I'm walkin' here

An update on the walking tour and other small things

Y’all, I feel like I’m literally Mark Wahlberg in The Happening right now; the trees are killing me! If you’re currently able to enjoy Spring, I’m happy for you, because my allergies said no 🥲

Death is all around us

I’m very sorry to report that I’ve had an insanely busy week at work and simply did not have time to research and write a proper BCLF. I started writing up a history of Jane Jacobs, namesake of Jane’s Walk, and couldn’t get farther than one paragraph. Ok I got a little bit farther and looked up funny gifs from The Office because she’s from Scranton, but that’s all I had in me and it just wasn’t up to snuff to publish.

So all of that is to say that BCLF is taking a little break this week…and for the next couple weeks. But it’s for good stuff, I promise! If you’re at all interested in what I’m up to IRL, then please read on for a short admin recap. And if you’re just here for the weekly posts, hang tight because I promise I’ll be back on my usual bullshit in a couple weeks.

What could have been…

BCLF 100 is obviously getting pushed out a bit, but I still want your stories! Want a taste of what’s been submitted so far? We’ve got details of a top to bottom city walk, 4th of July memories, stories of friendship and heartbreak, dance class recs, and a tip about an Italian restaurant that I am very interested in. BCLF is just my weird little corner of NYC, but I’m excited to share other folks’ perspectives because there are a million ways to experience this city.

First life admin thing: My Jane’s Walk is a-happenin’ on May 2, 3, and 4 at 11am and I want to take some time to focus on making it the best (and maybe only?) walk about stuff in sidewalks that it can possibly be. I’m catsitting a sweet, but very sick, girly this weekend and I plan on really hunkering down and doing my research in between doling out kitty meds (cat photos to follow via Notes, duh). The whole Jane’s Walk roster is live as of today - peruse the whole schedule or sign up for my walk below.

I’ll also be hosting a friends/fam walk on Sat April 19 at 10:30am. This will be a totally lowkey test walk where I’ll be able to try out some talking points, get feedback, and hopefully learn how to not walk too fast. It’s an open invite - bring a friend, I’d love to see you there!

Second life admin thing: I finally submitted all of my info to register to take the NYC Sightseeing Guide Exam 🤓 I’ve been lucky enough to meet a few people who have taken the test and lived to tell the tale and the tale they told me was to make sure that I study. I would really love to start my Jane’s Walk tour off by introducing myself as Registered NYC Tour Guide Eden and taking some time off to study exam-specific stuff instead of random tiles embedded into the sidewalk will help make that happen. Also I loved this animation that SNL made a couple weeks ago - it’s so accurate 😭

If you can’t stand the idea of going a couple weeks without BCLF, may I recommend checking out the Big City, little index? I’ve got everything I’ve written about in the last 2 years(!) catalogued in there for easy reference. There’s some oldies but goodies in the mix so don’t sleep on that archive!

I might still come through weekly with events because I just come across so many fun things and I’d hate to keep them to myself!

• Studio 45 in Bushwick is having a Bake Sale later this month on April 20 (no, not that kind of bake). There’ll be pastries, cakes, cookies and apparently they’ll also be passing out free beer in case you’re in the mood to get turnt at the bake sale.

• Impersonator contests have officially reached their peak as The High Line is hosting a freakin Pigeon Lookalike Contest on June 14. Yes I know that’s a ways away, but if you’re feelin coo’ enough to throw your feathers in the ring, you need to apply now (deadline April 19). This is part of a larger celebration of Iván Argote’s artwork, Dinosaur—the striking 17-foot-tall aluminum pigeon sculpture on the Spur—and National Pigeon Appreciation Day. The daylong festival celebrates and honors pigeons, birds, urban ecology, public space, and monuments and visitors will enjoy a wide array of free activities, including family workshops, carnival-inspired games, talks on urban ecology, and musical and artistic performances.

• I’m trying to get my shit together to have a little garden on my rooftop this season and if you’re also hoping to be acquire a green thumb this year stop by The Met Cloisters for their annual Plant Sale on April 19! Their horticulturists will be on hand to help you select medieval garden-inspired plants and how fucking cool does that sound? BRB gonna grow my own plants and brew up some potions.

• If having a green thumb simply eludes you year after year and you’re finding yourself sharing a home with a bunch of dead plants, I’ve got something for that too. Root in Peace would like to help you hold a funeral for your dearly departed plants on April 19. There will be a DJ (of course), coffee (of course), and you can get a funeral portrait taken of you and your crusty plant for the memories.

• The Alamo Drafthouse workers in NYC are still on strike and I have been falling woefully behind in my moviegoing (still watching at home - finally saw both Top Guns!). I was so happy to learn that the creator of How To with John Wilson will be opening a new movie theater in Ridgewood. No official date yet on when it’ll open, but keep an eye on 70-11 60th St, Ridgewood - once you see the lines around the block you’ll know it’s time.

• Ok this sounds hilarious - Flood Sensor Aunty is a play about “a flood sensor working at her aunt’s chai shop who really wants to be a movie star.” The play is one part comedy, but also one part actual informative disaster prevention info. Lucky for you they have 6 free performances on the calendar for April!

• I know Cherry Blossoms are all the rage right now, but apparently there’s also a pretty sick Tulip Garden on the UWS! The West Side Community Garden will be hosting their annual volunteer-run tulip festival from April 12–April 27 - and it’s totally free to pop in and smell the roses tulips.

• Great news for my fellow Drawing Room fans - they’re opening a second location in Williamsburg! Yes I wish it was more in my backyard in Bushwick, but I’ll take it. Head to the link to RSVP for their pre-launch park party and grand opening party in May.

• And finally, excellent news for people who poop: NYC might actually finally have a plan for building more public bathrooms! I can’t recommend

  NYC Politics 101
  piece on public bathrooms enough - it will demystify why the hell we don’t have anywhere to poop privately in public and you’ll also be able to identify different public bathroom models by name, which will surely be a great party trick in certain company.

Signing off for a bit, but I’ll see ya soon!

Shoutout to Sheri for sending me this pic of a Toynbee Tile spotted near Washington Sq Park - looks like an original one to me which is, frankly, exhilarating.