Hey people of the world, it’s THE RIDE, here to blog about Washington Square Park. Back when I was a teenage bus, I would spend all of my free time rolling around the village, talking to my friends about this and that. Our number one hang out spot was always Washington Square Park. There’s just something amazing about the vibe of this park. It doesn’t have the same hustle-bustle feeling as everywhere else in the city.
When it’s warm out, tons of people will park themselves all over the place and enjoy some relaxation at New York City’s oasis. Street musicians will often perform, and they’re usually pretty good considering they’re most likely NYU students. Our favorite thing to do would be to grab a sandwich from a deli on Macdougal Street and enjoy the sounds of Washington Square Park as we eat. If you decide to go, you’ll see many chess tables set up. You can try your luck with any of the veteran players, but be forewarned. They know what they’re doing. My buddy Jim lost all four hubcaps to a chess player in the park. Those dudes are ruthless.
In the winter months, the crowd thins, but the magic still remains at the park. NYU students will still huddle together in the cold to enjoy their redbull and cigarette lunches, and an overzealous sax player might shiver his way through “Louie, Louie.” The best part about winter in the park is that it’s quiet. New York is known as the city that never sleeps, but Washington Square Park feels like a completely different world. The sirens and honking horns drift away, and if it’s snowing you might even be able to hear the sound of it falling.
The arch in the park is beautiful alone, however every holiday season they’ll put a tree up underneath it. The tree is no Rockefeller tree, the lights aren’t a spectacular display of glitz, but something about that tree will make anyone feel as though they’re at home. Grab a hot chocolate from wherever you see the most NYU students hanging out and then take the family on a stroll through Washington Square Park. You won’t regret it.
