Race

What a topic. Intense. No obvious answers. Some obvious wrong-doings, and some misinterpretations.  These were well-handled in this short play (only one hour and forty minutes). 

I thought Spader and Grier acted well.  Washington and Thomas each had some mis-steps and sometimes awkward performances.

This is a great play to discuss/debate with someone.  I pondered the issues it raised - and others - on the walk back to my apartment. For now, however, I'm thinking "Goodnight, John-Boy."  (I wonder if he hates never living that down?  He's now 57 years old! Wow.  Many years away from Walton's Mountain...for all of us.)

Foiled Plans and Pleasant Surprises

As I headed out today on the cross-town bus, I saw this sign.  Really?  Is it really necessary to tell people not to spit on a bus?  Oh boy.  I just don't understand some things.

The plan was to head across town to the West side so I could walk the Hudson River and Riverside Parks bordering the Hudson.  My first planned stop was the aircraft carrier Intrepid near 42nd Street.  I have never been on an aircraft carrier and thought it would be interesting to see such a huge vessel.

The line to get in was somewhat long and I didn't want to pay $22.  Just viewing it from the sidewalk made me wonder about the lives of military people and how they live and work on ships.  I can't imagine being on this in the middle of the ocean - or trying to land a jet on it - especially during a war.  I'm grateful some people can do it.

When I aborted my plan to board the carrier I decided to keep walking.  I had done some prior research, and I was hoping to walk all the way up to 116th Street to Columbia University's campus.  Given it was a weekday morning, there weren't a lot of people on the path.  For the most part that was OK, but there were a few sections where I was wondering if I wasn't being smart.  It all worked out fine because, shortly after I had that thought, I would see other people and feel more comfortable.

The Hudson River Park ends at 59th Street and the Riverside Park picks up after that.  It was a nice walk - the weeping willows have bloomed with yellow-green, young leaves and the grass is super green.  There were many interesting sites along the way, including some remnants of when trains would come to the river and the longshoremen would load the contents on ships.  These various sites were marked with placards.  Apparently Donald Trump helped finance sections of the park - surely to make his Trump buildings bordering the river more appealing.

I saw this big bottle.  You can look through the mouth of it into the inside, which looks like a camper with stainless steel chairs, kitchen, etc.  I googled it and could not find more information about it.  I couldn't find a sign describing it.

My most exciting site (or sight, in this case) was the seal on a piling in the Hudson. Yup!  A seal!  Two people watching him knew all about him (or her).  The seal was sighted last Spring and was just seen again early this week.  The animal has always been spotted alone. 

The March 29, 2010 edition of The New York Post had an article about the seal, which said

Harbor seals, like this one, live up and down the Atlantic Seaboard, but are rare in New York City waters. "This is a good thing, it means there's a good supply" of small fish and crustaceans to feed off, said New York Aquarium director Jon Dohlin.
Harbor seals don't do much jumping, so this little guy probably rode the high tide before planting himself on a piling.

A lady watching the seal with me had inside scoop.  She said a kayak vendor told her the seal responds to "Murray."  You heard it here first!  The above picture from the Post is a lot better than the picture below that I took with my point-and-shoot camera.

I hope the little guy (or girl) does OK here in the big city.

It was an unexpected thing to see and quite a joy - a simple pleasure.

I continued to walk north and noticed there were very few pedestrian entries/exits to and from the park.  The park is blocked off from the street by the Hudson Parkway and what I assume was old train track property.  When I got to a sign at 74th Street my suspicions were confirmed.  It looked like I couldn't get back to the street unless I either went up past 116th (I still don't think that seems right) or backtrack to 72nd Street.  Needless to say, I backtracked to 72nd Street.  Eleanor Roosevelt was there waiting for me patiently.

I walked from Riverside Drive to Broadway and caught the 1 train to 116th Street and Columbia University.  The campus was very pretty.  It had the traditional, old buildings as well at least one modern building.  The modern building, Lerner Hall, had ramps visible outside through the glass facade. I saw pictures on the web where it is lit up with different colors at night. 

I finished off my Morningside Heights/Columbia University tour with lunch at Campo at Broadway and approximately 114th.  For the $10 special, I had a butternut squash soup, a cobb salad, and dessert - with sit-down service.  Nice.  I love a "proper" lunch.

I jumped on the 1 train down to 50th and got tickets for two shows.  One is for tonight, so I better think about dinner and get going soon.  Off to another adventure!

Park Avenue to "Spanish Harlem"

Today found me in two very different Manhattan neighborhoods.  I met a friend for lunch at a restaurant she recommended - Park Avenue Bistro (between 26th and 27th).  By the late afternoon I was in "El Barrio" in East Harlem.

Lunch was quite a treat.  We had escargot in a wonderful garlic butter sauce.  When we finished that we dipped our bread in the delicious sauce.  I then had a chicken sandwich on cranberry bread with olive tapenade.  We finished with a creme brulee that was piping hot and topped with fresh strawberries.  The surprise was that my friend unexpectedly treated me for a "going away" lunch.  How kind.

After we parted, I took the 6 train up to 103rd Street.  I was heading to El Museo del Barrio at 104th and 5th Ave.  I learned of this museum when I moved to New York and saw an ad featuring The Bed by Pepon Osorio.  This folk art bed captured my attention and piqued my interest.  I vowed to go check out the museum before I left NY, and today I did that.

The purpose of the museum is to represent and preserve the work of Puerto Ricans (and Nuyoricans - a term I have seen before but just learned today that it means "New York Puerto Ricans") and all Latin American in the United States.  The museum has a special exhibit called Phantom Sightings: Art After the Chicano Movement.  I saw some fun art and some very interesting art that motivated me to do some research, which led me to learn several important things.

Vocho (Yellow) by Margarita Cabrera
(Vinyl, batting, thread and car parts)

Alejandro Diaz, Handmade cardboard "paintings" he sold outside Tiffany's on 5th Ave.  Some of these are quite amusing.

These next photographs by Delilah Montoya reminded me of the plight of people trying to enter the U.S. via Mexico.  I know this is an extremely controversial political issue but these pictures emphasize it's also a huge humanity issue when people are dying in the desert.  They know the risks and are in pursuit of a better life in spite of them.  I thank God I am not in their situation.

This picture shows the 50 lb drums of water put in the desert by an organization called Humane Borders.  Humane Borders publishes a map that shows blue spots where the water stations are.  The red spots represent where people have died.  The reddish area on the left is a reservation, and the reservation does not allow water stations because it feels it promotes illegal immigration, amongst other things.  The artist describes her project and this Humane Borders map at this web site.

If the photographer's goal was to get us to think when we look at her photos, it certainly worked with me.

What was left behind on the Trail of Thirst

A part of the permanent exhibit included Graphics and Politics.  It was very interesting for me to see this serigraph, to which I was exposed as a teen through Wacky Packs.  I had no idea then that Ester Hernandez was making a statement about US imperialism and consumer culture.

In this Graphics and Politics exhibit I also learned about Lolita Lebron.  She was a Puerto Rican "freedom fighter" who led a group of people in attacking the US House of Representatives in 1954, two years after Puerto Rico received "Commonwealth" status.  She was imprisoned for 25 years and then she and her group members were pardoned by Jimmy Carter.  They received a great welcome when they returned to Puerto Rico.  Lebron, born Dolores "Lolita" Lebrón Sotomayor (wonder if she's related to the latest Supreme Court justice?), is now 90 years old.

I ended my afternoon by stopping for coffee at the East Harlem Cafe. The coffee was good and I decided to get a muffin, too.  It cost me $3, probably half of what I would pay for the same in Mid-town.  I was disappointed my fair skin and blue eyes betrayed me in the cafe.  No one questioned whether to speak to me in Spanish or English. 

It is always interesting to be in a space and place where I am "the other."  I think it's good to experience that as often as possible.  Now, I want to move to Puerto Rico to work/live.  Alas, I don't have to pack for there tonight, fortunately, but I'll keep it in mind for a few years down the road.

Puerto Rico, like Spanish Harlem, is a long way from Park Avenue.

Dinner and a Movie

Went to what is now my favorite Indian restaurant last night.  It's called Coriander and it is in Voorhees, NJ.  I told the owner that it was better than any Indian I have had in New York City.  She explained they use the freshest ingredients, avoid heavy creams, and don't try to overpower the food with spice.  I asked her if that meant that they were trying to appeal to an American palate and she said, "no."  She explained that not all locales in India eat spicy (hot) foods.  I can't wait to go back and try something else at this affordable restaurant.

I also saw Crazy Heart.  I thought the theater would be empty but was wrong.  Like me, there were still many people who hadn't seen this movie.  I enjoyed it but thought it was very sad, even if there was redemption in the end. 

I really liked the music, too, and wondered if Jeff Bridges really sang the songs; it sure looked like he did.  After looking at the soundtrack listed on Amazon.com, I learned he did sing.  I was surpised to learn that Colin Farrell also sang.  I think I'm going to order the soundtrack.

American Museum of Natural History

Yesterday was my first day off since I quit my job and the possibilities were endless.  I opted for the American Museum of Natural History near Central Park West.  I especially wanted to see the Silk Road exhibit because I taught a unit on the Silk Road when I was a social studies teacher. 

I got to the museum right after it opened and the ticket seller told me this exhibit was "really good" and "no one was there." My entry ticket was for 15 minutes later.  I don't know what happened during those 15 minutes but the ticket taker at the exhibit warned me that 300 students just entered.  She wasn't kidding.  Let's just say I made the most of the situation.

The exhibit brought back a lot of what I taught. It was neat to see the various silver, pottery, art, tools, silks, etc.  There were live silk worms and I spoke to a museum representative who was watching over them.  She told me they are very sensitive to temperature and noise so they were in a sound-proof, climate-controlled case.  She also said they evolved in such a way as to be totally dependent on humans. For example, when they finish eating a mulberry leaf they will starve to death if there is not another immediately by them because they won't crawl six inches to get to food; they "choose" to die.

 If they don't die by their own "choice" then they die in their silk cocoons at the hand of man.  They are boiled in their cocoons because, if they come out of them, they ruin the long silk thread.  (One thread is between 1,000 - 3,000 feet long and it is actually produced from the worm's salivary glands.)  The cocoons (not pictured here) in the museum were white but they must have been bleached as the web sites I've since read all show the cocoons as yellow.  (This web site, in particular, has some great pictures of the whole process.)  As you can tell, I am fascinated.

I wandered the museum on my own for awhile and then caught up with one of the free tours. The tour was interesting in that it was not just about the exhibits but what was behind the exhibits - including the extensive travel to exotic sites where artists and photographers captured the actual environments of the various animals so they could recreate these environments in dioramas when they came back.  The lighting was impressive, too, as the coyotes and owls were shown hunting in the dark.  Exhibits with these dioramas looked extremely authentic.

I especially enjoyed the bird exhibit.  It had cranes, owls, hawks, eagles, loons, ducks, and more unusual birds.  I learned that the wood stork is the only type of stork in the United States.  It made me wonder why, given we have so few, this is the bird of legend that delivers babies (and Vlasic pickles).  Turns out the legend started in Europe.  (Read more here if you are curious.)

In my meandering around the museum I also saw a Kenyan saying that spoke to me:

Take care of the earth.  It is not given to your by your parents but on loan to you from your children. 

There were so many other interesting exhibits.  I spent about three hours in the museum and I probably could have spent twice that.  Here are just a few of the other things that grabbed my attention.

This wasn't one of the beautiful dioramas, obviously, but I loved all of the owls.  Notice how tiny some are.  Did you know that some owls burrow in the ground?  (I couldn't...and can't...think too much about how they wound up in a glass case.)          They are such beautiful creatures. I've heard them several times but only saw one "in real life" when I was camping on a small island off the northern tip of Vancouver Island, BC and it swooped over our heads. 

Another interesting item was this shawl or blanket made from spider's silk. (Yup, spiders. Golden Orb spiders, to be precise.) It's the only such item in the world and it is soon leaving the museum to return to Madagascar. It was very intriguing.

This boat was used by the natives of the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada.  The artistry and carvings on it were beautiful and told a story.  The boat was made from one cedar tree.  What a feat, especially considering it was all done by hand. It, and some of the stories the tour guide told, reminded me of my kayaking trip in the Inside Passage and what I learned during that trip.  (The same trip where I saw the owl.)  It was a pleasant reminder of that trip, as were all of the totems and masks on display nearby.

This piece was amazing.  It looks like a "blob" of steel but it actually grew it a mine in China. The explanation at the bottom of the displayed described how the "rods" grow squared and therefore resemble processed metal.   

Finally, I left the museum and walked on the outskirts of Central Park.  I was so pleased to see the daffodils. I roamed through the park and back to my apartment, content I had been able to see the museum and with lots of food for thought.

New Beginnings and Old Friends

Today was my last day at work.  It was the job that brought me to New York City.  Leaving it means moving from the city.  I have, however, about 3 weeks (with the exception of about 4 days when I have to deal with reality in Philadelphia) to play in the city.  I'm feeling extremely light and happy.

As I look at another new beginning, I spent dinner with two old friends tonight.  I have not seen or talked to one friend, who lives in Long Branch, NJ, since 1986.  I have not seen or talked to the other friend, who lives in LA, for about 12 years.  (I last saw her when I was in LA.)  We were all college buddies and were in the same dorm for 3 years.

It was a truly wonderful evening.  We picked up so easily.  We were both mature, experienced, and worldly women and young, silly, light-hearted, happy-go-lucky women in one 3.5 hour period.  I laughed so hard I cried.  I don't think I've done that in years.  I really hope we can spend more time together.  We talked of meeting in Napa or Sonoma in the late Fall for a long weekend.  I really hope we can make that happen.

We had dinner at 29th and 3rd, just a few blocks from my apartment. We ate at Bistango based on my NJ friend's recommendation.  (Apparently her brother lived in Murray Hill for a number of years and this was his neighbor restaurant.)  The food was really good.  The owner, Anthony, came out and greeted my friend.  He really took care of us.  He personally checked on us during our meal and brought us a delicious, on-the-house dessert selection.  By the time I left he treated me like an old friend.  He kissed me on the cheek and I told him that, while I'm only in the neighbor for about 3 more weeks, I hoped to bring some friends back.

It was a night of celebration - exciting changes and enduring friendships that time does not erode.  I feel so blessed.

Lang Lang at Carnegie Hall

Lang Lang.  Lang Lang.  I kept saying that in my head on my walk to Carnegie Hall. ("How do you get to Carnegie Hall?" In my case, it's not "practice, practice, practice." It's walk up to 57th and 7th.) I was trying to remember how he made it into my consciousness. The only thing I could figure was from a newspaper or a TV news magazine like 60 minutes.
When I got to Carnegie Hall and the sold out event, I was seated and silently pleased.  "Wow, Carnegie Hall" is what I was thinking.  In the very narrow hallways in one of the upper tiers, I had caught glimpses of pictures of performers who had played Carnegie Hall.  (I couldn't pause to examine any as it was too crowded.) 

I also remembered how Cris Williamson and Meg Christian, two lesbian political activists, had played Carnegie Hall in 1983.  I wondered if it was scandalous, especially when Meg sung Ode to My Gym Teacher.

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along
She showed me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
She'll always be a player on the ballfield of my heart

I wrote her name on my notepad and the ink got on my dress
And I etched it on my locker and I carved it on my desk
And I painted big red hearts with her initials on my books
And I never knew till later why I got those funny looks...

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along
She showed me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
She'll always be a player on the ballfield of my heart

In gym class while the others talked of boys that they loved
I'd be thinking of new aches and pains the teacher had to rub
And while other girls went to the prom I languished by the phone
Calling up and hanging up if I found out she was home

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along....
I sang her songs by Johnny Mathis
I gave her everything
A new chain for her whistle, and daisies in the spring
Some suggestive poems for Christmas by Miss Edna Millay
And a lacy lacy lacy card for Valentine's Day
(Unsigned of course)

She was a big tough woman
The first to come along...
So you just go to any gym class
And you'll be sure to see
One girl who sticks to Teacher like a leaf sticks to a tree
One girl who runs the errands and who chases all the balls
One girl who may grow up to be the gayest of all...

She was a big strong woman
The first to come along
To show me being female meant you still could be strong
And though graduation meant that we had to part
You'll always be a player on the ballfield of my heart!

Looking out at the "proper" crowd in this gorgeous building, thoughts of that song and that moment in 1983 made me sit there and smile an ever-so-slight-smile.  If only I had been there!  Oh, but how I digress.  Lang Lang.  Lang Lang.

I read the Playbill and learned that Lang Lang was featured during the 2008 Grammy Awards when he played with Herbie Hancock.  Aha! That was it! That's how I knew about Lang Lang!  I remembered it well! (I couldn't find the Grammy performance of Gerswhin's Rhapsody in Blue on You Tube, but I did find a later performance of the same song.)

Time Magazine said the following about the Grammy performance,

...the performance doesn't feel worthy or dull thanks to the clash between Hancock's delicate jazz fingering and the clawing, mauling style of Lang Lang.

This is not the first time I've read commentary critical of Lang Lang and what some might call his "excessiveness."  Interestingly, I overheard some audience members last night during intermission speculating why Lang Lang was so reserved.  One thought it was because of the music and the other because of the event - a fundraiser for UNICEF's Haiti relief.  Even the New York Times review alludes to his calm demeanor last night.

The New York Times review also mentions that Wyclef Jean performed with Lang Lang last night after the long ovation.  I knew Jean - a Haitian - was in attendance as it was announced by a representative from UNICEF.  This representative - American born and bred as evidenced by her speech patterns - also announced that Susan "Sara-don" (Huh? Would that be Susan "Sa-ran-don"?) was in the audience as she formerly represented UNICEF at various events in the past.

By 11pm, I was so exhausted that I left after providing my applause.  This means I didn't see Wyclef Jean (or Susan Sara-don).  I would have liked to have seen Jean perform with Lang Lang but I was way too tired.  In fact, fatigue is exactly why I'm ending this entry now.  I've completely run out of steam and plan to dream of a piano-playing gym teacher playing on the ballfield of my heart.

Chester County, PA

It was another gorgeous, unusually warm day yesterday. An early evening ride to Chester County - Andrew Wyeth territory - was filled with painting-worthy images. There were rolling hills, old stone houses, grazing horses, trees, farms, and wide-open spaces.

While I didn't see this particular house, this is a classic Chester County farm house, and it was the home in the film Marley and Me.

The friends I was visiting live in a wonderful old farm house, too, but they are selling it because a development of "McMansions" is going in across the street.  I hate to see that happen.  Probably two parents, two kids, and a dog or two in a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house. Gross consumerism at its finest.  (OK, I obviously have strong feelings about such sprawl and the need for "bigger" and "newer"!)

We went to dinner at the Four Dogs Tavern in West Chester.  (Their web site isn't operational as of now.)  It was in a lovely country setting.  The tavern had so much character - wide-board floors and exposed rafters - as well as outdoor seating.  It was very crowded but we had a reservation for our party of 8. 

The food is tavern fare - burgers, salads, soups, etc.  (Mushroom soup was on the menu.  This is because Chester County is also home to Kennett Square, the so-called "Mushroom Capital of the World," which produces over 51% of the nation's mushrooms.) A friend had it and seemed to enjoy it.

A late night drive back to suburbia was a little unsettling as there were deer in the fields, which is where I was hoping they would stay...and, fortunately, they did.  To my knowledge, Andrew Wyeth never painted the deer, and certainly not the ones that encountered a car.

Good Italian in Comfortable Environment

Because of a jaw injury, it has been almost two weeks since I have had a "proper" meal (that is, a balanced, enjoyable one and not just an "eat this to survive meal").  While my jaw wasn't 100% tonight, it was well enough to eat a salad, lasagna, and a little bit of cheesecake.  With a nice glass of Valpolicella - my first glass of wine in two weeks because of being on medication - and an affordable $19.99 pre-fixe offered by Notaro, it was a nice outing with my friend from Chicago.

Theater District to the New York Public Library

It was absolutely beautiful today.  The unseasonably warm temperatures in the low 60's had a lot of people out tonight.  I walked up to the TKTS booth in Times Square hoping to get a discounted ticket to the play Race.  A friend of mine saw the show this way on a weekend so I thought I'd have a good chance.  Alas, it wasn't meant to be.

I decided to walk over to the main branch of the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue.  This beautiful building is "guarded" by two lions. (I learned that they are often called Patience and Fortitude, as referred to by Mayor LaGuardia in the 1950's.)  I've been aware of these lions for years, even before I saw them in person, because I have a New York Public Library Reference Book at home that has a beautiful cover featuring them.

Several weeks ago when I walked by the these guardians of knowledge, they had "caps" of snow and one lion had snow on his nose.  I wish I had a camera to capture the image.  Of course, there was no snow tonight.

The library is enormous and not what I expected. Most surprising, with the exception of the Children's Library, this is not a circulation library.  There is a great reading room that is is 78 feet wide by 297 feet long, with a 52 foot high ceiling. There are also several galleries with changing exhibits.  I also saw the Map Room (although I couldn't go in because it was closed) that I have seen featured on CBS Sunday Morning.  There are daily tours so I'm hoping I get to do one before I leave New York.

I slowly meandered back to my apartment, carrying my coat over my arm and feeling like a true New Yorker as I lamented the onslaught of tourists that the warm weather was bringing to New York.  They were so obvious in Times Square but I am fully aware that I will be "one of them" again soon.

Auntie Em

Much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast is experiencing a Nor'Easter today- torrential rains and 50 mph wind gusts.  A perfect day to go see South Pacific at Lincoln Center.  (Nothing like a play to get you out on what could otherwise be a sit-in-all-day day.) 

Walked to Penn Station to meet a friend, hopped the subway, had a nice, slow lunch right near Lincoln Center, and off to the show.  It was charming.  I felt like I was watching an old Hollywood movie.  I wanted to see it because of the cultural impact it has had on our society.  (Seems like many people of a certain age are aware of the songs and/or story in some way.) 

Plus, I've been aware of James Michener for years.  ("Fan" would be too strong a word, which is why I used "aware.")  I listened to some of his novels - for example, Alaska - on a long drive from Philadelphia to Grand Rapids, Michigan (or on the way back?).  In the 1990's, I read his autobiography The World is My Home as I desired to live a life like his.  I was given one of Michener's business cards from a friend who once worked at his estate in Bucks County.  I keep it in my copy of his autobiography.  (Interesting fact:  Michener wrote his first novel at age 39 and won the Pulitzer. I think that first book was Tales of the South Pacific.)

Back into the storm and a quick-paced walk to the subway took us downtown where we walked over to 9th Ave.  We had dinner at Room Service, a reasonably priced and good Thai restaurant.  The real draw is the beautiful interior - an enormous chandelier with several mini-chandeliers throughout.  Mirrors and contemporary furniture added to the ambiance.  Interestingly, the background music was like club music.  I didn't mind it at all, but it seemed an unusual choice.

Hunkering down tonight with hot tea, newspapers, and the sound of rain slapping against my 20th floor window.  Now I just need to remember to set my clock one hour ahead before I go to bed.  Spring is on the way, which means Nor'Easters are on their way out for the season.

Conflict

Today I basically accepted a job I don't really want so I "celebrated" that by at least seeing a movie I really wanted to see.  The movie was The Last Station with Helen Mirren and Christopher Plummer.  Plummer plays an aged and dying Leo Tolstoy (born Lev Nikolayevich) and Mirren plays his wife Sofya.  I enjoyed the movie.

The Last Station is a love story and a history lesson.  (I'll be doing some googling to learn what was real and what simply made for a good movie.)  I did learn that a group called the Tolstoyans were - and apparently still are in some places - followers of Tolstoy's philosophies of peaceful resistance, sexual purity, and community property, to name a few.  Ironically, it seemed that Tolstoy's most ardent supporter and founder of the Tolstoyans, Vladimir Chertkov, was more fervent about Tolstoy's philosophies than Tolstoy himself was.

 Left: Vladimir Chertkov, Right: Leo Tolstoy

One of Plummer's (therefore Tolstoy's) lines that struck me in the movie was that he was (paraphrasing) "repulsed by their privilege" and how his wife seemed to enjoy it.  This made me feel repulsion over my attitude toward my decision to take a job that will give me privileges that others during this time would gladly embrace - a good salary, benefits, and a ridiculous amount of paid time off. 

Ah, the conflict.  How appropriate considering I just saw a movie about a man whose famous book title is about the greatest conflict of all - War and Peace.

Two More Dia Foundation Sites

I was working on Park Ave between 25th - 26th Streets yesterday so, at the end of the work day, I thought it would be nice to walk down to 22nd and over to the West Side between 10th and 11th.  Armed with a mango-strawberry-banana smoothie (my now two-day old way of getting some fruit in me in different ways), I started walking.

Destination: Two additional Dia Foundation sites.  (See SoHo Night entry for more Dia information.)

First Stop: 548 West 22nd Street, Untitled, Artist Dan Flavin, installed 1996

Walking west on 22nd Street as dusk approached, I could see this 4-story installation.  It's an attention grabber; the glow called me to the building.

According to the Dia Art Foundation website, this stairwell installation

...comprises two rows of blue and green fluorescent lamps which measure 2 feet each (61 cm) and are stacked vertically, end to end, between the five floors of the building.

Five floors?  I clearly only saw 4 floors from street level.  Maybe the lights run into the basement level?

Set within custom-made fixtures that fit directly into the corners of the stairwells, eight blue lamps are on the first landing, seven blue lamps are on the second landing, seven green lamps are on the third landing, and nine green lamps are on the fourth landing.

Hhmmm, so they only describe 4 floors?  OK, I'm not just imagining 4 floors. 

The lights can be seen both within the building and from the street, and the installation exemplifies Flavin's subtle work in relation to a specific architectural context. Completed just prior to the artist’s death, it is Flavin’s last work in fluorescent light.

The best perspective of this work is from directly across the street.  It gives the full view of this tower of light.  As I walked back east on 22nd from this site, I passed (again) the 2nd installation.

Second Stop: West 22nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, 7000 Oaks, Artist Joseph Beuys, 1988

The jist of this installation is that are several varieties of trees and each is paired with a basalt stone.  If you are by these tree/rock pairs and look east, you can see trees that are both part of and not part of this installation.  This is a nicely-treed street, residential area with trees as far east as 8th Ave.  I am sure this is a very pretty walk in the summer and fall.  There are many galleries to peer into as you stroll, also.

One of the interesting things I saw near this 2nd installation on my tour was a repair shop. The entrance was painted like a roadway going through a tunnel. The outside of the building had lots of interesting signs and art.  Unfortunately, the picture is a little dark, but it does show the tunnel effect.

This business facade was actually more interesting than what I saw in some of the galleries in the area.

After this little investigative trip, I headed back to my apartment and remembered I wanted to stop by the Ace Hotel on 29th St and Broadway.  I was still in search of  Stumptown Coffee.  (See the Busy New York City Weekend entry for more on this newfound interest.)  Much to my dismay, they didn't have any decaf.  I was offered a decaf Americano as a alternative and I started to decline.  He explained it was espresso and, yes, it is possible to have decaf espresso. 

I am not a fan of espresso, or I thought I wasn't, but I tried it with some cream.  OMG.  I'm in love.  This was the moment I've wanted it New York.  I FINALLY have found something that I will make a point of getting in the future when I come back to the city.  (See the Busy New York City Weekend entry for more on this lament.)  It's not an entree or dessert or drink...it's coffee. 

I'm not a coffee connoisseur by any means - Dunkin' Donuts is about my speed and Starbucks is typically too strong for me.  Stumptown's espresso and coffee are simply fabulous.  That first taste of espresso was such a delight!  I'm hooked.  I almost walked back there tonight but it got much colder since the day began and I was cold with a too-light jacket.  Perhaps tomorrow.  I'll be working close-by again...and thinking about it all day.

Lumberville, PA

Spent a beautiful Sunday the old-fashioned way - dressed up more than normal for a Sunday and off for a country drive. Headed to Lumberville, PA and the Black Bass Hotel for a friend's birthday.  Once in Bucks County, the drive is charming.

My friend told us of the Black Bass Hotel and its wonderful Sunday Brunch.  The brunch was quite good and the scenery in the room closest to the river is pretty. The service seemed exceptionally slow.

After our two-hour brunch, we walked over the Delaware River to New Jersey.  This is the view from New Jersey looking back at the inn.

I hope to remember to make time to come back to this area in the Spring to do some hiking along the river and canal and then have a hearty lunch.  We talked about doing this...perhaps for another friend's birthday in July.

Long Beach Island

This is the place where I spent decades of summer weekends.  It feels like home. 

It was a beautiful ride on a fully sunny day with 50 degree-plus temperatures.  It felt like waking from a long nap.

SoHo Night

Tonight was SoHo Night, which meant some galleries were open later than normal. Maybe it meant restaurants were offering specials, too; I'm not sure about that.  I was looking forward to visiting two Dia Art Foundation sites. 

I first learned about Dia when I read a book called Spiral Jetta: A Road Trip through the Land Art of the American West by Erin Hogan.  Dia Art Foundation was founded in 1974 and, according to literature I picked up tonight, its purpose is

initiating, supporting...(and) preserving art projects.  Dia also maintains long-term, site-specific projects through the country and world.

I was really intrigued by Dia after I read the book because they sponsor a particularly interesting site in New Mexico.  When I researched Dia a bit more, I learned the foundation maintains several sites in NYC.

It is impossible, at least at the time of this writing, to find a description of Dia on its website.  You can, however, read a little bit about the two exhibits I went to see - the Earth Room and the Broken Kilometer.

The Earth Room is just that - a room of earth, as seen here. 

This view is a little deceiving as it doesn't truly reflect the immensity of this "sculpture" (the name provided in Dia literature).  The picture shows just the narrow passageway through which you see the opposite wall, which is not too far away. What can't be seen is the distance left or right; it's far greater than the width. It's hard to tell in the picture, but the soil is retained by glass, not a solid (black) wall, as it may seem.

The soil is very clumped. For some reason I thought (heard?) there were earth worms in the soil but that doesn't seem to be the case. The soil is 22 inches (56 centimeters) deep, which takes it right up to the window sills. The windows on the left had a lot of condensation but the windows on the right did not. You could feel the humidity from the soil. (I understand why the exhibit is open only through September - June. I'm sure they don't air condition the Earth Room.)

The Earth Room is on the second floor of a building. Remarkably, the earth weighs 280,000 pounds (127,300 kilos). I don't know a lot about structural engineering but that seems to be quite a feat.

The artist, Walter de Maria, has created three Earth Rooms. The first two were in Germany. The only remaining one is this one in NYC, which has been on public display since 1980. (It was "sculpted" in 1977.) It's in a huge room in SoHo, taking up prime real estate. I can only imagine that Dia owns this building and bought it before SoHo was "chic and hip." Paying rent on this space for 30 years would be out of the question - and there is no revenue from visitors as there is no fee for viewing this site at 141 Wooster Street.

After I left the Earth Room I ventured to the Broken Kilometer, which has been on public display since 1979. This is also a Walter de Maria piece.

Like the Earth Room, it was commissioned by and is maintained by Dia.  It is composed of

500 highly polished, round, solid brass rods...The rods are placed five parallel rows of 100 rows each...Each rod is placed such that the spaces between the rods increase by 5 millimeters with each consecutive space...The front rods of each row are placed 80 millimeters apart, the last two rods are placed 570 millimeters apart. 

The work is 45 feet wide and 125 feet long and weighs 18 3/4 tons.  You, too, can see this at 393 West Broadway.
 
I have prided myself on being open-minded when I view artwork and I generally can appreciate that which I view in some way.  I struggled to understand these works. While they made me smile because of their uniqueness - and well, maybe outrageousness - I felt like I didn't "get" them.  I wondered about all of the money spent on them.  I guess, because they made me think, that is part of their value?
 
I left Broken Kilometer and wandered through fancy-store SoHo down to Canal Street, where I ate at Thai So'n (named after a mountain in North Vietnam) at 89 Baxter Street.  The food was good, but the service was exceptionally strange.  I entered and said "One, please" and was told to wait.  Next, a couple came in and they were immediately seated.  After that, another couple came in and they were about to be seated when I spoke up.  I was asked to sit with this couple at a 6-top.  Minutes after we ordered (they were asked to order first, although I was clearly ready before them), we in inexplicably asked to move to another 6-top.  No one ever sat at the table we vacated.  I had more strangeness when I tried to get the check...and then more when I wanted to box my leftovers.  So, go for decent, inexpensive food, but not as a party of one.
 
I wandered home from SoHo night on the 6 train, happy that my "bucket list" could be updated and with a full stomach.

It Happened Tonight

There's a concert in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn to which I'd love to go.  It's in May.  I won't be in New York City anymore.  Damn.

Busy New York City Weekend

This past weekend was a whirlwind, and I'm just getting around to capturing it in writing. 

I returned to NYC with two friends on Saturday.  It was a cold and dreary day, but we spend time exploring the quaint little section of Midtown East known as Tudor City. The pictures show why it's named as such.

Tudor City, which is very close to the United Nations, feels like a quaint village away from the hustle and bustle of the big city - until you look up.  I like this view of the old building juxtaposed to the iconic Chrysler Building

Tudor City also has a cute park. The children - and the lions - didn't seem to mind that it was snow-covered.

After this brief walk, we eventually headed to dinner at Vice Versa in the West 50's area. The food was average - good but not great - and the wine was nice. From dinner we went to see Valerie Harper (a.k.a "Rhonda," Mary Tyler Moore's sit-com buddy) in Looped.  This comedy is about Tallulah Bankhead, an actress in the 1930's - 1950's, primarily. 

Tallulah was funny and wild and apparently a great actress at various times.  She also pushed the envelope -  drank in excess frequently, seemingly had a passion for cocaine, and had affairs with men and women. One thing for sure, her wit contributed to a library of quotes that are occasionally shocking but always funny.  Harper's performance was outstanding.  I wouldn't be surprised if she gets a Tony nomination for this role.

On Sunday, we had brunch at Resto on East 29th St.  Again, the food was average.  The coffee, however, was outstanding.  It's called Stumptown Coffee and originates from Portland, OR.  The only retail location for it in NYC (besides the few bags Resto had) is at the Ace Hotel on 29th St in NYC.  (I was really craving the coffee this week but still haven't gotten to the Ace Hotel yet to get a fix.  It's on my list of things to do soon.)

After brunch we hopped the 6 train to the end - the Brooklyn Bridge stop.  We walked across the bridge with hoardes of people competing for limited space because of the snow-filled walkway. It was still a pleasant walk, though.

I felt giddy when "Lady Liberty" came into view; I'm always tickled to see her. There were also great views of Manhattan.

We spent a little time in Brooklyn but had to hurry back to my apartment so my friends could catch a bus to Philadelphia.  After they left, my whirlwind continued with a walk to Carnegie Hall and then Lincoln Center, where I had to pick up tickets for various events. 

I topped off my evening with my first Ethiopian meal.  It's been literally 20 years that I've wanted to try Ethiopian.  I liked the Red Sea on 9th Avenue in the West 40's because there was a vegetarian (or meat, if that's your preference) sampler that  gave me the opportunity to try a bit of several main entrees. The bread with which you eat had a consistency that was very unfamiliar to me.  I found that I couldn't always use it to "dip" as the waitress coached me because some items were so chunky that dipping wouldn't work.  In those cases, I used the bread like a mitt and grabbed the food that way. I would definitely have Ethiopian again.

I walked all the way back to the East side with a full belly, tired legs, my beloved Sunday New York Times, and memories of a great weekend.