Bryant Park - New York City - Parks

Another success story in the push for urban redevelopment, Bryant Park is the latest incarnation of a 4-acre site that was, at various times in its history, a graveyard and a reservoir. Named for poet and New York Evening Post editor William Cullen Bryant (look for his statue on the east end), the park actually rests atop the New York Public Library's many miles of underground stacks. Another statue is also notable: a squat and evocative stone portrait of Gertrude Stein, one of the few outdoor sculptures of women in the city.

This simple green swath, just east of Times Square, is welcome relief from Midtown's concrete, taxi-choked jungle, and good weather attracts brown-baggers from neighboring office buildings. Just behind the library is Bryant Park Grill (tel. 212/840-6500), a gorgeous, airy bistro with spectacular views but merely decent New American food. Still, brunch is a good bet, and the grill's two summer alfresco restaurants -- The Terrace, on the Grill's roof, and the casual Cafe, with small tables beneath a canopy of trees -- are extremely pleasant on a nice day.

Le Carrousel complements the park's French classical style. It's not as big as the Central Park Carousel but utterly charming nonetheless, with 14 different animals that revolve to the sounds of French cabaret music. Le Carrousel is open all year, weather permitting, 11am to 7pm, and costs $1.75 to ride.

A new addition to Bryant Park in 2005 was a welcome one -- another skating rink, this one known as The Pond. Skating on The Pond is free but, unfortunately, the rink is only open from the middle of October until the middle of January, though, at press time, there were rumors that The Pond's season might be extended in 2007-08

Additionally, the park plays host to New York's Seventh on Sixth fashion shows, set up in billowy white tents (open to the trade only) in the spring and fall.