Breaking Traditions (First Leg of East River Stroll - Fifth Chapter)

We're back...and still walking, which is pretty much no surprise given the theme of this blog.   We're down on LES (Lower East Side) on a warm, bright and lovely Sunday in early June (unlike the drizzly, too-cool evening I'm writing this in early October).  

The good news was that we'd finally found our way to the East River-side and were now following a much improved path that was hugging the shoreline. 

Not that the view of this particular section of Brooklyn/Queens - I think it's the Greenpoint section - was very inspiring.   Mostly the remnants of New York's industrialized past and some fairly common high-rises holding out hope for the area's future (stalled, unfortunately, by the not-yet-over financial fiasco). 

Even worse, our delight in finally being at the water's edge would be short-lived, when we saw a fence blocking the far end of a perfectly lovely-looking path.  

Foiled, again, by the civic powers-that-be.  So, once again we're forced away from the water, to a flowery, leafy path much closer to the FDR.   Nature Girl and I paused ever so briefly and demurely to admire some of the local fauna, getting exercise in their native habitat...

...and stopping to "smell the roses" or, in this case,

some exotic white flowers...and some early summer daylillies.

The ever stoic NG had pretty much been "suffering silently" during this walk with a "foot issue."   But, as we found ourselves honing in on Houston Street, one of the great East-West "divider" streets of Manhattan (splitting the various Villages -- East, West, Center -- from Soho, LES, et. al.), she made the plea to "end the torture" and head for lunch.  So, we headed for the Houston Street stairs and walked over the FDR...

...and into an area totally devoid of restaurants, cafes or even delis!  Hard to imagine that there actually are blocks in New York City where you can't get something to nosh on.  But, when you find yourself in the middle of a massive housing project (even one that may not be lower income), that's what happens.

Luckily, my trusty steed (the White Focus -- or the Lemon, as we're fond of calling her) was nearby, so I hustled the faltering, hobbling NG into the passenger seat, still stopping to take a photo of this unique garden next to a small tenement building...

and whisked us into the heart of LES and down the surprising Freeman's Alley for a delightful brunch-like repast at that quirky canteen that looks like it has been there since the 1800s, but is a very good recreation of said boite.   Always crowded, we were surprisingly lucky to snag two seats at one of the many bars nestled in the "nooks and crannies" that give this restaurant its charm.   That and an inventive menu...with great grits and potted pork as two standouts!

Unfortunately, we broke three "walk" traditions... 1) we didn't eat right near the walk, 2) we didn't accost some unsuspecting passers-by to take our "end of day" photo (largely because there weren't too many people around who weren't jogging, biking or looking like disturbing them to ask for a photo might have been a risk not worth taking and 3) we did not take any photos of our post-walk meal (Freeman's was a little too crowded and seemingly "cool" -- a photo opp might have been gauche).   That, and we were just too tired and hungry to adhere to tradition.

But, we will definitely follow all traditions this Sunday, when our stroll up the East River Drive continues.