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Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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April 29, 2009

Tale of Two Brothers in Neufled Playground, Riverside Park, NY

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Another hot, sunny, pseudo-summer day in NYC.  I looked outside my window and saw the street vibrant with people in shorts and summer dresses, entering and exciting shops, eating ice cream, and enjoying the sun’s heat.  My boys, on the other hand, were busy undoing whatever organizing I had done, getting on each other’s nerves, and a little bit on mine as well.

I decided I had enough and dressed the kids in shorts (amazing that I found any that fit, the warm weather had caught me by surprise and before I had done any shopping for them), and we set out to the park.  Initially I thought to head to Central Park.  I envisioned us having a picnic on the Great Lawn and playing ball in what I suspected would be an uncrowded field.

However, as I made my way down Riverside Drive (not sure why I decided to drive instead of taking the bus which is faster), I noticed the trees along the drive hovering over the lanes, covering the sky with their greenery.  It seemed like an image out of a fairy tale and I didn’t want to leave it.

Bikers and runners made their way along the Greenway, and boaters docked their sails at the Boat Basin on 79th Street, and this is where I thought it would be best to let the boys run off some steam.  The air was heavy, as the humidity started setting in, and the sun was relentless, but the boys couldn’t run into the park any faster, immediately playing ball and chasing each other around.

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img_47473We walked past the lawn off of 77th St where New Yorkers sunbathed and read, relaxing away from the busy-ness of the city.  I had hoped to sit for a snack with my boys in this very spot, but they instead found their way to the playground and all the other kids there.

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The Neufeld Playground was filled with kids on school trips and younger ones with the moms or caregivers.  The sprinklers aren’t on yet, and won’t be till after Memorial Day, and only after it gets super hot. The water from all the water balloon battles taking place covered the slides and swings, cooling them off for the little ones to play on. It’s a small playground, perfect for little kids, well contained, with easy access to bathrooms.  It has a basketball court well separated to the play area for older kids.

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The boys followed each other around, playing with each other, making friends quickly.  The 3.5 would worry if he didn’t see his younger brother around, and the 2.5 year would call out to him when he wanted him to join him at a certain play section.

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It was, in essence, just another day at the playground.  But I had begun to notice that the boys are playing better with each other, taking better care of one another, worry for the other and make sure to include each other in everything they do.  This behavior was on full display and my heart melted at the sight of it.

It will be a year next month since we moved back to NYC.  All three boys have grown so much and matured in so many ways. As I sat there watching my boys play, surrounded by the beauty of the park, I couldn’t help but feel how fortunate I was to have the opportunity to spend this time with them, in the city I love, showing them everything I can.

We had a great time, but eventually headed out in search of ice cream. (turns out the water and ice cream vendors frequently found on every corner of the park are not there during weekdays).  The boys walked out playfully, running after their ball…even taking a moment to hug each other long enough for me to snap a shot.  A picture I will cherish forever.

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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.

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4 Comments
  • Travis
    April 29, 2009

    OMG! That last photo is the cutest shot ever of the boys. I want a big one framed for my desk.:)

    Reply
  • Carolyn G
    May 10, 2009

    Ay chica, que lindos. I just want to go to NY and squeeze them!

    Reply
  • Prospect Park Zoo, Brooklyn, NY |
    July 11, 2009

    […] not the only park in New York to be so.  NYCity Mama has written about Riverside Park here and here, but not so much about Prospect Park, in Brooklyn.  And though in this Adventure, she and her […]

    Reply
  • Marrakech Hotel, A Budget-Friendly Stay on Upper West Side | NYCity Mama
    November 9, 2010

    […] located on the corner, but if you’d rather stay local, you are close to both Central Park and Riverside Park, shops, restaurants, and many other local […]

    Reply

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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 and 2 puppies. 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

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Hubby and I recently went to check out office spac Hubby and I recently went to check out office spaces for our business. We (I) started getting caught up in the perceptions of what other people might think about our business, or rather, how successful or serious it was with us operating it from our home. So, in order to keep up with the Joneses, we went out and searched. And immediately were like, "Nope."

One, it was an additional expense that we were taking on to convince other people of whatever we (I) thought they needed to be convinced of. And two, it felt like....well, like working out of an office, something which I personally haven't done in over a decade (almost two now) and which my husband just escaped from!

And lastly, we like to go out into the communities that our clients serve, but also that we live in, and get to experience it all ourselves. It makes us a great agency.

I share all of this because I am slowly coming to accept that there will always be those who will make a determination of who we are as people, as professionals, as a business simply from what they think they know, not from actuality...and..we (I) am still working on breaking down the toxic traits of corporate / professional influence and narratives.

As once a full-time travel blogger, I experienced first hand what it is to be dismissed and not taken seriously. But, because of my travel blogging work, I have visit over 40 countries (and still counting) and have been published and spoken on stages around the world. That doesn't just happen.

All this to say, as I (we) move away from renting an office in order to be taken more seriously by the corporate world...and save ourselves some money in the process...we are reminded to work on ourselves and on being our own biggest cheerleaders and advocates. Sure, we seek out support and mentorship and always work on learning and refining our skill. But can't pay attention to what others might be thinking. It will never be an accurate portrayal.

And a lesson to never, ever spend more money than we have to just to convince others how serious we are in our commitment to our work. In the meantime, our current office spaces are working out just fine.

#entrepreneur #smallbusiness
A band of misfits on a beautiful Finger Lakes nigh A band of misfits on a beautiful Finger Lakes night.

Life is too short and time too precious, so make sure to spend it with people who bring you joy and make you laugh. Whether it’s one person or more…it’s not the number of people, but the quality and kindness of their hearts that counts.

Here are some of the kind, sweet friendships we’ve been so lucky to have cultivated in our new home. Kisses and hugs @haejones32, @sarahloublagg, @nevetsretlaw, and @jerakahheady.

Till our next gathering! 

#friends #fingerlakeslife #fingerlakes
My happy place: the farmers market. It’s the sea My happy place: the farmers market. It’s the season for all the fresh, local, delicious goodness of the Finger Lakes to take center stage.

The region has a lot more than fried and fast food to offer locals and visitors. The vast amount of organic and locally sourced food is something that is really celebrated here. Even more so the fact that it is accessible and not exclusive to the privileged.

From cider to cheese to meats and veggies…all local, all from a passionate farming community. 

Oh, then, the artisans. *swoon* So much handcrafted beauty. For example, this beautiful hat from @easylivinghats. I have been wanting one of her hats forever and finally got not one but two! And her team, seen here, is so sweet and helped me find the right fit. Support local, shop small, be happy in the process. 📸@ithacafarmersmarket. 

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Hey, wanna come to a cool event in one of the cool Hey, wanna come to a cool event in one of the coolest places I know in Ithaca? (Read on!)

Today I took a stroll into the pavilion of the @ithacafarmersmarket. There was no market today, and though still a lovely space when empty, nothing compares when the market is buzzing with food purveyors and food-lovers! It is exciting and a favorite pastime of ours. Even more fun is when there is a special event happening!

And with that, I want to let you all know about the upcoming @tasteoftheflx taking place on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at the Ithaca Farmers Market and offer you a discount code for your ticket! Use BRAVE20 for $20 off of either ticket tier.

The event will feature 50 + vendors, music in 3 acts, and a full evening of celebration! Taste of the Finger Lakes serves the dual purposes of showcasing the dynamic Finger Lakes food and beverage industry while raising funds for 3 non-profits doing the important work of improving access to healthy food across the region. Local, good food for a good cause...the best combination!

If you already have your ticket or plan to take advantage of this discount code to purchase it, let me know! I hope to see you there!

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Cheers and Happy Pride to this beautiful, inspirin Cheers and Happy Pride
to this beautiful, inspiring, proud community full of people that I love so much.

To my LGTBQIA+ family and friends, know I adore you, would fight for, and support you always. You make my life and the world a more beautiful place. I celebrate you today, this month, and always. 

Thank you for being you. 🌈

#pridemonth #loveislove
What a stunning day to be on the lake with my fam. What a stunning day to be on the lake with my fam. We missed spending time with each other and it was time for us to slow down and bond. Even the surly teens eventually gave in to the fun and smiled a few times. Have I told y’all how much I love our new life here?

#lifeintheflx #fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #soflx #thisissoflx #Lakelike #myflx #keukalife #winecountry

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