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Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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May 22, 2009

Art and Fun Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, Battery Park, NYC

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It’s been starting to feel more and more like summer is upon us. New York City in the months of May and June takes on a new life. Concerts are being held every where you turn, eateries are more confident on re-establishing their outside eating seating, fountains are on, though sprinklers are not till after Memorial Day weekend, and the streets are full with people.

Today was one of those days: hot, sunny, noisy, alive. I got up early, showered, and even managed to get the kids dressed and out the door at a decent time, all before 9:00AM – a miracle, those who know us.

The boys were in an amazing mood, happy and talkative, eager to be outside and play. We took the train down to Chambers St. and got out of the subway. I that the city hasn’t figured out to put an elevator on the A, C train line entrance/exit (the 1,2, and 3 lines have one). It’s a huge challenge. It’s always so busy and noisy down there, in the zone of endless construction, but it also has these really pretty spots where one can try to seek solace and hide from the insanity of it all.

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img_5634I hadn’t had my coffee yet that morning, so we got a little disoriented at first. But this was not an awful thing, as no one was in a terrible hurry and it gave us the opportunity to walk through some of my favorite areas, like City Hall Park and past the amazingly resilient St. Paul’s Chapel. Entering the park especially was a peaceful escape from the craziness surrounding it.

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img_5650I grabbed a coffee and we continued on our way.

img_5652Eventually we reached their destination. Nelson A. Rockefeller Park, a park within the larger Battery Park hosts a series of activities in the area of sports and arts, just to name a couple, several times a week, free of charge.

Today, I brought the kids to partake in the activities organized by the park. Kids between the ages of 2 and 5 were invited to work on to projects with paper, clay, wood, paint, etc., all materials and games provided.

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img_5658It wasn’t difficult to find the crowd of kids sitting down on drop cloths with paint brushes, water paint, and paper, focusing on what ever magical piece of art they were working on. My little one did not waste time and grabbed his materials and started to work. At one point a volunteer even sat down to chat with the kids and work with them.

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After some time painting, the boys decided to head over to the playground located right next door. The playground is great, tons to do, great play areas, but on this day very, very crowded it was challenging with two toddlers.

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img_5692And as if that wasn’t enough, after the boys started getting tired, thirsty, and in need for a stop at the nearby potty, we exited the playground but saw some games out on the grassy field. It was as if they were recharged all over again and found new excitement to play!

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We eventually made our way out of the park, to the potty, and then the train. My boys remained in a good mood for the most part despite being really tired. Overall the day was a success added to another fun day in NYC with kids.

For a list of free and fun events in the parks across the city, check out the NYC Parks and Recreation website.

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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
  • Mrs Mom
    May 22, 2009

    I love your blog because you always seem to know about all the children's activities going on. How do you find out about all these different children's activities? Thanks for sharing all your wonderful adventures with us.

    Reply
  • Lisa
    May 22, 2009

    What a great day you all had. My daughter would've loved that. Too bad I live so far away, I would be in the city every week if I didn't. Great post!

    Reply
  • Carol
    May 22, 2009

    Hi Mrs. Mom…I do A LOT of reading through sites listing kids' activities, magazines, and websites of my favorite places. Plus, am always on the look out for announcements on tv, radio, flyers. Some of the sites are listed on my blog roll. Check them out!

    Reply
  • Mrs Mom
    May 23, 2009

    Thanks so much for responding Carol. I am off to check out your blog roll now.

    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. 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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A message about yesterday’s event: Happy Monday A message about yesterday’s event:

Happy Monday, y’all. Woke up in time to enjoy the soft glow of sunlight that shines its way around our house in the morning, and sipped on a cafecito without being rushed for anything. So already today is a win. 

Yesterday we worked our longest day yet for our little coffee cart that could (7 hours!!!) at the Heritage Fiesta in Ithaca, NY. 

Though we were ready for a crowd, the reception was also unexpected because there was a popular coffee shop just steps away. 

But we had Cómodo Fam stop by, family (who also fed us 🙏🏾), and soooo many members of the Latinx and BIPOC community who were just excited to see a small business like ours representing. 

I want to share that we were ALL worried about potential harassment and assault by 🧊and fliers were handed out to prepare us. And you would think that it would’ve intimidated the community enough to not come out…BUT WE DID. In numbers. 

And for hours that little parking lot next to Press Bay Alley was packed with all sorts of Latinx and non-Latinx community members, eating, laughing, dancing, singing, and drinking all the cafecitos and refreshers we had to offer. Literally. We went home cleaned out!

All this to say that we are all aware of the threats but we also understand the power and importance of coming together as a community and a people. By no means are we all the same, and Lord knows a lot of Latinos have a lot of self-reflecting to do based on the choices they made, but yesterday was a testament to the best of us, and I thank @yenospina and @lcatompkins for putting together such a wonderful event, for inviting @cafecomodony to be a part of it, and to all the friends, old and new, who came out to support us and la cultura. 

#fingerlakes #newyork #cafecomodo #coffeelover
Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite Finally taking a break to enjoy one of my favorite lazy day pastimes of the season: market shopping for fall goodies - which in the Finger Lakes is especially bountiful. 

📍Joseph’s Wayside Markey, Naples, NY

#fingerlakes #newyork #octobermood #fallday
Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The proce Our neighbors are harvesting the grapes. The process is busy and noisy but also exciting and fun to watch. 

This cloudy morning seems to have calmed things down a bit, but not for long I am sure. These families work hard!

Bonus: they set up roadside stands so we can purchase and taste them 🍇 I highly recommend picking some up if you see some in your drive. 

#fingerlakes #lifeinthecountry #newyork
The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️ The rain has been so good. More, please. ❤️
I want to take moment to send out love to my fello I want to take moment to send out love to my fellow Latinx and immigrant community. 

To send strength to my community of glorious misfits who are out in the world making good trouble and emboldening us to not give up hope on our dreams, our livelihoods, our future, our country, our people. 

The country our parents worked so hard to get to so that we could fly. A country they helped build and bring to prosper. A country our communities help to feed and house and care for. 

I am my immigrant parents dream come true, and my children are a continuation of that dream. 

I just want to remind all of us who represent the targeted, of our worth. Of the value of our contributions. In our languages, our culture, our insights, our work ethic and skills and knowledge. Of the things we bring to the table.

I don’t know what will happen tomorrow, or to us. But, as someone whose family lived through a dictatorship, I have an idea of how this story will end. And all I can advise is that we remain on the right side of it, our convictions unaltered, our core values untethered. Our spirits unbroken. In these stories, the monsters might scare us, and even harm some of us, but they never, ever win in the end. 

I am living proof of that. ❤️ And every time you succeed and feel joy, you are too. Pa’lante, mi gente.
Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes. Signs of autumn 🍂 in the Finger Lakes.

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