Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Saturday, December 5, 2020

NEW RULES: VIEWING THE ROCKEFELLER CHRISTMAS TREE IN 2020

 

Yes, you can visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree in 2020 - but you need to know the "New Rules. _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes"

Note: Photos in this post are from my archives. 

If you've been wondering if you can visit
the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree this year,
while the pandemic continues to rear its ugly Covid- head,
the answer is YES.
 
But.......you'll have to know the *New Rules* before you go.
 
There will be no selfies in front of the tree 
with you and 25 of your Besties.......
 
And, no dilly-dallying trying to get the perfect Instagram-worthy picture.

That said, it will still be fun to go, if you can.
In fact, it might be a very good idea to see the tree this year, 
as city streets are likely to be less crowded than usual.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

PIERMONT PIER: THE FALL EDITION

 

 

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 

 

 

As you may or may not have noticed, my presence in Blogland, and by extension,  social media, has been near non-existent these past few months. 
I fear I've fallen so far off the blogging radar screen, 
that  I should change my brand name to.......
 
Ms. Toody Who? Shoes. 
 

I keep thinking about ending my blogging career,
but I'm not ready to give it up just yet. 
I guess I should just accept the fact 
that I'm probably going to post once or twice a month, at most.
 
 Every time I consider hanging up my "out of business" sign, someone says,  
"I read your travel post about blah-blah-blah, and you really inspired me to go,"
or
"Your itinerary was so helpful."
 or
"I'll never get to go there, so thanks for taking me along virtually."
 
 And that, folks, is what makes me keep on keepin' on,  albeit sporadically. 

Not to mention, it's kind of hard to sustain the brand of being a travel blogger,
when a world-wide pandemic comes along.
I know we're all in the same Covid boat which is docked at home right now, 
but I do wonder when we'll be able to travel again.
 
Like everyone else, my travel radius has shrunk to a close-to-home range.
 
Over the summer, I discovered the Piermont Pier
in Piermont, NY, literally fifteen minutes away. 
Remember I showed you that, here?
I went back in late October to see the views in all their autumnal glory.
I don't know what I was thinking, as I picked a pretty foggy day,
and could barely see the fall colors across the Hudson River.
 
Back in the old days, I would have had this post up in a timely manner.
Here it is, almost six weeks later.
I place the blame 100% on Joanna and Clea from The Home Edit.
Thanks to my infatuation with their show on Netflix
(and their two books that I ordered, and read at warp speed),
I've been so busy rearranging my drawers and cabinets,
there's no time left for blogging.
I'm so deep into home organization  mode, 
that dinners have been late to the table,
laundry has sat for hours in the washer,
and FaceTime calls to friends have been pushed aside,
so that I can rainbow-order every single thing in my house
(rainbows are their signature, FYI).
 
If it wasn't for the fact that I need to buy some storage bins
for my next big project.......the office.......
I probably wouldn't have posted this fall edition of the Piermont Pier until spring.

Timely, it's not.
Pretty, it is.......if I do say so myself.
 

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
 
Piermont Pier is an easy day trip from New York City | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes



Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
🦃 🦃 🦃
Next year, may we all celebrate with extended family and friends.

Stay safe!
😷 😷 😷
 

 






Thursday, October 29, 2020

YESTERDAY IN NEW YORK: IN A FOG

 

 

The Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center in NYC, are beautiful no matter the season. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 

I almost forgot that I had an appointment in the city yesterday morning.
It was on my calendar, but for some reason I had a mental block against it.
You might say that I was in a fog.
 
Fortunately, I remembered the night before,
and set three alarms to make sure that I got myself out of bed.
 
I woke up to a rainy and foggy day. 
 
Drat.
 
It's never fun walking around in New York when it's raining, 
but it's downright miserable when I can't hang out in a coffee shop, 
or pop into a store to kill time before my appointment,
because of my own personal restrictions  due to the pandemic.
 
Fortunately, by the time I arrived, there was only a light drizzle,
which allowed me to pull out my camera, and walk around midtown for a bit.




Directly across from St. Patrick's Cathedral
Atlas holds up the heavens on his shoulders.




Last fall, I wanted to go to the Observation Deck, but kept putting it off.
If only I knew then that a pandemic would put that visit on hold for a very long time.

NBC Studios at Rockefeller Center, NYC | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


The Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center are decked out in fall splendor,
seemingly oblivious to Covid-19.

The Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center in NYC, are beautiful no matter the season. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 

The Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center in NYC, are beautiful no matter the season. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
 


The Channel Gardens at Rockefeller Center in NYC, are beautiful no matter the season. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes 
 
Saks Fifth Avenue (seen above-center, and below) has its Christmas outfit on, 
ready and waiting for holiday sightseers.
 
Saks Fifth Avenue is a must-see holiday site in New York City. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
 FAO Schwartz, the toy store renowned the world over,
is stocked and waiting for shoppers.

FAO Schwartz, in Rockefeller Center, NYC, is one of the most famous toy stores in the world. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
 
I'm happy to report that there was a little more life in midtown
than the last time I was there back in July .
It was pretty empty, as most businesses based there
continue to have their employees working from home. 
(For those who are unfamiliar with the city's neighborhoods,
midtown is primarily a commercial district, not a residential area).
Rockefeller Center was still deserted, but then again,
it was raining.
Clearly, midtown Manhattan has not recovered yet.
New York City as a whole has a long way to go.
 
 HOWEVER.........
Contrary to reports that Manhattan is a ghost town,
or besieged with  violence,
well, it's just  hogwash
(and on this particular day, fogwash).
I  assure you, the Big Apple is alive and well.
On recent trips to the Upper East and West Sides,
which are primarily residential areas,
neighborhoods were bustling - looking almost normal.......
 with kids going to school, and plenty of folks enjoying outdoor dining 
(myself included), biking, running, walking, and shopping.
 

 And almost everyone was wearing a mask.........
even Atlas.

Atlas at Rockefeller Center is one of the most photographed sites in NYC | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


 
 Back on the Jersey side of the Hudson River,
the George Washington Bridge,  enshrouded in fog,
was a photo opportunity too irresistible to pass up.

George Washington Bridge | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Apologies to bloggers I haven't visited lately.
I'll be by soon.
 
And hopefully, it won't be another month until my next blog post.
 
Stay well.....And VOTE!




 

 

 

 

Friday, September 4, 2020

PHOTO DIARY: QUARANTINE SUMMER 2020

 
 
Wooden Fence _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
Summer always goes fast,
but that's usually because it's filled with fun activities that make the weeks race by faster than a cheetah on a Red Bull diet. 
There are barbecues, beach days,  family reunions, picnics,
 outdoor concerts, amusement parks, pool parties,
blockbuster movies, county fairs, baseball games........

Sigh.

Considering that this was the summer of "Groundhog Day," 
where  everyday was pretty much the same,
I'm kind of stunned that September got here so quickly.  
 

Thinking back to late spring, one of the coldest I can remember,
it seemed like summer would never come.

It actually snowed on May 9.
 
Photo Diary _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
But come, it did, and gone it is.

In May and June,  most of my time was spent in the backyard.......

Backyard Oasis _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Backyard Oasis _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Enjoying time on my deck.......

Backyard Oasis _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
Watching the birds......

Backyard Birding: Hummingbird   _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Backyard Birding: Hummingbird   _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
And admiring the flowers in my yard.

Lilacs and Ladybug _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Flowers _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


My only excursion was to the garden center.
It seemed fairly benign, 
as it was easy to social distance in wide open spaces.

Garden Center _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Life actually felt somewhat normal while I was planting flowers.......
 
Flower Pots _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Petunias and Marigolds _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
I did take walks around the neighborhood,
sometimes spotting little tokens of inspiration.

Painted Rocks _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
Eventually, I was desperate for a change of scenery.
There were only so many backyard bird photos one could take.

At first, I would only venture as far as the local park.......

Park Bench and Egret  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Geese in the Pond  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Egret  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
It felt odd seeing everyone out in their masks, trying to find a sense of normalcy.
However, there were reminders that things were not normal at all.
Parking capacity was limited.......
 
Parking Lot  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
 

and playgrounds were off limits

Playground closed due to Covid 19  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
Then, as if Covid-19 wasn't enough to rock our world,  we were shaken to our core, 
as was much of the nation,  with the killing of George Floyd. 
 It was important to us to show our support.
 
Peaceful Protest  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
On July 4th, there were no barbecues, or fireworks. 
I needed to go SOMEWHERE, 
and it was wonderful to discover a new place really close to home.
 
Piermont Pier, Piermont, NY  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
 
 
In July, we finally felt safe enough to go to New York City
and catch up on a bunch of postponed doctor appointments.  
It felt both wonderful, and terribly sad to be back.
 
Lexington Candy Shop, an old-fashioned luncheonette, New York City, NY  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Times Square in times of Covid-19,  New York City, NY  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Rockefeller Center,  New York City, NY  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
 
 
We took rides to here and there.......
 
Bear Mountain Bridge, Peekskill, NY  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Red Shed  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Greenhouse - Cold Spring, NY  _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
Another new discovery was the State Line Lookout 
on the border of NY and NJ overlooking the Hudson River.
We've driven by literally thousands of times,
but never stopped to take a look.......

State Line Lookout - Alpine, NJ _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


We had a couple of outings to the quaint village of Cold Spring, NY.......
 
Quaint Village of Cold Spring,  NY _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
And we drove past Yankee Stadium, where they played ball to empty stands.

Yankee Stadium, New York City _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
As the transmission rate of Corona virus in the tri-state area of NJ, NY and CT 
dropped (and has stayed) below  1%,
we felt safer going out to outdoor restaurants that were strict about  
social distancing, disinfecting, and enforcing mask-wearing. 
 
It felt great to be back at one of our favorites, Half Moon, in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
 It overlooks the Hudson River, and New York City is visible  in the distance.
 
Hudson River Views from Half Moon Restaurant, Dobbs Ferry, NY _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Now it's September, and before we know it, the weather will turn cold,
limiting our ability to dine outside, have social distance visits with friends, 
or sit in a park.

 
I wish that Coronavirus would just Exit Right.

Corona Ave. Exit, New York _ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes