The end of New York

Unfortunately the rain was back again the next morning but as one does when one is travelling, one goes for a walk in the rain anyway.  And I did really want to get out and about today, because today was the first of three days of the "Summer Streets" festival and I wanted to see what it was all about.

Summer Streets is in its 6th year, an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—their streets.  On three consecutive Saturdays in the summer (this year Aug. 3, 10 and 17), nearly seven miles (just over 11 kms) of NYC’s streets are opened for people to play, walk, bike, ... and breathe.  Summer Streets provides space for healthy recreation and encourages New Yorkers to use more sustainable forms of transportation.  The event is part bike tour, part walking tour, part block party--a great time for exercise, people watching, or just enjoying summer mornings.
Running from 7:00am to 1:00pm, Summer Streets extends from the Brooklyn Bridge to Central Park, along Park Avenue (and LaFayette Street in the south) and connecting streets, and participants can plan a trip as long or short as they wish.  All activities at Summer Streets are free of charge, and designed for people of all ages and ability levels to share the streets respectfully.
Of particular interest this year was a seven-block-long art installation in the Park Avenue Tunnel – which was open to pedestrians this year for the first time in history.

And so despite the rain I had to see what Park Avenue was like without cars:

 Looking north up Park Avenue from 49th Street

 The "vehicular" tunnel through the Helmsley Building

 Is this not 'New York'?

 The west side of upper Grand Central Station - walking along the road that is usually only vehicular access

The bridge over 42nd Street

On the bridge, looking west along 42nd Street

 The Chrysler Building

The south side of upper Grand Central Station

The entrance to the tunnel at 33rd Street

After leaving Park Avenue I went up to Central Park for a little wander around there, and thankfully the rain cleared for a little while so I was able to dry out a little bit.

While I was there this egret decided to come and say hello as well:

By this point it was time to head back to the hotel and get myself ready to head to the airport.  I was staying at a hotel called The Pod 51 Hotel, which is located on 51st Street between 3rd and 2nd Streets.  One of the things I like the best about this hotel is it's rooftop deck - a great place to rest your weary feet after all the walking I always seem to do when I'm in New York.  And because I had a little bit of time before I had to leave I figured this would be a nice place to relax and end the trip... enjoying the sunshine, a book, and the view.