Last weekend our D.C. friends were bragging about how amazing the cherry blossoms were looking and how excited they were for the flower’s annual festival.  As they succeeded in making me jealous of not being there, I decided to create my own New York City Cherry Blossom Festival.  So Mike and I started from our apartment in Washington Square Park and walked our way up to Central Park stopping to take in the first wave of Spring’s blooms. 

Coming across Union Square first, I was so excited to see that my favorite monument was sitting in a backdrop of pink flowers.I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent. – Mohandas Gandhi

We continued up Broadway and were pleasantly blinded by the new chrome statue of New York and pop art icon, Andy Warhol.  The 10 foot sculpture created by Rob Pruitt was placed in front of Warhol’s old Union Square factory on March 30th and is only slated to be open for viewing until October 2nd.  I had been watching the three-part documentary series “Factory People” just that week so I was that more elated that we were able to view this tribute to the great Warhol. 

I think that having land and not ruining it is the most beautiful art that anyone could ever want to own.  -Andy Warhol

As we walked up 5th Avenue, the streets were bustling with people happy to finally get a little break from the rain we were having the rest of the week.  Some of my favorite cherry blossom trees are on 59th street right in front of the Plaza, and this year they didn’t disappoint. 

We entered Central Park and I was amazed how different the park had looked after just walking through it two weeks before. 

We left the park on the east side and made our way back home via 1st Avenue.  Like the parks the streets were beautiful and in full bloom. 

And how cute it this spring time monument?

Our last stop on was Grace Church on East 10th and Broadway.  This church on its own is gorgeous, but that more picturesque with all the flowers. 

As I returned back to my apartment that evening all those feelings of jealousy left as I reflected on my day and the creation of my first annual NYC Cherry Blossom Fest!