A Grand Time

For five glorious hours on Saturday, NYC closed most of Park Avenue (yes, the Park Avenue) and a couple other streets to auto traffic as part of its Summer Streets program. One of my all-time favorite views is of Grand Central Terminal from South Park Avenue and the weather was as rare as the opportunity, so DH and I simply had to investigate.



We had a grand time. The south approach to Grand Central is normally restricted to cars only – it was beautiful to see people making their way up the incline on foot, on bikes, and even in wheelchairs, all grinning. Life in a great city is often tinged with the sublime; that is, the built environment can be as awesome, exhilarating, and terrifying as a Bierstadt landscape. Some flee it, but for others the chance to experience it car-free is not to be missed. Summer Streets continues on August 15 and 22, and we hope to be back for more.

Then again, this week it's turned hot, hazy, and humid all at once, like the very worst of summer crammed into a few days. It could be a good time to check out more on the esthetic of the sublime at an excellent exhibit at The Newark Museum.

Cycling back to bicycling, I've been knitting prezzies for some of my bike buddies. Here's a Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark, knit of Grand Rapids-dyed Yarn Hollow Elemental yarn for Kelly.



The yarn is hard to photograph – most of the time it looks cedar green, but sometimes it has a purple cast, rather like an artichoke. Silver strands add a glimmer too subtle for my poor digicam to capture.

   

And here's a pair of Bike Helmet Ear Warmers by Amy O'Neill Houck, knit of Araucania Ranco Solid for Michael, who abandoned forgot left his bike lock in our car. Let's hope the earwarmers, which fit over the straps of a bike helmet, prompt him to set a good example and wear his helmet. (Gentle readers will understand that when it comes to bike helmets, nagging = caring.)



Finally, for stbyra, who left a question on the previous post but no contact info for a response, my clear clogs are a special version of Sloggers clogs. I bought 'em at Loopy Yarns in Chicago and have seen them on occasion at fiber festivals and online.