8/21/2002 » Dance

I had the most perfect evening last night: a gorgeous three-mile run on the West River. A blood-red sunset behind Jersey City skyscrapers to my right, a rising moon to my left, the Statue of Liberty with its lit flame ahead across the water, a Starbucks at the World Financial Center on the way.

And at the end of the run, a salsa concert at Battery Park. Got up and practiced my shines to the music. At the end of the evening, the band sang a salsa version of ‘I Will Survive,’ and the crowd, which was already enthusiastic to begin with, just went nuts, ‘CD! CD! Otra! Otra!’

There’s a gorgeous long pier, Pier 54, at 14th St., with a great view of Jersey; a beautiful waterside lawn just north of the WFC next to a high-rise where people play frisbee; a romantic stretch of waterfront with blue lights and gazebos where couples go and sit; and a cute grassy area by Pier A, behind which the band played.

Then at the end of the evening I went to Olives, the W hotel bar, had a drink with a friend, and paid way too much for the drink ($18 for a chianti and a pineapple juice). We nestled in a cozy little U-shaped nook with forest-themed green velvet upholstery, they have great couches, and talked for an hour. Beautiful night.