Friday, July 30, 2010

5 For Friday

It's Friday!! The heat and humidity here in NYC has broken and it's going to be a beautiful day! Woo hoo! What a great way to start the weekend!

I apologize in advance, this edition is somewhat New York centric.

1. With the great weather we're going to have on Saturday, it's the perfect chance to go kayaking on the Hudson River! For free! Check out the Downtown Boathouse, with locations at Pier 40, Pier 90 and 72nd St (so, technically not all downtown) and take a kayak for a spin in the river!

2. A few interesting and encouraging facts about farmers markets in New York: there are 450 throughout the State, 135 of which accept food stamps. In 2008, food stamp sales reached $197,041 but increased to $595,126 in 2009. While it is sad to think that so many people are depending on food stamps, it is encouraging that those people are using them to buy healthy foods and support the local economy. In NYC, 27 markets currently accept food stamps but another 13 will by September. (courtesy of the Wall Street Journal) Click for lists of markets in NYC and around the country.

3. There was a very interesting opinion piece in the New York Times on Sunday by Eric Schlosser ("Food, Inc.," Fast Food Nation) that I urge you to read. "Unsafe at Any Meal" is about the safety of our food supply and a very important bill that is stuck in Congress. This is something we should stand up for and make sure our representatives know it's important to us.

4. Woody and I are moving!! Our application was accepted last week for an apartment in the Financial District! It will be weird to live so far away from Central Park and have to get on the subway to get to races, but after 6 years on the Upper East Side I'm excited to explore a new neighborhood and enjoy Battery Park and the West Side Highway for my runs! The building we're moving into is a converted bank building that was built in the 1930's! Not excited about the whole packing thing, although it will force me to get rid of some of the magazines I've stockpiled and donate a lot of clothing I haven't worn for years, which are both good things.

5. Next Saturday is the start of Summer Streets in NYC. In it's third year, the event runs for the first 3 Saturday's of August from 7am-1pm, shutting down Manhattan streets to cars and giving free reign to runners, walkers, bicyclists, roller bladers, elderly couples who sit on their lawn chairs in the median on Park Ave eating their breakfast and watching the commotion, fitness class enthusiasts, people picking up free helmets, and more. It's a great event that Woody and I have taken advantage of the previous two years. I mean, how often do you get to run down Park Ave and through the Met Life Building? Check out the website for more details and a map of the route.

Check back tomorrow for a food post. Lots of delicious meals have been coming out of our kitchen lately!

Two questions -
1. What do you think about the safety of the food we eat? Is it something you think about when you're grocery shopping?
2. What's on tap for your weekend?

************
workout stats -
rest day!

11 comments:

Jocelyn said...

ooOOOo thanks for the info about kayaking! Super sweet! Congrats about the new apartment!! :)

Running Through Phoenix said...

That area is nice too by the water -easy access to SoHo, Chinatown, LI, going North for a change!

hbobier said...

You make me want to move to NYC. Minnesota is nice, yes, but I do love New York.

Congrats on the new apt, too! So exciting.

This weekend will be spent poolside, and maybe we'll convince our friend to take the boat out again! :)

Robyn @ Wannabe Writer Runner said...

I love your NYC-centric posts! Congrats on the apt. I think you'll like it down there! Pearl/Stone street is wonderful this time of year. All the restaurants have bench style tables on the street outside and Adrienne's is delish.

Maureen Lisa said...

Everything sounds so exciting!

Kayaking sounds awesome Kyle would love to do that. Maybe I'll try to surprise him with that one day soon.

I was just lost right where you are going to move ha I love NYC and I'm glad you've been enjoying it. That running in the AM sounds awesome.

JLT said...

hi! i found your blog through jocelyn's which i found through someone elses running blog.

i think bpc is also awesome for running. i lived there for 3 years when i moved to the city and never ran in the park, always did the highway and the east side.

also- i too LOVE summer streets. i think its so fun and i think it really puts people in a general good mood!!!

i also read that article in the nytimes and was amazed. i dont know who we kid but our food supply is not safe, we dont place enough attention on quality vs. efficiency AND we subsidzie the completely wrong markets (aka corn vs organic and non engineered)

anyway i'm adding your blog to follow!
runjltrun.blogspot.com
- jen

Raquelita said...

Moving is exciting but the actual logistics are such a pain in the ass! I'll be excited to hear about your new digs and running routes.

I'll probably spend most of the weekend exploring my new little town and trying to get my dog adjusted to her new home.

Gina; The Candid RD said...

I can't believe it but I have not yet been to a farmer's market this year!! I need to go.

I did my thesis on fresh vegetable food safety, and my adviser was the OSU food safety "guru". I think our food supply is somewhat scary, but if you take the proper precautions there isn't much to worry about. The problem exists in young children, elderly, and immune-compromised individuals. They really need to be careful and learn the proper steps to take to stay safe.

AM! said...

Do you and Regina @ Chiu on This blog know each other? B/c I swear ya gotta meet. you two are my touch stones to the East Coast;-)

Christy Ashley said...

How exciting about your move! My classes are in the Financial District and some things fell through with my UWS apartment so now I'm living in the East Village! I moved in yesterday and live super close to the Union Square Farmers Market! When I get back from my vacation this week, we should meet up there sometime and grab coffee afterwards!

Julie said...

yay for moving! I'll be excited to come visit some time and explore a new part of town!
And also yay for your return to running! Looks like you've got a great plan going. I made the tough decision last week to pull out of the Richmond marathon and just do the half. I'm still disappointed, but I know it's the right decision to help my hip heal and let me get my life together. If you're up for a half in November, I'd love to have visitors!!!