New York is a city of culture. Of museums and art galleries so we started at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). The MOMA states it is dedicated to being the foremost museum of contemporary art in the world so we gorged ourselves on the likes of Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin and Henry Matisse until we could look no more. My favourite for the day was The Dream by Henry Rousseau. I love the colour and the magical fantasy, makes me remember the lushness of tropical forests.
While we were stuffed to the hilt with art for the day we could not resist the call of the Museum Mile Festival (billed as New York’s biggest block party) where for one night only each year all museums along the museum mile are free for the evening! Most museums had queues around the block but the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the MET, is so enormous that it easily accommodated the waiting crowd and us.
We walked through the Ancient Egyptian exhibition, ignoring the antiquities on display, to catch the Martha Graham Dance Company performance which explored shape, pattern, and design. It was a somewhat surreal experience as we watched the beautiful performance, next to the Temple of Dendur, an Egyptian temple built in 15 BC with a backdrop of Central Park through the windows.
At the Met I almost missed The Thinker, by Auguste Rodin, smaller than I expected it to be at only 70 cms but gorgeous and my favourite for the night.
As for the Museum Mile block party, NYC you disappointed me. A closed street does not make a party, you need music, dancing, entertainment and food!
And what would New York be without a Broadway show. The first was Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. When Steven suggested this I was a bit reluctant, even though I love Carole, I thought it wouldn’t be “big” enough for a Broadway show. It was fabulous, energetic, funny and better than any show I’d ever seen! I cried and laughed as they sang songs that live in my heart.
Hungry for more we decided to hit Broadway again and saw Les Miserables. Wow how spectacular. Such a fantastic performance from the cast and the set was amazing. How have I missed this before…. But I am so glad that I got to see it on Broadway.
Oh… and we did so much more…In New York is a city of culture which we only just dipped our toes in.
Can’t wait for you’re next post. You could never be bored in NYC. I loved evesdropping on the Subway. All the many parks. Aunty Annie’s Pretzels. Getting a sore neck from staring up at the buildings.
Yes eavesdropping became my new sport especially after not being able to understand anyone in China for a month. I now understand all those I love New York t-shirts.