Class Sailing
A North U (university) sailing seminar looks something like this picture. Less than riveting. Looks aside the time spent was solid. It’s hard to learn sailing in a classroom or by reading a book.
Slip/Slide/Run the Brooklyn Bridge
As I toss on a few layers to run across the Brooklyn Bridge I’m guessing that my wife thinks I’m nuts. Given the weather. The fact she doesn’t say anything…at all…cements the POV. Yeah, we’re probably both thinking about the torn calf muscle last year and the 8+ weeks of rehap or… maybe not. Who knows really, it’s not worth asking.
Skiing New York @ Hunter Mountain
Escaped to Hunter Mountain in upstate New York for a quick ski lesson. I need all the help I can get so a quick day trip to follow-up on whatever was learned the last time I skied. The drive from New York City was a solid two hours and more with traffic (got Zip Car back late thx to traffic).
Fjällräven: Nolita Goes Outdoor
I’m a bit of a gear junkie so finding a new outdoor store in NYC was a Sunday highlight. The Fjällräven store was a little tricky to find. It’s downstairs and doesn’t yet have a sign. This Swedish classic is located 262 Mott Street between Prince and Houston, but again the important part is that it’s downstairs.
Skiing Lake Minnewaska
Another weekend and another warrior get-away: Lake Minnewaska (again). Didn’t have to go too far — Minnewaska is about two hours north of NYC, and at least there was snow. Rock and Snow on Main Street in New Paltz provided the skis, boots and poles for I think $17, and you can pick up virtually anything you need there for this trip or any trip really.
Minnewaska Quick/Fast
There aren’t that many good day hikes within an hour from NYC. But, one of the best is Lake Minnewaska. It’s year-round option with hiking, rock climbing, ice climbing, cross country skiing and camping all nearby. And the trail to Lake Awosting is just a bonus.
Meeting @ Merc Bar
Wow. What a turnout for a rainy Wednesday (12.2.2009). Hosted an event with my friends from LastExit.tv (Paul, Nuri and Willie) in an attempt to share connectivity all at once as opposed to one e-troduction at a time. Worked! Thanks to John McDonald at the Merc Bar for the perfect space down in Soho (my full attendee list below).
Gold Coast Ghosts…
Nothing like a good ghost story as the leaves change and the weather adds a chill. I went to visit Raynham Hall Museum with Executive Director Harriet Gerard Clark after a recent meeting in Oyster Bay.
Out on Shields 30
First time out this weekend on a Shields 30. Pretty exciting on a windy day. 4 boats (all Shields), 12 or so crew (one down for stitches after a boom/accident). Stepping on a boat you don’t know (especially for a race) is always a little nervy. You get about 10 minutes of instruction, given while you’re getting underway, over the noise of the wind, and then you’re off.
RunKeeper & the Brooklyn Bridge
Running the bridge is never easy for me. The loop itself is a little over 3 miles from my house. I never run with music, for no good reason, but I did start to run with the iPhone. With RunKeeper. I like the App mostly because it’s motivational. Seeing the days pile up or the missing days adds enough reward or guilt to push me out the door on several recent 40 degree NYC mornings. I think it was 46 degrees this morning when I took the picture.
Devil’s Path 1, John Pasmore 0
So went hiking up in the Catskills with the intention of camping with a buddy. After waking up at 5:30, and then driving 3 hours north we hit the trail a little late – 9:00ish on a chilly (50 degrees and falling) morning full of drizzle. Got a map and little advice from the Ranger Station and was onward and upward. Approximately an hour and a half into the woods my partner in this mini-adventure develops a not-so-mini 1.5 inch blister on his heel. Ouch. (Partial gear list to come as this was mostly a preparation/gear avoidable injury).
Little fog…little rain
Made it out to Oyster Bay, Long Island this weekend. Sailed (raced) a 1957 52 foot Rhodes (named Caper), more or less grinding on the jib and happy to have had the opportunity.
The boat has been restored to what I would consider immaculate condition. You can take a look at the entire fleet of Classics at The Oak Cliff Yacht Club site. Sailing these restored gems puts a bit of art back in sailing (and there is already a good bit) — the lines look better, you work a little harder (or a lot), and there’s just not as much focus on electronics…or there wasn’t today. And like turning the many (or any) screens we all have off, even for a few hours, is more of a relief than I remembered (and I like electronics!). No radar today, speed was down below and called out occasionally, but we were all just focused on the wind and its direction….toss in a little rain and a little fog and it was perfect. (Pictured above are Don standing, and Jeff working the Main, I’m on Jib and took the picture, we’re trailed by two other classics in today’s race — there are a couple of shots of Caper & some of the Classics up at Flickr)
More Music…
Quick post on new (and old) music. Balmorhea is a Texas alt-folk band coming to NYC on March 2nd, Burial has had every accolade and deserves it, this still anonymous dubstep producer from London makes an entire CD make sense, and Max Richter creates modern classical music that’s worth listening to. Am stuck on his Maria the Poet (1913) that is centered on Marina Tsvetaeva. Hard track to find. Even NYC’s formidable OtherMusic couldn’t help. Imeem has it as does my still favorite, last.fm.
Not So Sunny Seaport
South Street is a throwback to New York’s seafaring roots. Today’s “storm” was a chance to get out into an empty City, and the Seaport is a short walk from home.
The week was full of Imus and the continued drum beat for the War in the Middle East with Democrats threatening to somehow cut the flow of funds, which doesn’t seem to me the best way to bring the boys home, so to speak. Lots of loud voices and important subjects.
But Sundays are a treasure. One day to reflect when lately there are six others full of activity. The rain is welcome in that respect. Watched the movie Baraka, and it’s a great reminder that there is still much mystery in who we are and why we’re here.
Wall Street Journal’s Reign?
The Weekend Journal, (Friday’s version of the Wall Street Journal) is usually an innocuous read; movies, unaffordable real estate and some light lifestyle fare. Reading the review of Adam Sandler and Don Cheadle’s new movie, “Reign Over Me” was pretty lightweight until Joe Morgenstern shares his opinion that, “Refreshingly, race doesn’t enter into the picture; the script is color-blind.” Refreshingly?
Don Cheadle’s role has been referred to as the “magic Negro” in other reviews, using Spike Lee’s term for a Black person that shows up magically only to help the white protagonist. Refreshingly?
Zidane @ The Guggenheim
Saw Zidane, the movie at the Guggenheim Museum. I loved it. The event was sponsored by Adidas. The movie features one of my favorite bands, Mogwai, another “post rock” outfit from the UK. They are a perfect fit for the movie. The film was shot with 17 cameras, all focused on one man, Zidane, during one match. I’ve owned the soundtrack (purchased) for a while. The film is singular in its focus, and depending on what you can read or see within a “game” it either has much to say or not.
