Rained Out

Why let rain stand in your way? It may have kept everyone else indoors today, but a cute umbrella and busting out my "new" vintage boots were the perfect excuse to skip out into the cool weather and do a little wandering. The slight chill in the late morning air was hinting towards autumn, so my excitement and desire to be outdoors was heightened ever more. August is here, which means that my favorite months are just around the corner. It's almost time to get the booties and long layers out of storage...

Hip to be Square

I know I've already posted some photos of Union Square Greenmarket this week, but I had this whim to stop by after work Friday as well. It's nowhere near the size or diversity of Central Park... but for some, it is the perfect place to relax on a bench under the shade of trees, listen to the sounds of bids and people walking by, have a drink or snack from the ever-present Greenmarket, write, read, and lay in the sun. Or, for the more social, head to the Broadway side of Union Square, to play or spectate in some highly competitive games of (traditional and giant-sized) chess. Kick a ball around, dance like no one's watching, and just take a moment to let the city pass you by, without even coming close to leaving. It's one of the wonderful places that makes even myself love city life. 

Just walking up the subway steps into the park, and I already feel relaxed and happy. 

                                 

Picked up a few samples and snacks from the Greenmarket for lounging in the grass

                                 

This little lavender dove befriended me, and hung around while I wrote some haikus and soaked up the late afternoon's last rays.

                                 

                                 

I definitely need to brush up on my chess game before even attempting to jump into a match with one of these guys!

                                 

Market Months

New York is chock full of amazing markets in the summer months. Local farmers, purveyors, artists and producers band together in different locations every day of the week to bring the concrete jungle a little bit of the gifts of the great outdoors. Immeasurable physical and social benefits in less than half of a city block, right at your fingertips.

This summer, I've challenged myself to avoid grocery stores. Other than purchasing non-grocery supplies, I haven't set foot in a "real" grocery store since the warm months began to give way to these bountiful outdoor markets. Seasonal, fresh, fruitful... what's not to love? My greatest feelings of accomplishment stem from making a really simple, delicious, amazing meal out of my semi-weekly finds.