I've just returned from a trip to New York City, taking my daughter to college orientation. While she was orienting for a few days, I had a chance to fly solo and explore the city. I made this little journal before I left and used bought postcards for the cover.
Besides the postcards all the other "artwork" was made by my pen or bits of FREE stuff from around the city and touristy magazines from the hotel room. A book mark from a wonderful used and new bookstore, The Strand and a coaster from Prune, a restaurant I was very pleased to try by the chef/author Gabrielle Hamilton.
I saw a Normal Heart on Broadway. Raw and honest to the bone, it is a look at the beginning of AIDS activism in New York in the 80's. After the show they were passing out a letter from the show's writer and creator, Larry Cramer. I wanted to keep it so I fashioned a little envelope out of a paper bag and secured it with some decorative tape I had brought along. I love making little pockets and envelopes in my travel journal for either private writing or bigger pieces of ephemera.
Inspired by John Payne's blog on mapping, I made a little map of some of the places I went as I traversed the city.
Wanting to branch out and see parts of the city I hadn't seen before, I did a walking tour of Harlem. A great way to learn history and see things that go by in flash from the window of a bus or cab.
My daughter and I went to the MET to see Alexander McQueen's fabulous multi-media exhibit. Hours were spent lost in a couture dream. Walking through Central Park towards downtown, we stopped for a soda at a little cafe nestled in the trees. Lovely to spend a moment like that with my grown up girl. A sushi stop later in the afternoon will be remembered by the chop stick cover.
I am certain without taking the time make this little journal of our time together, these few fun and precious days would be filed away in the "soon to be forgotten" bin of my life.
Happy Travels and Journaling!