Thursday, February 24, 2011
Am I done?
I accomplished what I set out to do: Swim in 50 different places during my 50th year. Does that mean I am now done? This was WAY too much fun. Can I do it again? Perhaps.....
More about my birthday weekend
February 10-13, 2011 -- Okay, this is not a swimming post. But I feel compelled to share my wonderful weekend! Following my 50th swim at the Columbia pool (see last blog post), we checked in at our favorite hotel, the Eventi. It's another Kimpton hotel, which is where we try to stay wherever we go. The location is perfect (30th and 6th) and it's just got a great vibe! Check it out at http://www.eventihotel.com/.
Birthday dinner was at a restaurant called PRUNE (http://www.prunerestaurant.com/). In addition to the four of us, we were joined by Ellen, Steve, Phyllis, Evan, Ari, Paul and Mary. We had a terrific meal and I am so touched by the travels of my family and friends for this event. The birthday cake deserves its own shout-out: Banana cake with peanut butter caramel filling and vanilla buttercream frosting. Probably the best cake I've ever had.
Friday began with breakfast at Sarabeth's, another NewYork favorite, followed by a trip to the Guggenheim with Leah. Leah and I are well-suited to visiting museums together; we go at the same pace and our level of understanding/appreciation is about the same. There was a special Kandinsky exhibit which we both loved!
On Friday evening, Harvey, Leah and I had a quick dinner at Mario Butali's EATALY before heading uptown to meet Benj for the Columbia/Princeton basketball game. By spectacular coincidence, both of Harvey's Columbia roommates, AJ and Ernie, were at the game with their daughters. We could not have planned this better. A post-game visit to Mel's for milkshakes capped the evening.
Saturday night was yet another wonderful event: the annual Columbia Spectator dinner, held this year at the Columbia Club. As outgoing Editor-in Chief, Ben delivered the State of the Spectator address, followed by keynote from Arianna Huffington. It was a proud moment and an incredible event, shared by many of our family and friends as well as some of Ben's closest friends.
All in all, it was a truly wonderful weekend -- probably one of the best of my life! I am thrilled to be 50.
Birthday dinner was at a restaurant called PRUNE (http://www.prunerestaurant.com/). In addition to the four of us, we were joined by Ellen, Steve, Phyllis, Evan, Ari, Paul and Mary. We had a terrific meal and I am so touched by the travels of my family and friends for this event. The birthday cake deserves its own shout-out: Banana cake with peanut butter caramel filling and vanilla buttercream frosting. Probably the best cake I've ever had.
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| Ari and me |
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| Yum.... |
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| Leah (second level, red coat) |
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| Harvey & Leah, Ernie & Samantha, AJ & Anna |
Saturday night was yet another wonderful event: the annual Columbia Spectator dinner, held this year at the Columbia Club. As outgoing Editor-in Chief, Ben delivered the State of the Spectator address, followed by keynote from Arianna Huffington. It was a proud moment and an incredible event, shared by many of our family and friends as well as some of Ben's closest friends.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Swim #50: Columbia University, New York, NY
February 10, 2011 -- Officially 50! The Columbia University pool is where I first started serious swimming, so it seems only right that my 50th swim would be here. It almost didn't happen: the pool was scheduled to be closed for swim team practices for several hours during the window of time I could possibly get there to swim (after driving from Boston, and before birthday dinner). Ben enlisted the help of the athletic facilities staff, who in turn enlisted the help of the assistant coach of the women's swim team, and voila! A ten-minute window of pool time was opened for me in between women's and men's practices.
In my last few blog entries, I've written about pool temperature. I can tell when the water is too warm for lap-swimming, but I couldn't have told you what the optimal temperature is. Now I know, because I felt it today. This is a pool meant for athletes, and the water was a perfect 78 degrees. Most health clubs are around 80-82, and hotels warmer. In any case, time was short, so I swam fast. And it is remarkable how much faster you can swim in 78-degree water.
Nostalgia is a powerful force. I really don't remember much about swimming here 30 years ago, but being here today meant the world to me.
And look at the fabulous t-shirt Deena got me for my birthday!
In my last few blog entries, I've written about pool temperature. I can tell when the water is too warm for lap-swimming, but I couldn't have told you what the optimal temperature is. Now I know, because I felt it today. This is a pool meant for athletes, and the water was a perfect 78 degrees. Most health clubs are around 80-82, and hotels warmer. In any case, time was short, so I swam fast. And it is remarkable how much faster you can swim in 78-degree water. 
Nostalgia is a powerful force. I really don't remember much about swimming here 30 years ago, but being here today meant the world to me.And look at the fabulous t-shirt Deena got me for my birthday!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Swim #49: Mount Auburn Club, Watertown, MA
Looking anxiously forward to the 50th on my 50th!!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Swim #48: Sports Club/LA, Boston, MA
February 4, 2011 -- Wow! I had no idea this existed within the city of Boston. Located next to the new Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Sports Club/LA (http://www.mpsportsclub.com/clubs/boston/) seems designed to fit in with the Ritz' clientele. I don't mean that as a negative -- it's just really, really beautiful. And incredibly spacious -- 114,000 square feet including huge lobbies and sitting areas in what must be awfully expensive real estate.
I came here today with my friend Debbie, who started the day with a hilarious argument with the Ritz doorman. Upon entering the club, we found that the first Friday of every month is Free Guest day - lucky us! We were given locker keys and set off to explore. The locker room was beautiful and, again, huge. The pool was a little warm (just a couple of degrees) but the cleanliness, peacefulness, and the view of the city make this a winner. We had a wonderful swim and sauna.
Following that, Deb took me out for a birthday lunch at JerNe at the Ritz. It couldn't have been a better day!
I came here today with my friend Debbie, who started the day with a hilarious argument with the Ritz doorman. Upon entering the club, we found that the first Friday of every month is Free Guest day - lucky us! We were given locker keys and set off to explore. The locker room was beautiful and, again, huge. The pool was a little warm (just a couple of degrees) but the cleanliness, peacefulness, and the view of the city make this a winner. We had a wonderful swim and sauna.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Swim #47: Commonwealth Sports Club, Brighton, MA
January 31, 2011 -- In the next installment of Find the Best Health Club Pool, my friend Rose (also a swimmer) has brought me to the Commonwealth Sports Club in Brighton. Or is it Allston? Here is the link: http://www.commonwealthsportsclub.com/.
The pool here is quite nice. It's smaller than the JCC -- that's a minus -- but a couple of degrees colder, which is a plus. I like their less-chlorine, more-salt approach to water filtration. We had a great swim and even did a few time trials in the middle. The locker room is nice, too.
The pool here is quite nice. It's smaller than the JCC -- that's a minus -- but a couple of degrees colder, which is a plus. I like their less-chlorine, more-salt approach to water filtration. We had a great swim and even did a few time trials in the middle. The locker room is nice, too.
Swim #46: Newton YMCA
January 28, 2011 -- I have heard that the Newton YMCA has a great pool, and know a few JCC swimmers who left to join the Y when they built the new pool.
This pool does, indeed, give the JCC a run for its money. It is a couple of degrees colder than the JCC, which is a really good thing for lap swimmers. It's a good size, the hours are good, and it's on my way to work. Hmmm. The locker room is not nearly as nice as mine, though, and I don't think the workout facilities look as good. Can I justify two memberships??
I'm sorry I don't have a photo, as this is a really nice pool. But here's the website: http://www.westsuburbanymca.org/.
This pool does, indeed, give the JCC a run for its money. It is a couple of degrees colder than the JCC, which is a really good thing for lap swimmers. It's a good size, the hours are good, and it's on my way to work. Hmmm. The locker room is not nearly as nice as mine, though, and I don't think the workout facilities look as good. Can I justify two memberships??
I'm sorry I don't have a photo, as this is a really nice pool. But here's the website: http://www.westsuburbanymca.org/.
Swim #45: Boston Sports Club, Newton, MA
January 25, 2011 -- Checking out all the local health clubs! I'm interested to see if there is a pool around that I like better than the JCC. It's hard to imagine, but worth taking a look. Swims #45 through 49 will all be health clubs close to Newton.
The first stop is Boston Sports Club (formerly known as Wellbridge) on Wells Avenue in Newton. People have warned me that this pool is too warm for lap swimming -- and they are correct. Too warm and too small, unless you swim very slowly. Nevertheless, I did a full 30-minute swim, then spent another half-hour treading water, floating, and chatting with my friend Judy. It is a nice workout facility -- but so far, I'm sticking with the JCC.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Swims #43 and 44: New York, NY
January 22-23, 2011: I am in New York on official Longy business, attending a Pacifica Quartet concert at the Metropolitan Museum of Art with an entourage of staff and trustees. A few clicks of the mouse leads me to two spectacular pools during my short bits of free time.
First stop is Chelsea Piers, a thirty-acre sports and recreation complex on the Hudson River. The original Chelsea Piers has an interesting history: In its heyday all the luxury liners and immigrant ships arrived and departed there. It was the planned destination of the Titanic and is where the Carpathia brought the survivors. Also, it was the departure point for the Lusitania. For more on what it was and is, visit http://www.chelseapiers.com/.
The Health Club at Chelsea Piers defies description. "Enormous" and "State of the Art" are understatements. It is immaculately clean, light, and expensive. The breadth of equipment, space and activities is like nothing I have ever seen. Benjamin and I had a wonderful, long swim on Saturday afternoon in the beautiful pool overlooking the Hudson River.
Sunday morning brought me to Asphalt Green, another health club, this one on the East River -- the opposite of Chelsea Piers in mission as well as location. You could spend a boatload of money at Chelsea Piers (and have a great time doing it). Asphalt Green is dedicated to providing fitness and sports opportunities to people from all walks of life. Walking through the front lobby, I could see that it is truly a community facility.
Asphalt Green's pool is the largest I have ever experienced -- an actual Olympic-size pool. Sadly, I do not have a picture, but you can take a look at http://www.asphaltgreen.org/. Even more sadly, I swam only a few laps and was informed that the pool was closing for lessons. But at least the laps were long ones!
First stop is Chelsea Piers, a thirty-acre sports and recreation complex on the Hudson River. The original Chelsea Piers has an interesting history: In its heyday all the luxury liners and immigrant ships arrived and departed there. It was the planned destination of the Titanic and is where the Carpathia brought the survivors. Also, it was the departure point for the Lusitania. For more on what it was and is, visit http://www.chelseapiers.com/.
The Health Club at Chelsea Piers defies description. "Enormous" and "State of the Art" are understatements. It is immaculately clean, light, and expensive. The breadth of equipment, space and activities is like nothing I have ever seen. Benjamin and I had a wonderful, long swim on Saturday afternoon in the beautiful pool overlooking the Hudson River. Sunday morning brought me to Asphalt Green, another health club, this one on the East River -- the opposite of Chelsea Piers in mission as well as location. You could spend a boatload of money at Chelsea Piers (and have a great time doing it). Asphalt Green is dedicated to providing fitness and sports opportunities to people from all walks of life. Walking through the front lobby, I could see that it is truly a community facility.
Asphalt Green's pool is the largest I have ever experienced -- an actual Olympic-size pool. Sadly, I do not have a picture, but you can take a look at http://www.asphaltgreen.org/. Even more sadly, I swam only a few laps and was informed that the pool was closing for lessons. But at least the laps were long ones!
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