Just before Halloween, I took a fermentation class down at the Baltimore Chef Shop. It was awesome! I’ve taken other classes there and love the vibe of their workspace and teaching areas. Their instructors are super friendly and full of know-how. Class sizes are small too, so you can ask lots of questions and chat with fellow students.
Our instructor was Flynn Harne and his enthusiasm for All Things Fermentation was contagious. Other folks in the class included a woman whose dog was nursed back to health using fermented goat’s milk after gut surgery, a professional baker, and other frequent water-bath canners like me who wanted to cross-train in the art & science of food preservation.
We made three of the most popular veggie ferments and then sampled some of the many ferments that Flynn brought to class. All-in-all, a great time! If you are interested in Fermentation 101 or other Baltimore Chef Shop classes (they have an upcoming Bûche de Nöel class that looks amazing!) check out their schedule here.
And, for anyone heading to the Big Apple… Here’s my quick take on five NYC parks!
Last weekend was Family Weekend at my daughter’s school. Because she’s a nature-loving urbanite, she took us on a whirlwind tour of her favorite outdoor places.
Madison Square Park
This is a cute little park northeast of the Flatiron Building. It was the original site of Madison Square Gardens and the very first Westminster Dog Show, which makes its current dog park historically apropos.
The High Line
A rail trail, but not one you can ride on. This wonderful park is in Chelsea on a mile and a half of abandoned track that was repurposed as urban greenspace. I’ve walked along the High Line twice now and each time I’ve been thrilled to see little pollinators buzzing happily in the gardens.
Washington Square Park
The park’s most notable feature is its ginormous arch, which was built to commemorate the centennial of George Washington’s inauguration. It’s also the same arch that was featured on the cover of, and in the story of, The Golem and the Jinni. I was told, that if you’re an NYU student, you shouldn’t pass through the arch until you graduate… or you won’t. So, of course, my whole family passed through posthaste. If there’s some sort of dire warning about what happens to non-NYU students who pass through, don’t tell me!
Hudson River Park
A 4 1/2 mile waterfront promenade with various piers that have been redeveloped for recreational use. (It’s part of the larger Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, a 32 mile walking/cycling path.) You can pretty much find whatever sports & leisure activity you might be into here: tennis, volleyball, skateboarding, rock climbing, outdoor yoga, sunbathing, etc. We just strolled and enjoyed the view. 🙂
Central Park
The most famous park in NYC… and maybe the world?? It seems both crazily small and enormously large at the same time. When I look at maps of NYC, I can’t wrap my head around all that concrete. And there, in the middle of it all, is this speck of green. Yellowstone National Park is over 2,200,000 acres while Central Park is a mere 843. It doesn’t seem like it would be enough green space for everyone. And yet…
I’ve been to Central Park at least a handful of times and I’ve still not seen it all. Partly, that’s because I’m always walking (not biking) and I’m usually rushing to fit in other stuff (like the four other parks we visited). But it’s also because Central Park is legit BIG.
This time, we took the subway up and entered the park near the Museum of Natural History. We wandered around the Great Lawn for a bit, learned about Seneca Village, and then made our way over to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Next time, we’re renting bikes!!
Windtree Bee 