Free Macaroon Day!!!!

My reaction when I saw this was simply... "um, WHOA!!" Now if you aren't strolling in the parks, out for hike or don't have another rad activity planned for tomorrow here is an awesome suggestion:

Macaroon Day NYC 2010 -- They have so many different participating locations you could easily enjoy the nice weather by planning a walking tour between some of the best pastry shops in the city! And hey, if you are participating in all that hiking, cycling, running, walking and adventuring you are going to needs your strength... Macaroons might just provide the sugary boost you seek! It looks like supplies might be limited so get there early.

And if you haven't ever tried a Macaroon before... you REALLY need to. I highly recommend the rose macaroons from either Madeleine or Maison du Chocolat. And yes, I have been told in the past that the ones from Maison du Chocolat are made from the same recipe as the ones in Paris. YUM

And as of tomorrow at 1:32 PM-- HAPPY SPRING

Walk the High Line

 

Image courtesy of islandwoo.com 

March has begun and the weather is getting warmer... spring seems to be arriving. This weekend's highs are predicted to be in the upper 40's, so take the opportunity to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Now, I assume most of you have heard about the High Line which runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street between 10th and 11th. There are even entry points to the park if you can't manage the stairs. This is a great flat walk with fantastic views of the City, the River and New Jersey.

Sadly they don't allow dogs. There are also no bikes, skateboards or skates allowed.... however, this also makes for a very calm and relaxing promenade. 

For more information check out The High Line's Website.

Freshies in Central Park

Right now Central Park, and for that matter all the other incredible parks in New York, are blanketed in all of this fabulous white stuff… SNOW! 

There are so many ways to enjoy the parks during the winter. The first one happens to require no other equipment then your own two feet and uses one of New York’s best and most well known resources, Central Park. And at 834 acres, there is plenty of Park to explore, in fact if you decided to walk all the paths in Central Park you will have walked approximately 58 miles!

Right now Central Park happens to be blanketed in 7 inches of blissfully white snow. Just walking in the park at this time of year is idyllic enough. The sun glistens as it reflects off of the snow, bridges (there are 36 bridges and arches in Central Park), buildings and lampposts.  There are also many statues in Central Park, Wikipedia lists 29, though they don’t mention my favorite one. If you are interested in seeing some of the more popular statues try a self guided walking tour. There are several free options. The central park conservatory offers 10 different walking tours year round. If a group tour isn't your bag, try the download-able walking tours from CentralPark.com. 

There are some notable hills for sledding in the park. There is a rather tame hill by the Met at 84th Street, and another tame one as you enter the park at 81st Street on the West side. This particular picture was taken on a very short hill on the back side of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Some of the bigger hills are Cedar Hill and Dog Hill both on the east side at 79th and 72nd Streets respectfully. Snow ball fights often break out on the Great Lawn and fields and there are always impressive snow men to be seen. What are your favorite places to go sledding in the City?

The Bridle Path is also great for those of you who love to cross country ski or snow shoe! They don’t salt or plow it. So you don’t have to be out there on the day of the snow storm in order to get in your fix. The Bridle Path is over 4 miles long (the Reservoir Loop is 1.65 miles, the North Meadow Loop is 1.1 miles and the Southern Spur is 1.5 miles) and it has plenty of rolling hills, so it a great place for a good workout.

Picture courtesy of The New York Times

So for now: get out there and enjoy all that gorgeous white stuff!

Run for a Good Cause

It seems as though Haiti has been on everyone's minds and hearts lately. So many people have already donated their money and time to help a nation in critical need. Here is another opportunity to help and to be active at the same time!

Run for Haiti - A 4-mile race taking place in Central Park starting at 9:00a.m. with kids races taking place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 20. Perhaps, best of all, its a double qualifier for those of you NYRR members who are hoping to qualify for the 2011 NYC Marathon. Online registration closes tonight at 11:59 p.m. So why are you still reading?.... Get going!!! Click here to register.

I'll be out there Saturday morning cheering you all on!!