Fire Island: Anyone Heard of Point O' Woods?

20 June 2015

Fire island is well-known for its no automobiles rule, gay community, and "no clothing allowed" beaches. Unfortunately the weather was not as planned, during our weekend stay, and I couldn't walk Samuel down to the gay, nudist beach. Although, I did get to know the area in which we stayed at called Point O' Woods (POW for short).   

POW is like a step back in time, a small, untouched beach community where the cottages are all made of dark-washed out cedar. The cottages of sandy dunes! There were great gates (we called them "the wall" from game of thrones) that kept this community preserved and gave it a small-town feeling. The only sound that could be heard in POW is the distant rumbling of the waves crashing on shore.

Our friend whose house we stayed at seemed to know everyone in POW, as we biked past other kids and families on the island she said "hello" to everyone. In her home, there are black-and-white faded photographs of family members from years past. Her grandfather met her grandmother on these pearly-white sand dunes. I feel her connection to this part of the world.

On our bike ride of POW, we passed the town center where a wooden, beachy, stained-glass church stood in the dunes, unlike any architecture I have seen before. Besides the boardwalk and mini railroad used to carry freight and luggage, there was no signs of roads. You can spot the occasional white tailed deer prancing through the yards of residence, if you look carefully enough.

On our ferry ride from the island back to mainland, the salty taste wind whipped around us as we waved goodbye. Until next time Fire Island!

See ya CT >> Hello PA!

17 June 2015

After finishing the school year yesterday, getting the car serviced, seeing all my doctors for check-ups, and packing my life into the Subaru, I am all set to head to Philly! I am excited for this new chapter in my life. I know it will have its ups and downs, but with the right motives I know I can make it a positive experience. As I write this post, I am reflecting on my past experiences each place I have lived I find a piece of myself. That being said, I hope I find a piece of myself in Philadelphia. Stay tuned for the adventures!
PHILLY HERE I COME! 

OUTFIT DETAILS

cami >> shop @ urban outfitters

jeans >> shop @ lord & taylor

Cycling to New Exhibits

31 May 2015

This weekend Samuel and I explored Center City Philadelphia. We used bikes from the newly installed Indigo bike share. It's $15 for a monthly pass, however we just used them for $4 per 30 minutes. We begin in Fairmount.

Fairmount district is located in Northern Philadelphia. The streets are lined in cozy and residential town houses. The sidewalks are layered in chalk patterns, designed by neighborhood children, I suppose. Cars along the streets convey license plates of numerous states, indicating that either this region is diverse, or it is graduation weekend. On each corner there is a warm bakery, speakeasy-style restaurant, or local mom-and-pop’s store (closed because it’s Sunday).

We exert steady force on our bike pedals and cycle toward Old City.

Old City district is located in Eastern Philadelphia. There is more movement here. Larger restaurants and dive bars reveal a younger crowd. Businesses showcase their prized possessions in their windows. Buildings look as though they are part of a college featuring the performing arts. We decide to ditch the bikes and take it by foot. The large streets are broken up by narrow, peaceful cobblestone roads. These noiseless, secret roads can only be disturbed on foot.

Once hydrated from the cities liveliness, we hop back on the bikes and head toward the Art Museum. On our way we cycle through the City Hall. While inside the City Hall’s courtyard, I experienced deja-vu, reminding me of how early American architecture is heavily influenced from European styles. We continue down the avenue hemmed with flags from across the world, which test my skills in geography. It’s not until we reach the art exhibit do we return our bikes for good.

The Saint Gobain 350 has put on a traveling exhibition called the Future Sensations. I am a giddy child as we stand in line to enter one of the five structures. There five different structures each represent a different sensation: look, listen, color, create, and discover. I choose the Art of Matter Pavilion (“create” sensation). Samuel looks at me quizzically and amused as we stand in line to enter an alien-like white structure. The structure looks like a perpetual spiral staircase and our experience comes to life as we enter it. Music, lights, lasers, smoke form above us and we are on a screensaver roller-coaster. Needless to say Sunny Samuel Sundays in Philadelphia are never dull!