Upper Manhattan Updates

A visit to Inwood Hill Park in September 2024:

The Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park:

St. Nicholas Park and Hamilton Grange:

We last visited during the moving of the house from Convent Avenue to the park. It went from this, April 2008:

To this a little over a month later in early June 2008:

To its spot in St. Nicholas Park:

An we finally visited it in April 2016:

United Palace in Washington Heights, first in 2004:

And then in 2022, when we saw a screening of Raiders of the Lost Ark:

Lin-Manuel Miranda interviewed Steven Spielberg about it as part of his Miranda Family Fund film series at United Palace:

This was the morning of Wednesday, May 27, 2020 on 125th Street:

(We made a separate November 26, 2004 page for 125th Street…)

Brooklyn Updates

A million years ago I had some friends who lived in an apartment at 245 Flatbush Avenue long before it was a Doughnut Plant (and I am virtually certain they weren’t paying anywhere near whatever it is alleged on Redfin or whatnot):

Aviator Golf Center Driving Range in Marine Park:

Bartel-Pritchard Square in 2005:

And 2024 (Pavilion Theater >> Nitehawk Cinema; whatever it was on that corner >> Chipotle):

Brooklyn Technical High School:

Ocean Wonders: Sharks! at Coney Island’s New York Aquarium:

The historic Child’s Restaurant on the boardwalk at Coney Island was a diamond-in-the-rough/work-in-progress for many years, culminating in a grand restoration that we visited in 2021. Not sure this establishment is still around but it was great to experience it in some fuller glory, first in 2004:

Then in 2007:

And finally in 2021:

Grace Church Brooklyn Heights:

North 5th Street Pier and Park:

Main Drag Music in Williamsburg:

Domino Park in Williamsburg:

Some before and after of the Refinery Building. First, 2008:

Then 2019 and 2020:

Phoenix, February 15-22, 2025

February 15, 2025

De-icing the plane at Newark:

February 17, 2025

The charming MacAlpine’s Diner & Soda Fountain:

February 18, 2025

Topgolf:

This was eaten at In-N-Out:

Sunset:

February 19, 2025

Spring Training was happening and we caught the open practice session at Camelback Ranch where new Dodger Roki Sasaki faced live batting practice for the first time:

There were like two dozen teammates watching each pitch:

Later, the Desert Botanical Garden and the striking “Light Bloom” installations:

February 20, 2025

South Mountain’s Telegraph Pass Trail:

A particularly interesting sunset:

February 21, 2025

First spring training game of the preseason at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick between the Diamondbacks and Rockies:

February 22, 2025

Early flight back home:

San Francisco Peaks from the plane: