What You Do Not Know Because You Are Not Me!: More Ice Skating, this time at the Kate Wollman Rink in Prospect Park

Friday, January 2, 2009

More Ice Skating, this time at the Kate Wollman Rink in Prospect Park

There is a colossal difference between the two skating experiences we had in the past week. Last week we spent half a day waiting on line to skate at the Rink at Rockefeller Center. Today I took the kids and two of their friends to the Kate Wollman Ice Skating Rink in Prospect Park. The difference were countless.

Rockefeller Center might be peaty with that tree and all, but behind the Wollman Rink is a real hill with real trees.
Rockefeller Center has some history, it shares space with NBC, The Rockets and a big statue of Atlas, but Prospect Park is the very spot where George Washington coined the phrase "Run Away", during the Battle of Brooklyn, in August of 1776.
The Rink at Rockefeller Center has some snazzy neighbors like St. Patrick's Cathedral and Time's Square, but next door to the Wollman Rink is The Prospect Park Audubon Center at the Boathouse. We spent a wonderful hour there before we went on the ice.

The big difference was in the people that were there. Rockefeller Center was packed with two types of people. Most were tourist. They didn't come to NYC to ice ska

te. But, they came to Rockefeller Center to skate where Katie Couric stood

. They wanted to be part of a famous NYC landmarky thing. They were not there to have a good time skating, they were there to say "Been there, done that". These are the same schmucks that went to the top of the Empire State Building and looked down at Bryant Park and said "Look, Rockefeller Center".

Or, they were like my family, trying to have a "traditional event". We met some other New Yorkers who said they go ever year. Not us, never again.

The people in Prospect Park were there to have fun. They were my neighbors (Yes, I actually met people I knew.) They were a cross section of Brooklyn. There were multi-generational families, groups of friends. All colors. Many accents, languages and all socioeconomic groups. All having a fun time. Lots of laughing and smiles all around. Everybody getting along.

Please don't get me wrong. I might have a small contempt for tourists (even self hatred when I am a tourist.. but that is another story) but I have a great love for my fellow Brooklynites.

I did not bring my camera. I used google to find some nice pictures. Below is the picture I woulda taken. It is from Brooklyn On Line. Here is the link http://www.brooklynonline.com/bol/WINTER.BOL/iceskating.xhtml. I love the comment. It must be peaty old, everybody looks like me.

ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!!!

So if you want to practice your triple axels...Try Rock Plaza, because in Brooklyn, like everything else, ice skating is a contact sport!

1 comment:

ChickenUnderwearJanuary 6, 2009 at 6:02:00 PM EST
I am getting some love:

Hi. Just wanted to say THANKS for the great post on Jan 2 about skating at Wollman Rink here at Prospect Park! Glad you and the kids had fun.

All the best,

Eugene -------------------------------

Eugene J. Patron

Press Director

Prospect Park

95 Prospect Park West

Brooklyn, NY 11215

P 718.965.8954

C 917.501.5881

F 718.965.8926

http://www.prospectpark.org
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You do not have to be nice!

I have probabally found a thoundsand dollars worth of metrocards, this list starts July 27, 2008

3-8-18: I must admit that I've been recalcitrant regarding my responsibilities on updating this column. Since last fall I have probably found about $100 worth of MetroCards mostly drop by runners who were ahead of me in large races like the New York City Marathon. In addition to that, last week my daughter was standing right next to me and picked up a card that had $40 on it. We were in a ballroom on the grounds of City College where a high school science and engineering fair was occurring.
9-14-17 Since the spring I have found about $25 worth of cards. One of them had over $13 on it and I found it on the path along the belt Parkway while running a race there. It was a challenge to bend down and pick it up but I knew it would have value because it was so far from the subway
5-21-16 Found the card at the starting line of the Brooklyn Half. It will work till May 31
12-28-15: found the card on the floor in Sears that will work till January 10
Haven't been in the subway since May and I now pay cash to go on espresso ride
4-20-14: $35
4-11-14: $75
3-25-14: $50
3-2-14: a $35 card and a card that will work till the owner tell the MTA to stop deducting the money from his bank account. Both on the the course of a 5K
3-1-14: $20
2-4-14 $25
1-9-14: $50
12-20-13 $20 and a card that will work till 12-25
12-8-13: $25
12-5-13 $40
10-14-13: $50. (I think they have been cleaning the stations better since the fare went up in the Spring.)
9-16-13: $75 TODAY! mostly on a few recently expired cards.
9-1-13 $20, but I have had to spend $40.
7-17-13" $25 and a card with 6 days left on it.
7-7-13: $50
6-7-63: $15
5-22-13 $65 (one card with $49.05)
5-18-13 $20 (I have just been in the subway less lately)
4-1-13: $50
3-22-13: $30
3-17-13:$25
3-15-13: $30
3-8-13: $25
3-6-13: $35 (and the fact that new card cost an extra $ did not seem to have any effect)
3-1-13: $20 and a card that will last till 3-8
2-22-13: $25
1-27-13: $35 and a card that will work till 2-5 (it only lasted a day)
1-23-13: $40.00
1-14-13: $20
1-3-13: $13.13
12-31-12: $7.00 (It has been a great month)
12-28-12: $30 today!
12-25-12: $21.50 today!
12-24-12: $7.50
12-21-12: $59.00 ($45.25 on one card)
12-19-12: $25 and still riding free.
12-15-12 $50
12-8-12 a card that will work till 12-25
11-28-12: $15
11-26-12: $10.00
11-11-12: $25
10-17-12: $30
10-16-12: $40
10-9-12: $30
10-2-12: $7.50 and an unlimited that will last till 10-20
10-1-12: $25
9-15-12: $25
9-5-12: $25
8-27-12: $35
8-24-12: $40 and a $38 NYC Parking Card.
8-15-12: $25
7-10-12: $20
7-8-12: $50 (and still using unlimiteds)
6-19-12: $25 and I have been using a unlimited monthly since the beginning of June.
5-29-12: $50
5-11-12: $40
5-4-12: $30, and I have been riding free for the past 3 weeks on a monthly that I found
4-20-12: $25
4-5-12: $17 (just today)
4-2-12: $50
3-13-12: $35
2-29-12: $25
2-10-12 $60, been a good few weeks.
2-6-12: A Transit Check card that may work till 5-31 (worked till 2-20)
1-23-12: $40.00 another great day.
1-21-12: $6.00
1-18-12: $40 (today and yesterday!!)
1-16-12: $145. (I lost my cards, found them in the communal laundry room in my apartment building 2 days later.
1-11-12 $50... Yea!
1-2-12 $35 (27.45 on 1 card yesterday)
12-20-11: $45 (been lucky)
12-12-11: $15.00
12-2-11: $10.50
12-1-11: $40.00 ($37.45 on one recently expired card. People bring it to the booth, you can get a new one.)
11-28-11: $20.00
11-17-11: $25 ($14.75 on one card)
11-6-11: $16.00 on 2 cards at about the 10 mile mark of the NYC Marathon.
11-1-11: $15.00
10-23-11: $10.00
10-14-11: $50 it has been a good few weeks and I have been riding for free.
9-25-11: $7 and a card that will last till 10-15 at the 7 mile mark of the NYC Marathon Tune Up.
9-20-11: A card that will last till 9-25!
9-19-11 $15 and bought $40, but I found a student card one of my kids can use.
9-5-11: This week I found about $5.00 but I had to BUY $40.00.
I Been finding less because I have been on the subway less often. Not because cards with value are any more scarce. However, now that I gotta start paying for my kids I can see paying for a fare in my future.
8-24-11: $15.00
7-28-11: $20.00
7-8-11: $25.00 (some was salary form NYCRUNS.COM
6-15-11: $20.00
5-31-11: $12.00
5-25-11: $4.00 (The EasyPayXprress card switched to "see agent")
5-24-11: $10 (and still riding free)
5-10-11: $30.00 (and still riding free)
4-26-11: $10.00
4-20-11: For about two weeks I have been riding free on a EasyPayXpress card. Let's see how long that lasts.
4-18-11: $:15.00
4-3-11: $10.00
3-23-11: $25
3-12-11: $12.00
3-1-11: $7.00 and a card that will last till 3-26
2-28-11: $25.00
02-17-11: $7.00
02-11-2011: $22.00
1-31-11: $10.00
1-24-11: $8.00
1-19-11:$ 15.00
1-12-11: $15.00 (the windfall from the fare structure increase is apparent, I have been finding a lot of $1.70 cards.)
1-9-11: $4.00
1-4-11: $20.00
12-22-10: $35 (including $24.50 found on 7 cards in a pile)
12-20-10: $10.50 and a card that will last till 12-30 (Worked till 12-22)
12-17-10: $7.50
12-14-10: $12.50
12-13-10: $14.00
12-6-10: $3.50
12-5-10: $12.00
12-4-10: $60; (it has been a good week!)
11-28-10: $15.00 (and I am still riding for free)
11-17-10: $4.00 and a monthly that will last till 12-4
11-7-10: $16 on 4 different cards on the course of the NYC Marathon.
11-6-10: $22:00
11-5-10: $20.00
10-28-10: $12.50
10-14-10: $8.00
10-13-10: $4.00
10-2-10: $6.00, and now that my kids are big enough to pay their fare I am officially spending more than I am finding.
9-27-10: $15 + a $20 bill
9-10-10: $20.00
9-4-10: $6.00
8-28-10: $7.50
8-9-10: $25.00
7-12-10: $4.50
7-8-10: $30.00
7-2-10: $8.50
6-28-10: $10.00
6-18-10: $50 (I have been off line lately)
6-1-10: $5.00 and an unused 30 day card. (What am I gonna do with that?)
5-26-10: $6.00
5-24-10: $22.00 (a $14.25 on the road in Prospect Park.)
5-15-10: $52.00 ($25 in recently expired cards in one spot!)
5-6-10: $3.50
5-5-10: $21.00
5-3-10: $ 6.00
5-1-10: $21.00 Yea baby!
4-29-10: $33.00 yea!
4-27-10: $3.00 and a card that will last till 5-8
4-23-10: $5.00
4-19-10: $10.50
4-14-10 $25.50 (a good day!)
4-13-10: $5.00
4-10-10: $7.45 (on 5 cards all sitting on top of the tester box, 2 of them would have gotten someone on the train?!)
4-9-10: $10.00
4-8-10: $5.00
4-4-10: $15.00
3-29-10: $8.00
3-25-10: $7.00
3-15-10: $21 (a good day, with another $14 card in the middle of the street)
3-11-10: $14.00 (1 card, under the arch of Grand Army Plaza)
3-10-10: $1.50
3-8-10: $22.50
3-2-10: $20.00
2--19-10: $5.00
2-15-10: $2.25
2-13-10: $21.00
2-8-10: $1.55 and a card that will work till 2-15
2-7-10: $49.50 (On one card! Found on the pedestrian island on Park Ave
2-5-10: $4.00
2-4-10; $2.00
2-2-10: $7.00
1-25-10: $6.00
1-22-10: $ 7.50
1-13-10: 3 big unlimiteds 1 expires 1-31 and 2 that expire 2-4?
1-12-10: $12.50
1-4-10: $5.00
1-3-10: $5.75
12-31-9: $4:50
12-28-8: $6.00
12-22-9: $9.50
12-19-9: $14.32
12-18-9: $3.00
12-16-9: $7.50
12-15-9: $3.00
12-14-9: $17.00
12-13-9: $ 7.50
12-8-9: $5.50
12-7-9: $6.00
12-5-9: $4.25
12-2-9: $4.50
12-1-9: $5.25
11-29-9: $2.25
11-25-9: $3.50
11-24-9: $11.00
11-22-9: $25.00
11-18-9: $2.75
11-17-9: $6.00
11-10-9: $3.00
11-8-9: $7.00
11-2-9: $4.50
11-1-9 Got on the subway for free becasue I had a bib from the NYC Marathon. Couda got a ride home but love the honor.
10-28: $2.00 and a TransitCheck card that will work till July 31, 2010 or when the person who lost it reports it lost. (I hope that is soon) (stoped working 10-30)
10-27-9: A 30 day card good till 11-17 (stoped working 10-30)
10-26-9: $6.50
10-21-9: $10.00
10-19--: $31.50
10-9-9: $5.50
10-5-9: $:6.00
10-4-9: $5.50 and a weekly that will last till 10-10
9-24-9: $5.00
9-23-9: 2.50 and made a contribution to an art project (click this)
9-16-9: $4.25
9-15-9: Today was the first day I can remember that I took a round trip on the Subway and found nothing.
9-14-9: 3.50 mostly in 1 pile of 20 and 25 cent cards
9-12-9: $10.00
9-7-9: $11.00
9-1-9: $5.00
8-28-9: $97. CASH Yes is the what the MTA send me for mailing in the unused unlimmited cards I found that became obsolute under the old rate!
8-22-9: $5.50 and a card that will last till 8-25
8-16-9: $6.50
8-12-9: $7.50
8-6-9: $6.40
8-3-9: $14.45
7-30-9: $4.50
7-27-9: $2.75 and card that will last till 8-11 (worked till 7-30)
7-23-9:$3.00 and another card with 3 days left
7-21-9: $22.50
7-20-9: $7.50
7-15-9: A card with 3 days left.
7-12-9: $10.50
7-8-9: $6.00
6-30-9: $12.00 That was 6 $2 cards on the testing your card here machine. Someone really did not know you can combine them
6-28-9: $1.55
6-28-9: $2.10
6-25-9: $6.55
6-22-9: $6.95
6-19-9: $22.50
6-16-9: $2.00
6-13-9: $1.50
6-11-9: $2.50 and a card that will work till 6-14
6-9-9: $2.50
6-6-9: $9.50 (including a $4.05 card on the Brooklyn Bridge)
5-31-9: $27.45
5-22-9: $6.00 and a card that will work till 6-4
5-17-9: $12.25
5-15-9: $6.00
5-12-9: $3.00
5-10-9: $2.05 and a card that will work till 5-21
5-7-9: $8.00
5-4-9: $4.00
5-1-9: $3.50
4-29-9: $7.00
4-25-9:$ 55.75 (one card had $47)
4-20-9: $6.50
4-17-9: $6.00
4-12-9: $3.50
4-10-9: $12.50
4-2-9: $4.10
4-1-9: $6.00
3-31-9: $5.50
3-28-9: $5.50 and a unlimited that will work till 4-1
3-37-9: $4.95
3-26-9: $4.25
3-25-9: $20.50
3-24-9: $8.25
3-23-9: $4.50
3-18-9: $9.50
3-17-9: $4.00
3-16-9: 45 cents, but I got to ride the first train into the new South Ferry Station!
3-11-9: $3.85
3-8-9: $1.98 and a monthy that will work till 3-17
3-6-9: $3.10
3-5-9: $65.10, yea
3-1-9: $6.50
2-28-9: $18.25
2-25-9: $13.00
2-23-9: $9.25
2-19-9: $4.50
2-17-9: $4.25
2-13-9: $5.90
2-11-9: $6.10
2-10-9: 14.75
2-9-9: $12.00
2-6-9: $4.00
2-5-9: $10.50
2-4-9: $4.10
1-27-9: $1.55
1-26-9: $1.35
1-23-9: $6.50
1-21-9: $5.50
1-20-9: $12.00
1-19-9: $8.00
1-16-9: $1.85
1-15-9: $7.50
1-14-9: $5.30 and a 30 day card that will last till 1-29
1-12-9: $7.30 and a 30 day card that will last till 2-1
1-10-9: $3.35
1-9-9: $20.50
1-8-9: $5.50 and an UNUSED 14 day card
1-6-9: $3.80
1-5-9: $6.45
1-4-9: $4.50
1-1-9: $2.25
12-31-8: $0.05
12-29-8: $5.50
12-25-8: $1.00
12-24-8: $31.45
12-23-8: $9.50
12-22-8: $9.45
12-20-8: $12.80
12-18-8: $31.40 yea
12-16-8: $13.00
12-15-8: $5.50
12-11-8: $3.00
12-9-8: $13.50
12-7-8: $12.00
12-5-8: $3.50
12-4-8: $16.50
12-3-8: $5.50
12-2-8: $9.50
12-1-8: $32.50, a good day
11-26-8: $16.50
11-24-8: 35 cents and a card that will work till 12-19
11-20-8: $14.50
11-19-8: $9.50
11-18-8: $3.50 and a card that will last till 11-23
11-14-8: $17.50
11-12-8: $7.50, the 30 day card stopped working
11-9-8: $2.15
11-7-08: $6.50 and a 30 day card that will go till 11-25
11-2-8: A $1 Bill on the Verazzano Bridge during the NYC Marathon
11-1-8: $5.50 and the 30 day card stopped working
10-29-8: $30, and a 30 day card with 3 weeks left on it!
10-25-8: $15.00
10-16-8: $4.30
10-14-8: $2.50
10-13-8: An $8.00 card in my laundry room (If it is yours tell me!)
10-12-8: $2.00
10-7-8: $9.00
10-6-8: $12.00
10-4-8: a weekly with 4 days left on it on the couse of the Grerta's Gallup race in Central Park
10-2-8: $9.50
9-29-8: $8.50 in AirTrain Metrocards, I made a trip to Howard Beach to put them together
9-28-8: $17.80 on one card at the 15 mile mark of the NYC Marathon Tune Up. Hey, there is a little hole in the card for a reason, pin it your shirt!
9-24-8: $15.10
9-21-8: $2.10
9-19-8: $26.00 on 2 cards!
9-18-8: $13.01 on 25 cards
9-17-8: $6 on about 20 cards
9-12-8: $2.50 on 5 cards
9-11-8 : 3.50 on 10 cards
9-8-8: A $12 card
9-3-8: $7.50 on 10 cards
9-1-8; $4.14 on about 15 different cards.
8-26-8: $2.50 on 6 different cards
8-21-8: About $3 on 10 cards
8-20-8: A card that will expire today, I will need it!
8-19-8: 2 5 cent cards and an unused 7 day card (sittng on top of the scanning box?!?!)
8-17-08: $2.50 on 4 different cards
8-15-08: 45 cents and a card that will work for 2 more days
8-13-8: 5 cents
8-12-8: $22 on 4 different cards
4-28-23 i see it's been many years since I actually updated this column. Things have changed through the pandemic. Even before the pandemic they started charging a dollar if you needed a new card. So they were somewhat less card laying around. But since the pandemic when they stop taking cash or combining cards in the boots there's been plenty of cards to pick up.But since the people in the boots come out of the boots I think the stations have actually been cleaner lately.The cards are laying around and until they stop using cards I would remind everyone to pick them up.
8-11-8: A couple of 5 cent cards.
7-27-8: A $2 card on the course of the NYC Half Marthon, at the half mile mark.

What You Do Not Know Because You Are Not Me!

Friday, January 2, 2009

More Ice Skating, this time at the Kate Wollman Rink in Prospect Park

1 comment:

This is not me

Blog Archive

Friday, January 2, 2009

More Ice Skating, this time at the Kate Wollman Rink in Prospect Park

1 comment:

This is not me

Blog Archive

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