Rainy Day Wanderings: AKA How I Got Bryant Park to Myself

Rainy days are incredibly varied for me: some days I wake up and feel motivated to clean my apartment and then spend the day exploring. Other days I just want to curl up on my couch with a nice cuppa and spend the day reading, writing or, more likely, watching TV. A few weeks ago, I was feeling much the latter state when I woke up to pouring rain with no end in sight. But, as luck would have it, I had to leave my apartment in order to [finally] get TSA pre-check.

As luck would have it again, I arrived and they told us that their systems were down for the entire day. Yayyy.

So I left the gloomy building and ventured from Herald Square to Lord & Taylor for an unsuccessful dress shopping trip (thanks, mom). I’m really bad at shopping for things in person but am a champion online shopper, so I left feeling a little frustrated. Fortunately, I would be taking the F train from Bryant Park home, which brought me to the most peaceful New York scenario I’ve ever encountered: complete solitude in Bryant Park.

About Bryant Park

If you’re not familiar with Bryant Park, it is a block-sized park that sits just behind the New York Public Library (between 5th and 6th Avenues and 40th and 42nd streets). In the winter, it is filled with an ice skating rink and Christmas market stalls. In the summer, it is filled with people getting sun on the grass, playing games, watching one of the many film screenings, or just hanging out. Needless to say, this place is never empty.

How to find Bryant Park empty

Except for when I encountered it! If it weren’t for the pouring rain, I would have sat myself down on a chair and enjoyed the silence. Instead, I meandered slowly around the perimeter, trying to predict the direction the wind would blow the rain and taking pictures of what is most likely a once in a lifetime opportunity. As you can see below, it was so magical and peaceful.

Moral of the story: even if rainy days make you want to stay inside, venture out and you could be surprised by what you can find. Make sure to head to Bryant Park for a taste of solitude.

I’m got my TSA pre-check this weekend and made a trip to Chick-fil-A before it started pouring. I should’ve gone to Bryant Park!