On Sunday, October 1, come to Fort Tryon Park, near the top of Manhattan (and right next door to me) to enjoy the annual Medieval Festival.  Take the A Train to 190th Street stop, take the elevator up to Fort Washington Avenue and turn right.

There will be jousting, falconry demonstrations, medieval weaponry, people in costumes weird and wonderful, puppetry, magic shows, living chess board, carnival food (including the ubiquitous turkey legs and Ye Olde Fried Dough), children’s parade, and tens of thousands of visitors.  It is always a wonderful time in my neighborhood and runs from 11:30 AM to 6 PM.  Get here early, it fills up fast.

But definitely come back at quieter times.  The park is one of the loveliest and underrated treasures in the city with sweeping views of the Hudson and Palisades.  While there will be 60,000 or so people for the festival there are substantially less most days.  There is a lovely restaurant called the New Leaf Cafe and the incomparable Medieval Collection of the Met Museum, housed in the beautiful Cloisters.  Come back on a quieter day.  You’ll be happy you did.

As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes

TOMORROW: Results of the Edward Albee Collection Sotheby’s sale