Hello, my name is Amanda. I enjoy long walks on the beach and relaxing with a good book in the park.
Actually, no – that couldn’t be any further from the truth. I have never been able to really appreciate nature with the distraction of defecating pets, uneven grounds, and the occasional inconvenience of an enforced open container law.
Now, I’d like to introduce Park Here, the Nolita “pop-up park” in Openhouse Gallery. This indoor venue at 201 Mulberry is complete with artificial trees, Astroturf, benches, and a hammock. Being the only one of my friends to have the day off from work, I jumped at the opportunity to discover a space that collectively, we wouldn’t have survived but three minutes. So I threw a pair of denim cut-offs over my leggings, found my "most outdoorsy" pair of shoes, and headed for Mulberry and Spring.
Much like a real park, Park Here boasted all of the telltale signs: distracted PTA moms, an awkward first date picnic, a knitting hipster… except this park had Savage Night at the Opera escaping its artfully hidden speakers, a hushed BYOB policy, and promises of risotto tater tots.
Nevertheless, as soon as I'm finished writing this piece, I'll have to depart from the squealing toddlers and preoccupied mothers. It takes a certain kind of person to enjoy a park of any variation, but I am not quite ready to speak with them yet.
Post by Amanda LaMela
