Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
8 to 9am and Thursdays from 5 to 6pm in April and May, and again in late September and October Thursdays
from 8 to 9am.
Meet the Birds at Le Carrousel
provides entry to a more exotic avian crew. Every Tuesday from
April to September between 11:30am and 2pm, you can interact with rescued parakeets, lovebirds, and other
exotic fliers from the Arcadia Bird Sanctuary and Education Center.
212/768-4242.
www.bryantpark.org
. Subway: B/D/F/M to 42nd St.; 7 to Fifth Ave.
Central Park
Birdsong fills the thickets of the Ramble, an unexpectedly rural stretch of the park. You can
take a closer look at the warbling set with a
kit
(a backpack with binoculars, reference materials, and a map)
available from the Belvedere Castle. The kits are available Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 4:30pm. Valid ID is
required. Call ahead for reservations.
Mid-park at 79th St.
212/772-0210.
www.centralparknyc.org
. Subway: B/C to 81st St.
Prospect Park
During spring's annual northward migration, hundreds of bird species pass through. To
get some expert assistance in identifying the birdies, hook up with an introductory
bird-watching tour
(Sat
noon-1:30pm). Tours leave from the boathouse, inside the Lincoln Road/Ocean Avenue entrance.
718/287-3400.
www.prospectpark.org
. Subway: B/Q/S to Prospect Park.
A Midnight Elephant Walk
When the pachyderms of Ringling Brothers visit the Big Apple, they're coming of their Nassau Coliseum stand. Their train
only gets them as far as the Long Island City yards. They can't exactly get a lift to the gig from a towncar, so they have
to hoof it, through the Queens-Midtown Tunnel and down the streets of Manhattan. Watching the elephants emerge from
the tunnel is an amazing spectacle. They walk in a file of trunks holding tails, with clown escorts all around. Often other
hoofed beasts like zebras and camels come along for the stroll. The walk goes all the way to the elephants' 5-story ramp
at Madison Square Garden, but the best scene is at the tunnel entrance around 37th Street between Second and Third
aves. The crowd is fun-loving, with the freaks that events in Manhattan invariably bring out well-represented. The proces-
sion hits Manhattan around midnight. Whether you come for the spectacle or just to hiss the exploitation of animals, be
sure to be on time because the whole thing goes surprisingly quickly. The elephant walk takes place at the beginning of
the circus' annual stand (usually late March); check the weekly update on the website for the exact date and time.
212/
465-6741.
www.ringling.com
. Subway: 6 to 33rd. St.; A/C/E or 1/2/3 to 34th St.
Go Fish
It's a fine line between standing along the shore like an idiot with a stick in your hands and going fishing, but
kids love baiting up and casting in anyway. The city offers a few spots for gathering fodder for “the one that got
away” tales.
Battery Park City
Drop a line in the Hudson and see if you can pull up any three-eyed specimens. (Actu-
ally, the river's been mending remarkably in recent years, thanks to antipollution measures.) Bait and equipment
are loaned out in Wagner Park. Sessions run from 10am to 2pm on select Saturdays. Look for free music and
storytelling to accompany your angling.
212/267-9700.
www.bpcparks.org
. Subway: R or 1 to Rector St.; 4/5 to Bowling Green.
Central Park
Like the good New Yorkers they are, some 50,000 fish pack uncomplainingly into the con-
fines of the Harlem Meer. You can try your hand at catching a bass, catfish, or bluegill with equipment loaned by
the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center. Bait, pole, and instructions are provided. Note that it's strictly catch-and-
release. Open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm (last pole goes out at 3pm) and Sunday 10am to 2pm (last pole
out at 1pm), mid-April to mid-October. Valid photo ID is required.
Inside Central Park at 110th St., btw. Fifth and Lenox aves.
212/860-1370.
www.centralparknyc.org
. Subway: 2/3 to Central Park North.
