My review of Harlem Meer is also a tribute to the sweetest owl, Flaco…read more First, let's talk about the Meer..the Meer and the area around it was one of the last parts of Central Park to be built; a swamp was transformed into the 11-acre Meer. It is located on the northeast corner of Central Park, between 106th and 110th Streets. "The word "Meer" is Dutch for "small sea," and the name reflects the Park designers' interest in unique names for the Park's water bodies. It also connects to the area's past, once part of the Dutch village of Harlem. This artificial lake was created on the location of a tidal marsh that was fed by a creek that extended south to the Harlem River. " "Charles A. Dana Discovery Center was built on the north shore of the Meer as part of the restoration. More recently, the Lasker Rink area near the Meer was redeveloped into the Davis Center, a new facility that includes a year-round ice rink and pool." On my recent visit, I was stoked to finally visit the swimming pool but it was closed; prepping for winter and turning into the rink. The Meer hosts picnics, fishing ( catch and release only, the seasonal Pumpkin flotilla and many other activities. How and why did I fall in love with this area? There was a little owl who lived in a cage in the Central Park Zoo. One day, a visitor dismantled his cage and the owl escaped. That night, he was spotted in front of Bergdorf Goodman by several members of the police trying to catch him. But, he was too smart for them and escaped again. The next day, he was spotted in inside park @79th Street. But, being an Eurasian owl, Flaco, aimed higher. He settled into the North Woods. My friend Rochelle and I were mesmerized by him and visited him often. Flaco was a brilliant and curious owl. He was spotted in the Meer. Why? He loved watching the construction of the new pool( Davis Center) and caught his dinner there, rats! I have included pictures of Flaco sitting atop a Komatsu watching the construction and of course looking for rats. I have beautiful memories of Flaco and because of him, falling in love with the Meer and Harlem. It is my most favorite part of Central Park. Flaco was the most beautiful owl I have ever encountered. When I visit the Meer I visit his most favorite tree, time and time again.. More to come!

Come over! Enjoy the Spring with emerging new flowers and local wildlife! Love Harlem Meer! Once…read morediscovering the Northeast corner of Central Park years ago, it has been one of my favorite places to visit year-round! Now living next to it, I regularly come to here walk and sit. The lake with its boathouse is the perfect place to reflect, especially if you appreciate wildlife. I enjoy that it's less touristy, more local park feel. Some people come to fish, but remember it's only catch and release. Although regularly you'll see all types of birds, my favorite animals to watch are the turtles - especially when they head to land or rocks to sunbathe! Harlem Meer's Boathouse houses the Dana Discovery Center, an environmental education center and info point. Under construction is the new Davis Center, with a new state-of-the-art pool and rink to replace the dated Lasker Rink and Pool, will have it's Opening Day Celebration on April 26th with programs starting at its Harlem Oval public green and its Gottesman Pool scheduled to open in June. This renovation will also enable a connection between the lake and water features in the North Woods park section, styled to be a rustic forest like the Adirondacks. The southern Meer shoreline is also getting a well-needed redesign. If you make it here, adjacent to Harlem Meer's southern tip and Fifth Avenue 106th St. entrance is the Conservatory Garden, an amazing place especially from March to October when there are coordinated blooms across 3 well-maintained formal gardens, just fully available after renovations! While Harlem Meer in a more naturalistic setting has the fauna, the Conservatory Garden truly features the flora. The northernmost French section, immediately adjoining Harlem Meer, includes a fountain and trellaces immediately connects through the newly reopened Italian section, with its own fountain and pergola, to the amazing southernmost English "Secret Garden" section - with the widest flower selections and hidden fountain. Replanted Crabtree Allées divide the three. It's all a worthwhile extra stop once to a Harlem Meer visit!

Lovely area of central park if you want to take a stroll around the pond when it is filled with…read morewater. In the winter months they take the water out. In the warmer months they have an activity on this pond where you can race little boats. There are two coffee shops in this area too. One of them has a little area where you can sit and enjoy your coffee, tea or whatever your drink of choice may be. There are benches around the water for people to sit and relax.

Conservatory Water, Central Park - Conservatory Water has a very pleasant, family-friendly…read moreatmosphere and reminds me of peaceful parks in European cities. The small lake, model sailboats, and benches create an ideal place to relax. It is a tranquil corner of the park where visitors can sit, watch children and families, and momentarily forget that they are in the middle of bustling New York City.

This is a cute pretty park located in the back of the Museum of Natural History. Some people may…read morenot realize there is this park here. I just recently realized it was there and I walk by there alot. Great place to hang and just take in the air especially on a nice day. There are no playgrounds from what I saw and it's on the smaller side. Nice little area to walk around in.

A cute little small park with flowers next to the the Museum of Natural History and across from…read moreCentral Park. It's the park to whet your appetite for parks. There's a Nobel Statue, and I saw the cutest little dogs. If you're in the upper west side and had a heavier meal, I would walk around here.

Finally. Years ago I…read moregave up trying to visit this enclosed bird sanctuary. Their opening hours were ridiculously restrictive and their group-only reservations hard to get. I'm not sure when, but their schedule is now very approachable, and everybody can get in with little to no wait. Somebody before me wrote that once you are inside this beautiful green space, it doesn't even feel like being in New York City. I'll add that it doesn't feel like being in Central Park, either. When this section of Central Park was created, this promontory was left wild on purpose (read about this in the picture I uploaded with its history). I'm not much of a bird watcher, but supposedly, this can be a wonderful place to watch these creatures. However, you don't need to be a bird passionate to enjoy this green space: towering trees, rugged boulders, clear vistas and even a waterfall (seasonal) make this a true gem to walk around. Paths are kept clean and dry, so you don't have to worry about getting your shoes muddy. They do specify that no more than 20 people at a time are allowed inside. However, I happened to drop by on a Tuesday afternoon around 4p (with gorgeous weather) and didn't have to wait to get in (nobody was at the entrance gate to check, so I'm not sure how they can reinforce this rule). Hours are advertised as follows: 10 AM to 30 minutes prior to sunset 7 days per week. Year round Hours are weather permitting and subject to change due to maintenance No more than 20 visitors may enter at a time. Visitors must stay on the trails at all times. Dogs, bicycles, skateboards and rollerblades are not permitted. Carry out what you carry in. There are no trash cans in the Sanctuary.

It is a jungle out there !…read more Well you can make believe a little in Central Park. Birds can fly anywhere so what they did here was limit the park pathway, put a gate and less and open spaces to hopefully make the birds think they escaped the hustle and bustle of the city. Let me tell you some birds are real smart and can't be fooled so easily but they do appreciate the extra green. And if you suddenly got Bird watching fever after seeing a Nat-Geo TV show well you can come here with binocular in hand and hope you get lucky and spot a bird you don't see everyday in NY.

Hernshead is a beautiful area with beautiful views of the city. I spent time there relaxing with my…read moresnack on May 7th, 2021. There were a lot of people out this beautiful day. There's plenty of rocks to climb where you can sit by the water. I sat in the Hernshead Boat Dock. It was near the dock that I took a photo of the turtles. You can take a walk along a stone pathway and end up at the Ladies Pavilion. The whole area is clean, relaxing, and a new favorite of mine now. I'm recommending you visit ASAP.

One of those hidden spots in Central Park which is actually in plain sight…read more The views are beautiful. The setting is serene. The placement is picture perfect. Like a classical painting you find in a museum. Bring some snacks, a drink, maybe lunch and perch yourself on the big rock overlooking the lake. View the ducks waddling by, the rowboats with couples on a romantic excursion, perhaps a wedding at the nearby Ladies Pavillion, and take some terrific pictures of your time there. Chill out and relax. It's the place to do so.

Great Lawn is gorgeous. What a beautiful blessing to have this much green space in the city. When…read moreit's nice out the whole park fills up - you have people sunbathing, parents out with their kids, groups of games of catch or softball - it's beautiful.

It was a special moment for me here at the Great Lawn in Central Park. Both my parents were in town…read moreto visit me, and it was a special feeling to show them my stomping grounds for the past 3 years. We went to Citarella, got a bunch of ingredients to make our own charcuterie board, and just had a DAY. I'm at the age now where my parents are more friends than parents, which is a beautiful phase of life. We dug into our build-your-own charcuterie and people watched, took naps, and just enjoyed each other's company. Central park never ceases to amaze me, as it provides such a breath of fresh air right smack in the middle of the busiest city in the world. So grateful for Nanc and Steve. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

Against all odds, I recently turned 30. Other than a minor battle with sciatica (which I won),…read more I've never felt better. I saw a statistic this morning while doomscrolling that said "95% of adults over 30 years old will never sprint again." My blood began to boil. A rage flooded my prefrontal cortex. I refuse to be another statistic. I got out of bed, put my Keens on, and started a brisk jog towards The Pond at Central Park to beat every last odd. I set my phone down on a small hill, put it on 0.5x, and pressed record. I jogged around the corner out of the frame, my blood pumping with anticipation. I gave myself about 10 yards to hit full sprint form before I would pop in frame. Right as I was bending the corner and hitting a stride indistinguishable from a 2008 Usain Bolts, I saw an off-leash dog running toward me. I pulled up. I didn't want to steamroll someone's innocent dog... I realized shortly after that this was Big Walking trying to stop me from achieving my dream and ascending into the 5%. I jogged back to do another take. This time, if a dog popped in my lane, I was prepared to run through its chest. My Granny would get hit-sticked if she got in my way on this attempt. Once again, I bent the corner and hit top speed. The brisk 37 degree air was hitting my face as I damn near broke the sound barrier. I felt alive. I felt free. I did it. IG @johnny.novo Tiktok @jnov__ Substack @johnnynovo

A wonderful touch of nature while in the city. Truly a natural oasis. You'll often find can come…read moreand relax, while standing or sitting near the water. Or go for a leisurely walk. You will not be disappointed. Central Park is truly amazing.

One of the highlights of living on the UWS is the Riverside Park and one of the best things about…read moreRiverside Park is the 91st Street Garden! They have some fantastic volunteers who keep this garden beautifully maintained year round and it's so beautiful that you'll see families, friends, and just about everyone try to pose for pictures with the garden in the background. Huge kudos to the volunteers for maintaining such a beautiful garden and it's on top of the railroad tracks so you can see and hear Amtrak going through.

You'll love 91st Street Garden near Riverside Drive inside Riverside Park…read more Sometimes I pack a lunch and wear my comfortable shoes to walk to the West Side of Manhattan. When I get to Riverside Drive at 96th Street I head South. I pass many interesting and photo worthy places. There's gardens and playgrounds. I took special notice of the gardens on 91st Street. It's best in the Spring. If you missed this beautiful stretch of Riverside Drive, in addition to the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial and the Riverside bike path, you may see people working in this lovely community garden. This garden's claim to fame is that it was used as a backdrop in the 1998 film "You've Got Mail." After being cooped up during the pandemic I may use this garden as a destination for my next adventure in the near future. When you visit the area I suggest you stop to smell the flowers.