• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
/
April 17, 2009

A Lazy Afternoon on the Upper East Side

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

I was up early today. My new venture got me up and working out before 8:00AM (which is early for me), and without the kids. When I done, I was full of energy and inspiration for the day. I had a list of things we could do and imagined how well it would all work out with my being up so early.

However, the kids woke up sick. Sneezing and sniffling, tired and even a bit whiny. The 3.5 year old had a fever the night before, so he was still recovering. Thus, our day out would have to be left for another time.

We did manage to venture out in the ‘hood for a bit, but nothing like what I would’ve normally done on a day like this.

For example, it wasn’t too long on a beautiful day like this the family and I decided to take a trip to our old stomping grounds of the Upper East Side.

When people think of the UES, even most New Yorkers included, they think of “The Nanny Diaries” or of it being the socialites’ haven, and yes, this is in part some of what one can find, but that has changed a lot and the UES we grew to love and know was more laid back, with young families like ours.  I love the vast selection of bars and restaurants, both for entertaining out of town guests and for a night out with or without the family.  The shopping is fun and I loved taking my friends down Madison Ave. just to window shop.

We used to live on 82nd and 2nd which for us was absolute perfection. Walk a few blocks West and you were on the steps on the Metropolitan Museum and Central Park, walk a few blocks East and you were on the East River Promenade. It was heaven, and then they moved to WI.

When we last visited it was one of those fine New York City days. Sunny, not too hot, not too cold. We ventured onto the promenade right on 82nd street. Families were smiling, children running and playing. Before the younger ones were born, coming here and watching the smaller dogs play in the dog park was a pass time favorite.

img_38211

img_3822

img_3823

img_3846

img_3847

The promenade extents up the East River and is a wonderful place for walks or even runs, as I used to often do back then.

The little ones enjoy Catbird Playground. We love the size, how they have the play areas for the little ones separated from the play area for the older kids, with seating areas for the parents with perfect a view of the children. The only thing I don’t like is that the bathrooms have only one stall each, which during potty emergencies can be somewhat of a problem.

img_3825

img_3830

img_3832

img_3831

img_3833

The boys had a great time. They climbed and rolled and slid and swung. They even managed to find some chalk and got creative.

img_3841

img_3844

img_3837

img_3834As often happens, the hours flew while the kids played and ran around. They became hungry and we headed out to grab a bite. The problem isn’t finding a kid friendly place in the area, but rather choosing from so many! We settled on Dorrian’s. Dorrian’s a local bar/restaurant where the staff is welcoming of family with kids. There was plenty of for our umbrella stroller, and we were given a great seating area snuggled nicely against the windows (for fire truck watching) and away from the bar. They have a great “bar food” menu of burgers and sandwiches, and a tasty kids’ menu as well.

img_3855

img_3851

img_3849The atmosphere is delightful. It was quiet, the cool breeze coming through the windows was refreshing, and the boys behaved wonderfully the entire time, flirting with the sweet waitress each time she came to our table. Afterwards, the boys and my husband split a frozen yogurt from Pinkberry before making we made our way back uptown.

img_3856

The city is filled with these “hidden” playgrounds and parks. Sometimes it just takes getting off the beaten path a bit to enjoy them as the locals do.


Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
2 Comments
  • Mommy Kennedy
    April 17, 2009

    Hi NyCityMama! Happy to have met you on Twitter! Looks like you had both a beautiful and frugal day out!

    Reply
  • Jeanne
    April 25, 2009

    I love your blog! I miss going to NYC and enjoy touring through your posts!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Vacationing in Madison, WI
Next Post
Carnival Fun at Queens County Farm

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe54 Post(s)
  • North America318 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

Carol Cain

Contact

  • caincarol@gmail.com

Follow @girlgonetravel

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! @travisjcain will be painting MARK YOUR CALENDAR! @travisjcain will be painting a beautiful new mural at Elmira’s Mural Fest this year (weather permitting on Saturday, if not on a less rainy day)! Last year he painted this board which was recently on display still at @communityartselmira. 

Hopefully we have a sunny day and you can come out to support Travis and all the muralists that day! See you there!

#elmirany #painter #artist #communityarts
Sometimes it’s like I never left. #newyork Sometimes it’s like I never left. 

#newyork
SHOUT OUT to our oldest, @davidacain_, who carries SHOUT OUT to our oldest, @davidacain_, who carries with him the entrepreneurial spirit he’s inherited from his parents. 

While successfully working in supply chain management for a global corporation based in NYC, he continues to manage and operate his own product, @getcalma, a comforting heated eye mask that is currently on the Amazon top seller list for two years in a row and has a growing consumer following! 

We are so incredibly proud of David and his growing success as an entrepreneur and in his career, and know the future will continue to be bright for him!

To learn more about Calma and make a purchase, visit his website at GetCalma.com. 

#proudmomma #getcalma #entreprenuer #smallbusiness
The time has come to move on from my role as a bar The time has come to move on from my role as a barista at @the_garage_at_rye and towards my next adventure. 

I started this journey with a curiosity for a craft I admired and wanted to learn more about. It turned into a job. Then a serious passion. And now here I am, launching Café Cómodo (KOH-moh-doh), which means “Comfortable/cozy” in Spanish, a pop-up café serving espresso and seasonal drinks at local farmers markets and private events! (@cafecomodony)

Starting yet another business was never my intent…and yet, I fell further in love with the craft, the industry, and the culture.

I owe so much of what I have learned to @seschieber, who took me under her wings and taught me so much (and still does) and who embraced my nerdiness and eagerness with patience and kindness….and in the process became one of my dearest friends. Working alongside her has felt like winning the golden ticket. She further instilled in me a respect for the craft, the industry, and a commitment to always strive for a quality product, even in a world of Dunkins and Starbucks. 

Grateful for @abbdawes, @hannahmariee93, and Amanda who tolerated my clumsiness at the start while I fumbled my way through the register and the various drink recipes!

I wasn’t sure where this journey would lead, and as I look back at these clips I realize how much I have changed in the process. It’s not always a place that impacts you, but rather the people in it.

I will miss the regulars I’ve gotten to know whose names and drink orders I memorized and who I looked forward to serving. 

I’m so grateful for everything I learned, beyond just making coffee, because I know it will help me to further grow as a leader, an entrepreneur, and a team member wherever I go and in everything I do next.

I won’t miss the dark morning wake ups and long drives before sunrise though! 

I’m proudest of myself for wanting to develop a new skill and ✨DOING IT✨ even when it felt awkward, nerving, and impossible. I hope you will follow me on this next chapter and come say hi at the market (and hire me for your next event)!

Thank you to Charlie Hunter, owner of The Garage for this opportunity.

#coffee #cafe #popupcafe
Recently took a moment to slow down and enjoy the Recently took a moment to slow down and enjoy the sounds of this beautiful place I call home. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #upstateny
Barista training = Trial by fire. 🔥 This is the Barista training = Trial by fire. 🔥 This is the way. 

@shellyk_025

#baristalife #barista #coffeeislife

Copyright © 2025 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice