The annual Gay Pride Parade made it’s way downtown and right into my neighborhood in the West Village, so I checked out the festivities for a few minutes (truthfully, that’s about all I could tolerate). It’s definitely one of the most colorful celebrations in the city, and I’m not talking about the flags!

The crowd gathered just one block from my building.

The best vantage point was above the street, out of the crowds.

There were endless floats with people dancing to really loud music.

Pride was an excuse for all the street vendors to hawk rainbow goodies.

Gay superheroes?

In SF and NY, Pride seems to be an excuse to walk around in your skivvies!

The New York City Waterfalls opened earlier this week, and I happened to stumble upon them on Sunday afternoon. The structures look a little like scaffolding, and pumps, powered by renewable energy, filter water from the East River up and over the structures. Artist Olafur Eliasson’s inspiration for the exhibit was NYC’s waterways, and his New York City Waterfalls are a spectacular blend of natural phenomena within an urban setting.

Brooklyn Bridge waterfall

Pier 35 waterfall

Brooklyn Bridge waterfall, with Brooklyn Piers waterfall in the background

Governors Island waterfall (notice the menacing storm cloud above!)

Lightning! The roaring thunder and lightning flashes were becoming more frequent, so it was time to go.

I ducked into a restaurant just 30 seconds before Mother Nature’s waterfall started. No joke, this was one of the heaviest summer downpours I’ve experienced!

Farmers Markets are at their best in the summer. It’s literally a rainbow of delicious fruits and veggies and gorgeous flowers. I make a point to go every Saturday I’m in town, and I try to visit them in other cities or towns when I travel. Take a look at what’s in season now!

Basil variety

Colorful carrots

A large variety of beets

Pretty radishes

More radishes

Gorgeous rainbow chard

Pretty pretty flowers

Fragrant lavendar

Well, maybe just cute trash bags.

Bedford St., NYC