cities in pixie dust

Cities in Pixie Dust went to NYC for the weekend. On the agenda was much exploration, eating, drinking, and story-gathering. Nothing cultural or highbrow was accomplished, and as the editor made her way back home on the train somewhat hungover and pained this afternoon, she kicked herself in the ass upon seeing a sign for the Murakami show at the Brooklyn Art Museum. So CPD may have to get back up there for the day, on a well-behaved and more cultural type of visit before July.

On Saturday, we went to Roosevelt Island, formerly known as Welfare Island. This is a small island between Manhattan and Queens, and worthy of both a subway stop AND a tram. The tram is a pleasant but short ride from 59th and 2nd Ave. above the buildings where you get a pretty spectacular view. The subway ride (on the F line) takes you down in a tunnel built deep under the East River.

Apparently there is a historic Roosevelt Island Walk, which we traversed upon on this delightful April day. But there are no monuments or placards along this walk to tell you what makes it historic, exactly. So CPD and friends made up our own version of historic moments upon the walk. Paul Revere rode along the historic Roosevelt Island walk… Thomas Jefferson had a secret hideaway for one of his lovers overlooking the East River. Michael Jackson spent some time hiding out on the island after the tragic Pepsi commercial fiasco where his hair was set on fire. It was there he met his faithful companion, Bubbles.

The views of Manhattan from the west side of Roosevelt Island are pretty awesome. Also of interest are some curious sculptures by an artist named Tom Otterness, The Marriage of Real Estate and Money, which are mounted on rocks right in the water. The last of the sculptures shows a house getting clawed at by a lobster.

More views from Roosevelt Island here… more photos coming soon, and possibly some words too.