237th anniversary of Battle of Long Island/Brooklyn

Today is the actual anniversary of this Revolutionary War battle in 1776 that George Washington and his troops would probably like to forget (they lost). It was their first major confrontation with the British Army, so has a special place in history. They staged re-enactments at the weekend, including down on Brooklyn Bridge Park beach, our favorite Saturday spot. Basically, after the Yanks kicked the Poms out of Boston in the spring, the Poms went back up to Canada to regroup then attacked New York with full force in the late summer. Washington foresaw this and headed down to NYC but was hopelessly outnumbered. The main fighting occurred in the Brooklyn part of Long Island (actually along the ridge of Brooklyn Heights where Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery is today). GW and what was left of the Continental Army escaped over to Manhattan in the dark of night, fled north and ran into the Poms again in Harlem and also White Plains in Westchester County and lost both of those battles too, before retreating over the Hudson and into New Jersey to safe ground. That was it for the fighting for 1776 (the war continued until 1783, and NYC was occupied by the British Army until the end). Great to see these youngsters enjoying their guns. Being as he's a US citizen, we voluntarily inlisted Xavi to defend his homeland.

Visit to 9/11 Memorial with Annie & Gerard

A&G spent the weekend with us on their way back from Europe, and we accompanied them to the 9'11 Memorial on Sunday morning. Very sad, thinking of those 3000 innocent people who went to work that morning at the WTC. The memorials are in the foot prints of the 2 towers; the new Freedom Tower is to the north of the site. (We had visited the WTC in April 2011 and the final picture was taken from the observatory on the 108th floor of the South Tower, less than 6 months before it collapsed...)

So long Summer Streets

Saturday was the 3rd and final Summer Streets for 2013. Unlike the first week, it was perfect weather for it today, sunny, fine, no wind and in the low 20's. Carmel was lucky enough to be here for it. She rented a bike from "Ciel" Bike Shop on E.65th - that was worth $1500 (their usual $250 rental bikes were all taken, and they kindly let her use a non-rental one). We cycled down Park/4th/Lafayette to the Brooklyn Bridge & back, stopping off at the La Colombe at Astor Place for a cap and chocolate croissant.

Summer vacation

We went to the North Fork of Long Island for two days/one night. It was wet the first day but nice and sunny on the second day. We stayed at a hotel at Riverhead, went to the Aquarium there, had a swim in Peconic Bay at South Jamesport (where we went was free; $35 for a one day parking permit for non-residents at the main beach), had lunch in Mattituck and called in at some farm stands along the road.

post-modern NYC fire hydrant fun

More like summer today

Unlike ysterday, it was gorgeous today. About 27 deg C mid afternoon, not humid and a blue sky. Good for running through the sprinkler at a local playground

NYC "Summer Streets" 2013

Off to a bit of a wet start this year. Xavi was in a stroller last year and only 6 weeks old in 2011. Probably be riding his own bike next year.