Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

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

Monday, April 27, 2020

"SAY YES" TO BETHESDA FOUNTAIN: CENTRAL PARK, NEW YORK





Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain




Do you have a "guilty pleasure" TV show?

Mine is "Say Yes To The Dress."
The series started 12 years after I got married,
so I missed my opportunity to be on the show.
Darn. 

However........
I did get my wedding gown at Kleinfeld's!
Yup, I did, back in 1994, when they were still located in Brooklyn.
 
Randy Fenoli was not my sales associate (darn, again),
but I did find a dress that I loved.
Would I pick it again, now, 26 years later?
Probably not.......my bling factor has increased dramatically over the years.

 At the time, this was the one that made my heart beat faster.
I said YES to the dress! 

And, by the way........
we just celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary!

I intentionally cut off Mr. GS' head in the photo since he's camera shy).


One of my quarantine activities was binge-watching Say Yes To The Dress: America.
In Fenoli's words, it's Say Yes To The Dress on steroids.
52 brides were selected from each state, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico
to take part in a group ceremony at Central Park's Bethesda Fountain.
The nuptials happened in July 2019, and the series premiered in January, 2020.
(You can watch it on TLC here, and check out the Instagram page, here.)
Randy officiated, and bridal designer Hayley Paige served as "America's Bridesmaid."


Waaaaaay before I knew anything about this series,
I had some time to kill while in the city, so I walked over to Bethesda Fountain, 
which many say is Central Park's crown jewel.

That was back in October.......when life was still normal.

There are so many places to love in Central Park.......
The Pond, Bow Bridge, Strawberry Fields.......
But there is a reason that Bethesda Fountain is called the heart of the park,
and there's no question why this iconic landmark 
was selected to be the Say Yes wedding location.

Bethesda Terrace, which leads to the fountain, can be found by entering the park at 
72nd Street (from either the east or west side) and walking towards the center of the park.

It's impossible to miss this grand architectural structure, which was completed in 1863.

Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Two staircases flank the terraced arcade.
The long flight of steps to the right of the archways 

is the one the brides walked down to meet their grooms on the plaza.

Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Say hello to Angel Of The Waters.

Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain

 
Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


The views from the upper plaza are beautiful........
but more eye candy is found inside the arcade.

The Arcade at Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


The Arcade at Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


 Although there will undoubtedly be a social media influencer doing a photo shoot 
inside the arcade, the ceiling is Instagram-worthy in its own right.
It is the only ceiling in the world to be adorned in Minton tiles from England.

The Arcade at Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


The Arcade at Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain abuts The Lake.
(I know, the name is just about as clever as The Pond, which I showed you here).
What can I say? 
New Yorkers like to get right to the point.

Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


The Lake is almost always filled with row boats, 
which can be rented at the Loeb Boathouse.
The champagne reception for the Say Yes brides was held inside.
You don't need to personally know Randy Fenoli in order to get married at The Boathouse.  
Weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and other events are regularly held there.



Loeb Boathouse is also a restaurant, so you can enjoy it
without exchanging wedding vows, or reciting your Haftorah.
Personally, I'd like to say "I do" to a Boathouse Margarita at the outside bar.

I've never eaten there, but I just may have to make a reservation 
once quarantine life is over.



Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain


If you have to choose one spot to visit out of all the spectacular places in Central Park,
Say Yes to Bethesda Fountain!


 





Bethesda Fountain in NYC is considered to be the crown jewel of Central Park | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes #centralpark #bethesdafountain




The Pond: Central Park




An Autumn Afternoon in Central Park


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11 comments:

  1. Amy, you take me to places I've never been, even though I have been in Central Park - the tourist version. This place is amazing, and built in 1863? That's during the Civil War, the year my state was separated from Virginia and made the 35th state of the Union by Abraham Lincoln. Hard to believe construction during a period of destruction, isn't it? Btw, I love your 1994 dress, and would wear that now, I like that style so much - very classy. We've been binge-watching Netflix, currently All American series, which is very good. Stay well, thanks for sharing this jewel.

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  2. Your dress was beautiful. I love all the places you take us too with your posts. Hope you are safe and well. You live where that virus is so horrible. Stay well.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  3. That does look like such a pretty area and I recognize it from so many movies.

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  4. Wow, what a beautiful area that I would love to visit. Thanks for sharing it with us.

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  5. I think your dress was lovely and so were you in it! Beautiful photos all, here. I find myself looking at many of my past travel journeys and hear others doing the same. There is something comforting about remembering where we've been when we can't go there anymore.

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  6. What a beautiful virtual trip to Bethesda Fountain in Central Park! Thank you for sharing so much information about the area, and the architecture. Quite intriguing to think the tiles were brought from England on the roof of the arcade! You captured such beautiful views of this place! I wonder if it is as packed with people now? You take remarkable photos... and a sweet picture of your wedding dress! Many blessings to you :)

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  7. Hi Amy, I took a buggy ride around a 'section' of Central Park back in 2015 but I do not remember the fountain. Thank you for these beautiful photos. You looked lovely on your wedding day and you haven't aged a day ... really! Take care, Joan

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  8. Wow, another great spot in NYC that I have not been too yet! It looks gorgeous and your photos make it look so inviting. I will have to ask my "tour guide" why he hasn't taken me there yet!

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  9. I have never been to that fountain believe it or not. I will have to visit it once this quarantine is all over! You looked so pretty in your wedding dress and happy anniversary Amy. Thanks for this tour of the fountain. Take care and be safe.

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  10. What a beautiful place! I had not known of it before reading your blog! Congratulations on number 26 - wishes that you double that number and then some! xxx Jackie

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  11. What a beautiful dress, Amy, you looked gorgeous.
    Amalia
    xo

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