travel

My First Visit to New York City

December 19, 2022December 21, 2022Sheila LoringLeave a comment

Visiting New York City had always been a dream of mine. So many of my favorite artists lived there — Rothko, Rauschenberg, Frankenthaler. I dreamed of visiting the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the Met to see all of the grand art I’d studied in college. And I admit that my obsession with Sex and the City influenced my travels there.

When one of my favorite Broadway plays hit the scene in 2014, I could no longer procrastinate. I booked an AirBNB special in the hip artsy Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn off Varet and Bogart. It was fine for $60/night. Perfect location, close to the metro, quiet, and relatively safe.

Here are a few of my favorite photos. Visit flickr.com for more.

Reflections from the Lisa Perry store on Madison Ave.

Zoe Leonard’s camera obscura at the Whitney museum

Poster for Hedwig and the Angry Inch at the Bellagio

Zoe Leonard's camera obscura — Zoe Leonard exhibit at the Whitney

Taken from the High Line walkway in Chelsea

Mom's motto — Mom’s motto (and quickly becoming mine)

St. Augustine Beach, Florida

December 13, 2015December 13, 2015Sheila LoringLeave a comment

Thanksgiving with Mom.

Capturing the moment

September 8, 2015September 22, 2015Sheila LoringLeave a comment

I take pictures to capture the moment — to share the moment with others or to revisit the moment myself. Technically, the photos might not be perfect, but they perfectly capture thoughts and feelings for me.

Taking pictures at Duke Gardens, I was on my way to the parking lot and discovered this beautiful gazebo and sculpture, lit up in vivid colors. Staff were strategically positioning the multi-colored lights in the gardens, preparing for a party. The colors remind me of a Wolf Kahn painting.

A sublime sunset on Myrtle Beach at Christmas, one of the best times to visit. The beach is practically vacant. Just put on a sweatshirt, hat, and gloves for a brisk walk. It’s not my favorite beach, but I enjoy shopping at the outlet malls.

My grandma and me in 2006. She had moved into a retirement home called Gran Gran’s when she could no longer live alone. The owner’s mother lived there, so the place was well maintained. Grandma always had a cute little laugh. My bracelet is from Primadora in Austin.

The sheet happened to form the shape of a flower. White cotton sheets remind me of spending the night at Grandma’s house during the summer. It was my home away from home.

Secluded windows at the Vatican. What’s on the other side? Who peered out over the centuries? All kinds of questions come to mind.

A great photo of Jessica hang gliding in Kitty Hawk. Judy, Pamela, Evelyn, Jenny, Jessica, and I enjoyed a weekend full of memorable adventures.

I walked by this woman in Pune, India on a humid 100-degree day. Wearing just a thin dress, I was drenched in sweat. How did the woman feel wearing this outfit? At least she could bare her toes and wear sandals. That religion is NOT for me.

At the Pompidou Centre in Paris, this installation is called Plight by Joseph Beuys. I scrunched down and entered the most peaceful room imaginable, lined with bolsters of warm felt to absorb the sound. Imagine the sound of nothingness. Such a sense of comfort and relief in the middle of the noisy city. I could have stayed there for hours. You’re probably not that impressed. Trust me, the sensation was amazing. Read more about the work at tayandhergay.blogspot.com/2012/11/plight-by-joseph-beuys-….

Jim, a visiting scholar at Duke divinity school, passed by with his family as I took pictures of the old Colonial Inn in Hillsborough. We talked about the house and why I found it so fascinating. I said “I’m feeling so much now”, to which his sweet daughter replied with a puppy dog “Awwww”.

The remnants of vegan tiramisu at Blossom, the best vegan restaurant in NYC. A must for both vegetarian and open-minded omnivores. Check out the Chelsea location menu…cashew cream ravioli, mushroom calamari, hickory barbeque tempeh. My next trip is in the works!!!!!

I’ll never forget the eerily quiet sensation of being nearly alone in Central Park. Several inches of snow muffled the sounds of Fifth Avenue. What an unexpected experience.

In May at Butchart Gardens on Victoria Island, thousands of tulips were blooming, tulips of every color you can imagine, all mixed with contrasting flowers (like these forget-me-nots). I felt like I’d been transported to some perfect psychedelic alternate reality. Robert Butchart was in the cement business and moved to Victoria for the abundant limestone. His wife Jennie followed a few years later and began gardening, though she didn’t know much at first. I’m sure glad that didn’t stop her.

My family’s dogs enjoy being fed human food from human utensils. Here, Buddy chomps down on banana creme pie at Thanksgiving. So spoiled…and unhealthy.

Star’s first time on the bed. She was so darn cute and cuddly. I let her have her way in subsequent visits but only on the bedspread. No dog hair on the sheets, please.

Star and I lazed on the bed a lot before bedtime followed by lazing in the bed at bedtime. I remember her corny basset hound smell (I called her “taco girl”, among other things) and that shiny red coat. She was a beautiful girl.

My mom and I visited Charleston, South Carolina in 2008. This photo is from the nearby Cypress Gardens. I love the reflections of the trees in the swampy water.

Airbnb apartment in the Village

August 25, 2015October 5, 2015Sheila LoringLeave a comment

I’ve spent perhaps my last night in an Airbnb apartment.

During this, my third Airbnb experience, I stayed in a small apartment in Greenwich Village. The location couldn’t have been better. Macdougal Street near the Comedy Cellar and dozens of restaurants and little shops — including my fave Ben’s Pizzeria. One block from Third Rail, a great coffeehouse that serves Counter Culture coffee. Two blocks from Washington Square Park. Three blocks from the subway.

One of the fun things about travel is the element of surprise. You get lost and end up seeing the sun set behind a row of brownstones. You come across a parade or labor union strike, perfect for taking pictures. Or you happen to sit next to an old friend from home at a play.

I like surprises.

This Airbnb apartment offered one too many surprises. The small curtained shower, located in the kitchen, was not designed for a modest guest. How one would undress discretely in this main room of the apartment to step inside the shower remains a mystery. Still, this wasn’t the end of the world.

The toilet was in the hall — not a hall in the apartment, rather, the hall of the apartment building. A toilet in a tiny locked closet of a room. This wasn’t clear in the ad. It was inconvenient, but again, not the end of the world.

I draw the line at strangers opening my bedroom door. The guy sounded as shocked to see me as I was to hear him gasp. This happened to me at a previous Airbnb apartment, except the bedroom door there had a lock so the guy didn’t get in.

Airbnb is hit or miss in my experience. Some surprises are more acceptable than others.

People of San Francisco

July 27, 2015Sheila LoringLeave a comment

Walking around in the Mission District, I came across this young boy asking folks to sign a petition to provide health care to the poor. He seemed so sweet and sincere.

This is my favorite photo from San Francisco. I passed these two ladies somewhere in the Mission District and wanted to take their photo. They didn’t speak English, so I held up my camera and smiled. The mother lit up and sat down with her daughter. Their smiles. The little girl’s frizzy ringlets and red nails. The sequin heart on her shirt. I love everything about this photo. I wish I could have asked them some questions, but alas, I only know English.

“I used to be handsome,” the street vendor joked when I asked to take his photo.

In Muir Woods, this boy sat watching his sister and mom fighting. His sister did something to revoke her cell phone privileges. As they argued, he cried, “STOP! STOP!” I felt so bad for him.

I just wanted a picture of the Lenny Kravitz lookalike in the foreground. The yawning guy snuck into the frame, which I didn’t realize at the time.

Homeless man in San Francisco

July 11, 2015August 1, 2015Sheila LoringLeave a comment

Mom and I met in San Francisco in July 2010 to tour Napa Valley. We spent a day driving around the San Francisco area, visiting John Muir forest, Fisherman’s Wharf and, of course, City Light Books, former literary home of the Beat writers. Three floors of Heaven, the site of Allen Ginsberg’s historic reading of Howl. Such a rich history. Imagine who stepped into that bookstore in the past — Kerouac, Neal Cassady, Burroughs!

One morning I wondered around the Cyril Magnin and Ellis area as dozens of people rushed to work. I wanted to take a picture of one of the homeless folks asking for money. The toothless woman was belligerent, so I decided to move on.

Then this guy came along. Not sure how I introduced myself to a homeless man. Perhaps “Hey, do you mind if I take your picture?” sufficed. I asked a few questions about how he got there, the answer to which consisted of the words “Fresno,” “prison,” and “parole.” He moved slowly and seemed so worn down, poor guy, and understandably so. Sand peppered his beard, as if he’d been sleeping on a beach. I wanted to know more if he cared to talk but felt I’d worn out my welcome.

He’s holding the only money I had with me.

On traveling alone

July 3, 2015December 2, 2016Sheila LoringLeave a comment

Friends ask me what I like about traveling alone. I’ve enjoyed it so much, I wondered myself. Am I a closeted misanthropist? Why not spend these great moments with a friend?

Here are a few of my favorite aspects of solo travel:

The ability to get lost in the sights, sounds, and sensations around me
The freedom to do what I want at a moment’s notice
The sense of accomplishment at finding my way alone, relying on Google Maps and my questionable navigational skills
The gratitude for surviving scary moments alone

Solo travel drives home the silver lining of being geographically lost. In Pune, India, I walked off the beaten path near a popular shopping area and found myself the only white American girl in a Muslim neighborhood. Sadly, I know little about the Muslim faith other than through sensationalized stories on the news.

Stern men, congregated outside the houses, stared as this lone woman wound her way through the streets, trying desperately to remain calm. My heart beat madly even after finding the main road. How thankful I was to feel safe again.

The stern men most likely wondered how this stranger ended up in their neighborhood. Here’s the “beaten path” I enjoyed exploring before wandering off.

Neighborhood I enjoyed *before* walking off the beaten track

I traveled to India with a friend, however, wandering around alone was essential.

Getting lost in the moment is essential for taking good photos. I can take pictures with friends, but I want to be with them, not trying to capture the moment with someone or something else. For example, walking down Madison Avenue alone, I escaped into the reflections of this Ralph Lauren window display.

Capturing the moment is most satisfying, whether I’m alone or with someone else. I was sitting next to Jessica near the Vatican when this photo presented itself.

A moment with the pizza guy in Rome — A moment with a stranger in Rome

Another Airbnb adventure, this time on the Upper East Side

June 13, 2015June 13, 2015Sheila LoringLeave a comment

Aimee and I spent a long weekend in New York City in May. We both love art and wanted to see the Whitney Museum of American Art in its new Chelsea location. The new building has spectacular views of Manhattan. If you’re forced to visit (say, with a friend or partner), spend your time enjoying the views from one of the balconies or inside on one of the comfy couches overlooking the city.

View from the Whitney Museum of American Art

In An introduction to NYC from Airbnb, I described my first Airbnb adventure in a $60/night room with a shared bathroom. This time, because I was sharing the expenses with Aimee, we splurged on an apartment on the Upper East Side. The apartment was on Lexington near 72nd. We passed dozens of expensive clothing stores and restaurants to get there.

The apartment was sandwiched between Swifty’s restaurant and Lexington Gardens floral/antique shop. The narrow glossy black door opened to two flights of steps and a 500-square-foot apartment. Two spartan rooms and a renovated bathroom. A teensy kitchenette with a small refrigerator occupied one corner of the front room. I figured this was the typical Manhattan apartment.

People spend thousands of dollars a month on such tiny living spaces, surrounded by elegant restaurants and clothing stores they can’t afford to step into. What’s it like to have those constant reminders as you walk to and from the subway every day?

Aimee and I walked alone from the Theatre District to the apartment on 10 p.m. Friday night. Businesses and even restaurants had closed.

The apartment was clean, quiet, and safe. Only $250/night. The tiny apartment in this sleepy area is fine if you rely on the rest of the city for food and entertainment. Visit Airbnb to take a look.

Stay tuned to read about my next Airbnb experience in Greenwich Village, one of my favorite areas in Manhattan.

An introduction to New York City through Airbnb

June 11, 2015June 27, 2015Sheila LoringLeave a comment

My first trip to New York City, and I chose to stay in a $60/night room in Brooklyn through Airbnb. Google Maps and Street View showed me a desolate world of graffiti-lined warehouses and a trucking company. I couldn’t imagine being safe walking those streets at night from the subway to the apartment. What had I gotten myself into? The owner insisted that it was safe, so I took my chances.

Tiny room I rented on Airbnb in Brooklyn

The room turned out to be one of several off a common area and kitchen, all sharing a small bathroom. The only other inhabitant was some guy in the next room who came in after 11 p.m. and coughed all night. One night I heard him jostle the door handle on my room, trying to see if I were still there. I tell myself he just wanted to know if the apartment was empty, not that he wanted to do me any harm. He could have easily broken down the flimsy door.

Those graffiti-lined warehouses had been converted into stores I’d find at home — a health food store like a mini Whole Foods, a coffee shop, wine store, restaurants, etc. And the famous Roberta’s pizza was just around the block. This being Williamsburg (though near Bushwick), the streets were filled with young “hipsters” in their skinny jeans and tattoos. I felt perfectly safe walking alone three blocks from the subway to the apartment at midnight. (Yes, I went alone very happily! I’ll write more about solo travel in another blog.)

Graffiti-lined warehouses turned into "hip" little stores. — Graffiti-lined warehouses turned into “hip” little stores.

Every morning, I’d walk a few blocks to the L at Morgan and Bogart and ride 20 minutes to Manhattan. I spent all day walking, taking pictures, and discovering places that would become my favorites. Washington Square Park and Greenwich Village. Strand books. Ben’s pizza. The dimly lit Bemelman’s bar at the Carlyle Hotel — magical moments with an incredible dirty martini and a live pianist playing Gershwin. Stumptown Coffee. The Whitney, Met, and MOMA. The Gargosian art gallery. Central Park. By the time I got back to the apartment late every night, I was spent. Garbage trucks at 1 a.m. every morning didn’t keep me awake.

Would I stay in this $60/night apartment with a shared bathroom and invisible roommate again? No, but it sure made for a memorable introduction to New York City.

My first afternoon in Central Park, I happened across this protest, a great opportunity to take pix.

Life Revealed a Way

travel

My First Visit to New York City

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St. Augustine Beach, Florida

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Capturing the moment

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Airbnb apartment in the Village

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People of San Francisco

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Homeless man in San Francisco

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On traveling alone

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Another Airbnb adventure, this time on the Upper East Side

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An introduction to New York City through Airbnb

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