Cathedral St. John The Divine, Morningside Heights, NY
Today was one of those NYC days where NYCity Mama just felt happy. It was sunny, a bit chilly, but not too much, and full of possibilities. Well, everyday is full of possibilities, but sunny days just make the list seem more endless.
Not being able to decide what to do or where to go, Mama settled for taking a stroll by Columbia University. After all, the campus is great to walk through, but they also had their greenmarket in place, and Mama was wanting to make something special for dinner, requiring fresh ingredients.
The boys were eager to head out and play. The day was windy, but that just got the boys more excited to be out, and almost immediately started asking to go to the park.
They pass through the greenmarket fairly quickly. It is quite small, and not as impressive as the Union Square Market, but it doesn’t fail to have all the basic essential ingredients needed for a quick dinner. Mama’s only regret was to have passed up the apple pie and sweets table. She later thought an apple pie would’ve made a great dessert.
They quickly started heading West, down 110th St., towards the ever changing Morningside Heights area. But before that, they made a quick detour towards St. John The Divine Cathedral. Mama has fond memories of the Catheral. Next to it, at the ACT Program, Mama’s 11 year old (then 5) used to spend his after school hours, as well as a few of his summer hours, while Mama was at work. She loved the people at ACT and would gladly place her youngest there, if only for a couple of hours, so that they could experience it too.
They often participated in the family activities offered at the Cathedral. And though Mama doesn’t have any religious inclinations, she does love the architecture found in these old buildings, often finding herself wondering in and just sitting and admiring the grandeur of it all. She was excited to see it, since the last time she was here it was still being repaired from the fire that damaged a great portion of it, but had finally reopened last year.
She prepared her boys by letting them know they were going to see “where the angels lived”, and that they must be very quiet when inside. She had hoped that the boys would not act up, she knew she was taking a chance, but she went with it anyone.
Turns out she had nothing to worry about. Once you enter the Cathedral it just demands respect. It took seven years to fully repair the North wing and the great organ, but the results are truly breathtaking. Even when it was still partially open it was beautiful, but now it’s just so much more than that.
They were able to walk around, looking at everything as the boys quietly whispered, “Mama, what’s that?” “Mama, what’s in there?” “Mama, was that an angel talking?”
After exiting the Cathedral, the boys were silent for an extra five minutes or so, before again remembering their initial request to go to the park. And there, on 110th and Central Park West, just entering Central Park, is a fun playground, where it seems the main focus is to encourage kids to climb, spin, and climb some more. They were there for a little more than 2 hours, with Mama joining in on the spinning and climbing with her boys.
They arrived home just as Mama’s eldest arrived from his after school band class. Mama unpacked the deliciously sweet fruits she purchased at the market and passed them out to the boys as snacks while she prepared dinner and tried to keep them from dozing off.
Mama, inspired by all the fresh vegetables she purchased at the market, put together a quick concoction for roast chicken from shittake mushrooms, red bell peppers and thyme, marinating it all in Masala wine and preparing a side of Mama’s Dominican black beans and rice. Yum! The possibilities turned out to be pretty good indeed.
I love that church. My mom works at the Jewish Theological Seminary on 122nd and Broadway, I’ve been to see her several times and have always loved walking around that area.
Oh, and that dinner looks DELISH!