Today we did a down-and-around, three-boro tour.

We headed out to meet cousin Kelli, picking up picnic foods along the way (bagels, whitefish, cheese, pickles, fresh coconut, chips and guacamole, almonds and mac nuts)…

and pie too..!

We found the perfect spot under a beautiful tree.

Kelli and I celebrated the life of our Great Aunt Ann with pie. She passed away this week at age 95.

Apple pie, blueberry pie, browned butter pecan pie, and an old-time NY classic nesslerode pie with chestnuts and rum-soaked cherries.
(Pie appears to be slightly more bikeable than cupcakes).

Beauty surrounds us.

After such a relaxing afternoon, we realize we need to hurry up and get home.

We had to get cleaned up and go to a book launch party at the Friar’s Club.
Just in time for the upcoming holiday, a beautiful book of photography by Matthew Harnick: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

We are meeting cousin Angela to help her celebrate her birthday.
First stop: a Hungarian bakery for apple strudel.

Second stop: an American bakery for cupcakes. Ron said not to worry, he’d put them in his bike basket.

Well, Second Avenue happened…. after biking 50+ blocks downtown to meet Angela, 3 out of 4 cupcakes got tossed.
(Pumpkin Harvest, Brooklyn Blackout Cake, Yellow Fudge and Carrot Cake).

Angela and Ron did not let the messiness stop them! They called them bicycle cakes and dug in.
We went to see Dr Strange at the movie theater.

Afterwards we stopped for a photo op with Moana and Maui.

Bonus shot:
Coming soon to a theater near you..!

Downtown ride today..

I told Ron that we were going to get Korean Mexican food. (!)

For some reason Ron was overwhelmed by this menu. He walked in and then walked right out, back to the safety of his bicycle. I ordered stuff to go…

Ron proposed that we eat in Washington Square Park and that was truly a great idea.. What a day! And the food was delicious.

Vertical pano shows off the feathery clouds

Then we simply rolled home up the East River. Nice one.

After visiting the eye doctor today, we got on our bikes and headed out of Manhattan.

Ron led the way through Long Island City..

And I lured him with the promise of stopping at one of his favorite spots: Bakeri.
Sunny and 70, it was a lovely moment in time.

While we were in Greenpoint, I had a random place to visit..
the Newtown Creek Nature Walk which meanders around the city’s largest sewage treatment plant!

Did I mention that Newtown Creek is a designated Superfund site?!
A posted sign warns that you should not swim in “these waters” nor eat fish or eels caught in NYC waters.

But it is a lovely little walk, nicely landscaped..
with tons of security cameras and emergency phones posted about every 10 feet.. I don’t know if they’re afraid you’ll get mugged or if they think some toxic aquatic creature is going to jump up and grab you.

We headed back to Queens over the John Jay Byrne Bridge (a new one to us!) and sought another adventure.
Nice bike lane!

I brought Ron to the First Calvary Cemetery in Maspeth. It’s a truly beautiful and relaxing place for a bike ride.

The Johnston family has a huge family crypt. Eerily majestic.

Did you know that Vito Corleone’s funeral in The Godfather was filmed at the First Calvary Cemetery?

This is like a painting…

Approaching the Queensboro Bridge, I am reminded how happy I am to be on a bike, and not in a car sitting in traffic.

Ron was so relaxed, he stopped on the bridge to look out over the East River.
Good adverturizing today!