A Central Park Adventure with Dara and Gary

Dara and Gary are getting married in the Fall; we met up last year at the Feather and Stone in Walton to go over wedding details. They live in Tarrytown, but are getting married in the area. During the course of our conversation over a delicious lunch, we decided that it would be fun to take some snowy winter engagement photos in Central Park. This was a little tricky to schedule because we wanted a nice coating of snow on the ground, but we monitored the weather closely and managed to make it happen! We met in Tarrytown and took the train into NYC. We began at the northeast corner of Central Park by the Harlem Meer, an area of the park that provides family-fun activities such as catch and release fishing, swimming and ice-skating, playgrounds, tours and exhibits, and not too far from where we took the first few pictures, the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center. Gary, who works for the Central Park Conservancy, had quiet a bit of knowlege about the Park and gave me a bit of a tour along the way!

I couldn't resist having them pose with the bright red Ice-Rescue ladder!

We snapped a few photos inside the Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, which was created  by the Central Park Conservancy and which hosts a number of the Conservancy's community programs, seasonal exhibits and holiday events. We took advantage of the lovely light coming in the window while we warmed up! 

 We stepped out onto the deck overlooking the Meer for a few sweet pictures!

The Conservatory Garden was our next stop. The Conservatory Garden is a six acre garden, divided into three smaller gardens, each with its own style--Italian, French, and English. Below, we were in the North Garden, which is the French style. In the background you can see the Three Dancing Maidens fountain, which I think is a nice accent to Gary and Dara in the foreground. What a joyful scene!

On the way to the Italian center garden, Gary and Dara took a little stroll (that ended with a dance!) down this walkway lined with these wonderfully winding trees!

This is the Pergola in the Italian Central Garden, situated under a stunning blue sky.

Beautiful light; happy faces!

The pergola has thirteen medallions representing the original thirteen states inscribed along the walkway. I had Dara and Gary pose by the New York one, of course!

We next visited the English style South Garden with the Burnett Memorial Fountain, a tribute to the author of the children's book, The Secret Garden.

 

We then continued on through the North Meadow on our way to the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.

 We walked down the East side of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir and took pictures with the west side of the beautiful Manhattan skyline in the background. I couldn't believe how many people were out jogging in this weather--that's dedication!

 

  

After our walk by the reservoir, our next stop was on Bridge No. 24 . In between joggers and walkers, we snapped some shots on this bridge that goes over the Bridle Path.

 

Almost done with our trip through the park, we couldn't resist posing in front of The Obelisk , also known as Cleopatra’s Needle. It is one of a pair that had been carved from the rose-granite quarry at Aswan, Egypt, circa 1450 BCE, to honor Pharaoh Thutmosis III.  It’s “sister” obelisk sits on the banks of the Thames in London.

Our final destination was Belvedere Castle, which  provides the best and highest views of the Park. It is also now used by the National Weather Service to take measurements of New York's weather from the castle's tower.

With faces going numb from the cold and rumbling stomachs, we decided to have lunch and a warm beverage. Gary and Dara treated me to lunch at Lenny's on 83rd and Columbus Avenue. A warm sandwich and a cup of coffee was the perfect treat after our winter photo shoot! Congratulations, Gary and Dara; I can't wait for your wedding in the Fall!