Snow Day

March 2, 2009: Snow Day.....for Ethan at least.  The storied institution that is Columbia University decided that higher education does not rest for snow, sleet or freezing cold winds.  Thus, with Elin off to work, I braved the cold to try and get some winter shots of the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens.

  

The storm blew through late last night and, by morning, we had about 5 or 6 inches.  The photo above is our fire escape early this morning. 

This is the sidewalk along Prospect Park West, which borders Prospect Park.

Most of the folks in the neighborhood headed out to Prospect Park with their kiddies in tow, literally, to do some sledding.  

In the summer, Elin and I sometimes sit out here on our beach chairs.  When the snow falls though, this is the most popular hill in the park for sledding.  With a gentle slope and plenty of room to stop, it seemed pretty tame compared to the hill I remember throwing myself down as a kid.  Back in my day, if the brick bunker next to the pool didn't stop you, then you had to bail out before you sailed down the second hill which was full of rocks, thorns and trees.  And city kids think they're so tough.   

It's hard to believe that softball season starts in about 5 weeks.

A scenic pond in the park.  If you look close, you might be able to make out the graffiti on the rocks (Hint: the spray paint is red).  It's all part of that New York City charm.  

Here's a guy out for a leisurely cross country ski.

This is the Nethermead Arch Bridge in the middle of the park.  

Thirsty?

This is the bridge across the pond from the Boathouse (see below).  To the right, just outside of the frame was some yellow Caution tape that had been broken.  I didn't see any arms or legs sticking out of the pond, so I assume it wasn't part of a crime scene.  

The Boathouse

The Boathouse is outside of the tunnel and to the right.  For you amateur photographers out there, I was in the classic three-quarters squat position, f-stop 4, shutter speed at 1/16...I kid.  I walked into the tunnel, turned around, and pushed the button.  Technology did the rest.    

Constructed in 1941, this is the largest book depository building in all of Brooklyn.  It's a throw back to the Cold War era when people used to go to such depositories to "rent" books.  There is no rental fee as long as you bring the book back before its due date.  It's called the Brooklyn Public Library.  Sadly, most people today refer to places like these as Barnes and Noble.  

I finally made it to the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.  Unfortunately, they are closed on Monday, so I had to make due with what I could see from the gates and fences that surround it.  This is the southwestern gate along Flatbush Avenue, one of Brooklyn's more famous but less scenic thoroughfares.  

Here is the Children's Garden as seen through the bars of the gate.

Further up the street, I stumbled upon a gap in the otherwise impenetrable berm that the city has constructed around the Garden to block the scenic views from Brooklynites too cheap to pay the cost of admission.  Clever gardeners!  Through the hedges, you can see the cherry tree grove.

The main gate to the Garden.  

Another photo taken through the bars of the fence around the garden.  In the spring and summer, this row of trellises is covered with fancy plants and flowers, none of whose names I know (sorry Clio and Diane).  

A closer shot of a trellis taken from Mount Prospect Park which sits on a hill next to the Garden.

That does it for the winter walking tour.  My hands are frozen and I'm off to Five Guys for lunch!