Shwanky digs at Union Square

P's long adored the ancient playground (featuring, basically, sand and a 70's style jungle gym) across from E's office. The surrounding area is vibrant, typically packed with the Green Market (the big sister to our Saturday morning grocery run at Grand Army Plaza) and throngs of New Yorkers dog walking and bench sitting. But the Little Man never even bothered to enter the modern playground just across the sidewalk. Raised walkways bordered by ladders and poles having lost his interest before he turned three (way too safe, apparently;)...

Then they demolished the boring modern monstrosity. P was worried his beloved pyramid would follow suit, but some smart suit has preserved that tiny space (so far.) Now, after months and months of work, the new Union Square playground is open... and it rocks.

Granted, it isn't everyone's cup of tea. We met in mass on Friday, homeschoolers swirling around the swingless space. Some moms seemed thrilled, some not so much. P, however, was unequivocally jazzed.

I only got one (the above) shot that day. The strange stainless steel dome, rising above one end of the playground for no apparent reason, had P and I giggling with glee. Scooching up the smooth surface was entertaining, standing on top of the precarious center point was exhilarating, and sliding down was just plain fun. Even more, there were so many climbing doodads spread across the new playspace, the LIttle Man didn't know which way to turn.

Until he found what his friend called "a modern day one of those old things that go round and round." Yah, that's another term for newfangled merry go round. A suspended soft circle surrounded by a flush stainless steel bar floated above the playground on a tilted shaft. Kiddie crack for sure. Children piled on as one father twirled and twirled and twirled the writhing heap. P flew off, did a flip and landed with a thud. Up he bounced (as the twirling father almost had a heart attack) and bounded back to the rotating wheel. This time he gripped the stainless steel edge a bit better. No matter though, he flipped off twice more, both times garnering alarmed squeeks from the other adult viewers. But P typically bounces when he flies, especially if he's enjoying himself, and the surface tiles under the ride were purposefully squishy... so I laughed at the hilarity of him flying through the air each time. I'm not particularly sure I won any friends that day... But the Little Man was in heaven (and unscathed;)!

We're so excited to go back when its warm... and the sun stays up late - that playground is vacant after dinner! Though, for the record, Mr. Social seemed nonplussed seeing so many fellow homeschoolers. In fact, I think he actually enjoyed it. Despite the fact that his favorite new "friend" from the day was Diego, the dad P introduced himself to :)