. It was a quiet, peaceful vacation; one of those places that was hard to leave, both physically and mentally. I hope you are enjoying these August days too.

A Trip to Fire Island, plus an iPhone Saga

Walking on the beach. Later I realized that is decorator Miles Redd in the light blue shorts 
TD and I were invited out to Fire Island Pines this past weekend to visit our friends David and Gary. You may remember we visited them last summer, and it was lovely to be invited back. They are wonderful, easy-going hosts and we have a very relaxing time.

The train out to Sayville on Friday afternoon was completely packed with summer travelers. At Jamaica we had to change trains. The conductor announced that we would be arriving on track 6. We were directed to cross through the train sitting on track 7 and board the train on track 8. Confusing! We pulled into Jamaica and several hundred people rushed along the platforms to make the transfer. I was ahead, TD was behind. I ran on to a car and found one seat. TD found a seat nearby. I sat down and reached into my pocket for my iPhone. No phone.

It fell out of my pocket on the first train.

I had just bought a new iPhone 5 because the microphone on my first phone was not working. Those things are so light and slim! It slipped out of my pocket. I told TD. I was crushed. Plus there is a sense of helplessness when you lose your phone, email, camera, photos and everything else that is on the iPhone.

In Sayville, we got on a little van to get to the ferry to cross the Great South Bay for Fire Island Pines. In the van, I borrowed TD's phone to call my phone. I was hoping someone found it and would answer. As I was holding TD's phone, it rang. It said "Bart is calling." It was a call from my phone. "Hello!" I said, "You have my phone." The guy said, "I found it on the train. Do you want me to return it to Long Island Railroad Lost and Found. No, actually, I want the reward."

"Ok," I said. "Can you give me your name and number in case the battery runs down on my phone." "No," he said. "Just call your phone back." He said to come to the Baldwin train station to pick it up. I told him I didn't know where Baldwin was but would figure it out and come for it on Sunday on the way back into New York. 

On Sunday from TD's phone I texted my phone and said we would be on a train in Baldwin at 5:30. The guy texted back: $50@5:30. Ok I said. I told him I would be at the first door of the first car for a hand off so I wouldn't have to get off the train and wait for the next one. As we approached Baldwin I was anxious. What if he hasn't there? What if he suddenly demanded more money? What if there was some sort of scuffle. "Spread out the money so he can see it," TD said. I took my bags to the door in case I needed to jump off. As the train pulled in to the station I braced myself at the door. TD watched out the window and said, "Here he comes, I see him." The doors opened. The guy was holding my phone in paper towels (no finger prints?). I handed him the bills and he gave me my phone. "Your security code is 1,2,3,4," he said. "What?" I said. The train doors closed. He had turned on the phone's Passcode Lock. I was very glad to get my phone back, and I will use the Passcode Lock from now on so that strangers cannot go through my phone.

In between the drama on Friday and Sunday, we had a great weekend!
Saturday the weather was beautiful and bright.

Volleyball game on the beach

A gorgeous garden along Midway Walk. 

For cocktail hour before dinner we went to Low Tea Dance at Sip 'N Twirl where fab DJ Lina Bradford was playing her favorites.

A blue whale on the boardwalk.

You can't help but have fun on Fire Island.
I can't believe it's now August already. Summer goes by so fast.
A hope you are having a good summer dear reader.

Hot City

Free yoga class in Bryant Park on a hot and humid night – that's a lot of yogis. (click on photos to enlarge)

Although we had a cold spring, we are now suffering in New York, along with the rest of the east, from a serious heat wave. It's too hot to be outside, which is a drag. The summer so far in general has been very hot and humid, and the air has been heavy with discomfort. I've lived in New York a long time and I don't ever remember it being this humid, like a tropical climate. I wonder, with the changes in global warming, if this is how we will live now. I don't mind heat and I like summer but I long for dry, light, crisp air.

One night when the heat abated a bit TD and I walked over to Madison Square Park which used to be nothing special but has been transformed into a lovely city escape on Fifth Avenue at 23rd Street. Danny Meyer's Shack Shake is located there, and we got a glass of wine which is served in a sculptural plastic glass that is shaped for holding with a notch for your thumb. Disposable chic. We had a seat on a park bench, and, delightfully, a free jazz concert soon started with a wonderful singer named Rene Marie. Everyone around was entranced by her music. The classic Flatiron Building, built in 1902, rose above the trees in the park. There was peace in the city. It was one of those unexpected magical New York moments.

Stylish cylists are now tooting around town on 6,000 blue shiney Citibikes, the new bicycle sharing system in New York City. I like this guy's casual shorts worn with dressy lace-up leather shoes. As a bicycler, I am a fan of this new program. I say more bikes in the city and less cars.



A cool place always to take refuge is the New York Public Library main branch at 5th Avenue and 42nd Street, the Beaux-Arts Edwardian pile which was completed in 1911.

The branch is now slated for a controversial renovation, and a group has just filed a lawsuit to halt the renovation. I really hope this library is not ruined.

Speaking of global warming, this delivery was a first. This pamphlet recently arrived in the mail from the Office of Emergency Management in response not doubt to last year's Hurricane Sandy.

Yikes.

A Weekend in Southampton

(click on photos to enlarge)
TD and I went this past weekend to Southampton to visit my brother Thom, his wife Karen, and their son Aaron. We have been invited to their home before and it is always a treat to go there. Especially this past weekend it provided a relaxing respite as TD's beloved mother Edna Dawson passed away two weeks ago in southern New Jersey. They were good buddies and best friends. She was a strong and independent 91-year-old who went to the gym regularly almost until the end, and she will be greatly missed. The funeral was held last Wednesday. You might remember that my mother passed away on Labor Day. In May, my father's last sibling, my aunt Eleanor Noonan passed away in Utica, New York. My aunt Molly recently passed away in Rochester. It's been a lot in a year and a half...

So this excursion on Friday was good timing. Southampton is a beautiful town – all green trees and grey shingle houses and imported cars. On Saturday afternoon, Aaron said to me Let's go for a car ride. He drove the convertible. Stick shift. As we traveled over the back roads, we passed big farms and produce stands. We were heading north, up towards Sag Harbor. Green hills untouched by developers rolled away in the distance. I really didn't know that the Hamptons were so rural. We got up around Sag Harbor and I could view glimpses of blue water through the green trees. We turned around and headed back. As we sped over the country roads it felt like we were flying through heaven.

My clothes for the weekend: blue.

A walk along Main Street in Southampton with its crisp, clean facades.

A riot of Lacroix color exploded out of a flower planter on Main Street.

Real estate + pansies

After dinner at the house TD took a relaxing swim in the pool.

The next day TD and Aaron played kadima on the beach.

TD went swimming in the ocean which is kind of still cold in June but refreshing, and I went in too.

A proper straw hat for a day in the sun.

There was not a cloud in the sky - just fine wisps feathering peacefully past.

The beach is always a healing and restorative place to be.

Big big thanks to our hosts.

Brian and Dan Got Married!

Dan Hantman and Brian Healy at their wedding reception (click on photos to enlarge)
I have known Brian Healy since he was five years old, when TD introduced me to friends and neighbors on Jane Street who have since became like family to me. The Healys are a busy and inspiring group – father Don climbed Mount Everest, cousin Nicole got married in New Hamsphire,  and in September sister Mary wed her partner Karima. Recently Brian happily married his partner Dan here in New York City. You can read their wedding announcement in The New York Times here. And, yes, supportive and accepting Don and Joyce Healy win the Parents of the Year Award.

The marriage ceremony was held at our church, Judson Memorial Church, on Washington Square South, and officiated by our senior minister The Reverend Dr. Donna Schaper. During the service, Gershwin's "For You, For Me, For Evermore," was beautifully sung by opera singer Jonathan Tuzo – you may remember when we went to Jonathan's Glimmerglass Opera House recital in Cooperstown. After the ceremony, guests progressed on to the reception held at The National Arts Club on Gramercy Park.

The National Arts Club promotes fine arts and serves as a private club for artists, collectors, and supporters; one of its earliest members was Henry Frick. The club is housed in a mansion which was built in 1845. Inside, visitors today find one of New York City's great interior spaces where dark wood walls, antiques, and artwork seem untouched from the nineteenth century. It offers a gorgeous trip back in time.
Here is a view of the bar -

Over the bar is installed a stunning domed ceiling of stained glass which was designed by John La Farge who also created the colorful stained glass windows at Judson Church between 1892 and 1910.

We wended our way through the big crowd

as a piano player entertained. 



We caught up with some friends - here we are with Brian along with Tom Meehan and his wife Carolyn Capstick. Tom is one of Broadway's most successful (and funniest) writers, having won Tonys for Annie, The Producers and Hairspray.

Lending some glamour: Nicole Parker King and Carrie Ashley Hill who sings and plays guitar in the Brooklyn indie rock band Desert Stars.

The late afternoon light was gently fading as dusk was falling which is my favorite time of day to be in an old-world room. During the violet hour, time seems to stop and everything becomes elegant and relaxed.

There was wonderful furniture

and art everywhere.

Soon it was time to move on to dinner.
And then dancing! Brian and Dan had a dance with their mothers

and later Brian and his sister Mary let loose.

TD and I enjoyed taking a spin on the dance floor ourselves.
There was a photo booth set up where guests could have their pictures snapped.
TD and I scrunching down to fit into the frame –

and me with Brian's mother Joyce.

Jolly good time. The day was a great and joyful celebration, and we were so happy to be there.
At the reception we dropped off a gift card for the boys which TD illustrated.

Inside the card, we wished them the very best for all the good things that are coming in their life together.