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Then we went inside the\nUrban Farm, a large garden where veggies and herbs are planted and tended by kids\nand adult volunteers. School groups visit so kids can see that food isn\u2019t just\nsomething wrapped in plastic at the supermarket. The harvested results are\ndistributed among various area schools where they are cooked and eaten. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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There is a massive statue of Giovanni da Verrazzano, born in Florence, Italy, who explored the U.S east coast searching for a passage to the Pacific Ocean. He didn\u2019t find it but did find New York Harbor, hence the bridge named after him with a very pricey toll. One version of his death recounted by our guide is that in 1582, he went ashore, possibly on Guadeloupe, where he was killed and eaten by the native inhabitants. (mumbles of yummy navigator around the table?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We visited the Labyrinth where bricks form seven consecutive circles in memory of those lost on 9\/11. Anyone may walk the circles that invite meditation or sit on the beautiful curved bench in this slightly out-of-the way, peaceful mini-park. Continuing on our route, we passed The Korean War Veterans Monument that has a silhouette in the shape of a soldier cut out of its center. Originally you could see though the figure to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island beyond but the Parks Department has insisted on letting trees grow obstructing that view. At the water\u2019s edge is another sculpture honoring the American Merchant Mariners who lost more lives in WWII than did any other branch of service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The work, by Marisol, shows two men at the top and a third in the water, his hand outstretched in the hope of rescue. Not to be, he drowns twice a day as the tide comes in. When I visited the tide was going out so his head and shoulders were exposed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Castle Clinton was later\nknown as Castle Garden. After it was a fort, it became the first U.S.\nimmigration station (before Ellis Island.) As time moved on, it morphed into a\nbeer garden, a theater (where Jenny Lind and P.T. Barnum strutted their stuff),\nan exhibition hall and the New York City Aquarium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Towards the end we walked past the Seaglass Carousel. Shaped like a chambered nautilus, for $5 a shot kids and adults can ride big fish that glow and play music. Or, if you\u2019re in an expansive mood, rent the whole Carousel for a party (and please invite me.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am not about to offer a recipe for roast explorer. Instead, here\u2019s one for Waldorf Salad, said to have first appeared in NYC in 1893, created by Oscar Tschirky, the ma\u00eetre d\u2019h\u00f4tel of the Waldorf Astoria hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Waldorf\nSalad<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 Tbsp\nmayonnaise (or plain yogurt)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 Tbsp lemon\njuice<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1\/2 teaspoon\nsalt<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pinch of freshly\nground black pepper<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 sweet apples\ncored and chopped (i.e. not a tart Granny Smith.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 cup red\nseedless grapes, sliced in half (or 1\/4 cup of raisins)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 cup celery,\nthinly sliced<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1 cup chopped,\nslightly toasted walnuts<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lettuce<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a medium- sized bowl,\nwhisk together the mayonnaise (or yogurt), lemon juice, salt and pepper.\nStir in the apple, celery, grapes, and walnuts. Serve on a bed of fresh\nlettuce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you want more heft, add chopped, cooked chicken. I\nsuppose you could drink lemonade but a nice, full white wine would make a more\nfestive lunch. Raise a glass to Peter Minuet. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Although I\u2019ve lived in NYC my entire life, I\u2019d never visited The Battery at the southernmost tip of Manhattan. In the area after a meeting at the New York Landmarks Conservancy where I volunteer, I went on an excellent, free … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/marigoldonline.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Merchant-Marine..jpg\")
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