I Love New York Travel

Union Station in Utica, NY. Isn’t it pretty? I took the train to Manhattan a few weeks ago, what a blast. I can’t wait to do it again!

Union Station is built for many, many more travelers than what I experienced (about 15 to 20 of us, that day). The station is very large, and, as you can see from the photo, very clean and architecturally impressive. I don’t know much of the history of the building. It is located in the Baggs Square area, north of the city. It’s wonderfully old-fashioned– no blaring air horns and flashing LCD HDTV lights and images here. Very quiet, very restful. On a busy day, all the noise must float up to the top, near the ceilings. I could look at the ceiling there forever. Everything is beautiful.

I was shocked to see this store when I visited Manhattan. Also, shocked that I remembered it.

I love the old-fashioned, Victorian look of the building. One almost expects to see Victorian ladies with bustles and parasols, and mustached men with striped shirts and paisley mens ties waltzing in and out of the doors.

I was tempted to go in, to see if the store had changed at all…. but I was in a hurry (such is New York) and had to satisfy myself with merely a photo. Maybe next time! ;)

This is another photo of Fountain Elms, in Utica, NY. There is a long, glass hallway from the basement of the historic house to an adjoining museum. The museum is vast– lots of space and very contemporary design. It contains lots of funky contemporary art and sculpture, too, constructed of the weirdest stuff– everything from old spoons to diet pills collages?! I dislike contemporary art, so it’s all a mish-mash to me.

The museum seems like it should have more “stuff” in it, though. And the contemporary design is out of style with the Victorian architecture and artwork in the historic home Fountain Elms. Still, it’s a nice, pleasant little trip. It’s clean and quiet, and sedately festive.

The foundation usually celebrates summer in a nice, old-fashioned way– street displays, patriotic flags hung everywhere, small concerts… it’s like something out of Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. :)