I write a lot of reviews about parks. When I started Yelping, I was a full-time dad with the best job on the planet: my daughter was one, going on two, and I was her chauffeur to the universe, that all-enveloping, extraordinary, terrifying, delightful thing we call Life. I was also pretty connected to this thing we call the Internet. It was the rabbit I pulled out of my hat, that trick up my sleeve that unveiled local joy. Truth told, I'd lived in the Duke City the better part of 15 years and I honestly didn't think the place had much to offer either of us. And I didn't find much on Yelp, either.
What followed, during that year with my daughter, were endless reviews of places I found as I toted her around the city on my bike, with the occasional drive to the Balloon Museum, indoor soccer field or hiking trail. I reviewed all of 'em with abandon. I felt like I had an obligation, as a parent, to share what we experienced. (You can find many of these reviews on my Lists, specifically "Kids Rule the 505" and "Kiddo Files: Parks".) It's a tough gig, the ol' full-time parent thing, we're always looking for something to do that doesn't involve a television screen. Yelp was, and continues to be, my best resource for parents.
I know I'm late in the game discovering Hyder Park, but it's my favorite new locale on Tuesday nights. The irony is thick. In this supposedly inter-connected digital landscape, this little slice of green grass and towering trees (ooh! tall shady things!) crafts something we call Community. Food trucks, music and people. It's that simple, and the place is a blast. Beginning at about 4pm, the white folk descend in droves. (They're really open-minded and indiscriminate, promise.) The good times roll until around 8pm. Kids run wild, parents connect and take a load off, and if only for a few hours, this city looks a little like Portland. And it's free! (Including the yoga, 5-6pm. Don't think I'll be partaking in that there stretchy stuff, though.)
Don't let the white people thing scare you off. Grab your calendar, virtual or paper, and pencil in Hyder Park as your Tuesday night place-to-be. It's glorious. read more