The Sunset That Never Came

Fall is arriving and this week we were blessed with the beautiful days of Indian Summer.  Antsy to leave the apartment one evening, we checked the windows to see the golden rays of sun beginning to cast long shadows.  It took a few seconds before we decided to watch the sunset over the Hudson, along the promenade just south of Brookfield.

Brookfield Place is an upscale shopping and event center near the One World Observatory and connected to the Oculus by underground tunnels.

For a shopping center, the architecture and design are remarkable, inviting, and memorable.  I especially love the center room of steps surrounded by palm trees.

To the east of Brookfield is the 9-11 Memorial, to the West is the Hudson, and to the south, the area is flanked by a wide, open plaza bedecked with restaurants.  Beyond, stylish sailboats are anchored in private boat slips.

Beyond the slips the plaza connects with a promenade that follows the river, winding through parkways and meandering past the mouth of the Hudson, where it eventually connects with Battery Park and offers some of the best Manhattan views of the Statue of Liberty.

Taking our time, we walked the plaza choosing our favorite of the docked boats, enjoying the playful music coming from the open aired restaurants, and watching people enjoying their activities.

When we finally found our place on a park bench looking across the Hudson to the Jersey City skyline, dark clouds began to gather from the west.

Soon, there was a strong line between the sunny day we had been experiencing and the storms that were descending upon us.

As the rains came we walked back inside Brookfield, crossed the underground tunnel to the subway and found our way back home.

The clouds may have blocked our sunset, but it was a beautiful evening in NYC.