bear

Before all of this, we were in New York the week before last, with the classic Northeastern fall temperatures to match. The weather was utterly glorious - brisk sweater weather in the morning admonishing me for not wanting to drag the bulk of a jacket cross-country (and feeling unwarrantedly smug that I still had some Northeastern weather tolerance cred as other people scuttled around me in full-length puffers, come on, you're behaving like Bay Area kids ;) ), warming up to shirtsleeves weather perfect for a late lunch in the sun, and then gently cooling off for cozy patio dinners. Not quite fall yet by foliage standards - the trees in the city were only just starting to turn, still in that late-summer slightly yellowing green phase, but I did spot at least a couple of patches of crimson in my rambles.

( Tuesday: in transit, bookstores for breakfast, KBBQ dinner )

( Wednesday: cold temperatures = personal best speeds?! The Whitney with Andrew, meandering along the Hudson, Julia Turshen )

( Thursday: Roosevelt Island, ferry to and then biking through Brooklyn, the Ripped Bodice and community, Olmsted and autumn on a plate )

And then Friday morning, squeezed in one more record-breaking jog - a similar set of laps around the park, and then down Broadway to Union Square. Replaced my Strand tote that had succumbed to time, and then tucked in some apple and pear cider donuts, tiny TSA-safe tipples of whiskey from the farmers' market; finally made it to Li-Lac Chocolates as well per the insistence of another friend. Final stop: grabbing a proper bagel from Bagels & Schmear near my hotel on our way out of the city; I love you, New York, there's never enough time.