The Forbes Galleries and the Museum of Sex

This is my last "resident as tourist" day as I will be packing, cleaning, and nursing my sore foot tomorrow.  I didn't get out until 1pm, at which time I headed to Greenwich Village and the Forbes Galleries at 12th St and 5th Avenue.  I wasn't sure about getting to the Museum of Sex, and was ambivalent about it, but I did make it there, too.  Of course, there was a "chow stop" in between.

The Forbes Galleries, in the Forbes Building, are gems.  And entry is free!  There was a wonderful collection of boat models, a history of toy soldiers with examples from throughout the world in a series of diaoramas, precursors to the Monopoly game, and trophies.  Some of the exhibits were motorized and had  background music for effect.  There were also interesting painting and photography galleries as well as flowers made by Cartier and costume jewelry.  I spent at least 1.5 hours there, if not closer to 2.

The thing that interested me the most in the section about Monopoly was the board invented by a man named Charles B. Darrow in PA.  (The first Monopoly-like board was invented by a woman!)  I liked this board because it had names of all Pennsylvania towns - like Ambler, Boyerstown, Lansdale, Pottstown, and Reading, to name a few.

Darrow sold many copies of his game during the Depression.  The instructions he provided with it had his name and address at the bottom.  Since I once lived in West Mt. Airy, it was neat to see his address as 40 Westview St (I don't recognize that street name) in "Mt. Airy, Phila, PA." 

Darrow, unable to keep up with demand, tried to sell this idea to Parker Brothers in 1933 but was rejected.  Parker Brothers had a change of heart in 1934 and the rest is history.
(Click on the picture one or two times to enlarge it.  You may have to click your Back button to come back to the blog.)

The photo and painting galleries have revolving exhibits.  One of my favorite photos is this one called McLean, VA.  It was taken by Joel Sternberg.  Look closely - the house is on fire and there are many firemen by it.  There is also one fireman buying a pumpkin!  Would love to know the story behind this!

Another photo I enjoyed is this one by Eliot Porter, who takes many wilderness photos. This photo, called Sculptured Rock (1967), was taken in Marble Canyon, AZ.

I was so fortunate to see an exhibit ending soon called A Contemporary View of Women Reading (in honor of the publication Forbidden Fruit: A History of Women and Books in Art).  This is a topic after my own heart!  I liked many of the paintings but fell in love with two, shown here.

I want this painting, badly.  It's called Something to Read by Vincent Giarrano.  It's available from the Grenning Gallery...for $2,500.  Ugh.  I just can't justify it in my head.  I checked the gallery's website and saw some other great paintings by Giarrano.  His works look like photographs; the detail is amazing. This woman, for example, has red-painted toenails.

I really love this next one, too, which also looks like a photograph.  (I don't feel like I need to own this one.) This is called Elizabeth Shea by Mikel Glass. His work is going to be shown at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA from 9/11 - 4/18/10.  I've marked my calendar so I can go see the show.

I enjoyed this next one as it reminds me of my experience - sneaking some reading time in on the way to work.  It's called Ontario by artist Paul Fenniak.

I left the gallery and noticed a place called Saigon Grill close by.  I was hungry, of course, and decided to check it out.  It seemed a little fancy when I walked in but they had lunch until 4pm so I had a seat.  I ordered the grilled chicken bun.  It was good and gave me energy for my next adventure.

I decided to walk slowly up 5th Ave.  (I took the subway down and wanted more fresh air.)  I passed the Museum of Sex and decided to go in.  All I can say is,"Oh my!"  I'll leave it at that.  Suffice it to say it was very interesting.  It's worth a visit...but not a "Top 10 things to do in NYC" trip.

I wandered one block east to the Ace Hotel for my Stumptown coffee fix.  They don't seem to have decaf in the afternoon so I had a decaf Americano.  Excellent, once again.

On my way back to my apartment I popped in the beautiful Church of the Transfiguration on 29th St.  When I walked in there was a prayer service so I didn't stay.  This is a sprawling building that I've passed many times and was glad to be in its peaceful presence, even just for a few moments. 

As I walked back I also saw a building with a gorgeous wisteria vine.  The base of the vine was so thick; it must be very old.  I think this was on 30th Street (somewhere between Madison and 3rd Ave.)

After a quick stop at the Gristedes grocery store, I entered my building and said my good-byes to Francisco the doorman.  He's a good man and it was always nice to see his smiling face when I got "home."  I told him that.

Earlier, as I typed this, the sun was setting and casting its last rays of the day on the buildings near the East River.  I've seen many of these sunsets from my futon perch.  I hope to see one more tomorrow night.