Friday, May 9, 2014

Springtime Love in New York City


I had a chance to visit Brooklyn as a guest of the A Slice of Brooklyn Tours, as part of a special combined Pizza and Brooklyn Tour, when I was in New York in April. As part of the tour, we strolled along some beautiful parts of the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood. The hyacinths were in full bloom, the trees were in bud and many homes had spring flowers growing in their flower boxes. (All photos can be enlarged if clicked on)


I always feel a nostalgic whimsy for the brownstone homes in this area of Brooklyn.



They are very well kept and very expensive to buy these days.


Much of the borough of Brooklyn has undergone a renaissance and is now considered a chic place to live.


I guess I will have to keep my dream of living in one of these houses as pure fantasy--especially now that I live 1800 miles away in Colorado!


Manhattan was also in bloom--tulips on Park Avenue, lilies in Rockefeller Center, trees in blossom everywhere and a cute doll dressed for April showers in the American Girl Place store of Fifth Ave.


Love is certainly in the air during the Spring season and that is especially true in New York!  Do you see all the locks on the fence along the Fulton Landing in Brooklyn? They are called "Love Locks," and were placed there as part of a growing trend. People in love place the locks on the bridge and then throw the key into the water, as part of a testament of their eternal love for each other. This has been a trend mainly in cities in Europe, and you can read the story of how it began herebut the custom has now found its way to New York City.


A close up of some of the locks.  

Our tour guide told us that the NY Parks Department and/or the Department of Transportation comes around occasionally to remove the locks on the fences and on the Brooklyn Bridge, as it is considered an act of vandalism.  He also joked that the people who used combination locks may be worried about keeping a long term commitment (smile).  What do you think?


One thing for sure--my husband and I don't need a love lock--we will be married 40 years this fall!  I think it is safe to say that our commitment will last forever.  Another New York City post coming up next time ...come back soon!



Have a very Happy Mother's Day!



I

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49 comments:

Skye said...

looks like a nice time at your stomping grounds! so pretty! Bet you missed it :)

Pamela Gordon said...

It was nice to see Brooklyn in the spring. It really is a beautiful part of NYC. Thanks for sharing your photos of your visit. Have a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day. Pam

Nellie said...

Pizza, Brooklyn, brownstone! Great!

Beverly said...

Pat, I am so glad you shared your visit home with us for Pink Saturday this weekend. Thank you for making Pink Saturdays special.

I know you must have enjoyed every minute of your trip. I am always fascinated by the brownstones, too. These look gorgeous.

We will be celebrating number forty-four in September. You and I have both been blessed with a wonderful marriage.

Wishing you a wonderful Mother's Day with your family.

Anonymous said...

Happy Pink Sat.!! Wow what a fun, fun, fun visit in your old stompin' grounds!! The flowers are gorgeous. . .and I also love those brownstones!! Maybe you guys need to get a time-share brownstone there!!! That sounds like the perfect answer to your dream...without having to leave your CO home and family!!

Have a great Mother's Day!!

L, Dana

Sarah said...

Pat, I've always been charmed by the brownstones too, but living in one would only be a dream for me.
Thanks for sharing all the pretty spring color in NY.
Happy Mother's Day! Congratulations on 40 years of marriage. We celebrate 39 years this summer.

Lynn said...

The pics with the window boxes are gorgeous! Happy Mother's Day Weekend Pat-enjoy:@)

eileeninmd said...

Hello, Pat! Happy Mother's Day! The brownstone and the flowers are lovely..Thanks for sharing, have a happy weekend!

podso said...

Beautiful pictures of NYC! Love those brownstones. Interesting about the locks! And that they throw them away (the DOT)

Margaret said...

Wishing You a Very Happy Mothers Day too Pat! A Beautiful Spring Post! Those brownstones are magnificent. I loved seeing some of Brooklyn and Manhattan again thru your eyes :) Looks like you had blue skies for exploring :)That is an awesome photo of you and your husband by the Love Locks. Happy 40th Anniversary soon! Ours will be 29 years this fall. I enjoyed reading about the history of the love locks. I remember seeing some on a foot bridge crossing over the Seine to the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. I am looking forward to another New York City post! Margaret from B.C.

Michelle said...

Those Brownstones really are majestic homes. I have no doubt you enjoyed your visit back to NYC!

The Gathering Place said...

Your photos remind me of one of my favorite movies, "You've Got Mail." Not sure if it is even the same area of New York, but it is lovely. Beautiful time of year-beautiful city!

Elaine said...

Brooklyn looks beautiful and reminds me of my home city of Boston. Your photos are wonderful.

I hope to go to Brooklyn and take that pizza tour. It sounds fabulous!


Judy said...

Beautiful pics of NYC once again...and you always throw in some interesting facts as our tour guide! Happy Mother's Day to you as well!

bj said...

I love those brownstones...Mr. Sweet wouldn't want to live in one...too close to the neighbors. :)

Vee said...

A sweet photo of the couple who threw the key away long ago! Aren't those window boxes amazing? I love them!

illini89 said...

makes me want to move to new york city!

Sharyn Sowell said...

What a fun post! I'll be there next week so you have really inspired me. Mostly work but there's always time as you walk from hotel to the Javits. Thank you for the inspiration this morning! LOOOOVE your blog even though I seldom comment. Hugs all the way to Colorado!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

I didn't know that" love lock" trend had hit NY. No, safe bet that you and Vinny don't need one!!!

Michele said...

i also love the gorgeous homes you've photographed! looks like you had a wonderful trip. happy pink saturday and happy mother's day! xo

Mrs4444 said...

What a gorgeous day for such a tour--I loved your photos. I've only been to NY once (far too long ago!) and hope to return one day. Thanks for sharing :)

Proud Italian Cook said...

Every time I see brownstones I think of Moonstruck, that home was so beautiful inside, they are all so cool looking!

Hazel said...

It's great to see "Manhattan in bloom." Mostly I see the city associated with business and finance stuff.

Lina Gustina said...

Beautiful and expensive homes. Enjoying all of your shots :)
www.1sthappyfamily.com/2014/05/busy-weekend.html

SmilingSally said...

Hi Pat,

What a good tour guide you are! I enjoyed hearing the background on the locks of love; I know that there's a bridge in Paris like this. Johnny and I celebrate 56 years this July 7th. Thanks for sharing today.

Have a Happy Blue Monday!

Lesley said...

Our trees have just come into leaf over the weekend - I can't believe you saw so many flowers and blossoms in April! The brownstones look quite elegant.

Little Wandering Wren said...

Hi Pat
There is always so much to do and not enough time for all that New York has to offer. I enjoyed your tour around Brookyn and we didn't explore it much although we did visit to watch the Brooklyn Nets play which was fun.
Happy Blue Monday
Wren x

Mary Lee said...

I'm so glad you and your camera go back to NY sometimes.

I've always wondered. . . aren't brownstones dark inside?

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

It's true brownstones basically have windows only in their front and back, Mary Lee, but many New Yorkers live in apartments and are used to less light. Most brownstones also have skylights on the upper floors, which helps. Their interiors are often so beautiful, with lots of high quality parquet floors, moldings, carved staircases and woodwork. Just exquisite!

Black Jack's Carol said...

Lovely post, Pat, with each spot beautifully photographed and described. The brownstone homes remind me a little bit of an area in Montreal (where I lived for many years) near McGill University. Those homes have probably gone way up in price now as well. They certainly have a romantic charm to them. And.. congratulations on 40 years with your hubby :)

Rajesh said...

Beautiful shots of the place. I like the facade of those buildings.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful shots of New York in spring.

Fun60 said...

It is a year since I was in New York and your photos have made me desperate to go back!

Jackie McGuinness said...

We were in NYC last September and i want to go back!!
Love locks are appearing here also. There are petitions in Paris to stop them as they are considered unsightly.

Anonymous said...

Oh ...how much I'd love to live in one of those brownstone houses!!! About the locks, we ahev a bridge here in Parma full of them too, they're removed at times but people leave them again and again...
I just celebrated our 30th anniversary....no locks for us neither!

Claudya Martinez said...

The brownstones are gorgeous. I haven't spent much time in Brooklyn. I had no idea love locks had come to NY.

Barb said...

Thanks for these New York photos - I haven't visited in too many years. Both the flowers and the pizza sound good to me! I love the restored brownstones.

annie said...

Wonderful photos. You have a real talent Pat.
I will be in the city this coming week to see a play with my daughter and friends.
My daughter used to work in the city and misses doing so quite a bit but we get in a lot.
Hope you had a wonderful mother's day.

Unknown said...

Great tour!! Boom & Gary

Al said...

Pretty spring photos from the big city. I've read about those love locks in France - they have to cut them off periodically!

toby said...

What a fantastic, all encompassing post! I really like those Brooklyn windows.
Thanks so much for linking up at WWDD! And congratulations on your anniversary :)

Yogi♪♪♪ said...

I wouldn't consider it vandalism. It is king of a graffiti though although one that doesn't appear to hurt anything.

Congratulations on 40 years!!

Daniela said...

To see the nature coming back to life in Spring framed by ancient and new buildings is really wonderful !
Thank you my dear, your post are always so amazing, it's such a big pleasure to come and visist you !!!
Sending hugs
Dany

P.S.: You husband and you are a so beautiful couple <3 !

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

What a beautiful flowery place the CITY is in the Spring -- I would never have dreamed that. Thanks for showing a side of NY that I didn't dream of.

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

Pat, Thank you for these photos of my old stomping ground--Brooklyn Heights! We loved living there, in both brownstones and the wood framed ones you have shown. Ours were on Remsen and Hicks Streets. They weren't really so very dark inside because the windows are huge! Funny, I never thought of that issue. The real issues were plumbing! Even the buildings which are renovated somehow had problems, mostly because of the old city pipes. I must go back down and visit -- you have inspired me. Linda

Light and Voices said...

I am bedazzled by your photos of NYC dressed up in Spring colors. Thanks for sharing!
JM Illinois

A Bit of the Blarney said...

Son and his family are in your great city this week and are sharing wonderful pictures too!!! WOW!! Wishing you well! Cathy

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I always love seeing your gorgeous photos of New York, Pat. The brownstones in Brooklyn are beautiful and I have always felt an affinity to them even though I've never been there or seen one in person. I'm a more a small town girl, but I think I could live in one!

Tracy said...

Oh, look at all those brownstones... *swoon*... So glad you had a chance to get back "home", Pat... so lovely to see NYC in springtime leaf and bloom. :o) Look forward to more from your trip... And 40 years--we'll look forward to your celebration too! Happy Days, my friend--and thank you so much for your VERY sweet & kind comment at my place. Blogging is such a rich thing and has given me so many blessings & friendships (like yours!), so I won't be stopping any time soon. ;o) ((HUGS))