The opening of the High Line's second section this June brought with it an art installation called Rainbow City. The gigantic balloon-scape is reminiscent of Willy Wonka and Mario Bros. When we visited last week it was HOT. I expected crowds, but rainbow city was surprisingly empty. Savannah loved looking at the balloons but we didn't stay for very long, as the ice cream truck on site was experiencing technical difficulties and I was starvin'. Here's a quick photo recap:
We approached the balloonscape from above and headed straight for the small spheres of swaying shade
Savannah, happy to be a few degrees cooler in the shade, giggled and made her "crazy legs" as she took in the sights.
I love how the perspective of the above picture is life-like, with small baby and huge balloons. But when I get down to the ground, perception is askew! Psychedelic, man.
2 comments:
Love the new theme, Missa! Can't wait to see all the adventures you and Savvy have around the city. Hopefully we will make it up for a visit this summer and join you on one!
About this statement: "My blog finally has a theme y'all! With expired passport in hand, my baby girl and I are jet-setting across the globe. Sounds fancy! Not really, because we're doing it all from our New York City home where everyday is a staycation and every cultural experience is a teaching moment for my city kid. Follow our journey."
Let's start with the phrase "y'all" --> Why would someone who is not from the South -- someone who is from New York City, of all places - use that phrase? It just comes off as fake.
Next: "Sounds fancy! Not really, because we're doing it all from our New York City home where everyday is a staycation and every cultural experience is a teaching moment for my city kid. Follow our journey."
So, basically, you are saying that it is not as fancy as it sounds, because instead of traveling to such glamorous and fancy places as China, India and Ireland (for example), you are staying in slummy ol' New York City...a place so plain and boring that "everyday is a staycation and every cultural experience is a teaching moment for my city kid." If anything, these qualities only highlight the glamorous/fancy nature of NYC.
Plus, the phrase "for my city kid" implies that your kid is somehow special because she lives in the "city" and gets to experience all the cultural diversity that is only available to kids who live in the city. Maybe that's true, but telling people about it - rather than showing them through your blog posts and allowing them to draw that conclusion for themselves - will only engender resentment and jealousy (you come of as a braggart). It would be like someone who lives in the "country" telling you that their "country kid" gets to experience so much more than kids who live elsewhere (fresh air, natural beauty, etc.). Even if that's true, by forcing that conclusion down your throat you will have an immediate negative reaction to it, rather than having a chance to accept it and admire it.
We know you are fabulous. We know you have a fabulous life with a beautiful daughter and an amazing husband. We know you live in a fabulous place where most people can only dream of living. You're not a country bumpkin. You hate banality and rurality. Stop trying to hide your true self. Stop trying to fake-relate to your audience by using forced jargon - "y'all" - and back-handedly emphasizing the superiority of your home town. Doing so makes you appear like some typical, disingenuous and condescending New York as*hole, which you are not.
The best way to bond with your audience is to be as genuine and honest as you can be. Try to convey a welcoming message to your audience without undermining your own credibility. I know you can do better and I look forward to reading your blog posts.
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