Dan R.
Yelp
I hate to use the word "adore" because it's an adjective typically reserved for D-list celebrity department store fragrances and go-getter career women with struggling love lives in romantic comedy scripts written by gay dudes. But, sometimes, you see no other way to get your point across. That being said, yes, I absolutely adore Grand Army Plaza.
I'm not about to go all Ted Mosby on you, but I have to say, I enjoy the architecture. The Soldiers' and Sailors' Arch is clearly the star of the show, a majestic and fitting entry point to Prospect Park. The American "goddess" Columbia in her chariot, atop the structure and flanked by her mighty steed, is ever-glorious. And, at night, the lights transport the plaza to somewhere far, far away from the hustles of Midtown Manhattan. And by somewhere far, far away, yes, I mean further than Brooklyn. OK, so maybe I did go a little Mosby there.
Anyway, New York City is chock full of landmark architectural prowess, so it's easy to exclude what some may see as a glorified traffic circle when compiling a list of must-sees. But there's something about Grand Army Plaza that's especially enthralling to me. Perhaps it's the way it serves as a meeting point for multiple neighborhoods. Perhaps it's the way it can feel like a welcome clearing in the middle of a steel forest. Perhaps it just looks damn sexy. Whether I'm on foot or in the back of a cab, swinging by Grand Army Plaza still gives quite the thrill to an otherwise jaded, hard-to-impress New Yorker.