Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Paley Park

Certainly there has been plenty written about Paley Park, on 53rd Street between 5th and Madison Avenues. I'm not going to add to that material, but did want to post a photo in case readers are unfamiliar with it.


The park is beautifully simple; essentially a cube facing 53rd street, with ivy, rotational herbaceous plants and honey locusts. The wall of water at the back of the park - as every landscape architecture student quickly learns - was a brilliant gesture. The white noise it provides drowns out the sounds of city and profoundly adds to the sense of peace on has when sitting on the Bertoia chairs.


Right next door, you can also get a glimpse of NYC's own piece of the Berlin Wall and maybe snap a photo.


Paley Park occupies the former site of the Stork Club, a famous club in operation from before prohibition until the mid-60s. Honestly, I wouldn't have even noted this, had it not been for the fact that I'm catching up on Mad Men. The episode I watched last night included a party scene there.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, that park is gorgeous. Now I know what I'm doing the next time we actually have nice weather.

Unknown said...

This is a find. Thanks. The water must be lovely white noise for the city park. Chicago has a lot of this in the Millennium Park.

Bay Area Tendrils said...

I am so addicted to Mad Men, it's pathetic!
Just sent you an email. Take care, Alice

Unknown said...

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Invertir en oro said...

Wow! great blog. I know you went surfing one past New Years Day, so this is sans wet suit, san boots, gloves hat and so on. Congrats.

Viagra Online said...

I'd like to go there and taking a coup of coffee because I feel so identified with the environment that place has, specially because of the graffiti on the wall.