Cycling The City

Apparently, tomorrow will be quite the crowd scene at the Empire State Building: Couples get married en masse every February 14th at the ESB. They get married on the 80th floor, receive free admission to the Observatory, and become members of the building’s “Wedding Club.” Valentine’s Day is the only day you can get married there.

Are they kidding???? This I learned from BuzzFeed, so it's got to be true: "It is a misdemeanor to fart in NYC churches. " Cannot stop laughing.

And we think the subways are crowded at rush hour! Up until World War II, everyone in the entire city who was moving apartments had to move on May 1.

How did I miss this while pedaling across the Bridge? (Perhaps I was too busy yelling at pedestrians to get out of the narrow bike lane.): Similar to the infamous trend in Paris, the Brooklyn Bridge is home to a vast number of “love locks” that can be found attached to the bridges cables, fences and pipes. Bearing messages of love and commitment, the bridge contains locks of every shape and size. However, many love birds have taken it a step further by attaching everything from bras, shoelaces, and scrunchies to police tape and whatever else they can fasten onto the bridge. In an effort to clean up the garbage, city-cleaning crews have cut down over 9,000 locks since October 2014.

How bout a refreshing visit to you private wine cellar, right a the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge: In addition to the other hidden rooms mentioned in yesterday's post, you will also find a spirited secret beneath the Brooklyn Bridge. Near the Anchorage lies several chambers which once served as wine and champagne cellars that were rented to shop owners to help finance the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. In 1901, you could rent a vault for $5,000 a year on the Manhattan side, or $500 a year for storage on the Brooklyn side. Cheers!

How great to stroll across the Brooklyn Bridge, then shop, dine and dance till you drop! On the Brooklyn side of the Bridge lies eight brick-vaulted rooms, boasting cathedral ceilings and a gorgeous, Gothic design. While the space was intended to be used as a series of ballrooms, music venues, and art spaces in the middle of a busy shopping arcade, it closed shortly after 9/11 due to safety concerns.

More on our beloved Brooklyn Bridge: After the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883, many people were afraid to use the bridge, due to concerns about its stability. Several weeks after the official opening, a woman got her heel stuck in one of the planks on the Bridge. (That still happens in the cracks of the sidewalk when I'm in high heels!) Her cry for help made those around her think the bridge was collapsing and unfortunately started a stampede that took the lives of 12 people and injured countless others. In order to convince the public that the bridge was, in fact, structurally-sound, P.T. Barnum led 21 elephants, including the infamous Jumbo across the bridge in May 1884.

OK, now I know why the bike lanes are always clogged with walkers: Manhattan’s daytime population swells to 3.94 million, with commuters adding a net 1.34 million people.

Fascinating, but rather gross NYC fact: Albert Einstein’s eyeballs are stored in a safe deposit box in the city. But WHERE is the box held? When were the eyeballs lasted checked? Clearly, if I am speculating on this, it is a lazy Sunday, wishing a NY/NJ team was playing in the Super Bowl.

You know all that gold bullion held in the vaults beneath the Federal Reserve Bank in lower Manhattan, well guess what is happening street level in NYC: There’s a man who mines sidewalk cracks for gold. He can make over $600 a week. Nice!

I guess my huge can full of loose change cannot hold a candle to this: another NYC tidbit: The Federal Reserve Bank on New York’s Wall Street contains vaults that are located 80 feet beneath the bank and hold about 25 percent of the world’s gold bullion.

NYC is overflowing with Martin Luther King Day celebrations: From what I can see, this one promises to move you in many ways, including dancing in the isles:

Brooklyn Academy of Music; Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 2015, 1/19, 10:30 a.m., bam.org

Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams and Medgar Evers College will present the largest mega celebration in New York City honoring Dr. King’s life. A keynote address will be given by author and educator, Dr. Cornel West for this annual jam-packed day of free events that include musical performances, book signings, a film screening and art exhibit.

Another NYC factoid: Women may go topless in public, providing it is not being used as a business. REALLY???? Plus, it's waaay too cold right now.

As a follow-up to my earlier NYC discovery that Madison Square Park, Washington Square Park, Union Square Park, and Bryant Park used to be cemeteries: There are 20,000 bodies buried in Washington Square Park alone. WHERE, EXACTLY??

More NYC facts: It can cost over $289,000 for a one-year hot dog stand permit in Central Park. Wow, and I thought my rent was high!

NYC, lots to discover: Madison Square Park, Washington Square Park, Union Square Park, and Bryant Park used to be cemeteries. Who knew?

New mollusk trolling Williamsburg.

Really it is Birdbath Bakery pedal on down you get 15% off

My dear friends Kate and Anna found this [I'm guessing on FB!], and if you don't take into account nut jobs who run lights, how true it is: "The bicycle is the most civilized conveyance known to man. Other forms of transport grow daily more nightmarish. Only the bicycle remains pure in heart. -Iris Murdoch, writer (1919-1999)

Keep Riding! More Bicyclists Means Fewer Accidents, New Study Shows

Yea! I knew it: Safety in Numbers! Now if we can just get our fellow bikers to ride in the direction of traffic. (OK, OK, and not run red lights.)

care2.com Researchers at University of Colorado Denver show that the risk of bike collisions decreases the more cyclists there are.

Williamsburg? Elegant? It still surprises.

Cronuts: Eat your heart out!

Momentary cloud cover. Makes a dramatic view even better as we rolled through Brooklyn.

Another pit stop at Archway Cafe un Dumbo. Devine sandwich: prosciutto, Fontina, balsamic and greens!

Head down to the West Village, Barrow St and environs. Great artsy street fair. Adults, kids and bikes abound! Great music too.

Riding ip riverside drive. Bitdhouse at 161st street. Gorgeous bird condo with river views.

I'm back! Through the snow and sleet, big ole tires on the mountain bike, I'm prepping for the new spring rides of Brooklyn.

A glance over the railing as we ride over the GW Bridge. Can you see that "tiny" jet ski? It was movin!

Peeking through the leaves, during a pedal through Jersey, at the GW Bridge. How gorgeous is that bridge??

Downtown Boathouse

Free Kayaking is still making a splash on the weekends through October. It's a blast and no experience required!

The world's largest free kayaking organization

The Babe Quotient in DUMBO was off the charts today! Michael and Sam are pretty good too.

Day full of painters, painting in public. Lower East Side