A Sunday Adventure

Today was beautiful, but a little cool, not quite beach weather. We decided go go someplace I had been wanting to visit for about thirty years, the Socrates Sculpture Garden in Astoria. We took the subway. One of the nice things about taking the subway out to Queens is how spectacular the views are.

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We walked several blocks along Broadway and passed an astonishing array of restaurants representing the cuisines of  nearly a dozen countries.

We got to the Socrates Sculpture Garden. Unfortunately they were between exhibits. But it’s a such a pretty spot sort of half way between being industrial wasteland and being a beautiful bit of nature.

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We could just spot Columbus Circle across the East River.

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I never thought that I would ever eat grapes that I picked next to an abandoned factory in Queens.

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I loved how this rock looked like wood.

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We then walked the block and a half or so to SAM_2804

the Noguchi Museum. But first we stopped off at Costco which was across the street. Their liquor store was having tastings of cucumber vodka, a very fancy tequila and  an aged rum. They gave us tastings of each one on their own and in a small cocktail. We were in a very good mood when we went into the museum.

The Noguchi is a great place to go after a difficult experience, say like after sitting shiva, or a bad break up. It’s a very soothing place.

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There were times when I preferred the wooden supports to the sculptures themselves.SAM_2823

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We were then ready to go. The museum shifts your understanding of objects in space, so you leave the museum slightly different than you were when you went in.

This taxi garage/repair shop is a block or two away from the museum.

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I loved the shapes that our shadows made on the sidewalk.

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Queens is full of anomalies like this sweet house

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that is next to a factory building. SAM_2834

A few blocks further east we came upon this treasure of a building. You have to look past the Rite Aid signage.

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I love the nautical themed decoration. I have no idea what this building might have been in it’s previous life. SAM_2838

We ate a spectacular dinner at a Greek restaurant and then came home after a delightful day.

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