Pizza And Sweets At Farinella’s

Farinella’s is a small artisanal bakery and pizzeria that feels both fresh and modern and also like it has been there for generations. We were seeking shelter and a place to rest during a rain shower after a stroll through Central Park. This place was nearby.

It’s a cozy spot with just a few small tables and a robust grab and go business. Most customers were just picking up a slice to go. But I was glad to dwell a while with friends, warm and dry. We had a table in the window, a terrific vantage point for watching the world go by.

The staff was friendly, helpful and eager to answer questions despite being busy.

We started with pastries and stayed there long enough we tried the pizza too. It was a delicious treat, especially with a cold Diet Coke to wash it down.

Note that they do have a clean restroom for customers, an important thing to know in a city with limited public restroom access. Get their history and view the menu at their website.

Not So National Zoo

Front Royal, Virginia is a charming town in the Shenandoah Valley. I spent a lovely morning there one fall day as I meandered home from a weekend in Winchester.

This mural wasn’t in the best shape but I found it delightful. Called The Not So National Zoo, it was painted by Patricia Hope Windrow. The internet tells me that she was born in London in 1921 and Paris educated.

She painted a number of murals in private homes and public spaces throughout her career. She operated a gallery in Front Royal for a number of years and died in 2013.

Isn’t it delightful?

This is one of the reasons I so enjoy road trips and exploring the side streets of towns big and small. There are interesting things to see and stuff to learn everywhere you go.

Leave Every Day

Leave every day better than you found it.

Sometimes the best advice is the kind you find along the way while out roaming. This picture was snapped while out roving the mean streets of New York. Be nice to cashiers. Smile at strangers. Help an elderly person with that case of water they’re trying to wrestle into their cart.

Treat yourself kindly, take a walk, pick up some litter and do what you can to leave the world a better place than you found it.

It’s a rewarding way to live.

A Twofer

I’m a sucker for a great sign and these two in Durango, Colorado didn’t disappoint. Can you read them?

Stick and Stones Handmade and Nobody’s Inn.

The Inn caught my eye because it’s a historic building in the heart of downtown Durango. The rooms are apartment style and each is decorated with its own flair. I want to return someday and am thinking this might be the place to stay. Charming and nice on a budget sounds good to me.

Besides, they have a great sign and I have found that places that attend to the small details like cool signage are often attentive to other small details.

Here’s one more view of that stretch of street. It’s walkable, eclectic and all the store signs are worthy of consideration.

From The Car Window

Sometimes the things we see in passing or from afar are just as interesting as those things we set out to see.

We were headed to Manhattan College at the time, having just enjoyed a bird’s eye view of New York City from Summit. As stunning as the high view was, I liked this one too. The city infrastructure is interesting and I liked the sidewalk action. They say people look like their pets and this seems true in this case where both canines and humans are so tall and slender.

The next time you’re out and about, pay attention to your surroundings. Look closer at the things that you typically consider eyesores or just part of the background. There’s a lot to be seen and adventure is just around the corner.

We Keep Moving Forward

We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.

Walt Disney

Let’s all be curious today, shall we?

Speaking of curiosity, in case you’re wondering, this picture is from Lake Katherine State Nature Preserve. I have written about it before. Here’s my favorite story.