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Category: Beautiful Places Close By

Rochester Parks Exploration, Part 1

Seeking beauty, I am diving into exploring Rochester’s parks in a big way. To follow, pieces of beauty found and frolicked in. Ellison Park The word “lush” comes to mind. No not someone who drinks too much but teeming with green. Ellison Park is a gorgeous park. In a tree Read more…


New York Renaissance Faire (2023)
Pirate Weekend πŸ΄β€β˜ οΈ

It was time for the annual Renaissance Faire in Tuxedo, New York. This tradition bookends a season of mermaiding that starts with the preparations for Coney Island’s Mermaid Parade in the Spring. This season has been tremendously busy. But I am happy to report that I have all kinds of Read more…


And So Are the Days of Our Lives…

This year, the summer seems endless. I never know what day is and thus time is passing in giant chunks of leisure. This is my daily life right now. Until it isn’t. So I am basking. Above, an amazing tempeh rib special from Red Fern. Cornbread, sweet potato mash, pilaf Read more…


Postcards From the End
Labor Day in Port Bay, NY

It is always hard to say goodbye to summer. So I take a lot of pictures. Here are its last unofficial wisps… from sun up to sun down. A rainbow upon arrival And into sunrise… My friend in the tent because… packed cottage I made the tofu scramble in advance! Read more…


A Quick Dip in Lake Ontario
Chimney Bluffs State Park

With a goal of getting in Lake Ontario, we set out to Chimney Bluffs State Park. It was a glorious day that gave beautiful blue and green hues. All the more better to immerse oneself within… Trying to hold on to summer…


Random About Rochester

With a friend in town, we had to see some sites and we had to eat well! So first, Red Fern–with wide ranging dishes and sweet treats, it’s a vegan go-to. I took a risk on the special, the po’ boy made with battered soy curls. It was tasty but Read more…


The Always Beautiful Highland Park
Rochester, New York

Searching for more walking trails nearby, I have decided that Rochester’s Highland Park is far too beautiful and hinders sustained cardiovascular activity… given I keep stopping to take pictures of beautiful plants. Maybe it’ll be easier in the winter? To follow, some pretty things while I explored. The Paper Maple Read more…


Channing H. Philbrick Park
Penfield, New York

Looking for a place to get some steps in my new hood, I tried out Channing H. Philbrick Park in Penfield, a suburb of Rochester. It was lush and packed with green, isolated and I’ve also filed it away for a fairy shoot. Though my main mission was to move, Read more…


Cottage: Daytime

With the peak Perseids nearby, a stay at the cottage came to fruition. But we’d first have to get through the day on the bay. Luckily there is always a lot to do. Still waking up after a mad dash to quickly pack up for the stay. There were many Read more…


I Brake For Wildflowers {Mostly Pictorial}

Hitting up the local AM Vets Thrift Shop, I noticed that the road was bordered by the prettiest flowers and weeds, wild and free. So I had a little parking lot photoshoot, enchanted by their messy beauty! I love how painting-like these shots look. And I have an idea for Read more…


July ’23 Outtakes

With July’s end would be a major transition. Though I am amongst it now, its surrealism is its most prominent characteristic. Looking back just 10 days or so seems like a lifetime ago as I float, suspended in the loss of every detail of my old everyday and the creation Read more…


Goodbye Bay Ridge πŸ‘‹
Coney Island Fireworks {Pictorial}

And my time in Bay Ridge ends like it began–with fireworks on Coney Island. Summer, fireworks and being in love. These are a few of my favorite things. πŸ‘πŸ‘


The Eagles of Manchester

While in Connecticut for that ice cream I loved so dearly, I mapped out another photo opportunity as I like to do. Abandoned stuff… I would have to head to Northwest Park to access a trail to some ruins… As it turned out, I had a bit of a detour. Read more…


Mid July? Already?

And just like that July flew by… it is and will be a jam-packed month of change and finality. Here is peek into its everyday days thus far.. Through the Viewmaster looking glass… Let’s make lemonade! Making things with kids takes longer but you get all these little cute hands Read more…


The Northern Lights In New York!

With news that the University of Alaska Fairbanks Geophysical Institute was predicting the Northern Lights could be visible in New York, we set out for a night shoot facing the predicted view line. And somehow, some way, I got to see the Northern Lights for a second time in my life. Read more…


Green Lakes State Park {Pictorial}
Fayetteville, New York


Two Times at Grimes Glen Park
Naples, New York

With two visits in three days, Grimes Glen Park may just become my favorite day trip from Rochester. The easy streambed hike delivers you to not one but two 60-foot waterfalls surrounded by gorge walls. And you can step under their powerful force. Also–discovered there was a tree fossil over Read more…


A Day on Long Island

Southdown Coffee in Glen Cove was the start of a day inside Long Island’s wonders. This cute coffee shop chain does things right. This is the Granita topped with dreamy coconut whip. Avocado Toast that was absolute perfection. The delicious Chickpea Salad Sandwich: Sourdough bread with arugula, alfalfa sprouts, roasted Read more…


South Street Seaport
Manhattan, New York

After living near Manhattan for many, many years, I had never been to South Street Seaport. So with dinner in the area and the ferry after, some big boats docked Manhattan’s South Street Seaport–a historic maritime district. We boarded the 1885 tall shipΒ Wavertree. A worthwhile stop if you are in Read more…


A Stop at Narrows Botanical Garden 🌹

With another remote work day, I took a walk to the Narrows Botanical Garden, a beautiful spot a good enough walk away to get the blood flowing. After the atmosphere was so hazy, it was nice to get out and get some fresh air. The roses seemed to be in Read more…


A Goodbye to Chinatown, Manhattan

The long goodbye to New York City starts now at my favorite Manhattan neighborhood: Chinatown. Why? Well, food and colors. I picked up some sweet treats here at Bangkok Center Grocery. More on that later… Street eats from 46 Mott Street Deli, a small counter spot near Vegetarian Dim Sum Read more…


Shelling at Great Kills Park, Staten Island

Since I’ll be soon leaving the New York City area, I’m going to share some secrets. The beach at Great Kills Park is the best place to go shelling in New York City. Always plentiful with iridescent mussels and still-united bivalve shells of all kinds, as well as the occasional Read more…


Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge, Part 2

So the shore of the Peconic was completely filled with scallop shells… quite magically! I was so excited about collecting a ton as my shell haul has been dwindling. I don’t know why the shore was so plentiful, but I felt like I was right where I was intended to Read more…


Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge, Part 1

One of my favorite places on Long Island, I try to visit the Elizabeth A. Morton National Wildlife Refuge every year or so. This time was a very exciting homecoming trek with my long-time pal who is just returning to the Island and is hungry for renewed wonder. Unfortunately, as Read more…


The Roosevelt Island Tram

You’ve seen it, but have you ever ridden it? For the price of a metrocard swipe some gorgeous views of Manhattan are yours, and a bunch of tourists’, for the taking. On this pretty day I got to cross this quick activity off my NYC bucket list. The ride is Read more…


Flushing Meadows Corona Park Unisphere

The Unisphere in Flushing Meadows Corona Park was constructed for the 1964 Worlds Fair. It was a symbol of the start of the Space Age. Now it serves as a decorative landmark to the bustling park and a reminder of how much hope the 60’s had for a path of Read more…