Cultivating Well Being

The fabulous fruit shake cart near my office 

I've been sticking to my routine of going to Bryant Park with my book, and the days I get to lie on the grass are the best...surrounded by the unique and random crowd that tends to gather there.  I also walk through part of Forest Park on my way home.

 Pigeons hanging out in the park

A couple weeks ago I went to Levain Bakery on the Upper West side to buy cookies for my boss's birthday (AMAZING cookies, btw). It was one of those mornings that reminded me of a time when I really liked living in New York City.  The air was cool and I met my friend and co-worker, Sara, for a coffee and pastry before heading into the office.  Talk about changing the day! It was nice and chill outside the bakery where we chatted, drank coffee...and I got powdered sugar all over myself. :)

So this got me thinking about all the activities I do to help me stay sane and happy.  Including hanging out with friends in places I've never been.  Sometimes being a tourist at home is needed to make you see things from a different perspective.  Like having pizza and (sshh) beer in Gantry Park...which looks across The East River to Manhattan from Long Island City...

Pepsi Cola Sign in Long Island City

Drawings on the Boardwalk in Gantry Park, LI City

And there is always pub food and heavenly beer at St. Andrews...I'll be going there again tomorrow evening after a movie in Times Square.

Bar, St. Andrews Restaurant

I have also been to a Staten Island Yankees game this week with my TV Guide Magazine colleagues.  I ended up volunteering for a game which was put up on the big screen.  Stay tuned for more on that in a future blog :)