Ah, nothing like getting back home after a particularly busy and sometimes stressful time. I am happy settling into my own home  with familiar stuff and views after a five day trip t o New York City.  When I mentioned to a friend that even though my life was fraught with challenges and busy-ness, but would not be canceling a long scheduled trip to NYC, she basically, said, “You are nuts.”  I thought about it and then thought , “No, a little getaway to the big city is just what is needed.

Everyone one has  places where they go to retreat and to energize.  And while I agree that lots of times, quiet places steeped in nature are the right choices for a chance to think and rethink, get a grip on life, for me a big city packed with people and energy and sounds and smells is perfect for getting a perspective.

I love the visual stimulation.  And I find that visual stimulation distracts me totally from the challenges at hand, giving my mind a break.  I meander with my camera, looking for the quirky, the odd, the striking, the humorous.  When I return to the challenges life presents,  I can approach them fresh with new ways of thinking.

Lets just take a look at some of the fun stuff that caught my eye.  I picked twelve images to share.

 First, I thoroughly enjoyed the Japanese store who has established a major presence on Fifth Avenue.  Unglio.  Great fashion.  Love the long escalators with orange handles and fact that there’s a coffee shop in the middle of the mezzanine.  The clothes are cute and inexpensive and presented in a creative fashion.  A bit like IKEA for clothes.  Worth popping into and taking a look.

So, the soccer world cup is a really huge deal.  Not being particularly sports oriented I didn’t know much about it but am learning.  It was fun to see the number of bars and restaurants promoting the games and that they had big screen TV’s  for watching.  And as we walked down the streets, we’d hear cheers and roars coming from the open air pubs when a rare point was scored.  I started taking photos of the signs in front of pubs and restaurants promoting fact they would be showing the game. and this was my favorite. Obviously one had to be “in the know.”

I can’t help myself.  I love fun and interesting stores, restaurants  and great window displays.  Here are a couple that intrigued me…..

It’s probably a cliche but people watching is the best in NYC.  So….what did I see this trip?  Lots.  But caught images of the green hair and pink bow.  Wish you could see her lace socks. Sooooo cute.  And then, not too far away, I saw this traditional Japanese lady…..and then later.  What’s with the polka dots?  Hmmmm. New fashion trend?

The weather was glorious so we meandered from the south end of Central Park up to the Reservoir near 90th.  A long walk but lots of people and activity and fun.  Baseball games.  Volley ball. Clowns.  Bubble blowing.  Laying on the grass.  Weddings.  Tourists taking photos.  Locals reading, napping and chatting.  Boat rowing.  Tons of people enjoying lunch at the Loeb Boathouse.  Hot dogs.  Street performers.  Little kids.  Big Kids. Old folks with walkers.  I don’t get tired of any of it.

Couldn’t resist trying to snap this photo through the window of F.A.O Schwartz.  Love the little girls admiring the Zebra in her Zebra print skirt.  Hope she gets to take him home.

And then the last image of the day.  We saw lots of wedding parties in NYC.  Actually on the roof top bar of our hotel, in Central Park at the Belvedere Castle and this couple in front of the Apple Store.  Do you think he is taking a Selfie?  Hmmmm.  What about his bride?  Shouldn’t she be in the photo too?  Sign of the times?

Stay tuned for more from the New York experience.  I’m thinking I’ll do a post about the fabulous Architectural Boat trip we took that goes all the way around Manhattan Island.  I may do an update on the Highline as well. Lots has happened since our last visit there.  Come back to DesignDestinations.org.

And if you have a favorite destination in NYC, please post it in the comment section to share with DesignDestination.org readers. Thank you.