#parkside in bloom

[strawberriesbunni]

They’re going as Alice in Wonderland characters for Halloween

I gave Sua another Halloween costume. She is dressed as her favorite Ghibli character, Sheeta from Castle in the Sky.

[magicaltrash]

It's time for the 5th annual Magical Trash Year-in-Review, where we take a look at trash cans at the Disney theme parks and resorts worldwide. Yes, it's a weird idea, but you are going to keep reading, right? (View previous Year-in-Reviews) Some may note that it's been a somewhat rocky year for the Mouse, but trash can activity has been strong. As we've seen in previous years, this year's additions were primarily driven by attraction openings, including Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway at Disneyland, the opening of the World of Frozen in Hong Kong, and the arrival of the Zootopia in Shanghai. Unfortunately, we also saw the fastest introduction-to-removal can timeline with the closing of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser - which had opened just a year earlier at Walt Disney World. Over the past year, MagicalTrash.com celebrated the 1,000 trash can photo milestone (only took 14 years!), while adding over 100 new entries. This was complimented by 1,600+ posts across social media networks, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky. Posts were also added to Twitter/X, but frankly it's hard to continue supporting that platform due to its overall decline on many fronts (and I say that as someone who works in corporate social media professionally!). For 2023, Magical Trash tracked 16 substantial trash can design changes, a 14% increase vs. 2022's 14 tracked changes:

Added: 14

Historical Cans Added: 4

Updated: 0

Endangered: 0

Removed: 2

The US-based parks saw the most activity, with Disneyland Resort experiencing 6 changes, while Walt Disney World recorded 4 changes. Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris Resort both recorded 2 updates, and Shanghai Disney Resort saw 1 new addition. No notable changes were recorded for Tokyo Disney Resort or Disney Cruise Line.

Here's a detailed breakdown of updates:

ADDED New trash can designs that debuted in Disney theme parks over the past year

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (El CapiTOON Theater) - NEW Disneyland, Mickey’s Toontown With a movie theater setting, iconography is anchored by a popcorn bucket image with large “EC” letters.  

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway (M.A.G.I.C.) - NEW Disneyland, Mickey’s Toontown Outside the attraction are cans associated with M.A.G.I.C. - short for the Municipal Agency of Garbage Identification and Collection. Now that's a group we want to join!  

World of Frozen (Arendelle Crest) - NEW - NEW Hong Kong Disneyland, World of Frozen The official crest of Arendelle features a crocus - a multi-color flowering bulb that typically blooms in the spring - and seen throughout the Frozen franchise.  

World of Frozen (Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs) - NEW Hong Kong Disneyland, World of Frozen Furthering the rugged forest theme of the family coaster, decorative Scandinavian folk art patterns are found throughout queue, with geometric shapes highlighted in red, green, and orange hues.  

Zootopia - NEW Shanghai Disneyland, Zootopia A surprising entry to Shanghai's bland trash can scene, green trash cans with zebra-like stripes on the lower portion combine with a city emblem.  

San Fransokyo Square - NEW Disney California Adventure, San Fransokyo Square The shoehorned Big Hero 6 retheme of DCA's Pacific Wharf gave us new cans that looked a lot like the old cans - but with bonus "SFS" branding. Ho hum.  

Journey of Water, Inspired by Moana - NEW Walt Disney World, Epcot, World Nature You can tell this is a modern Disney attraction because the name is an IP-laden paragraph. Lots of storytelling to explain "scenery."  

Parkside Market - NEW Disneyland Resort, Downtown Disney Probably one of the more visually-stunning additions in 2023, Mickey Mouse + mid-century design. Simple concept, well-executed.  

The Villas at Disneyland Hotel - NEW Disneyland Resort, The Villas at Disneyland Hotel New DVC borrows much of its design from Aulani. Not ugly, but also not magical. Were these picked out of a catalog?  

Pixar Place Hotel - NEW Disneyland Resort, Pixar Place Hotel The retime of Disneyland's Paradise Pier Hotel features trash cans very similar in design to those implemented at The Villas at Disneyland Hotel. Maybe they got a 2-for-1 deal?  

Disneyland Paris Reusable Tableware Cans - NEW Disneyland Paris, Adventureland France's Anti-Waste and Circular Economy Law is focused on phasing out improper disposal of waste. Food service at the French parks has implemented reusable table settings, which has impacted trash can design.  

"Fantasyland 2" Backstage - NEW Disneyland Paris, Fantasyland A backstage can makes an appearance onstage as a support trash can from the “Fantasyland 2” zone, parked where everyone can see.  

Pym Test Kitchen Food Waste - NEW Disney California Adventure, Avengers Campus After debuting combination food waste trash cans in Tomorrowland around 2021, Disneyland expanded the practice to the Avengers Campus at DCA.  

Jollywood Nights Temporary Media Can - NEW Disney's Hollywood Studios, Grand Avenue Throw a sticker on an existing trash can and it's something new! Temporarily rethemed can at Disney's Hollywood Studios during a media event for Jollywood Nights holiday entertainment.  

HISTORICAL CANS ADDED Retro trash can designs that were unearthed by new research this year, but are no longer in use

MK Main Street (1974) - HISTORICAL ADDITION Magic Kingdom, Main Street U.S.A. Early years of the Magic Kingdom featured very detailed trash cans on Main Street U.S.A, often in multiple colors. Quite a contrast from the undecorated brown cans used in the 2000s.  

Farmer's Market (Late-1980s/Early-1990s) - HISTORICAL ADDITION Epcot, Future World, The Land The famed umbrella tables at The Land found their shapes emulated via the trash cans, which were primarily brown with light tan arches represented on all sides.  

River Country (2010) - HISTORICAL ADDITION Walt Disney World, Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground 9 years after the water park closed, remnants of the ‘Ol’ Swimmin’ Hole’ could still be spotted at Fort Wilderness.  

Mulholland Madness (2007) - HISTORICAL ADDITION Disney's California Adventure, Paradise Pier Tacky theme was on-point for DCA 1.0. This green can with road sign decal found a home in Paradise Pier.  

UPDATED Existing trash can designs that have been modified or revised in the past year

None for 2023  

ENDANGERED Trash can designs that still exist, but will most likely disappear in the future

None for 2023  

REMOVED Trash can designs that have been eliminated from use at Disney theme parks

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (Interior) - REMOVED Walt Disney World, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser The in-wall trash cans for the 100-cabin Corellian MPO-1400 model Galactic Starcruiser were in use for just 579 days.  

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser (Terminal) - REMOVED Walt Disney World, Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser You won't be needing to dispose of your garbage before boarding the MPO-1400 Star Cruiser Halcyon, as these cans will probably have a longer life than the hotel ever had.  

One massive disappointment in 2023 was Walt Disney World's opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run in the Magic Kingdom's Tomorrowland. Generic silver cans, thus reinforcing WDW's continual cheapening out on themed trash can design. Paul Pressler called and even he thinks you can do better.

Here at Magical Trash we celebrated our 14-year anniversary covering the world of Disney trash cans, which included keeping up with various salt shaker merchandise releases that showcase the iconic can shape. 6 new designs were released during festivals: The Dude with the Food (DCA Food & Wine 2023), Amazingly Sweet (DCA Food & Wine 2023), Groovy Garden Orange Bird (Epcot Flower & Garden 2023), Stuck on Imagination Figment (Epcot Flower & Garden 2023), Chef Mickey (Epcot Food & Wine 2023), and Spaceship Earth (Epcot Food & Wine 2023).

If you happened to be at Tokyo Disneyland, you could have picked up a mini figure version of a Tomorrowland trash can or a TDS trash can toy. In the U.S. you could pick up a shirt or water bottle with a recycling can image proclaiming that you "Love Our Disney Parks" -- Disneyland or WDW-specific versions. There was plenty of trash can auction action as well.

Thanks to everyone who contributed photos, visited MagicalTrash.com, and interacted with this weird hobby over the past year. You've put a smile on my face as we all follow this goofy passion. As it's impossible to be omnipresent at 12 theme parks and numerous resorts around the world, let us know what we've missed! Thanks for an interesting year, CanFans! - Steve Tanner, your Magical Trash host

[All photos used by permission.]

[mouwzer21-blog]

Let's talk about feelings...

I feel like our world as a whole competes for pity. Like who got abused the most as a child, who got the least presents on Christmas, who was forced into eternal abstinence, etc, etc. But really, who would want that trophy, “Congratulations you’re the most pitiful person in the world!” Oh, yay, I’m gonna go put this in my closet. Now, I wasn’t abused or ignored, I’m the youngest of three sisters, and I have two loving parents. It’s just my parents work a lot, and my sisters are 11 and 9 years older than me, so they were always out with their friends. But, I was bullied. 

    Up until 4th grade I was bullied every day I went to school. Nobody noticed because I was a selective mute. I never spoke about school, ever. I hardly spoke at all. I was under this amnesia spell, that whenever something bad happened, I forgot about it. That’s why I’m so forgetful, my brain only remembers the things that don’t relate to anything bad. It’s a habit I’m in the process of breaking. But there are many more that I acquired over those 5 or so years of my life. nail-biting, fidgeting, not being able to sit still, flinching when really I don’t need to. I think people are starting to notice that last one. My friends often times when their hands come near my face for whatever reason, to fix my hair, or my glasses, I flinch. It’s not like I’m afraid they are going to hit me, it’s just my body is so used to dealing with it. 

    I went to an elementary called Parkside from pre-k to 3rd grade. And there, my only friend was math homework and the school nurse. The only way I wasn’t being bullied was if I helped someone with their homework, or I was at the nurse. I absolutely refused to do other people's homework. I just wouldn’t do it, but I did share with them tricks and tips that I’d figured out myself. Most considered me the best at math there. That did a lot to my ego, but so did the constant name-calling and excluding. Nobody wanted to be near me.

    My nickname back in elementary school was ‘bear’. Now, I have nothing against any form of bear. Really I think bears are magnificent. But, being called a bear, hit hard. Because it’s what I was, hot-headed, short, wide, and quiet. I wasn’t the most healthiest person, and my growth was partially stunted because I was sad. I don’t know if that’s real, but, after 4th grade I grew an entire foot. The one and only thing I had going for me was that I was smart. And that didn’t get you anywhere when you went to a school of rich people. Especially when neither of your parents really did anything great with their life, they just worked at Walmart and gave you the best life they could give.

    Then something happened. My cousin, Rodney, and his son, Hunter, got into a huge argument and the rest of the family is still unsure of what happened. But we ended up going through CPS, child protective services. It was crazy. I was actually considered being put through foster care. And it was just because of where I lived, in a beat up house built in 1890. Other factors contributed to this, my dad smoked inside and the house wasn’t exactly clean. And just for that people that didn’t know me, that didn’t know my life, took what I knew from me in just an instance. My life changed at the very moment I got my own CPS agent.

    My sister, Becca, who was 17 at the time, would be out of that situation in a year, with scholarships from CPS that nobody thought she would ever get. She went to college. She’s going to college, this is her last year in law school. I couldn’t be even more happier for her, she’s engaged to a 30 year old hippie with a goatee and a 4-year-old-daughter. I’m so proud that she found something in life to boost her up there, she’s a beautiful human and she deserves only the best, and if this is what she thinks is best for her, I’m happy. 

    My other sister, Alysha, isn’t and hasn’t exactly been the best role model. I don’t know the whole story because hey I’ve had traumatic amnesia since then, but the earliest memory I have of my sister, is watching her leave when I was five. I don’t know if I cried. I just remember that when I went back inside there was a bunch of sticky burrs on my feet, the really sharp ones that really hurt to take out. And that is a total and complete analogy of me and my sisters relationship. I wanna walk around barefooted but I know  it’s gonna come back and hurt. 

    My life has been a series of ups and downs. And CPS really only added to a huge down. Lucky for me, my grandparents become foster parents for my sister and I. They fed us, clothed us, and took us to school But, for me, my entire style was taken over by someone who looks like an old nurse, because that’s what my grandmother is. I wore collared single colored shirts, khaki shorts and tacky sneakers. My hair was in a pixie cut. And btw, I look really good with pixies. But I’ll never get one again because it’s a reminder of how little freewill I had. I hate formal wear because of that, I always had to look like that, a prim and perfect child of God. 

    Not to bash on anybody who believes in the church, but, I never got with the program, I’m an atheist, deal with it. But, my entire family is Christian. And I have no idea how my grandparents find time and will to be Christian in their lives because it seems so straining. It seems so life-sucking. I believe that people have the right to believe in what makes them lifted. And having the weight of “he’s watching you” lifted off of my shoulders is what I wanted. My dad doesn’t believe in the church, but he’s Christian. He says the ways of the church have corrupted minds over decades. He believes everyone is equal, and he accepts me for being pan.

    The world needs more people like dear father o’ mine. Ones that don’t care who you are, and just want the brightest things to happen to you. They want you to go places and have fun. But they also want you to succeed in life and they don’t care for your race, gender, religion, or sexuality. They, are the best kind of people. I’d like to say I’m one of those people, maybe I am in some way. It’s just people that think they are better than others and flaunt it get on my nerves. 

    Admittedly I’m the kind of person that sees how a person behaves, and doesn’t care what they may be going through. The reason for that is that I’ve been through stuff and I’m decently nice. So why can’t they?

Moral of the story, people have a different way to deal with things. Some become aggressive, others become quiet. I dealt with mine by forgetting. But, I don’t think I’ve forgiven. There is a lot of built up and pent in anger and angst that I may never get out. I may die before I finally admit to someone’s face that I need help. I may die before I admit what’s going through my head, all of the hate and love and feelings. 

It’s not my fault I don’t understand these things. I’m 14, I’m alone, and I won’t admit it. I refuse to admit weakness. Because I’m not weak, not anymore. I have friends, I’m growing a better bond with my sisters. I’m opening up. People may have thought I’d already bloomed into a flower, but now I’m growing into a tree. I’m strong and nobody will cut me down again. I won’t let them. I won’t let someone bring me down to what I used to be. Because I HATE who I used to be. I don’t ever want to be that person again. That person is dead. That flower died and spread its seeds in a way nobody expected. I’m going to grow stronger and bypass all predictions made by everybody on this world. I’m going to be great.

You can be great too. In your own way you can leave behind those scars that were left in your mind and body. They are irrelevant. Scars can be hidden. But you need to find something where those scars don’t have to be hidden. Where scars make you great. You can find that anywhere. And, it’s ok to let it all out. It can explode, seep, or just come falling out, if you find the right place for yourself, you will feel safe when it all comes crashing down. Don’t compete for pity, relate with pity. So… let’s talk about feelings.

[kei1753]

Kensuke Ushio - Parkside in Bloom

[highstrungloner]

#spring #crocus #flowers #bloom #blooms #purple #garden #pwm #portland #portlandmaine #maine #iphonex #fullframe (at Portland's Parkside Neighborhood)

[vinodok]

Yuchae a.k.a Canola Flower . . . Famous Daejeo Canola flower festival in Busan was not only canceled, the flower field was also destroyed today to enhance the social distancing amid coronavirus spreading. This was for everyone's safety. So, let's wait for the beautiful flower to bloom again next year. Meanwhile, enjoy a bunch of canola flowers at nearby roadside/parkside at Saha-gu. #DynamicBusan #Busan #Busancity #Korea YuchaeFlowers #rapeflowers #canolablossoms #flower #spring #photographyinkorea #travel #garden #nature #photography #naturephotography #naturelovers #flowerstagram #explore_macro #pocket_macro #kings_flora #macroclique #macro_perfection #top_macro #joyful_pics #nature_brilliance #flower_perfection #jj_seasons #js_macro #9vaga_flowersart9 #eclecticshow #loves_garden . (at 부산시 사하구) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-z8LqmgW2B/?igshid=vf1xo61dlrcx

[strawberriesbunni]

Happy 21st Birthday

Terra’s birthday is on October 28. Skye came home early while Terra was taking a nap with Sua and baked a cake

[the-warmest-hands]

McCoppin Update

---

20:50

i decided to update my mccoppin plan and thought i would post it here oh dammit the formatting does not translate ok i modified to the best of my ability i am not a tumblr expert

24 MARCH 2020 UPDATE:

Current ongoing projects:

area above my shed that wraps around to the back of the preschool it is being sheet-mulched and planted with mostly natives. i sprinkled in some non-natives just to see how they would fare

24th and Santiago entrance it is being weeded of ivy/blackberry and sheet-mulched. i have not come up with any plants i want to put there yet and it is looking quite barren and I am a bit concerned.

Parkside Library it is ready for planting except that i have not come up with a planting plan and also the irrigation is unknown. i will be installing drip irrigation.

22nd and Santiago entrance i have started some small plants here with mulch to assist in moisture retention and delineation and we will see how they do.

Finished projects (for now):

tiny bed in front of preschool. progress report: Salvia elegans stayin alive amidst california poppies and icelandic poppies that have finished flowering. primula have died after their initial display. thank you for your service. goodbye now. no further work is anticipated. there is a bit of ehrharta from time to time but it is minimal due to poppy filler, and occasional hand-weeding.

tiny bed next to my shed progress report: cotyledon orbiculata are growing here with mulch. at the end of the bed is a hebe that i need to rip out or transplant (i should move it to 24/S) but haven't because. idk. procrastination? what am i doing. i need to get rid of this. plus oxalis and crocrosmia grow thru the hebe sometimes. maybe i will put salvia microphylla here to match the other one. or transplant one of those pittosporum eugenioides from the natural area (to match the other P.eugenioides). i have the resources.

station 13 and 14 lawn areas that i planted trees in progress report: it seems that i failed to save one of the melaleuca leucadendra (my fault, i didn't water it enough) and it is real crispy-looking and i'm sure it is dead now. i will replace it the next time i go to nursery. also need to continue expanding the planting to phase out the lawn. also there's still a dead spot at the very bottom of the lawn where i put two arbutus, and i will put some ground cover and add mulch to help green it up.

Dump zones aka areas where i am waiting to see what happens and doing nothing in the way of tidying

behind tennis court lupines seeded themselves here and i have added a tiny transplant of a monterey cypress which i think is dying from gopher or lack of water? altho i thought i was watering it pretty well for a while... maybe it was gopher. ive killed that gopher now. but the cypress is dead. RIP. i've also put two myoporum parvifolium to see what they do. also the ceanothus i coppiced is coming back. i put some lupines there as well and an icelandic poppy that is actually growing and has bloomed. i hope this poppy will reseed. annuals are my solution to cover bare soil / be filler right now.

hugelkultur #1 ok so i started this hugelkultur attempt because i figured it was out of the way enough for me to do some test nonsense because it's on a hill and no one goes there. it was going well until weeds from the soil i got from the nursery started coming up. so. thanks a lot, nursery. i think i have to like, actively weed this until the lupines i put there get bigger. this is quite annoying. also i think i am going to transplant one of the baby pines i have. maybe that will do ok.

hugelkultur #2 this is the hillside behind 24/S entrance that overlooks the ballfield. i started this because i was lifting the monterey cypresses at 24/S entrance and i wanted to reuse them somehow and not have to take them off-site. unfortunately i wasn't super sure what the hell i was doing so i just stacked all the debris on this hillside. and i've been dumping clippings (well, cesar has been dumping clippings) on top of some logs and i also don't have a water source which is really annoying. so. ugh. i think station 39 can reach it actually. let me fiddle with that tomorrow.

natural areas (euc forest) i dumped library soil in here. and bread from the person who throws bread. this is the dumping ground yo. all i do in this area in the way of maintenance is remove solanum. yo i don't wanna see any solanum in this park. also mallow once it exceeds 18" / if i see it flowering. NO MALLOW. it's an uphill battle for sure

22nd Ave towards Taraval (shed to truck entrance) yeaaaaa i'm barely upkeeping this. miner's lettuce honestly is a blessing. it's retaining moisture and i see that the little oak and the douglas irises i put in the midst of it is very happy. i will not disturb. thank you Claytonia perfoliata. further down towards truck entrance there is a bunch of mallow and it's really fugly and i hate it. i will deal with this because it is starting to bug me. the two little oaks i put over here are still alive but not really exhibiting a whole lot of progress. i may give them a bucket of water once a week. or i could do wildflower seeds and impact sprinkler. we'll see. there's a gopher here that i haven't managed to kill.

covid quarantine is having a postive effect on my mental clarity. i am now able to make notes on what i needa do. that said, the biggest project of all is taraval (most visible) and i am actively avoiding thinking about that because it is very daunting.

[tripstations]

4th of July vacation: 7 ideas of where to go in the US and beyond

(CNN) — Looking to make a break for it for the 4th of July holiday weekend or another long summer weekend? The options are endless — you just need to decide if it’s a USA road trip you’re after or a hop-skip-jump over the Atlantic. The warm weather travel season officially kicked off Memorial Day weekend, but statistics from AAA indicate that more Americans travel later in the summer: Last year, for example, 41.3 million Americans traveled around Memorial Day, while a projected 46.9 million traveled around Independence Day.

Most Americans opt for a road trip, according to AAA, but ambitious travelers needn’t rule out Canada or even parts of Europe.

CNN rounded up seven possibilities, ranging from a couple of less-trodden international destinations to a few slightly under-the-radar US spots and some in between. All have one thing in common: They’re perfect for a minisummer escape on July 4th weekend or later in the summer.

Big Sur, California

Big Sur enjoys a remoteness that’s not easy to come by these days.

Michael Troutman

Nearly two years after landslides shut down a section of California’s historic Highway 1 and closed off Big Sur to travelers, visitors are back to revel in the awe-inspiring natural beauty of the mystical expanse of California shoreline.

Located between San Francisco and Los Angeles, travelers come here to get away. The area enjoys a remoteness not easy to come by these days: Cell reception is spotty at best, and the nearest big grocery store is at least an hour’s drive away.

While they’re cut off from the rest of the world, visitors can take in the panoramas of the rugged coasts and witness the dramatic, crashing waves of the Pacific from nearly every vantage point. Also worth checking out is Bixby Creek Bridge, a stunning piece of architecture, and the hiking trails and coastal beaches of Garrapata State Park, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Point Lobos State Natural Preserve.

Big Sur has rustic and luxurious hotels, from the sustainable accommodations at the modest but comfortable Glen Oaks Big Sur to the posh, celebrity-favorite Post Ranch Inn. A treatment in the spa, set in the middle of the forest, is the icing on the cake.

Glen Oaks, 47080 Highway 1, Big Sur, CA 93920, +1 831 667 2105

Buffalo, New York

Buffalo’s Silo City is for art lovers of all kinds.

Drew Brown

As soon as summer hits, this city on the shores of Lake Erie in upstate New York comes alive. Happy to shed its winter coat in favor of blue skies and outdoor seating at many a restaurant and bar along Elmwood Avenue, just north of downtown, Buffalo soars in summer.

Architecture buffs will find no shortage of areas to explore.

From the Tudor mansions around Delaware Park to the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Darwin D. Martin House and a little further afoot, Graycliff, overlooking the lake, the city teems with majestic architectural works. Both Lloyd Wright buildings offer tours of the properties’ meticulously restored interiors and expansive grounds. Cap off the Wright tours with a visit to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, where a collection of modern and contemporary art awaits.

Those wanting a dose of art in the form of poetry or outdoor installations (courtesy of students from SUNY Buffalo) should head straight to Silo City, a historic grain elevator complex refashioned as a cultural community, complete with a food and drink venue.

And on that note: Travelers whose primary motivation is eating and drinking are in good hands. While you can’t go far without finding excellent chicken wings (they were birthed here, after all), relative newcomers Black Sheep and Dobutsu deserve attention, too.

Finally, if your long weekend should extend to a Tuesday, you won’t want to miss Larkin Square’s food truck lineup. Nosh on something from Ted’s (footlong with onion rings) or Lloyd (braised beef taco) while you listen to free live music.

For a truly special stay, reserve a room at Hotel Henry, another of the city’s architectural masterpieces.

Delaware Park, 83 Parkside Ave., Buffalo, NY 14214, +1 716 838 1249Graycliff, 6472 Old Lake Shore Road, Derby, NY 14047, +1 716 947 9217 Silo City, 105 Silo City Row, Buffalo, NY 14203Black Sheep, 367 Connecticut St., Buffalo, NY 14213, +1 716 884 1100Dobutsu, 500 Seneca St., Suite 119, Buffalo, NY 14204, +1 716 322 6004Larkin Square, 745 Seneca St., Buffalo, NY 14210, +1 716 362 2665Hotel Henry, 444 Forest Ave., Buffalo, NY 14213, +1 716 882 1970

Champagne, France

A 45-minute train ride from Paris lies Champagne. A stay at the Royal Champagne Hotel can’t be beat.

Courtesy of Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa Terrasse

The birthplace of the bubbly and a UNESCO World Heritage site, France’s Champagne region is just 45 minutes from Paris by train. It has long been popular with day-trippers, but there’s plenty to entice travelers into a multiday stay.

Oenophiles can visit some of the 450 Champagne producers and cooperatives for tastings and tours. From the highly reputable Moet & Chandon and to under-the-radar Henriet-Bazin, there’s something to satisfy every type of sipper.

But it’s not a lost cause for teetotalers; history buffs can visit Reims Cathedral, an imposing medieval Roman Catholic site dating back to the 13th century. Fitness fanatics, meanwhile, can take advantage of the long stretches of uncrowded roads for scenic bike rides and runs. A hot air balloon ride, a boat ride down the Marne River or horseback riding through the valley are also on offer here.

Then there are the restaurants, worth a trip in and of themselves. One of the hottest tables is the three-Michelin starred L’Assiette Champenoise in Reims, which serves creative French cuisine using seasonal produce.

For the spendy set, the new Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa is the “it” place to stay. Built like a contemporary amphitheater with 49 chic rooms, the property boasts a Michelin-starred restaurant Le Royal, a sprawling spa, a bar with more than 200 bottles of Champagne and a fleet of electric bikes for guests.

Moet & Chandon, 20 avenue de Champagne, 51200, Epernay, France, +33 3 26 51 20 20Henriet-Bazin, 9 rue des Mises, 51380 Villers-Marmery, France, +33 03 26 84 07 79

Cotswolds, England

Soho Farmhouse, a 100-acre estate in Oxfordshire, makes for a lovely — if spendy �� stay.

Courtesy of Soho House Farmhouse

At close to 800 square miles, the Cotswolds, a less than three-hour drive from London, is sprawling, but visitors can still tackle at least a small part of it on a short getaway. The region’s beauty — think fields of meadows full of blooming daffodils and dozens of quintessential Jane Austen-era villages with stone houses shining underneath the sun — is especially vibrant in summer.

Days can be spent in the region exploring some of the historic houses such as Berkeley Castle and Blenheim Palace, built in the 18th century and designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Outdoor pursuits — long, meandering walks from one village to the next, biking along the country roads, fishing, golfing and horseback riding — add to the area’s allure.

Cheltenham, one of the largest cities in the Cotswolds, is full of diversions, too. The minimetropolis is known for its photograph-worthy Regency era architecture, dating back to the early 19th century and distinguished by elegant looking buildings with white stucco facades. And, it’s home to buzzy restaurants and festivals, including ones for science and literature.

The region’s accommodation scene, which once included mainly stuffy, formal hotels, has gotten hip in recent years. The Wild Rabbit, a modern inn in Chipping Norton with an excellent restaurant to boot, is one example. Bolderfacers, including Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, favor Soho Farmhouse, a 100-acre estate in Oxfordshire.

The Wild Rabbit, Church Street, Kingham, Oxfordshire, OX7 6YA, United Kingdom, +44 01608 658389 Soho Farmhouse, Great Tew, Chipping Norton, OX7 4JS, United Kingdom, +44 01608 691 000

Providence, Rhode Island

Providence’s arts and culinary scene is flourishing, and it’s a lovely long weekend getaway.

Courtesy Providence Tourism

Providence’s flourishing arts and culinary scenes are nearly on par with major urban areas around the world.

Over the past decade, the city’s downtown has been transformed into an open-air museum with murals and sculptures. One example is WaterFire, a multisensory art installation composed of a series of more than 80 bonfires that seem to float in the three rivers flowing through the city. This showpiece will burn bright on July 20 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

Performance art is also a draw: The Providence Fringe Festival, running from July 21 to 28, features performances by emerging and established artists. The lineup includes everything from improv comedy to variety shows with music and drag.

Then there’s the culinary scene. The popular Providence Restaurant Weeks, where diners can enjoy three-course affordable meals at otherwise pricey restaurants, runs from July 7 to 20.

But visitors will eat well no matter when they visit. Waterman Grille, set on the Blackstone River and serving French influenced cuisine with New England produce, is one of the most coveted reservations in town and for good reason: The cocktail list is creative, and the steaks, cooked on a wood-fired grill, are a standout.

WaterFire, 4 N Main St., Providence, RI 02903, +1 401 273 1155

St. Michaels, Maryland

Luxury seekers will enjoy the Inn at Perry Cabin and its fleet of vintage sailboats.

Courtesy Inn at Perry Cabin

Only a 90-minute drive or 45-minute boat ride from the nation’s capital, the historic seaside town of St. Michaels is home to picturesque landscapes, rich heritage and waterside adventures. Known as “the town that fooled the British” during the War of 1812 when it faked a blackout to prevent an attack, it’s an ideal getaway for anyone interested in sailing, golf, history and seafood.

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is among the top attractions. Visitors can learn about the region’s history and culture by exploring its 12 exhibition buildings, checking out the fleet of historical boats and taking a narrated cruise highlighting life on the Eastern Shore.

Exploring the charming downtown filled with antique shops and seafood restaurants such as The Crab Claw, famous for its crab clusters, is another way to while away the afternoon.

The microdistillery Lyon Distilling Co., which produces an impressive range of rums, is also worth checking out.

To stay, there are plenty of family-run bed and breakfasts. For luxury seekers, the winning choice is Inn at Perry Cabin. Home to a prestigious fleet of vintage sailboats, golf course, a spa and a restaurant serving regional cuisine, it’s a retreat in and of itself, and no one will blame you if you choose not to venture far from the property.

The Crab Claw, 304 Burns St., St. Michaels, MD 21663, +1 410 745 2900

Toronto, Canada

Summer, boasting more than 30 festivals in July and August alone, is a prime time to appreciate what Toronto has to offer.

Courtesy of Tourism Toronto

Canada’s largest city is a global entertainment and cultural hub worthy of serious attention. Centrally located between New York City, Chicago and Montreal, the metropolis is a 90-minute flight for much of the US and Canadian population. It’s known for its diversity — more than 50% of the residents were born outside the country — and this shows up in the city’s events, restaurants and shops.

Featuring more than 30 festivals in July and August alone, including ones for jazz, Caribbean culture, beer and local cuisine, summer is a prime time to appreciate what Toronto has to offer.

Outdoor pursuits aren’t usually the first thing people think of when they hear big city, but Toronto’s strong in this category. Visitors can bike or hike in Rouge Park, the country’s only urban national park, and canoe around the Toronto Islands.

Thrill seekers shouldn’t miss the attraction called EdgeWalk, a 30-minute walk outside and 116 stories above the city on a five-foot long ledge atop the iconic CN Tower.

The markets (we recommend Kensington Market, Gerrard India Bazaar and Evergreen Brick Works), selling everything from handmade goods by local artisans and antiques to spices and craft beers on tap, are another draw.

Hotel-wise, the Kimpton Saint George and St. Regis (the brand’s only property in Canada), both downtown, are the newest additions to the lineup of the town’s many luxury properties.

EdgeWalk, CN Tower 290 Bremner Blvd., Toronto, ON M5V 3L9, Canada, +1 416 86 86937St. Regis, 325 Bay St., Toronto, ON M5H 4G3, Canada, +1 416 306 5800

Stacey Lastoe contributed additional reporting to this story.

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[mmckenzieport]

By Melissa McKenzie

Here’s what’s newly opened, closed and opening soon in and around Santa Clara.

Closed Mexicali Grill, Santa Clara 3149 Mission College Blvd The Mexicali Grill at the Mercado Shopping Center closed at the end of June. No additional information was available about the closure. AAMCO Transmissions, Santa Clara 2345 El Camino Although minimal information is available, the AAMCO Transmissions location in Santa Clara quietly closed in recent weeks. Additional locations are available in Milpitas and Campbell. Recently Open The Hut 3200 The Alameda, Santa Clara The iconic The Hut near Santa Clara University reopened in June. The Hut offers classic pub fare including burgers and sandwiches, as well as a selection of salads, meats and a kid’s menu for children 10 and under.thehutsantaclara.com

Voyager Craft Coffee 87 N San Pedro St., San Jose Santa Clara’s popular coffee spot opened its second location at San Jose’s San Pedro Square Market on June 21. The company will launch a new website soon, but maintains fairly active social media accounts on Facebook (voyagercraftcoffee) and Instagram (@voyagercraftcoffee)voyagercc.comStar Udupi Café 2690 El Camino Real, Santa Clara The Indian vegetarian restaurant opened at the beginning of July. The restaurant offers a variety of Indian favorites, including dosas and uthappam and sweets and even has a kid’s menu. starudupicafe.com

Bay Area Pizza 2898 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara Taking over the former location of Stuft Pizza, Bay Area Pizza opened in June. The location serves hand-tossed pizzas with traditional and Indian flavors. bayareapizzas.com

The Gurkha Kitchen 1342 S Mary Ave, Sunnyvale Opened in June. The Gurkha Kitchen serves Nepali-Indian food.  The menu includes vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees with items like fried rice, chowmein, dumplings, biryani and tandoor-cooked selections. thegurkhaskitchen.com

Le Plonc 279 W Washington Ave., Sunnyvale Le Plonc is a boutique wine bar offering creative dishes (tartines, charcuterie boards, pậté, cheese plates and desserts) and unique wines. The Sunnyvale location opened at the end of May and joins one in Mountain View. Le Plonc additionally has a location in Melbourne, Australia. leplonc.com

Bishops Santa Clara Square Marketplace, Suite 3237 Bishops, a full-service hair salon providing cuts and color for men and women, including styling, shaving and beard trimming, opened May 25 at the Santa Clara Square shopping center. bishops.co

Brandy Melville 378 Santana Row, Suite 1000, San Jose Popular boutique Brandy Melville, the women’s apparel line from Italy known for its trendy styles with a beachy, comfortable vibe opened a 3,112-square-foot space in early June. brandymelvilleusa.com

Chipotle Mexican Grill3249 Coronado Place, Santa Clara The quick-service Mexican restaurant chain recently opened a location at the Santa Clara Square shopping center.chipotle.com

Opening Soon Nick the Greek 2002 El Camino Real, Santa Clara With plenty of locations throughout the Bay Area, Nick the Greek will open its newest location at the Santa Clara Town Centre later this year. Until a concrete date is available, visit the Nick the Greek in Sunnyvale or any of the six locations throughout San Jose.nickthegreeksj.com

Bloom 202 Saratoga Ave, Santa Clara The American restaurant and bar Bloom is scheduled to open early fall at the former location of Golden Mushroom Pizzeria. The eatery’s website mentions its “main attractions” as a corn beef hash and crab cake benedict.bloomeatery.com

Silverlake Ramen Santa Clara Square, Suite 3347 Silverlake Ramen serves ramen that uses quality, traditional ingredients. The Santa Clara eatery will open later this year. silverlakeramen.com

Pacific Catch Santa Clara Square, Suite 3315 Pacific Catch is a WestCoast Fish House specializes in high quality sustainable seafood. The menu explores styles and ingredients found throughout the Pacific. They will also offer a variety of Fresh Catch specials highlighting specific regions in the Pacific and seasonal offerings. The new Santa Clara restaurant is listed on the Santa Clara Square site as a restaurant “coming soon,” but the Pacific Catch website has not yet been updated to reflect the new location. pacificcatch.com

Gong Cha Santa Clara Square, Suite 110 Gong Cha specializes in tea, coffee and juices and is constantly developing of new and innovative drinks. The new Santa Clara restaurant is listed on the Santa Clara Square site as “coming soon,” but the Gong Cha website has not yet been updated to reflect the new location. This will be the company’s first Santa Clara location. gongchausa.com

Barebottle Brewing Company Santa Clara Square Barebottle Brewing Company, based in San Francisco, will open a Santa Clara location sometime this year. The company brews innovative beers inspired by the Bay Area using local ingredients whenever possible and partners with local homebrewing groups to develop new beers. Barebottle serves craft beer, cider, wine, craft sodas and kombucha beverages options, as well as a selection of appetizers. barebottle.com

Charisma Salon Santa Clara Square Charisma Salon, a nail spa providing manicure and pedicure services, in addition to waxing, eyelash extensions, permanent make-up services, blow-dry bar and retail, will open later this year. No additional information is available at this time. charismasalonsantaclara.com

Kumar’s Authentic South Indian Village Cuisine Santa Clara Square With no artificial pre-packaged ingredients, no food coloring and no MSG, Kumar’s offers authentic South Indian cuisine using natural and organic ingredients. Santa Clara will be the first California restaurant for the company. Additional restaurants are operating in Connecticut and throughout Texas.

Tender Greens Santa Clara Square The chef-led kitchen serving seasonal and responsibly-sourced food including salads, sandwiches and soups will open in Santa Clara later this year. Santa Clara’s restaurant will be the sixth Bay Area location for the chain. www.tendergreens.com

The Halal Guys Santa Clara Square The Halal Guys is set to open its first Santa Clara location sometime this year. The restaurant offers a variety of halal chicken, beef gyro and falafel options and sides including baba ganouj, hummus and fries, and has a South Bay location off Curtner Avenue in San Jose. thehalalguys.com

Vince Santana Row, San Jose The luxury retailer will open a Santana Row location in summer 2019. Vince offers women’s and men’s clothes, shoes, handbags, and home fit for a global lifestyle. The store will be in a 2,378-square-foot space located next to the newly expanded Lululemon. vince.com

TravisMatthew Santana Row, San Jose Premier men’s apparel brand TravisMathew will open its first Northern California store this fall. The store will be complete with classic arcade style gaming consoles and ping pong tables in its 1,911-square-foot space. The Santana Row location will carry their exclusive California capsule product. travismathew.com

Sauced BBQ & Spirits Santana Row, San Jose Sauced BBQ & Spirits will be making its debut this fall, moving into the parkside location next door to the popular Maggiano’s Little Italy. Sauced is a Southern-inspired restaurant concept, founded by two cousins with a passion to bring authentic, Southern BBQ to Northern California. Besides featuring multiple Southern styles of barbecue, the restaurant touts numerous beer, wine and whiskey choices. saucedbbqandspirits.com

[homedevises]

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[bloominglotusyoga]

Unique, welcoming classes offered at Yoga Parkside - Lancaster Bee https://t.co/rartOL9Tvt

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— Blooming Lotus Yoga (@ThailandYoga) January 4, 2019

from Twitter https://twitter.com/ThailandYoga January 04, 2019 at 08:42AM via IFTTT

[danalberard]

10 Places to Stop and Smell the Flowers

Although our wintry reputation often precedes us, Buffalo is one of the great garden destinations in the United States. In fact, Buffalo may have more horticulture events, experiences and sites to offer visitors than any other city in North America. Here are ten top garden spots to stop and smell the flowers this summer.

Niagara Square In the very heart of downtown surrounding the monument to President McKinley you’ll find a spectacular array of perennials lovingly tended by a cadre of Master Gardeners.

Erie Basin Marina One of the summertime centerpieces of Buffalo’s bustling waterfront is the garden adjacent to the Hatch restaurant. This is a “test” garden where different varieties of annuals are grown and evaluated. It’s also a perfect spot to grab and ice cream cone and ogle the Buffalo Lighthouse just across the river. Eriebasinmarina.org

Buffalo Central Library Plaza Located at the other end of Court Street from Niagara Square, the Central Library garden is an expansive plaza lined with a dizzying array of perennials and flowering trees set amongst some of Buffalo’s most beautiful architecture. When you’re done, walk across the street to Public Espresso for an ice coffee. Buffalolib.org

Delaware Park Rose Garden The visionary genius of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted shaped the Buffalo we know today and one of the best places to experience that genius is in the Rose Garden in Delaware Park. Stop, smell and then take a walk around Rumsey Woods. Bfloparks.org

Charlier Garden One of the most photographed stops on Garden Walk Buffalo, the largest free garden tour in the United States. What’s the story, morning glory? Well, it’s all about the shed and the Harry Potter garden. See for yourself on Garden Walk Weekend, July 28-29, or during Open Gardens Thursdays from 2-6 pm during the month of July. GardensBuffaloNiagara.com

Smug Creek Gardens This private garden, expertly designed and cared for by homeowners Mike and Kathy Shadrack, is simply spectacular. The highlight of this large, wooded property, located in the town of Hamburg, is the astonishing collection of hostas of every shape and size. Smug Creek is open to the public as part of Buffalo’s annual Open Gardens event on Thursdays and Fridays during the month of July from 10 am-5 pm. Info: GardensBuffaloNiagara.com

Shakespeare Garden Flowers, herbs and trees featured in the works of the Immortal Bard can be found in this pretty patch of literary whimsy on Buffalo’s West Side. Located in front of the Karpeles Manuscript Museum on Porter Avenue, the garden is a fitting entry into the world class collection of manuscripts and documents found inside its walls. Rain.org/~Karpeles

Silo City The towering grain silos along the Buffalo River are now complemented by a garden of wildflowers designed to attract the bees and butterflies that keep an ecosystem healthy. Check out the iconic Elevator B-Beehive, the creation of a group of architecture students from the University of Buffalo before grabbing a cold one at Duende, Silo City’s newly-opened bar and restaurant. Open Thursday through Sunday. Silo.city

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House The city’s lovely Parkside neighborhood is home to the largest Prairie House ever designed by the great Frank Lloyd Wright. A courtyard located between the main house and conservatory bursts with blooms all summer long. Come for flowers, stay for the tour. martinhouse.org

Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens No tour of Buffalo’s horticultural delights would be complete without a stop at the “crystal palace” conservatory in South Park. Perennials, annuals and trees bloom all summer long around the periphery of this spectacular Lord & Burnham building. Buffalogardens.com

The post 10 Places to Stop and Smell the Flowers appeared first on Visit Buffalo Niagara.

from Blog – Visit Buffalo Niagara https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/10-places-to-stop-and-smell-the-flowers/

[jennaschererwrites]

Prospect Park: secrets of Brooklyn’s beloved park | Curbed NY

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the founding of Prospect Park, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's other great parkland masterpiece. (There's also that big central one in upper Manhattan, but we forget what it's called.)

What it lacks in size compared with its neighbor to the north, Prospect Park makes up for in ingenious landscaping, plenty of diversions and a refreshing lack of tourists. In modern times, the park's story has been one of neglect followed by restoration. Today, it maintains many of its historical elements while also constantly revamping and evolving—just like the borough that surrounds it.

Here's a rundown of some of Prospect Park's hidden corners and interesting byways, plus the stories of a few of its stranger artifacts. (And the less said about that "aggressive squirrel," the better.)

1 Mount Prospect Park

Off Eastern Parkway near the Brooklyn Museum, you'll find a staircase that leads away from the bustle to the second-highest point in Brooklyn. (The highest is Battle Hill in Green-Wood Cemetery.) To call it a "mount" is generous—it's only 200 feet above sea level—but it served as a lookout point for the Continental Army during the Battle of Brooklyn in the Revolutionary War as they defended the Heights of Guan (now the neighborhood of Gowanus) from the British. There's not much of a view these days thanks to the buildings that have sprouted up around it, but there's now a playground and a wide lawn for lounging high(ish) above it all.

2 The Rose Garden

Not all of Prospect Park is equally maintained; one area that until recently had fallen particularly into neglect was the Rose Garden, which sadly hasn't had a rose growing in it since the 1960s. But in its heyday in the 1880s, the garden bloomed and boasted a pool with goldfish swimming inside. Earlier this summer in honor of the park's 150th anniversary, the the Connective Project to install 7,000 sunflower-yellow pinwheels in the onetime flower beds. Keep an eye on this spot: It's the focal point of the Prospect Park Alliance's new restoration project.

3 Vale of Cashmere

This extravagantly named chunk of parkland takes its title from a Thomas Moore poem about a region of Northern India. It was once a children's play area and then a formal garden, but much like the nearby Rose Garden, it's fallen into disrepair. Since then, the area has come to resemble a fairyland, with flowers and trees growing wild in an abandoned fountain. It's also held an important place in the history of Brooklyn's gay cruising scene, as documented in photographer Thomas Roma's book In the Vale of Cashmere. The Prospect Park Alliance is beginning restoration efforts in the Vale, removing invasive weeds (using goats!) before beginning reforestation in the area.

4 Lefferts Historic House

Get a peek at Brooklyn's bucolic past at this Dutch Colonial farmhouse, built in 1783 by Pieter Lefferts. Originally located on Flatbush Avenue, the house managed to survive the Industrial Revolution before it was relocated to the park in 1918 to prevent it from being knocked down. Now it's a kid-friendly museum offering an immersive experience in the 18th-century farming lifestyle, complete with candle making and butter churning demonstrations.

5 The Ravine

Deep in the center of the park, this lush woodland holds the title of Brooklyn's only forest. Olmsted and Vaux designed the Ravine with Adirondack landscapes in mind, and as such it's an oasis of winding trails, waterfalls, rustic bridges and even a small gorge. Erosion and overuse threatened the forest until reclamation efforts began in the 1990s, and now it's almost back to its former glory. If you're looking for wildlife in the park, this is the place to find it.

6 Prospect Park Carousel

This carousel near Flatbush Avenue is a few notches above your average kid's ride. Built in 1912 by master carousel maker Charles Carmel, its elaborately decorated wooden menagerie includes 53 horses, a lion, a giraffe, two dragons, and a deer with inlaid with real antlers. The carousel was restored in 1987, and can be ridden today for $2 a pop.

7 Prospect Park Dog Beach

This small area off the Upper Pool is notable not so much for its beauty but for the park visitors who frequent it: Brooklyn's endless, varied parade of dogs. Particularly during off-leash hours in the early morning and evenings, the shallows of Upper Pool are swarming with frolicking canines cooling off after a run in the Long Meadow. The beach reopened after renovations just this summer, having replaced its ugly concrete entryway with stone slabs meant to mimic an Adirondack streambed.

8 Prospect Park Boathouse

Prospect Park's water features are actually all part of one water way, from the Lake in the south part of the park to the Upper Pool in the north. Perhaps its most picturesque portion is the Lullwater, a wide basin modeled after the Serpentine in London's Hyde Park. Beside it is a 1900s Beaux Arts boathouse designed by Helme & Huberty. In addition to being rented out as an events venue, the landmarked building is home to the Audubon Center, dedicated to bird conservation. The Boathouse was saved from demolition thanks to preservation efforts in 1964, and went on to be a filming location in Martin Scorsese's 1993 movie The Age of Innocence.

9 Camperdown Elm

If Prospect Park's weirdest tree looks like it came from another time and place altogether, that's because it did. This knotty, twisting elm was donated to the park in 1872, using a cutting from the singular trees that grew on the estate of the Earl of Camperdown in Dundee, Scotland. The elm fell into neglect until it was saved from the ax and restored to health thanks to Pulitzer-winning poet Marianne Moore, who used it as a symbol to help found the Friends of Prospect Park. Moore even wrote a verse ode to the tree, in which she dubbed it Brooklyn's "crowning curio."

10 Concert Grove

The park's extensive Lakeside project, which opened in 2013, included the restoration of several original Olmsted and Vaux landscape elements that had been bulldozed to make way for Wollman Rink in the 1960s. Among the revived areas is this shady grove facing out onto the lake, which originally served as a venue for live alfresco performance. Its musical legacy lives on in 19th-century busts of composers that dot the grove, including the likes of Beethoven, Mozart and Grieg. The grove also includes the dubiously named Oriental Pavilion, designed in the 1870s to approximate a Middle Eastern architectural style.

11 Friends Quaker Cemetery

Though it's closed to the public, you can still catch glimpses inside this small, 19th-century cemetery on the southwest side of the park. Opened in 1849 by the Society of Friends, the graveyard actually predates the park and is now private land within it. Among the prominent Quakers buried here are Raymond Ingersoll, former Brooklyn Borough President, and Montgomery Clift, the midcentury Hollywood heartthrob who died young in 1966 and was buried here at the behest of his Quaker mother.

12 Imagination Playground

This playground along Flatbush Avenue is the most visually interesting of Prospect Park's kid spaces. Among its diversions is a bronze dragon that spews water; and a statue of depicting Peter and his dog Willie, characters in children's books by beloved Brooklyn author Ezra Jack Keats. As its name suggests, this playground has nontraditional structures for kids to play on, like a stagelike area overseen by a giant eye and a curling bridge that resembles a piano.

13 Lookout Hill

The best views to be had in Prospect Park are from atop this 177-foot-high hill overlooking the Lake. At the bottom you'll find a monument erected to the memory of the Maryland 400, a company of American troops who held the hill while Washington's army retreated during the Battle of Brooklyn in 1776. There used to be a wide path for well-to-do Brooklynites to take their carriages up the hill, but these days you can go on foot via a stone staircase. On a clear day when the leaves are off the trees, you can see all the way to Coney Island.

14 The Peristyle

Also known as the Grecian Shelter, this neoclassical structure on the southern end of the park was designed in 1905 by legendary architect Stanford White. (He was murdered a year after its completion.) Open to the air and held up by limestone Corinthian columns, the Peristyle looks like it might have fallen through a time portal from Ancient Greece. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.

15 Prospect Park Parade Ground

Situated at the very bottom of the park across Parkside Avenue, the Parade Ground is a 40-acre expanse dedicated to sports of all stripes, with public spaces for baseball, football, tennis and soccer. In the 19th century, the Parade Ground was used for military drilling by the Union Army and the Coast Guard. Today, it's famous for a different reason: The ballfields here have been early swinging grounds for dozens of World Series-winning MLB players, including Sandy Koufax, Tommy Davis and Joe Torre.

[michaewilliamthomas]

Buffalo blooms •▪•▪•▪•▪ ••▪▪▪•▪ #springflowers #BuffaloNewYork #botanical #blueskies #sunshine #goodafternoon #explorebuffalo #pink #igersbuffalo #RiseBFLO #newyork #spring #green #greening #photographer #landscape #landscapephotography #whatisee #nicelight #photography #getoutside #explorer #traveller #tourist #travelphotography #mycity (at Parkside, Buffalo)

[strawberriesbunni]

She’s 4 and 4/5 apples tall