20: Gramercy Park

This week we had the pleasure of going to Gramercy Park and the neighborhood surrounding it, which was new to both of us. I guess I should say we went around Gramercy Park, because it is the only private park in Manhattan, and we are not one of the lucky few key holders.

As we approached the park, Meg was still super excited. This is before the feelings of disappointment and injustice settled in.

A few tidbits about Gramercy Park.

We peered longingly through the gate for quite a few minutes. Until a key-holder approached, said "excuse me, ladies" and entered the park, quickly locking the gate behind him. :(

This is an especially pretty New York park - the landscaping is gorgeous. We were really jealous of everyone inside.

Meg took it all pretty hard. As we circled the park, she became more and more disappointed.

There are a limited number of keys each year, available only to the residents of buildings that face the park - it is a pretty posh neighborhood, and a historical district. A lot of famous people have lived in the private brownstones surrounding the park. I liked the birdhouses here - even they have cushy pads.

By now, Meg is really feeling left out. Check out this pink tree! It must be even better on the other side of the fence. There were quite of people in the park working on their physical fitness (lots of old people in particular), and Meg asked one elderly couple, a little too loudly I might add, if she could have their key when they died. We also contemplated buying one of those roll-up fire escape ladders to scale the fence.

Here are some of the fancy brownstones facing the park.

The neighborhood around the park had some pretty trees as well, so we made do. We love spring!

Meg still felt the need to take out her frustrations on this parking meter.

Here she is in front of the Players Club and the National Arts Club. I read that the National Arts Club is known for giving members access to a park key. Maybe we should join?

Here is a statue of Edwin Booth, an Shakespearean actor and one of the neighborhood's most famous residents. He is also the brother of John Wilkes Booth, Abraham Lincoln's assassin, and his former home is now the Players Club. That is the Chrysler Building in the background.

We could not figure out what this statue is to represent. Any thoughts, interpretations?

We were fans of these knights standing guard in front of another fancy residence.


Meg with fire fingers. We really like gas lamps.

This guy lived in the cool building pictured below.


Just a shot of two large apartment buildings facing the park.

"Now this is how you do vines."

Things are getting really green around here.

19th Street, one block south of the park, has some interesting buildings as well. This one had two cute white porches.

This building was Megan's favorite on the block by far. If she lived here and was giving you directions to her place, she said she would just say, "I live in the cottage with the red door on 19th Street." There was no other building like it.

The whole street was super cute and had a lot of character.

Meg was fond of the lions guarding this entryway.

See the resemblance?

This was the end of the Gramercy Park walk ... so we now return to the NYC parks we are allowed to enter. :(

But we are not done! Have you ever been to the 23rd Street subway station on the N/R/W line? It is fabulous! It has tons of fun hat mosaics - you can read what it's all about here. We took this opportunity to let the crazy out a little bit. I'm not going to comment on all these photos - no explanation needed. Enjoy!

(this one is my favorite)

Not our most flattering photo, but can you tell we had a great time? I think this is the best 5 minutes I've ever spent waiting for a train.